Bilbo and I were chosen to go search for the arsonist Smaug. It wasn't really a debate since Bilbo had proven he could sneak around, and I could apparently protect him in case he was in trouble. Balin volunteered to take us down the hallway and to give us an idea of how Erebor was set up since neither of us had ever been here. (This is the one place in all Middle Earth I had never been to)

Before Balin left us, however he grabbed Bilbo and I and told us to try and locate the Arkenstone. Balin explained to us that the Arkenstone wasn't a phone but a rock that was important to the Dwarves. No matter what we needed to make sure this Smaug character hadn't gotten it.

"You want me to find a jewel?" Bilbo repeated after hearing our task.

"A large white jewel, yes."

"That's it? Only, I imagine there's quite a few down there."

"There is only one Arkenstone. You'll know it when you see it." Balin nodded, making sure we didn't have any more questions before turning and walking back down the tunnel we came from. He paused then came back to us. "In truth, I do not know what you two will find down there. You needn't go if you don't want to, there's no dishonor in turning back." Balin reassured us.

"No, Balin, I promised I would do this, and I think I must try." Bilbo argued. Balin turned to see my answer, which was just me shrugging my shoulders. Balin began to chuckle. "It never ceases to amaze me. The courage of Hobbits. Go now with as much luck as you two can muster."

We nodded to Balin and began to proceed down the hallway when Balin turned back to us. "Oh, and Bilbo, Aurora…. If there is in fact, a live arsonist down there, don't waken him."

We nodded to Balin and began to walk down, when Bilbo turned to say something to Balin, but he was already gone. The two of us glanced at each other, before reluctantly going down the steps into Erebor.

Bilbo graciously let me lead the way, making sure I had a weapon at the ready. We followed the passageway till it took us into the main hub of the city. Balin told us we needed to make our way to the Thror's house, the biggest building under the mountain. There we should find the Arkenstone and hopefully Smaug. The only goal was to make sure Smaug was alone and that he had no reinforcements. No big deal.

"It's so quiet." I whispered to Bilbo to make sure my voice didn't echo. He nodded at my observation as we walked down the steps to another level. "It doesn't make sense. There should be voices, the wounded, hell even the dead… there's nothing. It's just quiet."

Bilbo gazed around. "You're right. Shouldn't something be here?"

I walked over to the railing and wiped a finger across it, revealing a ton of dust on my finger. A bustling city shouldn't have dust this quickly. I motioned Bilbo over and showed him my finger. "Could it be ash from the fire?" he asked bending down to smell the dust on the railing. Bilbo shook his head, tapping on his chin. "That's regular old dust. And there's cobwebs down here. Vey big ones, might I add."

"It's so odd." I mused, crossing my arms. I knelt down and grabbed a large spool of rope that lay on the ground, rubbing dust off of it.

Bilbo stood and we continued our journey. "Could it be from the fact that we're underground?"

"Maybe… but logically that doesn't make sense. There should be some human print here. It looks like no one's been here for…" I paused, my mind going back to the night we first met in Hobbiton: I had heard many stories about Thorin Oakinshield. The disgraced owner of the technological kingdom in Erebor, until its reputation was destroyed ten years ago when his grandfather was murdered, and his father was driven mad. After that, his company lost huge stocks and was barely thriving until the Arkenstone was created, a new phone. His company hadn't been in the headlines lately, so seeing him in person was a little unsettling. "…ten years." I felt a light bulb turn go off in my head. What if no one had been in Erebor for ten years? What if after Thror's murder, Thrain's disappearance, and the failed campaign to expand to Moria; no one had been back to Erebor?

I relayed my thoughts to Bilbo. His eyes widened at the idea. "Aurora but why? Why attack an abandoned city? Why would Thorin send us on this journey if Erebor didn't need reclaiming since no on lived here?"

"For the wealth of Erebor. For the Arkenstone. When Thorin's grandfather was murdered and the campaign to expand to Moria failed, Erebor went bankrupt. People left. They found the Arkenstone, before Thror's death, but didn't know how to use it until now. They create a new phone, hoping to bring back the people, but can't. Then Smaug attacks and Erebor goes up in flames. The news believes people still live here but they don't. So, if we go on a crazy adventure to reclaim Erebor because the police can't, Thorin is named a hero and the people come back." I theorized, slinging the rope over me.

Bilbo gave me a once over before placing his hand on my forehead. "Are you feeling alright?" I swatted his hand away. "Have you been drinking lately because Aurora, that is insane. Thorin would not do that. He would not risk the lives of his friends for that."

"But you would if you had a key and a map to a back door," I said in a sing-song voice "besides, he got the idea of taking back Erebor from me." Bilbo shook his head.

I sounded crazy. Believe me, I knew I sounded crazy, but it was the only thing that made sense. It was the only theory that backed up everything, mostly. The theory still didn't explain why Azog was after us or why Smaug had attacked an empty city, but it pretty much explained everything else. It gave a reason for why Girion left. It gave a reason about why Thorin cared so much about getting the Arkenstone back now.

We finally made it to the house, which meant next thing we had to was find the vault, which was supposedly where the Arkenstone was held. We surveyed the entire house before walking down the stone steps to the vault. So far, we hadn't seen any signs of Smaug, except the damage he had done.

We found ourselves in a massive hall, I was sure we had made a wrong turn somewhere. "Hello?" Bilbo whispered out loud. He knocked quietly on the wall beside him, the sound echoing in the massive room. He jumped back, pulling me next to him against the wall. Upon seeing no reaction, Bilbo let go of my arm, and we walked out on the elevated walkway that was in front of us. "You're not at home. Not at home. Good. Good, good, good." We stopped at the top of a staircase, our mouths dropping in shock. This was no vault.

Mountains of gold, jewels, weapons, cups, and all sorts of treasure were piled dozens of feet high all throughout the massive hall. "Now it makes sense." I whispered to myself, realizing why Smaug attacked. We were in a treasure room, not a vault. I expected a tiny vault in a closet, but this!

Bilbo led the way down the stairs, and he began to carefully walk atop the treasure, the coins moving every which way making him slide and sink slightly with each step. He attempted to be quiet, but it was no use due to jewels and coins beneath his feet. I followed him, making sure to step in the spots he stepped him.

He poked around, finding a white gem, and examining it. "What's that?" Bilbo shook the jewel, but decided it wasn't the Arkenstone and carelessly threw it aside. The jewel clattered against the coins. "Shush!" I whisper yelled at him, a few feet behind him. He waved me off and continued to make his way over the treasure. Bilbo continued to look around. "Arkenstone, Arkenstone… a large, white jewel. Very Helpful."

It felt like we had been in here for ages. I lost track of time after thirty minutes and I felt like I was slowly sinking into the sea of treasure. Each step felt like it took an insurmountable amount of energy to move. I gave up holding on to my sword and just slung it and its pack over my shoulder. Bilbo must have checked at least a thousand jewels at this point. How he had managed to not go insane, I'll never know. I blinked my eyes a few times, either to keep myself sane or awake I couldn't tell.

We had made it about halfway through the room, attempting to stay on the same route, where we were even with the stairs, but those couldn't even be seen now from where we stood.

Eventually, we stopped by a large stone pillar. Bilbo continued looking, while I rested against the cold stone. I watched as Bilbo went to grab a golden cup, this action causing a small avalanche of coins to tumble down. Suddenly I heard Bilbo gasp and jump over next to me. I turned to see large eye, appear from under the coins.

There was a snort, and the coins fell away next to us to reveal a large snout. Bilbo made a noise and I placed my hand over his mouth to quiet him and he did the same to me. I motioned for us to move down and he nodded. Bilbo led the way attempting to walk backwards, until his eyes went big. Coins began moving away from the pillar we were at. We were surrounded. I felt like was going to be sick at realization. Smaug was no mere human arsonist. He was a dragon.

I snapped back into reality, watching as Bilbo was still inching away. Above me was an old curtain. I jumped up, grabbing onto the curtain, and pulling myself up onto the ledge above me, bringing the curtain up too. I maneuvered myself underneath the curtain, watching silently as Smaug's head rose. Smaug opened an eye and Bilbo darted, diving behind a pile of gold. I stared at Smaug as he continued to rise out of the gold. I glanced down at where Bilbo had been, but he was gone. Smaug fully raised his head out of the gold, revealing that he was in fact a giant crimson dragon, and smelled the air.

"Well, thief, I smell you. I hear your breath. I feel your air. Where are you?" he spoke, his voice echoing inside the hall. As he spoke, he moves his head back and forth to where Bilbo had been at. I placed my hand over my mouth and noise to hold my breath. (Not like I could breathe underneath this curtain or with a giant dragon)

Suddenly, coins started flying away from Smaug. It looked as if someone was running, but there was no one there. It was if the person was invisible.

"Come now don't be shy. Step into the light."

I felt my heart do a summersault and sink at the exact same time. Yep, I'm dead, I mused.

Smaug followed the coins, diving under the coins then rising, watching the area like a hawk. "Mmm, there is something about you, something you carry. Something made of gold, but far more precious." Smaug hissed. I attempted to pull of the curtain as quietly as I could.

"There you are, thief in the shadows." I froze at hearing Smaug speak. My eyes darted to the giant, but his attention was focused elsewhere on another pillar. Bilbo. My mind quickly began to race, trying to think of anything to help Bilbo, but I only had an Elvish sword and I was facing a giant dragon. Not very good odds.

"I did not come to steal from you, O Smaug the Unassessably Wealthy. I merely wanted to gaze upon your magnificence, to see if you really were as great as the tales say. I did not believe them." Bilbo spoke to the beast, his voice cracking at last sentence. Smaug took this as a moment to show off, stomping away and drawing himself up so his entire body was visible to Bilbo. We could finally see Smaug in his terribleness. He was a massive dragon with two black legs, two massive bat-like wings with claws, and both his neck and tail were incredibly long. His head alone was the size of a bus. "And, do you now?!" Smaug roared.

"Truly, the tales and songs fall utterly short of your enormity, O Smaug the Stupendous." I heard Bilbo tell Smaug.

"Do you think flattery will keep you alive?" Smaug mused.

"No-no, no."

"No, indeed. You seem familiar with my name, but I don't remember smelling your kind before. Who are you, and where do you come from, may I ask?" Smaug inched his head closer to Bilbo. I saw Bilbo open his mouth, but he glanced off to his right before answering. "I- I come from under the hill?"

"Underhill?"

Bilbo nodded and continued to gaze towards the right. He was entranced by whatever was over there. "And under hills and over hills my path has led. And, and through the air. I am he who walks unseen."

Smaug began to tramp around over the gold. "Impressive. What else do you claim to be?" He shook his head forward to Bilbo, showing off his razor-sharp teeth.

"Impressive. What else do you claim to be?"

While Bilbo kept Smaug busy, I made up my mind to try and get out of where I was to help Bilbo. I watched as Smaug took a step, making coins fly and clamber together when I made my move, jumping off the pillar into the coins. I slide down them, hoping to make my way near Bilbo. "I am… luck wearer. Riddle-maker." Bilbo continued, keeping Smaug's focus on him.

"Lovely titles; go on."

I tried to stop sliding, by grabbing onto a shield that was stuck the coins. I grabbed onto it, halting my slide.

"Barrel- rider."

"Barrels? Now that is interesting. And what about your little dwarf friends? Where are they hiding?" Smaug asked. I stopped moving and gazed up at the dragon. How did he even know they were here?

"Dw-dwarves?" No, no, no, dwarves here. You've got that all wrong." Bilbo lied. I tried to inch closer to him, by sliding down the coins. I was close to him to help.

"Oh, I don't think so, barrel-rider. They sent you in here to do their dirty little work while they skulk around outside." I watched as Bilbo inched away from the pillar.

I finally made it to the pillar, thank you Smaug for all the stomping you did. I tried to motion to Bilbo that he wasn't alone, but he was too busy stepping over to a white jewel buried in coins. "Truly, you are mistaken, O Smaug, Chiefest and Greatest of calamities."

"You have nice manners…. for a thief and a liar! I know the smell and taste of dwarf. No one better. It is the gold! They are drawn to treasure like flies to dead flesh." Smaug argued. He began to stomp about, knocking the white jewel away. Bilbo darted after it, which meant I was running after Bilbo. "Did you think I did not know this day would come, when a pack of canting dwarves would come crawling back to the mountain?"

Bilbo tripped and slid down the gold, landing under a large step, with gold pooling over him. I ran and slid over next to him, trying to grab him out of the gold. Smaug began to follow us, knocking over a massive pillar, its reverberations sounding throughout the entire mountain as it fell.

"The King under the Mountain is dead. I took his throne." Smaug placed his claw right on top of us, we jumped out of the gold and began sprinting down the steps, leaping off the side as Smaug's head came swinging at us. "I ate his people like a wolf among sheep."

We began sliding down more gold. Let me tell you, that gold really hurts your body after a while. "I kill where I wish, when I wish. My armor is iron." We ran and slide under a covered stone structure, while Smaug opened his wings, gliding down to land atop the structure. "No blade can pierce me!" he cried out.

Bilbo mouthed, "what do we do?" I raised my arms up and shrugged.

I only motioned for him to be quiet as Smaug continued to look for us.

"I found the Arkenstone." Bilbo mouthed to me. Except I could not understand what he just told me.

"What? You need an aardvark?"

"I said I found the Arkenstone!" He mouthed again. I shook my head. I had no idea what he was saying.

Bilbo led the way, stepping quietly over the coins. He stopped and pointed over the end of the structure. There in the coins sat a large white jewel with colors dancing inside of the jewel as it lit up the area around it. The Arkenstone. "It's Oakenshield. The filthy dwarvish usurper! He sent you in here for the Arkenstone, didn't he?"

"No, no, no. I don't know what you're talking about." He lied to Smaug as we started to sneak over to the Arkenstone. Smaug looked beneath the structure, forcing up to duck behind a pillar. "Don't bother denying it. I guess his foul purpose some time ago. But it matters not. Oakenshield's quest will fail. The darkness is coming. It will spread to every corner of the land."

My eyes widened with disbelief as Smaug spoke. He knew what was coming, but how? He hadn't left Erebor in who knows when but knew what was happening in the dark parts of the world.

"You have been used, thief in the shadows. You were only ever a means to an end. The coward Oakenshield has weighted the value of your life and found it worth nothing." Bilbo and I locked eyes. The idea shocked him. Smaug's mouth appeared next to us.

"No. No. No, you're lying!" He yelled out, sweat pouring down his face.

"What did he promise you? A share of the treasure? As if it was his to give. I will not part with a single coin. Not one piece of it." Smaug argued, setting himself on top of the covered structure we were under. The sickness. My mind flashed back to what Bard had said about the Arkenstone and Thror. Had the treasure driven a dragon mad as well?

Bilbo bolted after the Arkenstone; I didn't even realize it until I saw him almost near it. I ran after him. Smaug whipped his tail at seeing us, sending Bilbo, the Arkenstone, and myself flying before we tumbled and landed against a pillar.

"My teeth are swords! My claws are spears! My wings are a hurricane!" Smaug yelled out, marching down towards us.

"Please tell me it's over!" I yelled out, wishing at this very moment I was dreaming. Bilbo pulled me up off the floor, both of us watching Smaug as he displayed his wings. "So it true. The windlass did fight against a dragon. The black arrow found its mark."

"What did you say?" Smaug hissed. Bilbo and I began to back away from the very, very pissed off dragon. "Uh, uh, I was saying your reputation precedes you, oh Smaug the tyrannical. Truly, you have no equal on this earth." While Bilbo was speaking, I gazed around to find a means of escape when I noticed the Arkenstone was lying just a few feet from us. I hit Bilbo's arm and motioned with me head at the jewel. Bilbo glanced at it, gazing at the stone. "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." The three of us stared at each other, until Smaug began to rear his head. "But I think not. I think our little games ends here. So tell me, thief, how do you choose to die?"

Smaug's chest began to glow with light from the inside, and his head strikes forward, jaws open headed towards us. "Oh fu-"