The trip home was unusually difficult to go through. He wasn't weighed down by lead but somehow his legs struggled to move forward. He was reluctant to head home for he knew that he wouldn't be back tomorrow.

At every turn and twist, the eyes of the mountain's other occupants followed him and for once he couldn't ignore them. Harry was suddenly nervous about every tiny movement he made and he couldn't help but be hesitant in his replies to every greeting and smile he received on his way.

Were his smiles too wide and his greetings overenthusiastic? He must have done something specific to attract so many admires, right?

"Harry?" His gloomy train of thought stopped abruptly at the call of his name. Turning around, Nori's form came out of another side corridor.

"What are you doing here, Harry? Shouldn't you be working right now?"

"Nori." Harry hadn't seen Nori in days and his mood quickly brightened at the prospect of talking with his mysterious friend. "What have you been up to? I haven't seen you and I know that you haven't been following me around these last few days."

"I've been busy, Harry," Nori replied with a smile. "However much I want to follow you around all day, I've other duties to attend to and a healer doesn't usually stray from the Hall of Healing and therefore doesn't need to be observed as much. It is actually quite the coincidence that I ran into you here. But Harry, what are you doing here?"

"I've resigned, I'm afraid. I'm free and unpredictable once again, my friend."

"I… Didn't you like it there?" Nori asked uncertainly with a confused expression.

"I did. The place is wonderful so is… were my colleagues. I didn't want to quit but I didn't see another way around it. I don't know if you know, you probably do," he added with a humorous eye roll, "but a lot of miners and smithies have been more on more unfortunate while working. The last couple of days we had had an increase in patients with minor wounds and I have reason to believe that the wounds are self-inflicted."

"I knew that a lot of workers had been prone to accidents lately but I never thought that it had anything to do with you. But of course it is because of you." The next string of words were impossible to make out from Nori's angry grumbles which Harry was quick to interrupt out of fear that the dwarf would hunt down recovered patients.

"Well, I thought so too and it didn't seem right to continue my work there when I was trouble for my colleagues."

"I'm sure that they didn't mind the extra work," Nori said kindly to try to assuage Harry's guilt.

"Thank you, my friend." Harry gave Nori an appreciative smile before his green eyes turned skyward in a thoughtful expression.

"I'm contemplating whether or not, I should throw a mountain of socks out through the highest window in Erebor or if I should build a bonfire outside my front door. I could use some help with that, if you aren't otherwise occupied at the moment?"

Nori threw his styled head back in laughter. "Are you feeling rebellious at the moment, Harry?"

"I've grown tired of the stench and I have to vent my anger somehow before I bring the whole mountain down in my anger. And then, Merlin have mercy, I would have to confront an angry king again."

"I'm afraid that I'm rather busy right now, perhaps another time, eh?" Nori asked; his braided eyebrows were lifted in question as he slowly backed away.

"Yes, of course. I doubt that I'll be able to remove them all today anyway," Harry replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "I would much rather spend the remainder of my day in Dale. I'll see you around, right, Nori?"

"I will make sure to find you again later," Nori replied as his brown, spiked hair disappeared around the corner.

With his plans for the day changed, he headed for the main gates. Although the many underground corridors, halls, and rooms never felt cramped, he didn't realise how much he missed the open air and sun before he once again stepped through those big, impressive gates.

Turning his back on the giant, imposing stone guards at Erebor's entrance, he wandered the short trip to Dale on the road occupied by dwarves and humans alike.

Instead of enjoying the day by himself in the wonderful city, Harry visited Thorsten and invited him out on a trip. In the end, it was Thorsten who lead the way. He showed Harry which stands sold the best cheeses and vegetables in the market, the spots that had the best views over the city and the palace. They even visited one of Thorsten's old friends, a wine merchant, who was more than happy to give them a sample of his goods.

Even in Dale Harry attracted attention but not to the degree he was used to getting in the mountain. There weren't as many dwarves around and even if the humans found him interesting, he wasn't noteworthy enough to acquire more than a quick look.

Their trip ended in front of Thorsten's home as the sun started to grace the horizon. With sun heated cheeks, Harry bid Thorsten goodbye and walked on the cobblestone road back in the direction of the mountain peak.

The colourful streets were less crowded and the noise had quieted down to the point where you could hear the birds sing the last tunes of the day. As he reached the southern gate, which connected Dale to Erebor, he couldn't help but notice a cloaked pair of dwarves; each had hold around the bridle of a groomed pony.

By their raised voices the two of them were clearly arguing but Harry couldn't make out the words that were said between them until he got a little closer. They couldn't agree on whether or not they should stay or ride back to Erebor. Why they had such trouble deciding, Harry could not tell.

Even though their cloaks covered them completely, Harry quickly identified them both as males by their deep voices. By dwarven standards they both had intimidating figures and as they stood with their ponies in the gateway, they occupied the whole space. While the tension between them was high, Harry wouldn't let them hinder him in taking the easiest route home.

The bigger of the pair had clearly become fed up by his companion's reasoning because he raised his voice another notch. "You're being a ridiculous twit now."

Harry had seriously hoped that he could have walked by without an incident but now he couldn't stay objective. He didn't want this match of words to result in a fistfight, and with determination, which would have made Godric proud, he intervened.

"Excuse me." The pair of them stopped abruptly and Harry quickly had the attention of the bigger dwarf who had seen him approach over his comrade's shoulder. He had a gruff aura and a sour, hostile face. That was, until he took a double take up and down Harry's form and his whole face broke into a wide smirk. Harry muttered a light curse when he faltered in his steps, unsure about how he should interpret the dwarf's weird reaction to his interference. Even with the 'smile' the dwarf still screamed of danger and the dwarf's dark eyes, mohawk, and facial scars didn't help to soften his profile.

Yet, he wasn't one to judge a book by its cover. "I was wondering if I could be of any assistance; it sounds like you're in quite the bind?"

If possible, the dwarf's smile broke into an even wider grin before he looked at his companion. "It seems that there wasn't any trouble at all; it was all just a misunderstanding. I'm Dwalin, son of Fundin at your service."

"Dwalin, you're Dwalin? I have heard many great things about you from a friend of mine. It's nice to finally have a face to associate with the name. I'm Harry, son of James; it's an honour."

"Really? So you've heard about me," Dwalin stated with a note of satisfaction. "I'm not surprised now that I think about it," he added as he pushed his companion in the side with a triumphant look.

"Well, if you're sure that there is nothing wrong then I better continue back before..."

"There is no need to hurry," Dwalin interrupted hastily before Harry could turn down the path to Erebor. "You haven't even been introduced to my friend."

The anonymous dwarf had yet to show his face and had turned his back on them during Harry and Dwalin's conversation. Even though Dwalin had turned the attention towards him, the mysterious figure didn't seem to want to introduce himself.

Dwalin cleared his throat at the awkward situation all the while glaring a hole in his companion's cloak. "He's a bit shy," Dwalin chuckled humourlessly. "But that is why I'm here," he continued as he grabbed his companion's shoulders and hurled him around.

"Say hello to my good friend, Thormund." The hood was pulled down and Dwalin continued his rant, unaware that Harry didn't hear a single word he said.

Harry stood silent for a good half a minute and stared into familiar blue eyes. Everything had stopped but Dwalin's voice, which was heard like a distant sound in the back of his mind.

"Thorin?"

Harry knew that it was Thorin before him, yet he didn't. The eyes gave him away and the longer Harry looked into them the more he became certain that it was Thorin behind that broken nose, brown wig and shortened, trimmed beard.

The two cloaked dwarves stilled at his admission before Thorin turned his face sideways to glare angrily at Dwalin. "I told you that this was a stupid plan."

Dwalin glared "You were the one who wanted to dress up because you didn't have the balls to go without a disguise, Thorin. I, on the other hand, told you that it was a foolhardy plan but would you listen? No, you wouldn't."

Harry couldn't contain his laughter; it was quite the sight to see the two giant dwarves act so silly. "Why have you gone to such lengths to hide your identity anyway? And what have you done to your beard and your nose?"

When Thorin just continued to stare embarrassedly at him instead of answering, Dwalin decided to intertwine, but not before delivering a dramatic eye roll.

"This idiot here is scared to show his face."

"Why would you be? Your nose looks bad, yes, but that shouldn't be reason enough to do this," Harry said, as he indicated towards Thorin's cloaked form, wig, and trimmed beard.

"Did you perhaps fall off your pony?" Harry couldn't look at Thorin directly as he asked him this, not because he was afraid but because he was unsure how to handle the situation correctly. Unsure and confused about what Thorin could want with him, Harry decided to act professional and focus on the topic that he was, luckily enough, in control over.

"The break looks to have been recent," Harry said as he, without hesitation lightly touched the damaged nose. But as Harry was fully occupied with studying Thorin's nose, he failed to see Dwalin shake his head in bewilderment and Thorin's angry, blameful eyes fall on Dwalin.

"It hasn't even started swelling and, luckily for you, it's not too damaged to be reset. I can do it now, if you want?"

Hesitating for a moment, Harry added, "I understand if you don't want me to do it that… and that is alright. If that is the case, I'll just inform you that you won't reach the mountain quick enough to avoid the swelling to have started and that you'll have to wait three days to have your nose reset and for the healing process to start."

Harry could not help but fret nervously under the intense stare he knew he was being subjected to. Thorin remained awkwardly silent and Harry wanted nothing more than to leave the pair of dwarves before him. He would have, if it weren't for the fact that he was afraid to create further strife between Thorin and himself.

Unable to meet Thorin blue eyes, Harry looked to Dwalin, who looked, to Harry's surprise, in irritation at Thorin. With an overdramatic sigh, Dwalin swung his giant fist into Thorin's side. "Would you care to say something, you giant lump?"

"Hey!" Harry exclaimed angrily as he reached out towards Dwalin's offensive hand. "There's no need to turn to violence."

"I thought that you wanted me to get him to talk," Dwalin answered, confused like he couldn't understand Harry's action.

"You're right, but I didn't ask of you to hit him. Do I look like someone who enjoys resetting limbs?" Harry let Dwalin's giant hand fall from between his own smaller ones, when it became clear that he wouldn't continue his assault on the stumped king.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked, but what he wanted to ask next never left his lips as he turned to look directly into stunning blue eyes.

His heart skipped a beat. Fear, he convinced himself as he was once again caught by the intense eyes.

Thorin didn't seem the least affected by Dwalin's attack. True to Dwalin's intensions, the hit had only worked to relieved Thorin from his trance.

Harry had to break away from Thorin's stare and he felt himself stiffen further as Thorin's deep voice addressed him. "I'm honoured by your concern, of which I am completely unworthy, but you need not worry about me. You shouldn't have to dirty your hands with me; I'll have another healer fix the problem when I reach the mountain again."

"Don't be stupid… I," Harry couldn't believe he had just called the king stupid, again. He was mentally hitting himself over the head with a frying pan as he struggled to overcome his slip. "I mean that it's no trouble; I'll do it now."

Quick as lighting, Harry's small hands flew to Thorin's face and tugged the crocked nose back to its rightful place.

"Thank you," Thorin said his voice unaffected by the painful procedure but his eyes burned as they stared into Harry's.

"You're welcome," Harry replied, as withdrew his hands. "I couldn't possibly allow the king to continue wearing that horrible wig if I could somehow prevent it. Now, I must be heading back; I don't have any light with me and the trail will soon turn dark." With an awkward half-smile Harry began to walk towards the gate, away from the duo.

Once again, Harry failed to see the two dwarves exchange confused looks; he was too busy trying to make his escape. He had only just passed the open gates and released his shoulders from their tense position, when Thorin called out to him.

"Harry, could I offer you a ride home? It's the least I can do to thank you for your generosity."

Harry looked back upon Thorin who was now seated upon his black pony. Attached in his clenched hands, he had the bridle to another pony, Dwalin's pony.

"What about Dwalin?" Harry couldn't help but ask while looking past the two ponies to Dwalin, who had his big arms crossed and a dark shadow covering his face. "Is he not coming with you?"

"Dwalin will be staying in Dale until tomorrow to take care of business with the armoury in the city. It'll please us both to ease your journey back to the mountain." Thorin swung his leg over the pony's back and fell gracefully down its back to the ground.

"Please accept our offer," Thorin said, as he held the bridle out for Harry to take.

When Harry hesitated Thorin inquired, "Have you not ridden before? If so you need not worry; I'll show you and we can ride back at a pace you a comfortable with."

"Oh no, I've ridden before," Harry was quick to say. He grabbed the reigns from Thorin's rough hand, ignoring the pleasant warm flesh that was unavoidable not to touch in the process.

"Shall we get going?" Harry asked before he swung himself over the pony's back, from where he could look down on Thorin's flabbergasted expression.

"You continue to surprise me." Even though Thorin hadn't meant it as an insult, Harry chose not to comment and he could see that Thorin quickly regretted his choice of words from the grimace that overtook his handsome face. Thorin was fast to mount the pony once more and, without further delay, he steered them in the direction of the mountain.

The ponies walked at a slow steady pace, undisturbed by the awkward atmosphere between the two silent riders. Harry was grateful for Thorin's considerate offer but he soon regretted that he hadn't made up an excuse to avoid riding back with him. Again what had he been thinking? That Thorin and him would ride side by side, talking like friends and enjoying their time together?

He knew that it was an unlikely scenario to ever happen, even more so unless he addressed the problem that had been created when they first meet.

"I'm sorry that we meet under the circumstances that we did. I wish that I had never walked through that door but I did, because I was too worried about what others would think of me in my wet attire. I've never thought of myself as vain but I guess that I am."

"Please don't speak of yourself like that. I've meet many dwarves who are vain but you are not one of them."

Harry was surprised by Thorin's pleasantly calm voice and couldn't help but finally look at him. For once Thorin wasn't looking at Harry; he had his eyes on Erebor ahead. The falling sun's last rays shed a golden, warm light upon Thorin's smooth skin. The black, curly hair, short, trimmed beard, thick eyebrows, and once again straight nose, made Thorin one of the most handsome people Harry had ever laid eyes on.

Shaking his head to get his mind out of the gutter, Harry focussed instead on Thorin's words.

"…if we hadn't met. I too wish that it had never happened for we both have suffered from the result."

Harry could easily understand why Thorin wished he had never met him. After what he had learned from his friends, he knew that he had only created more problems for Thorin to handle. Still it hurt to hear Thorin say the words.

"You are right. But what I don't understand is how you could have misinterpreted my intentions in the first place and thought that I was a whore. I know that I wasn't appropriately clothed at the time but I still didn't offer or say anything suggestive to you."

Thorin didn't immediately replay; rather he shifted uncomfortably in the seat of his saddle, unsure of what to say. Their eyes met, each studying the other intently.

"While you didn't say anything suggestive, you still looked and acted as a whore would. How could I've thought that you were anything different?"

Harry couldn't make sense of the words that left Thorin's mouth; he was shocked. But the shock quickly turned to anger.

"Excuse me?" His voice had automatically dropped, just as the corners of his mouth had dropped downwards.

But Thorin didn't bother to repeat his words. Instead he looked at Harry like he was stupid.

"I see that I have to clarify which part of your statement offends me since you obviously don't understand. I don't appreciate being told that I look like a person who takes cocks and swallows cum for money."

"That wasn't what I meant; you misunderstand me," Thorin was quick to say.

"Oh yes, so it's my fault again is it? I misunderstood you, did I? Don't despair, Thorin, for I did indeed understand it when you said that that I looked and acted like a whore."

"But you did, how could I…" Thorin began again, his voice raised to match Harry's own. It was lucky that the road was deserted from other travellers, for none of them wanted to spread more gossip about their strained relationship.

"You could have listened to me, you giant fool," Harry interrupted, "instead of just jumping to conclusions. And I very much deny the fact that I, in any way, can be compared to a whore. I don't see why we should prolong this journey any longer. Thanks for the ride, King Thorin."

With that, Harry kicked the heels of his feet into the pony's sides and spurred the animal into a run, away from Thorin. He couldn't help but throw a look over his shoulder to see if Thorin had taken pursuit but, to his surprise, Thorin's pony had been pulled to a stop in the middle of the road.

Satisfied that Thorin wouldn't hunt him down in unfounded anger, Harry turned his eyes back upon the road ahead. Harry would have expected Thorin to be angry, to act unreasonably or shout at him but he had not expected what Thorin did next.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I only meant to say that you looked beautiful," Thorin's voice boomed and ate the distance between them with ease, as if he was riding right beside him.

Even though Harry was confused about Thorin's strange apology, he didn't stop his pony to find out what Thorin meant. He did however look back upon the still figure – What was that supposed to mean?

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Whenever I need inspiration and motivation, I'll read your awesome comments and it gets me high like a wow! You guys are so awesome. I feel undeserving of the support I receive, especially, when I choose to leave you for so long. I'm so sorry! What I want to say is that, even though I'm busy and stressed as hell, you guys still motivates me to write - Thank you all!