*Aurora's Perspective*

I woke on my couch, dozens of blankets wrapped around me to the point where I felt like I was in my own little burrow.

It was heaven, and I hated to leave it.

I carefully crawled out of my little den, yawning softly as I did so. I couldn't remember how I had gotten there; I couldn't even remember what happened after leaving the kitchen with dinner. I padded out of my sitting room, smiling as soon as I saw the pile of dwarves lounging and smoking their pipes in my cigar room (I had that built only to be a tribute- I never used it).

"So it wasn't a dream then," I said fondly, wiping my fist across my eyes in attempt to rub the sleep from them. "Well, perhaps a dream come true."

Oin frowned worriedly at me, prodding me to come to him. "How are you feeling, Lassie?"

"Physically, mentally, or emotionally?" I questioned as he began an examination, sitting me down in front of him. "All three are on the downside, I'm afraid."

He frowned, cupping my chin in his hand as he worked. "Poor lass. At least your fever has eased."

"I hate to rush you, Aurora, especially when you are ill, but I must ask," Thorin interrupted, coming to my side and kneeling so he was eye level with me. "How long will it take, do you suppose, to return us to our world? I do have a schedule to keep."

"Your world…" It dawned on me with a small gasp, and I bolted from my seat. "Four, maybe five, days at the most, but, Mister Baggins, may I borrow you?"

I caught him by the hand, tugging him towards the hall so I could talk to him in private. Once we were alone, Bilbo was coddling me like a mere child, stroking my hair and prodding me to sit in his lap at the bench against the wall in the hallway. I protested the action, scrambling away so I was standing in front of him.

"What is it you need, Dear?"

I giggled as he poked my nose, his smile only growing at my response, but I quickly regained my composure, shaking my head slightly to remember the severity of what was happening. "Master Baggins, at what point are you in your journey?"

"We had just begun our escape of the goblin mountain when we ended up in your world. Why?"

My eyes widened in horror, and I immediately questioned, "Did you find a ring there? Oh please, by all that is good, tell me you haven't put it on."

"Yes, I've found a ring, and I nearly put it on, but I haven't yet. Not yet- Aurora, what is the matter?" Bilbo was holding my shoulders gently, his brows furrowed in concern as I practically sank to my knees in oddly both relief and stress, relief that he hadn't used it, stress that he had it within his possession.

"Aurora, are you alright, Dear? Do you feel ill? Should I fetch Oin?" he asked frantically, gently picking me up underneath my arms so he could set me in his lap facing him. He was about to take my temperature when I stopped him, grabbing his one hand with both of my own, tiny ones.

"Master Baggins, please, I beg of you, give me the ring."

I could see the reluctance in his eyes, and I shuddered inwardly at the thought of what literature in this world had taught me would happen to Bilbo in his own world.

"Master Baggins, please," I begged quietly, all too aware of the tears in my eyes, but I would sooner die than have this tale, this hobbit's tale, end as written. "I know you've no reason to trust me because we've just met, but you must! I can't tell you why, but you can't keep that ring."

He seemed to not believe me even as he moved his hand to stroke my hair in what I must admit was a very soothing action. "Will it make you feel better if I give it to you? Will it soothe your worries?"

I nodded earnestly, his hands holding my cheeks with his thumbs' brushing the tears from my cheeks. I unconsciously nuzzled his palm, allowing myself to delve into the unfamiliar comfort.

"Then take it."

The ring was soon in my hand, and I was somewhat surprised about how willing he was to part with it on my behalf, but that surprise quickly turned ill; that blasted ring seeming to weigh forty more pounds than it should have.

"There. Now that that's settled, why don't we get you something to eat, hmm? I hope you don't mind, but we invaded your pantry a bit." I was soon being picked up into Bilbo's arms, but I couldn't bring myself to protest. He was just so warm and careful and gentle…

I startled awake at a soft pinching of my cheek, finding Fili's smile directed towards me and rather close too. I raised my head wearily, becoming aware that I had had it buried in Bilbo's vest front. My arms were around his neck, his wrapped gently around me as well.

"Hello there, Aurora," Fili greeted kindly. "Are you finally ready for supper?"

"I can eat while working," I mumbled, dragging a fist across my eyes to hopefully wipe the tiredness from them. I carefully scrambled out of Bilbo's lap, feeling his hand on my back as extra support.

"Working?"

I smiled at Fili, tugging an empty plate from the table towards me so I could grab some breakfast. "I've got to get you lot back where you came from, and transporting a pile of thirteen dwarves, a hobbit, and a wizard while bending the very delicate fabric of the universe can take some time, you know. Speaking of wizards, where is Master Gandalf? I don't believe I've seen or spoken to him at all since our first meeting-"

"I am right here, my dear girl."

I looked up, sighing in frustration as I realized that while the dwarves had taken on the size of normal men, Gandalf was still excruciatingly tall. He leaned heavily on his staff, looking at me curiously. "May I speak with you in privacy?"

"But I was just going to-" Catching his serious expression, I whimpered quietly in protest as I put my plate back on my table. "And I was so looking to Bombur's cooking too."

"I'll prepare you a plate, alright, Lass?" Bombur piped up with a kind smile, patting my head lightly as he took my plate. "It'll be ready by the time you get back."

I beamed at him, tackling his leg in a hug before scrambling off after Gandalf.

"I suppose you know more about this quest than even I do," Gandalf hummed thoughtfully once we were settled in the library. Silently cursing myself for not hiding my books by J.R.R. Tolkien in the chest in my room, I nodded.

"Then I suppose you know whether or not it will be a success, and by this book, I would say it was a mixture of both."

"I do not know about you, Gandalf, but I believe such knowledge would be rather dangerous for anyone, even a wizard. Also, didn't your mother ever teach you it was impolite to search through your host's home?" I answered simply, giving him a pointed look that made him chuckle momentarily before turning serious again.

"Then you must know that, despite how the events turn, not everyone will survive again. We continue the quest anyways."

I froze at his words, and I felt my heart pound against my chest in horror. "You will drag these dwarves to their doom, and you already know what will happen? How could you?!"

"Aurora, Child, you must understand that these events would have occurred even if I had not interfered with them-"

"Well, now I'm interfering!" My voice came out harsher than I had thought possible for my age. "I will not let them die. Fate can be changed; this realm is proof of that. Now three are to die in that final battle, but, by my life I swear it, the dwarves will not be any of those three!"

"How can you guarantee that their fates will be changed? This is not some game for children, and you, Aurora, are nothing but a child."

Gandalf was looming over me, seeming excruciatingly intimidating by the way the lights seemed to darken and his eyes seemed to flare, but I stood my ground, glaring up at him with my arms across my chest. I whirled away from him, moving to the door and putting my hand on the knob.

"I would rather take their place than have them die, and if it comes to it, that is exactly what will happen."

"Why are you so willing to die for them? You hardly know these dwarves, yet you already swear your allegiance to them. Why?" His voice had become more forceful, and he was gripping my shoulders in his large hands, and he almost seemed to be demanding an answer, an answer I wasn't willing to give. Without another word, I tore myself away from him and bolted down the hall, running into Dwalin in the process.

"Easy there, Lassie," he soothed, and I didn't protest as he picked me up into his arms. Well, arm. All he needed was one meaty hand to keep me settled against his chest. "Come on now. Let's go eat, eh?"