The next morning Gandalf, Bilbo, and the Company made their way down off the Carrock, it was slow going and took them several hours. Dori carried Haladur most of the way down, though the boy insisted he could walk on his own, they did not want to risk him getting injured. The sun was setting by the time they reached the bottom. They camped at the bottom with no fire, In his sleep Haraldur scoots closer to Thorin for warmth. Thorin wraps an arm around the shivering boy. At dawn Gandalf decides that someone has to scan ahead to see if they are in any danger, Haraldur instantly volunteers to go, much to the protest of Thorin and the Company.
"No, my boy, this calls for a stealthy approach, I shall send our burglar." Gandalf informs him, Haraldur gives a huff but accepts Gandalf's decision.
With that, Bilbo scrambles over the rocks to see where the Orc pack is. He looks out and sees them riding in the distance but as the Orc pack passes Bilbo see something else, some creature perched on a rock peering out over the distance. Slowly and quietly Bilbo slips back towards the Company.
"How close is the pack?" Thorin asks.
"Too close, a couple of leagues, no more." Bilbo answers.
Haldur pulls on Thorin's pant leg to get his attention, Thorin looks down at the boy.
"Thorin, I could send out my Patronus to distract them, maybe they'll follow it." Haraldur suggests.
"You mean the silver stag that we saw in the tunnels?" Thorin thought for a moment, "No, little one, I don't think that's a good idea, they may back track it to find us."
Bilbo cuts in, "But, Thorin, you haven't heard the worst of it."
"The Wargs have picked up our scent?" Dwalin asks.
"Not yet, but they will do, we have another problem." Bilbo says.
"Did they see you?" Gandalf asks.
"Hmm?"
"They saw you."
"No, that's not it." Bilbo tells Gandalf.
Gandalf smiles, "What did I tell you, Quiet as a mouse, excellent burglar material." The Dwarves murmur in agreement.
Bilbo is getting exasperated, "Will you listen? Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."
"What form did it take, like a bear?" Gandalf asks.
"Y-yes, but bigger, much bigger."
Bofur asks Gandalf if he knew about the beast, he suggests that they double back, but Thorin reasons that they'll be run down by thhe Orc pack. The whole time Gandalf is contemplating of their options.
"There is a house… it's not far from here, where we might take refuge."
Thorin pulls Haraldur closer to him, "Whose house, are they friend or foe?"
"Neither, he will help us, or he will kill us" Gandalf informs them.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin asks.
"None."
Thorin reaches down to pick up Haraldur as they are about to start running toward the house, but Dwalin stops him.
"You're still injured, Thorin, give the lad to me." Dwalin says as he takes Haraldur from him.
"Hold on tight now, Lad." Dwalin tells Harldur.
Haraldur grips on with all of his might but makes sure not to strangle the Dwarf. With Haraldur holding on tightly, Dwalin takes off running. They run all morning into the afternoon across fields, streams and into the woods, once in the woods they can hear the beast roaring ferociously.
"This way, quickly! To the house, run!"
They make it into the court yard, they don't stop running until they get to the house. Bombur collides with the door as do other Dwarves. They struggle to try to open it, Dwalin shows up, putting Haraldur down he begins pushing as well. Haraldur pulls out his wand, ready to use an unlocking spell, but Thorin shows up and undoes the latch.
They rush inside the house just in time to see the bear come leaping into the court yard heading straight for them, They close the door but the bear is pushing with all it's might to get into the house, Haraldur is pushed back behind everyone, but goes back up to the front. With wand in hand he send out a stunning spell
"Stupefy!"
The bear is thrown back by the charm, rendering it unconscious for a short time, giving the Dwarves enough time to shut the door.
"What is that?" Ori asks.
"That is our host. His name is Beorn and he's a skin-changer. Sometime he a huge black bear, sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However he is not overfond of Dwarves." Gandalf informs them.
'A skin-changer, I wonder if it's the same as being an animagus?' Haraldur asked himself.
"He's leaving." Ori informs them as he looks out the window.
"Come away from there, it's not natural none of it! It's obvious, he's under some dark spell." Dori rants.
"Don't be a fool, he's under no enchantment but his own," Gandalf admonishes Dori.
Haraldur looks down at his feet, he thought of showing them his animagus form, but after the way Dori reacted maybe he wouldn't. Instead of going to Thorin, Haraldur follows Gandalf.
"Alright, now get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight. Gandalf says with all the confidence in the world, "I hope," he whispers to himself, he didn't notice that Haraldur was standing right next to him.
"You don't think we'll be save, Gandalf?" Haraldur asks.
"There is always a possibility that something may happen." Gandalf say.
Haraldur looks at the floor thoughtfully, then an idea occurs to him. "I could put up warding spells, Gandalf, to keep the Orcs and the bear away."
"Can you now?" Gandalf says with a smile, "And how do you know these wards will work?"
"I used them on my journey to catch up to the others, I actually put up one for the Elves so they wouldn't find me and they rode right past me."
Gandalf was very impressed, "Go ahead, my boy, only make sure that Beorn can enter his home again when he comes back."
"I'll only put them up to ward off the Orcs and the bear, nothing more." Haraldur informs Gandalf, Gandalf nods in approval.
With that Haraldur slips outside unnoticed and sets up the wards all around the house.
He comes back inside, and notices that Thorin is looking around for him. When Thorin spots him he lets out a sigh of relief.
"Where were you, Haraldur?"
"I went outside to go pee." Haraldur lies.
"By yourself? Next time have someone go with you, it's too dangerous for you to be out there alone."
"Yes, Thorin."
Thorin ruffles the boys, hair. "Now let us get some sleep, tomorrow will be a busy day."
The next morning, Haraldur woke up late along with Bilbo, the Dwarves were all gathered by the back door debating about whether or not they should introduce themselves to the large man with the axe or just leave. Until, Gandalf puts an end to their bickering.
"There is no point in arguing, we cannot pass through the wilderlands without Beorn's help. We'll be hunted down before we ever get to the forest. Bilbo, there you are, now this will require some delicate handling. We must tread very carefully, the last person to have startled him was torn to shreds. I will go first- Bilbo and Haraldur you come with me."
"No, Haraldur will go with me." Thorin says.
"Very well."
"I-is this a good idea?" Bilbo questions.
"Yes, now the rest of you just wait here, and don't come out until I give the signal."
"Right, wait for the signal." Bofur says.
"And no sudden moves or loud noises and don't overcrowd him. And only come out in pairs, no actually Bombur you count as two so you should come out alone. Remember: wait for the signal."
Unfortunately things did not go according to plan, Bofur began sending out the Dwarves before Gandalf gave the signal and he started sending them out too close together. The more Dwarves that came out of Beorn's house the more disturbed he became.
"Is that it, is there anymore?" Beorn asks.
With that Thorin walks out holding Haraldur's hand. Beorn stares at them for a moment as if he's trying to decide whether to kill them or not, suddenly Haraldur lets go of Thorin's hand. He walks away from all the Dwarves, going to stand next to Gandalf.
Haraldur takes a deep breath, then steps forward with his hand out, "Hello, Mr. Beorn, my name is Haraldur, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Beorn looks down at the Dwarfling for a good long while, he swings his axe, causing Thorin to nearly lunge for the boy, then embeds it in the stump. Beorn wipes his hands on his trousers, then shakes the Dwarfling's hand, Haraldur smiles up at Beorn.
"Nice to meet you too, Dwarfling, imagine finding a Dwarf with manners." Beorn grumbles.
"Oh I not only have manners, sir, but I'm a shape shifter as well." Haraldur informs him.
He wasn't sure this was a good idea, he may just offend the skin-changer to no end with this feat. But if it went the way he was thinking, Beorn should feel a little bit more comfortable.
Beorn was taken aback, he crosses his arms and stares down at the Dwarfling.
"Are you,now? Well, lets see it." Beorn demands.
Without even a second thought, Haraldur turns into his animagus wolf form, what he was not expecting was to be a cub. The little wolf cub begins to yip and jump around causing Gandalf to smile but the Dwarves gasp. Beorn reaches down, picking up Haraldur by the scruff of the neck, Haraldur growls in protest at being manhandled. Beorn looks deep into those emerald green eyes and let's out a booming laugh. Putting the boy down he continues to laugh.
"Alright, boy, change back." Beorn says through his chuckles.
Haraldur changes back and begins to straighten out his rumpled collar. Beorn lays a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder, escorting him inside.
"How did you ever do such a thing?" Beorn asks as they pass by the Dwarves, they too want to know how he did that.
Haraldur smiles at Beorn then at Gandalf and says one simple word.
"Magic."
Beorn lets out another booming laugh as he enters the house, the other just stand there. He comes back outside.
"Well, don't just stand there, come in for breakfast." Then Beorn goes back in the house to help Haraldur sit down in one of his chairs.
Gandalf and the Dwarves stand there looking at each other in shock, they knew the boy was magical, but the didn't know to what extent. Gandalf is the first one to react.
"Well I think that went quite well, don't you?" He asks as he enters the house with Bilbo following him.
The rest of the Dwarves stare at Thorin, "Well, you heard our host, let's get inside for breakfast, come on all of you." He then makes his way into the house.
Once inside, everyone takes a seat at Beorn's large table, where Beorn had laid out honey, bread and large tankards of milk. The only one who remains standing is Thorin, who goes to lean against a pillar close to Haraldur.
"So you are the one they call Oakenshield, tell me why is Azog the Defiler hunting you? Beorn asks.
"You know of Azog, how?"
"My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the Orcs came down from the North. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved. Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him." Beorn explained, Haraldur gave a shutter.
"There are more like you?" Bilbo asks
"Once there were many."
"And now?"
"Now there is only one. You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn." Beorn states
"Before Durin's day falls, yes." Gandalf says
"You are running out of time."
Which is why we must go through Mirkwood."
"A darkness lies upon that forest, fell things creep beneath those trees. I would not venture there except in great need, especially with a Dwarfling." Beorn warns.
Gandalf nods, "We will take the Elven road, that path is still safe."
At the word Elves, Haraldur perks up, more Elves like Lord Elrond and Glorfindel, what luck.
"We get to see more Elves, Gandalf, that's wonderful!" Haraldur states with a huge smile. Everyone turns to stare at the odd little Dwarfling.
Beorn shakes his head, "The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin in Rivendell, Haraldur, they're less wise and more dangerous. Do not put your trust in the Wood Elves, Haraldur, no matter what they tell you. But it matters not, these lands are crawling with Orcs. Their numbers are growing and you are on foot, you will never reach the forest alive."
"I don't like Dwarves, they're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own, but your little Haraldur has shown me different. He has shown that there may be hope for your race yet. He is a kind and considerate boy, you should cherish him. I will help you, if for no other reason than the boy, you will have all the supplies you need."
With that resolved, Thorin, Dwalin, Balin and Gandalf begin to discuss with Beorn what supplies they would need. As they prepare the supplies Beorn takes Thorin aside.
"Why don't you leave the magical Dwarfling with me, I will keep him quite safe until you return."
Thorin shakes his head, "We already tried that with the Elves of Rivendell, he escaped and followed us into the Misty Mountains. I'm sure he will do the same to you if we leave him behind. This time he will surely be captured by Orcs, I cannot take that risk."
Beorn nods, "The Dwarfling means a great deal to you, does he not?"
Thorin looks off to where Haraldur is with Fili and Kili, they are trying to teach him how to hold a sword properly.
"Yes he does, he means a great deal to me." Thorin admits.
"Then hold him close and cherish him, who knows when your family may be ripped away from you." Beorn says to Thorin.
Thorin gives a slight bow to Beorn, as the skin-changer walks away to talk to Gandalf. Thorin stands there for a few seconds then makes a decision. He walks over to where Fili, Kili, and Haraldur are, he comes to stand beside Haraldur.
"Plant your feet firmly, Haraldur, and hold your sword like this," Thorin show him how, "now follow my movements."
The little Dwarfling does his best to mimick Thorin's movements, slowly but surely he gets better at it. Then Dwalin comes to stand before him.
"Now try to block, Lad."
Dwalin brings down his sword very slowly and very carefully so as to give Haraldur enough time to block, Thorin shows him how to strike back, and Dwalin in turn blocks, they continue on with Haraldur's lesson well into the evening.
The Company stay there two more days at which time Thorin and Dwalin continued to train with Haraldur, and for such a young Dwarfling he was getting quite good. Finally it was time to leave, Beorn had enough ponies for everyone, Haraldur was to sit with Thorin.
"You will leave my ponies before you enter the forest." Beorn demands.
"You have my word," Gandalf tells him
Gandalf and Beorn suddenly hear startled birds fly off.
"We're being watched." Gandalf says.
"Yes, the Orcs will not give up. They will hunt the Dwarves until they see them destroyed."
"Why now? What has made the Defiler crawl from his hole?" Gandalf asks.
"There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the sorcerer in Dol Guldur." Beorn informs Gandalf.
"Are you sure of this?" Gandalf asks.
"Packs have been seen gathering there, each day more and more come."
"What do you know of this sorcerer? The one they call the Necromancer."
I know he is not what he seems, fell things are drawn to his power. Azog pays Homage to him." Beorn tells Gandalf.
Gandalf has a worried look upon his face when Thorin calls out that time is wasting.
Beorn goes on to tell Gandalf that word has spread that the dead had been seen walking near the high fells of Rhudaur. Beorn wanted to know if it was true that there are tombs in those mountains.
"Yes, yes there are tombs." Gandalf says.
Beorn wonders if the enemy has returns and asks gandalf point blank, to which Gandalf has no answer.
They hear once more a disturbance, causing the ponies to get a bit spooked, Beorn looks about him.
"Go now while you have the light, your hunters are not far behind.
They ride hard for Mirkwood and make it there before the sun sets. They all dismount, Thorin handing Haraldur to Bifur, Bifur then sets the boy on the ground. Gandalf looks around then finds the entrance to the Elven Gate, he informs the others.
"Here lies our path through Mirkwood." Gandalf informs them
Dwalin notes that there are no sign of the Orcs and says that they have luck on their side, but Gandalf notices Beorn in bear form on a ridge and tells everyone to let the ponies go. They do as their told, but just as their about to let loose Gandalf horse, he tells them not to. He informs them that he must leave and that he would not leave them unless he had to.
Gandalf walks to his horse, talking to Bilbo, Bilbo explains that he found his courage in the Goblin tunnels and Gandalf tells him that he's going to need it. After talking with Bilbo he calls Haraldur to him.
"Be careful, my boy, I know you are a powerful wizard, but know this: there is a time to show that power and a time to hide it. Use your head when the time arises. Keep them safe and stay on the path."
Gandalf says his farewell to the others and reminds them to stay on the path and not to eat anything from the forest. He also warns them a stream that is enchanted, for them not to even touch the water.
"You must stay on the path do not leave it, for if you do you'll never find it again. No matter what may come, stay on the path" Gandalf tells them as he rides away.
"Come on, we must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day. It's our one chance to find the hidden door." Thorin tells the others
Haraldur brow furrows, he looks up at Balin, "What hidden door, Balin?"
"I'll explain it to you later Laddie." Balin tells the Dwarfling as they are about to step into the forest.
Haraldur pulls out his wand and cast the point me spell. " Point me the Elven Road." Haraldur's wand swings around and point toward the Elven Road, "Well so far so good." Haraldur says as he steps into Mirkwood Forest.
**Okay, I realize that Harry doesn't have an animagus form but for my story he does, so please just go with it.**