I woke to a sword at my throat. Now, this being the twenty-first century and all, I thought that a little strange. Then, upon seeing the humanoid beastlike owner of the sword and the men clad in furs and fine leathers that were hogtied on my floor, I pieced it together.

…And may have slit a throat.

I don't know how it happened, honest. It's just that one second a bloody Orc is about to cut my head off, and the next his head is gone, and that sword is in my hand.

Oops?

I looked at the men, hurrying to the one I recognized as most likely to throw a fit if not untied quickly.

"How old are you, Child, to know how to use a sword in such a way?" he asked thoughtfully and a bit suspiciously as soon as I untied the gag from his mouth.

I shrugged, moving onto the next man and cutting the ropes around his wrists while the now released one tended to all the gags. "Eight."

"Only eight years? But you- you are but a child, a mere girl nonetheless!" he exclaimed with clear disapproval, growling slightly. "Have your parents no sense?"

I smirked. "Less than you think. Perhaps I should introduce myself? I go by Aurora, do not request a surname or the names of my parents for you shall not receive them."

"Then I am indebted to you, Miss Aurora. I am-"

"Master Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, king under the mountain of Erebor." I looked up from the bindings I had just released the next man from, smiling widely. "I know. I also know that you and your Company have wandered out of your realm somehow, but you can be certain I shall assist you in any way I can."

"How do you know so much of us?"

"Do not hang me for witchcraft, but I simply know. If I were to tell you, you would not believe me and would mostly likely kill me for blasphemy- Hold still, Master Kili! I attempt to cut your bindings, not your throat!"

Thorin chuckled at that. "Listen to her, Kili. The lass shall not harm you. After all, she's just saved us."

"I daresay, you're Bilbo Baggins!" I couldn't help but clap in delight upon releasing the hobbit lastly. "Oh, this is an honor! How are you fairing with this lot? Oh, never mind that though, you must be starved. In fact, all of you must be!"

I walked to the door, offering Bifur my hand with my softest smile. "I can show you all to the dining hall if you'd like. There's nothing to be concerned about."

Much to my delight, Bifur took my hand, his curling around my own much smaller one. He crooned softly at me in what I recognized as Khuzdul, and I responded eagerly in his own tongue.

"Such a pretty thing as you should not be wielding such weapons, Little One," he scolded quietly, reaching for the blade I still held. He took it, smiling softly as I responded with, "In all respect, Master Bifur, I'm not little."

"I have seen bunny rabbits larger than you, Miss Aurora."

"Aurora is fine. No need for such formalities," I beamed up at him, unable to help but grin as I felt his hand gently rest atop my hair.

"Then there is no need for such titles for myself."

"Forgive my interruption but your home… It is quite peculiar," Balin said thoughtfully in standard. "Could you please explain it, Lass?"

"Of course- Oh, Master Kili, don't touch that!" I dove at his feet, catching the fragile vase with a sigh of relief and letting my forehead lull against the floor. "Oh, by all that is good, that was close."

"I am dreadfully sorry for my brother, Miss Aurora," Fili apologized earnestly, taking the vase and gently setting it atop the pedestal. I moved to scramble to my feet, but he did it for me, hauling me up in one swift movement that had me dizzy. He glared at his little brother, scolding, "Apologize, Kili."

"No, no, no," I insisted. "It's alright, really. Just go on into that next room, and I'll get lunch ready… No, not lunch. What time of day is this?"

"You do not know?" Ori piped up softly and with concern. "Do you feel alright?"

I looked up at his voice, nodding slightly. "Yes, yes, perfectly alright. Now what time of day is it?"

"It is evening, Lassie," Bofur answered with a kind smile, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "But you must allow us in assisting you. You have done quite enough as it is, Miss, what with saving us and all."

"No, no, it's alright. Just go on in and make yourselves comfortable. Please, however, don't break anything."

"I'll tie Kili up if I have to, Lass."

I scrambled into my kitchen as quickly as I could, closing the large oak door and falling against it with a heavy sigh. I couldn't have one of my episodes, not with them here, but it was already beginning. I scrambled onto the marble countertop, tearing through the mahogany cabinets desperately.

"No, no, no, no, no," I whimpered helplessly, crawling across the counter and searching every nook and cranny. "I just restocked yesterday- Where is it?"

I paused as my mind went completely blank. "What was I looking for?"

"Aurora, are you alright?" a new voice piped up in concern, but I barely felt the pair of arms wrap around me, gently pulling me off the counter. "Come now, Little One, look at me."

I found myself entertained by the soft hand stroking my hair, and I snatched it midair, turning it about in my own much smaller ones.

"Aurora?" the voice whispered. "Aurora, can you hear me?"

Then I heard it. The voice softened, and I finally recognized it as Khuzdul for the entire time. "It is alright, Little Bunny Rabbit."

He continuously stroked my hair, humming softly as I jolted in his arms, finally aware that Bifur was holding me.

"Give her here, Bifur," Oin prodded, and before I could protest, I was being held in his lap, a bowl of some sort of paste being held to my lips.

"Easy, Lass. Easy," he soothed, his large hand rubbing my back gently while the other rested against my forehead before moving to my pulse points. "Are you alright now?"

"I- I couldn't find my medicine," I stammered ashamedly, ducking my head away from him. "I- I didn't want you all to know. It's no big deal. Nothing to worry about-"

I whimpered softly, kicking weakly in protest as I felt myself being lifted up into the air. "No, put me down… I'm fine."

Thorin had me soon sitting on the counter, his arms braced on either side of me so I couldn't escape. "Aurora, I am indebted to you. I will not stand by idly while you are ill. Now what has ailed you?"

"It is nothing," I insisted quietly, trying to crawl under his arms and get off the counter, but he was too strong, and I couldn't make it past.

"Aurora, that was not nothing," he said quietly, moving to cup my face in both of his hands so I couldn't look away. His hold was gentle, but it was also strong enough to ensure I couldn't break away from him. "You were delirious, and if any one of us can you, we will. You are but a child, and there is no need to be ashamed of whatever plagues you."

I bit my tongue, shaking my head slightly. "I-I can't tell you. Please. I can't say yet."

"Thorin, it's the lass's business, not ours," Oin spoke up softly, plucking me out of the other dwarf's hold and setting me on the floor with a light pat on the head. "She'll tell us when she's ready."

I nodded, eyes downcast as a positively terrible feeling spread through my chest. I hated disappointing anyone, and I always felt guilty, like I could have done better or anything. I braced myself for Thorin's steely look, knowing exactly how angry he would be with me for not saying what had happened, but when I felt his hand rest atop my head, stroking my hair lightly, I was surprised. He smiled at me slightly, moving his hand beneath my chin and gently raising it so I met his eyes. "Whenever you are ready, Little One, I am here to listen."

He left with that, and Oin then kneeled down beside me with a kind smile. "Do you suppose you'd allow me to make some more medicine for you? If you gave me the proper ingredients, I'd be more than happy to give you a new supply since it's my understanding you've run out."

I smiled slightly. "If it's not too much trouble, could you?"

"It'd be my pleasure, Lassie. Just tell me what I need to do."

After I gave everything to Oin and explained what I needed, Bifur stayed with me and helped make dinner. I worked all the ovens and electronic devices, explaining to him how everything worked in Khuzdul, while he took to chopping the meat and peeling the potatoes once I showed him how.

"This world is very different from my own," Bifur said quietly, casting me a gentle smile as he handed me the bowl of potatoes to mash.

"It used to be much like yours. I just think our world developed more quickly." I sighed, setting aside the potatoes to season the lamb chops. "Sometimes I wish it hadn't."

He looked at me in disbelief. "Why? Everything is easier now for you all. I could not have even dreamed of this."

"When you do something with ease, you become bored of it," I answered softly as I tried to climb onto the counters to search for the liquor I had stashed in case of an emergency guest in my home. Bifur gently lifted me up, setting me on the countertop with a small smile as I thanked him and continued. "There is no thrill in being able to win without challenge. You prove nothing, and you earn nothing. That is how society is today. In all honesty, I would be thrilled to live in Middle Earth, to earn my keep and work for a living. My life could actually mean something."

I had just grabbed the vodka and wine stashed back there when Bifur said something that made me rethink everything I knew.

"But your life does mean something."

Author's Note: Now, I know this isn't realistic, but it's not supposed to be (although Aurora's vocabulary is about what my brother and I had been like when we were her age, I kid you not). Anyways, drop a review! I'll take any criticism, but, as I said before, it's not meant to be realistic so please don't review in reference to that. Thanks for reading! :)