Bard had known Alfrid was bothersome and obnoxious-in fact, more then half of Lake-town would tell you he should've been born a rat-, but he hadn't thought that the Lake-Master's assistant would be so prying and stubborn involving a matter that was pretty self-explanatory. The first of many uncalled for encounters happened when Bard and his small family had gone to the marketplace.

Sigrid tentivly scanned the tomatoes with Tilda, occasionally grabbing some when she found good ones. Meanwhile, Bain and Bard talked with a merchant that was very close to them.

"You didn't hear it from me," he told Bard. "But Alfrid's been 'round, trying to dig up any dirt about what exactly happened between you and that she-elf."

Bard sighed, and Bain, knowing he didn't belong in this situation, left to walk with Sigrid and Tilda.

"What has he told everyone?" Bard asked, silently dreading the answer.

"That the Lake-Master is investigating a private matter that went down between you and a she-elf. He asks anyone with information to see him."

A private investigation, Bard almost scoffed aloud. Of course Alfrid would have made up some lie to get information.

"Thank you, Arthur," he murmured to the merchant, before turning back to his kids.

With the way things were going, Alfrid was going to pester anyone to get information, and he needed to make sure his kids knew not to tell anyone anything.

Sigrid and Tilda had moved down to the cucumbers, but Bain was nowhere in sight.

Bard shrugged; maybe he had just gone home?

He took two steps towards Sigrid and Tilda, but stopped when he heard a familiar voice.

"What do you know about that elf that was living with your father?"

Bard immediately turned to the source of the noise and found Alfrid cornering Bain.

The young boy looked both flustered and confused.

"Alfrid, step away from my son!" Bard ordered.

Alfrid turned around.

"Oh, why hello, Bard," he answered. "Bain and I were just having a little chat."

"Oh, believe me, I know what you two were doing," Bard retorted. "Come on, Bain, let's go home."

Bain ran over to Bard as if his life depending on it.

"And Alfrid," Bard added. "Stay away from my family."

Bard turned and began to walk away with Bain at his side.

"Come on," he murmured to his son. "Let's go find your sisters."

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. It's just kinda this faze I go through during school sometimes. Anyways, this story is half-way finished already and I plan to see it through to completion. Until next time,

-Mallowbloom