Erebor's Guardian

Chapter: 32

I held onto Thorin as I wrapped my wings around him as I gently placed him down on the snow.

"Thorin."

"Paephan..."

"Shhh Don't talk, you will be alright."

"Where is Kili?"

"He is safe. Now stay still."

The wound was deep and there was already so much blood. I placed a hand on his wound and closed my eyes but something was wrong, I felt no glow come from the wings or eyes. I looked down at Thorin to see no change to him. No.

"Thorin, the feather I gave you. Where is it."

Thorin looked at me as he grunted in pain as he pointed toward the battlefield. I looked at him as tears ran down my eyes. Thorin tried to speak.

"I must...have lost it during...the fight."

"You were supposed to survive...you were the one who should have lived not me."

"It is too late...for me."

I heard the sounds of footsteps and drew Ringil in front until I saw who it was. It was Bilbo. Thorin turned to him as I dropped Ringil to my side.

"Bilbo..."

"Don't move! Don't move! Lie still!

Bilbo started to examine the wound. He looked at me as I cried.

"Paephan... He will be ok. Won't he?"

I looked up at Bilbo. I looked away as Thorin spoke to him.

"I'm glad you're here...I wish to part from you in friendship."

"No. You are not going anywhere, Thorin. You're going to live."

"I would take back my words and my deeds at the gate. You did what only a true friend would do. Forgive me...I was too blind to see."

Thorin turned to me and then back to Bilbo.

"I'm so sorry that I led you both into such peril."

Thorin choked up blood. I held his hands as streams of tears fell on them. Bilbo looked down at him.

"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."

I looked at both of them as they smiled at each other.

"Farewell, Master Burglar. go back to your books and your armchair. Plant your trees-watch them grow.

Thorin choked once more.

"If more people valued home above gold this world would be a merrier place."

Thorin gasped and looked at me.

"Amralime...watch over Kili... and Fili...you have your whole life with them...They are your oath now."

As Thorin spoke my eyes widened.

My life.

I placed my hand on the wound once more, I could see Bilbo and Thorin looking confused and worried. My wings expanded around Thorin as Bilbo watched.

"Amralime, Men lananubukhs me."

Thorin looked at me with worry as my wings glowed and my entire body glowed with a vibrant gold. I looked up to the sky I saw more of the eagles flying above us. Slowly I felt the light flow through me to Thorin. I closed my eyes as I removed my hands from his chest. I breathed heavily and felt nothing. I felt the cold snow touch my skin and my vision started to fade. I last thing my eyes saw was Bilbo and Thorin yelling my name.

Darkness took me.

Thorin P.O.V

"Paephan!"

I held her in my arms to see her wings had turned as black as the deepest halls, and they folded back into her body. Her skin felt as cold as death. Bilbo had gone in search of help as he yelled up to the Eagles but to no avail. I held her close as her arms fell onto the ice, her hand next to Ringil. Bilbo returned with the others as they hurried to my side. I saw Fili and Kili being helped over. I looked at Oin as he examined her. He merely shook his head.

"Thorin, this is beyond my skill."

I looked at Paephans face and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way."

I lifted her up in my arms, taking her back to Erebor.

Paephan P.O.V

I opened my eyes to see no light. It was a mere void of nothing. I felt no pain or fear. I could hear small vibrations all around and suddenly a bright light with a figure in front of me, the light was too bright for me to see the figure clearly. Soon the light dimmed but the figure would not show its face.

"Who are you...Where am I?"

The figure did not speak as it pointed behind me. I looked to see another bright light but I could not see through it and the voice I heard was that of Thorin. His voice was too soft to hear almost as if mumbles. The figure walked toward me and stopped.

"This is where you return. Old friend"

"Who are you?"

The figure revealed to be my first and oldest friend.

"Durin?!"

"Ha. I would have thought you of all people would be glad to see me."

"How...how are you here."

"I told you once didn't I. I would come when you need me."

I smiled but soon it faded.

"I should be dead. I gave up my life for him, how am I still here?"

"It was not your time. Instead of your life being given away, you gave up your immortality. Just as your mother had done with you."

"I don't understand."

"Your mother during the siege of the temple gave you her immortality. The wings you have are yours to keep, but like your mother you gave up your immortality for his life."

As I was about to speak he shook his head and turned around away from me.

"Durin, Will I see you again?"

He turned to me and smiled at me as he stepped away into the dark and disappeared. I looked at the light and walked up to it. It felt warm and safe. I took a deep breath and walked through the light.