An hour had passed since I had found Kili healed in Bard's home, and we now sat comforted by the warm hearth. Kili's wound was a mere scar now that stretched but two inches on his calf. He sat, rejuvenating from his ordeal on the small and worn leather couch. I knelt at his feet, tending to his healing wound and every quim. He was still sore, and squirmed each time the wetted cloth touched his skin. But I knew there was little time for him to heal. If we were to survive, I needed at get him to the mountain. Smaug would emerge soon; we had all heard him wake, and he would set his fiery wrath on Laketown next.
Then, I had made a snap decision, and now, as I watched from the boat near the shoreline by the mountain, I was glad for it. The great dragon had set alight the entire town and the people had fled. I watched on in horror, clutching to Kili who, still in a state of delirium from the wound he had suffered, wandered in and out of consciousness. Tauriel was rowing the boat towards the shore; her back turned towards the suffering city. Her lips were pursed in a tortured frown as she tried to block it out. She was lucky for not seeing it.
"Look," I said suddenly, catching sight of a lonely figure at the top of a turret, his arrow poised for fire in the great crossbow. "It is Bard!"
Kili woke a little and peered at the town, the scorching fire glittering in the reflection of the dark lake. Bard let loose the arrow as Smaug soared above, and it lodged in his heart. The great dragon screeched its terrible protest as it tried and failed to stabilize in the smoky sky. But there was little hope for him; that arrow, specially made for dragons, would be the death of him. Smaug plummeted through the sky, his wings desperately scraping at the air, but he caught no flight. He fell into the lake, crushing what was left of the eastern part of the town and sinking hysterically into the watery depths of the lake.
"The desolation of Smaug is come, finally," I murmured, not quite believing that it was true. Water was a dragon's demise; he would not rise again.
"It is done," Kili confirmed. He smiled and sighed in relief, slumping against my frame entirely. Our urgent escape must have weathered his stamina. I stroked his hair from his face and admired him. He truly was beautiful, and he was mine – alive and well.
"Let us find the others," Tauriel said. "Smaug might be dead, but at what cost?"
I agreed, and she hastened for the shore. I prayed that Thorin and his company were alive. I hoped that Fili would greet us with his bright smile and bone-crushing hug at the gates to Erebor. Our kingdom was come at the death of the dragon, Smaug. I only hoped our kin had survived to see it.
Hey guys! Here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it. From now on, I'll be deviating from the book for the purpose of my intended plot. Please don't criticise me for it; I hope that I can remain true to Tolkien's ultimate aim. Please let me know what you think :)
