"Oh, no no, that isn't what I--it's not like you're a burden, you're just--no, that's not it either, I don't...I, um..."
Thoroughly red in the face, Theoden started to draw his arm back automatically, an instinctive reaction to his embarrassment. But at the last second he realized Mikhail might take that as some sort of rejection, which was sort of the opposite of what he wanted, and he impulsively tightened his grip instead.
"You don't...count," he mumbled finally, glancing away. "For being, y'know...not alone, or whatever. You're...here, and that's nice, and..."
He huffed out a breath, eyes closing for a moment. "Y'know what, I'm just gonna stop talking. But I, ah...appreciate it. You wanting to, um...yeah. Anyway."
He cleared his throat and tried to focus on finding the easiest path through the trees. "...Thanks, Misha."