A/N: Hello my dearies. I haven't quite decided how this chapter is going to go so I am just writing and we'll see where it takes me. I appreciate any feedback! It's been a while since my fingers have been anywhere near the keyboard for the sake of 'creative writing' per say. So , apologies for any grammar and spelling, I already know there is some in the 2 chapters that I've recently posted have some errors here and there. I have to give a shout out to ro781727! Thank you for being so patient with me and for sticking around even when there was a chance this story almost got deleted. And I appreciate your feedback. You're getting ahead of the game mind! Bare with me!

So, thank you so, so much for that, and if there's anyone else who has been with me since the beginning too, up until now, I thank you too. If you leave any feedback, I'll be sure to give a holla for you on my next update. Let me know what you think!

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Third P.O.V

Cliff-side Camp. Whilst Aurora is hunting/scouting.

As the company settles in for the night, they move off into small groups, chattering amongst themselves. Bilbo finds himself nestled up near the fire, assisting Bombur where he can. Bombur assigns him to cutting the vegetables and what not, so he wasn't really paying attention to the chatter around until Aurora's name pops up. Of course thanks to his sensitive ears, hears able to hear a lot better than the others. He tries to be discreet about it, but his ears prick up as he listens, not completing distracting himself from his work, under Bombur's supervision of course.

"It's not right, you know." Oin states as he begins rummaging through his pack.

"Aye, brother, I agree. But the decision is not ours. We have a quest to complete. And that is the main thing." Gloin answers as he unrolls his bed roll.

"It does make me wonder, though, of her heritage. She's clearly not full dwarf and it's a disgrace and a dishonor against our people, that one of our own has lain and sired with-"

"That's enough!" Bilbo's startled out of his eavesdropping by the sudden emergence of another voice, a voice that clearly shows their anger and disapproval of Oin and Gloin's conversation. Lifting his head up towards the new voice, he's surprised to see Balin, standing before the two older brothers. His face showing his disappointment also. "I won't have anymore of this nonsense about Aurora, especially the speculation over her lineage. I've vouched for her, shouldn't that be enough?" A few more heads turn towards Balin.

Balin stares each and every dwarf down, including Thorin. It's disconcerting, seeing the usual happy, humble dwarf looking so suddenly fierce, to which is a reminder of his days at war, whilst staring the enemy down, charging into battle. Even his own brother, Dwalin, can't meet his brothers gaze, guilty of his own disapproval towards Aurora.

"I understand everyone of us has our objections against the lass being here. On this quest." He sighs. "She's female." He quirks an eyebrow as he stares off into the distance. "She's young, very young." Another quirk of the eyebrow. "And she's alone. Yes there's the question of her heritage and whether her veins rum solely of dwarvish blood." He sighs again before his gaze hardens and he moves to stare each dwarf down again. "But all of that, does not matter. We now know something about her, that best part of Middle Earth does not. We know she's the Wandering Guardian. Granted, we all thought she was male. Because every male can't fathom a female being able to fight, let alone defend the whole of Middle Earth too. And we all know she has many names, we know of her legacy. Of her fight for Middle Earth. Just because we are able to put a face and true name to that person now, doesn't mean we should let it cloud our judgement."

"Here, here." Bilbo finds the courage to speak up, though cowers slightly when all eyes turn to him.

"Aurora has done many things for us, for this world, that the rest of you never knew about. Some, including myself. We have so much to thank her for, not that she'd ever allow those words to pass our lips. Judge her on that and not on your shear stubbornness. Nor harbour any ill will towards her." Gandalf's gruff voices chimes in, sounding somber but at the same time stern. "She just may very well be the reason you're still alive today and possibly the reason, you make it home."

"I know, it's a bit biased coming from me because I am her brother." Bilbo speaks up again. "But there is a saying, to never judge a book by it's cover." Balin smiles softly whilst Gandalf nods in agreement. "Rose was brought to us, my mother and I, shortly after losing my father. We were grieving terribly and to have some unknown girl thrust into our lives, with no memory of her own name let alone of her family as well. Well, my mother almost turned Gandalf away that night." Gandalf hums to himself as he thinks back to that encounter.

"Indeed." He mutters to himself.

"We hobbits, respectful or not, are very distrustful of others. Especially outside of the Shire. We keep ourselves to our selves. We don't like outsiders and are quite happy in the peace and tranquility that we live in. And yet, one look at her and my mother knew." Bilbo smiles to himself, unaware of the others around him. "She knew that there was something about Rose. So strongly, that she took her in without question, raised her as her own, just like her hobbit son. She never once questioned Rose's heritage, she stood up for Rose against our more opinionated relatives. As well as any other snooty hobbit who had something horrible to say about Rose." Bilbo chuckles to himself at that.

"She may not have birthed Aurora, but she loved her no less. She is Aurora's mother. Yes, Aurora's memory stops her from knowing her true mother, but Belladonna Took, a hobbit, raised Aurora. A Guardian of Middle Earth. And was proud of her, so proud that she never stopped being proud or believing in Rose either. In our darkest hour, Aurora was, is and will always be, our Sun. So, you may sit there, and question everything about her, from her heritage, to her lifestyle, to even her choices. But answer me this, if the circumstances were different, and it was one of you, who Gandalf brought Rose to, would you have done the same for her?" Bilbo is met with deathly silence.

"Thought as much." Bilbo, although honest and humble and not one to point out when people are wrong, was in a sense, smug at the resounding silence at his question. "Rose is proud of who she is, she may be part dwarf and what ever that other part may be, but I can assure you of this, deep down, in her heart, she's a hobbit. A Baggins at that. And she wouldn't want to be anyone else." And with that, he goes back to his task at hand, finishing chopping the vegetables for Bombur.

Gandalf hums to himself again, with a smile, whilst puffing his pipe before looking off into the distance. Leaving the company of dwarves to contemplate amongst themselves. Thorin stands up from his place and moves towards the opening of the trees where Fili and Kili are keeping watch for Aurora. He motions to Balin and Dwalin to follow.

Aurora's P.O.V.

At camp, a couple of hours later...

The little bastards. That's the best way to describe the two Princes currently sitting in the alcove a few feet from me, of whom I am glaring to death from my bedroll whilst attempting to sleep. Not that they were aware of it. Pity though really, they'd currently be cowering if they were. But never mind, back to the task at hand, trying to sleep.

Sleep, ah, my distant friend. Yet again, you evade me.

I toss and turn a few more times, trying to get comfortable, but I am too awake. I guess this is due to the elvish blood running through my veins. The need for sleep for me, is very rare. A couple of hours every few days or so, but never a full nights sleep. Unless I was extremely exhausted, to which at this present time, I am not. Sighing to myself, I flip back my blanket and sit up. I stretch my arms above my head and both hear and feel several pops along my spine. For which I feel better afterwards for.

"Lassie?" A soft voice calls my name and my gaze turns to Balin, watchful as ever. "You alright?" He asks, concern evident on his face. I smile gently and nod before rising to my feet. Still clad in boots as you never know what you may wake up or be woken up to.

"I am Balin, just not tired." I reply back softly, careful not to wake the others. I quickly gaze around to see who else is still awake and catch Gandalf's knowing gaze, before Fili and Kili's. "I think I'll stretch my legs for a bit." I murmur back to Balin and immediately his white fluffy eyebrows disappear from his forehead.

"It'd be best to stay with the company lass." Balin says softly but also sternly.

"It's not safe out there Aurora. Come sit with us, I'm sure we can blabber so many tales that will send you right off." Kili quickly rises from his spot near the fire, moving around it to my side, grinning cheekily before his brother replies.

"Or at least Kili's droning on about himself will send you off anyways." Fili mutters and I chuckle quietly and Kili's facial expression in response.

"I'll be alright, I've got my sword, as well as my bow and arrow. Not to mention, I'm used to this." Kili goes to argue that, Fili and Balin go to as well before Gandalf chimes in.

"Stay close to the camp then." I turn my head and smile graciously, already feeling a bit overwhelmed by the attention and sudden concern. "Just don't be too long." He nods his head in a certain direction, a form of dismissal. "Off you go." I nod before quickly bending down and gathering the weapons I said I will take. Strapping them in their rightful positions against my body and turn back to Kili, who's watched me do this with trepidation.

"I'll be fine Kili, I've done this plenty of times." I grasp his bicep in comfort before moving off. I hear unhappy mutters behind me but don't pay attention to them, I need to clear my head and a walk will do me just that. I wander along the edge of the cliff for a good ten minutes when I stop and take a deep breath. The fresh air filling my lungs and clearing my mind. I close my eyes for a moment as I let my other senses do the work for once. And just enjoy the silence. The peace.

Snap!

My eyes shoot open and I take up a defensive position naturally. My eyes scan the ridge of the cliff-side opposite me, where I'm positive the snapping branch came from. I take out my bow along with an arrow, spying a couple of large shadows behind the dense treeline, I too am hidden by the treeline on my side and it seems that I have gone unnoticed.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

Several more branches and twigs snap as the shadows move, I follow, my feet making light work as they twist and turn through the trees. The wind blows gently and a scent carries along it. A foul, horrible stench. One that I am familiar with.

Orcs.

A snarl makes it way up my throat but my lips clamp down before it is released. I bend to one knee as I lift and aim my bow at one of the bigger shadows, the light of the moon appears from out of the clouds for a split second and I catch sight of two orcs astride two wargs. I watch them closely, trying to identify their markings as well as their body language. At least I can anticipate on whether they are here to attack or if it's a recon mission, to simply watch and report back. A low growl from one of the orcs has me readying the notched arrow to fly across the valley between us when one of the orcs lets out a screech.

I hear murmurs, several voices from the camp, as I assume the others have heard the screech too. But I ignore them, keeping my focus on the orcs. The first sign of them so much as thinking to attack and I will let loose the arrows that will end their lives in seconds. The wargs grow restless after some time passes. The low growls and whines tell tale signs that they will disobey their riders soon. I watch as one of the orcs, clearly the appointed leader, leans it's head slightly to converse with one of the other orcs in it's scouting party.

"Send word to the Master, we have found the Dwarf-scum." The gargled voice speaks out and a chill runs down my spine as I quickly follow the direction of their gaze and lock onto Thorin. Shooting my eyes back, I make the quick decision to let the arrow loose. It shoots across the valley with such accuracy, speed and quietness that neither orcs nor the wargs hear or see it coming. It's not until the lead orcs falls to a heap on the floor. A clear hole left by the arrow that I've shot straight through it's skull. The second orc doesn't get a chance to react as I've quickly notched and sent another arrow flying through the air at it. However, the warg from the lead orc has suddenly realized it's lost it's rider and rears up on it's hind legs, resulting in it's own death and the arrow quickly rips through it's skull too.

"Damnit." I mutter to myself before notching and loosing another arrow, this time it hits it's intended mark, however the orc has suddenly found it's senses and encouraged it's warg to take off, tail firmly between it's legs. The arrows hit's the orc in the back, no doubt puncturing it's right lung, severely wounding it. I send another arrow, this time at the warg, aiming for one of it's hind legs as it weaves through the trees, becoming smaller and smaller as it disappears back into the shadows. I hear a whimper and the sickening squelch and know I've hit my mark. I decide it's time to go back to camp but notch another arrow just in case the orc decides to come back.

Not that it will last long, nor the warg with it's injuries. Let's hope they both die before they can make it to camp or worse, make it back to their master. I run back to camp, becoming all but a blur as I go and so I startle the ponies as I suddenly appear in front of them. However Cas, sensing something is wrong, whinnies to them in response and they quickly quieten down.

"Aurora?!" Gandalf quickly stands, noticing my fast pace, worried look and my bow, at the ready in my hands. The rest of the camp is awake and Thorin turns suddenly at the concerned tone in Gandalf's voice. He moves quickly to me, barely missing the others who had began to lie back down, in his wake.

"What is it?" He says quickly, a bit harshly but never the less concerned. He quickly looks behind me as his hand grasps the hilt on his sword.

"Orcs." His eyes harden as he moves around me, Dwalin, Fili and Kili doing the same, springing into action with their favourite weapons of choice.

"Where?"

"Across the valley, two of them, with their own wargs. They were armed and hidden by the treeline. But I smelt them a mile away. Took out one orc along with it's warg from here, but the second got spooked and took off. I managed to hit both the orc and warg as they turned tail. They'll not make it far." I say, as I point in the direction of where the orcs were observing them from.

"Are you sure? That you wounded it?"

"I'm pretty sure the arrow pierced the orc's right lung and the other arrow just about amputated the wargs left hind leg." I hear a grumble from Dwalin more of a growl really and turn to him in surprise, though he has a smug smile on his face.

"Nice one lass. It'll not get far. What should we do about the other orc Thorin?"

"Leave it there to rot for all I care, the other will die from it's injuries, the coward."

"No, leaving it there, it will act as a beacon to other orcs. We can't have them catching our trail. I'll handle this." I lift my bow and aim for the carcasses of the orc and warg, I will a small spark of flame from the camp fire and it zooms through the air before igniting the tip of my arrow. I let it loose, not before whispering an incantation so that the fire stays solely on the orc and warg. "I'll make sure no remains are left behind and that the forest floor grows back over the scorched Earth." I smile to myself as I watch the flames dance across the treeline where the orc and warg lay dead. "It'll be as if nothing happened."

I turn and move away from the group taking watch, not without missing the surprised expressions as I do so. I quickly seat myself on my bedroll and close my eyes. I drew myself inwards and call forth the spirits in my mind.

"Yes, my Lady?" A whispered voice calls to me, the voice sounds feminine, young and carefree. It reminds me of spring time and know this is the embodiment of the Earth spirit communicating with me.

"The orc and the warg." I say back gently and hear a whooshing noise across my mind and a different voice speaks, another feminine voice but this one is more gentle, almost fluid and tranquil and wise. The Water spirit.

"All will be well my Lady, we will make sure off it."

"The vermin have been dealt with, they are no more." The fire spirit, although is very passionate about it's distaste of the orcs, always fills me with warmth. He reminds me of Gandalf sometimes.

"Alas, we can not say the same for the other one just yet." A breathy voice enters and I can almost feel the wind blowing around me, he's a little angry and sounding as though he's at a distance, as if he is farther away from me than the others are. "I will stay with it and watch closely."

"Thank you, I do not like to ask this of you. You've honoured me enough over the years." I say back politely and truthfully thankful.

"My Lady, you need not thank us. We will always follow you. Whatever it is, you need not ask you. You know we trust you." Earth says back to me, almost giggly as if she finds me amusing. I go to reply back with thanks but fire beats me to it.

"Don't even think about thanking us again, my Lady!" Several chuckles fill my mind before it goes silent. I smile to myself before closing the connection and opening my eyes, I pause for a moment and the camp looks empty but I hear several gasps and murmurs alerting me to the fact that everyone is watching the fire across the valley.

"It would seem, that the Elemental Spirits are on our side, thanks to Aurora. The fire has completely disintegrated the bodies and the scorched soil has rebirthed the grass and bushes, if you look, there are several flowers blooming. It is indeed as if nothing happened." Gandalf chuckles quietly to himself as he turns back around and moves back to his spot before addressing me.

"Do the Spirits have anything to say?" He asks, the others, still in awe at the spectacle, half turn to listen what I say.

"The Air Spirit is keeping close watch on the other Orc." Gandalf nods as does Thorin.

"Anything else?" Gandalf further enquirers.

"The Spirits advised me that I need not thank them for their help, nor that I need ask for it. And that they will follow me, no matter what I ask of them." The others look to me in awe.

"How, how do you-wait." Ori starts before pausing. Clearly trying to find the words to form the right sentence. "How did you learn how to use your magic to use the likes of water and such?" He finally asks before coming to sit near the fire, off to the side of me. The others, having their fill of the Spirits work, too come and join Ori and I by the fire. I guess it's story time.

"It's a long story and I'm sure you're all tired from our travels today."

"I'm sure a shortened version of it will suffice." Gandalf says and I pull a face at him, I was hoping to get out of this but never mind. The other dwarves murmur in agreement, Thorin nods also, curious.

"Alright, it was during the summer, many moons back and Gandalf had come and picked me up. Intending to teach me about the wilderness and what not. We ended up travelling to the Greenwood. Where I was introduced to Radaghast, the Brown Wizard. He wasn't at the council when Gandalf asked for permission to teach me. Though, had given his blessing. Radaghast is a kind soul. A mixture of Bilbo and Ori I suppose, keeps himself to himself and prefers the company of animals. I was still very young and I guess this worked in my favour as I greatly enjoyed the company of his animals. Specifically his rabbits. So, I won him over quite quickly."

Gandalf chuckles to himself. "She wouldn't stop playing with those rabbits. Got stuck in the roots of a tree when they were playing chase with each other." Bilbo snorts and I glare at him before continuing.

"Anyways, I guess because of this, Radaghast found me somewhat comfortable to be around with, and so began my lessons. Between him and Gandalf, they began to teach me the basics of how to call for Water, Air, Earth and Fire. I can't conjure them from scratch of course, so I would have to be around those elements to be able to work with them. That is when I started to get this feeling." I pause to find the words. "As almost as if there was someone else with us, not watching us but more so observing us. With no malicious intent of course, I got the sense that it was safe whenever this feeling came across. I wasn't very good at the beginning of my training, and I kept having this feeling, that whoever was observing me, was very amused."

"Very amusing indeed." Gandalf chuckles again, more so to himself.

"Quit interrupting you!" Several guffaws of laughter come from the dwarves as I tell Gandalf off.

"My apologies, continue!"

"I will thank you." I say as a matter of fact. "As I was saying, I felt this sense of amusement being directed at me. But could never figure out who it was coming from, apart from the obvious. But then I had a dream, I was in a meadow that I'd never seen before and it felt like it wasn't part of our world. It was a different realm. When I fell asleep, the Elements called me to their realm, where they are most strongest. I just thought it was a dream, so hear I am, running through fields, playing with fairies and nymphs. But for at least a week, I dreamed of the same place. I know now that it was the Spirits way of assessing my behavior in their own realm. They were testing me, deciding on whether they could trust me."

"And what happened?" Ori quickly asks, not before being shushed by the others, or by his brothers who pull him back from leaning too far forward in his eagerness. I smile kindly at him before continuing.

"I was approached by them, the main four Spirits. They looked almost human, but I suspect this wasn't their true forms, they merely morphed into them, for the sake of me, to make me feel comfortable. Earth and Water are female and Fire and Air are male. All mature. They sat with me for hours. Telling me stories. Which were actually the history of Middle Earth, they would ask me how I felt about these stories and what I thought would have stopped them in the first place, or how I think the battles could've been won. I mean, they were asking a child!" I say in disbelief.

"And what did you say?" Ori again asks excitedly.

"They told me one story about how Middle Earth had been scorched with fire, that the waters had almost dried up, there were no trees or flowers. No food to grow. That the air was think with a horrible smell and taste, that the Sun never shined ever again. That someone Evil had taken away all of the goodness, disrupted the natural balance. I asked why would the person do this. What right do they have to do this. And I told them that, that person needed to be stopped. That there needed to be someone, who would stop the Evil. No matter what it costs. They would be able to rally the other races to follow their cause. And if the Spirits helped, we would win and the world would be at peace again. We'd be able to save it, nurture it back to what it once was, if not better."

"Wow."

"I never thought for one second that they would believe me, because I was a child." I laugh a little to myself.

"And it was in that moment, that they chose Aurora." Gandalf explains and I look up at him, as do the others. "They were questioning her, testing her, to see if she is true of heart. Because their is an old prophecy. A very old prophecy might I add. We never thought it would come to light, especially after Sauron, we assumed the prophecy was about his rule."

"The story they told me, was actually a vision, they all collectively had. The Spirits are more in tune with Middle Earth than what we are. And this vision is of the future. We don't know when but at some point, our world will be like that. That a great Evil will rule this world and take any speck of goodness out of it."

"They chose you." Kili summarizes, several heads nod in agreement.

"I made them a promise, that I would try."

"And they still chose you." Kili replies more firmly. "This is how you became a Guardian isn't it?" I nod.

"They gave me their blessing, in my dream wise. And I was able to perform magic better. It was like a box inside of my soul had been unlocked, and they were the ones with the key. I just had to prove to them and myself, that I was capable."

"And you're doing an excellent job at it lassie. There's not somebody out there that hasn't heard of you." I nod again, my cheeks warming under his praise.

"I certainly try Balin, but one person can only do so much."

"And that's what makes the difference, it only takes one person to make a change, others will follow." Almost every person around the fire nods in agreement.

"And thus, began my tale as the Wandering Guardian." I state, finishing the story. "Now, I think it's best we all get that rest now, no doubt Thorin will have us up soon." Thorin smiles to himself before nodding and everyone takes that as a dismissal, going back to their beds or watches, for Fili and Kili at least. I too, hunker down. Snuggling myself up in my blanket before saying goodnight to Bilbo as he turns in too. I close my eyes and feel myself drift off into a peaceful slumber.

Unaware of what tomorrow has in for us.

Alright, alright! Tell me what you think! Pretty please.