Bilbo fell towards the flames of Mount Doom. He began to pray for forgiveness, for he did not want to die, for there were so many things that he wanted to do, chief among them being to help Smaug in his errand of finding the dragons.

"I'm sorry Smaug" Bilbo cried as he fell, "I've failed you!"

At the same time Gandalf and Talfaux arrived, Moa was standing over the balcony saying nothing.

"Where is Bilbo?" Gandalf asked

Moa said nothing

"Where is he?" Gandalf repeated, "By the Valar speak damn you!"

Moa pointed towards the fires of Mount Doom. Gandalf and Talfaux stared at him in horror.

"You did what!" Gandalf screamed, "You threw him!"

Moa nodded, "He refused to give it up. I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen. It was the only thing I could do."

Talfaux drew a sword and pointed it at Moa's neck, "We are the Scorned! We do not follow Sauron's rashness, we are not cruel and malicious beings...We are not the Orcs of Mordor, our allegiances lie with ourselves and to what is right. We have codes!"

Moa nodded and got down on his knees; Talfaux raised his sword and held it there, allowing Moa a moment to breathe.

"Make it quick Talfaux" Moa begged, "Remember. Clean and swift, we give good deaths."

"May the Valar judge you kindly" Talfaux whispered, he then brought his sword to Moa's neck, cutting off his head and letting his body fall into the fire below.

Bilbo was almost at the fire; at best he had ten seconds. Then he heard Smaug's voice.

"Close your eyes Bilbo" Smaug commanded, "Close your eyes and relax."

Bilbo, seeing that there was no time to argue, closed his eyes and let himself go.

Bilbo woke in the Orc village proper. He looked around and saw Gandalf, Talfaux and Parthex standing over him.

"What?" Bilbo said as he shook himself awake, "What happened? Where I am?"

"This is Obeck, the Orc village." Talfaux explained, "The only place where Orcs can be Orcs, free from Sauron's control."

"Now that is certainty. The Ring is destroyed." Gandalf said, taking over for Talfaux, "You are a very lucky hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, a very lucky hobbit indeed."

Bilbo scratched his head in confusion, for he was sure that he was dead. Smaug's wings could be heard overhead, the dragon then landed behind Bilbo.

"I told you that I would protect you from the fire" Smaug declared, "And so I did."

Bilbo turned around to face Smaug. Smaug's scales were completely burned off; all that remained was pinkish red skin. Smaug's eyes however, were burning brighter than ever as if in saving Bilbo he had gained power.

"How did you do it?" Bilbo asked

Smaug breathed in slowly, each breath was a little harder, a little slower. This passed in time.

"Do you know what a mind link is?" Smaug asked curiously

Bilbo shook his head no, for he had absolutely no idea on what a mind link was.

"It is a connection, usually magical and telepathic in nature between two people." Smaug began, "What I did was much stronger. I took hold of your mind you see, made you climb out of the fire and to me. Once that was done...there was no alternative, it was either this or let you die, for I was the only keeping you alive."

Bilbo still had a confused look on his face, for his explanation did not explain how Smaug got the way he was, for the dragon voluntarily left those details out. Whatever it was, it was extremely painful, for Smaug was now coughing violently and wheezing.

"It is a phase" Smaug reassured those who were concerned, "It will pass."

"Good" Gandalf said, "You won't be good to anybody dead Smaug."

The pounding of drums could be heard. Parthex turned to Talfaux, "Gather the village Talfaux" Parthex ordered, "We're leaving."

"But sir" Talfaux started to say before he was cut off

Parthex drew his sword and threw it to Bilbo, who dropped it instantly, being that it was too heavy.

"Their on the war path" Parthex declared, "If we stay here then we all die. Our future is over. I promise you Talfaux, one day when this is all over, we will return and make this land as the Valar intended to be."

Talfaux nodded reluctantly and ran off to round up the village. Themistocles, the village shaman, appeared from his tent, just off to the right of where Parthex was standing. He was carrying a bow on his back with a loaded quiver.

"Parthex" Themistocles said as he walked towards them pulling his bow in anticipation "What's going on?"

"We're leaving Themistocles" Parthex said hurriedly, "We have to get out of here before-"

An arrow whizzed by, hitting Parthex in the shoulder. The drums only continued to get louder as the war party, legions strong, stopped and waited for their moment to strike.

"We have to run while we still can" Parthex yelled, Themistocles looked around, running now would be pointless for the second they did anything the war party would charge and it would all be over.

Smaug coughed again and shook his head, trying to get a hold of himself.

"I can carry your village" Smaug said, "How many are there?"

Parthex did not hesitate to answer, "28 total."

Smaug sighed, "Normally I could do that, but in my current state, I'm afraid that the most I'll be able to carry is 10 and that's including Bilbo and Mithrandir."

Parthex and Themistocles looked at each other worriedly, for there was no point if only eight of them were going to survive. They would rather take their chances and die.

"Is there another way?" they asked in unison

Smaug sighed, "I wish I could say there was Parthex. But no, if you want your people to live, to see Mordor as it was before, than you need to make a decision. Who will go and who will stay?"

Parthex turned to Themistocles, Talfaux returned to them with the villagers in tow, all of them brandishing weapons and what little armor they could muster.

"What is a village without its shaman?" Parthex said as he grimaced from his arrow wound, "Go with them Themistocles. You have my blessing."

Themistocles was about to argue when he heard the drums start again, at best they had five minutes. Themistocles fought back tears and embraced Parthex, but he did not move. Parthex then turned towards the villagers.

"Listen up" Parthex began, "This is the end. Sauron, the Lord of this land is dead. The Orcs who support him are rallying against us, they will take no prisoners. In order for the true Orcs to live, we must make a sacrifice. Every able bodied man and woman must leave now while they can. Men, if you have concubines, they are free. If they truly feel for you, they are your wives. Protect them at all costs. Women, do not feel guilty or sad at this loss. Those of you who wish to remain, to fight and die with me, are welcome to do so. But we as a people must live on."

Talfaux stepped up from the crowd, "Sir" he said to Parthex, "I wish to die with you."

Parthex smiled and shook his head in disagreement, "You are young Talfaux. Young and strong, your loyalty is like none other, but you are needed elsewhere. Go with them."

Talfaux obediently walked toward Smaug, Bilbo and Gandalf were already on the dragon's back, fully prepared to leave.

Two female, a concubine and two males walked towards Smaug. Only two spots remained. Parthex selected a young female for Talfaux, for he believed in equality when it came to such matters. The female, who shall be known as Esmeralda, coincidentally happened to be Parthex's sister and Talfaux's great love to begin with. In a way it was a win-win situation. The eight then got on Smaug's back and positioned themselves as comfortable as possible. Themistocles looked at those who remained and smiled. The drums sounded for a final time, in seconds the charge would commence.

"I guess this is it then" Themistocles said to no one in particular, "May the Valar judge us kindly."

Parthex was confused by Themistocles' words, but before he could say anything, Themistocles pushed Parthex towards Smaug, who swallowed him and took to the air. Parthex, inside of Smaug's mouth was screaming to be let out, but by that time it was too late. The war party charge forward.

Themistocles and the remaining villagers met them with honor and dignity, as Mount Doom erupted once more, bringing on the fires of Hell into the land. Themistocles, surrounded by fire, shot off as many Orcs as he could before he was taken by the flame. With the loss of their leader the villagers surrendered, dropping their weapons and raising their hands, the war party, those that were not killed by the fire or by the villagers, for the damage that Mount Doom brought was significant, lined them up in a firing squad formation. The war party then moved back 150 feet, the villagers executed by a hail of arrows.

Smaug ignored the battle, for if he fought he would surely be killed, especially since he was carrying extra weight. Parthex screamed all the more inside of Smaug's mouth, he banged and trashed against the dragon's tongue, Smaug's insides, meanwhile were beginning to burn, everything on the inside felt like it was melting away in an excoriating pain. Smaug wished that it was because of Parthex, but he knew better.

"This will forever change Middle Earth" Gandalf said as he looked back, "And I don't think for the better."

"Come now Gandalf" Bilbo said rather optimistically, "Have faith, everything will turn out alright. Besides, we've got a mission to see to, isn't that right Smaug?"

Smaug nodded, unable to answer due to Parthex and continued on. Talfaux and the rest of the villagers said nothing, silently mourning their final comrades, especially Themistocles, for without a shaman to lead them, the future of a new Orc race, seemed bleak and impossible.