Cold and wet was the weather when the tall white horse jaunts through the gate into the rundown town of Bree! Cold wind whipped hard against the two hooded figures atop the tall white horse while the animal clops along the very muddy path, splashing along the once hard dirt 'road' whenever the animal's hooves sprayed water in different directions after stepping in the puddles!
About a week passed! The start of the second week just slowly crept upon the two riders sharing the saddled animal. Closer to the animal's maned head, the figure whips out a hand to grasp the hood when the wind whips hard at the hooded figures face!
Behind the shorter cloaked figure, the bigger cloaked figure reached out to grab the reins while using the other hand to reach up and gently pull the hood back over the shorter figure's face.
Growing harder, the wind currents whip even harder against the two hooded faces with such force, the rains hit them square in the face. Still, neither one dared say a word out in the open. Danger always lurks within the shadows no matter the time of day. No matter if streets are vacant or not.
Finally approaching a cozy quaint barn, the bigger figure slides off the white horse as the barn keeper walks through the open barn door to greet the arrivals.
The barn keep halts in his steps when the hooded figure approaches. He catches a glimpse of the figure's face beneath the hood. He looks between the two figures while the figure before him hands over the reins before breaking the silence. "Are you friend or foe?"
The barn keep realizes who he is talking to while curling his fingers around the horse's reins. After all, he has personally seen the bounty contracts hanging from just about every building in Bree! His face becomes serious while discreetly telling the hooded figure he's trustworthy by taking the figure's hand in a firm handshake. A small quiet conversation soon starts between the barn keep and the hooded figure.
"Friend."
"Then I trust you will be discreet as well as helpful, should I and my companion need it?"
"Of course." The hooded figure adjusts the hood before walking back to help the other figure off the horse.
Studying the shorter figure's body height and size, the barn keep quickly approaches the taller figure while the shorter figure presses into the taller figure for warmth, meeting the barn keep's face while the taller familiar figure rubs the shorter figure's back, also meeting the barn keep's face. After doing a quick scan with his head, the barn keep starts a conversation in a low voice.
"If it pleases you, Master Dwarf, I have a spare room in my home for you both as well as dry clothes for you and your lady."
"Where is your house at?"
"Behind the barn. If you wish to leave in the morning to stay at The Prancing Pony just up the road, that's fine. At least allow my wife and I to prepare a hot meal for you both and make up the spare room for you and your lady." Not at all surprised by the guarded tone in the Dwarf's deep voice. The barn keep quickly adds more. "Judging by the way your lady's clothes are beginning to soak from the rain, she might come down with a cold if her clothes aren't changed soon."
There is a long minute of silence while the taller figure takes in the sight of the shorter figure, coming to a stop at his chin. The shorter figure slightly tilts her head back to look up at the taller figure. And the barn keep hears a beautiful voice finally break the silence with a whisper.
"Thorin, I'm becoming cold and my clothes are becoming soaked. I don't feel like getting sick."
"I know, love. I didn't realize your cloak was already soaked." The reply from the taller figure was gruff while the shorter figure was pulled closer to his person before being wrapped in strong arms.
"My cloak isn't soaked. My clothes are wet from having the rain blasted in my face from the wind."
Taking a closer look at the smaller figure, the taller one pulls her against him again. "Your skin is becoming blue, love."
"Well, I am cold. My body isn't exactly a furnace like yours." She hears the taller figure direct his next words to the barn keep.
"We will stay at your house. But I warn you; should you threaten to harm us in any way despite saying you're a friend, I won't hesitate to protect my intended by taking your life. Am I clear?"
"Crystal."
While the barn keep settles their horse in for the night, the two hooded figures move into the ornate barn. After giving the horse plenty of hay and water, the barn keep leads the two hooded figures out the back barn door at the end of a narrow muddy trail leading down hill between a grove of trees with a cute ornate house at the opposite end.
After the barn keep closes the barn door, the two hooded figures hoist their packs over their shoulders before following the barn keep down the muddy dirt trail for the house.
While the taller hooded figure pulls the shorter figure close so she can keep warm, he speaks in a soft whisper.
"How are you feeling, love?"
"I'm fine, Thorin. I'm just cold. And hungry."
"I'm sorry, love. Had I known, I would have have stopped the horse to grab a blanket and some crackers."
"Don't blame yourself. We had entered Bree and I didn't want to draw unwanted attention by having us stop in the middle of the muddy road. Word has already spread far and wide about you already having a contract on your head. Had we stopped, a bullseye would have been put on your back."
Suddenly, the short walk ends all too soon and the barn keep holds open the door for the two hooded figures. He follows them inside. While the two figures take off their packs, he closes the door before going through the house to draw all of the blinds.
While the barn keep flits around the house, he calls to his wife. "Malena!"
While the two hooded figures pull back their hoods, a beautiful redheaded woman appears before them and her husband. Malena lets out a gasp when her eyes immediately recognize the Dwarf standing before her. "Oh, thank the Valar! You indeed have survived the treachery of the Dragon and The Pale Orc!" While Thorin stiffens, the barn keep gives his wife a quizzical look.
"Darling, do you know the Master Dwarf?"
"Not personally, but I know of, Throrin, dear. I was only a bairn living in The Lonely Mountain at the time Thorin was no older than five while I was ten."
"Ten is not really considered young, being close to a young teen."
"Dwarves age differently than man, love. I am two and fifteen, after all."
Thorin walks forward to get a better look at the red head standing before him. He rakes his eyes over her. "Frigga?"
Giving a simple nod, the woman smiles. "Hello, Thorin."
Thorin turns to his intended and holds an arm out to her. He wraps his arm around his intended to rest his hand against her hip. "The barn keep says you can help us?"
Thorin was overjoyed to run into another of his kin, but Raven's health mattered more at the moment. He didn't want her to become sick! Her immune system wasn't strong like that of a Dwarf's, and there was nothing to her despite her body being toned with hints of muscle here and there.
Raven is the last of her kind: Chameleon — though cursed by very dark, evil magic. She was vulnerable when it came to her emotions being visibly reflected by her hair, eyes and skin changing color accordingly to her moods. And right now, Raven was all blue from feeling cold! Catching up would wait until later.
Frigga leads Thorin and his intended up the stairs and down to a closed door at the end of the hall! She opens the spare bedroom door and leads Thorin and his intended in the room. Thorin and Raven set their packs down while Frigga makes up the big bed before drawing a hot bath and setting out clean, dry clothes for the Dwarf King and his intended, along with fresh clean towels.
When finished with her work, Frigga turns to Thorin with a big smile. "Is there anything else I can get you before I start dinner?"
Thorin shakes his head no. "This will do nicely, Frigga, thank you."
Frigga moves for the door but first, turns to face Thorin before leaving. "I'm sorry for the loss of your grandfather, father and brother, Thorin. I can't imagine how you must feel. First losing your home while a Dwarfling then losing your family years later at the treacherous hand of Azog! However, you have finally found hope in your intended, so I am happy you have someone to share in your burdens. And I'm happy the both of you came to Bree! I have been eager to see how Erebor's future king has grown up — as well as his future queen! I am beyond happy for you both!"
"Thank you, Frigga."
"Of course. Please stay as long as you like. You both are safe here. Our house is also the both of yours. If you guys need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Frigga. Thorin and I appreciate you and your husband's help and generosity — though Thorin doesn't always show it."
"You're welcome, my dear Raven. And no, Thorin doesn't. He's quite stubborn at times." Both women laugh while Thorin rolls his eyes.
After Frigga leaves, Raven and Thorin set to getting undressed with their backs turned to one another. Thorin helps Raven wash her hair after she gets in the hot water. He gently scrubs the shampoo along her scalp and throughout her whole head. His heart fills with so much love for the woman relaxing in the tub before him.
After Raven washes her hair and scrubs her body before washing off, Thorin holds up a dry towel for her. He gently wraps the soft material around her bare body before pulling her into his arms. He holds a very warm, very clean Raven in his arms while peppering her forehead with kisses.
"I love you so much, Amralime. So, so much."
Raven snuggles against her Dwarf. "And I love you. Always and forever."