I knew that I was going to die. There was no way out this time – no plan, no secret weapon. I could see it in my uncle's eyes. The pain, the grief. He was mourning me already, and the killing blow hadn't even struck yet.

The orcs had come out of nowhere. I couldn't help but blame myself. I had been ambushed – surrounded within seconds – and I'd fallen right into the hands of my family's worse enemy. How had I not seen them coming? Surely I could have avoided it, if I was quiet and sneaky like Bilbo or clever like Kili.

Kili, my precious little brother. I was leaving him alone. He would still have Thorin, but we were so close that my absence would feel overwhelming. My Kili. The mischievous imp whose dark eyes could light up a room or charm their way into the heart of a she-elven warrior. He had always been so much more vibrant than I was…more real, somehow. He had stood up to Uncle Thorin in the mountain. I had sat back and watched.

This was good, in a way. Kili would make a better king than I.

"Go!" I shouted to Thorin. I couldn't see my Kili anywhere but I knew I could trust Thorin to keep him safe.

Thorin looked more miserable than I had ever seen him. His eyes locked on me and he shook his head. It was a small, nearly invisible gesture, but my senses seemed heightened in that moment before my death. Poor Uncle…he had tried so hard to keep us safe. He had been counting on outliving both my brother and me.

I knew what it was like to look at someone like he was your own son, and I could understand that Thorin felt physically unable to leave. I could understand, but I could not let him indulge his emotions. Not now.

Not for the sake of one dwarf.

"RUN!" I screamed, knowing my time was almost up.

The blade that impaled me felt sharp and cold on impact, like frozen lightning. After that, my blood escaped through the wound and burned me from the inside. I lost my grip on reality, and I didn't fight it. This was the end.

I felt strangely light, as I was soon to no longer abide by the laws of the physical world. I was glad, during those final moments, that my death was relatively quick. Hopefully, when my life was merely a memory, Kili and Thorin would be able to leave my body and save themselves. That was all I could ask for.

I hoped that things worked out for Kili and that she-elf who had saved his life. Her bravery and willingness to cross lines of prejudice made her qualified for my baby brother. As qualified as anyone could ever be in my eyes.

I hoped Kili would go to her. I hoped that they would be welcomed in Erebor without judgment. I hoped that Kili would tell his children stories of me instead of grieving.

I hoped that he would smile for the victory of our people instead of weeping over my body.

I hoped that Thorin got a chance to apologize to Bilbo, and I hoped that Bilbo would be generous enough to accept the apology. I hoped that they could rebuild their friendship to an even stronger point than it had been before that awful scene at the gate.

I hoped that Thorin wouldn't blame himself for my death, and I hoped that my mother wouldn't either.

I also hoped that my mother would find it in her heart to congratulate her brother on his kingdom instead of murdering him for the death of one of her little ones.

The world faded away, and I parted with my body in peace. I sent one last prayer ahead of me, and began my last unexpected adventure.