A/N: I started this story as a side project back in February of 2014. It was inspired by my then long term boyfriend (now husband) who is the sweet and loving middle child of three boys. Just a few weeks ago we lost his younger brother in a car accident. It's been the most difficult weeks of my life, and I know that I'm only feeling a fraction of the pain my husband and his older brother are feeling.

So this story is dedicated to our youngest prince. We will miss him every single day of our lives and can only hope that he is at peace. May angels lead you in, little brother.

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death"

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Chapter 10

There was nothing heroic about war, Fili decided. He had grown up on tales of his uncle in the battle of Azanulbizar, he had heard the epic stories of warriors triumphing over evil, and he himself had been trained by Dwalin, one of the greatest dwarven warriors living today.

Fili had always pictured war to be a chance to prove himself as well as a chance for honor and glory. He never really pictured being injured, certainly nothing more than a saber cut, with a bandage wrapped around his head. He never pictured the death of his company, of his family and friends. He pictured himself a hero, with the opportunity to protect and save those loved ones.

It didn't happen like that.

It was horrific. Mingled with the clash of shields and swords were the sound of the of the injured and dying surrounded him. He was exhausted in a way he had never been before. His arms felt as though they had been pumped filled with lead. His hair had long since fallen from it's neat and practical braids, he was covered in dirt and blood on every inch of his skin.

But despite those things, Fili was still fighting. He kept his king within his line of sight. For although Thorin had disappointed him greatly over the past few days, he was still his king and his uncle. He was still the man that Fili had loved and admired as a father figure. And finally, hopefully not too late, Thorin also seemed to have beaten back the goldsickness. Thorin seemed to be back to himself now, fighting on behalf of all that was good in middle earth.

Then there was Fili's crippling fear for Kili. Fili kept his brother as close to him as he possibly could, without getting in the way of Kili's arrows. Fili would have thought that his brother would have long since run out of arrows for his bow, but the youngest prince was smart about grabbing them from the fallen, enemies and friends alike, and was constantly replenishing his quiver.

Like himself, Kili was covered in dirt blood. His hair was even wilder and messier than usual. The clip that Fili had placed into it earlier was missing, and the raven locks of his brother were damp with sweat.

"Alright, Kili?" Fili called, to reassure himself more than anything.

"Never better, brother." Kili responded, turning to send a reassuring grin toward Fili.

They continued as best they could. Kili was constantly switching between his bow and his sword, but seemed uninjured, albeit exhausted. Fili's twin swords were constantly moving, leaving a slew of orcs and goblins in their wake.

But they were loosing. It didn't take much to figure that out. The free people of middle earth would fall so long as Azog survived. It was clear he was a rallying point, a cold and completely ruthless killer. Thousands of orcs would die, but Azog did not care. The loss of life meant absolutely nothing to him. It was hard to fight against a force with that little concern for life.

It was that thought that raced through Fili's head as he saw the great orc for the first time during battle.

"OAKENSHEILD" the monster bellowed, causing everyone around him to stop momentarily.

After he finished beheading the goblin which he had been entangled with, Thorin looked towards the great orc, and adjusted his grip on his sword. Without so much of a word in response, Thorin marched towards Azog.

Fili looked to his brother. Kili made eye contact with him and nodded. This was it. This was the defining moment of the battle. If Thorin won, there was a good chance that the orcs would scatter, leaderless and unorganized. It Thorin fell, well, Fili didn't want to think much on that alternative. But if Thorin fell, they would too.

The battle between the two leaders began. Azog may have ordered his minons to leave Thorin to him, but Fili and Kili would not chance that their uncle and their King would be blindsided. They began to do everything they could to keep the other orcs and foul creatures away from where Thorin and Azog were fighting.

For awhile, everything was going in their favor. Countless goblins and orcs had fallen at the hands of Fili's twin swords.

Then a harsh cry from their uncle distracted both of the brothers. Fili spared a moment from his battle to look over and see Azog's mace had cracked Thorin's oak shield, and clearly damaged his forearm. Before Fili could get to his side, Azog took the blade he used for a hand and dug it into Thorin's belly.

"UNCLE" Kili screamed as he watched Thorin collapse to his knees. Azog looked over at the young prince and smirked.

"Before you die Durin-scum. I'll have you watch your heirs fall to their death at my hand." Azog said with a laugh looking directly at Kili.

Fili could not hear Thorin's reply. He knew, instinctively, in his heart of hearts, that Thorin would have him grab his brother and get away from there. He would want them safe Azog's wrath. But sure as he knew that, he also knew that his brother would never leave. And Fili would never leave without his brother.

Kili sent an arrow that landed in Azog's shoulder. The beast barely winced before snapping it out of him and throwing it aside into the fray. Kili did not seem intimidated, and continued moving towards their uncle, Fili just a footstep behind.

They fought. Two young warriors, novice's compared to Azog's experience, but fighting with something to protect.

Fili aimed one of his daggers at the back of Azog's knee, hoping to slow down the assault that the orc was reigning down on the two brothers. This seemed to do a little damage, and Azog growled in pain before turning and swinging his mace at the blond prince.

Fili dived at the last minute, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Kili taking advantage of the orc's distraction and taking a second to aim another arrow.

What Kili didn't see is another monstrous orc coming up behind him. For although Azog's minions seemed to step out of the way while the beast was battling Thorin, they did not for the two princes.

"KILI!" Fili screamed, seeing what his brother could not. His cry caused Azog to turn towards his brother too and in that moment, Kili let an arrow fly. Fili could not see where he had aimed, only could stare in horror as his brother turned to try and stop the attack of the new orc. But the second he took to fire the arrow caused him to turn to slow, too late, and the orc was able to stab his long sword right through Kili's chest.

Fili could feel his heart stutter. He could feel the world tint and gray out around him. He screamed, he was sure he did, but he couldn't hear anything. He couldn't see the battle anymore, he could only see Kili. He watched as the orc pulled the sword cruelly from his brother chest. He watched as Kili took one last swing with his sword, beheading the monster who had damaged him so, before collapsing to the ground.

And then Fili was there, finally, by his brother's side. He placed his hands immediately on his brothers wound.

"Hang in there, Kili. Don't die. You can't die." Fili muttered like a prayer.

"Did I... m-make the shot?" Kili sputtered, and Fili was horrified to see blood pouring from his brother's lips. "H-his eye."

Fili turned and sure enough, Azog was screaming in pain as an arrow remained implanted, blinding him in his right eye.

"You did, you did." Fili cried. He could feel tears running down his cheeks but could not bring himself to wipe them away. Kili was looking up at him now, with the same adoration and love he always reserved for Fili.

"Finish him b-brother. D-don't worry about m-me." Kili continued.

"I'm your brother, it's my job to worry about you. Now you don't give up, you hear me. Don't you do this to me."

"S-Stop, Fee. Y-you know I c-cant." And Fili realized what he never wanted to even allow his brain to entertain. Kili was beyond saving. Kili would die here on this battlefield. He allowed himself to stop putting pressure on Kili's wound, just so that he could take his younger brother's hand in his own.

"D-don't worry Fee. D-Doli will look out for m-me n-now. I l-love you." Kili whispered, and his eyes began to close.

"I love you too little brother. Tell Doli I love him. I love you." And with that, Fili rested his forehead against his younger brother's as the light left his eyes and his hand fell from Fili's. Kili was gone.

There would be time to grieve later, Fili thought, and grabbed Kili's sword and his bow before turning back to Azog.

Azog managed to recover from where Kili's arrow had pierced him. It had obviously not gone deep enough to pierce his brain, but he would have a blind side now, unable to see from his right side.

Fili would attack from the right side, and attack he did. His desire for vengeance was inextricably intertwined with his grief and he could practically hear Doli and Kili screaming at him to stop being so reckless with his attack.

But it did not matter. There were dozens of ways he could have attacked differently, but the end result was going to be the same no matter what. Fili needed to get close enough to Azog, so that he could put the necessary force behind his blad to pierce the orc's armor and thick skin. The injury to Azog's eye allowed him to do so, and Fili found himself below the orc driving his blade upwards into the unprotected skin between the orc's ribcage and stomach. Azog gasped, as the blade pierced vital organs.

Fili was unable to move fast enough as the monster took one last swing of his mace, crushing Fili's ribcage beyond repair. Fili knew in that instant that he would die here on the battlefield as well. He had no idea if Thorin was still alive, but he knew that Azog had fallen, and that was enough for him.

Fili glanced over to where Kili had fallen, and tried to crawl over to him. But it was no use. Fili could not get his injured body to move that far. So instead he waited. He looked up to the clouds and waited for death to take him.

In his last moments, Fili thought about love. He remembered moments of happiness, of his mother's laughter, his uncle's praise. He remembered the first time he bested Dwalin in a sword fight, and the first time he kissed a dwarven lass, he remembered dinner with his family and nights camping with his friends.

But most of all he remembered Kili and Doli, their smiles and their laughter. Three princes who should never have been separated.

It was to that thought that Fili closed his eyes and life left his body.

"Come on brother, you've been sleeping for ages."

It was Kili's voice that welcomed Fili in the afterlife. Fili opened his eyes to see Kili smiling down at him. He was younger, but he looked healthier and more whole than Fili could ever remember him being.

"He's waiting for you." Kili said with a laugh.

"Who?" Fili asked, his voice higher than it had been when he died. He looked down and saw that he too was younger, and that his skin was unmarked and unblemished.

Kili turned his head and gestured behind him. Fili looked over and there was Doli. Fili was on his feet in seconds, grabbing his older brother into a hug for the first time in decades.

"I tried Do. I tried to protect him." Fili cried. Kili ran over too, wrapping his arms around Fili's back so that he was in the middle of his two brothers.

"You did." Kili whispered.

"You did." Doli repeated.

a/n: thank you again for joining me on this adventure. To our fallen youngest prince- we love you and you are in our hearts forever.