Once more the hobbit ventured into the tunnels, less concerned now, growing comfortable in the presence of a dragon is not wise, and Bilbo knew it, but there was something comforting about the appearance Smaug took. It was not quite so intimidating as the dragon's true form, so the allure of the danger seemed further away as the tall curly haired man stood, once more dressed like a king, near the foot of the steps as Biblo emerged.
Smaug, against his will, smiled a measure as his small wordsmith drew near.
"Little story teller, follow me." He ordered and he swept grandly along the halls in his stolen clothes. Poor Bilbo trotted after the dragon, his small steps unable to keep up with the long strides of the humanoid creature.
When at last they had arrived at their destination Bilbo was quite winded and Smaug opened a grand door with a flourish and a pleased smirk, like that of a child who has completed a difficult task and expected to be praised.
The smell that wafted out as the doors sprung open was mouth watering, and Bilbo found his stomach giving out a growl of appreciation as he walked in.
The lavish hall had been cleaned, while perhaps not as stunning as it had been in the days when the dwarves had thrived and ruled under the mountain, a lingering sense of grandeur could be gleaned from the ruins of the hall.
Perhaps most impressive was the feast that had been laid upon the table. Roasted Mutton and baked fish and even some salad and a small cake had been acquired.
"This… this is all brilliant." Bilbo remarked as he stepped up to the table that had been set, he cast a look the dragon. Perhaps it was a reflection from the candlelight, or perhaps it was nothing at all, but the hobbit thought he saw a curious softness and surprise in the Dragon's eyes.
"I haven't been completely idle during my stay in the mountain. I've been experimenting." He said in a hushed tone, though not a tone that one should ever mistake for embarrassment, lest the wrath of the Dragon befall them. Smaug seated himself in a regal chair, cushioned and decorated with lavish silks befitting of a king (and in fact was for a king, as the chair belonged to Thror). The Dragon gestured to another chair, cushioned magnificently, but not so much as Smaug's own, on the right hand of the table. Bilbo scrambled into it delighted at the wonderful meal before him.
Smaug asked no questions as the hobbit devoured the feast, but was indeed impressed with the way Bilbo ate quickly, as ravenous as Smaug himself. An amused smiled then graced the face of the Dragon, not that Bilbo ever saw and Smaug thought to himself, "Now here's a thief I could tolerate, never mind it being un-dragon like, I should like to keep him." Bilbo for his part was thinking "Perhaps the Dragon isn't all as horrible as he's made to seem. I should like to know more about him."
Both Hobbit and Dragon ate and soon Bilbo's eyes began to droop with the sleepiness that is so often accompanying a warm meal and a full belly.
Sleep thick in the air Smaug blew smoke rings, some of which changed colors, and others which formed lazy pictures. It was not even amiss to the hobbit that Smaug did so with out the use of a pipe.
At once Bilbo began to pat his pockets, his pipe was still in his breast pocket much to his surprise, and even his pouch of tobacco that he'd refilled at Lake Town. He pulled it out and at once began to stuff it with the full intention of smoking lazily and letting his mind drift off to far away places such as Rivendell, and his hobbit hole, which his heart longed for more than all the gold beneath the Mountain. Yet as he patted his pockets he could not find a single match. With a sigh he looked up toward Smaug lazily blowing smoke rings at the ceiling then back to his pipe.
Not a word was uttered, a sort of understanding passing between the two in their lazy food fueled haze, and Smaug took the pipe from Bilbo lightly sucking upon the stem, fingers ablaze with fire as he started the pipe passing it back to the hobbit and blowing out a grand cloud with satisfaction.
Bilbo puffed his pipe contentedly his sleepy mind contemplating how it was he could feel so comfortable in the presence of a Dragon.
"Tell me more of the Elven Halls of the Woodland Realm." Smaug required. Bilbo puffed on his pipe once more thinking.
"They are rather grand, but not so well carved into the mountain as the halls in Erebor. The Elves are not a tunneling folk, but they are kind in their own way, perhaps a bit misled, not at all like their wiser kin." Bilbo said stem resting between his teeth as he talked around it. "The king has hosted many a party in those halls, and is no stranger to wine if you know what I mean." Smaug chuckled slightly.
"I have heard tell of humans being drunk, but never of an Elven king." Smaug's lazy golden eyes drifted over to the hobbit, who chuckled with him.
"I would go so far as saying drunk was putting it mildly." He elaborated grinning, "I'd prefer Rivendell, far more peaceful, beautiful open halls in a lush and flowering valley. Oh, I could stay there for an age." Bilbo reminisced, "But I do miss my home, quiet, in the country, as you deduced before, I have a large home under this kill, Bag End is where it's located. I have beautiful curved halls in the hill. My father built this home, wonderful really. Right about now, I'd be putting tea on for the after noon, or perhaps I'd be gardening, it's easy to lose track of time under ground. I do hope the weeds haven't grown over my garden to much." Bilbo frowned in contemplation, "I should wonder if the Sackville Baggins' have raided my beautiful home yet, and I wonder what they'd think of me, Bilbo Baggins, off on an adventure."
"Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit from under hill, off on a grand adventure." Smaug chuckled. Bilbo nearly smacked himself, he'd grown accustomed to the Dragon's presence, and in such a form, though regal and intimidating as it was, he had nearly forgotten the giant majestic reptile beneath, and had subsequently, given his name to the Dragon.
"Don't bother yourself young Ringwinner, I wish you no harm." Smaug said sensing the mood. This however, did nothing to soothe the worries of the hobbit, just as if a known killer coming into your home and telling you he wouldn't hurt you, is likely not to put your mind at ease as he helps himself to your biscuits.
"Home is so very far away, much further than Rivendell even." Bilbo recovered sucking on his pipe more furiously now due to nerves.
"I should like to visit Rivendell one day and see for myself if it is truly as remarkable as you make it seem." Smaug said. To this Bilbo gave a short laugh which caused Smaug to sit up straighter in his chair and stare at the hobbit.
"I don't think you'd be too welcome, popping in on the elves, a vast dragon of immeasurable size. What would you say, don't mind me, I just wanted to confirm the words of a hobbit?" Bilbo joked good-naturedly.
"I can pass unnoticed you know." Smaug said, "Like you who walks unseen, I have talents that could allow me to slip into Rivendell."
"Well I suppose that could do, though the elves may not be taken for such fools." Bilbo said between puffs of smoke.
"Yes, I cannot bear to think I could leave my gold unprotected for so long." Smaug replied, "Those nasty dwarves might get their hands on it, their filthy thieving hands. They would like nothing better would they?" He sneered, "Miserable country dwarves here to claim that which is mine."
"I wouldn't say that." Bilbo commented from his sleep state, "I mean, you did, after all, raid their home, eat their people, and steal their gold." Smaug stood.
"It is common law for the powerful to take what they want, to claim it as their own, in my eyes they were just pests to be exterminated! They should have run faster if they wanted their lives! If they didn't stop to shovel MY gold into their pockets I may have spared them yet! What do I care if a few miserable dwarves want their petty revenge and my gold? They shall die like any other thief!" Smaug roared his voice shaking the mountain snapping Bilbo out of his sleepy daze as he gazed upward, horror struck. Smaug's eyes smoldered, flames hissed out between his teeth as he spoke, dancing as if in a crown around his head, scales resurfacing in the Dragon's anger upon his temples and cheekbones and along the jaw line, even in this human form a Dragon is still a Dragon and what a Dragon is, is terrifying.
Smaug calmed down a fraction throwing himself into his chair like a petulant child and small annoyed cough of fire escaping from his lips.
"You may leave." Smaug said through barely controlled anger.
"Smaug?" Bilbo whispered concerned but mostly terrified.
"I SAID LEAVE!" Smaug roared at the hobbit, the pupils of the Dragon's eyes become snake like slits, Bilbo could see the dragon beneath the human face and he bolted from the table and out the door. As he ran, slipping on his magic ring, he could hear the roar of a dragon and the sound of a table being overturned, but still he kept running, and still, no sound of wings, or thundering steps revealed a dragon in pursuit. Yet Bilbo did not slow his pace till he'd reached the safety of the dwarves, pipe still clutched in hand, shivering, shaking, and pale all over, collapsing, the world going dark, amidst a crowd of worried faces.
Night had fallen once more when the hobbit woke up cold and shivering. Balin smiled down at him.
"Welcome back Master Baggins." He said readjusting the blankets that had been placed on the hobbit.
"I… I couldn't get anything this time." Bilbo shivered.
"And yet you still had time to smoke a tobacco pipe?" Thorin accused not far off. Bilbo did not have anything to say to this but sat up in his blankets unsure of what to do.
"Thorin, you heard the Dragon as well as I, Smaug was in even a fouler mood than before, do not blame Bilbo, we are lucky he has returned at all." Balin defended.
"But… you do have to wonder…" Dwalin grunted from the side, "When he had time to smoke the pipe, what was he doing down there all this time if not attempted burglary?" To this Balin had no answer, but the matter was dropped when another roar, great trembling issued from the mountain. Bilbo was quite startled, but the dwarves, though frightened were not surprised.
"Been doin' that since you came up lad." Balin informed, "Whatever happened down there 'e's none too pleased."
"You think I had something to do with that?" Bilbo stammered feeling as if he'd been accused of doing wrong.
"Was it not you?" Gloin questioned from near Thorin's side.
"Well yes… but…" Bilbo tried to figure out what exactly had gone wrong.
"Just get some rest Master Baggins, we'll try again when things have settled down." Thorin grunted not altogether pleased with his burglar's performance. Bilbo nodded sinking thankfully back into his sea of blankets. He wished to sleep soundly with no bad dreams, sadly he only dreamed of the dragon, and his terrible fire, and woke up sweating several times during the night, before drifting off into a deep dreamless sleep a few hours before dawn.