Bilbo crept into the cavernous hall of Dale, surrounding him were piles upon piles of gold, numerous and endless like the stars in the sky. The hobbit was confused as to how he was supposed to find the Arkenstone, which at first seemed easy, was something that now seemed impossible.
Bilbo approached a large pile, on top of this he found the Arkenstone, it was almost a miracle. He began to climb and as he climbed he thought about what would happen when he returned with it, if he would praised for his brave deed, if Thorin would give what was promised to him, if the dwarf would kill him out of jealousy for even touching the stone. Such thoughts crept into his mind, some of them he welcomed, others he did not.
"What are you doing?" a voice, deep and powerful but not threatening, said through the darkness.
Bilbo stopped and looked around, he listened for any kind of movement, he saw and heard nothing. He continued to climb.
"I see" the voice continued, "You are here for the Arkenstone. Well take it if you must, it has already caused me too much grief. Much like that ring of yours Mr. Baggins...a curse."
Bilbo stopped again, and once again looked around and listened. This time he felt movement, but it was underneath him. The hobbit became fearful, for he knew that this was the dragon that was feared and spoken of in low, hushed voices.
"Please" Bilbo cried into the darkness, not sure where the dragon's head was, "Don't eat me. I am but a humble hobbit. A nobody really."
"Why are you afraid?" the voice continued as the pile underneath Bilbo shifted completely, revealing the dragon underneath it, "Take it I implore you!"
When all the gold was removed from the dragon, Bilbo noticed that he was standing on the dragon's tail. The Arkenstone was several feet above him, jumping would be impossible. The dragon lifted his tail up, enough for Bilbo to reach the stone and pocket it to the best of his ability.
"Are you Smaug the Terrible?" Bilbo asked curiously
The dragon nodded, "That is one of my many names yes" the dragon answered, "Most people call me Smaug, the Bane of their Existence, the Last Scourge of Morgoth, the Ruin of the World...I could go on really."
"Smaug it is then." Bilbo said to himself, he then turned his attention back to the dragon, "My name is-"
"I know who you are" Smaug replied, "Gandalf was very specific. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit from the Shire. Never ventured this far before so I'm told, you should be commended. Take what you will, Arkenstone included, I have no need of it. I grow tired of this gold."
"Gandalf?" Bilbo exclaimed, "You know Gandalf?"
Smaug nodded and moved towards the stairs where Bilbo had come, Bilbo got off of Smaug and turned back towards the dragon.
"All of us do" Smaug answered, "Well...all of us used to."
Bilbo said nothing, allowing for Smaug to continue
"We were originally created by Morgoth, the Dark Lord. Prideful by nature and lustful only for ourselves, companionship was never for love, only serving as means to certain ends. I still remember when there were hundreds of us. Better days long gone."
Smaug pointed to his chest, specifically the mark that the Black Arrow had hit.
"My one weakness, the Black Arrows...Ever since that day I have sat here, in this tomb, reflecting on my past and slowly burning in my hatred of the dwarves and the Men and the Elves, for killing everyone that I've ever known."
Bilbo looked around nervously and then back at Smaug, he was getting uncomfortable.
"What happened to them?" Bilbo asked, "Surely there must be some of your kind left."
Smaug shook his head and gave a deep sigh, "I've lost hope long ago Mr. Baggins."
Bilbo laughed a bit, "As long as we're on a first name basis, please...call me Bilbo."
Smaug took note of Bilbo's name, he would remember it. Bilbo had many questions drilling inside his brain. Smaug, as if he could read Bilbo's mind, answered all of Bilbo's questions.
"Long ago, when the world was young, Mithrandir came to me and my brothers. He knew that we were planning a rebellion against Morgoth and Sauron. That was when I first came to know your wizard friend. Many a battles were fought, all of them lost. Those who survived fled to the northern border lands."
Bilbo was captivated by Smaug's storytelling ability, he was even better than most hobbits, who were masters at the art. It seems that Bilbo had a lot to learn.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Bilbo asked, "That all of this...All of it, was set up?"
Smaug shrugged, or at least gave the dragon equivalent of shrugging.
"Everything down to the last detail, expect Thorin's obsession with reviving a dead kingdom. Be wary of him Bilbo. I fear for his sanity."
Bilbo long suspected Thorin's insanity, but hearing it from Smaug, who had been underneath this pile of gold for ages upon ages, who knew Gandalf personally and also of the Ring, solidified this fact. Bilbo was also wary of Smaug himself, for he was not sure how much he could trust him. It could've been that Smaug was only playing on the pleasantries to get Bilbo lower his guard upon which Smaug would eat him and his friends. At the same time, Bilbo felt pity for the dragon, for if it was true that he was the last of his kind, than Bilbo found it only natural that he felt the urge to help him, by either giving him a mercy killing or journeying across the land to search, the more he thought about it, the more the second option seemed more favorable.
"Smaug" Bilbo said nervously, "Have you ever thought about finding them? The others?"
Smaug smiled a bit, but it was an uncomfortable, unsettling smile. One that spoke of uncertainty and doubt and yet had a gleam of hope laden deep within.
"I have considered it" Smaug answered, "But it is hopeless. For even I do manage to find my brothers, there would no females. The race would die; we would fade into history, known only for destruction and malice, as we rightfully should. Let us die Bilbo, let me die. It is better this way."
Bilbo refused to accept it, "Surely there must be some females left? They can't all be gone."
Smaug shook his head, "They most certainly can and they most certainly are. It's over Bilbo. There is only one way that this story can end. It ends in fire, it ends with my death. It is the way that it has to be."
Bilbo still held his ground, "I don't believe you Smaug. I have hope for you. You've been in here for too long, you need something, something that cannot be bought with all the gold in this room."
Smaug laughed, "Do you know how much gold is here?" he answered rhetorically, "Enough to rebuild Dale three times over and for them to be prosperous for 1,000 years on this gold alone, I have guarded it, I have kept it here, waiting for someone to take it from me. This gold, Master Bilbo, all of it, I give to you. And yes it is true, I do need something, but it is impossible, for there is no one left who is able to even consider loving one such as me."
Bilbo was about to speak again, when Smaug stopped him
"You have what you came for." Smaug said sadly, "You best leave. When you are ready, come back here and claim your gold. On my honor, until my very last breath, I shall keep here for you."
Bilbo nodded and hurried down the corridor, Smaug called after him one last time
"Bilbo!" he yelled, "Say none of this to Thorin. Not a word. It shall be the end of me and the end of you if you do. The end of everything...and thank you, should we meet again, I will remember this and spare you."
Bilbo headed down the corridor and out to the cliff face where Thorin and the rest of the party were waiting for him.