I am so sorry ;( short and painful...

Winter had turned the land around the Blue Mountains into a fairytale land. Everything was white and icy and even time seemed to be frozen. It was one of these peaceful nights when Brann woke up from a nightmare. The queen took a deep breath and reached out for her husband. Her cold fingers touched warm skin and with a relieved sigh Brann turned around to snuggle into her husbands chest. Thorin was sleeping deeply and did not wake, but he wrapped his arms around his wife in his sleep. They slept peacefully until the next morning.

At sunrise, Thorin was already in council as Brann woke up. Stretching sleepily the queen let out a sigh and stood up to make breakfast for their daughters. Dis, Fili and Kili would come over for breakfast, as well as Dwana and Thorin Stonehelm. But only Dis and Dwana came.

'Where are the lords of the creation?' Brann asked with a smirk. All females of the royal family gathered around the breakfast table.

'Thorin has summoned my sons to council. As his heirs they need to know their responsibilities and their duty.' Dis sighed.

'But Nain? He is only twelve!' Belladonna climbed up he chair and looked at Dwana.

'He wanted to go.'Dwana shook her head. 'He is an adads boy and he wanted to go to council with Thorin. Mahal knows why.'

'So its just Durins ladies then?' Gwen smirked. 'You all know thats what they call us, right? Durins ladies.'

Brann smiled at Dis and Dwanas astonished expressions, but she had already heard that term herself. Durins ladies spent a lazy day together, but at nightfall Brann got annoyed.

'I bet they have not eaten all day.' Brann paced in the kitchen. 'Lets give them something to leave council for.'

And so, Durins ladies cooked a delicious dinner for a whole army. They invited Daras family as well as Gloin and his family, Nori and his brothers. Bombur, the cook, and his family were also invited as thanks that his kitchen was invaded by the royal horde.

'This air shaft leads to the councilroom, ist that correct?' Brann asked master Bofur, who was in charge of the mining and the construction of the mountain.

'That is correct, lass.' Bofur was a very friendly dwarf, although he lacked some manners. Brann liked him very much and ignored his lack of respect for her rank. She was one of them and she would never want to hide behind her title.

'Alright then.' the queen smirked and placed some freshly baked pies below it. 'If that won't make them leave council I give up.'

Thorin pinched the bridge of his nose and winced as the beginning of a headache ripped though his forehead. Fili struggled to stay awake, Kili was snoring quietly and Nain was asleep in his fathers lap. Thorin Stonehelm blinked sleepy and Dwalin looked as if he was sleeping with his eyes open. Only Balin was wide awake and listened to the councilmember who talked about mining and trading options. Suddenly, the delicious smell of pie, red meat and baked potatoes filled the councilroom. Kili woke up and started sniffing.

'Uncle.' Thorin could hear his nephews stomach grumble. 'I am hungry.'

Thorin was about to scold his nephew as his own stomach grumbled and made Balin smirk.

'I would suggest that we talk about the silver mines tomorrow, honored council.' Balin nodded as Thorin stood up quickly. 'Dismissed.'

The king smirked as the councilmembers rushed out of the room without protest. All of them were tired and hungry and Nain was still asleep.

'This smells like amads mushroom and meat pie.' Kili followed the smell to the kitchens. 'And aunt Branns smoked salmon on bread. Oh, this is such a delicious...'

'There they are!' Dis exclaimed as her sons stormed through the kitchen doors, the two Thorins, Balin and Dwalin on their heels. 'We were already thinking about eating all of this ourselves.'

'This smells fantastic!' Thorin Stonehelm out his sleeping son down.

'What did you do to him? Did you bore him to death?' Dwana snarled and woke her son. 'Sweetheart, how was your day?'

'Mines, trade, jewelssilvergold...' Nain mumbled still half asleep. 'Hungry.'

'Listen, just because you forget the time and starve yourself to death does not mean that you can starve our children!' she sneered at her husband.

'I am quite happy that we females are not supposed to be in councilmeetings, aye, ladies?' Gwen remarked dryly and grinned at her sisters. 'At least we had a fun day.'

Fili and Kili only frowned at them, but Brann and Dis sniggered.

'Alright, lets eat!' Brann clapped her hands. 'Gimli, leave some of the meat for the others!'

It was a merry gathering. Dwalin began to tell them about the trip to Bree some days ago. The captain of the guard and some of his soldiers had patrolled the streets to the north and had returned before the first snow.

'There was this lass in this pub...wonderful blond hair and a smile that would make your pants fall off!' Dwalin looked around and realised that he and Balin were the only unmarried dwarves in this round besides the dwarflings. 'Ah, never mind...but I always thought that the human females would age faster than ours, this lass was as beautiful as our queen! Like our queen, women in their fifties are far more...'

'I beg your pardon?' Brann chocked on her wine and glared at Dwalin. 'Did you say FIFTY?!'

Thorin grinned at his old friend and then patted his friend on his back. 'Way to put your foot into your mouth, my friend.'

It was one of Branns favorite happy memories of her life under the mountain. In the following years, the queen felt her body age faster than her mind. She could watch her daughters grow up and her husband rule in peace and prosper. The dwarves had settled down in the Blue Mountains for good, it was the new home to all the dwarves who lost their homes to evil. Brann had just passed sixty one summers as traders brought a new decease back to the mountain. A decease deadly for the old and weak. And Brann was old even when she would not admit it.

'Its consumptiveness.' Oin sighed and looked at the pacing king. 'The queen must have caught it as she looked after the dwarves from the last trading caravan.'

Thorin could barely hear the healer, his mind was focused on his wife. She already fought the decease for days, but it did not look good. Brann had a nasty cough, high fever and her limbs were aching. She had asked Thorin and her daughters to stay away to not get the decease themselves, but Thorin had stayed. He would not let his wife alone in times of peril. She should not have helped Oin with the sick dwarves, but as usual nothing had kept Brann from doing her duty as a healer. Thorin sat down at his wife's side and stroked back the sweaty white streaks of her hair. For the first time since their marriage, Brann looked old to him. Dark shadows laid around her eyes and the wrinkles had burried themselves deep into his wife's face. It seemed as if the decease had sucked all life out of the queen. As Brann looked at Thorin, the king new that this would be their last night. He simply knew it and it broke his heart.

'Thorin, my bear...' Brann whispered as the first tears started to fall down Thorins face. 'We knew that this day would come...sooner than we would wish for...please call for our daughters. And our family... I ...want to say goodbye.'

Thorin could barely hold back a sob, but he got his daughters, Dis, her sons, Dwana and her family, as well as Dwalin right away. Their daughters joined their parents in no time, Zial and Gwen were pale and Belladonna cried. The captain of the guard came into the royal chambers with his two cats, Spot the third and Sock the second. The first cats had died long ago, but their kittens had taken their place at Dwalins side. Dis, Fili and Kili followed and Dwana, Thorin Stonehelm and Nain came in last. They all knew that it was the queens last night in Middle Earth and they all felt as if a part of them died together with their queen, their mother, their sister, their aunt and their friend. Brann took her time to say goodbye to all of them.

'Dwana, my dear, come here. My eyes are not the best anymore, you know.' Brann smiled as Dwana sat down at her side. 'We did not start on the best terms. I remember that you earned your nickname when you lived with us on Bree.'

'What is your nickname, amad?' Nain asked and looked at his mother with huge eyes.

'We used to call you amad a brat.' Thorin Oakenshield sat down on the bed at his wife's side. 'Today, this nickname is more than wrong.'

Dwana smiled sadly as she fought back her tears. 'I was an awful brat back then. It seems like half a life away.'

'It is half a life away.' Brann smiled. 'And I am so proud of you. So incredibly proud. And I am sure that your mother would be proud, too, if she was here.'

Dwana began to sob and held Nain tight to her chest. It was the first and last time anyone saw the daughter of Dwalin cry.

'Thorin...' Brann took Thorin Stonehelms hand. 'You will be a great leader one day. Your parents are such great dwarves and they have raised you to greatness, too. Take good care of your family.'

'I will.' Thorin Stonehelm also had tears in his eyes. 'I promise. I will honor my family. All of them.'

Brann smiled at her godson, her courtlady and cupped Nains cheek before her hand fell back onto the bed. The queen was already very weak.

'Dwalin...you are the most loyal dwarf I know and I am so relieved to know that you will be at my husbands side.' Brann blinked away her tears and chuckled. 'And you are one of the most talented midwives I know. I always felt safe at your side.'

Dwalin nodded firmly and squeezed Branns hand one last time. He could not say a word and fought his tears. Nobody, not even his family, would see him cry.

Dis and her sons were next.

'I grew up with two brothers...' Brann suddenly felt heavy hearted. If she would stay in Mandos halls and would be granted access to the halls of the dwarves, she would never see her parents and brothers again, for they would have left the Undying Lands to the West. But she had to focus on the present as long as she still drew breath. 'But here, under the Blue Mountains, I found my sister. In you, Dis. Some days, you were my strength and my voice of reason. I do not know what I would have done without you, or without these two rascals.'

Fili and Kili looked down at their aunt and took her hands. They had become handsome and strong young dwarves. Kilis eyes still gleamed of mischief, but Fili looked back at Brann with firm blue eyes, eyes similar to Thorin.

'You will be a great king one day, Fili. And you, Kili, you will never let life under the mountain get too boring for anyone. Support your brother and remind him of the fact that even a king has to smile from time to time.' Brann would miss her nephews dearly, for they had been like sons to her.

'You have given us hope when all hope was lost.' Dis voice was heavy with emotion. 'You brought the light back into our lives under the mountain. You made my brother smile...' Dis looked at Thorin lovingly who looked heartbroken. She hoped that he would smile again even after Brann was gone. 'I love you, sister.'

'I love...you, too.' Brann took a deep breath. It took her whole strength to stay focused. She pulled Fili and Kili down into her arms and kissed their foreheads. 'Take care of your uncle for me and do not strain your mother too much. Especially you, young Kili. You two are worthy descendants of Durin.'

'Wait for us in Mandos halls, aunt Brann.' Kili whispered. 'Do not leave without us.'

'I will not, do not worry.' Brann smiled. Fili did not speak, for his grief was to near, but he squeezed his aunts hand reassuringly. Turning to Dis again, Brann smirked. 'I will tell Lindin that he needs to be a bit more patient to see his family again.'

'My dearest husband. May he rest in peace until I get there.' Dis chuckled and hugged her sons for comfort.

'Amad.' Belladonna crawled onto the bed to her mother. The youngest princess had grown up to be beautiful and even mixture of both her parents. She looked like her mother with a beard and she had inherited her mother's soft character. Only Thorins blue eyes and his stubborness showed in his youngest daughter. Zial and Gwen sat down on the other side.

'My gems.' Brann fought her tears as they dwelled up in her eyes. She would miss her daughters so much. It was nearly unbearable. 'My greatest treasures. My biggest pride. My loves. Take good care of your adad. He will need you. I am so proud of you. Come here.'

Despite her weak state, Brann took her daughters into her arms and fought the urge to sob. She had to be strong for her daughters. Zial and Belladonna were crying softly and Gwen fought her tears. Gwen had always been the one who needed to appear strong. She would be a great wife and leader one day.

'Now, let me say goodbye to you adad.' Brann smiled sadly and watched as her daughters stepped back and hugged each other for comfort. Thorin winced at the word goodbye, but he stepped to the bed and sat down on the bed.

'My love.' the king was heartbroken. He had known that the day would come, but now that it was there, it was harder than he had imagined. And he had already dreaded it more than anything else.

'Thorin...' Brann smiled at her husband with all her love. 'I thank the Valar on my knees that we met all those years ago, even if it was not under the best circumstances. I could not have been happier in my life than at your side. I am sorry that my short lifespan causes you so much pain...'

But Thorin would hear no apologies. 'Shhhh...my love. You gave me so much. More than I could ever have asked for. Love, happiness, support...our daughters. Never before was a king blessed with so many daughters. You made me complete. I would always chose this short period of time at your side than a whole dwarven lifetime at the side of another.'

Now, Brann could not hold back her tears anymore. She did not want to leave her family. She simply could not bear the fact that she would leave them all behind. Thorin held his wife tight and kissed her softly.

'I love you, Thorin.' Brann whispered.

'I love you more.' Thorin told her and kissed her forehead.

Brann closed her eyes as she leaned into her husbands warm embrace. Memories flashed up before her eyes, happy memories. The first time she ever saw Thorin on the battlefield, standing beside Frerin, strong and sad. His raven black hair moving in the wind, his blue eyes dark of sorrow. Brann thought about their first encounter when he had insulted her, because he had thought her weak, the first time they touched in the forest, their shy glances at each other during the first weeks in the Blue Mountains. Kilis birth, their first fight afterwards and their marriage. Thorin had looked so handsome in his marriage tunic, in the blue and silver tunic in the colors of Durin. Although they had not married out of love, there had been something between tem that day. They had known that it was right. Brann then thought of their intimate time in Bree and the wonderful feast where they had danced in each others arms. Thorin had looked so happy then. He had smiled and he had been untroubled. These memories wer followed by the birth of their daughters and their birthdays. So many memories flashed up before Branns eyes and made tears fall through her closed eyelids. This was her home and her family. And she would have to leave.

Shortly after midnight, the queen of the Blue Mountains died in the arms of her husband and the presence of her family. The kings heart froze the moment his wife´s soul left Middle Earth. As Branns heart stopped, the gates of the Blue Mountains opened and a grey hooded figure entered the mountain.

Ok, I made myself cry while writing this...I am so sorry, but it had to happen...But its Gandalf to the rescue...sort of...;(