"We have not resolved the issue at all!" Eowyn exclaimed and flailed her hands.

He huffed and crossed his arms in his habitual stubborn gesture - clasping his left hand on his right elbow without crossing his forearms.

"Well, speak then," he said in an exasperated tone, and Eorwyn exhaled noisily.

She did appreciate that he was willing to listen and didn't dismiss her - but she had hardly any hope that he would take her grievance seriously. And yet, she felt so remorseful for the deceit they'd sustained and so worried about Mistress Algun's feelings that she simply had to try.

"Thorin, we didn't tell Mistress Algun— No, I'm not saying it right." She chewed her bottom lip and made a few steps ahead. She then turned around and paced back. "She found out in the most unfortunate way, and— And you weren't there, but the way she reacted— She was so shocked!"

She peeked and saw that, just as she'd suspected, his face bore an irked expression. He was listening - but at the same time, he wasn't.

"Can you not see how upsetting it is!" she started again.

"I can," he interrupted. "I see that you're upset. I just think you have no reason, and that you're worrying yourself unnecessarily."

"What?" Eorwyn paused her frantic stomping to and fro and stared at him. "I meant it's upsetting for her!"

"That - I care very little about," he said, and Eorwyn gasped.

"How can you? She's— she's your—" She froze, not sure how to proceed.

"She is my what?" he asked, and answered himself, "She's my former betrothed who ended our association on her own volition. There's no grief between us. Now? Now she's my subject, and she found out a few weeks before others. She should rejoice that Erebor now has a Queen," he finished in his usual confident tone, and even gave her a questioning look, as if asking if now the issue was resolved.

Eorwyn lifted her gaze to the night sky, asking Maiar for their help. The man was as compassionate as a log!

"Alright," she drew out and tried another strategy. "Say, imagine if— when Mistress Algun finds her love and decides to marry—" She gave him an expectant look.

"Aye?" he said, clearly needing her to elaborate.

"How will you feel?"

"I don't think I'll… feel in any specific way about it," he asked, now sounding confused - and Eorwyn considered thumping her head on the nearest pine.

She gawked at him - and suddenly started laughing. The King frowned - or to be more precise, he pouted, as much as a fierce and stern Dwarven warrior could pout. Eorwyn dashed to him and threw her arms around his neck.

"Alright, I have two things to say to you, Thorin Oakenshield."

His eyebrows jumped up, and she quickly kissed his lips.

"Firstly, I appreciate that you're trying. To listen to me, and to aid me. And that you aren't being derisive about my ache. And secondly, you are an unfeeling oaf."

"I am a what?" he croaked, and Eorwyn giggled.

"An oaf," she said, nodded, and then kissed him again. "You're the best man I've ever known - but you're as proficient in the matters of sentiment as I am with a battle axe."

"I am not," he rumbled, and a cheeky spark danced in his eyes. "I'm a considerate lover, you said so yourself last night."

"Not my sentiment, Thorin." She pushed her fingers into his hair on the back of his head and gathered handfuls of the thick silky waves. The silver strands in it glistened in the moonlight. "Can't you understand how our familiarity looks to others?"

"I care not," he said, and it was his turn to brush his lips to hers.

"And that is what upsets me right now. Unlike you, I simply can't ignore it," she said softly.

"There's nothing to ignore," the King scoffed. "Lord Ein has known for a while. The guards know. And Mistress Algun—"

"The guards know?!" Eorwyn exclaimed.

"Aye, I told the Captain yesterday while Balin and I were choosing the company," the King dismissed.

Eorwyn's head swam.

"Thorin, you should've told me! No wonder you were so free with me during the ride!" she exclaimed.

"What does it have to do with the guards?" he asked. "And I wasn't 'free.' We rode together and spoke of the weather and the ponies, may I remind you. Nothing improper happened, despite how delicious your bottom looks in these trousers," he added with a chuckle. "We're newlyweds, my heart. Much more would be turned a blind eye to, were we still in the Mountain."

"But—" Eorwyn started, and once again she wasn't sure what to say.

"Was that what upset you? Do you feel better now?" he asked, and she once again felt fortunate that the man she loved wanted to salve her unease - and at the same time, she just couldn't wrap her mind around how little he could commiserate! Was there no empathy in the man's character at all?!

"No!" she exclaimed, laughing in disbelief.

"What then? I truly see no reason why you wouldn't just enjoy this journey," he grumbled. "We're out of the Mountain, away from my sister, and we still have time before all the business of the wedding preparations starts. Why not simply relish it?"

"Is that why you went on this excursion?! To flee from your expectant sister?" Eorwyn snorted.

"I went because you went," he said as if stating the most obvious thing. "You needed to go, and I couldn't possibly trust anyone else to accompany you."

Eorwyn felt touched and smiled at him tenderly.

"Except lord Ein, perhaps," the King added pensively. "I trust his reputation. Still, I'd rather you're overprotected than any harm comes to you."

"I feel truly safe with you here," she said and brushed the tips of her fingers to his cheek. "And you're right. If I forget about my unease regarding Mistress Algun—" He pressed his lips in displeasure, but Eorwyn continued stubbornly, "If I forget about it, it could be quite an excellent small adventure. And it will indeed be busy and taxing once we're back to Erebor. So many things will have to be arranged, and everyone will know then." She sighed and pressed her temple to his. "And for now, we're almost alone."

"Right this moment, we are alone, my little hen," he said pointedly, and she giggled. "And instead of enjoying this moment," he murmured, "I am enduring the conversation that I don't understand and seem to be failing at."

"You aren't failing at it at all, Thorin." Eorwyn twisted a lock of his hair around her finger and then slowly leaned to his ear. "You're being astonishingly patient."

"Only with you, my heart." He twisted his head and caught her mouth. After a greedy kiss he tore his lips off hers. "Is this ridiculous conversation over?"

Eorwyn laughed. Not only he'd tried, he was trying the second time!

"Aye, it is over. We can kiss and behave inappropriately, and then we will go back to the camp, and I'll be blushing and feel endlessly embarrassed because it now turns out that all seven people sitting near that campfire know what the two of us are doing here," she said - and grabbed his ears and pulled him to her lips.

He chuckled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around her.


When they returned to the fire, the guards, with the exception of the one who was currently on the look-out, Mistress Algun, and Ein were sitting, finishing their supper. Eorwyn picked up a bowl from the hands of the Captain and sat on her bedroll.

"Finish up your meal quickly, Master Eorwyn," Ein said and grinned. "It's gone quite cold, you've been absent for too long."

Eorwyn threw him a feigned reproachful look, and then shot her eyes at the guards. She might have been wrong but it seemed small smiles hid in their beards. One of the two guards - Hor, son of Oli - met her eyes and gave her a respectful nod. The King seemed oblivious, already discussing the map with the Captain.

"And we have some training to do," Ein added.

"Oh, the Bearclaw," Hugi, Hor's younger brother, exclaimed in enthusiasm. "I've seen them in the armouries, but have never had the privilege to witness it in action. And again, training with such a worthy teacher is an honour," he drew out, admiration in his eyes.

"It's an honour for lord Ein," his older brother said quietly and looked at Eorwyn again. "My lady," he said, and she blushed, just as she'd predicted earlier in the woods.

Eorwyn felt a gaze on herself. She peeked and saw the King watching the interaction with a smile.

It was a time to be… the Queen, she told herself. In a way, this 'small adventure,' as the King had pointed out, was most fortunate. It gave her a chance to prepare and to practice for when it was time to accept her new role and her new responsibilities. If she didn't faint or behave like a scattered dolt right now, she internally jested, she might survive all of the Erebor finding out about her.

"Thank you, Master Hor," she said calmly and returned his nod. "I'm rather excited to start."

Eorwyn scooped some stew and started chewing. She realised she quite enjoyed the Dwarven travel food: the stew was thick, with large chunks of dried venison, barley, and root vegetables, all flavours blending perfectly with herbs and spices.

The look-out Dwarf - named Tyrni, son of Tor - came back, and Mistress Algun left to take his spot.

When Eorwyn finished and rose to rinse the bowl in the bucket prepared for it, Hugi jumped to his feet and stretched his hand to her dish. Eorwyn had a momentary thought whether Queens weren't supposed to rinse their dirty plates or she was treated as a less capable member of their company, when he smiled and said with a small bow, "Could I take care of this, please, my lady? I'm impatient to see your training start."

"Forgive him, my lady, he's too eager," the Captain, Onar, son of Fudri, said.

"It's quite alright," Eorwyn answered and handed the dish to the guard. "I'd rather swing a blade around than do dishes myself."

The guards laughed merrily, and Ein was already in front of her with the Bearclaw in his hand.

The handle lay in her hand, and she slowly moved it around, warming up her shoulder just as her mentor had taught her in Erebor. The weapon seemed so much easier to swing and gain force with than the Dwarven wide swords she'd trained with before.

"Try not to maim Lord Ein, raklûna," the King called to her from his spot, and she threw him a look over her shoulder.

His left eyebrow jumped up, and he pointed at her legs with his eyes - and then she realised it wasn't the legs he was looking at. The burgundy trousers Mistress Algun had fashioned for her were after all rather tight.

"I had taken care of my bequests in advance, my lord," Ein continued his frolics. "I knew what I'd gotten myself into when I offered lady Eorwyn my services."

"You're being preposterous," Eorwyn answered loudly. She was already feeling rather shy about everyone watching her train. She didn't need any of the Dwarves to have any erroneous notions of her abilities! "I have no skill with any sort of blade, and I can't even shoot with a bow these days. The only danger you're in is me slipping and stabbing you in the foot by mistake."

"She's already plotting injuries for me!" Ein hollered and threw the King a pitiful look. "I'm only happy that lady Eorwyn is the Royal Bookkeeper. I'll be generously remunerated when I lose my limbs."

Eorwyn saw the King's shoulders shake in a silent laughter. Suddenly she felt so much better and swung the scythe in a gesture, which, surprisingly to her, appeared rather smooth.

"Enough babble, my lord," she said. "If we don't start by the time we arrive at Blue Mountain, my skill will be just as lacking."

Ein gave her a low dramatic bow, and their training started.