15 Rise

[Optional/ Insert music: Andrea Tonoli - Funeral for the Blackhearted.]

The light of the dusking sun fell on the mountain top, Many people stood on the peak including Arthas and the other two kings and their followers. One could see the lonely mountain and Dale and even further from that place.

The winds blew carrying with it a mourning tone as it made a lamenting melody in its wake, the atmosphere was heavy and filled with grief. The rays of the sun's orange light, making everything seem gloomy.

To Arthas's left stood Gandalf and Bard and to his right Bilbo and the Dwarfs. To Thranduil's, left stood Legolas and to his right, Tauriel. They and many others had all gathered to bury the fallen. The idea was made by Arthas.

After the talk he had with the kings, he had suggested burying the dead on this peak so that they could observe the lands of Erebor and Rhouvanion where the kingdom of Lordaeron would soon be built in.

His reasoning as such... The spirit of the dead will observe the lands and its happy people in peace from atop the mountain. They would know that it was only possible due to their sacrifice and shall rest in peace and eternal glory. Their honor would remain intact until the end of time.

The reason he had done that was due to Kili's death. Among the Dwarfs, he was closest to Kili due to the constant conversation he shared with him on the road; Then Thorin and Balin. He looked at the process with a heavy heart. 'If only I was smarter and better!' He was conflicted deep within.

Deep deep in his heart and unconscious mind he had treated everything as a dream, believing the people not real. That was the core of his thoughts that not even he could truly figure out for the human heart and mind were complex things. Who could blame him as he had experienced a very impossible situation?

The sorrow he was feeling at the loss of a friend made him realize that. And his heart and unconscious mind finally accepted the harsh reality that it was not a nightmare. Everything was real and he was living in a fictional world. Or perhaps Tolkien had visions of a real one and wrote about them? He was not sure anymore.

The process was finished gradually. Elves, Dwarfs, and men were all buried and a small shrine made for them. On top was written, 'The Fallen Heroes of the battle of the five armies'. Their spirits would look on the peace they had created with their blood. "May they rest in peace."

Everyone gradually left, only Arthas and Tauriel remained. His face was calm but a single tear ran down his face as memories of Kili flashed in his mind. It was the first friend heh ad lost to this world. Tauriel noticed it, "A crying king would not make a good one." her voice was sad with a small amount of resentment perhaps due to the situation Thranduil had put her in.

Arthas didn't turn to look at her as he clenched his fist, "A King must never cry even if the sky were to fall on his shoulders; But if a man who has lost a friend or a loved one doesn't cry, he has no heart. would a heartless man make a good king?" he said.

Tauriel turned silent. A while passed and she said, "He spoke highly of you in the dungeons. He spoke of a young man that if had been with them; they wouldn't have been captured.". Arthas smiled sadly, "He thought so highly of me, I feel guilt to have let him down... You loved him?".

Tauriel nodded as two streams of tears fell down her face, she took out a stone and grasped it firmly. "He gave me the stone that his mother had given him as an assurance for his return. Now he rests here, his mother will never see him again. My heart hurts... It hurts so much..."

Arthas clenched his fists, his hands trembling. Tauriel turned around and left, leaving him alone. He fell into deep thoughts. Memories flashed in front of his eyes.

He remembered the first time he had awoken in this world and how ridiculous it seemed to him at the time. He remembered the longing in his heart as he missed his family, he was worried. Could he ever find a way back? But then he found many friends along the way, he felt conflicted would he choose to leave if he had the chance; He did not want to think about it.

He remembered the first time he had met the Dwarfs and how he was tricked to join them by Gandalf. He knew the latter was interested in him due to the sword but he decided to play along as he had felt lost and that was the only path left in front of him.

He remembered the journey on the road as he was bored so he talked with some of the Dwarfs and Kili's humor and character interested him. The two became fast friends and they talked and fought together however small those times were. He realized he felt happier then than now. Those times may not have important in his story as they didn't leave any lasting effects but only now did he realize he had grown attached to the Dwarf as a friend. He wondered what he would feel if Gandalf, Galadriel, or Bilbo were to die...

He remembered the awe he felt for Rivendell when he first came to see it. How he did not sleep and enjoyed the stars for the night. The short training with the Hobbit and the talk he had had with Elrond.

He remembered the first time he met Galadriel and how she decided to teach him. The Days in Lorien were he trained his sword and body to make the muscle-memory truly his own till late at night; The Days when he would wake up in the morning and chat with some of his newly made elf friends and go meet his teacher and be thought; Her presence and power like a calming and warm hug that eased his worries. How weeks past like that as he grew strong.

He remembered the nervousness and fear deep in his heart that beat rapidly as he fought Smaug. He may have seemed strong and omnipotent on the surface but deep within he was filled with worries and stress.

He thought of Sauron's terrible presence and the darkness that he carried on his back every day; Of how Galadriel had helped him vanquish the Shadow from his sword and heart. He was falling and she saved him and in turn, he lent her his power. Sauron was defeated.

He remembered the bitter war and how it made him realize that peace was the best gift one land could give to the other. How power drove beings to do such things... He felt disgusted and his heart was feeling heavier than ever thinking of war. Greed in all its forms whether for power or gold was truly the worst of sins that lead to all the others.

He decided to make a kingdom for that was the only way he could accomplish his ambitions and goals, he was too weak alone so he decided to cultivate his own comrades and power. All to help make the world a better place in his image and maybe find a way back to earth.

And now here he was, one of his friends in the ground. if only he had been better and stronger, if only he had been smarter, if only... What is the use of regret?

He felt sad, guilty, and a little lonely. His thoughts a mess. An idea suddenly made root in his mind. 'I have this sword in my hand. Who dares to remain dead in front of me?'

He stood alone in front of the Shrine/Grave, everyone had left. The sun was gone and Darkness engulfed the world, it was night time. Arthas's eyes turned determined and firm. 'I will not fall!'

He brandished Frostmourne and pointed the sword at the ground, his eyes flashed with evil blue light. 'All of you will live again!' "Rise"