Disclaimer: I only own the lovely Sylwen and Lucy
(Since I keep forgetting to reply to reviewers ;3; Sorry!)
Just4Me: So glad you're enjoying the story! Hope you continue to enjoy it.
Rianel: Yes, yes he is.
suzii3499: She is a half elf. Sorry I didnt elaborate more but I theres more about her in this chapter :)
Dalonega Noquisi: Thank you so much! :D And yes, that will be changing. The original idea was my co-writers part but since Im no longer writing with her the entire story is my own idea now :p I have a story line for Alfrid and Lucy and the rape scene just didnt quite do it justice. I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Sylwen sat at the table quietly, mulling over her thoughts as she tried to piece together what little memories she could recall offhand. The only thing she could really make clear was the fire..but no amount of pressure she could put on herself to remember, she couldn't make out what significance the fire held to her.
It was all just a blur of images and voices that she couldn't quite piece together.
Sylwen was brought out of her thoughts when a mug was set in front of her, blinking once as she looked up, finding Sigrid at the side of the table.
"Still cant remember anything?" Sigrid inquired, sitting herself down on the seat beside her, watching the girl.
Sylwen shook her head with a defeated sigh. "No..nothing." Wrapping her hands around the warm mug, she smiled softly. "Thank you." She added in afterwards, looking at the eldest child.
"I have to admit, it was quite a shock when my father came home with you." Sigrid laughed softly, leaning on the table a bit, looking down at the wood. "You're lucky." She glanced back up at Sylwen again, before sitting up straight. "Had anyone else found you, they probably would have either left you there for dead or worse.." She shook her head, not thinking about it. "Lake-town has been our home for as long as I can remember, but there is a lot of..." She trailed off, trying to think of the right word.
"Not too nice people in it?" Sylwen finished for her, with a questioning gaze.
Sigrid smiled as she nodded. "Indeed."
Tapping her nail against the ceramic mug, Sylwen gazed into the liquid for a few moments, nibbling her lip before she looked up again. "And your mother?" She asked, curious since she had not seen sight of anyone but the immediate people in the house. "If you don't mind my asking, that is."
Sigrid fell silent at the question, glancing across the room at Tilda and Bain who sat on the couch, Bain helping her with her reading. "She passed away from a sickness nine years ago." She replied finally, looking back to Sylwen as she saw the regret flash through her eyes, causing her to smile weakly.
"Its still a touchy subject with Bain, and Tilda was only two at the time so she does not remember her."
Sylwen regretted asking the question, watching how difficult it was for Sigrid to speak of her late mother. "I'm sorry...I didn't know." She spoke softly, casting her gaze downwards as she took a small sip of her drink finally.
"Its fine. Its not something we talk of much. I was eight at the time so I learned quickly how to do the household chores and helped father raise Tilda." Sigrid explained, looking around the house. Though it was difficult over the years, they made do with what they had. "And you?" She asked her, returning her gaze to her.
Sylwen had to think on that for a few moments, her mother...her parents. "My father was from Rivendell." She recalled after a few moments, glancing up at Sigrid once again. "My mother was from Bree."
Sigrid raised both eyebrows. "Bree? Then you're mother was human?" She asked, leaning forward a bit as she was curious. Tilda and Bain seemed to have tuned into the conversation as well, as Tilda's book had been set aside by now and both their attentions were on the two at the table.
Sylwen nodded in response. "Yes. I'm only half elf." She confirmed their suspicions, laughing softly.
"Which is why your body managed to hold on for so long in the frigid waters." Bard stepped into the room, looking at the woman at the table.
Sylwen looked up at him, nodding once. "And tis why I fell unconscious as well. Due to my human side of me."
Bard nodded. "Makes sense." He said, pouring himself a drink before joining the two at the table. "So you didn't loose all your memories then.."
Shaking her head, Sylwen looked down at her drink again. "It seems naught. I'm not even sure how much of my memories I'm missing..it could be a month to two years." She sighed softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I can remember my childhood just find but any events of recent..are just a blur."
Bard watched her quietly, his hands wrapped around the mug as he let it warm him. He could see how lost she was, a small frown tugging at his lips before it let up into a gentle smile. "Don't push yourself. They'll come to you in time." He told her, as she lifted her head, meeting his gaze.
Sylwen looked at him for a moment, and just like before, his words somehow managed to calm and reassure her. Smiling weakly, she nodded in response.
"Yeah.."
When morn rose, Sylwen was awoken to the sound of dishes in the kitchen and voices.
"Da! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine sweetheart."
Sylwen rolled over in the bed, propping herself up on her elbows as she rubbed her eyes slightly. Pulling herself out of the warmth of the sheets, she slowly made her way into the kitchen, where Bard was sitting near the fire, nursing his hand.
"Good morning." She greeted, walking over to where he was sitting, spotting the porridge stewing in the pot over the fire.
Bard looked up at her as she walked across the room, smiling in greeting. "Morning." He stood up, rubbing his hand slightly. "How did you sleep?" He asked, returning the lid to the pot before looking over at her.
"Better than naught." She replied with a small laugh, holding her hand out. "Let me see." Sylwen told him.
Bard immediately waved his hand slightly. "Its nothing to worry yourself over. Just a minor burn." He told her with a small chuckle, waving off his injury. He had sent Sigrid and Bain out to the market to get bread, leaving him to making the breakfast for the family.
Sylwen raised an eyebrow slightly, continuing to hold her hands out to him. "That doesn't mean it couldn't get worse later. Let me see." She told him, before looking over at Tilda who had been quiet since she came into the room. "Can you fetch me some aloe and bandages?" She asked the small girl.
Tilda only nodded, quickly turning and making her way down the stairs.
Bard knew he wasn't walking away from this one, putting her hand in her grasp as she began to examine it. He felt a wave of nostalgia hit him as he watched her. The way she acted without thinking, tending to his burn, even though it was only a minor one. It was all traits his late wife had done over the years..
"Here." Tilda came back with the aloe she had found and the bandage wrap, handing it over to Sylwen.
"Thank you Tilda." She smiled, patting her head as she got a smile in return, before turning back to his hand. Sylwen broke the aloe leaf in half, squeezing out the cold juice that secreted out of the broken green, gently rubbing it over the small patch of skin on Bard's hand that he had burnt.
"That should do it.." She mused to herself, before wrapping the fabric around it, tying it.
Bard watched her quietly as she worked, a small smile playing on his lips as she finally stood up. "Thanks." He said quietly, letting his hand drop back to his side again before turning back to the porridge.
"Ah ah, Ill take care of that." Sylwen spoke up before he reached for the pot, letting out a small huff before she smiled as he turned her way. "Its the least I can do while you're letting me stay here." She added in afterwards.
Hesitating for a moment, Bard felt a little bad for making her help when she was still only recovering from the lake. But, by the look in her eyes he figured she wasn't going to back down either. "Alright." He chuckled, stepping back as he held his hands up.
Sylwen grinned in response, picking up the spoon. "Just cause I lost some of my memory, doesn't mean I'm completely helpless." She laughed softly before turning her attention toward the food in the pot.
Bain listened to the sound of their boots against the wooden walkways, Sigrid walking beside him as they were leaving the market after finding what they had come for. The old woman had been kind enough to give the children a discount for the bread, Sigrid thanking her profusely.
As they walked through the middle of town, something caught Bain's attention as he stopped, peering across the docks as he watched Alfrid storm out of his house, slamming the door behind him and muttering profanities as he stalked off. Most likely to the Master of the Lake. But as he looked closely enough, he saw the purple bruise on his cheek, giving him an uneasy feeling. Considering he hadn't seen sight of Lucy that morning yet, when she would have normally made herself welcome at their house by dawn.
"Bain, hurry up." Sigrid called to her brother, glancing back at him after she noticed he had stopped following her.
Glancing at his elder sister, he hesitated for a moment. "Go on without me." He told her, turning as he ran around the corner and in a different direction, hearing Sigrid call him but he paid no heed.
Reaching the house, he lingered for a few moments, looking around before going up to the door. Giving a small tug, it swung open. Alfrid must have forgotten to lock it before he left. Bain quickly snuck in without a sound, shutting the door behind him.
"Lucy?" He called into the empty house, taking a step forth as he glanced around, looking for the black haired girl.
There was a quiet thunk from the hallway, Bain taking a couple steps as he listened. "Lucy, are you in here?" He called, feeling the paranoia building his gut the longer he was in the house. Alfrid could return at any time.
"Bain?"
The voice he heard came from behind a door as Bain heaved a sigh of relief, rushing over to the door as he knocked once. "Lucy? What happened?" He asked, trying to open the door but it was locked. From the outside.
He knew something was wrong.
Lucy could have cried when she heard Bain's voice inside the house. She knew just how much trouble he could get into for entering the house. Not to mention it would give Alfrid a reason to give Bard heck.
"Bain what are you doing here?" She called through the door, hearing the doorknob rattle. "Alfrid locked me in here. We kinda..got into a fight last night." She explained to him, pulling on the doorknob.
"Is there a key?" Bain asked through the door, as Lucy leaned her head against the wall. Her cheek was bruised from the hit she had taken the previous night, still sore to the touch. "Unless Alfrid didn't take the key with him, it should be on the wall by the door." She told him.
Listening to his footsteps lead away from the door, Lucy fidgeted slightly. The time seemed to slow down, her heart racing when she heard Bain's voice.
"Found it!"
Bain found the lone key that hung by the door, turning around as he rushed back to the bedroom door, fiddling with the lock before he unlocked it, pushing the door open as he saw Lucy, his eyes widening slightly. "What happened to you?" He asked, shock written all over his face.
Lucy flinched slightly, touching her cheek. "Alfrid happened." She said with a slight frown, before shaking her head once.
"Lets go. We have to get out of here before Alfrid gets back. God only knows how furious he would be.
Bain didn't press the subject for now, knowing she was right. "Lets go then." He said, grabbing her hand as he pulled her out of the house, looking each way before quickly escaping down the docks.
When Alfrid returned home, he immediately knew something was amiss. Lucy's bedroom door was wide open, and she was no where to be seen. "Dammit!" He cursed, looking in her bedroom. She was definitely gone.
There was only one who would have the audacity to be brave enough for this feat.
"Bard.."
"Da!" Bain called, rushing into the house with Lucy closely behind him, cheeks red from the cold and out of breath.
Bard looked up quickly as Bain and Lucy rushed in the doorway, standing up as he opened his mouth to scold the boy from running off when he saw Lucy.
"Lucy! Your cheek!" Sigrid gasped, seeing the purple bruising on the girl's cheek, concern washing over her as she rushed to her side.
Lucy flinched slightly as her finger grazed her cheek, smiling weakly. "Alfrid and I just got into a bit of a tousle last night." She explained casually, shaking her head slightly. "Its nothing new."
"Sigrid, can you tend to her?" Bard nodded to Lucy, already feeling the anger bubbling inside him at the mention of Alfrid setting a hand on the young girl. He turned to his son, sitting him down at the table. "What happened?"
Sigrid nodded, looking at Tilda. "Can you go get me a change of clothes?" She asked her as she lead Lucy to the table, Tilda nodded, quickly running to their bedroom to get clothes as she had been asked.
Bain shook his head slightly. "I saw Alfrid leave the house and I was worried cause Lucy was usually over here by that time, and I saw the bruise on Alfrid's cheek." He explained, gaining a small laugh from Lucy. "I snuck inside and she was locked in her bedroom. He had left the key so I unlocked it and we ran here." He told his father, looking up at him.
"Did anyone see you? Bain, was there anyone around." Bard's voice strained, the tension clear in the house.
"No. No! No one saw me Da. I made sure no one was around." Bain reassured his father, knowing what he was thinking.
Bard pressed his lips together, before sighing weakly. He squeezed the boys shoulder gently. "It's alright Bain." He said, standing up as he ruffled his son's hair. "I'm proud of you."
Lucy had taken the clothes Sigrid had given her, going to the bedroom and changing before returning again.
"Thank you." She said, sitting at the table again.
"Are you okay other than that?" Sigrid asked, tossing the soiled cloth in the basket in the hallway, turning back to Lucy with a small smile on her face.
"Here Lucy!" Tilda said, bringing her a cup of warm coco, putting it on the table as she smiled up at her. Sigrid had taught her how to make it, hopeful that it would help her feel a little better
Lucy smiled down at Tilda, taking the cup as she breathed in the chocolaty aroma. "Im fine." She looked over at Sigrid. "I'm fine. Honestly!" She smiled brightly, as if to prove her point.
At one time long ago, if someone had asked her, her answer may have been greatly different. Afraid. Shaken. Ashamed. They had all come to her mind. But this was her life. Lucy barely even remembered a time back before this anymore. She knew she could try to be a bit more obedient, though trying that in the past got her nowhere. If this was the life she was forced to live with, she fully intended to make the most of what she could.
Authors Note: And heres chapter 4! Making good time with this story thus far. Im actually getting excited again being able to write this story once again. The story plot I have for it makes me excited to write this and I only hope ya'll will enjoy it as much as I hope you will!