Chapter 36
The woman followed behind the Hobbit and Balin, not listening to their conversation. She was far too gone in her own thoughts. "What will dragon fire do to me? Will it help me like other fire does?" Kelly had also heard of legends that dragon fire could heal any sort of ailment, if anyone could survive the heat long enough. "No one's ever done that, no one has ever been able to resist burning. If the fire will listen to me, perhaps I can use it to heal my mind's aging." This train of thought continued to tumble over and over in her head until Balin patted her shoulder while wishing her luck. Drawing out of her thoughts, Kelly nodded then went to stand beside Bilbo. "Bilbo, I should have you know something." When the Hobbit looked up at her expectantly, Kelly sighed. "I do not know if I can save us in here. If the dragon's fire will not obey me, I will do everything in my power to get you out. No matter the cost."
Instead of arguing and wasting time, Bilbo simply nodded and held Kelly's hand in his own for a moment. Together, the pair walked further down and into the treasury. "Hello." Bilbo calls out hesitantly, causing Kelly to snort with amusement. "He's not at home. Not at home. Good. Good, good, good." Bilbo muttered softly, almost to himself before walking further into the room. Kelly motioned that she was going one way, nodding at Bilbo as he went a different direction. They would have better luck finding the Arkenstone in they split up. After searching for a while, Kelly heard something being tossed then skittering away. "Shush. Shush." This was all that the woman heard, causing her to roll her eyes, assuming that Bilbo had gotten frustrated and tossed a piece of the treasure. She could hear him muttering other words but the echoing of the large room stole to precise words before they reached her sensitive ears.
Suddenly, the constant soft sound that Kelly had ignored hitched a little before stopping entirely. To her horror, the woman realized that this soft sound had been that of the dragon breathing as he slept. It was so soft and soothing; she had pushed it unconsciously out of her mind. Now that it was gone Kelly hid herself behind a pillar before looking around for Bilbo. Clattering and banging was heard as a large amount of the treasure was moved suddenly. Guessing that this was the dragon moving from his sleeping area, Kelly became more frantic in her search of the Hobbit. "Well thief. I smell you. I hear your breath. I feel your air. Where are you? Where are you?!" Kelly shuddered as she heard the dragon begin speaking. His voice was so beautiful but held an undercurrent of evil and scorn. She barely listened to the rest of his speech, knowing his words were as dangerous as his gaze. Bilbo, the sneaky Hobbit, was nowhere to be found!
Suddenly, the dragon stops moving and so does Kelly. Hiding behind a very well placed column, she watched the dragon stare at an empty space between two columns. In the blink of an eye Bilbo appears in that once empty space, scaring Kelly half to death. "There you are thief in the shadows." Smaug says as his eyes lock onto Bilbo. Panicking slightly, Kelly wracks her brain for any options she might have. Bilbo's small voice penetrates her thoughts and she listens as he does a very good job of boosting the dragon's ego.
Listening to the conversation, Kelly realizes that it's better to let Bilbo use his Hobbit manners to impress the dragon instead of revealing herself. Moving steadily closer to the pair, Kelly hides under a stone platform of some sort. Still trying to think of an escape, Kelly doesn't notice the commotion and running until Bilbo almost slams into her. "Does he know you're here? Has he seen you?" Bilbo whispered, sounding frantic and terrified. Shaking her head no, Kelly put a finger to her lips as she pulled Bilbo towards her. Hiding them both behind a column in the platform where Smaug could reach neither of them.
"You are being used, thief in the shadows." The dragon whispered as he almost slithered past their hiding spot. "You were only ever a means to an end. The coward Oakenshield has weighed the value of your life and found it worth nothing." Shaking his head, Bilbo replied with a hearty "No. No, you're lying." Kelly moved them quickly to another column before the dragon could find their location. Bilbo continued his conversation with the dragon until, spotting the Arkenstone again, he made a mad dash. Kelly stared at him in shock, her feet seemed anchored to the floor. She watched as the dragon moved quickly, knocked Bilbo and the Arkenstone away. "My teeth are swords, my claws are spears. My wings are a hurricane!" The woman watched as Bilbo looked at the dragon then a strange expression came over him. "So it is true. The Black Arrow found its mark." Kelly smacked her hands over her face in horror. Why on earth would he say such a thing! Dragon's take great pride in their appearance and reminding him of a missing scale would be worse than a plain insult! Asking what the Hobbit had said, Bilbo replied with a quick "I-I was just saying, your reputation precedes you, oh Smaug, the tyrannical. Truly, you have no equal on this earth."
Bilbo looks down and notices the Arkenstone at the same time Kelly does, their gazes locked on it. Noticing this, the dragon taunts Bilbo slightly. "I am almost tempted to let you take it, if only to see Oakenshield suffer. Watch it destroy him, watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad. But I think not, I think our little game ends here. So tell me, thief. How do you choose to die?" At that moment, Kelly feels the fire ignite in the dragon's belly. She rushes in front of the Hobbit just as he disappears. Smaug, seeing a new threat, unleashes his fire that can turn mortals into ash in mere seconds. Turning around, Bilbo sees Kelly standing in the open just before the dragon's fire surrounds her completely.