Chapter six

His head was spinning when he opened his eyes. His vison was fuzzy and he was feeling horribly nauseous. What in Arda had happened to him? Never in his life could he recall ever feeling so ill! In fact, he was fairly certain that he'd never been ill at all!

He reached up to brush a lock of hair out of his face-

He blinked.

Hair…

Face…

Hand?!

Smaug shot up and began to caress his current form. There were no scales covering the smooth skin. He tried to swing his tail…

Nothing happened. Realization dawned on him when he looked behind and saw nothing but gold shimmering in the shadowy light. His breathing got faster.

He was no longer a dragon.

Smaug was human… he was in the body of a man and he was human. Not a dragon. No wings, no claws, no razor sharp teeth. How!? What in Arda was going on? He thought back

over the day, trying to remember. Nothing came but that horrible burning.

Oh yes, that bit was particularly vivid in his mind. Such an odd sensation that was. Odd and definitely not one that needed repeating.

But he needed to remember before that. He ran a hand through his hair, cringing at the feel of the curly locks. What had cause the burning in the first place?

He thought hard, absently pulling at the hair on his head. An image of coppery curls and hazel eyes drifted into his mind's eye.

Yes…that…creature… He had just been about to tear the small thing to bits. Had he put a spell on him? If so, then the dwarves he'd smelt on him were more clever than he'd given them credit for, bringing a sorcerer with them so as to incapacitate him whilst they stole his gold and jewels.

He would kill them all.

As soon as he could get up…

He looked down at his new legs with a frown. Why in the Dark Father's name did humans have only two? What sense did that make?

He lifted up slowly; shaking violently. He tried to balance himself but it seemed that gravity was not to be on his side that day and he went flailing and stumbling straight into a pile of gold.

With a much undignified yelp, the now human dragon fell heavily into the cold metal.

He groaned, feeling the pain of a hundred coins digging into his soft flesh. It was extremely unpleasant.

Smaug didn't like unpleasant things. He usually ate them.

Gingerly attempting to stand once more, he rose slowly. It was easier this time and he actually managed to stay upright, if a little wobbly.

He winced as a sharp pain shot down his arm. He looked down to see a small stream of red flowing from a thin cut just above his elbow.

He blinked, trying to comprehend what he was seeing.

"I'm…bleeding…" he whispered faintly. Oh yes, that creature was going to pay.

Bilbo was nervous, and slightly nauseous. How could he have forgotten about the Arkenstone still hidden away in his jacket? Granted that it hadn't actually been his choice as he had been unconscious at the time. Still, if the grim faces of Balin and Dwalin were any indication, he wasn't going to like what he would find in the mountain.

The one job that Gandalf had given him on this ridiculous quest and he'd managed to bungle up the entire thing. What a fool he was.

Hopefully though, it was not too late to fix his mistake. Maybe Thorin hadn't fallen under the Arkenstone's thrall. Maybe when Bilbo found him, the dwarf would simply grin and tell him that he was worrying for nothing.

"Rather resilient aren't you Master Baggins?" his friend would say, sounding for some reason, just like his uncle Isengrim in Bilbos head.

He could hear Balin, Dwalin, Fili, Kili, and Oin all thundering behind him. Their unspoken questions sounding loudly, but he couldn't answer them right now.

"Um, Mr. Bilbo….?" Asked Fili rater hesitantly.

Bilbo breathed in slowly, not allowing the youth's innocent voice to distract him. He would explain everything to them soon. He would.

And hope that they would forgive him.

"Bilbo, Lad!" came Oin's voice next. "Ye need to stop! Yer arm's bleedin."

That definitely gave him pause.

Uh…What? He looked down and low and behold, there was a small cut just above his elbow from which blood was slowly trickled out.

"Oh, I must have cut myself on the way up here." He said casually. How else could he have gotten such a cut?

'You know how it happened,' whispered a snide voice in his head. 'That cut wasn't there ten minutes ago. You know what the book said.'

'Shut up!' he told the voice. 'I did what I had to'

'Yes, and now you're going to lose everything.'

Bilbo growled under his breath.

"Bilbo, I believe you owe us an explanation." Bilbo could hear the mistrust in Balin's voice. He knew that he wasn't talking about the cut. The hobbit winced and turned to face his friends.

"Please, I know what it looks like, I do. But I don't have the time to explain right now. The longer we stand out here, the longer Thorin is left alone with that blasted rock." Bilbo knew that he was ranting, but found that he really couldn't care less.

Nobody argued. There really wasn't much else to say anyway.

There was nothing changed so far as Bilbo could see, though, what he was expecting, the hobbit didn't know.

He peered around the murky sunlight, trying to see the form that he so desperately needed to find. If he could only remember where he'd left his blasted jacket…

He just needed to get to Thorin. Surely it wasn't too late already…right?

"What are you looking for, Mr. Bilbo?" asked Kili from behind him. Bilbo didn't reply. He was much too focused.

At long last he spied a figure hunched over barely 100 ft away from the group.

It was Thorin. His Thorin. Hunch over like a deranged animal fondling his latest kill.

Bilbo swallowed. "Stay back," he warned the others. "There's no need for you to get involved with this."

"Now wait just a minute," snarled Dwalin. To be honest, Bilbo had forgotten that the burly guardsman was with them. "If ye think that I'm going to leave ye alone with him, then ye've got another thing comin." The big dwarf's hand was already nearing the scabbard which held his sword.

"I agree with Dwalin, Master Baggins. I do not think it safe for any of us to be around your kind."

Bilbo started at the new voice. It was not the same dulcet bass that he was used to. The figure in front of them shifted and turned toward their small group.

"…Uncle?" came Kili's voice again. The boy was surprised at the dark look in his uncle's face.

The older dwarf wandered casually toward them, his hands clasped behind his back, a wild grin etched into his fine features.

All at once, Bilbo's nerve fled from his body at the sight. He began to tremble in fear as the dwarf king approached. He stood his ground though, even when he sensed the others draw back. That was fine. This was between him and Thorin anyway.

"Thorin…" he said lowly. The dwarf's grin only widened when he stopped in front of the hobbit.

"Don't be shy now, Mr. Baggins. You had us all fooled with your half-uselessness, didn't you?" Bilbo's eyes narrowed in confusion. What was he talking about?

"Oh yes, the innocent little Halfling who'd never set foot outside his miserable little hovel. You make sure that we'd never suspect you. Such a clever little thing you were."

Bilbo was utterly confused. Thorin didn't sound a thing like himself. "What in Yavanna's name are you talking about? Why are you saying these things?" he snapped.

The grin slipped from Thorin's face. In its place was a sneer so violent that Bilbo felt the need to take a step back from the dwarf.

"Still playing dumb are you?" he hissed. "Perhaps then, this will make things clearer for you, Hobbit." With that he took one of his hands out from behind his back and shoved a piece of parchment in front of Bilbo's face.

Bilbo stared at the parchment in horror. Every ounce of denial that the hobbit held was gone in a second. There would be no coming back from this, for in his hand, the dwarf king held the parchment on which Bilbo had written down the dragon binding spell.

"Thorin…" Bilbo pleaded softly. He reached out a hand to the dwarf who simply wave it off dismissively.

"I'll not hear your excuses Limlug Seron" he spat at the hobbit. Bilbo recoiled from the venom in his friend's voice.

"Please, just let me explain!" he pleased again, anything to get the dwarf to just listen to him. "We're friends, Thorin!"

"Friends?" Thorin snarled and with a violent yell, swung at the hobbit. Surprised at the attack, Bilbo felt a fist connect with the side of his face. With a cry, he fell to the stone floor.

"Bilbo!" came Fili and Kili's voices. There was a small shuffle as the boys tried to get to the hobbit only to be held back by Dwalin and Balin.

"You have the nerve to speak to me as a friend?!" screamed the enraged king. "You mocked my friendship with your betrayal and lies!"

Rising gingerly to his hands, wincing at the stones that pricked his palms, Bilbo stared at the dwarf king in fury, his multicolored eyes sparking. The temperature in the cavern seemed to rise up a few degrees. The hobbit spit and a glob of blood flew at the dwarf king's feet.

"And what lie am I meant to have told you, O' King Under the Mountain? In what way have I betrayed you?" he asked, glaring at Thorin through the hair that had fallen over his hazel iris, blood trickled from a cut inside his mouth down his chin. The site made the small being look almost demonic.

"Everything I've done on this quest has been for you!" Bilbo growled. The hobbit was visibly shaking. Deep inside, his heart was shattering "I gave you everything. I gave you back your mountain and you thank me by forsaking your friends- your family!" By now, Bilbo had managed to get back on his feet, only to be snatched and choked by the lapels of his nearly ruined shirt by a mad king.

'Oh Bilbo, you just can't keep your mouth shut can you?' he thought as Thorin shook him.

"You dare question my honor?!" Thorin roared in his face.

"Your honor?!" shrieked Bilbo with equal savagery. "Your honor is as worthless as your precious Arkenstone!"

It was instantaneous. Thorin gave a loud snarl and suddenly, the hobbit hit the ground with such force that it knocked the air from his lungs.

Bilbo gasped, trying to get his breath back. He let out a yelp as he felt a boot connect with his abdomen.

"Uncle stop! Please!" he heard the boys scream.

"Thorin!" came Dwalin's voice. Or was that Balin?

The shouts did nothing however and Bilbo cried out as he felt two more vicious kick connect.

"You! You!" cried Thorin, kicking anywhere the hobbit couldn't cover. "You miserable hobbit! You wretch Limlug Seron! I'll kill you and send you back to your evil master!"

Bilbo sobbed out in pain as something cracked in his chest, though whether it was his heart, or simply a rib, he could not tell.

"Uncle please! You're killing him!" sobbed Kili, much closer than before. Had the lad broken free of his hold?

"Kili, stop!" called out Balin. "He might hurt you as well!

"I don't care!"

'Such a sweet boy...' Bilbo thought as his vision began to blacken.

Suddenly amongst the chaos, there came a great shout and a figure launched itself at Thorin from the shadows, effectively knocking him away from Bilbo.

The last thing the hobbit felt before his world went dark were a pair of hands pulling him from where he lay...

Smaug needed to find a place of zen. Needed to calm down and think. Why was he so nervous? Naturally, he supposed that he should be upset at his current situation, but surely not to this extent. For Morgoth's sake, he felt nearly ready to vomit!

It wasn't the cut, that had gone down to dull throb. So what was it? Somewhere in his mind, he recalled stories about dragons who could transform into humans, but none of them came back to him in full. All that he could piece together was that, in those stories, the dragons had turned willingly.

'It certainly wasn't my choice to be trapped in this meat suit,' he hissed to himself.

The only thing stopping Smaug from descending into full panic was the fact that he needed the person responsible for this.

And he would find him. And kill him. But not before he'd undone whatever spell he'd placed on him.

With a goal clear in his mind, he finally began to calm down. His inner mantra was interrupted when he got wind of a familiar scent.

Dwarf.

Apparently, he'd not been turned completely human. That was a plus. But wait...the scent was changing...growing... were there more dwarves coming?

He growled under his breath. Not in his mountain! He may be human but he was still the ruler here and he would be damned if he'd let a group of vile dwarves take it from him.

Above him, somewhere (Eru, when did this place get so bloody big?) he heard the sound of voices.

He looked up and saw a group on a ledge. They were all dwarves, save one...

The little creature! The same one who'd done this! He'd returned. Smaug lost sight of the group the being was leading, he only knew that he had to get to that ledge.

But how? Looking around, he spied a crumbled staircase that would definitely put him close. Close enough to at least hear them speak. He quickly made his way to the staircase- well as quickly as he could, considering he still didn't know how to use these blasted legs correctly.

But he managed it. And just in time as it looked like two of the group-the small creature and a dark haired dwarf- were about to argue.

"We're friends!" said the small thing. Smaug raised an eyebrow.

"Friends?" said the dwarf. Before Smaug could form any sort of response, the dwarf punched the smaller being.

The dragon was shocked when at the same time, pain exploding in his own cheek. He yelped and clutched at his face. What in Arda was that?

An anger such as he'd never felt before began to fill him. How dare this crazed dwarf strike him?

He blinked and shook his head. The dwarf hadn't hit him, he'd hit the small being...

Why then was his own face smarting. He frowned and continued watching. The dwarf now held the small thing by his shirt and shouting at him.

The small thing was shouting right back about honor and the Arkenstone. Ah so this must be the 'Thorin' that the being had mentioned.

'It appears that you have failed.' he quipped.

Suddenly the being was thrown to the ground. Smaug winced at the force of it.

He nearly cried out when the dwarf kicked the smaller body.

"Uncle! Stop!" shouted one of the younger dwarves. The blonde and his companion were struggling mightily against the older dwarves who held them.

Smaug winced again as the dark haired- Thorin- kicked the small creature (had the younger dark haired one said his name was Bilbo?)

"You miserable hobbit!" shouted the dwarf. A hobbit? Was that what this Bilbo was? Interesting. "You wretched Limlug Seron!"

If Smaug hadn't been in so much pain, he would have hissed at such a derogatory name. That was one he hadn't heard in a while.

It all made sense suddenly. The extra emotions, the transformation... the phantom pain...

Bloody. Buggering. Hell.

Smaug looked at the hobbit with newfound disgust. The pain in his abdomen him nearly doubled over. His chest wasn't feeling too great either.

The younger dwarves were sobbing loudly. "Uncle, please, you're killing him!"

Smaug bit back a snort. Hardly. The hobbit (and him) was surely in severe pain, but a few kicks were hardly life threatening.

Something cracked loudly and the hobbit cried out in pain.

It probably wouldn't kill him but he did need him whole and happy in order to undo this catastrophe.

So, he steadied himself and gritted his teeth against the pain that threatened to overwhelm him and leaped out of his hiding place.

Fili had never been so confused in his life. He'd just watched his uncle beat the ever living snot out of their burglar, and Dwalin and Balin were doing nothing to stop it. Kili had long since gone limp in Dwalin's hold, sobbing like a child.

When a strange man jumped out and attacked Thorin, both he and Kili rushed to Bilbo.

"Lad, be careful," warned Balin, "It could be dangerous" Fili glared at the older dwarf. Really? Bilbo was the least likely person to lay a hand on anyone.

"Mr. Bilbo, please, wake up." hiccupped Kili from beside him.

The scuffle between the Man and his uncle ended with Thorin seemingly unconscious. He lay utterly still with the Man standing over him, huffing.

It was then, that Fili noticed that the Man was totally nude. They young prince was no stranger to nudity of course, but he couldn't help but notice that there were bruises lining his skin. It looked like someone had attacked him.

Kili was still sniffling when the Man spoke. He had a deep rich voice that curled around you and made you want to listen to whatever it was that he was saying

His body, though battered, seemed like it was made out of rubber and it bent and twisted in a very serpentine manner.

"Leave the... Hobbit... to me. He is no longer your concern."

Dwalin growled and stepped in front of the trio on the floor.

"You'll stay away from the Halfling," he said.

The Man laughed. It was not a nice sound. He turned toward them, the lean muscles in his back rippling as he moved. His wild black hair curled around his head in waves. When he'd turned to face them fully, Fili had to gasp. His eyes... His eyes looked just like Bilbo's...

Do not pretend that you care for him, Dwarf," he said silkily. "Not when you could have prevented this."

Dwalin growled and reached for his sword, ready to attack the stranger. Fili thought that he had a point. Why would Dwalin care now?

"He's got to answer for his betrayal," the guardsman hissed.

The Man's eyes narrowed. It was so disconcerting to see the same eyes, he'd just been staring at, looking at him from another face.

"And what pray tell has my...master... done to warrant your ire?"

There was silence in the cavern.

"Did...you say...Master?" asked Kili. The boy had such a bewildered look that if Fili hadn't just been about to ask the same question, he would have laughed.

"Who the hell are you?" asked Dwalin. The warrior looked seriously done with all of the proceedings.

The Man grinned. "Have you not figured it out yet?"

"So it is true..." murmured Balin. The old dwarf looked sadly at the hobbit. "I had hoped... but that is the only explanation for the book."

Fili had had enough. "Will someone please explain what in Mahal's name is going on." he shouted. He clutched Bilbo tighter to him, desperate for any form of familiarity at the moment.

"Who are you?" the young heir was sick and tired of being left in the dark. He was 82 for Mahal's sake! Practically an adult! "What does Bilbo's book have to do with Uncle nearly killing him?" So maybe he didn't exactly sound much like an adult, but it had been a stressful day.

"There is a book?" ask the Man completely ignoring the young dwarf. His eyes went to Balin The old dwarf stood tall behind Dwalin.

"Aye," he said. "In his rucksack outside the mountain."

The stranger pursed his lips, and glared at the unconscious hobbit.

"What's so special about a book no one can read?" asked Fili, determined to get some answers. Kili gave his brother a strange look and opened his mouth to say something, he was interrupted, though by the Man.

"That book is the reason that I am like this, Child," he snapped. "It is in the sacred language of my people and is sacred to us. It's words are that of the Dragon Tongue, and only those who have been 'gifted' with the ability to use and bind dragons."

Fili was more confused than ever. Kili's face had gone white as a ghost. Fili could understand. He felt the same way. It wasn't everyday that you found out that someone you looked up to and admired could bind dragons with magic. Seemed like a rather useful talent.

But wait; if Bilbo could bind dragons and the Man standing in front of them claimed to have been a dragon, did that mean...

Astonishment filled Balin's eyes. "By my beard," he whispered. The Man gave a toothy smile.

"Ah, there it is," he said. "I am Smaug, the Great and Terrible and the 'hobbit' you are attempting to keep from me is the Dragon Lord who bound me."

Fili blinked. Oh well that explained...absolutely nothing

The startling (for Fili anyway) revelation was cut short by twin groans. One from Bilbo, who started coughing almost immediately as he regained consciousness and the other from mad dwarf-king.

Bilbo blinked open his eyes slowly. The whole waking up sore thing was really starting to get old.

He groaned and held his head, willing the room to stop its infernal spinning.

He looked around the cavern at the staring eyes of his fri- of his former companions. Was he not dead then?

He yelped as someone squeezed him.

"Mr. Bilbo!" squealed Kili. "You're alive!"

Bilbo groaned again and squeezed back gingerly. "Yes, my dear boy, now if you could just ease up bit-yes you too Fili."

Both boys gradually let go off the hobbit, remembering that he wasn't in the best condition.

"Yes, letting go of the hobbit is an excellent plan." said a voice that Bilbo did not recognize.

Bilbo's face went scarlet. A man... naked as the day he was born was standing in front of him. A handsome man...but a very naked man...

"Um..." he said intelligently.

"Keep yer mouth shut, Halfling." snapped Dwalin who also stood in front of him. When had that happened?

"No, no, let my little master continue, Dwarf. I'd very much like to hear what he has to say." said the strange Man with an entirely too smug as if he knew exactly what Bilbo was thinking.

Which was nothing of course. Nothing at all. Nope. Nu uh. It was only that the Man was so very tall with tight compact muscles and wait a tick...

"M-master...?!" squeaked the hobbit.

The man was looking positively predatory now and that look did seem rather familiar...

"Smaug...?" he breathed. Well wasn't this awkward.

"Alive and well," said the man- er dragon. He gave the hobbit a mock bow. "And apparently in your service. "Barrel Rider."

"Yes, the cheerful little Dragon lord and his pet lizard," please enlightened us more. Are you going to faint now too? Or was that just another trick meant to deceive us?"

Thorin's voice was something Bilbo swore he'd hear in his nightmares. On the surface, it was a flowing, beckoning the group closer, yet underneath the charm was venom so deadly, it would melt the hardest of warriors.

The dwarf-king was back on his feet was like nothing had happened. Bilbo shrank. There may have been two people standing between him and the dwarf but at the moment neither one of them had any reason to keep alive.

What happened next, though, surprised everyone- especially him.

Smaug turned to face the dwarf-king, back straight and head held high.

"Ah, finally come to join us. I'd thought for that blow would keep you out longer."

The tension between the two men was tangible. Nobody dared move or speak for fear of drawing the attention of either of them.

"What are you going to do Dwarf?" asked Smaug, eyes narrowed. "Will you try and kill me? We both know that you can't."

"And why not Wurm? What is stopping me from skewering you with my sword right now? I could kill both you and the worthless halfling and no one would know the difference."

Smaug sighed. He raised one hand and Thorin slammed into the ground. There was a collective gasp from everyone in the cavern.

"Thorin!" shrieked Bilbo in alarm.

Dwalin swore and went for his sword again.

"Brother no!" shouted Balin. "Look!"

The air surround the dragon began to spark and smoke. Bilbo coughed as it got into his eyes. Behind him, Fili and Kili were nearly choking on it.

It took barely a minute, but when the smoke cleared, the sight that awaited them was not one they expected.

Thorin was pinned underneath a long black boot. A boot that went to the knee of a pair of black trousers... well at least Smaug wasn't naked anymore. The rest of the dragon's body was hidden beneath a long billowing black coat.

Bilbo blinked. Oh...

Dwalin was the first to react. He gave a huge roar and lunged at Smaug.

Smaug simply smirked and raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Well isn't it that cute."

"Stop Brother!" shouted Balin. The oldest may not been the most able bodied among them but he knew that the forces they were dealing with not end well for them.

Dwalin managed to catch himself at the last moment. He surveyed the situation.

A dragon (albeit a temporarily human dragon) had his best friend and king trapped under him. One wrong move and Thorin would be kaput...

They were stuck. He lowered his sword with a vicious glare.

Smaug only smiled at him. "I believe we've reached an understanding." he said. "Are we ready to listen now?"

Balin, ever the steadfast moderator, sighed heavily. "Aye, we are," he said. "What are your conditions?"

The Dragaon Lord/End

The Story Continues here: s/10801657/1/The-Dragon-Lord-Someone-To-Watch-Over-Me