The man stood cemented in place, his fist prepared to make a knock that would never land. Seeing Matilda, he took a step back. Broadening his proximity from the doorway and her. He looked to Matilda with a suspecting frown and furrowed brows. It was almost as if his intuition was telling him he knew her, but he knew that couldn't be true. He didn't know this woman. Surely he'd remember her if he did.
Matilda looked to the man, her thoughts partly lost in the plans of thwarting the soon to be arriving bargeman from her home. Her head cocked to the side and her eyes narrowed. She stared at the man curiously, beginning to feel uncomfortable beneath his gaze.
"Can I help you?" she offered.
The man shifted from his stance. Nodding to the ground, he attempted to wipe away his past thoughts from his memory. "I was told my employer and his daughter live here." he replied, returning to meet the eyes of Matilda.
Matilda's attention to him only piqued at the sound of his voice. It was not as guttural as the accents of Lake-town. It held a nobility long lost. Just the few syllables the man spoke sounded like music to Matilda's ears. It was a voice of song. Where it came from. . . that remained the mystery.
"What name were you given?" Matilda asked him. Her question relevant, but ears only yearning to hear him speak once more.
"Percival." the man replied, "I was not given the name of his daughter."
Matilda thought it a mistake. It had to be. Surely this couldn't be her father's new bargeman. If this was indeed the man, then he far exceeded Matilda's expectations. Accusations to put it plainly.
The man, as rugged as his attire was, did not lack in the area of appearance. His eyes were dark copper, accentuated by the black brows that clashed with tan skin. Ebony ringlets fell to his shoulders, their tips curled. Framing his finely chiseled face, and livening a sparkle that was held deep within the man's orbs.
Had he been one for smiling, he would have appeared quite the sight for sore eyes. But all that adorned his lips, was a permanent frown. One that had been drawn by ages of hardship, and could only be erased by years of healing.
"May I ask whom you call yourself?" Matilda inquired. Her mind still clinging to the belief that he was not the bargeman. Even if he was, it was going to take more than a handsome appearance and a voice of song to convince Matilda that he was worthy enough to live under her and her father's roof.
The man's gaze suddenly dropped to the ground, his eyes scrutinizing the earth as if he himself was trying to remember it. "Bain." he said. His eyes returned to meet Matilda's once more. "My name is Bain."
"Bain." Matilda echoed, meanwhile fighting the smile that was tugging at the corners of her lips. She had to admit, it was a lovely name. Whether she liked the owner thereof or not.
The soft thuds of her father's footfalls began to near and Matilda turned to the sight of him just appearing over her shoulder. When his sights landed on Bain, a broad grin etched its way onto Percy's features and he welcomed the lad with open arms.
"You must be my new bargeman!" the ever enthusiastic widower exclaimed.
The man, Bain, was somewhat taken aback at this welcome. He hadn't received it from Matilda, nor the other townsfolk he'd happened to meet on his way, but he certainly didn't expect it from his employer.
"I see you've met my daughter." Percy turned to Matilda, a smile still painting his lips.
"I have." Bain replied. "Though she failed to grace me with the mention of her name."
YOU ARE READING
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Fanfiction"I let go." Matilda said, staring blank at the floor. She slowly brought her head up to see her father, sending him a sad smile. "And I don't want to grab on again." Percy returned to his place at the table and took a whiff from his pipe. "You let g...
