Chapter 24
Smaug's Attack and Downfall

"Come on lass." Bofur said, helping me get Essa in her baby sling as Tauriel stepped outside. I could hear Smaug getting closer and his roar with my elf elf ears. Tauriel stepped in looking worried.

"We don't have time. We need to leave now." Tauriel said.

"We're not leaving without our father." Bain said.

"If you stay here, your sisters will die. Is that what your father would want?" Tauriel asked. Bain hesitated but nodded.

"We'll find him as soon aswe get you and your sisters to safety." I said. We hurried out as Bofur and Oin kept firm hands on my arms. I kept one hand on Essa's back. I was happy she was asleep for now. We reached a boat and the dwarves helped us girls get in the boat.

"Hurry!" Tauriel said as she stood in front of the boat as the dwarves and Bain got in. Bofur and Oin started rowing the boat forward. I turned and watched as Smaug swoops down letting out a roar and unleashing fire onto the town. I heard the screams and cries from the townspeople. I held my daughter close as I feared the worse for all of us. We needed a miracle. Where was Bard?

"Look out!" Bain yelled. I griped the side as a boat collided with ours. Bofur and Oin pushed the boats apart.

"Move it! Move it! Come on, faster." THe master yelled.

"Sure. Care about yourself more then your people." I shout as the master moves the boat away. Smaug roars came and he flew by sending more flames. Essa woke up crying and I quickly shush her and hum the Lonely Mountain song to her as Tauriel gave the signal to continue rowing.

Fili's POV. We didn't stop running.

"Fili!" Kili cried out. We stopped and I looked and looked at horror in the direction of Laketown as it burned and Smaug circled over it. "We're to late."

"No. Bofur and Oin would get Amara out of there to safety. I hope." I said.

"I'm sure your right." Kili said. We ran as fast as we could toward it.

Amara's POV. I got Essa to settle down, but she was still whimpering.

"Da!" Bain yelled. I turned and saw Bard shooting arrows from a tower.

"Da!" Tilda yelled. I saw an arrow hit the dragon.

"He hit it! He hit the dragon." I said.

"No!" Tauriel said.

"He did! He hit his mark. I saw." I said.

"His arrows cannot pierce its hide, I fear nothing would." Tauriel said. I saw Bain look down in disappointment.

"Bofur." I said.

"We'll get out of here safely, lass." Bofur said. I nod. I saw Bain jump up and grab a hook that hung over us and swung out.

"What are you doing?!" Bofur yelled, but it was to late. I took off the swing and handed Essa over to Sigrid.

"Watch my daughter." I said.

"AMARA!" Oin, Tauriel, and Bofur yelled as I dived into the water. I was trained by Thorin and Dwalin on how to swim. I swam up to one of the piers and pulled myself onto the dock. I run after Bain. The fire and running was able to keep me warm as I came up to Bain as he was digging through stuff in a boat.

"Bain. What are you doing?" I ask, grabbing him gently.

"I had to get this." Bain said. I saw him holding the black arrow. "I need to get this to dad."

"Let's go." I said, grabbing him and we ran to the tower. We climbed the stairs and we poked our heads up, shocking him.

"Dad!" Bain said.

"Bain?! Amara?! What are you doing?! Why didn't you leave? You were suppose to leave." Bard said.

"We did. Your daughters are fine." I said.

"We came to help you." Bain said.

"No! Nothing can stop him now!" Bard said.

"This might." Bain said, holding up the black arrow. Bard takes it and then strokes his sons face.

"Bain. You go back. You get out of here. Amara take him and go." Bard siad. I looked past Bard and my eyes widen as I see Smaug approaching us and fast. He had a look of determination on his face.

"BARD!" I yell, but it was to late as Smaug smashes through the tower. I cry out in pain as the claws hit my shoulder and I feel a sharp pain. Bain was hanging off the tower with one arm and Bard grabbed him and hauls him back up. I clutch my shoulder as I knelt next to Bain as Bard stood up. Smaug had landed in the town nearby, crushing buildings underneath him.

"Who are you that would stand against me?!" Smaug asked. Bard grabs his bow and I saw it was broken in half. I bit my bottom lip. "Now that is a pity. What will you do now, Bowman? You are forsaken. No help will come." Bard looks around frantically but nothing was there to help him.

"Amara. Your bleeding." Bain said.

"I'm fine." I said, watching Smaug, who was walking our way, crushing buildings as he comes.

"Is that your child? You cannot save him from the fire. He will BURN!" Smaug yelled as he continues his approach. Bard starts fixing stuff to make a bow without help. He goes to grab Bain, but I stop him, knowing what he was going to do.

"Use me." I said. Bard looks at me, but nods. He puts me between two of the fixed pieces of the bow, facing Bard. I had tears in my eyes as I put my hands on the wood.

"Stay still, Amara. Stay still." Bard said. I bit my lip, but nodded. "Your a brave lass."

"I'm future queen of Erebor. I'll do what I can to bring down this dragon for my people.

"Tell me wretch. How now shall you challenge me?" Smaug asked. A small smile crosses Bard's face.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Smaug has a missing scale, like the story was told." Bard said.

"Then you know where to hit." I said.

"You have nothing let, but your DEATH!" Smaug howls. I looked over my shoulder and gasp as I see Smaug approaching faster.

"Amara! Look at me. You look at me." Bard said. I look at him with tears in my eyes. "Think of your daughter and husband. You'll get back to them alive. I promise." I nod with a smile. "A little to your left." I move a little to the left like he asked. "That's it." Bard releases the arrow and I spun to watch as soon as it left my shoulder to watch it fly to hit its mark.

"You did it." I said. Smaug screams in pain as he leaps forward. Bard grabbed me and Bain and we jump out of the tower as Smaug collides with the tower. We fell into the water with Smaug's screams of pain.

Fili's POV. Roars and screams of pain reached our ears and Kili and I watched as Smaug flew in the air and fell towards the water.

"Bard did it. He killed Smaug." Kili said.

"Erebor is reclaimed, but with a heavy price. Come. Let's go help them and find our friends." I said. We headed towards the beach seeing the boats heading in that direction.

AN: The transcript is up and now I can finish this story. I look forward to writing more. I got the movie yesterday in the mail as well. Haven't watched it yet, but look forward to writing more. Till next time.