Her breathing changed a bit as the winter sun hit her face. A slight sigh escaped her lips and she turned around onto her back. Slowly opening her eyes, she blinked a few times before she looked into some warm brown eyes. Bard was propping on his right elbow, smiling down at Marie. "Good morning." Her voice sounded strange, like it always does when she woke up in the morning. Bard loved her morning voice; he moved some hair out of her face and answered. "Good morning, my love."
He leant down and pressed his lips onto hers tenderly. His lips remained onto hers and the small peck turned into a passionate kiss. Marie placed one hand onto his cheek and returned his kiss. His one hand wandered over her stomach and down onto her side, under her fabrics. Soon she felt his calloused hand on her bare skin. He squeezed her hips lightly before his hand travelled up a bit on her side.
Marie moaned against his lips and moved her hand further up on his cheek and into his hair. His breath became quicker and his hand slipped beneath the waistband of her undergarment.
"Father! Marie! Sigrid and I made breakfast for you." Tilda opened the door with a smile and looked at them. "Are you coming?" They both pulled away from each other and turned their heads to smile at Tilda. "Yes, we are there in a minute." Bard replied and Tilda left the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Both had to laugh and Bard buried his face in the crook of Marie's neck. Bard lifted his head and caressed the side of her cheek with his fingers. He leant down again and pecked her lips several times before Marie placed her hand onto his shoulder, pushing him gently away. "Bard, they are waiting." She smiled apologizing at him and he placed his forehead against hers, sighing. "I know…" With one last peck, he got up and they both dressed.
Later after they all finished their breakfast and the children went up to their rooms, to do their studying, Marie was still sitting at the table, smiling as she thought about how everything changed. Since she moved into Bard's house the house was filled with more laughter and joy. Even Bain and Sigrid smiled more than before. Marie let out a happy sigh and got up; she collected all the used dishes and put them over to the sink.
Bard was walking downstairs after he said his farewell to his children for the next two days as he was about to pick up the empty barrels from the Mirkwood Elves and of course to ship barrels full of new wine to Mirkwood. The bargeman walked up behind Marie and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her body against his tall frame.
"I will be back in two days." He whispered into her ear and took her earlobe into his mouth, sucking slightly on it. Marie shivered and she had to grab the sink as her knees got weak. A sly grin appeared on his lips, he loved to see her quiver when he did that to her. He was taking in her scent and then said. "I don't want to leave this time. I don't know what it is, but I have a bad feeling. It is a feeling… A feeling that something bad will happen." He sighed a bit and Marie turned around in his embrace to face him. She cupped his cheeks in her hands and looked at him. "Everything will be alright." She reassured him with a smile and stood onto her toes to kiss him gently but deeply. His grip tightened around her; just like he was scared she would faint, as he returned her motions.
"I have to leave, I am already late." He pulled away from Marie, moving one strand of hair behind her ear he kissed her one last time, before heading to the door. "I love you, Bard." Marie smiled softly at him. Bard smiled back at her. "I love you too, my flower." Then he left the house. Looking up at the sky and then to the lonely mountain, he knew his feeling was right.