All dialogue belongs to Peter Jackson, Warner Bros., and Tolkien.
Black Speech is in italics.
T.A. 2941
"How much further?" the hobbit asked, trudging up the snowy, rocky hill. His blue coat was much too big for him and hung down below his knees. His hairy feet kept him warm from the snow, but he was still not used to extreme hiking, even after going this far.
"The gate should be just ahead," the leader turned and said to him. He tenderly held the worn map in his huge hands. The sun was behind them now. "Dori! Keep up! We're running short on time!" he yelled behind him. His thick black beard was fluttering in the wind. The setting sun warmed their backs, but when the shadow of the mountain fell over them, it became quite cold. Bilbo tucked his sleeves into each other.
The Company was very spread apart. Bilbo stayed close to Thorin while the others walked alone. As they came closer to the mountain, however, they pulled closer to each other. Thorin stopped. The others did as well. The sun was very close to going behind the mountain, and Thorin was getting worried. He ordered everyone to look for a stairway carved into the side of the mountain. The Dwarves split up and began frantically looking at the steep cliffs above their heads. Bilbo squinted and walked sideways, leaning slightly. Then, he saw it. A huge Dwarf statue stood on the side of the peak, a long staircase carved into it. He yelled for Thorin and pointed. Thorin ran over to Bilbo and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"You have keen eyes, Master Baggins!" he said with glee. Bilbo looked at him, realizing that it was one of the only times he had ever seen the leader of the company smile. Thorin gestured for the other groups to rejoin them, and they made their way to the hidden door.
…
Bilbo reached his gloved hand up and grabbed the final step. His small satchel tossed around on his back and Sting's hilt clinked on the gray stone wall. With a great effort, he pulled himself up. Regaining his feet, he walked to the back of the group of Dwarves.
"This must be it. The hidden door," Thorin said quietly, looking at the map in his hands. A tall, relatively flat wall of stone rose over the Company. Bilbo looked up in amazement, then turned around and saw the beautiful orange sunset behind him. He let out a satisfied chuckle. "Let all those who doubted us, rue this day!" Thorin's voice rose loudly as he held up the key. The rest of the Dwarves broke out in cheer. Bilbo turned back around. His stomach flipped slightly with excitement. This was it. They had reached their destination.
Dwalin exited the crowd and began to feel the wall for a keyhole. Thorin and Balin chatted amongst themselves in anticipation. Bilbo stood watching. Nori was called up now, clinking on the wall for an echo or hollow spot. Dwalin began to aggressively kick the stone in frustration. Nori muttered at Dwalin. Bilbo could feel the confusion and despair emanating from the Dwarves.
"Break it down!" Thorin commanded. Half of the Company approached the door with hammers and axes and began hacking away at the stone. Thorin looked impatiently at the setting sun and tapped his boot on the ground.
…
Several distant clinks echoed through the dormant silence like a needle dropping on the floor. The piles of gold stretched endlessly into the dark abyss that was once a great kingdom. A louder clink shot through the halls of Erebor. With a great swooshing sound, a massive pile of gold moved and turned, then settled down once more. The moment the Dragon had been waiting over two hundred years for was about to play out, right under his snout.
…
"You can't give up now!" Bilbo shouted after Thorin. The sun was set, and the sky was inky blue, slowly becoming black. Many clouds inched over the stars. Bilbo sighed and looked at the key lying helplessly on the ground. He was shocked. For many moments, he remained facing the direction in which the Dwarves had left. I will not give up this easily. There must be a way. What did we miss…? Bilbo thought. He muttered the moon rune translation to himself, pacing in circles, stumbling about, stroking his chin and thinking. "The last light. The last…light," he said. Then, looking up in the sky, he saw the clouds part in one place, revealing a huge, bright, and silver full moon. A small clicking caused him to turn back towards the wall. A thrush sat upon a rock, smashing a snail shell onto the stone. Bilbo's head spun as he saw all of the puzzle pieces fitting together before his eyes. A thick band of pure moonlight landed on the wall. "The last light!" Bilbo laughed, not believing his eyes. The white light revealed a tiny crevice, with a hole shaped just like the key. Bilbo ran to the edge of the cliff. "Come back! Come back! It's the light of the moon! The last moon of autumn! Ha!" he felt very proud of himself and gestured towards the moon with the map, a wide grin on his face. Then, he remembered that the key was still on the ground. "Where is the key? Where is the key? Where's the…" he whispered to himself, spinning rapidly in circles. "It was here. Come on. It was just…" he muttered, spinning around.
Bilbo watched in slow-motion. His heart leapt to his throat as he saw that he had kicked the key towards the edge of the cliff. His mouth was agape. Tink! Tink! Thud! A great iron boot stomped upon the string attached to the key, suspending it off of the cliff. Bilbo watched as Thorin carefully slid down, plucking the key from under his foot. He lifted it up and smirked at Bilbo. He valiantly faced the wall, key in hand. Suddenly, all of the Dwarves lined up with Thorin, staring blankly at the keyhole. Bilbo stumbled backwards as Thorin strode up to the wall. He inserted the key and turned it. A low, stony grinding sound echoed from deep within the wall. Thorin stepped back, and pushed on the door with all of his might.
One creak, one single crack, one sliding of a stone door would leave a lake city in flames, and the Line of Durin wiped out. No one knew.
The Dwarves walked into the hall. Some felt like ghosts returning to their home. The hallway was very dark. Bilbo was at the back. He suddenly felt uneasy as he entered. Something else was here.
…
Bilbo and Balin separated from the group, walking further down the hall.
"You want me to find a jewel?" Bilbo asked. He had left his satchel and gloves behind.
"A large, whit jewel, yes," Balin nodded, his long snowy beard shaking.
"That's it? Only I imagine there's quite a few down there," Bilbo said, peeking around the corner.
"There is only one Arkenstone. And you'll know it when you see it," Balin smiled and patted Bilbo on the shoulder.
"Right…" Bilbo said nervously. Balin stopped and sighed.
"In truth, lad…I do not know what you will find down there. You needn't go if you don't want to. There's no dishonor in turning back."
"No Balin…" Bilbo's voice cracked. "I promised I would do this. And I think I must try." Balin smiled and chuckled to himself.
"It never ceases to amaze me."
"What's that?"
"The courage of Hobbits," Balin grinned. "Go now, with as much luck as you can muster." Bilbo began to tiptoe down the old hallway. "Oh. And Bilbo?" Balin asked.
"Hm?" Bilbo turned to face him.
"If there is, in fact, a…live Dragon down there…don't waken it," Balin's voice took a tone of seriousness. Bilbo nodded slowly and gulped. He started down the hall again, but turned back. Balin was gone. He looked back to the hallway and began to walk again.
…
Bilbo came to the edge of the hallway. He could see that he had entered a large cavernous room. With several tender steps, he walked to the edge of a stairway.
There was nothing but gold as far as the eye could see. Ancient Dwarvish pillars shot into the air in random places, supporting the ceiling of the massive room. He made his way down the stairs and stepped up to the pile of gold.
The silence here was unnerving. He felt very uneasy. Some other living presence was here, he knew it. Dragon? his mind taunted him. He shook his head furiously and took a step onto the treasure horde. The coins were very cool, and clinked together as he took steps gingerly. Bilbo saw a white gem at his feet. He picked it up. Realizing it was not what he was looking for, he tossed it to the side. It crashed into a pile of coins, breaking the silence. Bilbo was very startled.
"Arkenstone…Arkenstone. A large white jewel. Very helpful…" he whispered, looking around at the ridiculous amount of treasure.
Bilbo spent what seemed like an eternity rummaging through old chests. Eventually, on a lumpier portion of gold, he saw a beautiful golden chalice. He smiled and picked it up. The gold began to slide down, making a rushing sound similar to that of water. Bilbo looked up.
For a moment, his brain froze. He could not comprehend what was before him. Then, he realized that it was a huge, scaly eyelid. His face went blank. The eyelid shot open without warning, revealing a big amber colored eye. Bilbo crouched to the ground. The eye blinked several times, and then the gold began to move. An entire body was climbing out of the pile. Bilbo panicked and dropped the chalice. The head moved, and was about to make eye contact with the small creature. Bilbo tapped his pockets quickly and whimpered. He pulled the ring out of his pocket and slid it onto his finger in a hurry. He was safe from view now.
The rushing of the gold stopped, but was replaced with a loud, heavy breathing. He could feel something behind him.
"Well…thief…" a menacing and extremely deep and reptilian voice echoed into the darkness. The gold shifted, and Bilbo could tell that he was moving. He ran up the pile of gold and stood against a pillar, trying his best to breathe quietly.
He was dwarfed by the beast. He was barely taller than the bottom of its snout. The great head looked sideways around the pillar, its nostrils moving back and forth rapidly. His head was covered in golden red scales. Some short, scaled spikes protruded from the top of his head and the bottom of his jaw. His long neck seemed to wrap around the stone pillar.
"I…smell you. I hear your breath. I feel your air. Where are you?" the Dragon asked. His head moved right in front of Bilbo's small body. "Where are you?" he asked demandingly. Bilbo stayed frozen against the cool stone, the ring on his finger. The world was distorted to his vision, waving and rippling. "Come now, don't be shy. Step into the light," Smaug said as he looked around the gold.
Smaug was annoyed to be woken from his sleep. He was even more angered when he heard the faint whisper in the back of his mind.
"I…can see someone…" Sauron sounded alarmed. "Someone is there…against the pillar." Smaug looked suspiciously at the pillar in front of his snout. Sauron took the reins of his consciousness and began speaking through him.
"There is…something about you. Something you carry. Something made of gold," Sauron leaned Smaug's body towards the Hobbit. "But far…more…precious…" Bilbo heard the word ringing in the void. He felt strange. Something deep and dark was stirring inside of the Dragon. He began shaking his head violently.
Suddenly, a great eye, formed from flames assaulted his mind. Bilbo panicked and pulled off the ring. Smaug felt his own consciousness return as he saw the thief appear.
"There you are, thief in the shadows," he hissed, hearing 'ash nazg' echo and fade from his ears. He knew what Sauron was after. Bilbo held the ring in his fingers, ready to put it back on at a moment's notice. He stared in terror at the beast in front of him.
"I did not come to steal from you, oh Smaug…" the creature continued to speak, but Smaug heard another voice.
"Burn him where he stands! You know what is between his fingers!" Sauron hissed. Smaug waited for an opportune moment.
"…I merely wanted to gaze upon your magnificence. To see if you really were as great as the old tales say. I did not believe them," the short person whimpered at the end. Smaug rushed through the gold and stood on his back feet, stretching out his wings.
"And do you now?" he growled loudly. Bilbo looked in horror at the size of the Dragon. He stuttered and stammered for a moment.
"Truly. The tales and songs fall utterly short of your enormity, oh Smaug, the stupendous," the Hobbit said gingerly and shook his head. Smaug looked curiously at the small creature and grinned slightly.
"Do you think flattery will keep you alive?" he asked, coming closer to the Hobbit once more.
"No. No…" Bilbo said nervously, trying his hardest to act calm. Smaug huffed.
"No indeed. You seem familiar with my name, but I don't remember smelling your kind before," the Dragon sniffed the air lightly. "Who are you? And where do you come from? If I may ask…" he questioned curiously. Bilbo opened his mouth, but peripherally saw a misty glowing. He turned his head slightly. That was it. That was the Arkenstone. The Dragon was waiting impatiently.
"Snaga! You are wasting your time! Kill him!" Sauron shrieked. Smaug wanted to play with his food first. He liked the creature, but only slightly. He knew why he was here, and who was with him. Today was the day.
"I…I come from Underhill," Bilbo said warily, attempting a few small steps towards Thorin's prize.
"Underhill?" Smaug asked, intrigued. Bilbo nodded and glanced at the Arkenstone again.
"And under hills and over hills my path has led. And through the air, I am he who walks unseen," Bilbo told the Dragon, nervously looking to his right. He jumped as Smaug leaned in and spoke right in front of Bilbo's tiny nose.
"Impressive…what else do you claim to be?" Smaug hissed, intentionally baring his massive fangs. The Hobbit got chills at the sight of them, and smelled the Dragon's old and putrid breath.
"I am lu-luck wearer…rid-riddle maker…" Bilbo stammered apprehensively.
"Lovely titles. Go on," Smaug told the Hobbit to continue.
"Barrel rider," Bilbo smiled.
"Enough games! Kill him, or you are next!" Smaug shook off the voice. He was determined to find Thorin. He knew he was here.
"Barrels?" he asked, faking exasperation. "Now that is interesting. And what about your little Dwarf friends?" he spat. "Where are they hiding?" Bilbo feigned a chuckle and shook his head.
"Dwarves? No, no, no. No Dwarves here. You've got that all wrong!" he faked miserably.
"Oh, I don't think so…barrel rider," Smaug bared his fangs once more and hissed. "They sent you in here to do their dirty work while they skulk about outside!" he yelled. Bilbo attempted once more.
"Truly, you are mistaken, oh Smaug, chiefest and greatest of calamities." Smaug turned his back to Bilbo and began to bellow. Bilbo sneaked through the gold towards the Arkenstone as Smaug went into a rage. He remembered Raug, and was desperate to watch Oakenshield burn and die before him.
"Did you think I would not know this day would come? When a pack of canting Dwarves would come crawling back to the mountain!" Smaug turned and saw what Bilbo was after. Just as the Hobbit reached for the stone, Smaug whipped his tail through the gold, and Bilbo went sliding down the pile, his slightly curly brown hair flying behind him and the Arkenstone bouncing down the slope before him.
"Yes!" the deep voice squealed in Smaug's ears. He went down to see where the Hobbit vanished to. He stomped through the coins.
"The King under the Mountain is dead! I took his throne! I ate his people like a wolf among sheep," Smaug roared and growled. Bilbo desperately tried to grasp the object bouncing before his feet. "I kill where I wish, when I wish! No blade can pierce me. My armor is iron!" he yelled through Erebor. That was a false statement, he knew. He worried that Thorin might have a black arrow with him. "It's Oakenshield! That filthy Dwarvish usurper! He sent you in here for the Arkenstone, didn't he?" Smaug asked. He was almost talking to himself more than to Bilbo. The Hobbit was now underneath a large stone table, supported by pillars. Smaug's black claws were wrapped around the pillar nearest to Bilbo. His great head hovered somewhere above.
The Hobbit let out a few words, trying desperately to cover up what was really going on.
"Don't bother denying it. I guessed his foul purpose some time ago," Smaug was suddenly possessed by Sauron a second time. "But it matters not. Oakenshield's quest will fail. A darkness is coming. It will spread to every corner of the land," Sauron hinted to the Hobbit through the words of the great Fire Drake. Bilbo spun the ring in his pocket in nervousness. Sauron momentarily left Smaug's body. "You are being used, thief in the shadows. You were only ever a means to an end. The coward Oakenshield has weighed the value of your life and found it worth…nothing," Smaug taunted the hidden Bilbo. "What did he promise you? A share of the treasure? Ha! As if it was his to give…" the Dragon laughed. "I will not part with a single coin! Not one piece of it!" Bilbo made a run for the Arkenstone. Yet again, Smaug's tail rushed through the gold, sending Bilbo swimming through coins and gems.
He was now in full view of the Dragon once again. His palms were extremely sweaty. Smaug lifted up into the air.
"My teeth are swords! My claws are spears! My wings…are a hurricane!" he bellowed. Bilbo looked up and noticed a decently large hole in the right chest of the beast.
"So it is true. The Black Arrow found its mark!" Bilbo whispered in astonishment. Smaug leaned in closer to the Hobbit.
"What did you say?" he hissed quickly. Yet again, Bilbo tried to cover his tracks.
"I-I was just saying…your reputation precedes you, oh Smaug, the tyrannical. Truly, you have no equal on this earth." Bilbo stepped back and noticed the Arkenstone at his feet. Smaug saw it too, glimmering like a star.
"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?" Bilbo knew he would burn. He slipped the ring onto his finger and heard Smaug's jaws snap closed behind him as he sprinted back to the exit. A hot conflagration followed him as he stepped up the stairs.
…
"Good…kill the Hobbit and then the Dwarves. We can make Erebor a stronghold…closer to Mordor. Burn them," Sauron told the Dragon as he tromped through the gold.
…
Gandalf held on to the rusty rods of the cage. He sat in a cramped and uncomfortable position. The cage swung slowly back and forth in the whipping wind. Blood was dried on his forehead from a large gash just below his hair. His staff was gone, along with Glamdring, but the Enemy had spared him his pipe. He smoked and muttered in the cage, choking slightly on his smoke. Gandalf had known for some time that others would attempt to take Erebor, but never had he imagined a force as great as that which he had just seen marching through Mirkwood. He was weary and stressed.
"Mithrandir…" a deep and brooding voice sneered from behind. Gandalf remained looking forward, continuing to talk to himself and puff smoke. "I would love to watch you die." The thick cloud of shadow swung around to the front of the cage. Gandalf looked at Sauron with a brave might.
"Smaug will be killed eventually. You will not have a Fire Drake on your side for much longer," Gandalf stated boldly, still taking whiffs of his pipe.
"Ah…of course, Wizard. Nothing is hidden to you. Now, what if I told you that a Ring of Power lies within these very walls?" the shadow demonically laughed. Gandalf was surprised. That was something he did not know of.
"How? Where did you find it?" Gandalf asked.
"Look to your left." Gandalf glanced suspiciously at Sauron and turned. There was another cage, not ten feet from him, where a smaller body rested. A much overgrown gray and black beard hung below the person's crotch. He was practically clothed in rags. Gandalf noticed him twitching and whispering to himself. One of his eyes was missing, replaced with ugly scar tissue.
"Thrain?!" Gandalf sat up and snuffed out his pipe.
"Hardly living now. He is more of a shell of his former self. I imagine Thorin has been searching for him in these parts. I should have liked very much to see him tortured as well," Sauron cackled loudly and vanished into the fortress.
An Orc on the tower cranked the squeaky lever and moved Gandalf's cage right in front of Thrain's. He watched the Dwarf, mentally upset, not even paying attention to him. Gandalf was reminded of someone he had met before…some creature. Gandalf wrapped himself in his cloak and looked over the treetops. The alliance between Smaug and the resurgent Sauron troubled him greatly. He wished he was there to protect the Company.
"Bilbo…be strong," Gandalf said. He could barely see the tip of a peak in the distance to the east.
…
Smaug saw the two short figures talking near the hallway. He snarled and grinned. They seemed as if they were fighting about something. He walked closer and saw the person he hated most in the world. Thorin Oakenshield stood not twenty paces from him.
"You will burn!" Smaug bellowed. The Hobbit and the Dwarf looked up and ran into the hallway at full speed, Smaug's fire chasing them from behind. The other Dwarves were already inside the mountain, Smaug could smell them. They ran down a hallway far from the gold pile. He tromped to the area and looked around. It was a bit too dark for him to see. Suddenly, he caught view of a group of thirteen Dwarves to his right. He ran quickly towards them and roared. They ran into a small doorway like mice running from a cat. Thorin peeked out. Smaug unleashed his breath of fire and saw that he successfully landed a few flames on Thorin's coat before he too ran inside. Smaug knew the tunnels well and made his way to where they would be headed.
…
Smaug reached the bridge room. He remembered well the first day he had set his eyes upon this place. Thorin would pay the price of death for killing Raug. He grabbed onto bridges and pillars, slinking through the darkness, always looking for the intruders.
Smaug felt a coin inside of his nose. He huffed and snorted, and it went flying out, tinkling as it fell against a walkway below.
It was some time before he smelled the pungent odor of Dwarf once more. He looked beneath him. Suddenly, he saw movement. The Hobbit, Thorin, and another, much older Dwarf saw Smaug's gaze and began running down a bridge below him.
"Flee! Flee! Run for your lives! There is nowhere to hide!" Smaug hissed as he lowered his head to the walkway. The Dwarves began yelling at each other and running around frantically. Smaug saw his chance and gathered fire into his chest. Then, at another point, some Dwarves began jumping and yelling at him. He made his way to them as they ran away. Fire burst from his throat and towards the fleeing Dwarves.
"Enough games!" Sauron whispered in his ear.
…
Thorin stood on Smaug's snout, wobbling back and forth, a sword in his hand. Smaug grinned and opened his mouth to consume him. Then, the Dwarf grabbed onto a bucket above him. Smaug saw him go up, the bucket carrying him quickly to the top. The Fire Drake unleashed his flames upward, chasing the wooden bucket as it climbed. The bucket was gone. He climbed the walls quickly to see what had happened. An infamously familiar voice shouted down the hole.
"I did not look to see you so easily outwitted!" the voice cried as Smaug's giant head surfaced from the sinkhole. "You have grown slow, and fat, in your dotage. Slug!" Thorin yelled from behind the large gate. Smaug felt a burning fury shoot through his body. The Dwarves got behind pillars as the Dragon shot fire in between them. Bilbo clutched the stone at his back and struggled to breathe through the hot air consuming the room. The forges were extremely large, and the Dragon could easily break down the gate.
Smaug realized his mistake. It was all part of their plan. A loud whoosh echoed throughout the cavern. The forges were reignited. He saw the Dwarves talking to each other. The Dragon could not hold in his hate. He bashed his body against the iron gate, severely denting it. With several more blows, the gate was broken in two. The Company scattered to fulfill their parts in the plan.
Smaug sneered as he stepped through the gate. He saw Thorin not far off and broke through to pursue him. The Hobbit was up on a ledge, but he ignored him and went after his main goal.
"Kill the Halfling! Kill him!" Sauron obsessively screamed at Smaug. He ignored him again. Smaug crept around the forges and turned to his left. There stood Thorin, a look of fear in his eyes. Smaug hissed and gathered fire in his chest.
"Now!" Thorin screamed. Smaug saw the Hobbit jump and pull a lever. Huge spouts of water came crashing down upon him. His chest squealed and sizzled. Steam rose from his throat and he choked. He roared in rage and whipped his tail at Thorin, flying clumsily backwards.
After some time, he regained his strength. The forges were repeatedly bursting with flames as Smaug slinked back to where he had last seen Thorin.
"You can easily get your revenge on Oakenshield another time. First, you must kill the Hobbit!" Smaug continued towards Thorin, who stood staring at the beast coming for him. He walked past where Bilbo was standing.
Out of nowhere, a clay pot smashed against Smaug's scales, hot blue flames covering his body. He shook it off and gripped the wall, when another nailed him in the chest. His rage was overflowing now. He was about to reach Thorin for a second time, when a line of carts carried by a long cord fell upon him, dumping their hard contents onto his back. Smaug struggled and spun around, getting tangled in the rope. He whipped his tail and roared, attempting to shake off the trap. Then, he smelled burning metal. A long line of molten gold traveled down a small route. He shook off the carts, sending them to fly all around the room.
Then, he saw the Dwarf he hated most running under his feet with a wheelbarrow. He jumped onto it and slid into the river of gold. Smaug finally threw the trap off of his body and bellowed. He saw Thorin down the river and made a run for him. Thorin slipped under a very small door. He could not follow him.
A wall in front of him completely collapsed. He looked into the rubble. The Hobbit lay on his back. He gained his footing and turned around. Smaug grinned and began to chase him.
"Keep going, Bilbo!" he heard Thorin yell. Smaug violently followed the dashing Halfling as he fell down a stone ramp and slid into a larger, darker room. He saw him run tiredly through a small doorway. Smaug gathered his rage and smashed through the wall, sending banners to ripple and collapse to the floor. The Hobbit was nowhere to be seen.
"You think you can deceive me, barrel rider?" he said, realizing that Bilbo was hiding under a fallen banner. "You have come from Lake Town!" he yelled, as he began to talk to himself. "This is some sordid scheme hatched between these filthy Dwarves and those miserable trading Lakemen. Those sniveling cowards with their longbows and black arrows!"
Immediately, he thought of Raug. He had to get his revenge on someone.
"Perhaps, it is time I paid them a visit!" he hissed and sneered. The Dragon turned and walked to the gate. To his surprise, he heard the Hobbit yelling behind him.
"This isn't their fault! Wait! You cannot go to Lake Town!" Bilbo shouted at Smaug. The Fire Drake stopped and slowly turned around.
"You…care about them?" he purred to Barrel Rider. "Good. Then you can watch them die!" Smaug laughed evilly and stomped to the gate.
"Here, you witless worm!" Thorin's voice echoed through the hall. Smaug turned around, his wings barely fitting in between the pillars.
"You…" he growled. The Dwarf stood upon a great mound of rough stone. He held a chain that was connected to the ceiling. Other chains were attached to other parts of the stone, seeming to hold it together.
"I am taking back what you stole," Thorin said valiantly. Smaug looked up to him as he slowly made his way to the rock.
"You will take nothing from me, Dwarf. I laid low your warriors of old. I instill terror in the hearts of men. I…am King…under the Mountain!" Smaug rumbled his throat. He grabbed the walls next to him and rose up to meet Thorin's gaze.
"This is not your kingdom. These are Dwarf lands. This is Dwarf gold. And we will have our revenge!" he yelled at the Dragon. Smaug chuckled. The only one leaving with revenge would be himself. Revenge for Raug.
The Dwarf prince yelled something in Dwarvish. Smaug watched as the chains were torn from the sculpture. Thorin tightly grabbed the chain and hung above what was now a massive, golden statue of a Dwarf.
Smaug was taken by its beauty. He stood before it for a long time.
"They are deceiving you! Kill them!" Sauron said. Smaug realized that it indeed was a trick when hot, molten gold burst from the statue, soaking his body and drowning him. He flapped his wings and roared as he was consumed by the waves. Then, he stopped. The gold began to harden quickly. Without warning, he burst out of the gold. It was heavily stuck to his body now, and he had lost control of his rage.
"Revenge? Revenge!" he yelled as he tried to shake off the hot liquid metal. "I'll show you revenge!" Raug would be avenged, and Thorin would die. He burst out of the ancient gate like a wild boar. Rocks flew everywhere around him. He had not been in fresh air in two hundred years.
"Smaug! Smaug! You traitor! You are meant to follow me, snaga! Get my Ring! Smaug! Smaug!" Sauron screamed like a baby. Smaug shook the voice away. He did not have to follow Sauron. He should be free.
Flying into the starry sky, the gold spun off of his scales and glittered like stars to the ground below. He spread his wings and glided through the night sky, seeing the sleepy and peaceful Lake-town in the distance. "I am fire. I am…DEATH." The Dragon flew silently to his doom.
…
Smaug hovered over the waters. His wings made violent waves on the surface. The town was blazing bright.
The arrow whizzed quickly through the air. Smaug barely saw it. It landed directly in his empty scale. The black arrow went far into his chest, severing heartstrings and arteries. He now knew how Raug felt. The world began to spin around him. He flapped his wings spasmodically. Sauron hissed at Smaug and finally left his mind for good.
The black shadow of an archer flickered between the tall flames.
"Thank you," Smaug whispered. He felt himself begin to fall downward towards the water. "We are free, Raug. We are finally free." He impacted with the water. As he sank down into the frigid depths, the water filled his lungs. The era of the Fire Drakes was over. Sauron's greatest weapon had fallen. Somehow, a small babe not fifty years later would discover their legacy.
And that is where the next tale begins.