The bed in Beorn's guest bedroom was not a thing of luxury. The mattress was of straw and the blankets were scratchy. But to Luin, who had been sleeping rough for months now, it was heaven. When he awoke, it was to a wooden bath tub sitting steaming in the corner of the room. Luin smiled sleepily. He hated to admit it but a bath was what he needed.

Sunlight was dripping through the windows of the cottage when he emerged with wet hair. Bees buzzed around the room and Luin let one linger on his finger for a moment before it flew off lazily. "Morning", he greeted as he walked into the main living space. It was a light and warm place. Cosy with wooden furniture and chickens milking around underfoot. One door led off into a barn round the side of the house where the company had spent the night. Herbs and sweet smelling flowers hung from the ceiling. The noise of cheerful chatter was audible down the hall.

The company, minus Bilbo, was all seated around the dining table as Beorn poured milk from a massive jug into their pints. Luin watched them all for a second, wondering how they got so civil. Beorn didn't like dwarves very much. But then again, he didn't like anyone or anything that much. Dwarves just happened to be higher on his dislike list than humans or elves. Wizards were another matter entirely and Orcs were things Beorn detested. So that was one thing he and Thorin had in common.

Kili and Fili waved cheerfully at him when Luin emerged. They too seemed to have washed up and changed clothes. They were cleaner and there was a lot less dirt and blood on their shirts. Luin was glad that he had left a spare set of robes in his case. He had washed the ones he was wearing previously and they were hanging to dry on the exposed beams of the spare room.

Beorn looked up and smiled at him, exposing sharp teeth and making his sideburns move like whiskers. He towered over the dwarves like a giant, dressed in leather clothes. "Old friend", Luin greeted and welcomed Beorn's hug.

The skin changer laughed loudly as they separated. "Luin Blue. It has been a long time since I've seen you. Thirty years about?"

"Hey Beorn", Luin grinned. "Missed me?"

The massive hairy man pushed Luin back by his forehead. "Not on your life blue wizard. You maybe pretty and your playing maybe sweet but you drive me crazy dear friend".

"And you're not crazy enough on your own dear friend", Luin replied cheekily as he flicked a sodden lock over his shoulder.

Beorn grunted. "Dry your hair. Or tie it back. Don't drip all over my floor".  He gestured towards the table as he poured another pint of milk. Luin accepted the offered pint and turned to find a seat.

"Sit here", Fili called, getting up from his own seat. He offered Luin the empty place.

"Oh, it's fine Fili", Luin declined.

"No", Fili said. "Sit here and in return, Kili and I get to do your hair". Kili grinned at this.

"Let us braid your hair Luin", he asked. "I've never seen hair as dark or as long as yours. It's so straight, like water". Luin's hair reaches almost to the back of his legs when unbound and wet. It hung like a black curtain down the back of his blue robes.

Luin laughed at the compliments and obediently settled down in Fili's empty seat. The two of them brothers eagerly crowded around behind him and began arguing about which style to use. They seemed to have decided on something as soon enough, Luin felt their skilled fingers tugging on his hair. He relaxed into the soothing feeling. He always loved it when people braided his hair. Only those he trusted were allowed the honour, and during the journey Kili and Fili were quickly becoming dear friends.

"I never expected you to be with a party of dwarves", Beorn commented as he watched Kili and Fili mess with his hair. The two were still arguing and ordering each other under their breath as they worked. ("You braid that part like this! Don't do it like that". "Where's the comb. Fili pass me the comb"). But despite their frustrated voices, their touch was gentle and light.

Luin smiled at him then turned and winked at Gandalf. "Well it's an adventure. And when have you ever heard me say no to adventure?"

Beorn nodded because it was true. Luin was never one for staying still. He turned his gaze to Thorin instead. "So you're the one called Oakensheild", he spoke as Luin dug hungrily into some warm buttered bread. He hadn't realised how hungry he was until he had food in front of him and warm milk in his cup. The rations of the last few days were not enough to keep him satisfied.

"Why is Azog the defiler hunting you?" Beorn asked. Luin paused, not liking to topic of conversation.

"You know of Azog?" Thorin looked up at him.

"My people were one of the first to live up in the mountains. Before the orcs came down", Beorn explained in a bitter voice. Luin tucked his head down, not wanting to see the manacles still around his friend's wrists. Kili hissed and the movement made Luin pull his hair out of his grasp.

"Stay still", Fili muttered as they resumed braiding Luin's hair.

"The defiler killed my people. Others he enslaved. Not for work, but for sport. Torturing skin changers for amusement". The room turned reserved and gloomy as Beorn revealed his story. Luin supposed that was what Thorin and Beorn had in common. Both of them were the last of their families, hunted in order to wipe out their line.

"There were others like you?" Bilbo asked. Luin hadn't even see him enter the room. The hobbit was standing opposite Thorin, leaning on a wooden beam and watching them slightly sleepily.

Beorn gave him a sad melancholy gaze. "Once there were many", he muttered. "Now there is only one". His eyes met Luin's for a moment and they shared a sentiment. They were both the only ones of their kind. There were no Cultivators on middle earth. They were lords of a country far far away, unreachably so. Luin could never return to his parent's land. Just like Beorn could never find other like him. They were both creatures out of place and one of a kind. It was what had made them great friends so many years ago. Although, Beorn mostly tolerated Luin, they shared a connection no one else could ever understand.

Beorn turned and sat down heavily in his massive armchair by the hearth. He faced the dwarves and gazed at them for a moment, looking each of the company in turn. "You'll need to get there by the first day of Autumn", he said.

"Before Durin's day falls, yes", Gandalf replied.

"You're running out of time". It was true. The company had been delayed more than they had anticipated with the goblins and the orcs. Even though the flight with the eagles helped cover some distance, they were still behind on time.

"That's why we're planning on going through Mirkwood", Gandalf stated steadily. Luin looked at him sharply. The Silvian elves were not known for their hospitality, especially not their king. They loathed Dwarves. Luin had never been to Mirkwood himself, having been warned against it by Elrond. It was known that Thrandil was greedy and power hungry for an Elf. He liked to keep things within his walls. If they got captured in Mirkwood, it was doubtful if they would ever get out.

"There is a darkness that lies upon that forest", Beorn warned. "Foul creatures which creep through the trees. I would not enter there except in great need". Luin shivered and drained the last of his milk. He had heard of this too. How Mirkwood has once been Greenwood, a luscious place full of life and magic. Until darkness had fallen and turned the leaves murky and dark. The true extent of the corruption was unknown as woodland elves pretty much kept to themselves.

"We shall take the Elven road", Gandalf said. "That path is still safe". Luin was doubtful this idea but kept silent. It was pretty much their only option as the forest stretched for miles and they had no time to go around.

"Safe", Beorn snorted. "The Mirkwood elves are not like their kin". He nodded at Luin as if to say Riverndale and Lothrien. Luin was intimately familiar with both of those places and he was great friends with Elrond and Galadriel both. It seemed to emphasise even more reasons why they should not go to Mirkwood.

"They are less wise and more dangerous", Beorn continued. "But it matters not. These lands are dealing with orcs and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive".

"Done", Fili exclaimed as he hand his brother stepped back from Luin's hair. Luin grinned and ran his fingers along the elaborately entwined strands. He unsheathes one of his jade swords and peered into the reflective metal. He had five braids in total. Two tiny braid on each side of his head ran across his skin then joined into one lard plait which reached from the beginning of his hairline to all the way down his back. It was in the traditional Dwarf styles and effective in keeping his hair away from his face.

"That looks really good", he smiled. "Thanks Fili, Kili. I really like it". Both dwarves beamed proudly.

"You have the longest hair I have ever seen", Kili said. "It's even longer than Gandalf's".

"Keeping our hair long has always been part of our culture", Luin exclaimed at the young dwarf leant agains the table. "The more ornaments you had in your hair, the more prestigious you were".

"Do they all have hair as dark as yours?" Fili asked. Luin answered the curious young dwarves. He explained that dark hair and eyes were common amongst his people.

Beorn was watching the interaction with assessing eyes. When Luin fell silent, he crossed his arms. The movement drew everyone's eyes back to him. "I dislike dwarves", he stated. "But Luin is a dear friend. Why he's on such a suicidal quest, I don't know. While I hate dwarves, I hate Orcs even more. What do you need?"