Hi, everyone, and happy holidays! I hope you all don't hate for not updating recently, but I haven't been going through the easiest time, and I just haven't been able to post as much as I've wanted too. Anyways, back to the story. There's another author's note at the end that I'd appreciate your reading, and, in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

*Aurora's Perspective*

I sat up with a muffled whimper, rubbing at my head painfully as I stood. Opening my eyes, I found myself even closer to the ground than before. I blinked in confusion, swaying slightly as I tried to make sense of the new height difference.

"Are you alright, Lass?"

"Depth perception… completely off… don't know why," I started, taking a dizzy step forward and falling into the steady arms of Thorin. He hoisted me up onto his hip, frowning slightly as he bounced me in his arms lightly.

"You seem lighter, almost, and even smaller than before if possible," he remarked curiously, brushing his thumb across my cheek and tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. "Your ears, they're pointed."

"And her cheeks rounder and rosier too," Kili piped up with a grin, pinching my cheek to make a point. "She almost looks like a tiny hobbit."

"She looks almost like a mixture of all of us," Ori added as he peered over Kili's shoulder at me. "Younger features would account for dwarven aging, but the ears and other looks are more hobbitish."

"But… But if I 'ave your char- characteristics…" My head was spinning almost to the point where it was painful, and I buried my face in Thorin's furs as the world nearly flipped upside down on me. "What about the wizard's?

"We shall pray that those are merely your more human characteristics, Aurora, now come! Out of the frying pan…"

Thorin's grip on me tightened almost painfully at Gandalf's words, his hand moving to cup the back of my head as he tensed. "And into the fire. Move! Now!"

I don't know much of what happened next, and Thorin refused to tell me, but all I remember is being passed from dwarf to dwarf, to hobbit, and even to wizard as we ran from goblins and orcs. The Company would never allow my eyes to open, either pressing their palm against my eyes or holding my head to their shoulder so I had no choice in the matter. I wanted to help, wanted to fight, but I could not even lift my head without being sick to my stomach. I doubted I'd have been much help so I resigned myself to being held in Kili's arms, both brothers shielding me from the goblins and heat of fire surrounding us.

"I'm going to toss you up, Aurora, so Fili can catch you, but you can't open your eyes, alright?"

I nodded numbly, coughing pathetically due to the smokey air around us. I had a basic idea of what was happening from prior knowledge, but as I coughed up smoke and nearly slipped unconscious from nausea, I realized it was all too different actually being there.

I let out a squeak of alarm when I was tossed into the air, panic seizing me in those few seconds where I wasn't in somebody's arms. I made the mistake of opening my eyes at the lack of security, and what I saw made me want to curl up in a corner and never move again.

There was so much blood spread across the rock of the mountain, goblin heads and bodies littering the area surrounded by a few other members of the Company who were making their way towards the trees in which we were hiding. I watched in horror as they hacked through goblin after goblin, black blood gathering in small pools wherever they stepped. It was horrible, downright horrible, and FIli was too late in covering my eyes before I saw an orc that could only be Azog.

"No, Thorin!"

My cry fell on deaf ears, and I screamed in protest as he leapt down from his tree to face off with that beast. I didn't know if the timeline in Middle Earth would change with my appearance, but I wouldn't risk the chance of Azog succeeding now and before my eyes.

"Kili, make 'im come back! Please!" I squeaked helplessly, clamping my own hands over my eyes as the pair began their fight. It seemed like they were only shut for a second, but when I opened them next Thorin was kneeling over me, a canteen of water held to my lips. I coughed and sputtered at the unwelcome liquid, completely taken aback by the substance forcing its way down my throat.

"Easy, Lass. Easy. You're alright now," Thorin soothed as my coughing fit ended, hand moving to brush through my hair. "You had us scared there for a while. What happened to ya out there?"

"I dunno but my head hurts," I whimpered pathetically, only relaxing once I was picked up and cradled close, Thorin swaddling me in his coat once he was certain I was not going to keel over anytime soon. "How much did I miss?"

"We've settled at the foot of the Carrock for the night, Lass, due to your condition. The heat and smoke did not agree with your original bouts of nausea, and I suppose that was the cause of your illness. Now drink. Oin's made orders for plenty of fluids for you, Lass."

I was not let out of Thorin's sight the remainder of the evening, being carefully monitored and even more so once I settled down beside Kili for bed.

"C'mere, Kid, in between me and Fee," Kili prodded with a grin, and I accepted the offer tiredly and with a nod, hobbling towards the two brothers only to trip and fall flat on my face.

"Still nauseous, I see."

I didn't even have time to stand on my own to legs before I was swooped up into the air and set between Thorin's sister-sons. The dwarf king settled me in that small space comfortably, ensuring I had everything I need. By the time he was finished approving of my position, I was wrapped in every extra blanket, sharing Fili's and Kili's, and had another bowl of water being pressed to my lips.

"M'fine," I tried to protest, but Thorin and his nephews had none of it. Kili's arm was around me, helping me stay upright, and Fili was holding the bowl in his lap. Thorin knelt between the two brothers and had a hand pressed to my forehead, and I also couldn't help but notice that his hand could easily cover my entire face.

"You were small before in that other world of yours, but now…" Thorin shook his head, growling slightly in protest as he pulled his hand away. "Lass, you are no bigger than my forearm, and you claimed you were how old?"

"Eight."

"That'd put you at thirty-two years of age by dwarf years if Ori is correct," he continued, placing his fingertips beneath my chin and raising it. "You do look more dwarvish. I cannot deny that, nor can I deny the features more akin to our burglar's. Your size… Mahal, I thought you were small before, but you are no bigger than when Kili was twenty-four and he was small at the time."

"I resent that."

I couldn't help but giggle at Kili's immediate pout, Fili smacking him upside the head with a hiss to shut up.

"Lass, you do not understand the gravity of the situation, do you?" Thorin whispered, moving his hand to grab one of my own. "Look at this."

I frowned when I finally saw my hand in his. My entire hand was still not big enough to cover his palm, not even when my fingers were stretched. I grabbed his one hand with both of mine, and I became frustrated to find that my hand could not even wrap around his thumb entirely.

"Now do you see?" Thorin looked like he did not know what to do with his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists almost nervously. "Lass, I could not guarantee your safety before, so how am I to do so with you like this? The weather here is unpredictable at best, and a single storm could send you deathly ill due to your small size. Making it to Erebor, how could I guarantee that you would not merely collapse due to the damned dragon's heat?"

"That's easy. You can't."

He seemed taken aback by my statement, but I did not wait a second. I scrambled to my feet, shrugging out of the blankets to stand in front of him. I could see what he meant now. He was kneeling, but I still was not even as tall as him. I ignored that fact though, instead moving in favor to play with the straps on his gauntlet.

"It's like this. The purpose of these is to help you protect the ones you love, yeah?"

Thorin nodded slowly, sparing a glance over my shoulder at his nephews. "Yes."

"And you never enter battle without them?"

"If I can help it."

"Well, think of my new features as a gauntlet," I supplied with a small smile. "Without your gauntlets, you wouldn't enter battle. Well, without my 'gauntlets' I can't enter battle either. If I want to help you-" I poked Thorin in the chest. "-I have to wear my gauntlets. I can't just take 'em off just because they get uncomfortable or else I might lose the battle 'cause of some petty injury. My gauntlets are mine to bear, and I'm fine with having them if it means I can still help you."

"…That was actually a rather good metaphor."

I blushed at Kili's surprised praise, stammering a quiet thank you before looking back to Thorin. "I- I have to help you, Thorin. You don't understand, and you can't understand, but I have to help since I am the only one who does. Please."

I sat down slowly when the world began to spin again, and I felt Thorin's hand on my back guiding me down to the ground. He leaned forward, using his free hand to brush away a few locks of hair from my face. He cupped my cheek in his palm, and I wanted to drift off right there. I felt so warm and safe and protected and-

"Pay attention now, Lass." He chucked me beneath my chin, and I blinked tiredly as I met his eyes again. "Aurora, you must promise me something."

"Anythin'," I slurred, dragging a fist across my eyes to clear the fog clouding my vision.

"You may never leave my line of sight, or, if you must, another member of the Company must always be with you. Am I clear?"

I smiled and nodded, not protesting it as Thorin picked me up once more to rest me between his nephews. "Now that that's settled, rest. You are going to need your strength tomorrow."

The adventure isn't going to be exactly the same as the movies or the books, obviously, because of Aurora's addition to the story. So, don't be surprised when the story doesn't match the original by Tolkien. Also, I was mapping out my ideas for the story, and I don't think Tauriel will be in it. A romance just didn't fit so I hope you all aren't upset, but I could still add Legolas if you all want. I wasn't planning to originally, but drop a review with your opinion! If you're all pro-Legolas, I'll add him in. So, drop a review! (Any criticism is welcome; constructive is preferred.)