"Aurora appears to be under a dark spell," Gandalf started as the dwarfs sat around a fire, in the main hall, "she can remember some parts of her past, but if she tries to the spell will likely try to kill her. That is why we can't talk to her about it." Gandalf looked at Thorin, the dwarf just listened to the wizard, "We have suspicions that if she returns to her homeland, she could get her memories back. But there's a dark magic at the entrance to the land." Aulton folded his arms,

"What dark magic?" Bilbo asked, Gandalf and Aulton looked at each other,

"The door downstairs used to lead straight to the Shoreline. But it's been corrupted and turned into a maze, whoever enters loses their mind and is either killed or thrown out, their sanity taken from them." Aulton explained, he sighs.

The dwarfs all look at each other,

"What are we doing here then?" Thorin asked,

"We are going to try and get through the maze." Gandalf spoke, the company looked at Thorin as he took a deep breath. He wanted to save Aurora… and he would happily go alone in there.

I woke up and felt my head pounding as I held it, visions were flashing in my head as I heard a voice yell at me again. I wanted to remember… I wasn't about to let some pain stop me. I knew about the fight for Erebor and the battle against Smaug, I knew I had a part in it… I had been up against far worse.

"You monster of a child! Stop resisting!"

The voice was female, and I sat up and some of the ladies ran to my side,

"My lady, is there anything we can do?" Halle asked, I looked at her but saw a grey skinned woman with orange eyes staring back at me.

"You little bitch! Stop it!"

I screamed out in pain as one of the ladies tried to hug me,

"Get Aulton and the wizard!" Halle spoke and the other women ran out the room,

"I see her!" I cried and started rocking on the bed, Halle rested her chin on my head,

"She killed my parents! The one who killed our mum and dad! She's doing this!" I yelled and felt a searing pain through my body.

"That's it!"

I looked up and saw her form at the bed, the pain was searing through my body, but rage was showing on my face as I looked at her.

Aulton and Gandalf entered the room, the other dwarfs were outside as I stared at the woman at the end of my bed.

"Thalia…" Aulton frowned as he saw the grey skinned woman in her red dress looked at the guardian,

"I'll kill you!" I yelled and jumped at the woman. I tried to push her down but as she was a vision I fell on the floor, Thalia laughed loudly as I turned around on the floor and glared at her.

"Poor. Little. Aurora! Such a failure!" Thalia smirked as my body burned,

"You don't control me!" I yelled and tried to lift myself from the floor, Thorin and Aulton tried to get to me, but Gandalf stopped them as he just watched me.

"Gandalf! She needs help!" Thorin yelled,

"Wait…" Gandalf looked at the dwarf.

"You… you are worthless!" I yelled at Thalia as my mind felt like it was splitting in two, I screamed out and Thalia just smirked, "No matter what you do… I'll always try and destroy you! I'll get our land back… I'll get our home back… and I'll get my revenge." I growled at Thalia, she started to look scared the more I spoke. My eyes changed and became dragon-like. I focused on her as I roared, and fire burst from my mouth. The bright white flame engulfed Thalia as she screamed loudly. Gandalf cast a spell to contain the fire around the vision of Thalia and she screamed.

I fell on my knees,

"Now!" Gandalf yelled and both Thorin and Aulton moved to my side as the dwarf lifted me from the ground. I looked at him for a moment as black smoke moved out of my mouth and disappeared in the air. Thalia disappeared as I felt my body fall limp.

Thorin lifted me up as Aulton looked around for Thalia again. The dwarf put me on the bed, and I gripped onto his jacket, Thorin looked at me as I didn't want him to go. Thorin wanted to stay but he looked conflicted, I looked over his face and knew it was because of me. I recognised his face, I remembered… as the memories flooded back, I remembered that I had died…

"Don't cry for me… smile, your smile is beautiful." I whispered as Thorin looked over my face, I said those words as I was dying, all those months ago. I smiled at him, "show me that smile, amralime." I spoke, Thorin suddenly smiled, and I leaned up and kissed him.

Thorin moved his hand behind my head, and I moved up to sit up on the bed, I pulled back and we leaned our foreheads against each other,

"You remember?" Thorin asked, I nodded and smiled,

"Everything, Thorin, I remember everything." I grinned and Thorin held my head and kissed my forehead as he wrapped his arms around me.

I looked at the dwarfs and hobbit at the door,

"Hi friends, long time no see." I smiled at them, the dwarfs suddenly ran to me on the bed and Bilbo gave me a hug as Thorin moved back, "I've missed you all!" I smiled,

"I don't understand… how did you break the curse?" Dwalin asked,

"Because our Aurora is a strong one." Gandalf moved next to the bed and held his staff, "her determination and strength to fight against the curse helped, though it should have killed you." Gandalf added as I smiled and nodded,

"I am a bit stubborn though, when I want something, I'll work for it, no matter the cost." I smirked, "I know why she cursed me as well." I looked at Gandalf as he frowned curiously, "I know how to get through the maze. I know the path." I admitted, "and I remember who it was that attacked our home." I explained, Gandalf smiled and looked at Aulton who nodded.

"Rest, we will prepare for the trip to Shoreline." Aulton spoke, "when your brother wakes tomorrow, we will tell him." Aulton added as I nodded.

Everyone moved out the room as I lay back on the bed and took a moment to breath, after everyone left, I took a breath. I winced slightly as my body was still hurting, Thorin hadn't left the room and he quickly came over to me and sat on the bed next to me,

"Are you okay?" Thorin asked as I looked at him, I missed his face, I missed his embrace, his love.

"I can still feel the pain… only a little bit, but it's still there." I spoke as Thorin leaned forward and kissed my head gently. Thorin moved on the bed and gently pulled me towards him as I rested my head on his chest. I wrapped my arm around his waist as Thorin kissed my head again. I felt him take a deep breath as I smiled to myself.

"Smelling me?" I chuckled,

"You smell amazing," Thorin whispered, I squeeze him a little as I close my eyes and relax,

"This is helping… thank you." I smiled as Thorin moved his arm around my body to hold me close,

"I missed you." Thorin spoke,

"It feels like a few days since I last saw you, but I know it's not true…" I frowned as I sighed. Thorin held me close as I relaxed in his arms.

"Where Lagan stream sings lullaby;

There blows a lily fair;

The twilight gleam is in her eye;

The night is on her hair;

And like a love-sick lennan-shee;

She has my heart in thrall;

Nor life I owe nor liberty;

With love is lord of all." I sang as I lay on the bed with Thorin.

"And sometimes when the beetle's horn;

Hath lulled the eve to sleep;

I steal unto her shieling lorn;

And thru the dooring peep.

There on the cricket's singing stone,

She stirs the bogwood fire,

And hums in soft sweet undertones;

The song of heart's desire.

The song of heart's desire." I finished singing and closed my eyes to sleep as I felt Thorin breathing heavily, fallen asleep by my song.

I woke up to the sun coming in my room and I found myself still holding onto Thorin as I looked up and saw him sound asleep. I lifted myself up as he lay there, I moved some strands of hair from his face gently and rested my hand on his chest gently. I missed this dwarf; I was glad he came to my home.

I saw it was very early morning by the suns angle, with the party last night I doubted my brother would wake up soon. I doubted anyone but the ladies and men of the halls were awake.

I moved gently from the bed and took off the dress I had worn in my sleep, I needed fresh clothes for the day. I grabbed my silk robe as I didn't want to walk around my room naked and tied it together. I glanced over my shoulder at Thorin and smiled at him. I opened my wardrobe door and picked out some trousers and tunic, I wanted to explore the forest before the day started.

I heard Thorin move in bed, and he mumbled in his sleep as I smiled. I slowly got ready and as I grabbed my shirt, I heard him stir again,

"Aur-Aurora?!" Thorin looked around quickly and then saw me by the bed, Thorin looked at me and couldn't help but smile, relieved I was okay, Thorin pulled himself away from the bed and got dressed with me, ready to head out into the forest, but we had some time to get reacquainted with each other first.

Heading out into the forest I carried my bow and a sword. Thorin had Orcrist with him, I showed him the places I'd usually find orcs and we did find a couple of stragglers as we looked around.

"I need to ask," Thorin spoke as I looked at him, we were continuing through the forest as we moved together, "how were you able to blow fire?" Thorin asked and I frowned and looked down in thought,

"When I was younger, I was able to do it in times of high emotion… Ma never approved, said I always need to keep my anger in check." I explained and Thorin nodded, "she told me the fire is strong enough to break down barriers against me. But I needed to be careful using it." I added, "I could probably transform into a dragon if I wanted to." I shrugged, "considering I can transform into other creatures." I spoke as Thorin stopped, he looked at me, I could see concern on his face as I just brushed it off, I wouldn't do it…

We made it to the edge of the forest near the mountain and I dodged an arrow which ended up going through Thorin's shirt and into the tree as the one Orc ran out and before Thorin could pull the arrow out I sliced the orc's head off and a second arrow grazed his arm and pinned his other arm to the tree. I moved in front of Thorin and waited for another arrow,

"Don't move." I whispered as I looked around, as I heard a bow spring I aimed at the direction of the incoming arrow, shot it down and then fired another arrow at the same angle immediately after and we heard an orc body collapse in the distance.

"Nice shot." Thorin smirked as I was leaning against him on the tree,

"You're welcome." I smirked and moved off him, I noticed Thorin was sat on the trunk of a tree as his arms were pinned by the arrows, "now… this is a predicament." I smirked as I flicked my blade and broke the arrows in half, so they weren't sticking out as much. Thorin just looked at me, "can you move?" I smirked and pointed between his arms,

"Does it look like I can?" Thorin asked as I smirked and grabbed one of the arrows. I pulled it out and Thorin's hand grabbed my wrist, and he pulled me towards him, I kissed Thorin. We had missed each other; it was so obvious being alone in each other's company.

I ended up straddling Thorin's lap as he was sat on a tree trunk because of the arrows, and I pressed my body against him. Thorin groaned as he tried to remove the last arrow, but I grabbed his hand and moved it above his head as he looked at me. I waved my finger and grind my hips against his,

"This is too good of an opportunity for me to wind you up." I smirked as Thorin growled a little, I looked over his face and saw he was frustrated, and I could tell he secretly wanted this as well. Thorin smirked as he looked over my face,

"It is too bad you aren't Queen yet." Thorin whispered as I glared at him slightly,

"And what would you suggest we do about that, Thorin?" I asked, he glared at me, and I grinned my hips against him, and he groaned, it sounded conflicting as he obviously wanted me but didn't want to give up, like myself earlier.

I lifted myself away from Thorin and air occupied the distance between our bodies again, though I still held his free hand above his head, so I was leaning forward, and I knew this was giving him a view down my top. I glanced down and saw Thorin's pants and smirked,

"Behave, Thorin." I smirked and let go of his hand and turned and walked away. "Time to head back." I called to him without looking back at him. I heard Thorin pull the arrow out of the tree and pick up Orcrist again, I continued walking.

I stopped as I didn't hear him following me, I looked back and noticed he wasn't there,

"Thorin?" I called, he didn't answer, I looked around the forest, "Thorin, this isn't funny!" I yelled, I walked back to where he was and saw a necklace on the floor.

I knelt and lifted the necklace in my hand and suddenly I jumped as Thorin grabbed me from behind and pulled me back onto him. I burst out laughing as he tried to hold me still, but I wriggled out of his grip, I turned and looked at the dwarf on the floor as I lay on top of him.

"Don't scare me like that!" I smacked his shoulder half-heartedly, Thorin was laughing still as I frowned with a small smile, he looked over my face and pushed some of my hair behind my ear.

"Be mine." Thorin spoke,

"I am yours, Thorin." I smiled at him,

"Become my Queen." Thorin changed statement as I looked over his face in surprise,

"Thorin…" I looked at him in shock, "really?" I had to double check, I sat up with Thorin and he moved to kneel in front of me and took my hand as I stayed seated,

"Aurora, Princess of the Shoreline, it would be my honour if you would become my wife and Queen." Thorin spoke as I gasped lightly, I didn't know how to react, I froze as I looked at him.

"Y… yes, Thorin. Yes!" I smiled and jumped at Thorin and wrapped my arms around his neck and we fell on the ground together again.

I felt Thorin move, and he lifted a ring into my line of sight as I lifted myself back up. It was a beautiful dwarven carved ring, with a green and clear diamond gem either side. I smiled and offered my hand for him to place the ring on my finger and Thorin reacted as such. I looked at the necklace that was still in my hand as well and saw it matched the ring as I saw Thorin's hands reach for it,

"This is for you, mainly because I wanted to give you a gift." Thorin smiled,

"But… did you bring these from Erebor?" I asked Thorin, he nodded and opened the necklace, and I moved my hair aside as he moved behind me,

"I was going to leave them at your gravesite if I wasn't as lucky as I am now." Thorin spoke as he fastened the clip and let the necklace rest, the cold metal caused me to shiver as I smiled to myself.

Thorin moved back to stand in front of me and he offered his hands, I took them gently as he lifted me from the ground. I looked down at the jewellery and smiled, I felt elated. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time. Things were looking up.

Heading back to the town I held Thorin's hand as we walked through the side cavern door and into the halls of the mountain.

We saw most people were awake now and some of the dwarfs were walking through the corridor to the dining room. Thorin and I joined behind them as subtly as we could until Bilbo looked back and saw us, Gandalf clocked us as well,

"King Thorin, and our Lady Aurora. How kind of you to join us for breakfast." Gandalf spoke as the other dwarfs looked back and I smiled at the group,

"We've been out patrolling the forest." I explained and I saw a few smirks among the group, I sighed and walked through them leaving Thorin to deal with the men.

I entered the dining hall and saw my brother sat with Elanor, he looked tired as I smiled at me,

"Aurora… why aren't you dressed?" Austen asked,

"I am, I went out with Thorin this morning to patrol the forest." I spoke and he frowned,

"That… you are supposed to stay in the mountain!" Austen snapped,

"That was before I remember who I was, and that I don't listen to you. Aussie." I smirked as I looked at my brother, he looked over my face,

"You remember? Everything?" Austen stood up as I smiled,

"I do, and you know you can't keep me locked up, learnt that back at Erebor." I smirked as Austen moved towards me,

"Be gentle, still tender." Austen smirked as he pulled me in for a strong hug as I returned it.

Elanor seemed to be upset as I looked at her, we had grown close over the months. She liked having a female friend, as did I. Elanor was a sweet elf. She was skilled with a bow, as most were, but she wasn't a fighter. I looked at her and smiled,

"How are you, Lady Elanor?" I asked, she stood and smiled at me,

"Happy your memories have returned." Elanor moved forward and took my hands in hers; I was worried she would look at me differently being the normal fighter I was, and even though she looked disheartened because I was able to fight again, she knew it was a good thing.

"We need to talk, brother." I looked at Austen and he nodded,

"Aulton filled me in this morning about the attack but failed to mention your memories." Austen looked at Aulton,

"I wanted to leave a surprise for you. Thought it would be best coming from Aurora." Aulton smiled as the dwarfs walked in finally,

"Thanks, Aulton." I smirked as I looked at him, Aulton nodded with a smirk as I looked at the dwarfs.

I played with the ring on my finger, and I felt Austen grab my hand and look at it,

"Wh-?" Austen looked at me, he didn't know whether he was shocked, angry, or happy as he looked at Thorin who stopped and noticed he saw the ring. Austen took a moment as he lifted my hand, "Congratulations, are in order." Austen spoke, I looked at his face. I honestly couldn't read it… he had been so overprotective of me the last few months, I think the sudden change and acting out on my own surprised him… normally there would have been an arranged marriage by the King if there were younger siblings who wouldn't get the throne. Our parents were…

I looked at Thorin who I smiled at,

"Wait? Is-Is that an engagement ring?" Bilbo clocked the ring on my finger as the other dwarfs looked at Thorin, he just moved to my side and as I let go of Austen, Thorin took my other hand,

"It is." Thorin smiled at me, he didn't care about anyone's opinion, I didn't know dwarven rules about marriage in the royal family so I was unsure how his kin would react. But when I saw happy smiles on all their faces, I couldn't help but grin.

We sat down for breakfast and the dwarfs congratulated us on our engagement, Aulton seemed particularly pleased at the news.

The mood seemed happy for the time, for the future that was about to come. I knew what we needed to do; I knew where we needed to go.

I just needed everyone's help.

I wanted revenge.