"What are you Drage?" he questioned, sliding over his pile of gold lazily.
"People who know me call me Timi," she spoke.
"I shall call you whatever I wish, be it Timi or Drage." he snarled.
"Drage will suffice," she mumbled.
"You haven't answered my question yet," he spoke, a bit irritated.
"A being not ordinary," she spoke, "I am the child of Manwë Sulimo and Varda Élentari, the High King and Queen of Arda."
"Interesting," he mused. This spiked his interest even more.
"I am therefore a princess," she spoke haughtily,"And it would be good if you treated me like royalty."
"What if I don't?" he asked playfully. But his playful tone sounded much dangerous.
"Listen to me you worm," she spoke irritated.
"You've got your animals wrong," he interrupted her, aggravating her further.
"You insolent slug!" she hissed angrily.
"Wrong again," he smirked, bearing his teeth.
"Listen here you foul creature," her anger was now eminent. She looked murderously at him, "I am the Princess of this land and I deserve to be treated like one. If you don't, you will face the consequences."
A very odd thing had happened when she was conversing with Smaug. Golden scales had started the outline themselves on her neck, but they quickly faded away. Smaug noticed this and decided to remain silent, though his curiosity was eating him alive.
She walked away, leaving him confused.
Who was she?
Timi rubbed her hands as the light turned to dark. She smiled to herself as her hands found themselves around her neck, searching for the pendant. Her hands never met that pendant. In horror she glanced at her neck and quickly stood up, searching the pile for her pendant. It was useless, now that that drago- Smaug had placed every sing piece of treasure in this hall. Soon enough when the sun disappeared from the hills, she started to change.
Smaug was fast asleep and did not notice the changes in Timi, but the tinkling of coins was enough to wake him up.
Her once brown eyes were replaced by orange-gold pupils and she began to grow in size. Her slender arms were now replaced by wings and her fingers replaced by talons. Her legs had transformed into larger and stronger legs. She had developed a snout and had sharp teeth and her body was now covered by golden scales
Timi-Drage had become a dragon.
Smaug was noticing this change and he gasped. He had never seen such an exquisite dragon in his entire life. Seeing this odd side of Timi made him even more curious and he coveted for her even more.
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" she spoke hysterically,"No, no no!" Her voice had changed into a deep baritone, but you could still tell that she was a female.
Smaug was too shocked to even speak. When he finally recovered from the shock he finally spoke,"Well do you have to say anything Drage?"
She looked at him with an irritated look. "Nothing for you to know about."
He shot her an uninterested look, "Tell me or tell me not. I will find out one day. If you don't tell me soon, suffer the consequences." He mimicked her.
"Alright alright," she snapped, clearly infuriated, "I will tell you."
Smaug sank into another pile of gold close to her, listening intently.
"My parents are the High King and Queen of Arda," she began, "And I am their only child . When I was born, my parents held a huge banquet in my honour. All the Valar were invited, except one. My uncle Melkor."
When she spoke the Unspoken Name, a cold wind suddenly blew. Smaug felt uncomfortable with the slight change of the weather.
"Apologies," she continued, "That name is no longer spoken. I will speak the name he is known by. Morgoth. So my uncle wasn't invited and he was furious. And he has long desired my father's throne. But now I was just an obstacle in his way. One night when I was fast asleep, He cursed me, to be a dragon during the night."
"What would he gain from cursing you?" Smaug asked.
She sighed, "It was so that I would be considered an outcast and shunned by the other Valar. His plan backfired. Aule sent me here to live with the dwarfs. They gave me a pendant * which would control my nature. But I have travelled all across Arda, witnessing great feats of men, elves and other beings alike."
Smaug nodded, taking this all in.
"Ever since then I have been repulsed by myself," she spoke with disgust.
Smaug growled and spoke angrily, "Why so? Just because you are a dragon?"
"Not just because of that!" her voice raised, "I-I am a monster! Monsters like me are treated like filth. Tales of warriors have been written, them killing monsters like me!"
Smaug shot up suddenly, he grew larger and angrier, and yelled, "Being a dragon is not being a monster. Being a dragon is honourable and great. You are the most feared creature in all of Arda and you should be proud that every creature is afraid of you! It is not a curse being a dragon, it is a gift only the rare acquire."
"But I have killed people!" she screamed, thumping her claws on one of the platforms,"I've killed innocent people! What is there to like in being a dragon?"
"Being a dragon is all about honour!" he spoke harshly, "People fear you yet admire you. You are the most feared creature alive! You have flight, which every prey fears. You have fiery breath, which rives people away. Your impenetrable scales make you immortal. Your strength and power is your greatest asset. You are a dragon and be proud in being one." he spoke the last sentence bitterly.
Timi remained silent when he spoke that last sentence, looking him straight in the eye. She didn't like being one, but she had to live with it. Smaug's speech had changed her view of being cursed, and yet a small hope glimmered deep in her heart that he was correct.
"Thank you," she spoke very quietly.
"Get some sleep Drage," his tone was still harsh, but had softened a little.
She snuggled up next to a pillar, while he was just a few metres away from her.
"Good Night," she spoke.
It took a very long time but he finally spoke, "Good Night Dragon-Girl."
Timi fell asleep immediately while Smaug was awake for a few more minutes, remembering everything that had happened. Timi's stay in Erebor was going to be eventful.
An evil smiled curled on his face as he closed his eyes.
He had gained a priceless treasure and he wasn't going to let anyone set their sights on it.
Timi-Drage was his and his alone.
