Melody sat on the edge of the walkway, her feet dangling over the water below as she enjoyed the peace of nighttime in Lake-town. The crisp air chilled her lungs and dried the tears that ran down her face. Once again, her father was the cause.

The truth was, she was well past marriageable age but her father was not well. He'd refused all suitors because he needed her to take care of him. Not that she'd seriously considered any of them anyway. His illness was self-inflicted dependence on mead. And a horrific temper that came with his overindulgence.

Many years of experience had taught her how to deal with his rages, how to keep out of his way and stay safe. None of her tricks had worked that night, however. Her cheek still stung where he'd smacked her. Her scalp ached from him dragging her across the room by her hair. She'd bolted and headed here, to a quiet part of town where she was unlikely to be found and could simply enjoy the peace of the night and the beauty of the stars.

"Melody?" a deep voice said from behind her. "What are you doing out here?"

Her pulse raced and her heart began to pound. Bard. The only man she'd ever loved, ever even been interested in. Of course, he would be the one to find her. "Stargazing," she managed to say as she realized she hadn't answered him.

"It's late." He crouched beside her and pushed her hair behind the ear on that side. Fortunately, it was the opposite side from where her father struck her.

She simply shrugged, afraid if she started talking to him, she'd tell him everything she'd been keeping secret for so long.

A weight dropped onto her shoulders. A glance showed her it was a coat and she looked at her friend in surprise.

He gave a half-smile. "And cold." He shifted so he was sitting next to her. "May I?"

"Well, you already did...so yeah." She smiled to lighten her words. "What are you doing out here, Bard?"

"Who says I'm not out here for the same reason you are?"

She huffed a laugh. "I find that unlikely."

He chuckled lightly. "I couldn't sleep. I looked out the window and saw someone sitting in the dark. I came out once I realized it was you."

After a long stretch of silence, he took one of her hands in both of his and ran his fingers over the skin. "Why are you really out here, Melody? Don't think I don't notice how often you sit in the dark when you should be sleeping."

She'd have to find a new place to hide that wasn't so close to Bard's house. She wondered if part of her had picked this place because of the proximity. She had to admit to more than one daydream where he rescued her from her sad little life.

"Okay," he said when she didn't answer. "Here's another question. Why aren't you married yet? And don't tell me no one's been interested. I know better than that."

"My father is sick. I have to take care of him. " The excuse sounded weak even to her own ears.

"Your father is a drunk. That is hardly an illness."

She couldn't help the sad smile that appeared on her face. "Maybe it was I who wasn't interested, Bard."

He coughed to clear his throat. "And do I interest you, Melody?"

Her head to jerked to him in surprise, her eyes wide. "Do you mean...?"

He gave that small half-smile again. "I'm afraid I do. I have been hopelessly in love with you for ages now."

"Why haven't you said anything?" she asked, her voice low, afraid if she spoke too loudly she'd break the spell and find this all a dream.

He looked up and met her eyes then. "What do I have to offer you? Life as the wife of a bargeman, a small home and three children?"

"I think you mean life in a comfortable and loving home with three children whom I love almost as much as their father." She saw the moment he realized what she'd said and returned his smile.

Leaning forward, he kissed her. It wasn't until he laid a hand on the side of her face that she remembered about her father. With a hiss, she jerked away as pain flared through her cheek.

"What is it, love?" he asked. He grasped her chin lightly in his fingers and turned her head to the side so the torches would illuminate her face. She closed her eyes in embarrassment. She hadn't wanted him to know about this. His fingers lightly trailed over her cheek that bore the mark of her father's anger. "Who did this?" His voice was quiet but there was no mistaking the anger in it.

"My father."

He sighed and turned to look out over the water, his hand flexing around hers. "It's not the first time, is it?"

Closing her eyes, she felt fresh tears trace the tracks of the long dried ones. "No. But I learned quickly what set him off. Usually I can avoid it."

"You shouldn't have to, Melody!" He started out yelling but quickly quieted down with a gesture from her. "Why haven't you told anyone?"

"He's my father. No one will do anything about it, even if they did know."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She pulled her hand from his and tangled her fingers together in her lap. "I was ashamed that I let this happen. That this is my worth."

He looped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side before pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "You are worth so much more than this. You are worth everything. Never think otherwise again. Will you be all right returning home tonight?"

She nodded against his shoulder. "He'll be passed out by now. Smaug himself wouldn't be able to wake him."

"Good. We wed tomorrow. The children and I will call for you just after first light."

It was fast, but she wasn't going to complain. She'd been dreaming about belonging to Bard for most of her adult life. "I love you, Bard," she said in a soft voice.

"And I love you, Melody. I think I always have, and I know I always will."