PLEASE READ BELOW! VERY IMPORTANT! DON'T SKIP BOLDED AUTHOR'S NOTE!

A/n: Remember first chapter when I said it's supposed to be like a blog post, where Aurora might cut in and out of the story. Here you go for that example. If it's large chunks of story that is italicized, she's cutting into the story. Basically, any point that is italicized is her cutting into the story. Like pulling a Kuzco from the Emperor's New Groove.

END OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION. YOU MAY READ THE NEW CHAPTER NOW.

"Me. I can. So can she." I felt the color drain from my face as Bilbo's finger pointed at me. I silently shook my head as a look of distress appeared on my face.

WHAT!?

"We can vouch for him. Now we have travelled great distances and battled many evils with these men. And if Thorin Oakinshield gives his word… then he will keep it." Bilbo explained, flashing a smile at Thorin who smiled back at him. The crowd began to cheer at Bilbo's declaration. Now it was my turn. I felt my heart fall into my stomach as everyone's eyes turned on me.

What could I even say to make them believe me? Bilbo's declaration seemed to sway people and convince them, was mine even necessary?

"I agree with what Bilbo has said. Afterall what more can I say to convince you of his word. Thorin Oakinshield can be trusted." I admitted. The Master and his lacky didn't seem impressed. "And how can we take your word serious… after all you are just a woman." The lacky said, trying to make me back down.

After all you look like a toad sir. Might we comment on that?

"What's that supposed to mean? Just because I'm a woman means I have no vouch for Thorin Oakinshield? I hate to break it to you, but I have more under my belt than you will have in one lifetime. I have traveled all Middle Earth, spoken to every race, fought villainous creatures that you couldn't dream of, and now I must prove my worth to the likes of you? I'd rather walk into Mordor." I spoke up, standing directly in front of the steps of The Master's House. "But who are you, girl?" The Master mused.

I raised a brow. "I'm Aurora Elessar, bitch."

I have never felt more prouder than right now. I mean who gets to do all that and look all bad in front of a ruler? ME! That's who!

I turned to face Thorin and smirked at him. He crossed his arms as I walked back over to the Company. No one else dared to question me now. Except there was one person who was still willing to question Thorin. Bard stepped closer into the circle to get everyone's attention. "All of you! Listen to me! You must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale?!" Bard exclaimed, silencing the crowd. The people seemed to be affected by this as they all went silent. I watched as a few bowed their heads. "Have you forgotten what happened to the city?!"

The people shouted. "And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain-king so driven by greed; he could not see beyond his own desire." Bard continued, glaring at Thorin who didn't waste time glaring back.

Oh no he didn't.

Oh yes, he did.

The crowd seemed to be turning against us. Which is what I needed. We couldn't reach the Mountain and we most certainly couldn't retake Erebor. If Erebor was needed by the enemy, we shouldn't clear the way for them. Why make easy for the bad guys?

"Now, now, we must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame. Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your grandfather, who failed!" The Master proclaimed, pointing accusingly at Bard. The crowd began to grow restless. Bard dropped his head as I glanced over at him. Thorin stared at Bard with a mixture of shock and anger. Bard looked up and watched as the crowd yelled angrily at him. He strode forward to Thorin and the two locked eyes. "You have no right, no right to enter that mountain."

"I have the only right." Thorin answered before turning to face The Master. "I speak to the Master of the men of the Lake. Will you see this quest fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people? What say you?" The crowd silently watched with anticipation. The Master thought for a few seconds before pointing his finger at Thorin and smiling, "I say unto you… welcome! Welcome! And thrice welcome, King Under the Mountain!" The Master opened his arms in welcome while the crowd erupted into cheers. Bard looked on silently, knowing he had lost. Thorin climbed up the steps and turned to face the crowd while they continued to cheer.

My heart sunk, there was no way now I could convince them that Erebor couldn't be saved.

The Master had agreed to let us stay in his lodging tonight and promised us anything we would need for the remainder of our trek. If you ask me, he was only doing this to make sure he got a cut of the treasure.

The Master let us stay in his dining hall and got the dwarves all the food and drinks they could ask for. I watched silently from the corner of the room as everyone sat together being merry. It was hard for me to be happy when Gandalf still hadn't returned, and the looming darkness of Sauron was ever too present in my mind. It was something that had always terrified me. The Shards of Narsil and being told who I really was as a child only frightened me more of the future.

We're walking into a trap.

I mean what happens if we do succeed? Do I stay in Erebor as a secretary?

I thought back to what The Master had told Bard, that his ancestor failed the city of Dale. How could he have failed an entire city? The story of the Dwarvish Windlass didn't make any sense. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and began to search the internet for any story about the Windlass. Nothing.

Nothing existed on the internet about the Windlass. I tapped my fingers against my knee, before standing and heading off to the door.

That's weird. Cue the conspiracy theories.

"Lassie where you are going?!" I heard Bofur yell at me as I walked out of the room.

"Aurora." A stern voice spoke to me. I knew exactly who it was. I turned to see Thorin approaching me as I grabbed my coat. "Where are you going?" he asked as soon as he made it over to me. "I need answers. What happened with the Windlass?" I asked, crossing my arms. Thorin glanced down at the floor and inwardly groaned. "We told you what happened with the Windlass." He answered.

LIAR.

"You're lying. Something happened with the Windlass that you don't want to admit." I said, before grabbing the door handle and opening the large wooden door. "I'm going to find out, and you can't stop me." I added, walking out the door.

I made my way to the one person who could probably give me answers. Bard. When I reached his door, I knocked twice. After a few seconds, the door opened. Bard stood in front of the door.

As soon as he realized who was standing in front of him, he closed the door. "Really? Bard! Open up!" I banged on the door. That's when I heard the dead bolt lock. I raised a brow and continued to the bang on the door for a few more seconds, before pounding my fist harder on the door one last time before dropping down and leaning my back on the small wooden railing in front of the door. "Okay fine, don't open up!" I yelled towards the house "but that doesn't mean I'm not going to leave! I'm going to stay out here till I get hypothermia! Bard! Com'on man! You're the only one that I can talk to! They can't go into that mountain!" Just then the door swung up and I was covered in light from inside.

"What do you mean?" he asked seriously, poking his head out and scanning the night. "Someone could hear you! Get inside!" He grabbed me by the arm and practically threw me inside before I could even stand up. Bard motioned me over to the fire to sit across from him.

"Where's your kids?" I asked, scanning the room while he filled up some mugs over in the tiny kitchen. "Watching the stars. So make this quick." He said, coming back to hand me a mug and to sit down.

"What happened with Girion and the Windlass?" I asked, after taking a gulp of hot chocolate. Bard shook his head and set his mug down. "Why do you care?" He asked, anger rising in his voice. "Because there nothing about what happened, and I saw the way everyone looked at you where The Master brought it up. His failure brought shame to your family. Look no one will tell me inside The Master's home and you're the only one who can."

"Why do you care? You're not even a dwarf or from here." Bard said, taking the mug from me.

"You're right. I'm not. But I've got to know." I answered. Whatever happened with Girion and Thror would affect what happened when we reached Erebor, I just knew it. I sent a pleading look to Bard, hoping that he would understand enough to realize he could help me.

He groaned inwardly. "Fine. My grandfather was Girion, Lord of Dale. He and Thror had built up Erebor, creating a technological kingdom. Every city wanted to have piece of Erebor and Dale. They created the Windlass and Raven's Hill to protect from any unwanted guests. In the heat of their victories, that's when Thror found it- The Arkenstone. The stories and news won't share this, but the Arkenstone isn't a phone… it's a rock that possesses healing properties and self-sustainable connection. Call it a wi-fi rock. Girion wanted to make it free, allow towns that couldn't modernize to use a part of the Arkenstone to modernize. Thror didn't allow it. So the two argued, eventually splitting. Girion left Erebor and settled down in Dale, taking the Windlass that he created back with him. Thror went mad, and that's he was murdered by Azog. My grandfather blamed himself for Thror's death that he didn't leave the Windlass until the day he died. While around him, Dale went into ruin, and the people left, allowing Lake-Town to take the Windlass because there was no one to guard it." Bard explained. He seemed to age right before my eyes as he told the story, as if the very recollection of those memories made him sick.

I placed my hand on top of his and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Why did Thror go mad?" I questioned.

"Some rumored that the Arkenstone had healing properties and also…"

"…deteriorating properties…" I added, leaning back in my chair to take in it all in.

Wow. Some story. Love being lied to by everyone I'm working with. Are we even going to do this help Erebor or just for some stupid rock?

"Aurora, why can't they enter that mountain?" Bard spoke up, waking me from my thoughts. My heart sunk to my feet. Guess I forgot that I yelled that out. In my defense, it was only to get his attention.

"Uhh…." Say something idiot.

Erebor's haunted!

A disease has spread rampant through Erebor and we could contaminate everyone, and they will have to self-isolate for two weeks!

Killer bees?

The Master is making us!

Thorin is hypnotized and we must wake him up!

THESE ARE HORRIBLE IDEAS!

Oh screw it.

"Enemies of Middle Earth want Erebor." I blurted out, cursing myself for immediately saying it. Bard's eyes went huge. He jumped out of his chair and began pacing around the room. "What do you mean!?" he exclaimed, as he continued to pace.

"I can't tell you all of it, but a great evil could return, and the enemies are looking to Erebor. That's why we can't go into that mountain. And if we bring this evil back, my family is doomed." He stopped pacing when he heard the last thing I said. "'Your family? The Elessars?" I stood and nodded solemnly. I felt tears well up in my eyes, one of those tears slipping down my cheek when I lifted my face to gaze at him. "My family is tied to the fate of Middle Earth. That's why I've been everywhere, I've been trying to find my brother." I explained, feeling more tears slip down my cheeks.

I could see the wheels turning in Bard's head as he tried to take in everything, I told him. Finally it clicked. "You're from Gondor. You're the princess of Gondor, but how did you end up here in this forgotten part of the world?" Bard asked, stepping towards me.

"I'm not a princess, I don't have a crown or a kingdom. I was raised in Rivendell before going off to explore and find my brother who disappeared. I'm the disgraced daughter of a dead of king. A line that's tied Middle Earth's faith." I whispered, sobbing silently as I spoke. Bard continued to step closer until he was directly in front of me. He then wrapping his arms around me as I silently felt the weight of world grow on my shoulders. I pulled away some and looked up at him, while his green eyes stared into my grey ones. That's when he placed his lips on mine.

I did not see that coming.

Just then the door opened, and we separated as his kids came in from the being out on the roof. Bain stared at his dad while the two girls waved to me before going off to dress for bed.

"Da? Is everything all right?" Bain asked glancing between me and Bard as we both were red in the face. "Yes, son, everything is quite alright."

I really hope you didn't see me making out with your attractive dad just now.

Oh god… I just called him attractive.

I rubbed the back of my neck as Bain and Bard continued to speak before interjecting it was time for me to be leaving. I yelled out a goodnight to the girls and Bain before Bard escorted me out.

"I hope you didn't find that unsettling." Bard said as soon as the door was closed.

"Uh…thank you for all the information." I said completely ignoring the fact that he brought up the kiss. Bard grabbed my hand and kissed the top of it before bidding me goodnight and entering the house. I walked down the steps and back towards The Master's house, very loudly cursing at what had just happened.

The next morning, (if you could call it that, we all got pretty much woken up at dawn, except Bofur-he was passed out under the table) we changed into the winter gear the master had graciously given us, grabbed our weapons and ate a quick breakfast before meeting the docks to get sent off. A bon voyage party had assembled with a band and everything.

"You do know we're one short? Where's Bofur?" Bilbo asked as we made our way through the crowd. I turned back to gaze at the group. Sure enough the floppy hat man was nowhere to be found. Probably was still asleep since he got wasted last night.

"If he's not here, we leave him behind." Thorin answered as he led the way, walking in his 'I'm the leader' walk. "We have to if we're to find the door before nightfall. We can risk no more delays. Everyone began to pile into the giant boat the town had given us. Before Kili could step into the door, Thorin stopped him. "Not you. We must travel with speed; you will slow us down."

Harsh much?

Kili laughed thinking his uncle was joking, but Thorin's expression said otherwise. "What are you talking about? I'm coming with you."

"No."

Fili turned to watch the two argue. Thorin and Kili began to argue more until it became no use to argue anymore. Oin offered to stay since he was the group medic. Then Fili jumped out the boat. "Fili."

"I will carry him if I must!"

Thorin grabbed his nephew by the shoulders. "One day you will be over Erebor, and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one dwarf, not even my own kin." Thorin tried to reason. Fili shook his head and went over by his brother, declaring he belonged with him more. As we finished filling up the boat, the musicians began to play their instruments, signaling that the Master was here to announce our sending off.

If you could even call it music.

I pulled out my headphones and began to play music as he was talking. The boat started moving and everyone started waving at us. I gave a tiny salute to the crowd before sitting down in the boat and listening to my music again.

It will be a long trip.

After an hour or two on the lake we finally reached land which… yay meant walking and then eventually will turn into hiking.

I hate being right.

A/n: Did you see that kiss coming!? I know I said it's a Thorin/OC fanfic, but we haven't really delved into that and their relationship is going to become more prevalent in the coming chapters and into the next movie.

I want to highlight on the story that since I changed up the background as to fit my story. So that is why Girion is more of a disgraced partner instead of not killing the dragon.