Happy New Year my fellow readers!
So here in this chapter Lenora does meet Smaug. To avoid confusion Lenora is a wolf skin changer like Beorn, unlike her being a wolf he's a black bear lmao?Lenora's people are not loyal to the orcs. Thanks Mjoern for pointing that out, the wolves that the orcs ride are the Wargs, and Lenora's kind have longer tails than the Wargg. Also Tobias was very close friends with Thranduil which is why he is kind towards Lenora. The conversation between Lenora and Smaug was inspired from when Bilbo meets said fire drake original dialogue belongs to J.R.R Tolkein and anyone else if I missed anything I only own my characters!
So where are you from young one?" the inn keeper at Laketown asked as Lenora finished paying the woman the gold for her room.
"From outside Mirkwood" Lenora answered the inn keeper back with smile before she gathered her things and headed towards her room. The five day journey had not been an easy one, once she parted ways from Gandalf the she-wolf had been followed by Azog's soldiers. One night when she had been asleep the mare lent to her by Thranduil had shrieked and Lenora woke to find herself once more surrounded by orcs. Lenora was quick to kill every one before she hurriedly gathered her belongings and got onto her mare and galloped off into the night. That ambush had been two days ago and no other orcs had followed her since then.
As Lenora passed through the forest of Mirkwood, she kept both eye and ear out for other dark creatures such as the spiders. The arachnids as usual stayed away so they wouldn't be slaughtered. Once out of the forest Lenora found a human making rounds with the elves from Mirkwood, once a month they would exchange goods. The female elf named Tauriel watched when Lenora came upon her and her soldiers. The human happened to be a local fisherman as well and Lenora gave him a large amount of gold for him to take her into Laketown on his barge. Before departing the she-wolf returned the mare to Tauriel and thanked the female captain along with the other elves who worked under her for their kindness and hospitality. Now after a long night boat ride through the lake, Lenora had managed to get into the small city on water.
She frowned when she smelled fish on her flesh and she knew immediately she needed to bathe. The last time she did so was a couple of days ago. The she-wolf spent a long time in the warm water in the bath that had been prepared for her, before she turned in for the night. Lenora woke in the morning to hear a bell ringing signaling the dawn of a new day. Growling Lenora sat up not caring the sheet which was the only thing covering her body pooled at her waist. Laketown's main ways of getting around was boats, but that didn't mean there weren't horses.
However her gold was getting low and Lenora needed a good horse to take her all the way to the top of the Lonely Mountain as well as food rations, and other things. The mere thought of entering the mountain made Lenora scared. Growing up she learned of the tales of Smaug and how bloodthirsty he could be. If he could wipe out a whole entire city of and take over Erebor, she would have to be careful. Shaking her head the skin changer stood up and got out of bed to dress. She had washed some of her clothes while she traveled through Thranduil's forest and they would be good for another few days. She pulled out the same dress she wore when she met Gandalf, along with the same pants and boots.
She opened the window in her room and sniffed the air. It was warm enough to not need a cloak; she quickly gathered her things before departing from the inn. She had a quick breakfast of fish, rice, and bread before walking towards the local stable. Lenora had to examine the many choices of horses and she finally chose a black stallion, with a silver mane and tail. He was a beautiful beast and Lenora sensed he was powerful. The owner of the horse gladly took the gold Lenora offered him, because according to him the horse was stubborn and didn't bring in much money. When she would reach the entrance of the mountain she would release the stallion so he wouldn't become a meal for the dragon within.
"I shall call you Ancalagon" Lenora whispered into the stallion's ear. The horse blew into her hair which was loose and she chuckled. Ancalagon was once a huge black dragon that lived many years ago and was considered to be the greatest dragon of all Middle Earth until his downfall by Earendil. Lenora chose this name because of how strong the black stallion looked and she was right. Once he was saddled, Lenora climbed on Ancalagon's back and kicked his sides. The horse reared onto his back legs before stomping back into the ground and he took off in a hard gallop and thus beginning the path to the Lonely Mountain. Throughout her riding, Lenora and Ancalagon's bond grew.
The stallion not only proved to be a strong climber, but also a fierce protector from predators. At the end of each day when Lenora would stop to camp for the night, she would take off Ancalagon's saddle and reins to give him a good brushing. The stallion would always stomp his feet in pleasure as he was brushed. Afterwards Lenora would let him eat whatever grass was around. At first light Anacalagon would be saddled back up and the two would continue the path up the vast mountain. By mid-afternoon on the seventh day Lenora and Ancalagon came upon the ruins of Dale. The city that once must have been beautiful was now burned to ashes. Lenora's heart began to beat hard when she saw the entrance to Erebor. She was this close to finding Jura and even now she felt her beloved sword was close.
Ancalagon whinnied nervously as though he knew what happened in Dale; Lenora comforted him by talking gently into his ear and clucked to him. The stallion blew out of nose before beginning to walk forward. The climb down from the cliff wasn't easy; several times Ancalagon almost lost his footing due to the earth underneath his hooves being so steep. Upon entering Dale, Lenora looked all around her and felt a huge amount of sadness. Many children had died here, some probably no older than three. The thought of the dragon killing such innocent lives angered her greatly. As she led Ancalagon through the ruins her anger only spiked. If she met up with the damned beast within the mountain, she would gladly kill him if she could. The duo came upon the entrance to Erebor at sunset and Lenora got off of Ancalagon finally.
"Bloody hell it's cold up here" the she-wolf growled. Despite it being early spring it was freezing. Of course she was wearing only a grey top that had straps on the shoulders, which matched with her black pants and boots. Wolf skin changers could tolerate temperatures better than humans but tonight wasn't for Lenora. After starting a fire, Lenora brushed down Ancalagon and allowed him to feed before she fished out her rations.
"This is the last time we shall be together my friend" Lenora said to the stallion. The horse perked his head up at her and he whinnied at her as though agreeing. Lenora watched as the sunset and night took over. Tonight the moon was full and many stars came out. One of the many things the she-wolf enjoyed and missed doing with her father was stargazing. The thought of her father's death made her fight back tears. Once she retrieved Jura, she would hunt down Azog and kill him. She wanted the orc to suffer like her father did when he died. As though sensing her grief Ancalagon walked over to her and lowered himself onto the earth behind her back. His legs tucked underneath his huge form, he nuzzled the she-wolf's face gently and Lenora placed a hand onto his head. She would miss the stallion's company dearly, that night both skin changer and horse slept against one another's flesh not only to keep warm, but as a last bonding moment between them.
The sun woke both the stallion and she-wolf next morning due to its fierce rays. Lenora cursed and pulled her cloak onto her face to block the damn thing's light. She was still tired and was not ready to get up. Ancalagon moved his head to block the light and Lenora smiled before she was able to sleep once more. By the time she woke it was late morning, and the shape shifter knew she had to get up. She wanted to enter the mountain while the dragon slept. Lenora ate a quick meal of deer meat she saved from killing a stag a few days ago. The taste of the deer meat's blood mad Lenora take a quick drink of water before she pulled on her cloak. She then turned to Ancalagon and brought his huge head towards her. The stallion's snout rested against Lenora's forehead.
"I shall miss you my friend" the skin changer said to the horse. Ancalagon blew a breath into her face and he pressed his huge head over her shoulder. Lenora wrapped her arms around the stallion's neck and the two of them stayed like that for another few minutes. Finally Lenora pulled away and she gently smacked Ancalagon's hind quarters and the horse reared onto his back legs before he galloped away. Lenora watched as the stallion ran like the wind out of Dale and finally out of sight before she picked up the saddle and reins and hid them before she returned to gather her belongings.
Once her supplies and weapons were secure the she-wolf began to walk towards the entrance of Erebor. As she entered the Gallery of the Kings, did Lenora shiver. The halls of the fallen dwarf kingdom sent chills down her spine, like outside, inside of the mountain death was felt. The hallway was dark and worse it was freezing.
"I should have worn something warmer" Lenora growled as she left the hallway. As she did, she felt Jura calling to her. Lenora felt its pull through many tunnels and different passages until she finally came upon the room that took her breath away. Mountains of gold coins, many colored gems stones, crystals and who else knows what looked back at her.
"Bloody hell" was all the she-wolf could say as she stared back at the large amounts of treasure. No wonder Thror Oakenshield lost his mind, hell even she would learn to crave this amount of gold. Lenora shook her head and looked around for Jura. Her heart nearly came out her chest as she saw her beloved blade hanging from its strap on two iron hooks a good few feet away. Even better there were steps near her blade as well. Lenora looked around and saw no sign of Smaug and she smirked. The dragon was either out hunting or asleep.
I hope he's asleep the she-wolf thought in her mind as she quietly climbed down the stone steps. When her boots made contact with the coins, Lenora cursed. If she wasn't careful the damn dragon might hear her. She waited for a few moments before she sensed it was safe. She was careful to walk lightly on the coins; each step was one step closer to getting Jura back. Finally Lenora came upon the steps and she quietly climbed the stone stairs and made her way to her sword.
"There you are" Lenora said to her beloved blade as she came upon it. She grasped both ends of the scabbard and quietly lifted Jura free from its post. Lenora quickly put the sword's strap onto her back and tightened it before she turned to leave. The she-wolf was about to head down the steps when she heard many coins moving. The shape shifter froze and turned to her left and her eyes bugled out of their sockets. Something very big was making the coins move forward like a mini avalanche, and as some of them fell did she caught sight of a scaly eyelid that was closed.
Smaug as she suspected was sound asleep most likely he moved his huge head without realizing it. Lenora remained still her blue eyes never leaving the eyelid. After a few moments she decided it was smart to get the hell out of there. When she walked down the steps she heard a huge snort of air and it was the dragon breathing in his sleep. The she-wolf boots finally met with the coins again and she began to head towards where she put her other weapons and supplies.
However Lenora only walked a few feet when something made her turn around. She looked back towards Smaug's left eye which was still shut. Then she almost cursed out loud as the eyelid began to move and Lenora quickly scattered to hide. She hid herself behind a stone column and she peered around it remaining out of sight. She watched as the scaly eyelid opened to reveal a beautiful golden eye with a black slit in its center.
Great now I woke him up Lenora said in her mind. The dragon's eye looked back and forth most certainly searching for her. Dragon's had a sense of small better than wolves and no doubt he knew she was here. Smaug blinked before the coins began to move. Lenora could only watch in amazement as Smaug's huge head finally emerged from his bed of coins. Coins fell off of from the fire drake's garnet red scales; he had several horns all over his head. Underneath his neck were golden scales encrusted with gems. Smaug sniffed the air before he opened his great mouth to reveal sharp fangs. A deep growl escaped his throat and it made Lenora shiver.
"Well" the dragon began. His voice was deep and it held power. "Thief"
The dragon closed his eyes for a second before opening them once more and sniffed the air. Lenora noticed he only had four limbs, his front claws attached to his wings.
"I smell you, I hear your breath, I feel your air" Lenora cursed in her mind as the dragon moved towards her hiding spot. "Where are you?"
Lenora remained silent as Smaug made his way towards where Jura had been hanging. The dragon sniffed the spot where the sword once hung, and he slowly turned his way towards her. She peered around the corner once more so she could watch where the dragon would go next. Smaug then began to use his wing like claws to walk forward and she uttered a quiet sigh of relief as the dragon walked his huge body past her.
"Come now don't be shy" the fire drake coaxed. "Step into the light"
Like hell I'm going to expose myself you overgrown lizard! Lenora thought in her mind. As though he heard her, Smaug turned his huge head towards the column she hid behind. He sniffed the air once more and he turned his huge body around making his way towards her.
S**T! the she-wolf cursed in her mind and she quickly hurried to the other side of column just as Smaug came upon the hiding spot she just left.
"There is something about you, something you carry, something that you treasure close to your heart, something far more precious"
Lenora held her breath and hoped to hell the dragon would look somewhere else so she could make a run for it. Then she turned around and watched as the great dragon's head came around the corner and both dragon and she-wolf looked into each other's eyes, gold amongst blue.
"There you are thief in the shadows" Smaug greeted Lenora. Without thinking Lenora drew out Jura and placed the sword point beneath the stone ground that the column rested on. Then she placed both hands on the sword's handle and she got down and bowed to the dragon.
"I did not come to steal from you Lord Smaug; my apologies if I disturbed your rest I only came to retrieve my blade" Lenora felt Smaug's hot breath against her face. She then looked back into his left golden eye and it was beautiful. "I hoped to not wake you but it appears even the smallest noise awakens the great beast within this mountain, now that I gaze into your presence your magnificence it appears you are as great as the old tales say, I didn't believe them at first"
Smaug growled before he pulled his huge head away and she watched as he turned his huge form around and she walked away from the column. She watched him walk his way out in front of her and she watched in awe as he turned around finally.
"And do you now?!" his voice boomed out. Lenora was breathless; the great creature in front of her was beautiful. Garnet red scales shimmered amongst the many gold coins.
"Truly the tales and songs have fall utterly short of your enormity O' Smaug the Stupendous" Lenora answered truthfully.
"Do you think flattery will keep you alive young one?" Smaug inquired at Lenora.
"Most certainly not" Lenora replied right away.
"You're are brave I will admit to that" Smaug then turned his body slightly. "You seem familiar with my name but I don't remember smelling your kind before" Smaug then snaked his huge head towards her. "Who are you and where do you come from may I ask?"
Lenora didn't respond right away, she knew dragon's wielded magic and telling him her name wouldn't be good. However since her life was being risked she decided to not anger the fire drake further.
"I am Lenora Black and I come from the wood"
"From the wood?" Smaug asked in genuine curiosity arching his great head sideways in a questioning manner. Lenora nodded and she swore she felt her face turn red. Smaug eyed her for a second before he ventured his head closer. She nearly had a heart attack as his snout was in front of her and she felt him sniff her.
"Tell me young one are you a skin changer?" the dragon asked.
"You can tell just by my scent?"
"I have come across several shape shifters in my many years and the last I met upon a wolf skin changer was a century ago" Smaug then pulled his head away from Lenora a few feet back. His golden eyes eyed the sword she clutched tightly.
"What do you know of that sword you hold?" he asked. Lenora looked to Jura for a moment before looking back to Smaug.
"It belonged to my mother"
"I see tell me what was your mother's name child?" Lenora felt a little annoyed the dragon called her that.
"Katla, Katla Black" at the mention of her mother's name Smaug eyes widened. The dragon was silent before asking once more.
"How does she fare now these days?" It was Lenora's eyes this time that widened.
"You knew her?"
"Indeed I did, but you refuse to answer my question she-wolf" Smaug stated with a warning growl.
"My apologies but my mother died giving birth to me" as soon as those words left her lips, Smaug let out a roar. The whole room shook and the roar sounded like he was grieving. Then the male fire drake looked back to Lenora's form.
"My apologies if I hurt your ears" the dragon said. Lenora only nodded and she began to walk her ways towards the way from which she came but Smaug only growled and he blocked her path with his huge tail. Lenora looked to the dragon with a confused look.
"I am afraid I cannot let you leave my dear"
"Excuse me?!" Lenora yelled now feeling angry. Smaug opened his mouth revealing his sharp fangs and she realized he was smirking at her. He bent his neck downwards and his head came before her face.
"If I let you go you might bring others here and besides your fire amuses me"
"I am not a possession that you can keep damn it!" Lenora snarled back, her eyes now flashing gold and her fangs bared.
"Tell me Lenora do you know the sword you wield is a dragon fang?" Smaug questioned at her in amusement. Lenora eyes widened at his statement.
"What do you mean?" the she-wolf demanded looking to Jura's blade.
"The blade is from your own mother young one she was a dragon, she most likely sealed your dragon half away before she died"
At that comment Lenora dropped Jura. This bastard had to be lying!
Her father would have told her if her own mother was in fact a dragon. Then it hit her, if Smaug was telling the truth, and it looked like he was no wonder her father never spoke of such a thing. It was rare for a true mate outside of one's species, but it did happen. And this would explain why she used fire that one time.
"If I stay what do I get in return?" Lenora finally asked looking back into Smaug's beautiful eyes.
"I will tell you everything you wish to know about Katla and of course much more, I intend to make you my mate" that comment got Lenora to blush even harder.
"You should know how a mating bond works Smaug" Lenora said flatly.
"Indeed I do, but I feel you are meant to be mine" Smaug purred. What happened next made Lenora's heart almost burst out of her chest. Smaug's black tongue came out from his mouth and it licked her face in affection.
"You are a beautiful creature Lenora Black child of my mentor" Smaug purred seductively as he pulled his tongue away.
"You're not such a bad looking creature yourself" Lenora then clamped a hand to her mouth not believing she just said that. Smaug chuckled lightly and he then nudged Lenora forward with his head.
"I shall take you some dwarf quarters that are suitable for your stay here young one and as for my comment about accusing of being a thief my apologies the sword does in fact belong to you"
"Uh okay" Lenora said before she picked up Jura. Smaug then lifted his head up and looked towards the entrance where she came in from. He bent his neck downwards and scooped her sack of supplies. As he held the sack in his fangs he looked to her in amusement. Lenora only sighed and she thought how on earth she was going to deal with living with such a creature, yet alone one that intended to have her as his.
0.0 I was blushing when I wrote the conversation between Lenora and Smaug. Also we won't see the last Ancalagon he'll be back. I liked the name and the original Ancalagon belongs to J.R.R. Tolkein!
Hope you enjoyed the new chapter and please review!