*Thorin Oakenshield's Perspective*


"Mahal, where is that lass?"

My entire company had become stir crazy without our little companion, and when the sun began to set without any sign of her, I began to fear the worse.

"Something must have happened to her," Bilbo started, but Nori cut him off with a growl.

"You don't think we know that? One of us should have gone with her!"

"You heard her this morning before we left," Ori added more quietly. "She said we weren't to follow her for our own safety."

"But we could have-"

"Nori, you know as well as I that we would have been lost out there. In truth, we are lost even in her home. If it were not for the fireplace within the next room, we would not even be dining," I cut in sternly, having had enough with the bickering. "Only once the sun has completely set will we look for her, and if then, only few shall-"

"Thorin, you'd best be quiet now."

"Why do you interrupt me, Dwalin?"

I became aware of all the dwarves staring at something behind me in horror, but before I could even turn, I knew why. I heard the soft snivels that came with the front door being closed. I heard the soft shuffles of feet and the thud that came with someone collapsing.

I whirled around in alarm, my heart absolutely stopping. Aurora was writhing on the ground, blood soaking into the floor beneath her as she whimpered and mumbled some nonsense about a generator. She was drenched in water and what appeared to be her own blood, and, as I ran to the child's side, I ordered for someone to close to the door and lay blankets down on the couch for Aurora. She was shaking and delirious, body kicking and squirming blindly when I tried to pick her up.

"Mahal, how could someone do this to a child?" I cursed beneath my breath, my hands moving to gently cup the lass's face despite the cuts. I leaned over her small form, trying to gently force her eyes open. "Aurora? Aurora, Lass, open your eyes. It is only I."

"The generator- Gotta get it out of the rain."

"Aurora, it can wait. You need to calm down," I soothed, keeping my voice soft in a hope she'd relax as I became aware of Oin at my side trying to ascertain her injuries. Whispering to my nephews to bring what had our companion so worried inside, I turned back to the crying child squirming anxiously in my gentle hold. "Open your eyes, Lass. We shan't hurt you."

"No more! Please, no more!"

She darted away from me before I cold grab her, and I found myself (along with Dori) chasing the terrified child down the halls. She ended up burying herself deep into a sort of wardrobe, but I growled upon finding it locked from the inside.

"Aurora, Lass, you're safe. Can't you see that?" I asked, pressing my hands against the doors to the armoire in my way of trying to get as close to her as possible. I wanted her to know we were there for her, and that she didn't have to go through anything alone. "We shan't harm you, Lass. It is the very last thing we wish to do."

"Aurora, Dear, you are just going to hurt yourself," Dori said more gently, placing a hand on the knob. "Just unlock the door, and we can get help you become all better."

"M-Mistress never let me get help, why would you?"

I froze at her words, realizing with horror what had been the root cause of all her problems.

"Aurora, did your mother hurt you?" Dori asked with even more concern than before, pressing one hand to his mouth in horror even as he asked this.

"And- And Master. They- They made me this way. They broke me."

She called her parents Master and Mistress? Oh, Mahal, save us, I was never going to let go of that girl when she came out.

"You poor darling," Dori choked out, kneeling on the ground slowly. "Aurora, just let it all out. You don't have to keep it in anymore."

"I- I was a slave, but I ended it. I- I grabbed Master's knife one night when he- when he was drunk. He- He came at me, and then Mistress did, and I didn't mean to but I- I killed them… I was only four!" Her sobs became more distinct, and I tried to force the door again, but the damned wardrobe just wouldn't budge. "I inherited- I inherited all of this from them and so much more. 'Cause- 'Cause of them, I have those episodes. Mistress- she pushed me down a flight of stairs when I was only two. I split my skull in three places, but no one believed that they did it to me! The town- The town hates me now, and you're going to just be the same!"

"Lass, we believe you," I whispered, leaning forwards until my forehead rested against the door of the wardrobe while my other hand remained on the handle. "And I swear to Mahal that we will never hate you. We could not do this to you, nor could we even dream of it. Aurora, please, just open the door, Lass. You are not alone any longer."

It took a great amount of coaxing from us both, but Dori and I managed to convince the frightened child to come out, where she was instantly cradled close by my companion.

"She's unconscious, Thorin," Dori informed worriedly as we headed back to the main rooms in order to have Aurora treated. "Should I try and wake her?"

I shook my head gravely, casting the absurdly small child a pitiful glance. "I am afraid that unconsciousness is best for Aurora's case now. At the least, this way she can't feel the pain of Oin's treatments."

"Mahal save us, she's just so young! Do you think she'll be alright, Thorin? I do hope so."

"I do not know, Dori," I answered truthfully, trying to push down the swell of emotion that rose into my voice. I dropped to a whisper and shook my head. "I just don't know."


Author's Note! To my new followers, I hope you enjoy my writing, and I shall warn you ahead of time that this is not to be realistic. If you've any questions, feel free to DM me or drop a review! :)