Legolas did as the dragon bid him, she seemed to be pondering his words and that was enough. He had not expected persuading her to be easy, even if she was gentler than others of her kin, dragons were unpredictable creatures. He made his way into the forest to find those who had been captured by the spiders, all the while keeping his gaze fixed over his shoulder.
He watched as she moved, moving about in the area of forest she had levelled in her enormity. Such a creature would not go unnoticed, and suddenly his task became of utmost importance. He spurred his legs to move faster, the wind of Gli's wing beats on his heels.
...
Gli flew low, the trees nearly brushing her belly as she sought to keep out of sight. Dragons were a rarity, for even she had never encountered another of her kind, she had hatched in the forest and had made it her domain, never wandering far. The moment she had taken to the sky she had seen her destination, and her large heart could not help but race. She was not sure what she would do once she reached the face of the mountain, but she was sure a fight was inevitable.
...
Smaug felt the impact more than he heard it, his gold coins clinking together as the very foundation rumbled. He lifted his head from his golden bed, his three lids blinking in confusion as he listened for the noise again. No man, elfkind or mortal was capable of making such a sound. He did not hear it again, and residing somewhere between irked and curious, he went to investigate.
He had laid siege to this mountain over one hundred years ago, and had not been disturbed since. His bulk made its way through the familiar corridors of his home easily, seeking out the sole entrance that he had not blocked off. He scented the air, yet no scent that met his nostrils gave a clue as to what he was facing. Had a boulder fallen loose? The notion was preposterous, for a being so great as he to be set on edge by a mere falling rock. No, something else was waiting for him outside of these halls.
He burst forth into the sky, and immediately something caught his eye. It was as if an intricate golden statue had been given life, scales glittering like thousands of gold coins.
It was a struggle to contain his surprise, it had been an age since he had seen another of his kin, and even longer since he had seen a female. She had a long and slender body, and small ivory horns that curved out at the junction of her neck.. Her wings were creamy and untarnished...it was obvious to him that she was young, and Smaug could not help but find her beautiful.
It was in a male dragon's nature to gather treasure, to build a lair...or a nest depending on how one looked at it, while females wandered until they settled with a mate. Females were far smaller and far less fierce than their male counterparts, and as such, had a tendency to get themselves slain.
Smaug was suddenly very aware of how precious this surprise visitor was, and he had the sudden very strong urge to stow her away deep within his lair where he could keep her safe. And it was an urge he acted upon.
...
Gli stared at the beast that circled her lazily, unsure of what to do with herself. She had not been foolish enough to enter his lair, and had so pushed a boulder loose to attract his attention. He was far larger than she had anticipated, nearly twice her size...and she could tell from the muscles that rippled beneath his red hide, that he was far stronger too. She was very concerned that she had picked a fight larger than she could manage, though his actions toward her were not hostile...yet. And there was a part of her that balked at the idea of fighting him, not only because a fight between them would ultimately result in death (hers), but also because she found herself oddly attracted to this beast, if only on a base level.
...
Smaug nearly purred in delight as he coiled himself about the newest addition to his horde, her lithe body body pinned beneath his bulk, his tail wrapped intimately around hers. Her neck rested in the curve of his own, and he relished in the feel of her. The spikes that lined her spine folded back like that of a fish, causing him no discomfort as sleep threatened to claim him. Getting her into this position had been and amusing affair, the little vixen deciding at the last second she wanted to leave. He had already decided that she belonged to him, so he wasn't about to let her escape. She had taken to flight as he attempted to pounce upon her, causing him to miss his target, though not before he had managed to seize the end of her tail in his jaws, though not hard enough to do any damage, her tough hide protecting her from the brunt of his bite. She had shrieked in fury and attempted to shake him, to claw at his face to get him to let go...though it was fruitless. He had all but dragged her towards the entrance of his lair and had forced her inside, only to block her escape with his bulk.
Like a petulant wyrmling she had curled up in a spot far away from him, though he had not missed her surprised expression upon seeing his treasure. She had masked her astonishment quickly, but already his ego had received a substantial stroke. And in his arrogance, he had laid down right on top of the female.
...
Gli could barely think straight, her mind riveted to the current predicament that was their tails. She had tried on several occasions to get hers free, but every attempt only made his tail coil tighter, causing an involuntary shiver to course through her large frame. All of these sensations were new to her, her tail having been but a simple appendage up until now...and it made her sick to realize that Smaug had noticed. She dared not make eye contact with him, her head turned sharply away from him. He shifted his body to gauge her reactions, and Gli could only endure from her immobilized spot beneath him.
When she had spoken to the little elf in the forest, this was certainly not the outcome she had anticipated. It was, frankly, humiliating. In a fit of irritation, she struck out at Smaug's neck with the deadly speed of a snake...a growl rumbling in her throat.
