Chapter Four:

He hurt all over. His body was on fire, he couldn't see his brother anymore, he couldn't move, couldn't breathe, and why did everything hurt so much?

He didn't know what Kili was doing, if he was still alive even.

Why would Kili be dead?

Oh yes. They were on the battle field. They were defending their uncle, they were supposed to be keeping Thorin alive, and they failed miserably. He was dying, Kili was dying, it was so wrong, it was all wrong, this wasn't supposed to happen!

His thoughts wandered as the pain began to dull slightly. When his vision grayed at the edges, he briefly wished that everything would just end. He didn't want to feel like this anymore, to ache like he did.

Why this couldn't be quicker was a loss to him. His blood was pouring out, soaking the battlefield, but he couldn't bring himself to care…

A voice broke through the pain and darkness. He vaguely recalled that they'd been repeating his name for the past few minutes now, but he couldn't figure out why. What was he meant to do?

"Fili! Fee, please!"

Yes, yes, that was his name, what did they need?

"Don't leave me, please don't leave me here alone…"

He was right here. Where would he be going?

There was a soft moan of pain and a wracking cough as something warm came to rest against his arm. He relished the feeling; he was so very cold…

There was no sound for a few moments as the inky blackness at the edge of his vision swooped in. He wanted to let go, he wanted to give into it, but the warmth kept him anchored.

He couldn't decide if he was grateful or annoyed.

"Fee, no no no, don't go, you promised, you can't-" the words broke off as another cough bubbled up.

He promised?

"You have to promise me, you'll never leave me, not ever," Kili whispered into the darkness of the room as he clung to his older brother's side, tears streaking his face as he tried to muffle his sobs.

"I won't Kee, I won't, you know that," Fili tried to keep his voice strong, but towards the end it cracked with the emotion he tried so hard to reign in.

"But Da-"

"Da… he… Kili, he didn't leave us, the orcs took him from us. He didn't want to go."

"He's still gone though, isn't he." These words were barely a breath. If it had been anyone other than Fili in the room with the young brunette, they would have been unheard.

"Yes."

"And he's never coming back."

The tears were flowing freely from the corner of the blonde's eyes now as he hiccupped, "No, Kili, no he's not. Not until we join him in the halls of Mandos."

"You have to promise that you won't ever do that to me," Kili's voice was stronger now.

"Kee, I can't say that I won't die-"

"Promise you won't leave me, not even to join Da. You can't. If you go, I'm going with you."

"No, Kili, don't think like that-"

"Promise."

"I swear by all the gold in Erebor."

He had a brother. He had a brother, and he was lying next to him, he was hurt, he was in pain, he was next to him and he had to do something, he had to help him, but his body wouldn't listen to him and all he could do was try not to cry at the torment moving his mouth sent through him, "Kee…?"

"Yes, it's me, it's me, I'm here, I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner, but I'm here now and I'm sorry…" Kíli gasped.

"Tho-rin?" he sighed.

"Fee… he's… it's not good. He's not..."His brother bit back a groan as air hissed between his teeth, "Not… breathing, I don't think."

He waited for a moment, knowing that his brother would understand.

"I'm… okay. We just… need to get a healer. We'll be okay."

Another beat of silence.

"My leg is... bad. One arrow… in my chest… two in my back…" Kili shifted against his side before continuing, "They were aiming at Thorin. I didn't know what else to do. For the love of Mahal, Fee…"

The words, "it hurts, so much more than I thought it would," went unspoken between the two of them.

It was becoming harder and harder to suck air into his lungs as the darkness persisted. It was a stubborn thing, pounding away at his consciousness until he had no strength left to fight it.

"Its… It's okay Fee. You can go now. I'll be there soon," Kili's voice was so soft, so weak, it broke Fili's heart to hear him like that, "Love you…"

"…Always," the older brother heard himself murmur before oblivion swept him up into her grasping talons.

Kili wasn't sure how he managed to continue talking. His brother was dying in front of him, and he wasn't long off himself… Blood stained his teeth as he coughed, and yet he somehow let his brother know that he was there, that he would forever be there.

He couldn't even cry as his brother passed from the world of the living. His body was numb, he couldn't feel anymore, something he was thankful for.

The din of the battle faded around him as well as his vision. He heard someone shouting in Khuzdul, something about avenging the line of Durin, but he didn't know who those people were, and why they needed avenging. Were they important?

There was the brief thought that he might be saved, he could still be saved, but he pushed it away. The notion of healers didn't bring him hope anymore. Fili was gone, and he knew the blonde would never go back on his promise.

He wasn't surprised when he saw his brother a moment later, standing above him, holding his hand out for the younger to grab. The elder looked like he had when he'd been no more than 25, barely into his adolescents, during the years when they'd first started their weapons training in earnest

"Well, come on Kee!" There was a twinkle in Fili's eye, "Da's waiting for us, just like I told you he would be. I didn't lie about anything that night, did I brother?"

Kili had to smile at that, and accepted the hand outstretched to him without hesitation.

A/N: Yay for quick updates! Once again, this is not a death fic, so don't worry, there shall be several more chapters! :)

I actually have an alternate version of this that I wrote first before I decided I wanted to go back and write a beginning to it. I like that version better than this one, but this ended up fitting more with the new intro. I might post the other one at the end as a little extra or something if people want me to, its got a few more feels to it in my opinion, and definitely made me cry while writing it.

Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing, its greatly appreciated and fuels my desire to crank these chapters out! :D

I own none of this, it all belongs to Tolkien and Peter Jackson