Hi guys, I'm back from my vacation and have written a bunch for you! Anyway, read, review, and enjoy! "I See Fire": Alice Olivia

Chapter 33:

"The Dragon of Treasure"

The Mountain's corridors were dark and cold as Bilbo made his way down towards the treasure hoard to begin his search for the Arkenstone, though Balin's description of said stone was not very specific. As he entered the cavern of treasure, the Hobbit had to stop and collect himself for he had never seen so much gold in all of his life. Gold coins piled a mountain high and as the eye could see, jewels of every color and hue were scattered among the sea of yellow, and Bilbo found himself a bit disconcerted.

"Arkenstone… A large, white jewel." The burglar sighed, "Very helpful." His voice quietly echoed throughout the cavern.

The search seemed to drag on while the poor Halfling sorted through mound after mound of stones and gems. He climbed a bit to a large pillar where a small pile looked promising. But as fate would have it, when Bilbo picked a goblet to look inside he disturbed a bunch of gold and they slid down the colossal pile to reveal a sleeping, red scaled, closed eye of a dragon. Panic gripped his chest as the gold settled only to be disturbed by the dragon stretching out in his sleep, revealing a portion of his massive tail.

Watching the beast carefully, the small Hobbit attempted to quietly backtrack the way he came but only seemed to wake the enormous creature. Thinking on his toes, he slipped the Ring of Power onto his left middle finger and disappeared just as the dragon stood up.

"Well… thief. I smell you. I hear your breath." The dragon spoke in a patronizing tone of voice, "I feel your air. Where are you? Come, now… Don't be shy. Step into the light. There is something about you. Something you carry. Something made of gold. But far more precious…." The word 'precious' seemed to set off a vision in Bilbo's head that was so overpowering that he removed the Ring from his finger but it was before the watchful eye of the enormous flying tyranny of Erebor.

"There you are, Thief in the Shadows." He hissed slightly.

Trying to catch his breath, Bilbo quickly thought up a lie, "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 old tales say. I did not believe them…" he squeaked out, earning an annoyed huff from Smaug who turned and walked to a platform to show off his extremely overpowering stature.

"And do you now?!" he roared slightly causing the Halfling to begin shaking.

Torshar's face hurt, her body hurt, her very soul seemed to ache after the beating she endured from the Orcs who were ordered to watch. Harar had ordered them not to touch her inappropriately until he returned because he wanted "to watch her suffer". Tears ran down her cheeks and mixed with a bit of blood and grime that covered her as she attempted to move only to receive yet another shock to nerves from the binding ropes. Not only did she fear for her own life and the lives of her unborn.

When the Orcs disappeared to another part of the fortress Gandalf spoke softly, "Torshar… Are you alright?"

Her head fell forward a bit as she turned her head to meet his sorrowful gaze, "No…" she whispered.

"Sing a song… That always seems to lift your spirits." He encouraged only to earn a weak glare.

"Why would I sing in a Mahal-forsaken place like this?!" she demanded causing the wizard to flinch, "Forgive me, Gandalf… I didn't mean it that cruelly."

Again, the old man tried, "Please, Torshar. Your songs are the only thing that will keep us from losing our minds here…"

She stared at the Istari member for a few moments then let her head fall forward in surrender, "Oh, misty eye of the Mountain below,
Keep careful watch o'er my brothers' souls,
And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke,
Keep watching over Durin's sons…
If this is to end in fire,
Then we should all burn together,
Watch the flames climb high into the night,
Calling out father oh,
Stand by and we will,
Watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side,
And if we should die tonight,
Then we should all die together,
Raise a glass of wine, for the last time,
Calling out father oh,
Prepare as we will,
Watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side,
Desolation comes upon the sky,
Now I see,
Inside the mountain,
I see fire,
Burning the trees,
And I see fire,
Hollowing souls,
I see fire,
Blood in the breeze,
And I hope you will remember me,
Oh, should my people fall,
Then surely I'll do the same,
Confined in mountain halls,
We got too close to the flame,
Calling out father oh,
Hold fast and we will,
Watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side,
Desolation comes upon the sky,
Now I see fire,
Inside the mountain,
I see fire,
Burning the trees,
I see fire,
Hollowing souls,
I see fire,
Blood in the breeze,
And I hope that you remember me,
And if the night is burning,
I will cover my eyes,
For if the night is burning,
I will cover my eyes,
For if the dark returns then my brothers will die,
And as the sky is falling down,
It crashed into this lonely town,
And with that shadow upon the ground,
I hear my people screaming out,
Now I see fire,
Inside the mountain,
I see fire,
Burning the trees,
I see fire,
Hollowing souls,
I see fire,
Blood in the breeze,
I see fire,
Fire,
I see fire,
Fire,
I see fire,
Fire,
I see fire burn auburn on the mountain side…" the song echoed a little as her voice quieted. Gandalf watched as her eyes closed and she lost complete consciousness.

"Truly… You are mistaken O Smaug, Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities." The Hobbit fibbed when the great dragon accused him of conniving with Dwarves to steal from him.

"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 it like flies to dead flesh. Did you think I did not know this day would come?! That a pack of canting Dwarves would come crawling back to the Mountain?!" as he roared, Smaug knocked over a pillar causing the earth to shake.

Outside, the company felt the vibrations as well and began to worry, "Was that an earthquake?!" Dori asked once the shifting stopped.

Balin turned grimly, "That, my lad… Was a dragon."