It was bright. That was the only thing he could think as he opened his eyes. He was standing and it was bright. Good more information. His hand went to his stomach, but there was nothing. He was expecting a big hole or something, but there was nothing. So he was standing, it was very bright and there was no blood. Right. Now where was he? How was he even here? He had, had a sword in him a few seconds before. Now he was standing in this… was it a room? A hall maybe. A white hall. He turned around. What was going on?

"Finally he looks around!" He heard a familiar voice coming from over his shoulder. He spun around to see his brother standing only a few feet away from him.

"Fili!" he reached out and embraced him. "I thought I'd never see you again." he pulled him closer before taking a step back. "But you died…" He said taking his brothers arms and looking him dead in the eye. Just confirming it was actually him.

"Yes." He nodded.

"How are you…." He stopped and looked around again. "Are we…"

"And the penny drops." Fili shook his head. "I love you Kili but you do take a while to get to the point." A slight smile passed over the elder brother's face. The general mood between them ensuring the smile didn't last too long.

"We're dead." Kili said solemnly. Fili simply nodded.

"We failed." He hung his head.

"No Kili we didn't." The two of them turned together to see their uncle walking towards them. Kili's heart both swelled and sank at the same time.

"You too uncle?" Kili asked. Thorin simply nodded.

"The line of Durin is no more." Fili's face fell.

"Yes. But not before we retook Erebor." The King said a sad smile passing over his face. "Our people will rebuild the mountain and live there for centuries." Kili felt his brother grip his forearm and he smiled at him. "We accomplished what we set out to do." Thorin continued. "…but the cost was too high" his uncles both reached out and took his shoulders at the same time. Still in synch after all that had happened. "Much too high. My brave sister sons. I am so sorry." The three dwarves embraced Kili was sure he saw tears in his uncle's eyes.

"Uncle we knew what could happen. We knew what we were getting into. And we believed in it too." Fili said, voicing his brother's identical opinions.

"We knew we could all fall." Kili then added. A tear fell down Thorin's cheek slowly.

"And we would do it again Uncle" Fili smiled.

"I guess there is nothing left to do besides carry on." Thorin said after a moment's silence. "Greet our forefathers once more."

"Da…" Fili said under his breath his eyes wide. Kili tried to make his excitement match that of his brother and uncle, but found he couldn't. He had no memories of his father, grandfather or other uncle. He would not have as happy a reunion. They were strangers. He had left far too much behind to be truly excited.

Thorin was the first to break the circle. Raising himself back to his normal height, a great weight having lifted off him now. Kili noted how at peace his weary uncle looked. He had found great peace in death. He took in his brothers appearance properly, he too seemed lighter than before. As if a troublesome burden had be taken away. It had, he supposed, Fili had never truly wanted to be King, he preferred following their uncle. Now he never had to be.

He barely noticed where their gazes rested now.

"Is that it?" Fili asked, stepping away from them. It was only then that Kili came back to them. He turned to see what they were both staring at. A large wooden door that he hadn't noticed before was right before them.

"I would think so." Thorin said stepping towards it.

"Wait!" Kili shouted, not really meaning to. The others turned towards him, shocked. "We can't go yet." he said after a moment's silence.

"Kili we have to. It's what's next." Fili said looking seriously at his younger brother.

"We're not ready to go." He shook his head.

"We have accomplished everything we were destined to." Thorin said.

"What about…" Kili stared at the door again. "… Mother." He finished. A look of realisation passed over Fili's face.

"Ma!" he said. Thorin sighed, closed his eyes briefly.

"I…. I don't think it will be long before your mother joins us. Her heart was fragile enough when we left her. You two were all that really kept her in the world. And now I have taken you from her." Kili felt a surge of guilt wash over him for bringing that pain to his uncle's face. Fili shook his head.

"She was just as invested in reclaiming Erebor Uncle. She knew well what would probably happen." He said nodding constantly, as if trying to reassure himself. He turned to his brother. "We need to go Kili. We're meant to go. Together." He took a step towards the door again, waiting for his brother to follow. Kili just shook his head

"I can't go." He couldn't rip his eyes away from the door. It was so bright it was starting to hurt him.

"Why not." Thorin turned on him, his face growing angry.

"I'm not ready." Kili said almost desperately. It was Fili's turn to close his eyes.

"Kili…" he shook his head. "… its her isn't it." This managed to break Kili's contact with the door.

"I wasn't mean to leave her yet." he heard Thorin sigh, but he was looking at his brother. Fili didn't say a thing but Kili saw the look in his eyes.

"I have led a long hard life." Thorin said, his nephews looking back to him. "I have served my time and fulfilled my duty. You have not." He shrugged then reached out and gasped both their hands, squeezing them tightly. "I must go. I shall see you again my sons." They shared a moment of understanding all three, then the older dwarf walked away from them.

Fili's breathing was heavy, Kili could hear it clearly beside him. They watched as their uncle and leader walked towards the doors. The light brightened and suddenly he was gone.

"What will you do?" Fili asked under his breath. Kili looked at the ground.

"We should go with Uncle. Our place is with him." Kili took a deep breath and took a step towards the looming door.

"I didn't ask what you should do I asked what you will do." Kili paused with tears in his eyes.

"I would go back to her. In a heartbeat. But I don't know how." He said slowly. "So I will move on. With my brother."

He walked purposefully towards the door, only for it to vanish just as quickly as it appeared. Kili blinked thinking it a trick. The door was nowhere to be seen. He turned to look at Fili again barely catching his eye as the room went dark.

Next thing he knew he was standing on the mountain once more.