Disclaimer: I only own the lovely Sylwen and Lucy :3

The house had quietened down in the afternoon, going into the evening as Bard sat quietly on the couch, his eyes focused in on the book that was in his hands. Lucy had gone out with Bain to get food, while Sigrid was with Tilda in her bedroom, helping her with her reading. The rest of the day had been rather uneventful, Alfrid hadnt shown up for his daughter, to which Bard was grateful for.

His eyes lifted as he peered over his book at the girl who still slept. He had technically smuggled her into the town, not informing anyone. To which he knew there was going to be trouble once Alfrid found out. The Master of the Lake was always looking for something to take him in for.

His eyes caught the small movement from the bed suddenly, putting his book down at his side as he waited. Was she finally waking? What seemed like minutes was only a matter of a few seconds before she moved again, Bard pushing himself off the couch as he knelt at the bedside.
Pushing the blankets down slightly, he looked at her.
"Hey, can you hear me?" He spoke, trying to pull her out of her unconious state.

Slowly emerald green eyes fluttered open before him as they came to focus on his face, unaccustomed to the intensity they held locking his gaze in place for a moment in time. But, on a closer inspection, he noted, were little specks of gold within her eyes..almost like a jewel.

The sound of a muffled male's voice reached her ears as she slowly came back into consciousness. Still a little disoriented, she opened her eyes, trying to make clear of her surroundings. Her vision became clearer, the image of a man hovering over her coming into sight almost immedately. Before she could register anything, panic set into her body as she shot upwards without warning, with what one could only call a battle cry. Though as she did, pain shot through her skull, causing her to fall back into the bed, her vision spinning whilst she heard the male fall back onto the floor with a pained groan.

The sound of rushed footsteps made their way to the bedroom, Sigrid rushing in with a worried expression.
"Da, what happened?" She asked, gauging the scene before her. To her father sitting on the ground holding his head, and the girl who looked as if she might loose conciousness again.
"Is she awake?" Tilda chirped in eagerness, pushing past her sisters skirt to peer into the bedroom.
Sigrid put her hands on her younger sisters shoulders, keeping her rooted to the ground and let her father deal with the girl.

Bard dared to move after a few moments, the front of his forhead screaming in pain. "Calm down, you're somewhere safe." He spoke up before she tried to make any more sudden movements. He returned to the edge of the bed, watching as her eyes opened once again, seeing the uncertainty flash through the green orbs. "You're safe."

The womans gaze locked with his once again, though the panic still rushed through her veins, the reassurance of his voice seemed to calm her down. There was something in his voice and eyes that she knew she could trust this man. His voice was gentle and his eyes calm..

Now seeing the girl was calmed down and less bewildered, Bard knelt down at her bedside once again, his brown gaze settling upon her. So many questions rushed through his head, but not wanting to overwhelm the girl after so soon waking up, he just settled on, "Whats your name?"

Her gaze returned to the man at her bedside once again, the question mulling in her brain for a few moments. She cast her gaze downwards at her lap, falling silent for a moment. What was her name?
"Sylwen.." She spoke up as it came to her finally. Upon remembering her name, she realized the last thing she could remember was another man...but his face was a blur, and after that was nothing. Just cold, deep, unrelenting darkness.

Bard's eyes caught glance of her ears as she brushed her hair over her shoulder, noticing that they were more pointed than others. An elf? No, that didn't make sense. What would an elf be doing so far down from their homelands, nor would it make sense for her body to shut down so easily in cold waters...half human then?

"I pulled you out of the lake last night. You were floating along on a barrel." He told her, wondering if she would remember any of that.

Sylwen's eyebrows furrowed slightly. The lake? How had she ended up in the lake? Dropping her gaze to her lap, she balled her fists in the blankets, wracking her brain for any kind of memory she could find. But nothing came to her, nothing but blurred memories she couldnt even hope to piece together. And fire. It was the only thing that stood plain as day...but she hadnt a clue why or what signifigance it held. She shook her head finally, letting out a defeated sigh. "I dont remember.."

Bard felt his heart drop slightly as she answered him finally. He was afraid of this. He smiled softly in return, shaking his head. "It's alright, it'll come to you in time." He told her, standing up, looking at Sigrid and Tilda. "These are my daughters, Sigrid and Tilda. My son should be back soon, his name is Bain. And our family friend Lucy as well." He introduced them to her.

Sylwen smiled softly, feeling a little more at ease as she nodded. "Thank you Mr. Bard." She spoke softly, letting her hands relax finally as she sat in the bed.

Bard only chuckled softly as he walked over to the girls. "Just Bard, and there's no need to thank me. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had just have left you out there." He told her before turning to look at the Sigrid.

"Would you mind making some soup?" He asked her, to which she nodded in response.

"Tilda, come along." She ushered her sister along to help with her, figuring it would best not to crowd the girl just yet.

Within the hour, the door to the house swung open, Lucy and Bain piling inside from the cold. Sylwen started slightly at the sudden noise, lifting her head from the table as she looked up with wide eyes.

Bard glanced up as the two walked into the house, feeling the cold air rush in from the open door before it was closed again. "Welcome back." He greeted them as he stood up, taking the paper bags from them and placing them on the counter.

Lucy smiled a bit as she shrugged off her coat. "So shes awake huh." She said, hanging her coat up on the wall before walking back over to Bard, helping him put the dry foods away.

Bard nodded, opening the cupboards as he glanced over at Sylwen, who had continued to flip through a book absent mindedly.
"She woke up about an hour ago." He said, lifting a hand to his forhead, feeling the goosebump beneath the skin. It was still tender to the touch, but he didnt dwell on it much.

Lucy watched him curiously, raising a single eyebrow. "Did something happen?" She asked, closing the cupboard before turning around as she leaned against it, watching him.

Before Bard could answer though, there was a loud knock on the door, a small frown tugging at his lips as he glanced at the window. He wasnt in the slightest surprised though, when he found Alfrid standing outside the door, jittering in his place on the wooden deck.

Creamy chocolate brown eyes glanced in Sylwen's direction, catching her curious gaze as he placed his finger against his lips. He moved in her direction as he motioned her to get up from the table.

Lucy groaned, pushing herself off the counter. "Did he seriously follow me?" She muttered, cussing quietly under her breath as she walked to the door.

"Wait." Bard stopped her before she opened the door, leaning in towards Sywen. "Come with me for a second. We need to hide you." His words all but a ghost upon her ear.

Sylwen felt the breath against her ear, causing goosebumps to arise across her skin, nodding silently as she stood up, following as Bard ushered her to the room at the back of the house, sitting her down on the bed.

"Stay here." He told her, giving her a small reasurring smile before returning to the house, opening the door as he looked at Alfrid. "Is there anything I can help you with?" He asked, keeping his hand on the doorhandle.

Alfrid narrowed his eyes at him, glancing past him as he spotted Lucy. "You." He snarled, glaring at the girl. "You're coming home with me girl." He snapped angrily, pointing a finger in her direction.

Lucy rolled her eyes slightly, heaving an exasperated and muchly over dramatic sigh. "Yes, father." She muttered sarcastically under her breath. She figured it'd be better to just leave with him rather than putting up a fight what with Bard's smuggled lady elf friend in the back of the house.

Alfrid bristled at the tone of her voice. "Dont speak to me in that tone missy!" He snapped.

"Alfrid." Bard cut him off, looking down at the smaller man. "Excuse us for a moment." He spoke as polietly as he could manage towards him, shutting the door as he ignored the angry protest from outside. He turned back to look at Lucy.
"Are you sure about leaving with him?" He asked her, the concern clear in his voice.

"He doesnt seem to happy.." Bain chimed in, standing up from the table as he walked over to her side. "I can walk home with you if you want." He offered sheepishly.

Lucy couldnt help but giggle at the two, pulling on her coat before leaning over as she pecked Bain on the cheek, watching his cheeks light up immediately.
Like father, like son, she figured.
"I'll be fine." She shook her head as she headed over to the door, stepping into the boots that awaited her at the doorway. "He may be my father, but he doesnt actually care enough to do anything." Lucy reassured the two, before glancing up at Bard, grinning.

"Take care of your elf lady." She told him, patting his arm once before swinging the door open, brushing past Alfrid before he had a chance to open his mouth again. "Lets go old man." Lucy called over her shoulder as she headed down the steps.

Alfrid scowled, glaring at Bard as he held up a finger, shaking it in the bargemans face. "I warn you Bargeman," He spat venomously. "I know you're hiding something. Just you wait till I get my hands on it." He warned him, before turning curtly and shuffling after Lucy, yelling at the girl who had wandered off without waiting for him.

Bard was unsettled to say the least, at his warning, watching him leave until he was out of sight before closing the door, sighing.

"Da, are we gonna be alright?" Bain asked once he overcame the shock of his kiss, looking up at his father. He knew how deep the grudge Alfrid and the Master of the Lake held towards his father, and despite his protests to stay out of trouble, Bain was always keeping an eye out in secret.

Bard looked down at Bain, then glancing at Sigrid and Tilda, before he smiled gently, ruffling Bain's hair lightly. "We'll be fine. Dont worry."

"Get in the house." Alfrid snapped as he shoved Lucy into the house, stepping in behind her as he slammed the door closed.

Lucy stumbled in, turning to glare at the man. "Whats your problem?" She snapped irritably, glaring at him as she tugged off her coat, not bothering to hide the dislike she held towards him.

"I want you to stay away from that, that meddling Bargeman." Alfrid spat viciously, pulling off his hat as he whipped it down against the table, turning to look at the girl.

Lucy looked incredulously at Alfrid, letting out a dry laugh. "Who are you to tell me who I can associate myself with?" She demanded furious, tossing her coat onto the chair.

Alfrid fumed as she talked back to him, his face turning red from the built up anger. "I will not have my daughter associating herself with-with those rift-rafts!"

SMACK!

Lucy glowered at the man in front of her, his head snapped to the side as she clutched her hand to her chest.
"I will not have you speaking about them in such a way!" Her voice rang high pitched, breathing heavily. "Nor will you call me as such. You havent acknowledged me as your daughter since mother died, and its too late now to even try!"

Lucy could have sworn she saw hurt flash in his beady eyes before it was replaced with an even more dangerous emotion. Rage.
Before she even had a chance to react, he lashed out, his hand connecting with the side of her face, pain erupting behind her jaw as she fell back into the wall, letting out a strangled cry.

Alfrid didnt waste any more time, grabbing her by the arm as he hauled her up, furious.
"You live under MY roof and will live by MY rules, girl!" Alfrid snapped, thrusting her bedroom door open before throwing her inside less than gently. "You will stay in here until you learn that!"

Lucy whirled around, rushing to the door as fast as she could as he slammed it shut, pulling on the doorhandle just as she heard a click on the outside. "You cant do this Alfrid!" She screeched, pounding on the door. But her cries fell upon deaf ears, Alfrid wouldnt let her out and the neighbours didnt dare interfere with their affairs.

"I hate you!" Lucy hit the door once more for good measure, turning around as she glanced around her bedroom, making for her window but that was locked too. Alfrid had gone to great lengths this time to keep her in check.

Finally collapsing on her bed, she shoved her face into her pillow, letting out a sob, feeling helpless and frustrated. She should have just stayed with Bard..

Authors Note: Finally chapter 3 is up! Took me a couple days to work things out since I had to delete alot of writing and rewrite almost the entire bottom half of the story. I have a different idea in mind for Alfrid and Lucy, and I honestly hope you guys enjoy the new idea!
R&R!