*Aurora's Perspective*

Beorn's halls.

I had read books about it, obviously, but seeing it in person astounded me. It was surrounded by these gigantic trees, oak, I think, and they towered over everything with a seemingly impossible height. There was also this hedge, beautiful, in all honesty, but also covered in thorns. I was seated on Kili's shoulders for easy travel, Fili's hand on my back to ensure I wouldn't fall due to the rocky terrain or a sudden attack.

"Kili?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I be put down now?"

"Sure thing. Just hold on for a bit longer, alright, Lamb? "

I accepted his word without a second thought, beaming at the new title. I was earning several of these from the Company. Petal, Dear, Pet, Bunny, Muffin… I had a name from everyone, I think, everyone but Thorin.

"C'mon, Honeybee, off we go."

Oh. Forgot one.

I let go of Kili as Fili pulled me off of the younger's shoulders, unable to help the giggle that escaped when Fili caught me from behind rather abruptly. He ran his fingers along my ribs, causing me to break down into hysterics when Kili joined in on the assault as well.

"That's enough now, Lads; leave the poor bairn alone." I was saved from the attack by Gloin, receiving a kind pat on the head when he set me down on my feet. "Oin, come 'ere and give her a look over. She's lookin' a little pale."

"But I feel fine-"

I took a step only to find myself face-to-face with the ground. Hitting the ground with my fist in frustration, my voice came out in the whine, "Why does this keep happening?"

"You've just got a bit o' bad luck, that's all," Gloin rumbled, and I felt his hands on my arms, easing me back onto my feet. I felt him peeling away Thorin's coat from my shoulder despite my protests, and I blinked curiously, wondering why on earth the dwarves decided to move their mouths without saying anything. And when did the sun start to set so early in the evening?

Oh.

Something was being waved beneath my nose, and when the smell finally registered, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I found myself screaming, clawing at my hair as I found myself back in that room, back in that cage. Bleach was everywhere. In my throat, in my hair, in my clothes. I was vomiting it, choking on my own blood, and she was there. She was watching, laughing, making me scream with the constant onslaught of pain.

"Calm down, Lass. Easy now. You're alright. Oin, what did you do?!"

I felt a hand placed on my side, and I screamed as I felt Mistress's nails claw into my skin. I could see the blood, the red liquid pooling all around me and dripping from her fingertips-

"Mahal, Aurora, you need to snap out of it! She's not here! I swore I'd protect you from her, but I can't protect you if you don't wake up!"

Wake up? But I was already awake, painfully awake in fact. If I wasn't awake, I wouldn't be able to smell that ammonia.

Wait. Ammonia? But if it was ammonia, not bleach, then what was I coated in? Mistress always used bleach, not ammonia. The smells were similar, sure, but there was a slight difference between the two, and if I was smelling ammonia, then that meant… Meant what? They didn't have concentrated ammonia in Middle Earth, but they did have-

Smelling salts. Well, this is embarrassing.

"Lass, please. It's alright. Just open your eyes, hm? Can you do that for me, Aurora?" There was a hand petting my hair, and I felt myself being rocked, tucked close to an impossibly warm chest. I nestled closer to the person owning that warmth, a hand reaching out to clutch at a fistful of fur coat. I opened my eyes reluctantly, cringing at the mere thought of sunlight. I blinked rapidly, sick and tired of being incapable of seeing out of my own eyes. My vision was still fuzzy and dark, and it just wasn't going away.

"That's a good lass. There we go…"

I found myself staring up at Thorin, but he looked so tired and upset that I wanted to say something to soothe his worries. I had caused that, but I couldn't do anything about it. I tried, honest I did, but when I moved to say something, Thorin was shaking his head, shushing me softly.

"Just rest, Lass. You're exhausted."

But so are you.

He seemed to understand my train of thought because he smiled gently, using his free hand to brush through my hair. "Rest will come easy. We're nearly in Beorn's. Gandalf is leading us two by two, and some of the others have already entered. It's nearly our turn, Pundurith, and then we will be safe from any possible Orc attack-"

I was already asleep.

Are these chapters getting shorter? I'm really sorry if they are. Heck, I'm not even sure if they are. Anyways, as usual, reviews keep me going! Any recommendations for the story are appreciated, no matter how absurd they might sound. If there's anything you want to see, (and I do mean anything), just drop it in a review or message, and I'll do my best to incorporate it into the story!