Dwalin was greeted by a sigh of relief when he entered Thorin's chambers.

"I think my head is going to burst if I try to cram any more history or tactical moves into it. You have no idea how welcome a sight you are," Thorin said.

Dwalin grinned, certain that Thorin was about to cheer up even more. "I brought you something. Close your eyes."

Thorin did as told. Dwalin took the small basket from behind his back, held it in front of Thorin and wafted the air over it towards Thorin. "Guess."

Thorin sniffed. "Strawberries! I'd say preserves... no... that jam from Dale! But it smells almost too fresh..."

"Open your mouth!" Dwalin took one of the strawberries and gently pushed it into Thorin's mouth.

Thorin gasped and opened his eyes. "Fresh strawberries! But... but it's much too early! The snow on the slopes barely just melted. Where did you get these?"

"That's my little secret," Dwalin said smugly, knowing he would give in the second Thorin asked him again.

"Please?" Thorin asked, batting his eyebrows in a way that made Dwalin think he had been taking lessons from Dís.

"I may have bribed Sólva to grow them in her greenhouses. With some warmth and lots of her special lights, it's not too difficult to grow them in winter."

"Really?" Thorin asked. "Why did you..."

Dwalin laughed. "I know how much you love strawberries and that you'd have your exams this spring. And despite what Balin likes to say, I do know how to plan ahead. Sólva couldn't grow too many because she of course needs the greenhouses for more important things, but there will be enough to get you a few more baskets over the next few weeks. And when your exams are over, there will hopefully be strawberries in the woods outside."

Thorin jumped up and wrapped his arms around Dwalin in a tight hug. "I don't even know how to thank you," he whispered.

"Oh, just get me some fresh grapes next spring when it's time for my exams," Dwalin joked, knowing exactly how impossible that would be.

Thorin smacked him in the arm. "Don't you think you might be getting a little demanding?"

"Never! I'd probably be happy enough if you just took a few minutes off the new duties you'll have then and came by to talk to me every once in a while when it's my turn."

"Of course I will," Thorin replied. "I know what it's like to yearn for a break when studying. There's only so much a head can take in at a time."

"If you'd like, I could give you a headrub. I really wouldn't want your handsome head to burst." The last part came out rather more earnestly than Dwalin had intended.

Thorin looked at him curiously and Dwalin had to swallow, his ears burning. He did not want to have this conversation while Thorin was busy preparing for his exams.

"That would be great," Thorin merely said after a moment, settling down at his desk again. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes as Dwalin began running the tips of his fingers over Thorin's scalp in circles.

...

"So how did it go?" Dwalin asked as they walked away from the royal apartments. "Now that your family has had a day to celebrate with you, I want all the details."

"No you don't," Thorin replied, grinning at Dwalin in a way that made Dwalin's heart skip a beat. "They interrogated me for hours and made me talk about every skirmish, political decision and law since Durin I first opened his eyes, about every remote dwarven village with all its trade connections and councils. It was so much worse than Balin said his was. There was nothing they didn't ask. If I told you everything, we would still be talking about it tomorrow. I am not going to relive that experience, I want to enjoy my freedom while it lasts."

"I am so, so doomed," Dwalin groaned. "There is no way I will get all of that into my head even if I start studying right now."

"Don't worry, you'll get the test for a second son of a sideline of the line of Durin, not the one for the second in line to the throne. I knew it was going to be tough, but I hadn't quite imagined just how detailed the questions would be."

"Still, you did wonderfully, didn't you?" Dwalin said, throwing an arm around Thorin's shoulders as they reached to gates of Erebor. Thorin had already told him his results right after the exam, before he had gone to celebrate with his immediate family. "And now let's hunt strawberries! I already found a great spot but if you want to take the time to find a good batch yourself, we can do that to. It's all your choice today."

"Let's go to the spot you already found," Thorin decided. "We can always go looking for a different spot, but right now, I just want to enjoy the strawberries and your company."

Dwalin led the way, leaving the road to Dale where he had the last time and walking along a little path through the forest. Light filtered through the fresh green leaves above them, making spots of golden light dance upon the path. They followed a little creek away from the path, climbing over rocks until the creek reached a small clearing.

He had to smile when he saw Thorin's face light up at the sight of all the strawberry plants covering the clearing. Most of them were still in flower or only had green berries, but Thorin rushed towards the strawberries like a little dwarfling getting its favourite treat, picking whatever ripe berries he could find and plopping them into his mouth as he went.

Dwalin followed suit at a slightly more sedate pace, mostly enjoying Thorin's joy at no longer needing to study. When Dwalin had eaten his fill, he sat down and leaned against one of the boulders in the clearing, watching as Thorin gathered more of the sweet berries.

Finally, Thorin seemed satisfied as well and sat down next to Dwalin, the warmth from his shoulder seeping into Dwalin's. He stretched out a hand offering Dwalin a strawberry and Dwalin took one, even though he was bursting full already.

"Thank you," Thorin whispered. "For the winter strawberries and today. And most of all for sticking with me."

"There is no way I would ever leave you," Dwalin said.

Thorin shoved the handful of remaining strawberries into his pocket. Dwalin turned to inquire why, but Thorin grasped his face with both hands and kissed him square onto his lips.

Thorin's hands were still sticky and his mouth was sweet from the juice of the berries. It was surprising and all the same Dwalin had somehow known it was coming, just not that it would be so soon. The kiss was over almost as soon as it started and left Dwalin longing for another one.

Thorin looked up at Dwalin through his lashes, smiling shyly. Dwalin grinned back, feeling as though he would never stop smiling.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to do that?" Dwalin whispered.

Thorin laughed. "I think I might have some idea, the way you've been looking at me these past months. It has been quite distracting."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I was trying not to distract you," Dwalin replied, a wave of guilt washing over him.

"It gave me something to look forward to, so it was quite alright," Thorin said and Dwalin leaned forward to kiss him again.