Dem road next to Egfor on Elf, the warhorse slowly accepting the presence of Calysto, Dem’s warhorse. The three dwarves road ahead, Arrygg, Thorbeck, and Thrigi. The night before they left, Dem and Egfor spent at The Prancing Pony, and the topic of honor came up. He realized as they unsaddled their horses the first night that Thrigi’s honor was at stake. Dem’s only fear was he would attempt to be the one to use the ballista. He hoped his Mum and Thor could handle the young dwarf. Behind them rode the elves, Copperspire and Rhani.
The first night driven by fear of what might come, Dem used the excuse of needing to walk off the effects of being in the saddle for so long as he was no longer used to it. True he was stiff and needed to walk, but Egfor didn’t need it. So he walked far enough away from the group that they would not be overheard and found a log to sit on. He meant to do this in the public wedding ceremony, but his fear prompted him to do it now. If he or Egfor died, he wanted his vow sealed with a dwarven ring of vows.
“I hope you don’t mind me wanting some alone time with you.” Dem invited Egfor to sit on the log next to him.
“Why would I?”
“If I didn’t worry about what you feel, I would make a terrible husband.”
“You are always caring about my feelings.”
“You will tell me if I am not.”
After several moments Egfor gave a small nod.
Dem took one of Egfor’s hands in both of his. Even without their Elven rings allowing them to feel each other’s emotions, Dem could feel Egfor’s fear.
“Egfor, I do take you in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse. And whatever the gods throw in our way, not just until death, but now and forever.” Dem pulled out a mithril band with interlocking blocks etched into it. The blocks were said to be the building blocks of love and slide it onto Egfor’s finger. The band automatically adjusted to Egfor’s finger for a perfect fit. “With this ring, I seal my vow.”
It took Egfor a minute or two of blinking before he reacted. Then, finally, he threw himself on Dem, nearly knocking them both of the log, and kissed him soundly.
They talked some more, being mushy as Thorbeck called it, holding each other tight and snuggling. They occasionally kissed, true, but tonight they needed the comfort of each other’s arms. So when they went back to camp, Thorbeck said, “This is a mushy free zone, none of that mushy stuff.”
Dem shrugged, “We’re headed to bed. It is a long day tomorrow again. He leaned forward and rubbed his nose against Egfor’s. Little did Thorbeck know, but they had just kissed right in front of the dwarf. The couple had agreed to that being a kiss for the public.
He watched the wide-eyed wonder of his lover. Egfor had never been in The Shire before and was fascinated by every little thing. In Hobbiton, Egfor found a woman baker whose specialty was pies. They talked while Arrygg went and bought lunch. He came away with a recipe babbling excitedly.
The pass between The Shire and Ered Luin was clear, not being nearly as high as the one leading to Thorin’s Gate, and Egfor’s wide-eyed wonder turned to a bit of wide-eyed fear.
Whether it was the Elvin city or the fact they approached their destination Dem was unsure. But he chose to remain quiet, afraid that voicing it would compound the fear, threatening to turn in terror. So instead, he rode close enough, so his leg touched Egfor’s, and Egfor could easily touch Dem when needed. Every time Thor looked back, he said, “Now stop that.” Dem ignored him. The young dwarf knew little about the fear Egfor was feeling and certainly didn’t understand Egfor’s need for physical contact.
Finally, late on the seventh day, they made it to Thorin’s Gate. They went to Arrygg’s house to spend two days relaxing from the trip before the battle. Egfor was surprised at how spacious a dwarven home was.
