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Note: English is not my first language.

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Chapter 7

Katrin stared at the ponies Thorin had bought for them. She had never ridden a horse before; witches didn't need to learn that skill. Why couldn't she use her broom? It would be much safer. She looked at Thorin who was patting his brown pony. If it was a flying horse, well that would be a completely different story, she wouldn't mind that.

Gandalf was feeding his grey horse, giving him some apples. The horse seemed very happy with the treat.

She approached her supposed pony and offered an apple from the basket. The animal accepted and she started caressing his head.

"You must give it name" Gandalf said while putting a bag on the horse. "It's customary to give a name to your mount. For some, it's the only companion on the road. Yours is a female". Katrin nodded with agreement. She didn't really know what name she should give to the animal.

"Is this your first time?" Thorin's voice asked with amusement.

"No it is not!" Katrin denied immediately. Why did she lie? It would be acceptable to just be honest about her lack of knowledge. Thorin didn't believe her and shook his head.

"It's ok if you don't know. I can teach you" Thorin approached her, being nice. Katrin thought that was weird. "I chose a calm and gentle pony just for you, so you don't have to be afraid. It's a pony, not a horse" he laughed. So he could laugh and be nice, Katrin thought a little dazed from the sound he made. It's not like she doubted he could laugh or smile, it was just that he seemed like an angry type of person. She cherished that moment and truly smiled in return.

Thorin stopped laughing when he saw her smiling to him with the blushed cheeks, she had a beautiful smile, one of those that shines from within. Again he shook his head and cleared his throat to clear those thoughts.

Gandalf merely observed them and acted as the horse was very important. The wizard hoped that those two would become friends and form a strong bond, one of those that lasts a lifetime. Maybe he was mistaken, but he had a feeling about her appearance in Middle Earth. However, their travel had only begun and many things had yet to happen.

He had knew Albus Dumbledore and the story about Brandin Fundin. How the two realms were connected, it was certainly a mystery that only the Valar could answer. But one thing was sure, in the two worlds there was magic, and that was not just a mere coincidence. Gandalf only hoped that no one from the dark side would know of the portal. Beorn was the protector of the portal and he trusted he was doing a good job.

Moments later, Thorin started teaching Katrin how to ride a pony, despite her unsureness. He heard her muttering something about brooms and carpets. She was definitely weird, Thorin concluded with a snicker. At least the pony was patient and gentle with her and she didn't fall, Katrin thought.

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An hour later when they had left the inside of the village, Gandalf and Thorin stopped near some trees, while the snow seemed to had given a pause to the passing travelers. Katrin was checking her bag, making sure everything was well adjusted. This time she wouldn't do spells to camouflage herself or Thorin. If she mention that, he would certainly snap at her.

"I can't go all the way to the Blue Mountains, in fact I'll separate ways before stepping outside of Bree-land" Gandalf informed the two while they approached the road.

"I'll search for some willing folks to join on your quest. Truthful folks, don't you worry, Thorin" the wizard assured the dwarf with a confident expression "we'll meet again soon".

"Thank you, I trust your judgement. But when will that be, Gandalf?" Thorin asked with uneasiness.

"Well, we are in December now…so we'll reunite in April 26th at the Shire at a house with a mark at the door. Yes, that'll be it" Gandalf concluded with a proud smile, visualizing everything on his head.

"Ok then, I'll see you again on that date" Thorin nodded. Katrin was confused with the dates because at her world, they did already pass December and new eve. That was weird but not unexpected, since she came from another world.

"And Katrin, I would love to see you again. Maybe you'll join us" Gandalf winked his eye with mischief. Thorin didn't like that. "And I must advise you to only your magic to those you trust. Middle Earth has ears everywhere and sometimes that's not necessarily a good thing" Gandalf's expression darkened.

"She won't. And I'm sure Balin and Dwalin won't allow it" Thorin answered with a mad voice that seemed more like a thunder. Katrin rolled her eyes. It seemed like Thorin loved to decide about her own life. Was he like that with his wife too? She had the urge to ask but contained her tongue.

"Oh, we have already decided? How nice of you, your majesty!" Katrin hoped they wouldn't argue on that day, but it seemed impossible when she was in his company.

"You won't come, I won't allow it" Thorin insisted being temperamental. Katrin tried to ignore him. It was going to be a long journey. Thorin knew that it wouldn't be wise to take her on the future quest to reclaim Erebor.

"Gandalf, tell me…is it ok if I transform this king into a hamster?" Thorin glanced at her with a furious face. Gandalf rolled his eyes at her provocation. "Ok, don't look at me like that! I won't harm his majesty" Thorin didn't appreciate the mocking tone she used.

"My dear, you must be patience with Thorin, he is a dwarf and dwarfs are difficult creatures" the last part was said in a lower tone, but Thorin heard him. "Remember, there's dwarf in you. Give him a chance, it's like the saying: no rose is free from thorns". Gandalf gave a knowing smile.

"And his name is Thorin, how curious" Katrin thought about the irony of the name upon hearing Gandalf's advice.

Feeling impatience with their conversation about him, Thorin hurried with his pony to the bridge near ahead. Katrin and Gandalf saw that and followed behind.

"And remember the gift I gave you this morning!" Gandalf exclaimed with a witty expression that made Katrin laugh and nod her head.

After the bridge, there were two main roads to different places. The one on the right was towards west and the other to east. Thorin stopped at the beginning of the road that routed to west, the way to the Blue Mountains. Katrin approached him with a calm expression, suspecting the storm that was happening inside his head. She looked at the sky and wished that their trip would go well without delays or accidents.

"Let's go! See you again, wizard" and with that Thorin followed the road. Katrin shook her head trying not to say anything. She waved her hand to Gandalf and rode following the king.

"And don't do harm to each other!" the old wizard exclaimed with apprehension but a smile.

"See you next time, Thorin and Katrin" Gandalf whispered and then held the horse reins followed the other road.

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Along the day, they rode with a low pace because of the snow on the road. It was dangerous for the ponies to ride quickly, accidents could happen and besides that, because of the winter the animals had less stamina on the road. Katrin really wished they could just fly. Thorin was riding just at her side to not lose her off sight, like he had promised.

"Thorin" Katrin called Thorin who had his eyes focused on the pony and the road. "Would you mind if we travelled my way?" Thorin glanced at her with a curious expression.

"And what does that mean?".

"Flying on a broom" Thorin raised his eyebrows with disbelief and shook his head in disagreement.

"That's out of the question. Dwarfs don't fly, it's simply like that." He observed the witch; she had covered her head with the hood of the cloak, making her face out of his eyes reach.

"With this weather, it would be more practical to just fly there".

"Like I said, it's not an option" Katrin wanted to insist but thought that it would not be wise. "You'll get used to it, you'll see". Thorin tried to cheer her.

"How long do you think we'll think to get to the Blue Mountains?" Katrin asked, before Thorin had stopped his pony. "What?".

"Water, we must give water to the ponies or they will lose strength. You told me you had water with yourself, can you give some to the ponies?".

Katrin dismounted the pony and took her wand on her hand. Thorin looked at her with surprise. She took a button from her inner pocket and put it on the palm of her left hand.

"What are you…" on the next moment, Thorin saw her transforming the button into a bowl of medium size. She placed the bowl on his hands and with another wave of her wand, a jet of water come out of her wand. Thorin became speechless with amazement. "That's…"

"Here you have water, if you need more just tell me" Katrin smiled and started to wave her wand again, but this time to place warming charms on the ponies that seemed rather cold despite the ride. Thorin proceed on giving the water to the animals that seemed very happy with the refreshment, they were very thirsty. Travelling with that weather demanded much more of them.

A few moments later, after the ponies had finished drinking water Thorin return the bowl and saw her doing magic once more, transforming the object into a button again. He didn't want to admit, but he was marveled with that just little of magic. He wouldn't say that out loud to her, he was a stubborn dwarf after all.

Katrin felt his gaze on her, but said nothing as she knew that he hadn't seen anyone doing magic like she did. At least she had that impression by the way he looked at her, when she spurted from her wand on the bowl. She took some apples from her backpack and gave them to the ponies.

They continued the ride for another set of hours and like before, Thorin didn't said anything at all, maybe because of the cold and the wind, Katrin thought. But the truth was, Thorin was lost in his own thoughts. He was thinking about her valuable has a witch to the dwarf community. Dwarfs were known to have magic runes, giving the possibility of doing invisible doors and other things, but never had he seen in his 195 years someone doing magic like she did. He said he wouldn't allow her to come on his quest to reclaim Erebor, but in fact he was now having second thoughts. No, she had yet to proven herself worthy of the mission; she didn't even prove her identity yet, she could very well be a trickster spy sent by the elves or others that wanted his fail.

Sometimes, like all dwarfs, Thorin was very stubborn, but for the first time on his existence, he felt that his stubbornness would lose on the way. He just knew that.

It was almost nightfall and they stopped on one of the side of the road. Katrin had told him previously that camping with the snow wouldn't be a problem, and Gandalf told him to trust her on that. They were both wizards, so perhaps he should see what she would do.

"Ok, I think this is a good place" Katrin said after a while and Thorin agreed with her. When he was going to start and make a fire, she stopped him. Thorin didn't understand her but waited to see what she would do.

Katrin put her backpack on the ground and with the "accio" spell took one of her tents from her bag. Last night, she discovered that her mother had put medium sized tent on her bag, it was a good discovery. It would be excellent to use on their way to the Blue Mountains.

Thorin observed once again what Katrin did with her wand. She stared to assemble what it seemed a small tent, it was red. A peculiar color for a tent. Next, she took a long torch from her backpack. How did that fit on the bag? It was a total mystery for him, but somehow Thorin new that would only be the beginning. Katrin lighten the torch with fire and next she started casting the protection charms. She was even more cautious this time, casting even more spells to secure their location throw the night.

"Protection charms" Katrin explained after seeing the curious expression on Thorin's face. "They'll make us safe during the night and no eye will be able to see us or find us here" Thorin showed a truly surprised face, and he thought that the results of those spells were yet to be proven.

Katrin grabbed her pony's reins and pushed to the inside of the tent, leaving Thorin wondering how she entered that small tent with the pony. They simply disappeared.

"You can come in, you know?!" her voice came from the tent, making him even more intrigued. Despite being suspicious, Thorin entered the small tent, bringing his pony along. Inside it was everything less small. It was warm and cozy. The floor was made of a wine colored carpet, or that it seemed. There was a kitchen with a small fireplace, and some benches and other furniture and several doors. That intrigued him, how could there be doors inside a tent?

At one of the corners, Katrin had made a place to put the ponies, like a small stable area to keep the animals safe. There was water and plenty of straw for the ponies; they would be very well taken care on that place.

"What do you think?" Katrin asked curious about Thorin's opinion. He gave a better look to the inside and his expression was full of wonder. He took his cloak, his bag and the sword and put hem next to the table. He touched his side braids, admiring the tent and then returned his gaze to Katrin, who was still waiting for his answer.

"This is…amazing" Thorin genuinely admitted. Katrin smiled with his answer. "I don't want to admit…but this place…I never imagined that something like this was possible…it seems something from a dream". The look he had on his eyes, like a child seeing a Christmas tree, made her heart warm.

"I think you'll be marveled if I show you the bathroom" Katrin added. "Come, I'll show you".

Thorin followed her to one of the doors. When opened, it showed a small bathroom with a wooden toilet and a bathtub. There was a very little wardrobe, also made of wood and glass doors.

"Amazing…I truly ignore how this is all possible" Thorin confessed still smiling.

"I'm glad that this made you surprise".

"You have no idea" maybe Thorin would start seeing her with a new light, perhaps she could be trusted.

"I hope you are hungry, come and let's eat" as Katrin said that, she turned to the little balcony kitchen. "You can see the other rooms if you wish" she added. Thorin agreed and opened the other door. But when he did that, he discovered that the door was made of the tent material, it was not an actual door made of wood. Inside there was a bed that seemed very comfortable and more wardrobes.

Thorin returned to the center of the tent and found food on the table. Everything seemed delicious. How did she do it?

Katrin had served them food she had brought from her own home. Maureen had packed a lot of food and placed several charms to preserve the food for a long time.

Thorin sited on one of the benches and stared at the food, still disbelieved with everything he was seeing.

"Thank you for all of this" Thorin said putting some food on his plate. There was a very delicious looking stew beef with potatoes and the smell was also amazing. He certainly wouldn't be hungry on that night.

"You're welcome, Thorin and if you need anything…just tell me" Katrin gave a shy smile which he returned.

"Balin and Dwalin will be very pleased with you and your magic".

"I really hope so and I've brought a lot of things to show to them" and for the first time since they have met, the conversation flowed naturally without distrust.

I hope you liked this chapter and like always, let me know your thoughts and feel free to give suggestions =) Review please!

xx

Nice Egan