A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the late update. I got very distracted yesterday, so sorry about that! Hope you enjoy!
Thorin led them through many twists and turns, until they came out of a tunnel onto a very long bridge over a huge chasm. Thorin stopped them, gesturing for them to be quiet as he glanced warily at their surroundings.
"We've given him the slip." Dori whispered confidently.
Dwalin shook his head. "No, he's too cunning for that."
"So, where to now?" Bilbo asked anxiously, wanting nothing more than to be out of that Mountain.
"The western guardroom. There may be a way out." Thorin replied.
Balin sighed deeply. "It's too high. There's no chance that way."
"It's our only chance." Thorin argued. "We have to try." He took a few steps forward, and everyone had no choice but to follow him. They were all more silent than Quin could have ever thought dwarves could be, until a loud tink reverberated throughout the cavern. Everyone spun around and saw a coin in front of Bilbo, which prompted them to look accusingly at the Hobbit, who was confusedly patting his jacket to see if any gold had gotten stuck somewhere in his previous run-in with the dragon.
Another coin fell from way above them, and they all glanced up to see Smaug silently slithering over their heads, searching for them. Golden coins and bright jewels glittered from his scales, where they had been stuck after decades of his slumber on them. Thorin warily motioned for them to keep moving, for it was obvious Smaug took no notice of them.
Quin only released her breath when Smaug was far away, and her heart rate returned to normal after they had finally made it to the other side of the bridge. The company began jogging through even more tunnels, until Thorin turned a corner, approaching an open door.
"Stay close." He warned the others as they entered the room. The company then came to a brisk halt as they beheld the horrors inside. It was full of the rotting corpses of dwarves, their bodies covered in dust and cobwebs. Guards and miners, women and children; there was no discrimination amongst the dead.
Dwalin took in a shaky breath. "That's it, then. There's no way out." Quin had never heard him sound so resigned, though she understood why. Although she had seen plenty of death, it never got any easier to see the sufferings of others, especially when death was impatient and came before it was their time.
"The last of our kin. They must have come here, hoping beyond hope." Balin said, and Quin noticed tears leaking from the old dwarf's eyes. He looked at Thorin, who had not moved. "We could try to reach the Mines. We might last a few days."
"No." Thorin breathed, and turned to face them with determination and despair in his bright blue eyes. "I will not die like this. Cowering, clawing for breath. We make for the forges."
Quin could see the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind, and stood up straighter.
"He'll see us, sure as death." Dwalin interjected.
"Not if we split up."
Balin shook his head. "Thorin, we'll never make it."
"Who says?" Quin spoke up, and they all glanced at her. She was staring at Thorin, fire blazing in her eyes. "This is the company of Thorin Oakenshield, is it not?" She grinned as a few of the dwarves shouted their concurrence.
Thorin grinned back. "We kill the dragon. If this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together." He smirked at Quin. "Well, most of us… So, what say you?"
A resounding agreement spread across the company, and after they quickly went over the basics of a plan, the large group was split up into smaller ones. Quin went with Thorin, Bilbo, and Balin towards the same bridge they had made their way across earlier. They were running quickly and loudly, and soon Smaug appeared high above them, gliding in and out between pillars, a wicked smile on his face.
"Flee, flee! Run for your lives! There's nowhere to hide." He growled with glee.
Suddenly, he heard a loud sound and turned to see Dori, Ori, and Bombur sprinting on another bridge and yelling to get his attention. It worked, for Smaug lunged towards them in anger. As he got near to the three dwarves, suddenly Dwalin and Nori shouted from yet another area, bringing Smaug over to them. The same thing happened again as Gloin and Bifur distracted Smaug, but the dragon was growing tired of their antics, and blew a giant wave of fire towards them, causing the ground to glow with heat.
Quin was running with her group through an enormous hallway that seemed to drop off with a pit to nothingness. As they neared the end of it, Balin suddenly turned into a side tunnel, but Thorin did not see, and continued forward. Quin stopped in her tracks as Balin yelled at the other two.
"It's this way! This way! Come on!"
Bilbo stopped near the tunnel and Thorin turned around to make his way over to the door, when Smaug suddenly reared his head at the other end of the hallway. Thorin shouted at them, backing up, knowing he couldn't make it to the door in time.
"Follow Balin!"
"Thorin!" Quin shouted at him, her eyes wide. Balin pulled her and Bilbo inside the tunnel just as Smaug spat fire at them. She saw Thorin turn and run the other way, leap into the air over the deep pit, and catch a chain, causing him to descend quickly. Quin saw Smaug pass by them in rage, his eyes only on Thorin. They all ran to the edge of the chasm, where the other dwarves met up with them.
"Thorin!" Dwalin yelled, and smashed his axe against the machinery reeling the chain. Thorin stopped descending with a jolt, and Quin saw Smaug slip past him. The dwarf king then started flying upwards on the chain, but at the last second, Smaug turned and caught the end of it in his mouth, breaking the metal and forcing Thorin to land right on the top of his closed mouth. Thorin was wobbly and unbalanced as Smaug slowly opened his jaws to reveal a bright glow from deep in his throat. Quin's heart stopped.
Just as Smaug snapped his mouth closed, Thorin leapt to the side, grabbing another chain. Nori hit another machine with a large sword, causing Thorin to come hurdling towards the top, much to everyone's relief. That relief did not last long, for Smaug roared and breathed flame at Thorin, and the heat raced towards their leader at an alarming rate. At the last second, Thorin threw himself over the ledge into Quin's arms, and she covered him with her body as the fire erupted over the edge.
They both scrambled up and made their way over to the others, who were a safe distance away. They all beheld the tall stone forges in the enormous room before them, the heart of the metalworkers.
"The plan's not going to work. These furnaces are stone cold." Dwalin said with a huff.
Balin nodded frantically. "He's right. There's no fire hot enough to set them ablaze."
Thorin glanced at Quin with a twinkle of something in his eyes, then back at the pit he had nearly died in. "Have we not?" He said quietly, before running over to the giant metal pillars standing behind them.
"I did not look to see you so easily outwitted!" He yelled, taunting Smaug, who began to rise from the pit. "You have grown slow and fat in your dotage."
Smaug snarled fiercely, to which Thorin just bared his teeth. "Slug."
At that insult, Smaug reared back his head, the glow bright in his chest. Thorin turned to them with a grin.
"Take cover."
The others quickly found cover behind the pillars just as Smaug unleashed his flame. As planned, the fire washed over the furnaces, lighting them and causing the machinery to be set in motion. Smaug glanced at the furnaces in confusion as sounds like the creaking of metal and a rush of steam began to echo off the walls. The company began sprinting towards the furnaces, running over the plan in their minds. Smaug was growling in frustration and tried to break through the pillars, which only bent slightly each time he bashed his body against them.
Thorin set about giving orders. "Bombur! Get those bellows working. Go!" Bombur did as he was told, using his weight to compress a huge bellow, making the furnace flame glow bright blue.
Thorin pointed up towards a lever high up on a ledge.
"Bilbo! Up there, on my mark, pull that lever." He pushed the Hobbit towards his task, and Bilbo quickly sprinted over to it, running up some flights of stairs.
Thorin turned to Balin next. "Balin, can you still make some flash-flame?"
Quin had no idea what he was talking about, but Balin did, for he nodded once. "Aye. It'll only take a jiffy." He gestured for a few of the other dwarves to follow him into a side room.
Dwalin began running towards Balin, looking worried. "We don't have a jiffy."
At that moment, Smaug finally broke through the pillars, and a sadistic grin made its way back onto his face. Thorin gripped Quin's arm hard and quickly led her towards the furnaces, away from the dragon. Smaug saw Bilbo reach the top of the steps to where the lever was, and began stalking towards him. Before he could reach him, the dragon suddenly turned to see Thorin and Quin standing not too far away at the other end of the room. He snarled and began stalking towards them, his chest glowing orange as he prepared his fire.
"NOW!" Thorin yelled at Bilbo, who jumped and used his whole body weight to bring the lever down. Right as Smaug opened his jaw, huge jets of water came rushing out of enormous carven spouts in the wall, knocking Smaug off balance and quenching the flames in his chest. The water subsequently began turning a watermill that triggered more machinery all around them. Conveyor belts, which hung heavy mining carts filled with rock and ore, began moving all above them. Quin knew the gold in the furnaces would soon begin to melt, and the next phase of their plan would begin. They just had to keep Smaug distracted until then.
The dragon reared his head, getting back his bearings, and began snarling and slithering towards Thorin and Quin slowly, anger burning in his eyes.
"Thorin Oakenshield." He purred. "You think you can keep that filthy human from my wrath?" At his words, Thorin instinctively stepped slightly in front of Quin, at which Smaug chuckled maniacally. "You love her, don't you? How precioussss." He hissed. "As if you could protect her from the fire. But don't fret. You too will burn." He grinned.
The side of Thorin's mouth lifted slightly. "She doesn't need protecting."
Quin stepped forward, her chin lifted high. "I am the Firewalker."
At the title, Smaug snarled. "That is just a fallacy the Men of this world have created to sleep better at night."
"I am 236 years old. I have lived to see you steal this kingdom away from those who rightfully own it, and murder those whose lives were not yours to take." She pulled out her sword, which glowed softly, like it could sense a dragon was near. "I wield Frostfire, the blade of Eärendil, and one that slayed many of your kin, including Ancalagon the Black. Today, it shall slay another."
Smaug had the good sense to look slightly afraid, but growled and reared back his head in vexation. "Enough of these lies! Burn!" His scales glowed once more, and he opened his jaws as wide as they would go, almost unhinged.
"Get behind me." Quin commanded to Thorin, who instantly ducked behind her cloak.
Smaug released a wave of burning hot flame at them, and smiled gleefully as he saw it envelop the woman completely. His delight suddenly morphed into fear and confusion as he watched the fire disappear, and saw her still standing. And more than that, she was glowing.
From head to toe, her skin was smoldering brightly, like a rod plucked from hot coals. Her hair was blowing behind her like it in itself was ablaze, each strand a brilliant copper and gold. It was clear that the rest of her clothes had melted off, besides her cloak, for there was a puddle of something at her feet. She was a light, like the sun personified.
Thorin stood up and stepped to the side, completely unharmed, and gazed at her in awe. She did not look at him, but stared down the dragon, sword still in hand. The metal was cool in her palm, and she realized the sword was no ordinary weapon, but was embedded with magical properties meant solely to face dragon foes.
"It cannot be." Smaug said, his face still full of shock, for nothing had ever withstood his blistering dragon fire.
"I am the Firewalker." Quin repeated, as her skin slowly returned to its normal hue. "And I will be your downfall."
Smaug's wrath was reawakened at her bold promise, for he suddenly began slithering towards her, content with ripping her flesh with his claws instead of using his deadly breath. Quin braced herself for a fight. Balin and the others began throwing the flash-flame bombs at the dragon, who paid them no mind, for his hunt would not be swayed by any distractions. Suddenly, the conveyer belt above him was cut loose and fell, pinning Smaug to the ground as he roared.
"Come on!" Thorin shouted at her, and together they ran over to a furnace, where Thorin yanked on a chain, opening multiple gates and allowing the molten liquid gold to flow out of the furnaces into long troughs built into the ground, where they converged and made their way through some small tunnels.
Thorin and Quin began sprinting towards the path of the gold.
"Lead him to the Gallery of the Kings!" Thorin yelled to the rest of the company, grabbing a large wheelbarrow and pushing it towards the gold while they both dodged Smaug thrashing about. Thorin threw the wheelbarrow onto the gold and Quin jumped on first, followed by Thorin. They held onto the sides for dear life as it began floating to the tunnel. Quin turned to see Bilbo frantically scrambling away from the dragon.
"Run, Bilbo! Run!" She shouted at him, and she didn't have to tell him twice. He began sprinting away, towards what she assumed was the gallery room, when she lost sight of him.
Coming out of the tunnel, Quin and Thorin were rapidly approaching a drop in the trough. A long chain was dangling just beyond, and at the same moment, they both jumped, clasping onto the chain at just the last second. They watched as the molten gold began being poured into a massive stone mold, just like Thorin said it would. They dropped down onto it and waited.
Sure enough, from the other end of the hall, Quin saw Bilbo sprinting through a door, and sighed with relief. Until, that is, she saw Smaug break through the stone, causing a huge banner to fall from above the door and land on Bilbo, simultaneously hiding him and keeping him from escaping. Smaug had not yet noticed them, for he was too invested in finding the Hobbit.
"You think you could deceive me, Barrel-rider?" He hissed, his glowing eyes searching every corner of the room. "You have come from Laketown. There is… some sort of scheme hatched between these filthy dwarves and those miserable cup-trading LAKEMEN. Those sniveling cowards with their longbows and black arrows." He was shouting in fury, his claws digging into the stone beneath him. He stopped and lifted his head like he had just thought of an idea.
"Perhaps it is time I paid them a visit." He turned and slowly began making his way towards the entrance of Erebor.
Quin gasped as she thought of the people of Laketown, of her dwarvish friends left behind, of Bard and his children. Before she could react, Bilbo had climbed out from his hiding spot and marched towards the dragon.
"This isn't their fault! WAIT! You cannot go to Laketown!" Bilbo shouted bravely, his concern for the people far outweighing his own self-preservation.
Smaug actually paused for a moment, turning back to sneer at the Hobbit, and Quin was terrified it had been a ruse to get Bilbo to reveal himself.
"You care about them, do you? Good." Smoke blew from his nostrils as he bared his teeth. "Then you can watch them die." He turned and scurried off down the hall, until Thorin's voice rang out, echoing loudly.
"Here, you witless worm!"
Smaug stopped completely, and Quin could hear his growls from where she stood. The dragon turned and saw them standing atop the mold, and his eyes narrowed.
"You."
Thorin lifted his chin. "I am taking back what you stole." He declared.
Smaug laughed, but it only came out sounding like deep manic rumbles, almost like a rockslide in the mountains. "You would take nothing from me, Dwarf. I laid low your warriors of old. I instilled terror in the hearts of Men. I am King Under the Mountain!"
Smaug was very close to them now, but Thorin didn't back down. Quin saw his hand move to the thick rope next to him, and prepared herself. She glanced to the side and saw Bilbo running to a safe place at the side of the halls, also readying himself for what was to happen next.
"This is not your kingdom. These are dwarf lands, this is dwarf gold, and we will have our revenge." With that, Thorin shouted a signal to the other dwarves hidden behind the mold and pulled the rope, releasing a pin. Smaug heard the noise and paused in confusion. The other dwarves were pulling on the chains below, released the stone structure. Quin and Thorin leapt onto the rope to escape the falling stones, revealing an enormous golden statue of a dwarf king.
Smaug stared in awe and deep desire at the gold, his greedy instincts taking over. He got closer and closer to the treasure, when suddenly, the gold began to warp, bubbling and exploding the scorching metal onto Smaug. The huge amount of liquid gold collapsing on the dragon knocked him off his feet, causing him to be completely submerged in the substance. The gold settled, and for a few moments, Quin and Thorin stared at each other with grins on their faces, sure they had just defeated the dragon.
The surface abruptly burst and Smaug leapt out, roaring in pain and blind anger. The glittering gold was being shaken off him in torrents as he clawed his way towards the entrance of Erebor, all the while screaming.
"Revenge?! REVENGE! I will show you REVENGE!"
The company looked on him in shock as Smaug burst through the side of the Mountain, his fury heightening his strength what seemed like tenfold. The dragon breathed in the night air before taking flight, leaping straight into the air using his powerful hind legs. Quin immediately began running after him, sliding down the rope to get to the ground below. When she finally reached a small hilltop beyond the entrance so she was able to see the town, Bilbo was already there, looking upon Laketown in horror as the dragon of death flew towards it with murderous intent.
The Hobbit gazed up at Quin with sorrow, which was deeply reflected in her own eyes.
"What have we done?" His voice broke, and as she watched Smaug grow closer and closer to the innocent people of Laketown, her eyes welled up with tears and despair.
"We've killed them all."
A/N: BOOM. Gosh, I loved writing that scene with Quin facing Smaug. It gave me the chills. And that's a wrap on the plot from Desolation of Smaug! Woo we did it! I'm so excited to finish this story, and I promise you guys the ending is worth the wait. Feel free to R&R and I'll see you next week with the next update!