AN : I didn't get the chance to thank the two people who left reviews for this story. Sorry and thank you!

/-

They ended up spending the next several days at Yeva's cabin. She again had to work and he again had nothing to fill his days with.

She encouraged him to walk to town to visit, but he couldn't bring himself to do it alone; not yet. The noise, the smells, the cars, the trucks, and the sheer number of people milling about were very hard to handle. It was perhaps a good thing Yeva insisted he should not have anything that could be used as a weapon on him when he accompanied her. More than once people jostled them or passed too close for comfort and more than once he felt his hand fly to his side, where his dagger should have been.

The people he met were not going out of their way to make him feel unwelcome, but they were staring. They might not know he was a dwarf from another world, but they could see he was different and they treated him as such. Some would look at him with pity, some with disdain, and all of them would be rather at a loss on how to behave around him.

Yeva had tried to shield him, to the best of her ability, and it was somewhat of a blessing that people spoke Westron or English, as she called it, with such terrible accents that he hardly understood a word. Neither did they understand him. Yeva was the only one who did not have any troubles with his speech and she treated him like she treated everybody else, for which he was grateful.

It was early days still, but he had started to think about how his future might play out. He did not know how to go back, did not know if it was a possibility, and he would have to do something with himself. He should at least try to earn his keep.

Meanwhile, he was accompanying her to town, almost every time she went and was trying to understand as much as possible about the customs of this new world.

/-

Over the past several days she went over The Hobbit, then the Appendices where Thorin's history was described, although the details were scarce, and then the Unfinished Tales. It was not much and it only served to remind her why she didn't like the story in the first place.

"Would you say," she asked him one afternoon, "that you are the kind of person who promises anything - or give their word or whatever you want to call it - just to obtain what they want? And then, if the situation were to turn in their favor they would renege on that promise?"

It was one of the things that bothered her most. Thorin didn't look like an opportunistic psycho jerk, but then she didn't know him all that well. She wanted some answers.

He said nothing at first and then he tried to buy himself some time, which annoyed her.

"I do not understand what you imply," was the only thing that came out of his mouth. He had perfected the resting bitch face thing and now with extra bitchiness!

"The thing is, Tolkien says that you agreed to give what would have been Bilbo's share of the treasure to the menfolk in exchange for the - um, stone. But even as you did so you were thinking about how to cheat. Do you see yourself doing something like this? Because you said the other day that you didn't go mad with gold sickness, you were just greedy. Right?" He had nothing to say in reply, so she went on.

"I have a problem seeing how this works. I understand greed, but the way it's described makes you look not only greedy but despicable. So would you say you are one of those dishonorable dwarves Tolkien talks about?"

"Is this your opinion of me?"

She took a good look at him and maybe she should've done that earlier. That and many other things. Now he was completely closed - the very definition of blank; she could read nothing of how he felt.

"No. Yes. I don't know. I mean it's possible, isn't it?"

Both of his palms came down so forcefully on the kitchen table that Yeva was amazed he did not break it.

"You know nothing!" Thorin said in a low voice. He turned as if to leave, but then came back and struck the table again, this time much closer to where she was standing.

"Nothing!" he nearly yelled at her. "You will refrain from ever questioning my honor, you hear me?"

She wasn't sure how they got here and before she could say anything he grabbed her by her elbow and pulled her to stand in front of him.

"You never had a day in your life when anybody depended on you! You're nought but a spoiled little woman living her spoiled little life!" He pushed her back into her chair, hard enough that her hips hurt and her back hurt even more and she was sure she was going to have bruises on her arm.

/-

Well, that could've gone better.

She took her time thinking of what she said and how he reacted, but couldn't quiet her thoughts enough to arrive at any conclusion.

About two hours later Thorin was not yet back inside and she was wondering if she should be looking for him or let him be. Looking for him, probably, but she wasn't sure what she'd find. In the end, concern trumped every other consideration and she went outside.

He was not far, just at the edge of the forest. At first, he did not seem to hear her, but when he did he got to his feet and came toward her.

"Lady Yeva, I should apologize for how I treated you."

Hm. You should, but you don't want to. "We shall have to establish some limits."

"I will not touch you again."

"Yeah, that would be one thing. However, I don't know you and you don't know me. It seems I am uniquely qualified to push your buttons -" he looked confused. "It seems I say things that upset or enrage you."

"You did, aye."

"I will try to think before I speak and express myself in a way that is respectful of your feelings." Nope; still confused. "I will try to find ways to say what I think you should hear, but without upsetting or enraging you."

"I see."

"The thing is - how often do you fly off the handle when you hear stuff you don't like?" Aaaand - confused.

"Speak plainly, wom - Lady Yeva." Confused and angry.

"How likely are you to punch a hole in the wall or punch me for that matter, if I say something you don't like?"

"I do not hit women," he replied hotly.

"That's great, Thorin, I feel special," she bit out before she could think. He was starting to turn red again and she wasn't sure if he still needed time to work off his anger or if he was just embarrassed.

"Perhaps I should sleep in the shed."

"You can if you want to, but not on my account. I didn't come for an apology, as I don't believe either of us knows what we are doing here. I came to see if you are well, that's all. If you need space - if you need to be alone, do that. If you want to come back inside, then come back. I am distressed, but mostly I believe you kind of shocked me."

"I am sorry." He sounded sincere and she wanted to believe him. Is this how abuse happens? How it starts? It was entirely possible and entirely frightening and she didn't know what to do.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too."

/-

He needed to think and he needed to calm himself. Her attack had been wholly unexpected.

He'd been out staring unseeingly at the trees for at least two hours when she came to find him. It had been too soon and he did not know what to tell her.

He should not have grabbed her or pushed her. He never lost control like this. He was not even sure what she said for the most part. But now she came to see if he was well.

Before this mess, he would have said they were somewhat friends, at least this was how he thought of her.

It seems that was not how she saw him. She did not trust him. She trusted the blasted book more than she did him! Just thinking about it made his head swim and his fists clench!

It would be best to sleep in the shed. He was just about to head for it and look for the bedroll when he spotted a shadow on the other side of the yard. Although not exactly a shadow. The man was dressed in white for the most part and had an enormous hat on his head. He could see nothing of his face except for the white beard. For all that he was dressed in white against the greens and browns of the forest, he was a shadow.

His breath caught in his throat when he saw him coming closer to the cabin, trying to look inside. Should he challenge him? He should and if the situation was different he would. The man was trouble, he could see it, could feel it in his bones. Yet what could he do? Yeva would not approve of a confrontation and after their row, she was unlikely to take his side.

He blinked and tried to think of what was best, but nobody was there anymore. He was sleeping inside.

/-

She did not expect Thorin to be back; she was glad that he was; worried too. Things could not be so bad, right? She did not want them to be, although it would be hard to trust him now.

"I'm glad you are back," she said simply and made sure she looked him in the eyes when she did. Because she was. She never meant to hurt him.

"Am I still welcome?"

"Of course you are, Thorin. We'll talk about it, certainly more than you would ever wish to, but you are very welcome in my home. Always. I did not mean to hurt you. I know I did and I am sorry. We'll figure something out, you'll see."

He relaxed just a tiny bit and she smiled. "I'm really glad you are back."

/-

At least she did not hold grudges. He did not doubt that she would want to talk about it, as she said. Mahal have mercy on him, the woman could talk!

"... so I thought we could head out tomorrow morning." She was speaking and he better pay attention.

"So? What do you think?"

"Hm," he hedged.

"Right you are. We are not in a hurry. We'll pack tomorrow morning and then head out. That is if you still want to accompany me. You can stay here if you wish to."

"I shall come."

"Yes, okay, but do you want to? Or are you coming only because you think you must help me? Because you don't have any such duty. You know that, right? I like hiking with you, but I can manage on my own, no problem."

"I shall come," he repeated, but he could see she was not convinced. "It is better than staying at the cabin."

"True that. I'm waiting for my brother, he should be here in four weeks, give or take. Then we'll talk together about how we can get you to become - um - more independent, I guess."

"Your people do not seem to need my skills."

"I don't believe this will be as much of a problem as you seem to think. You saw the film with your quest. They used truckloads of swords and armor and who knows what else. The film industry is one of the largest employers of traditional battle crafts. Larping too is great for this. Humans just looove a good battle. You'll set up shop, make a few things to show what you can do and I'll hook you up with prospective customers. No, I don't believe you'll have any problems making money if you want to continue being a blacksmith that is."

He did not know if he could believe her. If he was completely honest, for the moment he did not.

"Although you have to keep in mind that you can do something else entirely. Maybe you'll see something that interests you and you'll want to know more about it and then you'll learn to do it as a job. Don't think that you have to start pounding on an anvil first thing tomorrow and that's all your life's going to be. I said I will help and I fully intend to do so. I want you to at least be content here, even if you'll always want to go back."

/-

The next day he was staying a little to the side, waiting for Yeva to finish speaking with a young man so they could depart the large market store. She was not always forthcoming with her thoughts about her acquaintances so he was left to puzzle for himself who was a friend and who was not. In this instance, he could not guess.

"You look bothered. Was it the man or was it what he said?"

"Oh, Florian is harmless enough, even if I don't care for his brand of humor. It was what he said. Do you remember monsieur Joffrin's friend?"

"Aye, the one who threatened you."

"He did no such thing. He's old. Like really, really old - all white hair, white beard, and bushy eyebrows, although the eyebrows are not fully white. He probably feels the compulsion to give advice. My grandfather was like that. Many people at his age think everybody else is a wet behind the ears youngster in dire need of advice and direction from their elders."

He did not want to say more. She was entitled to her opinion, but he did not have to like it or like the neighbor. To him, it looked like an awfully specific kind of advice. Who in their right mind would go out in a storm and put themselves in harm's way in a flood and for what? Because they heard that a woman was living alone in the woods? There were many hours to the day and if anybody would have wanted to harm Yeva they could have done so at any time and in relative safety.

"Thorin, did you hear what I said?"

"Nay. I was thinking of something else."

"For this, I should not even tell you," she said and stuck her tongue at him.

She was confounding. She was way past the age when such behavior might seem understandable, if not quite acceptable.

"Florian said that he was running past my cabin this morning and that my new neighbor was trying to look inside."

Again! Was it the same man he himself saw? He got a bad feeling about this, a dark feeling that he did not like. "Yet you insist he was not threatening you."

He saw her wanting to respond, but then she faltered. Mahal, make her see, he thought fervently. She was in danger, he could feel it.

"I - in truth, I do not know what to think."

"At least we will sleep in the woods tonight."

"Yes, although I don't like it. I've half a mind to return and confront him."

"No." Had she no sense of danger? "We will not return to the cabin. You will not return to the cabin."

"Thorin cut the crap. I don't order you around, you don't order me around. Lose the attitude, mon pote."

He did not understand quite everything she said, but the intention was clear. He had to tread lightly. "We gain nothing by arguing now. We have three or four days to think about it." She nodded, but she was still looking at him with suspicion. "I hope to persuade you to my way of thinking," he tried again and even forced himself to smile.

She softened and smiled a little in return and he counted it as a victory.

"I am a dwarf of many talents."

"Really? Do tell."

"I play the harp."

"You do?" she squeaked. "For real?"

"I would not say so if I did not."

"I'll buy a harp! I have to see this! I saw a concert some years ago, I remember the harpist."

She squeezed his hand excitedly and just like that she let happy memories push aside her ire. He knew her enough by now to be certain that she would not forget or forgive him for telling her what she should and should not do, but she would not hold a grudge.

Unfortunately, he did not have any proof or any argument to persuade her to his thinking, other than his absolute certainty that she was in danger.

/-

For all that she scolded Thorin about his attitude, she knew that something was not quite right with that man. Yes, Thorin was forceful and a hothead - she got the bruises to prove it; he was used to commanding and expected other people to obey. However, two hundred years' worth of attitude aside, it fell to her to tease out intent. He would not change in a day or even in a year and she should not discount good advice and good ideas only because they were presented as commands. She was older than jumping out of the window only because she was told not to.

And her neighbor was weird; like really weird.

Their proposed route would take them west towards the mountains, although standing at only 1300 m they were hardly deserving of the name. The straightest, easiest route would be to follow the main roads. The first leg was about 6 km, with an elevation of around 350 m, then they'll start going straight up.

They'd been walking for some time and were just about to turn and start ascending when she saw her neighbor on the side of the road, leaning against a road sign. But then she blinked and he was not there.

/-

He heard her gasp and saw her stop.

"I swear to you I saw him. He looked - real."

"Whom did you see?"

"Monsieur Leblanc. I sound crazy. What am I saying? I am crazy! I let him get into my head and now I'm seeing him everywhere!"

He did not see anything amiss but did not doubt that Yeva had seen the man. Contrary to her supposition that fear was making her see things that were not there - at least that is how he understood her babble - he knew that certain beings could choose to appear and disappear at will. She said magic did not exist in her world, but she not believing had no bearing on its existence.

"You do not see him everywhere," he pointed out, hoping to calm her some. She did not hear him and was muttering to herself in one of her other tongues. At one point he had asked her to teach him a few words and she asked in what language. She spoke well three and could get by in three others. She could also read two more, although she did not understand what she was reading - she only knew the signs and rules of pronunciation. They settled on him learning the greetings in French and a handful of useful words. This Earth is too complicated, he mused.

"I do not know what to do now," she interrupted his thoughts.

"Continue on our way," he told her. "We should keep our eyes open for anything unusual, but I do not see any reason to stop. Unless you know of an inn around these parts and want to go there? Would it help?"

"There must be dozens of gîtes around and I know of a couple of restaurants too."

"Should we break our fast early then?"

She agreed it was a good idea. It took them another half hour of steady advance to reach the spot. It was not a tavern nor an inn, but it let rooms to travelers and if they asked nicely they could stay only to eat something. Yeva did ask nicely and they were served soup, an assortment of cheese, and cold meats; entirely too much cheese and too little meat.

They ate and then they were on their way. From there, their path would continue to ascend through a forest.

/-

They were walking for about an hour when she gradually felt herself becoming fidgety. Thorin was never the most talkative person, but right now he was awfully quiet and she didn't like it.

Let's heap a bit more guilt on top of it, shall we, my dear? That was the problem, wasn't it?

She was feeling guilty for dragging him with her, only ever doing the stuff she wanted to, although he never said he didn't. Neither was he showing any enthusiasm and she was left unsure about what would be the best way to acclimate him to his new life. Gradual introduction to the wonders of hundred percent human and tech-centric life seemed the way to go, right? Maybe, but then again maybe not. He was not doing well.

She had been considering ideas and judging possibilities for some time when she tripped on a root enough to fall to her knees.

"Merde!"

Thorin helped her to her feet and they both took a moment to look around them.

"We are not on the path, are we?" It was the first thing that came to her mind.

"Aye."

She tried to orient herself, but it was useless. Every direction looked the same with not even a hint of a path in view. She was annoyed. It was a rookie mistake and one she didn't make before. You weren't thinking about where you were going, were you?

"I never lost the path before."

"Do not trouble yourself; I did not notice either."

"Right," she replied without really paying attention to him. She was busy fiddling with her phone, which showed no network, which meant no network, and there was nothing she could do about it. The standard GPS map should work. It didn't. Which meant the phone didn't work correctly. So reboot. They waited a bit while the phone restarted. Thorin was as composed as ever while she was drumming her fingers on her thigh, and then it was back to fiddling. She cursed the engineer that came up with such an informative error message as "Oops! Something went wrong." Her palms were getting sweaty and she wished she could throw the darn thing at the nearest tree. But that would be just childish and would accomplish nothing.

"Huh, that's actually… not good. The phone doesn't work so I don't know where we are." It cost her to say that aloud. Not because she felt above admitting mistakes, but because this mistake would - could - potentially hurt someone else. And it would be her fault if that happened.

"We were supposed to go west."

"Right now we were going straight north - I mean we were supposed to go straight north for about 3 kilometers more and then reach the top of this mountain, where the farms are, and from there we would climb down on the west side and then climb up on the next mountain. It's kinda funny to call the Vosges mountains, they look more like hills, don't they? Come look at the map. We started here and walked for an hour."

They both looked at the map, although there was not much to see. They didn't go south or east because they would have encountered the main road if they did. They were still somewhere in the forest. It was then only a matter of deciding which was the easiest path to their destination.

"So north, then?" Thorin had not said much. He looked at the map, asked a couple of questions, nodded here and there, and that was about it. Should she push him to voice whatever was in his head or should she just let him be? "You will tell me if you think there's a better way, right?"

"Aye." And with that she had to be content. She tucked her map back in and took out the compass and they were good to go.

They kept walking for another half hour. They should have come across some forest paths; they didn't and she felt a headache coming. A backache too, come to think of it. Wasn't it just fuckin perfect? The more they walked the more strange the forest became and the more she felt like she missed something important. But what? Think, Yeye, think!