This is the third book, please start with The Lost Gem if starting this book. Thank you to everyone for waiting patiently, I've had a very long week. Love to everyone.

Ch 1 He Was Right

Beorn sat in his garden, watching the horizon where dawn was breaking. A week had passed and he knew they wouldn't stay away any longer, the family loved the time spent at his home and in turn, his life was more fulfilled with them. As the sun peeked over the trees in the distance, Beorn spotted a blur above the tree line and soon he was able to discern it was four dragons flying his way. He had patrolled the border of his land earlier, ensuring there were no more Orcs other than those he had killed a few days back, along with the goblins. The only problem with their arrival was the dwarves, hobbit, and meddling wizard were still inside his home, snoring away the night. Lapis had told him some years ago the name of her mate, the father of her children, and he was with the company. With no way to contact the mother dragon, he had no choice but to wait until she came to inform her of who was occupying the Hall. Beorn was sure that the three younger dragons had already told her why they had returned, but there was no way they could've known who.

The sun had risen over Mirkwood and they were flying lower to the ground than before. As they came closer, the horses ran under their flight path while the dogs gave chase, barking. Beorn stood as Lapis dropped to the ground first, follow by Keahi, Meio, and Tarin, who gave a shy smile to him. The beautiful, young dragon had grown on him and he knew it was only a matter of time before her mother gave permission and Tarin would stay with him. But for now, he had to focus on getting them to leave before any of the dwarves woke up.

Beorn kneeled to greet Lapis, "It is good to see you." The smile given to him was brilliant and Beorn noted the new scars from her fight with Keahi had all but faded into silvery lines.

"You as well Bear." She placed her hand on his, not stopping her children who were milling around the yard with the animals. "I heard you had some visitors." The shadow in her eyes could not be hidden.

"Yes, and you need to leave immediately, with your children." Beorn stood and turned to speak to the younger three when Meio opened the door to the Hall and the dogs set upon barking, running inside to wake the occupants. It wasn't often now that he felt dread, but right now a cold sensation washed over him as sounds of the dwarves were waking up.

Meio stood frozen with wide eyes, same as her siblings who were still in the yard. They had never met anyone other than Beorn and emotions not familiar to them filled their heads and took the breath from their lungs. Without asking, Beorn scooped up the blue-haired girl and walked her back to her mother. Tarin and Keahi followed, casting hasty glances back to the home where the sounds were growing louder. Lapis stared at the open door in shock.

"They're still here?"

Beorn nodded at the question filled with disbelief. No one had ever stumbled upon his land and stayed longer than a day other than them. "Go, return home. I'll find a way to send word to you."

Lapis shook her head. "Why are you sending us away again? Who is here…" Her voice trailed off and jaw slackened, her body trembling.

Her three children noticed immediately and looked to their mother in concern, Tarin touching Lapis's shoulder. "Mama, are you unwell?" No answer was given and there was no time for one when another voice rang out in the yard, deep and full of authority.

"Master Beorn, why did your animals wake us with the sun?" Thorin strode out the door where he spotted the shifter and faltered halfway when he noticed there were others near him. Others piled outside and Gandalf joined Thorin at his side.

Beorn tapped Lapis's cold cheek, trying to draw her attention to him. "I did not know who he was when he arrived, I swear." She still didn't move.

Keahi was studying the company with interest, wondering at the amount of clothes they wore while all but one gaped at him and his sisters. His mother was blocked by Beorn's large frame and long legs now, but he knew which one caused her to stop talking and Keahi pinned his gold eyes on the dwarf with black hair traced with silver. Meio stepped up to his side and curled an arm around his, her hair flowing around her like water. Tarin was on Beorn's other side watching the others just as curiously, her black hair was braided down her back, leaving nothing to the imagination.

"He's dead, he can't be here."

The words were whispered but gained the attention of the siblings who glanced back at their mother with a frown. Keahi was the one to ask what she meant though.

"Who is dead?"

With a sigh, Beorn rubbed a hand over his beard. "Your father."

Three sets of eyes blinked at him, and two pairs behind his back. Gandalf and Bilbo heard the rumbled words but only one knew what the shifter spoke of and tried to see around the large man. The three moved their now unwavering eyes back to the group who appeared more awake and on the defense. Lapis had told them about their father and what had happened, to her knowledge, but that she had never found his body. It was the conclusion that he had died since he never returned for them. Keahi's eyes settled once more on the dwarf who appeared to be the leader and narrowed his gaze.

"Fer the love of Mahal, can ye put some clothes on?"

Meio frowned, looking at herself, her family, then Beorn who was only in a pair of pants. "It would seem you are the ones overdressed?"

A chortle came from the tallest of the group and Gandalf stepped forward. "Good morning, and who are you all?"

None of them spoke, nor had time to, for Lapis returned to her senses and fury unfolded within her. Beorn, who hadn't turned to face the others, watched as her eyes slit and hands turn to talons. This was not going to end well and Beorn knew he wasn't going to be the one who could stop her. With nothing else to do, he moved to one side and let the other party see who he was hiding. His gaze went to Thorin who immediately paled, taking an unconscious step forward.

"No…" Only a few on his side understood what the word meant but weren't sure what to do next. The smallest of the bunch kept looking back and forth between everyone before taking initiative.

"Morning, we, uh, haven't been introduced. My name is, uh, Bilbo Baggins of Bag End."

Meio was the first to give a greeting, smiling before tugging on her brother's arm. "He so cute."

Bilbo spluttered and despite the tension, some of the dwarves chuckled. "I am not cute, I am a hobbit."

His declaration meant nothing to the three dragons. Tarin took a step forward and tilted her head at the proclaimed hobbit. "He looks like a bunny."

Beorn bit back a laugh, it was the same comparison he had made to the halfling and the name hadn't been taken well the first day. His humor died quickly however when the air beside him turned cold and he looked down to see Lapis's skin turn icy white, paler than he had ever seen it in the time he had known her. He wisely took a step back as she walked forward a few steps. Even her children stopped and looked down at their mother in surprise. This was a first for them also.

"You, you died." The words were hissed out and the company around Thorin tensed at the approaching figure.

"No, I made it out alive. I heard you die, the last cry you gave as Smaug killed you." Thorin insisted, taking a step forward despite the protests behind him.

"I begged him for death but Smaug wouldn't kill me, not while I carried eggs. Nor did he attempt to afterwards. I didn't want to live a life without my mate, but everything must have been a lie. You were never my mate." The air was growing colder and some were looking around nervously.

"I waited for you to come out, no one else did and no other sounds were heard. There was nothing left in me on that day, when I left my home and thought you were dead along with…" Thorin stopped, his mounting anger subsiding for a moment upon realizing something. "You said eggs."

"Three children, Proditor." Ice hit the ground at her proclamation.

Thorin stood stunned, looking at the three naked people behind her. Three. He looked closer at them and saw features that matched Lapis but not much of his own. These were his children? "I would have never left you, Mimuslukh, had I known you were alive."

Her gold eyes burned with fire and she shifted further into her dragon features, causing the dwarves to back up except for Thorin. "He was right, dwarves are beneath us. I should have listened to Smaug years ago and I would've been happier sooner."

"That beast? He destroyed our home! He took you away from me! Smaug is nothing but a corrupter and a destroyer." Thorin was shouting now.

The last one hit Lapis more than she thought, Smaug had done nothing but teach her and help her raise her children. Yes, he was capable and dangerous, but had never harmed them. Without thinking, she opened her mouth and shot a blast of ice at Thorin who dodged it in time. The next second, Lapis was in the air wrapped up in Keahi arms, his giant red wings creating gusts of wind being so close to the ground. Meio and Tarin joined him, seeing their mother struggling to be free. Without another words, they turned and flew towards Mirkwood. Beorn watched them leaving before turning and eyeing the ice trail marring the grass.

"It is time for you to leave as well, I will gather the ponies you will need as promised."

Thorin stepped in his way, "You knew."

"Yes, but it is none of my business. Both of you were hurt, not one more than the other, but different in how the pain was dealt. I suggest leaving it alone and forgetting this quest."

"Erebor is my home, I will get it back."

Beorn paused, "And what of Lapis?"

"She sides with Smaug," Thorin's eyes darkened, "She is no mate of mine."

"Thorin," One of the other dwarves came up and placed a hand on his arm. "You can't mean that, you mourned so long for her."

"Balin, she has chosen her own path and it doesn't match mine."

Shaking his head, Beorn left. He didn't feel right helping them after what had happened, but he had given his word. Looking over his shoulder, he could see three pairs of winged humans, Lapis still being held, and most of the remaining company watching their progress. He would find a way to them, somehow.


Proditor is latin for traitor, the dragon language. Please let me know what you all thought of the beginning, I'm not sure how quick I'm going to have updates for this. Please stick around though!