I was leaning on the table in our armoury, my brother was sat on a chair against the wall, leaning on his hand with his chin as I was to explain the plan and situation as I knew the most.

Gandalf and Aulton were stood together at the opposite side of the room, the dwarves and Bilbo were situated around the table, the dwarves were talking amongst themselves as Bilbo and Thorin watched me closely as I laid out my thoughts in order. I didn't know where to start… I took a breath and frowned.

"Lady Aurora…" Bilbo spoke as I looked at him, "we are here to help you. Tell us what you need." Bilbo spoke as I smiled sadly,

"I probably look terrified right?" I whispered, Bilbo smiled genuinely,

"I think anyone would be, with what you've been through." Bilbo whispered back, I glanced at Thorin, and he nodded at me and rested his hand on mine.

I pulled back and stood up straight,

"Right." I spoke, the dwarves carried on talking as my eyebrow raised,

"Silence!" Thorin boomed as I looked at him, the dwarves quickly shut up as I nodded at him,

"Thank you, Thorin." I smiled and I saw him playfully glare at me because I didn't call him King.

"I'm going to tell you everything I know about Thalia and her story, which will then lead into the maze and what we know." I folded my arms. The dwarves noticed some water in the middle of the table pool together as I swayed my hand, almost as if controlling puppets.

I made Thalia, and my mother… Teresa.

"Thalia is our auntie. Our mother's older sister. Half-sister. Same father, different mothers. Our grandmother was of the royal bloodline and married our grandfather after he left Thalia's mother for her. Thalia was born different, grey skin, sick, he left her because he couldn't deal with a child like her. So, Thalia grew jealous of our mother and the life she led, being born into the royal family, and having us. Thalia had abandoned the realm at a young age and left for another land, where she learned her blood magic, the dark magic. When she was old enough, she attacked our land with drakes and her own army of orcs she acquired." I changed the water each time to show who I was talking about and the story that unfolded. The water changed into drakes, an older Thalia, and orcs, and then it showed us as children.

"We were young, but we can remember it. I hid our parents as we were instructed on the first assault. When we emerged, Thalia found us and attacked. Aulton, under instructions of my mother, the Queen, told us to run. And we did, Aulton took us to the corridor between lands, it was a half a day's ride. When we got there, an eagle landed with our father and mother as they had managed to escape. Our army had come to their protection and rallied, but they didn't hold off long enough. As we got off the horse and to escape together, she appeared again. Aulton and Austen got blasted through the doors, they made it to the other side as Aulton picked up my brother and ran, he put him at the other side of the gate but Thalia closed the doors at the end of the corridor so he couldn't come back. I was trapped with my parents." I showed an image of my mother laying dying against the mountain wall as I held her hand as a child and our father was looking at Thalia.

I took a moment and pulled the tears from my eyes towards the centre water sculpture in frustration,

"Thalia took my father. My mother pulled my attention away from her and told me. Run, live to fight another day, don't look back. And I ran down the corridor after Aulton and my brother. Thalia stabbed my father and used his blood to create the corridor maze. Her spell was cast while I was in there… I got stuck. At the same time, she cursed me to forget, we forgot who she was, we only knew her as a dark figure until now." I created myself and some of the maze on the table, "But what felt like hours was actually a week." I frowned as I stopped the water display and hugged myself.

"The maze… it plays against your fears, your anger, your darkest secrets. It will twist your mind and play games with you." I explained as I put my hands on the table and bowed my head down, "I think because I was a child, my mind wasn't as easily attacked, so I was pretty clear, to a point." I looked up,

"How do you know it's bad now?" Balin asked,

"I went in with some men." Austen answered for me, "when we got back, I went in with 20 men. Only 3 of us got out, and we realised those twenty got split into groups of five. The other 3 who did get out, they've slowly been going mad. I was lucky to escape, we all were. They followed their tracks back to the start of the maze and walked back through. The main reason the others died was because they went mad. Killed each other because of the maze." Austen explained and he leaned forward on the chair,

"That's why I'll be going in with four others. If we clear the maze, we can break the spell." I explained,

"We won't risk your life." Austen quickly spoke and Thorin went to agree with him,

"You aren't stopping me. I know the way. I'm the map!" I yelled at Austen, he looked at me, I took a moment and breathed as I had noticed Bilbo and some of the others flinch at my voice.

I reached my hand out to the water pool and it moved to my body, the sleeves of my top ripped off and the water completely covered my body. I was recalling old wounds… wounds that revealed a map over my arms, face, and the rest of my body. I looked at my brother and he seemed scared,

"I… am the map." I breathed. I leaned against the table as I finished and Gandalf lifted himself from the wall,

"You're a smart woman, I'm presuming you used your own body water to create those wounds as a child." Gandalf spoke as I looked at him, I just nodded as I felt Thorin put his hand on my shoulder gently as he looked at the wounds,

"There are so many corridors…" Bilbo looked at my other arm,

"I know the way. Here." I pointed at an arrow on my hand, "whenever we come across this area, the arrow points the way." I spoke, panting, it had exhausted me slightly to bring these wounds back. "I need those who aren't scared to face their fear to come with me. I need four others to enter the maze with me." I looked around the room.

Thorin stood quickly and I smiled at him, Bilbo and Dwalin stood a second later as I nodded at them both, Gandalf stepped forward and I looked around at everyone else,

"Think carefully, there's no pressure for anyone to join us." I spoke. Aulton went to step forward, but Fili and Kili stood up. "Thank you, both, but only one can come." I nodded at the brothers, they muttered between the two of them as I looked at Thorin and he went around to them to talk.

"Aulton will sort you all some armour. We leave in a few hours." I spoke and looked between the four of them. Austen stormed out the room as I watched him leave. I sighed as I turned away and looked at a mural on the wall, it was a circle holding the four elements of power.

I had put a chest plate on, along with arm guards and some plated boots. My sword was strapped to my waist and my bow and quiver on my back.

The five of us stood at the door to the corridor. I looked at it and opened the doors quickly and we started at a mirror.

"A mirror?" Oin spoke as I looked back at the company,

"As I mentioned earlier… this spell, the maze, it makes you face your darkest fears, secrets, and your anger. It's a reflection of you." I explained, Thorin, Bilbo and Fili just listened as Gandalf moved near the door, "when we get in, we will just walk. If anyone feels like they are seeing something, you need to speak up. Don't hide it." I explained, I saw Aulton walk in the room as he came over to us,

"Your brother is talking to the people." Aulton spoke as I nodded,

"Whatever you see, it's not real. And it cannot hurt you, even though it feels like it." I spoke, I put my hand on Fili's shoulder for a moment as I looked at him.

"Are you all ready?" I asked, everyone nodded, and I looked at Gandalf, "Can I have a moment?" I asked him,

"What is it you need Lady Aurora?" Gandalf asked, I pulled him away from the group and to the side,

"Are you able to make a physical copy of the map from my body?" I asked, Gandalf frowned and looked at me curiously, "if anything was to happen, at least we'd all have one." I spoke, Gandalf looked over my face, he nodded and put his hand on my shoulder for a moment. I held four pieces of parchment and Gandalf moved his hand to my forehead and whispered some words. The maze flashed in my mind and as I blinked, I saw the maze layout burn into the parchment as I smiled, "thank you." I smiled and he nodded.

I left a piece with Gandalf, I walked over to the other three,

"Here… in case we get split up." I handed them each a parchment with the maze on it, "we can do this." I spoke, reassuring myself more than anything as I looked at the mirror, "we can…" I repeated and I felt Thorin put his hand on my arm gently,

"Together." Thorin smile as I nodded.

We readied our bags and stood in a line facing the mirror. I was in the middle, Gandalf to my left with Fili on his left, Thorin was on my right and Bilbo on his right.

I watched Gandalf step inside first, followed by Fili. I looked at Thorin as he held his hand up and stepped in next. I exchanged a smile with Bilbo, and we stepped into the mirror and walked through the doorway.

Thorin opened his eyes and looked back at the mirror and the hall in which they left was empty… nobody could be seen or heard. Thorin looked around and saw Fili. Thorin stepped back from the doorway and expected Aurora and Bilbo to appear… but they didn't.

"Where are they? Fili, where's Gandalf?" Thorin looked at his kin,

"Gandalf is-" Fili started,

"I'm here… and we have a problem." Gandalf called and the two dwarves exchanged a glance and ran to the wizard. They appeared upon two men, cowering in a corridor, "these men were thrown in here last night. Making the total in here-" Gandalf started,

"Five…" Fili spoke, "So… Bilbo and Aurora?" Fili looked between Gandalf and Thorin,

"They're on their own." Gandalf looked at the doorway.

Thorin walked over to the two men,

"Who sent you in here? Tell me!" Thorin yelled,

"We don't know! We were kidnapped from our beds and woke up inside." One of the men spoke, "please… we are just here to serve our King and Princess. Who would do this?" He added, Thorin looked at the wizard and Fili,

"Who indeed?" Gandalf looked back, "we need to move." He looked down the corridor as some noises were heard. One of the men screamed as many large spiders appeared, "RUN!" Gandalf yelled and the two men and dwarves followed the wizard.

I opened my eyes and saw Bilbo waiting there… alone. I looked around,

"The others?" I looked at him, Bilbo shrugged, "they should be here…" I frowned, "Thorin?! Gandalf! Fili!" I yelled and walked past him,

"What could have happened?" Bilbo asked,

"I… I don't know. The only reason they would be here is because-" I cut myself off as I looked at Bilbo,

"Because there are others in the maze?" Bilbo finished my sentence as I took a breath,

"Yes…" I panted and looked down the corridor.

We needed to get to the end as quickly as possible… we needed to save them.

"We can save them. If we get to the end, we can get them out." I explained as Bilbo nodded,

"Follow me." I smiled and Bilbo followed, we walked down the corridor as Bilbo held his map out. I had hidden the scars since we didn't need them.

I just followed Bilbo and stayed quiet as he was going the way I remembered. I looked down each corridor that I remember that held a terror as I had previously marked the maze with a slash on the wall with water. I realised I didn't tell the others about it as I stopped in my tracks.

"Aurora?" Bilbo asked,

"I forgot… I forgot to tell them." I looked at him, "any corridor with a mark has one of the horrors of the maze…" I looked at Bilbo as he looked at me with worry.

The other five had run through several corridors at the guidance of Gandalf and stopped in another corridor further down. The spiders disappeared as the two dwarves took a breath and Gandalf looked at the two men,

"I have a fear of spiders…" the younger of the two spoke,

"What are your names?" Gandalf asked,

"I'm Maurice, and this is Jordan." The younger introduced the two,

"If we are to survive this, Maurice, Jordan. We need to work together. Now, Lady Aurora has given us a map each, we can use these to guide us to the end." Gandalf explained,

"I had a look at my map Gandalf. Aurora seemed to avoid certain corridors when they are the shortest way to go." Fili pointed at the parchment he held and showed one direction, where they could cut out a lot of turns and Gandalf frowned.

"I'm sure she would have her reasons for avoiding a direct route." Gandalf frowned as he noticed a mark on the wall of the corridor they were in, Gandalf walked over to it,

"We've seen a few of those around… they are only in certain corridors." Jordan spoke, it was a double slash on the wall, a clean cut, Gandalf put his hand against it and then saw a young Aurora marking the wall.

"Dangerous wall… Anger…"

Gandalf looked around and loud feet were heard. Suddenly, bright orange eyes appeared in the darkness at the end of the corridor,

"Smaug?" Thorin questioned, the dragons head flew forward and tried to bite at Gandalf as he jumped back,

"Go!" Gandalf yelled, he smashed his staff on the floor and the dragon was blasted back.

As the five got to the end of the corridor and in a crossroad, Gandalf took a breath,

"The marks. Aurora made them to gauge the danger of the corridor. Any corridor holding two lines relates to anger, one line, to fear, a cross, to secrets." Gandalf panted as he looked between the four, "we need to avoid corridors with marks on them." Gandalf looked around.

Bilbo and myself carried on down the safe corridors as I worried for Thorin and the others. I stopped at a corridor that I knew lead directly to the back, I stared down it and looked at the mark on the wall, one line… fear.

I looked at Bilbo,

"If we run straight, we can cut out at least an hour of diversions. More of a chance to save the others." I pointed down the corridor as Bilbo looked anxious,

"Didn't you say the marks meant the emotion in the corridor?" Bilbo asked as I nodded,

"If you don't want to come, that's fine. I'll fight them all and get to the end quicker." I spoke, Bilbo took a breath.

"I can do this…" I spoke, "wait here…" I spoke, and Bilbo nodded regretfully.

I took a breath and then sprinted forward; I could feel heat as soon as I entered the corridor… I didn't look back as I could see the fire reflect on the walls.

"Run… don't look back!"

I felt the heat catching up to me as I was running out of breath running from the fire chasing me, I jumped near the end and skidded on the floor as I landed against the wall opposite. I sat up against the wall and took a breath. I couldn't see Bilbo, the fire died out quickly as I left the corridor.

I looked at the next corridor and saw another single line.

"Rinse and repeat…" I frowned and stood up, I moved to the edge of the corridor and took a breath, this one was a bit longer. The fire was going to get close here.

I took off again and ran forward, I soon heard the fire pick up in the back as I kept moving forward, my legs started burning as I ran. As I went to jump near the end I tripped and fell short of the corridor's end. I quickly scrambled to my feet and felt the flames dance over my skin as I screamed out and fell on the floor grabbing my leg.

I lay back and held my leg, but when I looked there was no burn… the illusion of the maze felt too real…

I lay on my back and took a moment to breath; I had one more corridor… I glanced at the mark… anger… I closed my eyes. But I didn't realise I had fallen asleep.

"Aurora… Aurora, wake up!" Bilbo yelled as I shot up from the ground,

"Bilbo! Wait… what happened?" I questioned, I looked at the hobbit,

"I found you passed out. Probably from exhaustion." Bilbo put his hand on my back as he helped me to stand,

"I… How long was I out? It must have been a while for you to reach me here…" I looked at him. Bilbo looked shifty for a moment as I saw him move his hands over his pocket,

"I went around, as you suggested." Bilbo spoke, "but I didn't wait around!" Bilbo smiled as I smirked,

"Good, we can do this last one together." I spoke,

"Wait- what? Really?" Bilbo asked, I nodded as I stood.

"Anger, the corridor only targets one person." I looked at Bilbo, "they all only target one person," I paused, "what angers you the most? Apart from stubborn dwarves from time to time?" I half-heartedly laugh,

"I never really thought out it… though I did come home to the others at Bag End taking my belongings. That did rile me up." Bilbo spoke as I smirked, "what about you?" Bilbo looked at me, I sighed,

"We're about to find out…" I spoke and stepped forward as I entered the corridor first and Bilbo followed.

We walked forward together, and we started hearing a woman's laugh.

"Pathetic…"

It spoke, I recognised the voice and Bilbo did too as he looked at me.

"you're such a failure!"

I kept walking with Bilbo as he kept glancing at me.

"You ran away when you could have saved them."

I tried to ignore it as my fists clenched.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE SAVED THEM!"

I closed my eyes as I walked forward,

"Aurora." Bilbo spoke, I glanced at him,

"Keep walking. Don't stop." I spoke.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED INSTEAD!"

A figure ran at me as I pulled out my sword and the two blades clashed, I looked at the body, it was made of some type of stone. Looking at the face I saw myself as it smiled at me,

"Run, Bilbo! Run!" I yelled as it tried to strike at him, but I jumped in the way and the doppelgänger slashed my arm, I winced and blocked its next attack as the blood trickled down my arm.

"You are weak!"

I kicked the stone figure and turned to follow Bilbo. I looked back for a second and saw it get up off the ground.

"YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM!"

I could see the door at the end of the corridor. I knew that the maze could kill people, even though they were illusions… people could die if they stayed inside it.

I turned around and blocked the sword from striking down and the figure suddenly changed into an orc with a double-bladed sword,

"Azog…" I frowned, I got kicked back and landed on the ground as the fake orc jumped and pushed his blade on me.

"Aurora!" Bilbo yelled,

"Go! Get to the end! Open the door!" I yelled as I pushed my blade up to stop the orc from stabbing me.

I looked up and saw Bilbo feet from the door, I looked up at the orc and pulled my blade back as I felt it enter my chest. I cried out as I heard the door open.

I lay there, still for a second. Everything went fuzzy around me for a few moments.

I screamed and sat up on the floor as I heard Thorin and the others yelling. I looked down the corridor and saw the others standing there. I looked back at Bilbo and saw he was outside,

"You did it…" I smiled, I turned and ran towards Bilbo and tackled him to the ground in a hug, "you did it, Bilbo!" I cheered and hugged him,

"We did it." Bilbo smiled at me as I sat up and looked around, the grass was a luscious green and the birds singing.

I frowned and looked at Bilbo for a moment,

"You aren't a failure, Aurora. You're far from it." Bilbo put his hand on mine, I looked at Bilbo as Thorin, Gandalf and Fili ran in our direction. I saw two men running in the opposite direction as I was confused.

"Aurora? Are you okay?" Thorin knelt in front of me as I smiled and nodded,

"Yeah… Bilbo got to the end for us." I smiled and looked at him,

"Well done, Master Baggins!" Thorin hugged the hobbit and helped me off the group as Bilbo stood up,

"Who were those men?" I looked at Gandalf,

"They were thrown in as we were getting ready." Gandalf spoke as I looked at him,

"Who'd do that?" I looked at his face as Gandalf looked back down the corridor and we saw the other dwarves running towards us. I had a feeling Gandalf probably had his suspicions, I'd noticed Aulton and Gandalf had been talking more since I got my memories back.

The other dwarves joined our circle and hugged us all,

"How long we're we gone?" Bilbo asked,

"A couple of days!" Bofur spoke as I nodded,

"Makes sense… we knew the directions, so it didn't take us long." I nodded, "I'm hungry though…" I frowned as my stomach growled and I looked around the area, "we can eat back in the mountain and then leave for the next part of our journey." I smiled as Thorin nodded,

"Agreed." Thorin spoke as we all walked back down the corridor.

I saw Bilbo talk to Thorin on the way back, Thorin was probably asking how we got on and if I was okay, he looked concerned as they spoke.

"My dear…" Gandalf leaned towards me as I glanced at him,

"Yes, Gandalf?" I asked,

"You need to be careful with the people around you. I think someone has betrayed you." Gandalf whispered as I look at him,

"I… okay." I just nodded, I didn't say anything else, I looked at the company of dwarves and knew it wasn't one of them. But someone did throw the two men in the maze corridor… someone who potentially wanted us to fail…

I frowned as I entered back into the hall.

Someone wanted me to forget everything.

Someone wanted me to fail.

Someone wants me dead.

I looked at Aulton and knew it wouldn't be him, he was our guardian. Aulton passed me a blanket as I smiled, he wrapped it around me and sat me down gently.

"You all need food, the kitchen had something in mind, so they are working on it now. Rest, my lady. I will let Austen know you are safely back." Aulton spoke as I nodded, Austen wouldn't betray me…

I looked at the table as I could still feel the cold steel entering my chest and the burn on my leg as I itched both parts of my body.

"What happened in there?" Bombur asked,

"Not much." I shrugged, Thorin sat next to me, and I felt his hand land on my leg,

"Bilbo told me." Thorin spoke quietly as I glanced at Thorin,

"I'm fine." I simply stated,

"You haven't failed anyone." Thorin looked at me,

"I failed my parents." I snapped and banged my hand on the table, "I failed my family." I looked away. I had the power to stop her, and I ran.

"You were a child, Aurora. A child can't carry the weight of the world on their shoulders." Gandalf spoke as I looked at him. I went to object but then saw some of the men and ladies of the halls come in, a child was with one. It was her daughter that she'd bring to work every now and again.

I looked away, the girl was my age when the attack happened,

"Do you think, a girl her age could fight back such evil?" Thorin saw who I was looking at, "I wouldn't expect a child to fight." Thorin added as I sighed,

"I guess not." I frowned and looked away, "I wouldn't ask my children to fight either when we finally have them." I spoke quietly as I felt Thorin freeze for a second, it was something we'd never spoken about. But as we were engaged it was something in the cards.

I looked at Thorin and saw him smiling gently, the idea was obviously a pleasing one. It pleased me too.