Of Mountains and Woodlands

by Amplesound

Maya is a Nymph, Thorin is a dwarf and Bilbo is Bilbo. Their stories entertwine as Bilbo's adventure plays out and Thorin begins to recognise his little hearts murmerings...D'aaaahwww! :} Maya's story goes excitingly on but to what end? Expreimental intro. Excuse any mistakes. Yay or Nay? DO tell. Maya (And the Wild Wood) is mine. The rest...not so much. ThorinXOC

13. Chapter 13

Alrighty, the dragon's lair. I enjoyed writing this and half creating Smaug, half not creating Smaug and half pretending Smaug's completely my idea when he's not.

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Of Mountains and Woodlands Chapter 13

Bilbo stood with Maya and Dori at the entrance to the mountain, gazing upon hoards of gold pieces, more than he ever imagined, that filled the mountain like the rolling hills of the shire. He was sure that one could just as easily drown in the golden depths of the mountain as they could in the average river. He stared for so long that he almost forgot what he was there for and as soon as he came to his senses, his breath caught and his heart began to hammer away on his chest, desperately trying to escape him. Bilbo's highest priority was to locate the whereabouts of the Arkenstone and then get it if he could, leaving the dragon to the mighty dwarves of Durin. He spied it easily enough, but the dragon, Smaug, was his main challenge and yet he could not see him. Many thoughts crossed his mind then, perhaps the dragon is truly gone or maybe he's waiting to leap from all corners of the mountain onto Bilbo, or maybe he was sleeping beneath the gold or maybe he died and his remains were yet to be discovered. None of these thoughts seemed to put his mind at ease however. His heart was still racing when his eyes swept over the gold once more and came to rest on the opposite entrance where the rest of the company stood gazing out over the hillocks of gold. Thorin in front as ever, urged him on but Bilbo was reluctant to merely take a first step,

"Can anyone see the dragon?" he asked, turning to Maya and Dori who were still assessing the situation regarding the enormous amount of gold but they both shook their heads. "Well," Bilbo was getting flustered, "am I just supposed to march across the gold to get the what's-it stone?"

"I guess so," Maya shrugged,

"Really, and what happens after that?"

She blinked at him and then dug into her bag and pulled out her fire. The balls swung, unlit, from their chains, looking highly unchallenging as they swung uselessly from side to side,

"We'll be right behind you if anything goes wrong, but first we need to find out if Smaug is in there,"

"Why do I have to do this?"

"Bilbo, please just do it, I promise, I will be the first by your side when you need us,"

Bilbo was silent for a moment.

"Go on, Mister Bilbo," Dori urged, "Right behind ye," he gave a small, unsatisfactory smile. Bilbo could argue no more and took his first step into the mountain, slipping a few notches as the gold tumbled beneath his feet. He froze, waiting for something to happen; he glanced up at Maya and Dori, both holding their breaths. He took another step, then another and then another. Things were going to be alright or so it seemed; no sign of Smaug and the Arkenstone wasn't far away. He began to relax, taking sturdier steps across the golden mountains. He retrieved the Arkenstone and began to make his way back, not minding so much as to whether he tripped or stumbled for there was no sign of Smaug and his fear had been eased by that fact. He drew closer to Maya and Dori and he smiled and raised it triumphantly but it was soon lowered due to their reaction or otherwise lack thereof. Maya and Dori's eyes were wide and fixed on something behind him and no sooner had he thought his fear gone than it reared up like a lion from the darkness, clawing at his heart and throat. He turned slowly, terrified of what he might find there: an eye, a single, golden eye staring out from beneath gold. Bilbo stared right back, trying to decide whether it was real or not…had it been there the whole time? Had it been watching him the whole time? Then there came a large rumble that echoed throughout the mountain, a haughty rumble it was, much like that of a laugh and then a growl of a voice,

"Did you think to trespass without me knowing?"

Bilbo was in shock, fear had seized his limbs and he could not move nor could he find the source of the sound.

"Have you lost your tongue, thief?"

"I -…" Bilbo tried to speak, "I-"

"You...what?"

But Bilbo was totally stuck, scared and confused out of his mind. There came a huge sigh and before Bilbo's eyes, the gold tumbled away from rusty coloured scales as Smaug raised his body from its hidden position. Smaug was enormous, entirely armoured except for a small opening on either side of his chest; his long, sharp teeth gleaming in the light of the sun as it crept through the crevices of the open doors. Smaug the terrible dragon of the Lonely Mountain, was grinning a most terrible grin at Bilbo, his mighty head lowering to look at Bilbo in the eye,

"Are there more of you?"

Bilbo managed to shake his head,

"No?"

Bilbo nodded, his eyes wide, his breathing coming fast and heavy.

"I think you're lying thief but 'tis no matter, what were you going to do with the stone I wonder? Were you not going to ask? It's very rude to take without permission. But I expect you would know that, you seem like quite a respectable…uh…" Smaug's yellow eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared as he sniffed at Bilbo, "What are you?"

This was where Bilbo finally found his tongue,

"I am a Hobbit. My name is Bilbo Baggins and yes, I agree, taking without permission is very bad form but I was unaware that you were still here! I apologise most humbly, if you don't mind, I would very much like to take this," he shook the Arkenstone, drawing Smaug's eyes to it, "It's the only thing I really want from here. If you could let me take my leave, I'll never have to come back,"

Bilbo tried a smile but his was severely outshone as the dragon smiled back, his great fangs in Bilbo's face,

"But of course," he raised his head back up, his eyes glinting in all their sinister glory, "On your way then, Hobbit,"

Bilbo smiled again, nervously muttering his thanks and turned to leave, hurrying as quickly as he could back to the entrance where he planned to make a hasty escape back down the mountain, praying to the millions of Gods that seemed to exist in this life, that Thorin would find the Arkenstone a sufficient enough prize for his efforts. Smaug however stopped him in his tracks,

"Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, I was wondering," Bilbo turned to find the dragon in his full form, wings outspread, on all clawed fours, teeth bared, eyes narrowed and looking more terrible than any story could have described him to be, "why have you not told me about your friends lurking at the entrances to my Mountain? I was hoping for better but this is truly, bad form,"

The dragon puffed up his chest and Bilbo's dreaded fear was brutally honest to him for he knew exactly what was to happen.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Maya lit her fires and started swinging furiously.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Thorin drew his sword and barely heard Gandalf's protest as he jumped, screaming,

"No, BILBO!"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Bilbo shut his eyes in terror, waiting to be incinerated as Smaug opened his jaw to reveal his innards, a light growing ever brighter as it soared up from his being but before it could leave his gaping mouth, a different light source shot into his throat and Smaug spluttered and coughed, stepping back having had one of Maya's fires fly into his jaws, preventing any of his own fire from leaving. The dragon took another step back in bewilderment, as smoke poured from his nose only to have himself rear up in anguish as Thorin plunged the Goblin Cleaver deep into the flesh of his tail. All the fire that had been forced back came raging out as Smaug the Terrible screamed his agony to the roof, the fire like a fountain as it climbed up, out of his throat. His tail like a whip as it lashed out of harm's way, ironically hurling Thorin out the way he came. Bilbo took his leave while all of this was unfolding, making haste towards the exit where he was yanked out as soon as Dori could get his hands on him,

"You alright, Mister Bilbo?"

"I – uh…" Bilbo could barely speak, his heart was still in his mouth, his breath still stuck fast in his throat, so he opted to nod.

"Did you get the Arkenstone?"

Bilbo didn't have time to answer before an ear splitting rage burst through the cracks of the mountain causing Bilbo to spin and to look on in trepidation along with Maya and Dori, as Smaug exited the mountain on the opposite side after Thorin and co. roaring after their disappearing shadows,

"THORIN OAKENSHIELD! I KNEW IT TO BE TRUE!"

"Come on, Bilbo, give me the Arkenstone!" Maya opened her bag to allow Bilbo to drop it inside, where it was safe before he was groped by his arm and pulled forward, "Dori!"

Away they went, around the mountain, Maya's single lit fire swinging as she sped round the mountain side. The trio skidded to a halt as they watched the rest of the company, like ants, speed down the hill with the knowledge that they were no match for Smaug alone. Smaug, himself, in full flight after them, was spouting fire whenever he saw fit. Gandalf was there too, he used his staff but none of its magic could penetrate the armour Smaug wore and thus, he too could only run.

Bilbo looked on in horror, dreading what the next plan was. Maya was standing beside him and Dori beside her. She let out an exasperated sigh and cursed, her shoulders dropping. Dori took flight after them without hesitation; Maya wasn't sure for only a moment before she too set off after him leaving Bilbo to make up his own mind. What else could he do other than draw his sword and hope for the best? So he went too, despite his conscious screaming at him, calling him out as the fool he knew he was.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Down on the Lake, Bard was hauling in his nets, the boat beneath him rocking with his shifting weight. The sound of screams and the swift whoosh of fire in the wind drew his attention away from his job and upon looking up to spy the commotion, he spied what he feared for years: Smaug, the dragon of the Lonely Mountain, roaring down the mountain, setting all that was in his way, alight. The odd bits darting about in front of him, well, Bard had a pretty good idea of who that could have been. He dropped his nets altogether, letting them sink to the watery depths, took up his oar and rowed as fast as he could towards the town, shouting his orders out to the men ready and waiting on the shore.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Thorin soared down the side of the mountain, trying to keep Fili and Kili in his vision and whenever one or both was out of his line of sight, he had to fight the urge to stop and find them, and trust them as the able warriors they were to find their own way down. They were his blood, though, he worried by default. Gandalf was directing their every move and for that, he was grateful because for the life of him, he could not think of what to do. It did dawn on him; however, that Maya was right, they were heading straight for Lake Town. They disappeared into a brief undergrowth only to reappear moments later to find Bard and his rows of brave men awaiting them; bows, spears, axes and swords all at hand. Smaug burst through the trees to be slowed only briefly as Bard gave the order to let loose the arrows. They passed as a fleeting rain before it was over for there were many arrows but not enough men to shoot them all. The arrows bounced off Smaug's armour as he charged them, laughing a terrible laugh,

"FIRE!" Bard shouted again and another stream of arrows was loosed into the air just as unsuccessful as the first volley. But the dragon drew too near and Bard called for a scattering and just like that, the rows of men depleted and were lost to the walls and shelters of whatever they could find. Thorin and his company did the same, he grabbed Fili and Kili and dragged them to a cart, under which he shoved them, following swiftly. Kili crawled forward and took aim a number of times, alas his arrows did naught but what every other arrow did: Bounce off. Every now and then, one brave soul would leap from the hiding place and make a dash across the dragon's way. They would try making a swipe for his feet, mouth, chest, and tail, anything that was close and vulnerable and quite often they would succeed but quite often they would not make their full run. Gandalf tried a couple of times too, standing before the dragon Smaug as he blew fire at him. Gandalf tried to ricochet it back but it would merely cause a puff of smoke and Smaug would come sauntering through it with a monstrous grin on his face. Too many times Gandalf tried and failed and almost got trodden on as Smaug took an enormous step in an effort to squash him. He did his wizard trick and disappeared before anything could happen. Thorin decided it was his turn, he crawled out of the cart and stood up, his sword at the ready, but a strong grip took hold of his ankle,

"No, Uncle!" Surely we must wait! Please!" It was Kili looking up at him, Fili by his side. But Thorin peered down at them impassively,

"Stay there,"

He walked out into the centre and Smaug took only a moment to see him,

"Thorin Oakenshield," Smaug hissed, showing off his bright fangs, "Rumours spread throughout the mountainside that you were coming but you took so long I thought it a lie and yet!" he paused for effect, "Here you are,"

He dropped his great head to Thorin's level and laughed, being so close Thorin had the chance to see the gaps in the dragon's armour, the vulnerable spots. With that he drew a dagger and threw it to the best of his abilities at said gap, narrowly missing it, he shouted,

"KILI, AIM FOR THE LEFT CHEST!" By Kili, he meant everyone of course, and he ran in, going for the kill, but Smaug flung his great claw and Thorin was tossed far away from his target. Kili had taken his instructions to heart and was out on his feet, hurling arrows to no end. Bard rushed out too along with his men, all of whom were aiming where Thorin gave instruction to. Thorin had been fortunate enough to land in a cart of hay and although it was a soft landing, trying to get out was a trial. Around him, the Town was burning, terrified eyes peeping out of windows and from under carriages and carts. He saw Dori, Maya and Bilbo arrive as well, Dori with his enormous sword flying high above his head, Maya with her swinging chain of fire and Bilbo, the brave little Hobbit, screaming with all his might into battle with his little letter opener. Thorin fell out of the cart with a grunt and made back towards the dragon. He knew what he was going to do; he met Maya head on as he arrived,

"Maya!"

"Thorin!" she diverted direction, pulling Bilbo with her, "You're covered in hay,"

In the midst of the chaos, she looked amused, but he had no time.

"Bilbo, when Smaug turns around, you must stab his tail; hopefully he'll do what he did earlier. Maya, anything to distract him for Bilbo,"

She nodded her understanding,

"When he rears up," he continued, "It will give us a chance to shoot him in either the left side of his chest or the right; that is where he has no armour. Enough times, and he'll die. Go and wait for my signal."

Bilbo looked terrified but lifted his sword in response as Maya cupped his cheek quickly and went around. Thorin watched them go, disappearing into the smoke before he took off back towards Bard, getting his attention,

"What is it, Dwarf King?" Bard was enraged, Thorin could see that but he had no time. He explained his plan and what the outcome should be and waited as Bard thought it through. He eventually put a hand on Thorin's shoulder and gave an honest shove,

"Alright," grinning with his carefree grin, he signalled his men to move out as Thorin gave his own signal to tell Bilbo and Maya to do their bit. In so doing, Thorin took out his own bow which he rarely used, feeling it fill his fingers, the taught string rough in his already calloused hands, he loved this weapon whether it was his weapon of war or not. He roared out, pulling back his arrow as Maya nimbly ran into harm's way as Smaug got ready to set fire to everything else. Her swinging flames drew his eye and he turned from his initial target, onto her. She let her fire go like a catapult but Smaug had learnt from his last encounter and shut his mouth while the fire flew to him and came into contact in-between his nostrils, bouncing up his long snout where it came to rest on the top of his head. Smaug now looked relatively ridiculous with a little ball of flame bobbing up down in the dip between his eyes, atop his head but it didn't cause any smiles for Maya had no form of defence able enough against the dragon. She started to run back but Smaug's mouth opened, revealing the end but then clamped shut as his eyes went wide with surprise. All of a sudden the dragon burst upward, his front claws stretching out in front of him, his flames he kept bursting out into thin air. Bilbo was, as was expected, tossed away by the whip lash of Smaug's tail. Thorin heard Bard call out his order and Thorin drew his arrow back one final inch and let loose. Kili let loose, Bard let loose, Bard's men let loose and Gandalf let something loose with his staff emanating a brilliant blue ray. Maya's fire had rolled off Smaug's head in his sudden movement, therefore she had turned back to get it. She swept it up off the ground and took a perfect throw. The little chain hurtled through the air straight into the mouth of Smaug as he roared in agony as hundreds of arrows hit home. It did not take long after that, for one so pierced with arrows could not possibly survive and with that, Smaug the Terrible, dragon of the Lonely Mountain, fell to the ground with an earth-shuddering thud; Maya's fire rolling out of his mouth, put out by his dribbling saliva.

Thorin dropped his bow, sighing in relief while the people of Lake Town started crawling out from their havens to gaze, wide-eyed, upon the body of Smaug; his bright, yellow eyes wide open, the reminiscence of shock still in their fading depths. Thorin moved around to look closely at the work they did, spying Fili, Kili, Maya and Bilbo as being just fine, a little ashen but fine.

"So, Dwarf King,"

Thorin turned to find Bard gazing down at Smaug's dead eyes. Thorin frowned,

"So…Bard," Thorin turned his full body to face him, waiting for whatever Bard had to say, Bilbo hobbling up next to him. The bottom of his pants had caught fire earlier and so a good part of them were cinders and patched with holes. Bard looked at him and then at Bilbo and chuckled bitterly,

"Well, we all bear the scars of a good battle, now don't we?"

Thorin nodded, sceptical of Bard's words.

"Indeed, he got a good part of my backside!" Bilbo complained, trying to get a good look at the back of his pants. Thorin ignored him,

"So you are not angry, Bard of Lake Town?"

"No," his eyes darkened and his smile faded a little, giving way to a more sinister look, "No, not angry. I told you what would happen. I asked you kindly to rethink matters…and now look; our Town is pretty much in ashes. Did the Nymph even -"

"Maya!" Bilbo and Thorin corrected him simultaneously, glancing at each other in doing so. Bard raised his arms,

"Did Maya even ask you?"

"Yes," Thorin was curt and impassive and in no mood to argue with the likes of Bard.

"Ah, and you ignored her?"

"No,"

"Then HOW DARE YOU PUT OUR TOWN IN DANGER FOR YOUR BENEFIT?! You chose to throw away our gentle way of living to regain your Mountain knowing full well the consequences and worse yet, knowing full well that you planned to do nothing about it afterwards,"

Thorin looked at him without saying a word, his eyes narrowing.

"Bard," Bilbo took a hesitant step forward, Bard's dark eyes moving to him, "Listen, we knew that your town was in danger and we did think it through the thing is…we just didn't have a choice at the time it was brought up,"

"You. Didn't. Have. A. Choice." Bard began to laugh, "No, Mr Baggins, you had all the choice but you chose against the rational more…more…considerate option,"

"No. We considered you for far longer than was necessary," Thorin's voice was black and cold, "But we did consider you. We…I did this in hopes that you would allow us to help you build your town up again. It's not so broken as to never be the same,"

"It's close,"

"It is, but not enough," By this stage, the dwarves and the people of Lake Town were gathering around them, Maya taking a stand alongside Thorin and Gandalf by Bilbo.

Bard shook his head,

"We'll take the help, but don't think our Town master will help you with this war. I have enough to deal with as is anyway" he began to turn his back on Thorin who was about to retort but Gandalf hauled him back as he tried to stop Bard,

"Bard! We are sorry, we know we have wronged you, but please, do not abandon us on the eve of battle,"

"You abandoned us when we begged you not to do this in a way that could bring harm to our people," The Town Master suddenly stepped out from the crowd as Bard took his place behind him, "You ignored our request! You brought fire to our homes when we offered you nothing but kindness,"

"For your benefit, I might add, Town Master, now keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. It is Bard I wish to converse with," Gandalf snarled but the Town Master was not so easily thrown.

"Bard is not Master here,"

"He's more a Master of this town than you will ever be," Gandalf hissed, "Thorin and his company have defeated the Dragon Smaug, you no longer have something to fear. And you should be proud, for your people helped. We helped each other and with that you should be embracing these dwarves as heroes as they regard you as such for your help, they needed it most when you gave it to them so willingly. There was always going to be damage, which is what happens when you battle dragons. Do not turn away from this fight, for what damage has been caused; I assure you, if you do not fight, the damage that is to come will be far worse,"

The Town Master furrowed his brow and shook his head as he turned away,

"No. You fight this alone. Bard," he turned to the sullen looking fellow behind him, his carefree features hardened, "See them out of the gates and ensure that they never come back in,"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Gandalf stared at Bard for a moment as Bard stared right back, their silent communication screaming through the surrounding hills, over the mountain and across the lake. So loud, Maya even had to block her ears. She felt Thorin tense beside her and Bilbo's soft sigh as he came to realise what was to happen. Gandalf had finally said enough and he turned from Bard's stone gaze and made his way through the company, a dark cloud hanging low above his head as Thorin, his dwarves, Maya and Bilbo, followed silently after. They left through the gate and didn't look back as they heard the clink of a lock being shut and locked behind them,

"Gandalf?" Dwalin ventured to ask; even he was a wee bit nervous about confronting the wizard in his angry state.

"What?" he turned abruptly causing Dwalin to flinch,

"What do we do now?"

"We go out and meet our foe and hopefully there is where Thranduil will be waiting,"

Thorin had taken hold of Maya's hand again and at the mention of the Elven King's name, he gripped it hard and Maya withheld a yelp,

"Thranduil! I forgot the blasted King of the woods,"

"Don't speak so rashly, Thorin Oakenshield, you'll lose us another army and then we'll all perish,"

"Looks that way anyway, wouldn't you say?" Thorin smirked daringly and suddenly, Gandalf's wizard rage rose up from the dark and he became a giant, his shadow becoming impossibly large once more,

"You and your foul mouthed comments have caused us enough trouble! If you wish to die so abruptly, then fight this war alone and be remembered as the Lone King! Lonely, ill-tempered and stubborn – you'll be historic!"

Thorin's features went from immensely cold and stubborn to rather hurt, a pained recognition spilling over his high boned face. His grip on Maya loosening and she could feel the tingling as her hand was reintroduced to its blood but she didn't let go,

"But not unloved," she whispered as she pulled him on to follow Gandalf. He looked up at her gently, a small smile fluttering across his thin lips before disappearing into his thoughts. She let him be as they walked, so it felt, to their death. Bilbo was as white as snow and the rest of the company was deathly silent. They marched around a bend and there, standing with his slender arms behind his back, stood Thranduil; his army of an uncountable number behind him, awaiting them. He greeted Gandalf and gave a curt nod towards Thorin who chose to surprise them all; he let go of Maya's hand and walked over to where Thranduil stood looking expectant. He raised an eyebrow as Thorin arrived,

"And what do I owe the honour of this?" he gestured to Thorin's stubborn self. Thorin cocked his head and gave a sarcastic smile before looking back up at him with the respect everyone thought would have helped them all if he was a little more respectful in the first place. He offered his hand,

"We were starving when we wondered into your forest and though you caged us and interrogated us to no end I believe there must have been a reason,"

The Elven King's other eyebrow raised itself too as he took Thorin's hand tentatively.

"I also think it is in good order to give my thanks for what food and water you did offer us then, as well as my forgiveness for abandoning us all those years ago, for there must have been good reason in that as well, for I too, could well have done the same. All those things I forgive now because here you are, before me when I expected less and for that I am sorry. I would rather we fought side by side, than against each other, if you would take my deepest apology for being so negligent,"

Thranduil smiled his beautiful, exotic smile and bowed, strengthening his hold on Thorin's hand,

"And I forgive you as well as offering my own thanks for being so humble a king. It would be my honour, Thorin Oakenshield,"

They let go of one another's hands and Thorin walked back to Maya, taking his position beside her. Maya's heart was souring and she was well aware of all the little smiles around them…the air around the company had relaxed but a little, but when Gandalf, out of his own surprise, finally spoke; it was of a morbid topic.

"Did you see how many were approaching?"

"Oh, yes. This day is not over,"

"It will be today?" Gandalf's eyes widened in horror but Thranduil only nodded as if it was the least of his worries.

"Yes, Gandalf today is the day. Otherwise I would not be here,"

"How many?"

Thranduil looked gravely over to him and shook his head,

"I have not the heart to tell you,"

Maya's heart sank. She had many moments where she thought she was going to die but never once did she actually believe it. This day, she believed it but she stood as tall as she could, linking her arms through Bilbo and Thorin as Thorin summoned his nephews to him. Together, the group stood and waited for the masses to appear in the distance…and appear they did.

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So, please do review. I like to read them while I drink tea and eat toast. The end is near, for reals this time.