Was thinking of writing a prequel about Smaug's past. What do you guys think?

Chapter 8: Rain of Memories


The company was awakened in the middle of the night by a driving rainstorm. They scurried around gathering up their belongings and took refuge under some nearby trees. The trees offered little protection. This time of the year the trees were just beginning to get their leaves so the raindrops just fell through the buds leaving the company cold and soaked.

It was still raining when the sun rose but they decided to push on. Mud was everywhere. The ponies kicked up mud onto everything. The road was a minefield of puddles scattered all over. After traveling about thirty minutes one of the dwarves blurted out, "Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?"

Hegda wondered the same thing.

"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, find yourself another Wizard." Gandalf called back.

"Are there any?" Bilbo asked.

"What?" Gandalf asked.

"Other Wizards."

"There are five of us." Gandalf replied, "The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards...Do you know, I've quite forgotten their names."

He may have hidden it to that point but Bilbo was a curious Hobbit, "And who is the fifth?"

"Well that would be Radagast the Brown." Gandalf explained.

"Is he a great Wizard? Or is he more like you?"

Hegda laughed when she heard Bilbo. She thought, "What a silly little hobbit. I don't think he even realized what he just said. I think that's one of the reasons I like him so much."

Gandalf overlooked the insult in disguise and said, "I think he's a very great Wizard, in his own way."

Gandalf continued talking but Hegda ignored him. She just wished that he could or would stop the rain. She hated rain, it reminded her of long ago.

Sauron trained the young dragons how to fight using their claws, teeth, tail, fire, and more. He also trained them how to transform into their human forms. He pitted them against each other and ordered them to kill the weak ones. If a dragon refused he would punish them by starving them or worse. Smaug would not obey Sauron's cruel order. She hated Morgoth's lieutenant. He was unnecessarily barbarous. He thought up new and savage punishments for even the smallest infraction. Smaug was often on the receiving end of his cruelty. Her defiant attitude angered him immensely but no matter how hard he tried, Smaug would not let him break her spirit.

One day Sauron left on important errand for the master. He was gone for a very long time. That was a time of relatively ease for the dragons. During Sauron's absence the young dragons matured and flourished. Some of them even took mates. Smaug also chose a mate. She admired Hudraer's leadership ability and together they would be stronger. Just when the dragons thought that he was gone forever, Sauron returned. He gathered the dragons together to make a startling announcement. The old master was gone from this world and he was now their new master. Smaug felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Surely now, with no one to answer to, he would be even more cruel. He boasted that he now bore a powerful ring made of gold. It had the power to render any dragon defenseless. None of the dragons dared to imagine what he was going to do to them next.

Hegda's daydream was interrupted by the sound of Bilbo complaining. He was riding next to Gandalf saying something about how he wished he was home in his warm house sitting in his armchair near a roaring fire. She cursed the rain and pulled her cloak tighter around herself. She wished that she could change into her dragon form. The feel of the rain soaking through her armor to her bare skin made her feel uncomfortable.

Her mind returned to her memories. The day Sauron came back black clouds filled the sky and a deluge of water poured down. After hearing Sauron's frightening revelation, Smaug believed that there would never be a sunny day again. That was why she hated rain so much. It reminded her of the beginning of the worst period of time in her life.

"Why did I even bother to do this?" she wondered miserably, "I could be dry and comfortable laying in my mountains of gold right now. This better be worth it."

"Dragon slayer." Thorin called from a distance, "Keep up or we will leave you behind."

Hegda looked up. She hadn't even realized that she stopped her horse. She urged Auki to catch up as she called back to him with more than a little annoyance, "I do have a name Thorin. It is Hegda remember?"

"Alright, Hegda." He said as he turned his pony around and continued ahead.


Should I write a prequel about Smaug's past? Please give feedback.

~JFDragonFire