Sorry this took so long. School is constantly getting in the way.

See, WindyCorners? I kept my promise!

Chapter 9: Laketown

With an exhausted sigh, Gandalf sat in one of the padded chairs in Amandil's library, motioning for Legolas to join him. "Your father took quite a long time to convince that I have his best intentions in mind."

Legolas raised his eyebrows, silent, tilting his head inquisitively.

"Smaug has woken. The Dragon will eventually leave Erebor and destroy all life in his path."

"How do you know?" Legolas asked sharply.

Gandalf raised silver eyebrows in disbelief. "Think. It is the nature of the race of Dragons to destroy, not create, as it is with all other races. Elves, Men, Dwarves, Hobbits, even the Valar – they all seek to create. Dragons are the destroyers."

"Smaug has slept for the past sixty years. Why wake now?" Legolas was still confused.

"You and the rest of your race have seen it, and yet refuse to understand!" Gandalf's face clenched, as if in great pain, or annoyance. Legolas could not tell which. "Evil is rising. Sauron is growing stronger. Smaug, should he side with Mordor, will prove to be a dangerous enemy."

"Smaug has been a dangerous enemy since his birth. Why do you think we did not aid the Dwarves when the dragon took Erebor? It was not because of our prejudice for their race, though that may have played a part …" Legolas' voice trailed off, shaking his head. "Thranduil did not wish to risk any more lives of his people aiding an enemy we would not have been able to defeat. We lost many in the siege of Barad-dûr. That battle has left the Elvenking wary of any conflict."

"I am aware." Mithrandir sighed. "Which is why it took so long to convince your father to do what I've asked of him."

"Which is what?" Legolas queried, wary.

"That he and his people must march on Erebor, to protect the Dwarves from Smaug, should he wake any time soon. If he has not already woken."

A week passed.

Rumors abounded among the elves of Mirkwood. Some said that Smaug would soon wake, and destroy Mirkwood, other said that those who believed that were false and should be locked up.

Gandalf spent countless hours in the Library. Amandil became a close friend of his, often sharing stories and pipe weed.

Thranduil did not speak to anyone, angry with the Maia and his plan.

It was not long before the birds came to whisper in the ears of Elves. They told of fire and destruction, of a flying beast that struck fear in the hearts of all. They spoke of dying ponies and foul breath. They spoke of the rumored death of Dwarves. They spoke of the destruction of Esgaroth, the town by the lake. The spoke of Bard the Bowman, the new "king" of Laketown, and his arrow that pierced the breast of Smaug the Destroyer.

The Dragon Smaug was dead, and all rejoiced.

Within a day, an army rode out of the palace of the Elvenking.

They rode to war, to claim the treasure of Erebor before the men of Laketown could.