MIDDLE EARTH - RAVENHILL - TA 2942

Thorin Oakenshield looked at the very Hobbit that had proven his loyalty to him time and time again. He could feel his life leaving him as the wound in his chest bled out more and more. He had sacrificed himself in order to end the very bane of the Durin line in hopes that his youngest nephew would be able to rule. The dying king knew that even if the eagles got to him in time, he would not survive the night. His wounds were far too severe. "I-I'm glad that you're here, Bilbo," Thorin gasped out, struggling to breathe. He had to make things right with the little Hobbit.

Bilbo went wide eyed. He could practically see Thorin's life fading. "Shh. Lie still. Save your strength Thorin." Bilbo practically ordered him.

Thorin gave a faint smile gasping again. "I wish...I wish to part from you in friendship," he breathed softly.

Bilbo felt his throat tighten slightly. "No. No you are not going anywhere. You are going to live!"

"I would take back my words and my deeds at the gate. You did only what a true friend would do. Forgive me...I was too blind to see. I'm so sorry that I have led you into such peril." Thorin began coughing and choking on his own blood trying to breathe.

"No, no, I'm glad to have shared in all your perils, Thorin - each and every one of them. And it's far more than any Baggins deserves." Bilbo smiled faintly with Thorin holding back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

"Farewell, Master Burglar. Go back to your books and your armchair. Plant your trees - watch them grow." Thorin gasps again, choking even more. "If more people valued home above gold this world would be a merrier place." Thorin's breathing is almost nonexistent as the light begins to fade from his eyes.

Bilbo was wide eyed in fright and anger and despair as he tried to will Thorin to live. "No! No! No! No! No! No! Thorin! Oh don't you dare!" Bilbo screamed at his friend as Thorin took his last breath. "Thorin, Thorin, wake up. The eagles...the eagles...the eagles are here. Thorin...the eag…" Bilbo burst into sobs crying over the dead body of his beloved friend.

IN BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH - ASLAN'S COUNTRY

Thorin's eyes snapped open as he looked around to see himself in a reflection of what seemed to be a wall of water. He frowned. He expected to awake in Mahal's halls and see Fili and his father and his grandfather, but not this place. The dwarf king looked around and saw a vast beautiful land behind him. It was covered in lush greenery that reminded him so much of the Shire. What he did not expect to see behind him was a lion. Thorin's guard began to go up, but when his blue eyes met the dark ones of the animal, something stopped him. This lion seemed far too different than a typical lion.

"Do you know where you are Thorin Oakenshield?" the lion asked. His voice was deep yet gentle at the same time.

Thorin frowned and slowly shook his head. How was he supposed to know where he was? This was nothing like Mahal's halls.

"Do you remember how you got here?"

Thorin froze as the memories of him fighting Azog and dying in front of Bilbo came back to him. His throat clenched before he swallowed thickly. "I died," he answered, simply not wanting to give away anything of how he died.

"Yes...you sacrificed yourself in an act of pure heartedness. You willingly gave your life...spilled your blood for a noble cause. However, you are not the only one to give your life for that same cause," the lion spoke and turned halfway around showing Thorin's two nephews.

Fili and Kili both went wide eyed in shock. All three of them had died in the Battle of the Five Armies. The brothers rushed forward tackling their uncle in a tight embrace as tears from all three of them spilled down their cheeks. "Uncle," Fili greeted as he rested his forehead on Thorin's before pulling away and his brother repeated the action.

Thorin felt relief and despair at the same time. His sister's sons were both here with him, but that means they both perished in the battle. He knew that his sister would be wrought with grief and sorrow. He looked at the lion who had a soft look on his face. "Why are we here?" he asked.

Another figure seemed to come out of nowhere. The figure had a great beard hung on the man's face. He held a hammer that seemed to radiate with power. The figure gave a deep chuckle as he watched three of his own children. "Do not be frightened my children. There is much as to why we have brought you here."

The three dwarves went wide in shock. Standing before them was the very creator of their race...one of the Valar… "Mahal," Thorin breathed softly before he and his nephews bowed deeply to show respect.

The figure gave a deep hum. "That is one of the names I am called, yes," Mahal answered before kneeling before the three dwarves. "Why do you bow my children?" Mahal asked them.

Thorin looked up at him in confusion. "Why would we not bow before our creator? The one whom taught us our language? The one whom taught us everything?"

A gentler voice answered Thorin as a female figure came up next to Mahal. "It is us whom should bow to you, Thorin Oakenshield. You have done us a great deed by winning back the Erebor and driving the forces of Gundabad and Dol Godur back." A wreath of freshly blooming flowers sat on top of the woman's head, and when she took a step life seemed to spring up from that spot. "However, your work is not yet done. Many things must happen first."

Fili and Kili were wide eyed. They had heard Bilbo tell tales of the creator of the Hobbits...Yavanna. The spouse of Mahal. The brothers looked at each other at Yavanna's words. "But we have perished Lady Yavanna, how are we not done with our work?" Kili asked as he will always be the most curious of what is to come next.

The lion stepped forward as Yavanna and Mahal each stepped away from the trio. "Great peril lies in the future of your world as well as the land that lies just beyond the water behind you. The rulers of the land behind you will require all the assistance that you can give for the battles ahead."

Mahal quickly spoke in. "That is not all. You may have taken the mountain and prevented Sauron from rising now, but Erebor will only be at peace when a true Durin reigns with the help of a child of my dear wife….one you know well Thorin Oakenshield."

Yavanna gave her husband a smile before looking at the dwarf king. "You three along with Bilbo will remember when the time comes for you to retake the mountain. Remember this all three of you, a heart is a heart no matter where it comes from, be it a being or not for all is alive."

The lion nodded in agreement. "Now, remember to search for High Queen Jessica or Queen Lucy. They are the ones who know my heart and my will best. Stand Thorin Oakenshield, Fili Lionheart, and Kili Keenshot for you have a great journey ahead of you."

Thorin, Fili, and Kili all stood and furrowed their brows slightly. "Who are you?" Fili asked.

The lion took a few steps back as he smiled with a hint of mischievousness in his eyes. "You will learn my name from the one who will hold your heart, Fili Lionheart." There was a pause before the lion took a deep breath and gave a great and mighty roar.

A/N:

Thank you for reading this story. Please follow, favorite, reveiw, and share with your friends. I do not own Chronicles of Narnia or The Hobbit. This is just my homage to the friendship J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis had...even if they hated each others work.