Thorin and his company had prepared, and the eagles had collected them from the gates of Erebor.

They were taken to Eagle's Landing, which was what looked to be a sanctuary for birds. Especially eagles and falcons. The dwarves had landed in the field outside the forest and looked to a tower which stood as tall as the gates of Erebor, hundreds maybe thousands of birds went inside and out the windows of the tower. Besides was a large building made of stone and brick, as the doors opened, a familiar face appeared.

Thorin smiled widely at the hobbit as he came walking out into the field and Gandalf slowly moved from the inside with him,

"Master Baggins, it's been some time." Thorin smiled as he put his hands either side of Bilbo who nodded,

"King Thorin." Bilbo spoke as he looked to the other dwarves who welcomed him with open arms. Gandalf joined the group, for Thorin, it felt strange to be here. Knowing that he wouldn't see Aurora again. Thorin would want to know where she's buried as soon as he sees Austen.

A man with a large stick hobbled over to the group,

"An escort will be here shortly to take you to the town… come inside for now. We can have mead and lunch." The old man smiled, his crooked teeth on full show, the dwarves accepted the man's offer and moved inside to eat.

I sat in the tall trees of the forest, a cloak covering my face and body as I dangled my feet over the edge. I should have been in the mountain, hiding from everyone… under protection… I rolled my eyes and lifted myself up as I heard movement.

Since the battle at Erebor, orcs had been going everywhere else… I had been sneaking out from my home in the edge of the mountain and into the forest to kill any orc that tried to go near my hometown.

I had only been awake for a couple of months. I had no memory of who I was before then, but apparently, I was a sister to a King, a twin to be exact.

I saw some orcs moving through the forest as I pulled my bow from my shoulder. As I knocked an arrow I looked further ahead and saw some travellers with a carriage, and they were riding ponies with two of the guardsmen. I silently cursed under my breath and moved my bow back over my shoulder.

Thorin and his company had been given a pony each and a carriage to carry all their belongings. Thorin had been talking to the young guardsmen, asking about Austen and how the people were doing. Though when he asked about Aurora, they grew quiet, which made sense to him because they did not know her the way he did.

"We've had a few issues with orcs the last three months." One of the two guardsmen spoke, "we do have soldiers patrolling the borders but with how big this forest is it's hard to track orcs." He added, his brown eyes looked to Thorin who nodded,

"We've had our fair dealings with orcs." Thorin nodded,

"King Austen told the tales." The other guardsman smiled as a twig snapped in the distance.

Everyone stopped.

Thorin looked around, the darkness of the forest around them offered no help in seeing an enemy. The trees barely let any rays of sun through.

A battle cry was suddenly heard as an orc jumped from their left towards one of the guardsmen, but it was hit with an arrow and fell to the ground, Thorin looked at Fili, but he didn't even have a chance to grab his bow. Nobody had time to react as more orcs jumped out from the shadows. Thorin pulled his blade out and jumped from the pony, letting it bolt as the others did the same. The guardsmen fell from their horses and Dwalin blocked an attack from another Orc.

Thorin slashed at an orc and as he turned around to strike another that was charging at him, he saw another arrow hit it straight in the head. Thorin just assumed that was Fili as he continued to charge at other orcs.

Gandalf manages to knock back some orcs on the ground and the three that fell back were impaled in their heads with more arrows. By that point Thorin knew it was someone else helping the group. The guardsmen joined the fight but there were only a few orcs left. As Dwalin struck the last one down everyone took a moment to breath. The horses dragging the carriage were trying to rear but their bindings restricted them.

The guardsmen calmed the horses and pulled them forward,

"Do you have another archer in your company?" The guardsmen asked,

"We we're about to ask you the same thing." Balin stepped forward, the guardsmen looked at each other and shook their heads with a shrug of their shoulders,

"It could be." The younger one spoke,

"It's not…" the older one rolled its eyes,

"But it definitely could be." The younger one nodded,

"They'd be in trouble if it was…" the older one sighed heavily,

"Who is it?" Bilbo asked,

"There's a guardian of this forest. They only appeared the last few months. They've been killing a lot of orcs. Doing a good job to be fair. It's lowered our need to patrol the forest. We have our suspicions on who it is." The older guardsmen admitted,

"Nobody has really seen their face though… only a black cloak to hide them, as Markus said, we suspect who it could be, but we've not been able to catch them in the act." The younger one added.

Thorin looked back at Gandalf who seemed to be looking in the trees,

"You mean like that?" Gandalf pointed and we saw a figure in the trees, wearing a black cloak.

I looked down at the group below, dwarves? Here? What was Austen doing? Who were they? I saw the wizard point at me as I turned as the dwarves looked up and I jumped to the next tree.

I gripped its branch and swung my body onto the next branch as I ran across the forest with ease. I knew these trees; I knew their strengths.

I hear a string from another bow and an arrow hits the next branch before my foot lands on it and I slip. I fall forward and grab onto a lower branch near the ground as an orc jumps out and I swing forward and kick it back.

Landing on the floor I reach for another arrow quickly but notice my quiver is empty. I never have needed more than twenty arrows… they are growing in numbers.

I dodged the blade as the orc swung down and suddenly a black-haired dwarf ran past me and struck the orc down. I kept my head down as he turned to look at me.

I couldn't let anyone see me outside the mountain… the dwarf observed me for a moment, the cloak covering my body. I went to move around him, but he stepped in front of me.

I sighed, I skipped my feet to the side and then jumped the other way and spun around the dwarf as I tripped him up and he fell on his front.

I heard him grunt in frustration as I took off into the forest and climbed back up the trees, I heard his company chasing after him as I left them all. I heard two dwarves laugh and quickly go quiet as I glanced back and saw another black-haired dwarf and a blonde one.

Thorin looked up at the cloaked figure as they outmanoeuvred him. Thorin lifted himself from the ground and Dwalin moved to his side with Balin. Thorin looked back at his nephews as they were chuckling at their uncle getting tripped up.

"They aren't a foe. Otherwise, they probably would have attacked you." Balin spoke,

"They had no more arrows. There would have been no way they could have fought back." Dwalin spoke, the figure jumped through the trees and disappeared soon after as Thorin just watched them.

He needed to know who that was…

The dwarves carried on their journey by foot, they weren't that far from the town, just another two hours out from it. All that time, Thorin thought about the hooded figure, he could have sworn he saw white hair… white like Aurora and Austen's.

Only Aurora could use a bow the way the cloaked figure did, and only Aurora could move the way they did. Thorin remembered how she died in his arms and how she remained positive, even in her last moments. The pain of reliving that memory pulled at his heart as he focused ahead.

An archway came into view and a town soon appeared; it seemed quite large. Leading up towards a mountain in a straight road, it wasn't a small road to the mountain though, it would still take some time.

The dwarves saw the ponies had returned to the town as they entered through the archway. People were working and moving around the town. It seemed busy, and the people happy. People soon watched the company walk up the town. The further they got into the town; the more people crowded the path. They soon started cheering, recognising them, welcoming them.

"Well, this is a nice welcome." Bilbo smiled as people were waving and smiling,

"It certainly makes a changed." Balin nodded,

"The people of Shoreline are a welcoming people. They are also open and honest. They are good at judging the character of those who come to their land." Gandalf explained as he walked forward, those were similar words to what Aurora once said, it was obviously in their blood. Thorin moved forward, his focus on the mountain doors.

As they reached the entrance the doors opened and Aulton walked down the stairs to meet the dwarves, his armour was silver lined with gold detailing, it was like elven armour but looked at sturdy as dwarven.

"Welcome all!" Aulton smiled at the group, everyone looked at the tall guardian before them, "the King has prepared food for your arrival, and we have clean clothes for you to change. We prepared ahead of your arrival. Please follow the ladies of the halls to your chambers." Aulton gestured to a group of women, there were 15 there, one for each member of this company.

Thorin looked at them, Aulton knelt and looked at the King Dwarf,

"I must warn you." Aulton whispered gently, Thorin turned his head, "You will see something here soon. Do not react as you would normally. Be a welcoming King." Aulton frowned, "We've had some hard times. And we need to make things seem normal." Aulton explained as Thorin frowned in confusion,

"What do you mean?" Bilbo asked,

"You will soon understand." Aulton stood and looked at Gandalf, they nodded at each other, and Gandalf smirked,

"I think it will be a nice surprise." Gandalf spoke as he followed one of the ladies.

Thorin walked with the woman to his room and entered.

The dwarves were changed, all into silken and cotton clothing. They were deep green with silver lining, though Thorin's were red with golden lining. Gandalf stayed in his normal grey robe.

As they walked into a small hall a long table was seen and Thorin saw Austen at the end with his back to them, he turned and Thorin noticed the human had started to grow a beard and his hair had been cut shorter.

"My friends!" Austen smiled and opened his arms, he walked down the hall to them, his expression seemed happy, but his body language was frustrated as he met Thorin in the middle, the two gripped each other's arms and smiled. "Welcome! Please, sit! We have a late comer but please, sit." Austen spoke and sat in one of the chairs as Thorin sat on his right, there were two empty chairs besides Austen as he sat in the middle.

"Who belongs to these chairs my King?" Gandalf sat opposite Austen who gave a half smile as he looked at Gandalf.

"My love." Austen looked at Gandalf as the door opened and a woman walked in, she had long brown hair and bright blue eyes, Austen stood as she walked over to the table, she was elven. Everyone looked around and then back at the elf as she moved to Austen's left, next to Gandalf.

"My friends, let me introduce you to, Elanor." Austen spoke as everyone bowed their heads in respect, "we met on the journey back here. Banished from her homeland she helped us through the forest and has helped people with her skills in medicine. And will soon be my wife." Austen spoke as Thorin smiled, at least one of the sibling's found happiness in the end.

"Where is she?" Austen whispered harshly to Elanor as she looked at him everyone started to sit down again,

"Being difficult as always." Elanor responded but then smiled to cover up their slight panic as the doors at the end of the hall opened again.

Austen stood up quickly as he glared at the figure at the end of the hall.

There she stood…

Silence fell across the hall as her face was there, as clear as day.

Aurora…