Chapter 53: Saying goodbye

With every step that Allie took towards where her father was lying on the ice she prayed to Aule that she was still there on time. She was already irrational and heartbroken because she had just lost two of her close kin and there was a posibility that she might lose someone who she valued more than anyone. That was something that couldn't happen.

She knelt down next to her father as she wrapped her arms around him so that Thorin was sitting up against her chest. There was blood welling through Thorin's armour and he was groaning uncontrollably in agony. This was an absolutely grievous situation.

Bilbo and Dwalin stood behind her as they observed them closely.

"We have to get him of the mountain," Allie suggested drastically. "That way we might make it to Oin in time so that he can treat your wound."

"There is no way that can work out, Allie," Dwalin replied grimly. "We don't even know if Oin is still alive. Also we cannot move your father. It will only cause his blood to spill swifter."

"There must be something else that we can do," Allie insisted distraught. "I cannot give up on him."

"A-Allie," Thorin said with a weak voice, but she could hear him clearly. "There is nothing else that can be done for me and that's alright."

Allie couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I cannot give up on you," she made clear. "You're not going to die, Khagam."

"That's not your choice to make, Allie. I've succeeded in what I originally set out to do. I've killed Azog and I've protected the rest of my people. I can finally redeem myself now. You have to understand that."

Of course she knew that her father would finally have the peace that he had been desperately looking for. Still that didn't soften her pain in the slightest."I don't want to understand it," Allie muttered in dismay as her throat tightened and tears spilled from her eyes.

Thorin turned his head to Dwalin was equally tearing up. The two of them quietly converted together as Dwalin placed a comforting hand on Thorin's shoulder. Dwalin had always been there at Thorin's side and had joined him in countless battles throughout his life. He had always seen Thorin as his closest friend and had provided him with plenty of council. Of course their parting was paining him beyond belief.

"Bilbo," Thorin then said which earned the Halfling's attention. He too had tears in his eyes as he looked at the dying dwarf in Allie's arms who had showed him so many beautiful things. "I know we started off at a wrong start. I want to apologize for my actions back at the gate. It was cowardly done. During this time that I've gotten to know I've seen you as a close friend."

Bilbo leaned a bit closer. "You've been a true friend to me too, Thorin. I cannot thank you enough for everything that you've done for me." His voice cracked a little.

"I want to ask you to look after my Allie because I no longer can," Thorin explained. He was struggling more to breathe as he spoke. "Take her back to the Shire with you and make her your wife. Read her stories and plant flowers with her in your garden. Give her the life that she desperately deserves and be happy together, Bilbo. That's all that I'm asking for you."

Thorin's words had a visible effect on Bilbo who smiled faintly at the dwarf. "You have my word, Thorin. I will not let you down," he promised him..

"A-Allie," Thorin began, his voice getting fainter.

"Don't you dare, Khagam," she warned him in denial as she kissed his forehead. She didn't want to hear him to say good bye to her, but there was nothing else she could do besides pulling him closer against her.

"I understand that this is hurting you, Allie. You've lost so many people. Still you have to accept that this is going to happen -"

"I cannot possibly accept this," Allie cut him off. She couldn't control her emotions as she was sobbing uncontrollably. "You mean far too much to lose. You've shown me nothing but kindness and love. After my mother died you've always been there for me. You've been the best father that anyone could ever ask can I possibly live without you?"

"All in good time," Thorin assured her. It was clear to Allie, Bilbo and Dwalin that he was losing more of his strength and it wasn't long until he finally pass away. He was simply struggling to stay alive so that he could say farewell to them. "I'm going to be reunited with your mother again in the halls of Mandos, Allie. It's been so long since I've last seen her. There will come a day when you will be joining us and we will be waiting many long years until that day arrives. You have to live your life first, Allie. You have every right to be happy."

Allie let out another sob at her father's words. "I cannot believe that this is happening, Khagam. I've always loved you and I always will," she told him.

"And I you, Gemez," he whispered in Khuzdull.

Allie watched closely as her father went heavy in her arms and his body went limp. His eyes rolled away a she let out a final breath that sounded more like a soft grunt. Allie didn't need to be a physician to know that her father had just died in her arms.

She became unconsolable as she wrapped her arms tighter around her father and sobbed hysterically. It truly felt as if someone had ripped her heart out of her chest and was stabbing it repeatedly. The intense and raw pain that she was feeling was nothing compared to what she had ever felt before.

"Look!" Bilbo shouted which earned everyone's attention. The Halfling was pointing enthusiastically at the sky and they followed his finger only to see an enormous flock of eagles coming their way. "The eagles are coming!"

The eagles headed towards the battle field and took care of the remaining orcs and goblins that were still out there. The rest of Azog's army had fled back to Gundabad.

"The battle is over," Dwalin said in bewilderment.

"Erebor is safe," Bilbo said astoundedly.

Allie wasn't paying attention to what was being said and was too focused on her own grief. She had truly lost everything that she had in her life and it felt as if she was completely alone to deal with all this. Bilbo placed a comforting hand on her shoulder to comfort her during this dire time, but she didn't respond to it.

She was so lost in her own pain that she had no idea how much time had actually past since this had happened and she couldn't care less about it.

"Allie, it's time," Bilbo eventually said to her.

She was about to ask him what he meant with that and turned her head only to see that the remained of the company had made it up to Ravenhill. They had placed Kili and Fili's body next to each other while most of the dwarves were knelt next to them to pay respect.

"You have to let him go, lass," Balin said with a gentle voice. He obviously didn't want to hurt Allie even more.

Her bloodshot eyes turned to him. "I can't do that, Balin. I just can't. I'm the last Durin and I have nothing left," she said with a trembling voice.

Bilbo gently lifted her onto her feet and tightly wrapped his arms around her so that she could sob into his shoulder. This was the only kind of comfort that he could provide her and she seemed to appreciate his kind gesture. Of course Bilbo was hurting by what had happened, but Allie had lost her entire kin in one day. It was to be expected that she was heartbroken about that and he was glad that she wanted to cry in his arms.

"Allie, I hate to be the one to tell you this especially after everything that you've just endured," Balin began cautiously. It was enough for Allie to turn her head back so that she could look him in the eye. "Everyone here knows that you've resigned your rights to the throne of Erebor. Only there is no heir left or anyone else that is suited for the throne. I wish that it was different, but you are to be Erebor its Queen."