This is really good. You managed to surprise me--several times!

I love your Dwarven/Elven interactions; you paint them so well as culturally different, but equally human. Your Dwarven warrior makes some very astute observations. I'm glad she doesn't think the decision of the Elves to avoid further warfare cowardly, but instead sensible as they don't have the technology! Also, in typing this, I realised that the title of your story applies to the shell-shocked young survivor as much as to the fallen, which is very clever. Another great piece dealing with a chapter that gets glossed over by the chronicle (and usually, by fandom too)!

I'm another one enjoying your dwarf-elf interactions. I felt for the poor shell-shocked elf and admired how your dwarf was both sympathetic but also practical. 

One could see this going another way, couldn't one?

The dwarves could offer to equip and train the elves and the elves could learn to fight such battles.

But one can see why it does not happen, you show it to us.

Very sympathetically told.

This is heartrending. The compassion the Dwarf shows for the Elf-- Elves-- makes this story. And I like how you named neither one; it fits the story.