Here is Chapter Ten, my hatchlings!

They have reached Lake Town, but they don't know what the danger lies ahead of them and it is nearly hours before the Day of Durin comes upon them and they need to reach to Erebor before it's too late.

So here we go!

Chapter 10: Lake Town and Journey to Erebor

The land was so foggy, barely seeing a thing through the fog as Bard drives the boat to the dwarve's destination, which was Lake Town and they need food, supply and weapons. The food and the supplies wouldn't be difficult, but weapons though...

Bard will have to think things through when they reach to Lake Town.

He saw fifteen aboard on his small ship, thirteen dwarves, a small Hobbit and a human, or at least he think she is human. Because there are no normal humans that were born with mismatched eyes. One that is cool like the lake and one that burns like dragon's fire.

"You." Bard said and Lily looks over at him. "Come over here for a moment."

She nods and went over to him, being careful of not to rock the boat. "...what is your accompany with the dwarves?" He asked and Lily looks over at them. "Well...it's a long story...but I need to help them on their quest, nothing more." She said, not wanting to tell him their true quest. Bard looks at her with a unconvinced look at her. "...you're not telling the truth, but I know that it is your loyalty to them. But I ask you...who are you really? I know that you are not human."

"...I am Kamon's great great granddaughter."

His eyes widen at the name and Lily smiled a bit. "...I take it that you know him?"

"Well...yes, my grandfather did...I didn't know that he had a granddaughter. So that means you're...? You're like him?"

"Yes...I am the Dragon Alpha...but I am still learning of it, and I can only do so much for now. But someone insisted me and my father to help them with their quest." She said and Bard looks over at Bilbo. "...he's your father?" He asked and Lily nods. "Well...adopted father. He found me when I was little and took me in and I've been with him ever since then." She smiled kindly at Bilbo, who was with Thorin and Dwalin during the time.

"...Brace yourself, Miss Baggins...we're near Lake Town." Bard said, avoiding some rocks that were ahead of them. "Are you trying to kill us!?" One of the dwarves shouted when they dodged rocks and Bard did not flinch, nor did he take his eyes off of the water while he steered. "If I wanted to kill you, I would not do it here." He simply said and Lily could see Lake Town through a fog.

"...Bard, the gate..." He saw the guards and he cursed under his breath. "...I have an idea. Can you transform into anything small?" He asked Lily and she nods. "Give me a moment." Lily closed her eyes and focused and her body starts to shrink down to a tiny dragon. She looks up at Bard and hurred, tilting her head.

"That will do." He said, nodding.

Lily perched up onto his shoulder while he instructed the dwarves and Bilbo into the barrels. "What are you-"

"I have an idea that will save all of our skins and get into Lake Town." Bard simply said. And with luck, he managed to bargain with a few fishermen with some fish they could use and were dumped into the barrels that the dwarves and her father were in and Lily shivered in disgust, glad not being in that situation. "Miss Lily...I need you to hide in my coat. Try to stay still as much as you can." Bard said and Lily nods, hiding inside of his coat and kept still like he ordered.

Lily could hear voices once the boat had stopped in front of the gates. Bard pats where Lily was hiding in his coat, which was near his left shoulder, nearby his upper left chest. She heard another voice that she did not like and wanted to growl, but she kept silent like she promised to Bard.

After a bit, she heard silent and she wanted to poke her head out to see what was happening and she took a tiny peek of what was happening. They were behind something while the dwarves and her father got out of the fish barrel, now smelling like fish and Bard patted Lily and she got out of his coat, hurring.

"We're almost there." Bard said and he gestured them to follow. Lily seemed to tense at the crowd and hid inside of Bard's coat once again and Bard patted her gently. "Don't worry...we're almost there." He whispered to her. She could hear muffles of the people around her and she clench her eyes shut, trying to shut it out and then...she heard silence.

She tensed. Something happened-

"Father, there you are!"

It sounded like a girl, probably no older than twelve to fourteen years old. And she can hear a young boy, who was probably twelve. "Let them in." Bard said to his son and he nodded, going to the back to let the dwarves in. "Lily, we're safe for the time being." Bard said and Lily climbed out and the daughter gasped at her, but it was nearly in fear and Lily gestured her to stay calm.

Lily jumps down onto the table and tried to think of something, then saw a drawing and started to sketch something, holding the pen with both of her tiny clawed hands and drew her a rose and gave it to her. "My name is Lily. What is your name?" Lily asked, smiling. "...Sigrid."

With the dwarves inside of the home, Bard gave them their promise...but the weapons...on the other hand...

"You took our money, now where are the weapons?" Thorin asked and Bard pulled a rope, emptying a compartment above the table and fell out was gardening tools and small materials for either knitting, ironing, and many other of items. "...we paid you for weapons...iron forged swords and axes!" Gloin said and Bard sighed, but glared at him. "You won't find better outside the city armoury! All iron forged weapons are all held there under lock and key."

Lily could tell that they had an idea and she groaned a bit. "...something tells me this won't end well..." Lily thought-

She felt herself being picked up, still being a small dragon, by Bard's son, Bain. Lily looks at him, tilting her head at him and hurred. He seemed hesitant and reached his hand out to her. Lily smiled, knowing what he wants to do and closed her eyes, pressing her head against his hand and purred. Bain smiled, petting her since he never seen a dragon so close before, let alone touch one.

But he seems happy with that, though. Even if it is a small dragon, it is an experience he will never forget. She then noticed how the dwarves were leaving and she looks over at Thorin and hurred, walking up to him. He sighs and picks her up gently. "...stay here where it's safe, Lily. We're going to get weaponry from the armoury in Lake Town.

"Thorin-"

"I'll be back." He kissed her forehead. "I promise."

Lily saw the dwarves gone and she waits for them to come...that is if they didn't get captured yet. She sighs, starting to close her eyes, falling asleep-

"OPEN UP!"

She jolted up, having her guard up and her pupils slit from the sudden jump. She heard the banging on the door and she looks over at it. There was someone at the door and she knew who they were. It was the guards, which also means...

...her father, Thorin and the others got captured and they were going to get her, but she will not go willingly without a fight. She transformed into a black dragon, her pupils slit when the guards burst the doors down and they stilled a bit when they saw her, Lily putting the children behind her, protecting them. She growled, baring her teeth while her pupils were slit and she hissed.

"D-Don't let it get you feared, men!" One said and Lily rolled her eyes. Apparently, they have NO knowledge on how to deal with a dragon. "Lily...I'm scared..." Tilda whispered and Lily looks over at her, her pupils wide and cooed. "It'll be alright, young one...I'll protect you." She said to her, even when she can't understand dragon tongue.

Lily growled louder at the guards, her pupils slit when they pointed the spears at her. "Children...come with us...we'll deal with the beast." One guard said. Of course, they shook their head and Lily looks over at them. She didn't want to risk them on getting hurt if the guards did try to attack her. So Lily snorts and gestured her head towards the guards at the girls.

"B-But Lily-"

Lily cooed at Tilda softly, saying that she'll be fine. So at hard as it was for the two, Sigrid and Tilda went over to the guards slowly and Lily glared at the guards when they pointed their swords at her. Her wings started to expand a bit, baring her teeth-

She felt ropes binding her and she roared in protest, about to ignite the guards in flames, but they started to bind her mouth so that she won't do anything to damage them, or worse kill them. She kept wiggling, trying to break free, but it was useless as they dragged her outside. She can hear gasps, mummers, and a few screams from the people of Lake Town that saw her being dragged by the guards.

She can see a crowd ahead and she knew that Thorin and the others were there, including Bard and she saw who rules Lake Town and by the looks of it, including his assistant, she doesn't like them at all. She could tell by how they act and how they were. "Sire!"

"What is it!? I'm dealing with trespassers!" The king yelled at the guards.

"...but we have something that will interest you even more." They pushed Lily in front of the crowd and they immediately backed up, gasping as Lily laid on her side, bounded by rope that keeps her from moving. And she could see the fear in the King and his assistant, Alfrid.

"W-What is the MEANING of this!?" The Master of Lake Town demanded, which Lily kept breathing through her snout, exhausted a bit from struggling to get free, but it was useless since they tied her up good. "Why is there a DRAGON IN LAKE TOWN!?" He asked again, the guards having their swords ready to kill her. She shifted her eyes a bit over at Thorin, who was shocked of the situation she got herself in, including her father and the other dwarves.

"We found it at the Bowman's home, sire." One guard said and Lily growled when she felt the tip of the sword on her skin. She shifted, her pupils starting to turn slit once again. Bilbo wanted to interfere, but Thorin placed his hand on his shoulder, telling him it wasn't a good idea. "Thorin, that's my daughter!" Bilbo whispered and Thorin sighs. "I know..."

"Bard! I demand to know why there was a dragon in your home!?" The Master of Lake Town yelled and Bard looks over at Lly. She looks at him, her pupils starting to turn wide at him and she silently whined at him. Bard sighs...

...but then walked forward, getting out a small knife and started to cut off the rope. "What are you-" The Master of Lake Town tried to get the guards to keep him away from the dragon, but Lily stood up and curled her tail around Bard protectively, shape-shifting to a larger dragon; the spikes on her tail expanded out in defense. She hissed, her pupils slit.

But Bard patted her snout and Lily looks at him. "...go over to the others..." He said and Lily nods, going over to Thorin and the others, some of the crowd backing up when she neared them. Thorin sighs, then placed his hand on her snout. "...what did I tell you about doing something reckless?" He asked and Lily smiled, turning normal and the crowd gasped, seeing a woman instead.

"...you have to remember, Thorin...I am an Alpha...so I'm probably going to do reckless things; regarding what you say to me." She shrugged, smiling and Thorin sighs.

"...I DEMAND TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE!?" The Master of Lake Town demanded once more. Thorin stood in front of them. "We are the Dwarves of Erebor...and we're here to reclaim our homeland." Thorin said, pointing at the mountain and that's when Bard interfered after what Thorin said. "DEATH! That is what you'll bring upon us! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale!?

"Let us remember that it was Girion-KING of Dale, YOUR ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!" The master yelled and Thorin and the others look at Bard, who looks down; avoiding everyone's gaze. Lily glared at the Master of Lake Town. "That is enough."

"How dare you speak to the master like that." Alfrid sneered at Lily and she got close to his face, her pupils slit. "...know your place, wyrm. Because as far as I can see...you two are worst in greed than Smaug." She hissed and backed away from him before she did something that she would regret. She then saw Bard's son coming up to them.

"Girion hit the dragon. He loosened a scale under his left wing. One more shot would have killed the beast." Bain said, but Dwalin placed a hand on his shoulder. "That is only a fairy tale, lad." He said and Lily sighs. "...it won't be necessary to kill him..." Lily said to the Master and he laughed at her.

"And WHY should we hear from you? You are just a girl, no...a witch...who probably has no knowledge of dragons." Lily took a deep breath to calm herself, then looks at the Master of Lake Town.

"...my name is Lilian Baggins, granddaughter of Kamon Draconis Haverlon and Alpha of the dragons! I am here with Thorin and company to calm Smaug and convince him to leave the Lonely Mountain. Every dragon can be convinced and I know that I can convince him to leave The Lonely mountain and Erebor forever." She said and she heard people murmuring about it under their breaths.

The Master just laughed loudly at her. "I'll believe that if you really are the granddaughter of Kamon. He never had a granddaughter." He laughed at her, including Alfrid and Lily sighed. "...you asked for it..." She thought.

She closed her eyes and focused. "Demon...can you find me?" She waits for a respond.

"...you know that I never left you, right?" A voice chuckled in her head and she smiled, hearing flaps of wings. Everyone backed up immediately, some yelling in the process when a snow white dragon hovered above them and lands. Demon smiled and slowly walked up to Lily, purring softly and Lily smiled, holding her hand out to him. He purred louder and closed his eyes, pressing his snout into the palm of her hand. She slowly starts to stroke the smooth, cool scales of her dragon friend and he purred louder.

"Lily...I know that you can succeed. Because every dragon can be convinced like you said. And if you can't...we'll find a different way to stop Smaug because killing him is not an option." He said, nuzzling her cheek and Lily smiled; hugging his head. Everyone was shocked and Thorin stood up. "Will you...share...in the great wealth of our people? What says you?" He asked and everyone murmured once more.

"I say unto you..." The Master said and Lily stood tense, Demon narrowing his eyes at the master until...she saw the Master of Lake Town smiling.

"KING UNDER THE MOUNTAIN!"

Lily heard the crowd cheering and she raised an eyebrow at Demon and he just snorts in disgust at the Master. He knows that it was just only for greed of the Lonely Mountain treasures of Erebor. But of course, the dwarves, Bilbo and surprisingly, Lily were given new winter clothings for their journey and they saw boat waiting for them. "May your return bring great fortune to all!" The Master shouted as Lily adjusted a saddle on Demon's back.

"Lily."

She looks over at Bard, who walked up to her. "...you really think you can convince the dragon to leave?" He asked, looking over at the mountain. Lily only sighed. "...I have to try...if I can't convince him...then I'll figure something else out." She said, placing her foot on one of the foot handles of the saddle and managed to get on Demon, sitting just above his shoulder blades and he shivered, snorting.

"...then I wish you luck..." Bard said, making Lily smiled. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I am sorry of what how the Master is treating you. I know that your ancestor did his best to defend Dale when Smaug attacked that day years ago. But as Alpha of the dragons...I know that good things will come to your way and the Master of Lake Town will get what he deserved."

That made Bard smiled. "Thank you...and good luck."

Lily nods and looks at Demon. "Follow Thorin, Demon." She said and Demon nods. He stood up and spread his handed bat-like wings. He stood on his hind legs and flapped his wings, slowly hovering above the ground before taking off, following Thorin's boat. This was the second time that she ridden a dragon, so this was fine with her.

After a few hours, the sun rising over the lake, they have reached their destination, Demon landing beside Thorin and the other dwarves, except for a few who had to stay behind Lake Town because Kili was injured, so Dori, Fili, and Bofur stayed behind to tend to Kili's injuries. They walked over a hill to see the destroyed city of Dale, which lied in ruins of the burnt marks and destruction from the powerful fire drake.

"The Desolation of Smaug..." Balin said, looking around the destroyed city. Lily's heart broke when she saw the destroyed city. Demon cooed sadly at her and she pets his head.

"The sun will soon reach midday. We must find the hidden door into the mountain before it sets. This way." Thorin said, starting to lead the others and Bilbo hesitated. "Wait, isn't this the overlook? Didn't Gandalf tell us to wait for him here?" He asked and Lily looks over at Thorin. "Thorin, he's right. Gandalf told us don't enter the mountain without him."

"We don't have time to wait for the wizard. Come!" Lily sighs, looking over at her father when she dismounted off of Demon, which he started to walk beside her through the village. "Demon...who could've thought...that one dragon..." She picks up a burnt doll. "...could do so much destruction." Demon cooed, nuzzling her cheek and managed to give her a small lick on the cheek.

"Lily, don't lag behind! Come on!" Thorin called out ad she looks over at him and nods. "Come on, Demon..." Lily said and Demon nods, following Lily. He then managed to scoop Lily up onto his back with his head and walked behind the group. Lily sighs, looking around the destroyed city until they saw the Lonely Mountain in front of them. "...the Lonely Mountain..."

"Anything!?" Thorin called out to the others when they were searching for the entrance to the Mountain. "Nothing!" Dwalin called out and Thorin growled in frustration, looking at the map. Demon started to sniff the air and looks up and Bilbo looks at his direction and gasped. "Up there!"

There was a small ledge to the mountain near the very top and Thorin nods. "You have keen eyes, Master Baggins." Thorin smiled, patting his back and Bilbo smiled a bit. "We'll travel up there." He then looks at Lily. "Lily...you and your dragon travel up to the ledge and try to find the entrance. We'll meet you up there." He said and Lily looks over at him. "Are you sure."

He nods and walks over to her, giving her a soft squeeze on her hand. "...go on."

Before Demon took off, Lily managed to give him a small kiss on his lips before he flew off. Thorin chuckled a bit before joining the others. Demon flew higher, Lily holding onto the nose of the saddle so that she can stay on the dragon's back until he landed on the small edge and Lily got off. "Okay...secret entrance...how hard can that be?" She asked, looking at Demon and he shrugged.

As Lily was looking for the entrance, she saw the others managed to climb up and got to where she was. "Let us all who doubted us, rue this day! Thorin shouted and they all look at him.

"Right then, we have a key." Dwalin said, thinking and Lily looks at him.

"Which that means...somewhere, is a key hole." Lily said, smiling and Dwalin nods at her. Lily could see the sun setting. They don't have a lot of time before Durin's day ends.

"We don't have a lot of time. Come on." Thorin said and everyone started to look, but it started to frustrate them all because they couldn't find it and the sun was setting even farther over the horizon. "Where is it?" Thorin asked, looking at the wall and tried to push the key into the wall. "It's no good!" Balin shouted as the others were yelling out in frustration. Where was the keyhole? "It won't open by force!"

"Guys..." Lily tried to say, but she was fallen to deaf ears.

She then saw their shoulders slump in defeat when the sun set over the horizon. It was too late. Durin's day is over.

"Thorin..." Lily looks over at him.

He looks at the key before he made it fall out of his hand and walked off, the others following. "Guys...we-we can't give up! Not when we came this far!" She said, Bilbo with her and she sighs sadly. "Dad...we made it so far...there's no way we can't quit now."

"I know, sweetie..." He said, sighing. He looks at the map. "...light of Durin's day..." Bilbo was pondering of it and she looks at him. "Dad?" She walked over to him as he kept thinking, looking at the map. "The last light...the last light..."

They both started to hear a knocking sound and they saw a Thrush pecking at a nearby stone. She looks over at the Thrush, then noticed something and gasped. "Dad...they keyhole." He looks over and she was right.

When the full moon light shined down on the entrance, there was a keyhole. "Last light...Dad, the last light of Durin's day was the moon light!" She smiled and Bilbo smiled, then remembered. "Wait! Come back! It's the light of the moon! The last moon of autumn!" Bilbo shouted, hoping that the dwarves would hear him. Then he stilled, wondering where the key was. "Lily, the key!"

"Right!"

They both started to look for it, under the leaves and pebble of the ground they stood. When Lily saw the key and was about to pick it up, she felt a hand on hers and she looks up to see Thorin and she smiled. "Thorin..."

He smiled back and he picks up the key, helping Lily off the ground and walked over to the entrance. So slowly, he entered the key into the keyhole and turned it. Then, a click was heard and the rock that stood in front of them and a small entrance was soon discovered and the dwarves were cheering of the entrance. It's not too late to save their kingdom.

As they entered inside, Lily pets Demon good-bye and he flew back to the Sanctuary, then Lily followed the others inside of the entrance. She looks around, seeing the markings on the walls of Erebor. "I know these walls..." Thorin whispered and Lily looks over at him. She then looks over at Balin, who was looking at a marking on the wall. "May the heart of the Mountain unite all dwarves. The Arkenstone..." Lily looks at her father, who was also looking at the marking on the wall that represented the Arkentsone; the heart of the Lonely Mountain.

"And what's that?" Bilbo asked.

"That, Master Baggins, is why you are here." Thorin said-

"Wait."

They all look at Lily, who stepped forward. "...I don't think it's a good idea of sending my father in there. Send me instead. I'm going to find Smaug and see if I can make him leave the mountain first." She said. Thorin wanted to protest, including Bilbo, but Lily shook her head. "Don't talk me out of it. It is my destiny to convince Smaug to leave and hopefully, tame him. Let me do this, Thorin...please..."

He sighs deeply before walking over to her. "...are you sure?"

"Yes, Thorin. I am." She said and he sighs. "...alright..."

She smiled before hugging him tightly and he hugged her just as tight in return. "...be careful, Lily..." He whispered and she nods.

"I will, Thorin..."

He pulled away enough to kiss her and she kissed back, pulling him closer into the kiss. Of course, it shocked everyone in the room, mostly her father. She soon pulled away, pressing her forehead to his and he lets her. After awhile, she pulled away and looks at the entrance that goes deeper into the Mountain. She took a deep breath before walking inside.

Balin walked with her until they were near the entrance of the treasure room. "...stay safe, lass...there is a live dragon in there." He said and Lily nods, smiling. "I will, Balin..." Before he left, she managed to give the dwarf a hug and he smiled, patting her back with one arm and she pulled away, watching Balin walking away; leaving her by herself.

This was it.

There was no turning back.

She took a deep breath and walked in, going to convince the Fire Drake, Smaug to leave the Mountain.

Okay, it took me a few moments or so to write this chapter.

But in the next chapter, Lily goes to confront Smaug the Magnificent himself. And he was the very same Fire Drake that destroyed Dale and taken over Erebor. Can Lily succeed and convince Smaug to leave the Mountain forever?

Or will Lake Town be his next target to bring death and destruction on?

Until then,

BlackDragon157.