Chapter Text
Frerin sat on the cold stone floor. His voice echoed,
“Ered Luin has been doing well under Thorin’s leadership. They are calling the halls ‘Thorin’s halls’ now. I can image it, you teasing Thorin about it, heh.” Frerin swallowed. “We’ve both changed since you and Issenbras left us. Nothing I can do has helped..... Filli and Killi make us smile, but our joy never lasts.... Filli has been moved up a level in his training and Killi has been doing well with his bow. You would be so proud, love....” his voice cracked. “Damn, you Amrie. Why did you have to be right? Why did you leave me?” Frerin muttered, wiping his eyes harshly.
There was no reply. There would never be any more smart replies; no more bright smiles, no more sweet kisses. She was gone, slaughtered in place she should have never been in because of her unfailing loyalty to him and the decisions of a gold-mad king.
Wiping his eyes again, Frerin stood up and bent over the crypt, kissing the cold stone.
“I love you, Amrie. Forever and always.” he whispered. Then, he turned around and left, leaving the cold stone to it’s silence.
___________
Hildigrim cradled his brand-new daughter in his arms. She was such a pretty thing, with bright green eyes. Kissing his wife on the forehead, he promised that he would quickly return. Carefully opening the door, he walked out of the bed room and headed to the sitting room.
“Father,” he announced as he came into the room. “I would like for you to meet your newest granddaughter.” Gerontius stood up and took the babe into his arms. He smiled and brushed a worn finger down the side of her face. She blinked sleepily.
“What have you decided to call her?”
“Rosa likes the name Aspen.” Gerontius hummed.
“The Took line is strong within her,” he murmured. Hildigrim nodded.
“Aye, that it is.”
__________
It was so loud. It was chaotic, everything was a blur. Screams and roars bellowed throughout the air. There was blood, blood as red as cherry and thick black goblin blood. It mixed with the dirt, making a mud one got stuck in and would never get out of.
He tried bypassing the slippery bodies, with their blank, empty eyes, but there were so many of them that he couldn’t avoid stepping on them. Wave after wave the goblins came after him, and there was no escape.
There were so many goblins, and he was exhausted. He heard a horn blast. As roar arose, he felt someone grip his hand. He looked at a pair of bright green eyes, the only color in the sea of red and black.
“We’ll do this together,” the owner of the eyes screamed as another wave of goblins came forward. He thought of bright blue eyes, and felt a bitter pang of regret as he swung his sword up and down through a goblin’s belly, killing it before it hit the ground. Arrows flew over his head, cutting down goblins, but it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. Then, a spear came flying through air, snuffing the light out of those green eyes. A goblin cutting into his side distracted him and then.....
Bilbo woke up screaming.