Ranger of the South ➵ LORD OF THE RINGS

↠ T H I R T Y - T H R E E : last one

• KEIRA •

I had honestly no idea how I managed to live through it all. I mean, I had expected to die at least three times these last few weeks. But somehow, I survived.

People would start to feel confident about not dying at all, but as I was watching the Black Gate in front of us, I was positive I wasn't one of those people. There would always be a chance of dying. Certainly if you were going to bang on Sauron's front door.

But we had to. For Frodo. And for Sam. Both of them had gone through a lot—probably through more than we had. They were our only hope. If they died or simply not succeeded to destroy the Ring, all of this would have been for nothing. Everyone would die.

So I wasn't confident at all of making it out of this alive. We would be a diversion. Bait to say it plainly. There would be a fair chance that I'd get to see Thorin again today. But I would not go down easily. That was a promise I made myself as I glanced at Thrain and Lúthien. Both of them were riding beside me, looking determined. I knew them well enough to know they was afraid. Terrified even. I wish I could tell them that everything would be all right. That we would make it out of this. But I couldn't lie to them.

"Amad?" Thrain hesitantly said.

"Yes?" I replied, turning my head to look at him.

"We are going to die today, aren't we?"

"Where's that positivity you always carry around?" Lúthien piped in, though she didn't sound positive herself.

"We might," I said, not going to lie about it. "But I will do everything in my power to not let that happen. I promise."

"We won't let you die either," Thrain vowed.