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The sun was setting on the battlefield, blood red in the sky.
Five armies had clashed. In the end, four remained standing.
The orcs were defeated, the common enemy slain.
Erebor was reclaimed and the dwarves made peace with the Elven enemy they had sought to destroy.
The victory was theirs.
But, there was no celebration, no victory march.
For the sorrow of lives lost outweighed what joy triumph brought.
Many had been slain, innocent or not.
Many gave their lives, and their blood now watered the ground.
Kili, Prince of Erebor, lay among the death and ruin of the battlefield.
The corpses of those who fell before lay scattered around him.
But he still lived, just barely holding onto life.
His breath came out in ragged gasps as he struggled to breathe;
Struggled to live.
His body was pierced by several enemy arrows,
Each one, choking the life out of him a little
He stared up at the sky, savoring the last light of the setting sun.
Since he knew it would be the last time he would see it in this world.
He could feel his life slipping as his vision began to darken.
Very slowly, he turned his head and saw his brother lying next to him.
Fili was already gone, already lost to the world.
His body was also pierced by several enemy arrows.
Kili saw that his brother was no longer with him
and hot tears began spilling over and running down his face.
"Farewell, brother." He said, choking back a sob.
"I will see you again soon."
He reached over and took his brother's cold, lifeless hand in his.
Holding onto it tight, never to let go again;
Knowing that it would not be long before they were reunited once more.
He turned and looked back up at the sky
and watched as the sun slowly began to slip behind the mountains.
Many thoughts passed through his mind.
Who else had fallen?
Was the rest of the company alright?
What about Thorin? What happened to him?
He did not know what had happened to his uncle.
He just hoped that wherever he was, he was safe.
Then, his thoughts turned to his mother.
The heartache grew more as he thought of her,
Thought of the last time he saw her.
He was leaving with his uncle and brother.
She was holding onto him with tears in her eyes
Not wanting to let him go.
Then, she place a small, smooth, black stone in his hand
With the dwarven words 'return to me' carved into it.
"Promise me you will come back to me, Kili. Promise me." She had said.
"Yes, mother. I promise." He had said.
Then he kissed her temple and said goodbye before turning to leave.
Sobs began to rack through his body as he clutched that same stone in his hand;
holding it close to his heart.
He thought about her and her beautiful, smiling face;
For that was how he wished to remember her.
"I'm sorry, mother." He whispered hoarsely through the tears,
As if she could hear him somehow.
"I'm not coming home. I can't keep...my promise."
His vision got darker and his breathing slowed,
His heartbeat gently fading.
"I will see you again, mother..." He said quietly. "...in a better place. I love you so much. Remember tha..."
Those were the last words he said before he breathed his final breath
and went to join his brother in a better place.
And the last light of the setting sun slowly disappeared behind the mountains.