Milly and Hrafn were there, together, smiling and waving at him. All that separated Fili from his children was a beautiful green meadow. He stepped into the field. Two steps. Three. A movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Both his swords appeared in his hands and he struck down the orc that was running towards him. But as soon as it fell, three more came running. With every orc he killed, more came.
Fili slashed and hacked. He killed every orc with ease, but there were so many. He could see his children. Hrafn's swords were swinging wildly, covered in black orc blood. He heard Milly scream. He had to get to them. With renewed energy, Fili fought. He was almost there. He saw Hrafn fall. Then Milly fell. Fili sliced through the last orc and ran to his children. They laid there, among the dead orcs, their bodies bleeding. A baby cried. Fili pushed an orc away from Milly and spotted a baby, laying on the ground, covered in blood and tears.
"Fili! Fili!"
He felt something nudging his body. His eyes few open. He was panting, heart pounding, and he was drenched in sweat. He was laying in the bed next to Hana.
Fili let out a sob.
"Shh, my dearest. It was a dream. You are safe," she pulled his head to her chest and stroked his hair, pushing it away from his wet face.
"Nightmare. Milly and Hrafn."
"Dearest love," Hana soothed. She wouldn't tell him it was alright, because it certainly wasn't. She wouldn't tell she understood when she really didn't. She wouldn't ask him about his dream. He might not want to relive it and she didn't really want to know its details. She could only show him love and patience, so she kissed his forehead and rocked him in her arms. Slowly his breathing returned to normal.
Fili wrapped an arm around her back and placed his other hand on the swell of her stomach. He could feel the child, their child, moving.
"He's awake?" Fili asked after several minutes of enjoying Hana's attention to his aching head.
"He's always awake at night," Hana chuckled softly. "I'm afraid it doesn't bode well for our sleep after he is born."
"Well, if he's awake all night, that means I won't be able to sleep and then I won't be troubled by dreams of Milly and Hrafn's deaths."
"Dearest," Hana pulled Fili closer. He snuggled against her. "It's a morbid thought," she said, "but between the two of us, we have four children who have died."
Fili's head popped up and he looked into Hana's eyes, glistening in the moonlight coming through their bedroom window. He had forgotten. She had lost a child, too. Death had come to Hana's son during his birth. Another sob left Fili and he squeezed Hana tighter.
"Forgive me, Hana," he cried, "forgive me. I had forgotten about your son. In my grief, I had forgotten you have had your own."
"Dearest Fili. My son's death was a long time ago. He never lived. I never had the time to love him as you had with yours. My pain is not as great."
"But you know my pain. We both know the loss of a spouse, and the loss of a child."
"Aye, my dearest," Hana's hands cupped his face. "That's what makes us perfect for one another and this one," she put her hand on top of Fili's, whose hand still rested on her stomach, "this one will bring us such joy. He will be a light in our darkness. A joy in our pain. He will be treasured and loved."
Fili rested a cheek on her stomach and spoke to the babe growing within. "You, my child, are the luckiest dwarfling. You have such a kind, wise, loving mother. Treat her well."
They laid back down, Fili curling up behind Hana, his arm draped over her waist, his hand on her stomach. Fili listened to the soft breathing of his wife. Just before he drifted off, Hana turned her head to look back over her shoulder.
"Fili?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell your heir to settle down and go to sleep."
Fili chuckled. He could feel the child's busy movements beneath his wife's skin. He rubbed at the smooth, firm muscle that housed their child. "Listen here, young man," Fili spoke in his best father voice, "your mother is sleepy. Settle down and let her rest. You can be busy in the morning."