Title: Pyre
Fandom: The Hobbit
Rating: Teen
Length: 238 words
Content notes: Original character death.
Author Notes: Part of my combined AUs (Flame of Durin and Gaearon Rhûnen). Ila is an OC who becomes a mercenary in Dwalin's mercenary company.

Summary: The mercenaries of the east and the south burn their dead on campaign - they will not bury them on land not their own, nor can they carry them home.

There is little wood on the plains they're fighting this campaign on, and Ila doesn't have the time or will to gather enough to do more than frame the pyre. She doesn't have enough dry grass to burn Saule's body, either. There's only the clothing the dwarrow wore - much of the rest can be sold for a few coins, and Saule would not be pleased to have it burn with her - and the pitch and oil brought by their employer for siege engines they'd not had a chance to use before this became a running retreat.

She isn't the only one taking some of the pitch for a pyre, not the only flames dotting the perimeter of the camp as the sun kisses the western horizon. Ila watches the flames rise as tears run down her cheeks. "Mahal guide you home, Saule of Dragon's Reach, daughter of Nordis. Rest you well in the company of your fathers, and find no shame in your ending."

It is the last honor she can give, standing watch as the flames devour the pyre, and Saule's body with it. The fire is cool before the morning wind picks up, scattering the ashes across the rain-dampened plains. Ila glances at the sky, lips twisting wryly when she sees the clouds that build, dark and threatening in the west.

At least they'd had a day to burn their dead before the weather turned again.