Trisskel

"…[Eskel] got up, approached the enchantress, bent down low, took her hand and kissed it respectfully. She swiftly withdrew her hand. Not so as to demonstrate her anger and annoyance but to break the pleasant, piercing vibration triggered by the witcher’s touch. Eskel emanated powerfully. More powerfully than Geralt."

- Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski

Trisskel is the het ship between Triss Merigold and Eskel from the The Witcher fandom.

Canon
Triss Merigold, the sorceress, and Eskel, the witcher, are friends, and get on rather well. Eskell respects Triss, who in her turns appreciates Eskel’s maturity. Triss and Eskel first appear together in Blood of Elves, when Triss arrives to Kaer Morhen to inspect Ciri by Geralt’s request, in year of 1265, on the day of the winter solstice. Triss notes how Eskel resembles Geralt, apart from his dark hair and his cheek scar. When Triss questions the witchers training methods regarding Ciri, they argue and Triss flares up. Then Eskel approaches her and does something, that surprises the sorceress. He silently bends down, takes her hand in his and kisses it. The touch makes Triss immediately feel his energy. The sorceress thinks that power is stronger than Geralt’s.

Eskel looks at her and rubbing his scar asks Triss to help them. Triss looks in his eyes and says she doesn’t know how. When Ciri appears and informs everyone present she cannot keep training as hard as they force her to because of her health condition caused by menses, Eskel reacts appropriately and supports her, while Triss helps him fill an awkward pause when he stumbles in his supportive speech. When the girl leaves, and Triss raises the question of motherhood, Lambert indiscreetly looks at her breasts. Eskel notices and, glaring angrily at the younger witcher, clears his throat.

Something Ends, Something Begins
Triss and Eskel appear as a couple in Something Ends, Something In Begins, a short story about Geralt and Yennefer's wedding written by Andrzej Sapkowski as a gift to his friends. The story is officially published, yet it is not considered part of the saga.

Geralt and Yennefer, planning the ceremony, invite guests to the wedding. After the guests have arrived and the party begins, Triss and Eskel disappear in the garden summerhouse for the entire night. The next evening the two were spotted again, sneaking into the garden summerhouse holding hands. During the wedding ceremony Triss and Eskel stood as witnesses. During the feast Triss “snuggled tenderly” against Eskel’s arm.

Fanon
In the fan developed modification Farewell of the White Wolf for the game The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, where Geralt and Yennefer hold a wedding party, Triss and Eskel spend the majority of screen time together. When Triss says she doesn’t orient well in the castle and cannot find the wine cellar, Eskel volunteers to show her the way. In the cellar he holds her close and asks her if everything’s alright, because she seems upset. She tells him she feels lonely because she realized she didn’t belong with Yennefer and Geralt. Eskel says they can stay in the cellar, talk and drink wine, and she kisses him on the cheek twice. The next morning, she thanks him for his company. When Triss tells him, she’s going to Covir he wonders if the witchers are in demand there – he plans to join her. She notes that winters there last for 6 months, and he says he’ll have to prepare for a long winter. Triss adds, that it might be long but not lonely for them.

While the relationship in the canon is up to the reader’s interpretation, it is implied that Triss is fond of Eskel, whether it means a potential romantic attachment or a friendly affection. Sapkowsky’s decision to bring Eskel and Triss together in his post-canon short story proves that the author at least fiddled with the idea of their romance.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

TUMBLR

Trivia

 * In the books, both Triss and Eskel have noticeable scars: Eskel has one long scar running from the corner of his mouth up to the ear, and Tris has one that slashes across her chest.