Taking the stairs two at a time I stumbled when I saw Thorin. He spun from where he was gazing down at the gold and was surprised to see me, "Your alive!"

I snorted, ready to keep running, "Not for much longer!"

He demanded as I made to go up the rest of the stairs, "Did you find the Arkenstone?"

"Thorin, the dragon's coming, now is not the time to go up in flames..."

"The Arkenstone."

I turned and looked at him, hearing something else in his voice. Only for him to move around me and block the path that lead to the secret door. He asked, "Did you find it?"

His eyes were funny and I inquired, nervous, "You alright? We need to get out of here." and made to go around him but he whipped out his sword and blocked my path. Backing up, more nervous I asked, "Thorin?" As I back up he held it at my throat and I no longer saw the man I fell in love with, "Thorin!"

Then I saw something behind him and paled. He turned slowly and paled as well, seeming to snap out of whatever got into him. Smaug saw us as the other Dwarves ran out and yelled there battle cries. I thought it was sweet but horrible timing as I looked at Thorin, terrified of what I had seen. But the dragon scared me more so I grabbed Thorin's shoulder and yelled, "Run!" Smaug snarled, "YOU WILL BURN!"

We ran out of there in a flurry and raced down a different hall then the way our because we were following Thorin. Having no idea how that happened I kept an eye on the others to make sure they kept up but they didn't seem to need any more motivation with a dragon on our tails.

0o0

We ran and ran until we came to a different cavern and paused when we saw we had to cross and open bridge. Dori said, "We've given him the slip."

Dwalin shook his head, not looking pleased to be stuck in a mountain with a dragon, "No, he's too cunning for that." I rested my hand on the stone wall to see if I could tell where he was, "Where to now?" Thorin seemed to be himself again as he said, "The western guardroom, there may be a way out."

Balin shook his gray head, "It's too high, there is no chance that way."

Thorin said firmly, "It's our only chance." and look back at the bridge, "We have to try."

I sensed something but even as I waved, Thorin gave the signal and everyone started heading for the bridge. I smacked his shoulder but he gave no notice. Worried once again I followed the Dwarves as quietly as I could. A small sound of metal hitting the bridge made us freeze and then look up as Smaug used the pillars above us to move over us, coins falling from his hide. He didn't seem to see us so we kept moving, as quickly as we could. I wondered vaguely if Smaug was blind, stupid or playing with us. I hoped it wasn't the latter.

0o0

We kept running down different halls and chambers until finally making it to the last one. I covered my mouth with my hand as I looked at the horror before me. Corpses were piled in the room, covered in cobwebs. A door on the other end that could have lead out had collapsed in a cave in. I could even see children among the dead, still held by their loved ones. Cold swept through my stomach and up my chest, my throat clenched and I blinked back tears. But after the cold swept heat as hatred for Smaug warmed me. The others seemed to be feeling the same way by the look of their faces.

Balin said grimly, "The last of our kin. They must have come here, hoping beyond hope." there was a deafening pause before he said, "We could try to reach the mines. We might last a few days."

Thorin stepped towards the bodies, "No. I will not die like this. Cowering. Clawing for breath." then he must have gotten an idea because he spun with a look of fierce determination on his face, "We make for the forges."

Dwalin cautioned, "He'll see us, sure as death."

Thorin pressed, "Not if we split up."

Balin tried to reason with him, "Thorin, we'll never make it."

Thorin urged, "Some of us might. Lead him to the forges. We kill the dragon." He raised his chin and said defiantly, "If this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together."

I knew it was all or nothing time. Stepping forward I grinned wildly, "Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?" I saw no way out of this mess, and if we were going down, then we were going down swinging.

0o0

We split into groups and I went with Balin and Thorin. Each time Smaug focused on a group, another would distract it. We ignored the dragon spitting out that there was nowhere to hide. We raced to the forges and Balin swerved, "This way!"

I slid to a stop and yelled at Thorin who had kept going, "Thorin!" He stopped but Smaug was on our tail and he barked, "Follow Balin!" Balin grabbed me and we ducked into a tunnel as Smaug spat fire and I saw Thorin leap over the edge of a hole. Smaug was right behind him.

I heard a creak and saw a wire running down and knew Thorin must be at the other end. Determined not to loose the stubborn fuss pot I raced after the dragon and jumped as Dwalin yelled Thorin's name and barely heard Balin yell mine before the whoosh of the wind blocked out any other sounds. Suddenly Thorin's wire stopped and I slammed my elven daggers into the side of the hole to stop my decent as I saw Thorin being shot up my way. At first relief swept threw me, until Smaug grabbed the end of his line and jerked him to a stop. He fell, only to land on Smaug's chin!

Leaping across I sheathed my daggers in a fluid motion, grabbed some more wires heading down and dove, hit the side of the wall just under Smaug's jaw and then leaped over it. Smaug jerked in surprise as I noosed his nose before he could flame. Then I grabbed Thorin's arm and yelled as I grabbed the only other wire left. Dwalin heard me thank the gods and slammed the pulley system into working again, making us shoot up the hole once more as Smaug struggled with the wires holding his mouth shut.

It almost wasn't enough when a mining cart slammed into Smaug's head and knocked the noose loose and he shot a pier of flames at us. Luckily Nori was there and grabbed us just as we got to the surface and pulled us to safety. I think Thorin started cursing me in Dwarvish but I didn't listen since there was a dragon right behind us and I pulled the Dwarves along.

We raced to the momentary safety of the furnaces, a huge iron grate blocking the furnaces from the dragon. Dwain shook his head, "Your plans not going to work, these furnaces are stone cold."

Balin agreed, "With no fire hot enough to set them ablaze."

My hands on my knees as I panted I snorted, "Hot enough? We have a dragon on our tails, ask him to light it up."

This gave Thorin a horrible idea because he turned and yelled out, "I did not think you to be so easily outwitted! You grown slow and fat and your dotage...slug."

Then Thorin spun, "Take cover." We dove behind the iron pillars as Smaug fired. It was hotter than a thousand suns and I could smelled my hair being singed. and hit the furnaces, making them glow red hot. Smaug then started slamming against the iron, and we knew that would hold for long. Then Thorin barked orders, getting Bombur to work the billows and then he yelled, "Ariana! Up there, on my mark pull that lever!"

I nodded and hurried where he had pointed. I had to hurry, one more hit and Smaug would be through. I wasn't sure what the others were doing, only that I had to put my faith and trust in Thorin. I had to put my trust in the man I loved.

0o0

I got to the lever as I heard Smaug crash through the grates and nearly had a heart attack when he came looking for us, and coming right for me. Not sure if he saw me yet I crouched down, waiting for Thorin's signal. Then I saw the brave fool face off with the dragon. He hollered, "Now!" and I grabbed the lever and pulled it down with all my strength.

Water burst from some open mouth Dwarf carving and hit Smaug right in the chest! Steam erupted from him and I gasped when it hit me. Smaug stumbled back and thrashed, roaring in fury. Then I saw the water going into scoops and the sound of machinery starting up reached my ears. But Smaug was still coming! It startled me when Gloin and Bifur started throwing bombs at Smaug from the buckets above and Dori and Ori were throwing them from the side of the cliff. It wasn't making a dent until Gloin gut the rope of bucket loaded with rock that smash Smaug down.

Thorin was yelling orders again but I couldn't hear him over Smaug's roars. Then I saw him pull a chain and molten gold flowed from the furnaces and down a trench. Smaug was getting tangled int eh cables when I heard Thorin yell for the other to lead Smaug somewhere. I hit the dirt when Smaug's tail nearly got me and then I saw Thorin running with a wheelbarrow! Having no idea what he was doing I saw him weaving through the stumbling Smaug and I nearly bit the dust when Smaug slammed into the section of rock I was standing on! I could only gap for a second as Thorin used it like boat when he dove into the trench!

Then I was hanging on the best I could onto the rock fell and then I rolled free of the rubble, only to catch the eye of Smaug! Thorin yelled as he made it to the tunnel, "Keep going Ariana! Run!"

And I did just that, as fast as I could I jumped onto a section of rock that sloped downward and slid just out of reach as Smaug snapped at me. I hit bottom and then raced into a great hall. Having no idea where I was I yelped as Smaug crashed through the wall, making enormous banners fall and land on top of me. I froze as Smaug stepped over me and snarled, "You think can deceive me, Thief of the Earth? You have come from Lake-town!" I peeked from under the banner as my stomach fell. Smaug snarled, "This is some sort of sordid scheme hatched between these filthy Dwarves and those miserable tub-trading Lakemen. Those sniveling cowards with their long bows and Black Arrows! Perhaps it is time I paid them a visit."

I cursed under my breath, "Oh no. Shit!"

unable to just sit and do nothing I shoved off the banner and leaped to my feet, "Oi! No! You can't! This isn't their fault you stupid lizard!" I didn't even care as Smaug turned that I was about to be eaten, if only if it stopped him. But it only made him pause, "You care about them? Good, then you can watch them die!" he turned away from me and I knew there was nothing I could do, and I HATED IT!

Then suddenly I heard Thorin yell, "Here! You witless worm!" Smaug paused and then turned, "You."

Thorin growled, standing on top of some kind of mold, "I will take back what you stole."

Smaug snarled, "You will take nothing from me Dwarf." I looked around frantically, not sure what Thorin was up to but I knew it wouldn't be enough. Then I saw a window, way up on the wall and it shone with moonlight. Luckily there was a banner next to it. I grabbed it and started climbing, vaguely hearing the dragon and Dwarf talk back to each other. I barely reached the window when I heard Thorin yell something in Dwarvish. I grasped the sill and watched as the braces on the mold was pulled away to reveal a gold statue that was even taller than Smaug!

I heard a twitter and turned, whistling frantically. The thrush from before flew up and I quickly told him to warn Bard and to tell him about the missing scale under the left wing. The thrush flew away as I heard Smaug yell, the gold statue not set and it splashed over him and drowned him in gold. At least for a moment, before Smaug burst from it and snarled, "Revenge!? I will show you revenge!" then burst through the front gates.

The force sent me off the wall but I managed to grasp the banner and slide down. Hitting the ground hard, I raced for where Smaug had crashed through and saw him fly towards Lake-town. I asked softly, ridden with guilt and fear for my friends still in Lake-town, for Bard and his family and those poor innocent people, "What have we done?"