Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit or any of the characters. (though that would be SUPER awesome)

*spoilers if you haven't read the book*

PROLOGUE- Celebration and Grief

After the battle of Five Armies, the women and children dwarves set off to Erebor. When we arrived, a crowd of the surviving dwarves stood waiting for us. I walked as quickly as I could, excited to see my two sons and brother again after they had been on such a long journey. I didn't see them but Balin came over to me. He looked grim and my heart plummeted.

When Balin first told me, I didn't believe him.

"No. They promised they'd come back. Thorin promised he'd bring my babies back to me," I said, searching the crowd of dwarves again, knowing my little Fili and Kili had to be there.

"Dís, Thorin...is gone to," said Balin hesitantly, holding back tears.

"No, no! Please!" I cried, now sobbing into Balin's shoulder, "I told them they were too young! I told them!"

My young sons, Fili and Kili, were dead. As was my brother. My heart broke. I remembered the first time they met their Uncle Thorin. At first they were terrified but soon they were all playing and laughing. Laughing. I would never hear their laughs again. Thorin seldom laughed, but when he did, it was deep and like flowing gold. Fili and Kili laughed often and when they were happy, everyone around them were happy. Never in my life had I felt so much grief, even when Smaug took over our home. Gold is nothing compared to the ones I love.

"I believe they died in the best way possible. We found them huddled together. Fili had his arms around Kili and was comforting him. They died honorably. They were protecting Thorin," Balin said, silent tears running down his face, "When you're ready, you need to see something."

"Give me a couple of minutes," I choked out.

I had no one now. I was the last in my immediate family. I wondered who would be king. I took a deep breath, wiped my eyes, and faced Balin.

"You are a truly strong woman, Dís. This way," Balin said solemnly.

Balin lead me out into the battleground where bodies of each of the five armies still lay, though most of the living were quickly taking the bodies away.

"They died here," Balin said, pointing, "next to them we found this."

I reached out and took a small, black rock from his outstretched hand. I recognized it immediately as the rock I had given to Kili as a promise for him to return. A sob caught in the back of my throat but I was determined to keep it down. Balin paused for a minute and looked at me.

"Are you sure you want to see this?" he asked.

"Yes," I tried to say confidently but it came out as a whisper.

"This was right next to the rock," Balin said.

Balin put a reassuring arm on my shoulders and pointed.

In uneven letters a message was written in what looked like blood. It had one word: sorry. This time I couldn't stop from crying. My Fili and Kili were gone. I sank to the ground and fingered the rock, willing it to somehow bring them back. But it didn't.

Hey guys! I'm squeaker942! Thanks for reading the beginning of my story! I'll be posting chapter 1 shortly but please tell me what you think so far! 😘