Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings.
Summary: The arkenstone was a kaleidoscope of light, a buzzing energy warming Bard's chest before what looked like a shooting star burst out into the sky, sailing towards the dragon's corpse that was sinking with Laketown. The beast twitched, shuddered, before revealing one great eye that was the color of molten sun. Only one goal was fixated in his mind. Protect the Durin line at any cost.
Oh, he had some wrongs he had to correct. But whether he would even have the opportunity to explain himself later was unimportant at the moment. All that mattered, was the war he could hear even from all the way here. So with great strength, he ruptured out of the waters with a mighty roar and flew towards death.
(Where Smaug isn't actually a bad guy and has A LOT of explaining to do to a lot of people. That is, if Thorin doesn't kill him off first.)
Note: Okay, well, I've been obsessed with the Hobbit lately. So much, in fact, that I'm braving this story online. It's going to explain Smaug's past and also a lot of made-up dragon culture and background and abilities in this story. Also, the arkenstone is not what it seems at all (and no, it's not a dragon egg, it'll be way to cliché if it were) and I tweaked Thror's past a lot too. So yeah, purists out there, please don't kill me. It's all my own ideas and I know that almost 95% percent of the information I'm going to write here isn't true. So get off your high horses. And don't assassinate me at night. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
Bilbo slid down the mountains of gold with a thumping, panicking heart as he ran for his life away from the fire-breathing dragon who seemed determined to pursue after him.
Oh curse his luck to have awoken the beast!
He didn't even bother to put on the ring now since the blasted lizard would be able to sniff him out anyways. And while it may cost him a few extra seconds of time, his eyes were still relentlessly tracking after the glittering stone that was tumbling away from him, sparklingly tauntingly at him to complete his mission before getting the hell out of there.
So he chased and chased before finally reaching sanctuary under some sturdy, stone structures that covered him overhead. With his small size, he easily hid behind a column.
The dragon mocked and slithered out whispering fears into Bilbo's mind as he tried to reach for the stone, making his heart twinge and his head shake in denial because really? Thorin would never use him like that, never.
But what if he is? It makes sense, doesn't it?
Shut up, shut up!
He buried down the treacherous voice, though it didn't disappear. It only seemed to grow.
Bilbo was thrown out of these thoughts quite quickly when he was suddenly flung into the air by Smaug's motions and bumped into a column with a great 'oof!'
Smaug kept up his monologue and then Bilbo saw it.
A small opening, a scale missing.
A weakness.
"So it is true." The hobbit whispered out loud absentmindedly, numb from this great reveal. "The black arrow found its mark."
"What did you say?" Smuag hissed, swiveling his head around to face him with such speed that Bilbo jumped at the action. Scrambling upright, thoughts still overworking itself, his Baggins mannerisms kicked in just in time.
"I-I-I was just saying, your reputation precedes you, oh Smaug the... tyrannical." He stuttered out, watching with wide eyes as Smaug stalked closer to him, eyes menacing.
Stepping back more and more to get away from such a fierce gaze, Bilbo continued on with a fervent tone. "Truly, you have no equal, on this Earth." He gestured to the ground for emphasis and immediately stopped his actions all together because right there, right next to him, was the arkenstone.
And that, was when things started to get strange.
Bilbo had expected more jeering, more eloquent poisonous words jabbing at Thorin that made Bilbo's doubts and hackles rise.
Instead, what he got was much, much more terrifying.
Smaug's golden eyes narrowed with such rage, such absolute derision that Bilbo froze in fear at the face of it.
"You." The Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities snarled out, hatred practically dripping his tone. "After I deal with this Riddle-maker and those dwarves, you will be next. I will savor the feeling of getting rid of you for last."
It took Bilbo a couple of seconds to realize that Smaug wasn't directing this at him, but the arkenstone.
Confusion didn't even begin to cover what he felt at that moment. At the back of his mind, Bilbo wondered if all this gold had addled the dragon's brain because talking to a stone, while a very pretty one at that he supposed but still just a piece of rock really, was complete and utter nonsense.
All this ran through his head before Smaug turned back to look at him, teeth glinting and sharp as knives.
"I think our little game has to end here. So tell me, thief, how do you choose to die?"
Smaug opened up his great jaws to swallow him whole, and Bilbo didn't even think when he jabbed the ring onto his finger before disappearing from sight. Swiftly, he picked up the stone and bolted away from the clearly mad dragon.
He was oblivious to the fact that the arkenstone was actually quite warm to the touch, something humming and stirring within the stone.
Something almost... alive.
-A-
Bilbo fingered the arkenstone in his hands, pondering over choices and troubled thoughts as he did so.
It's been a few days since the Company saw that Smaug the Dragon was dead, shot down and falling on Laketown with a great splash. The worry that the men may have not gotten out alive from the fire and fall made guilt curl around his heart, along with the fact he lied to Thorin about not having the arkenstone.
But he didn't regret it. Thorin's wild and hungry eyes still haunted Bilbo even in his dreams.
This wasn't the dwarf he first met at Bag Ends, all those months ago. The person standing in front of him wasn't his friend, but a twisted, mad version to the real thing.
And that scared Bilbo more than he cared to admit.
Sighing, feeling weary and conflicted, his eyes focused on the dazzling stone in his hands. Now that he had the time to inspect it closely, he couldn't help but admire the otherworldly quality the arkenstone possessed. He could see why the dwarves made the stone their symbol. There's just something about it that inspired something deep within his heart.
Not greed, no. Something much more profound and noble.
Bitterly, he wished that the stone could bring out the real Thorin out of his imposter but already knew that it would only make the king's gold-sickness worse.
Maybe the stone brought out different qualities in different people? By this point in his journey, Bilbo was just about ready to believe anything.
Mind drifting now, he wondered about Smaug's rather odd reaction to the stone. He talked to it as if it was a person, something sentient. He had passed it off as madness but maybe he was wrong. Maybe there was more to the arkenstone than meets the eye.
Bilbo shook his head. Well, it doesn't really matter. Right now, he had an impending war to worry about between the elves, men, and dwarves, and sitting around doing nothing wasn't going to change anything.
At this thought, a terrible idea struck Bilbo. It was treasonous, precarious.
It was the only plan he could think of.
Back straightening in steely determination, he pocketed the stone in his jacket and marched back inside to get prepared.
It was a long climb down the mountain and he didn't want to die from the fall before meeting up with Thranduil and Bard.
-A-
Hours later when it was well past evening, Bilbo found himself pinned in place by Thranduil's glacier stare, the meeting taking place within the confines of the tent.
"If I am not mistaken, this is the halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards." Thranduil said coolly.
Bilbo shifted his gaze to the side, finding the ground to be very interesting.
"... Yes." He mumbled out. "Sorry about that."
Bilbo could swear he saw the man Bard's mouth twitch upward at his answer.
Shaking his head at this, Bilbo marched determinedly toward the sole table in the room and took out the wrapped up arkenstone before placing it carefully down on the flat surface. Wanting to get his business over with, Bilbo quickly unwrapped the cloth as he said, "I came to give you this."
Thranduil's astonished face as he stood up from his chair when he saw the arkenstone almost made the entire trek from coming down the mountain entirely worth it.
"The heart of the mountain." The elvenking breathed out. "The king's jewel."
"And worth a king's ransom." Bard added, coming closer to examine the fabled stone with wonder. Turning to Bilbo, the grim man gave the hobbit a frown. "How is this yours to give?"
"I took it as my fourteenth share of the treasure." Bilbo replied promptly, enticing a smirk from Gandalf.
Bard shook his head.
"Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty."
"I'm not doing it for you." Bilbo contradicted him, smiling wryly when confusion met his words.
"I know dwarves can be obstinate. And pigheaded and difficult... and suspicious and secretive, with the worst manners you can possibly imagine." He looked to Gandalf at the last one, whose eyes twinkled in mirth and agreement. Breathing out, Bilbo continued, voice halting now.
"But they are also brave, and kind, and loyal to a fault." Bilbo said quietly, for there were no truer words than what he just spoke. He looked up again, his eyes earnest, at the two taller beings who were watching him closely. "I've grown very fond of them, and I would save them if I can. Now Thorin," he gestured to the stone, "values this stone above all else. In exchange for its return, I believe he will give you what you are owed. There will be no need for war."
Bard and Thranduil shared a look as Gandalf pondered over this solution. Bilbo was a nervous wreck by the time Thranduil finally nodded, sending relief to Bilbo's poor heart.
"The terms you have set are acceptable." The elvenking said smoothly.
Bilbo let out a sigh of utter relief at this, shoulders drooping in exhaustion now that his task was complete.
Bilbo watched Bard as he pocketed the arkenstone the same way he himself had and suddenly felt an inexplicable, protective urge to take back the stone. It was startling and made Bilbo halt in his tracks, along with a large amount of dread.
Was the stone affecting him? Was it turning him into Thorin?
Inspecting his own feelings for a moment, ignoring Bard, Thranduil, and Gandalf's looks, he was relieved to find that wasn't the case.
No. He just must be nervous about this whole endeavor along with its costs. Yes, that made a lot more sense.
"Bilbo?" Gandalf questioned, concerned. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes. Don't worry about me Gandalf." Bilbo waved him away with impatience. "I just hope that this works."
The wizard's eyes softened with understanding and at the back, Bilbo can identify sympathy from Bard's eyes. The man clearly understood just how much the hobbit was endangering himself with his traitorous actions. Thranduil remained aloof, face remaining unemotional and collected.
Scuffling his feet, Bilbo managed a smile and gestured to outside.
"Well, I better get back to the mountain before anyone misses me-"
"What?" Bard blurted out, immediately alarmed. Gandalf straightened as well. "You can't go back there. Thorin will kill you when he finds out."
"He won't." Bilbo said firmly, completely convinced of this. "I have to be there to take blame for my own actions. I may be a thief, but I'd like to think I'm an honest one. I won't hide and escape the consequences."
Gandalf sagged at his words, pride and worry battling in his eyes. Bard stared at him, respectful and solemn. Thranduil didn't seem to care, not that Bilbo's surprised.
So with a last smile and a deep breathe, the hobbit left the tent and headed straight back for Erebor.
-A-
The battle was raging on strong and Bilbo had just about enough of blood and gore for the rest of his hobbit lifetime. Slashing and killing orc after orc like never before, he focused on his current problems instead of his breaking heart.
(Thorin's crazed eyes dark as midnight boring at him as he strangled him over the fort, calling him traitor and cursing his name even more vehemently than he did with Azog's.)
And suddenly, in his line of vision, he saw something that didn't make any sense whatsoever.
Something like a shooting star, brilliant and blinding and startling even the orcs to stop in their tracks at its sudden appearance, soared through the sky from Dale of all places before speeding away from the battlefield to who knows where.
He was distracted though from his stupefaction when Thorin and the Company burst out of the once blocked entrance of Erebor, ringing battle cries trumpeting their arrival. Even from here, Bilbo could see the focus and clarity in Thorin's piercing blue gaze, sickness gone.
Bilbo couldn't help but grin and laugh helplessly at this, spirits uplifting tenfold along with his strength. With renewed vigor, he let out a cry himself and attacked the orcs with ferocity he hadn't even known he was capable of.
Elsewhere, Bard was watching with bulging eyes as the light that had burst out of the pocketed arkenstone fly away, dumbstruck by the sight.
Was this normal? That couldn't have been normal, no matter how limited his knowledge was on the arkenstone.
But at the moment, he had other pressing matters to attend to. Mouth set in a stern line, Bard barked out orders to his dazed, small army who snapped back into attention at the sound of his harsh voice. Like sheep, the mismatched armed crowd followed after their leader, ready to defend their loved ones to the death.
And while the war continued on, nobody had been able to discern from so far away how the radiant light found its way to the sinking Smaug's body, wrapping itself around the dragon with a luminous glow. The light was like a mist, hovering over Smaug's open mouth and nostrils as if being sucked into the drake's openings.
And when the last light died out to settle over the open wound that had killed the beast, Smaug's eyes opened, revealing a molten color of the sun.
And with no hesitation, Smaug ruptured himself out of the waters quite like how he did with the golden trap Thorin had set on him merely days ago, and sailed into battle.
On his giant chest, the wound began to bleed anew, the only sign of vulnerability seen on the mighty creature.
The injury, however, didn't seem to hinder Smaug as he cruised toward the front line of battle, a bellowing roar a deaf man could hear resounding loud and clear into the sky.
Smaug the Terrible, it seems, has returned.
Please review on the way out.
