As dawn broke over the icy lake I stood outside the guest house alone, lost in thought. I had started to plan for our encounter with the dragon long ago, but time was running out, and things would have to be decided for sure now. I watched the cold sun rise over the pale expanse of water, coloring the sky a misty gold. It was calming, helping to get my thoughts in order. I pushed aside my worry for a moment, turning to go back into the house and greet the others, as I heard them beginning to rise. Voices broke the silence as I reentered the dim interior of the modest building.

"We will need to be sure we have enough supplies," Thorin was saying now, the others gathered around him. "Weapons need sharpening and clothes need mending, and then it is off to the mountain." They were moving to disperse to their individual tasks when I cleared my throat. Thorin gave me a warm smile. "There you are, we wondered where you had gotten to. We are getting ready to leave, preparations should be completed by tomorrow."

"Wait," I said sternly, needing to have my say before they got too caught up in their enthusiasm. The group stopped, turning as one to offer me a questioning look. "We need a proper plan," I reminded them.

Thorin waved dismissively. "Time enough for that on the way. We still need to find the door." He began to look slightly impatient when I held up my hands for attention again.

"Thorin," I shook my head. "We have time. The door will not open regardless of our discovering it for another two weeks. It will take us no more than a day to get there. We should take this time to plan for what we will encounter."

"What is there to plan for?" Thorin snorted. "No, we need to find the door. I will not miss this chance."

I took a deep breath. The company had settled themselves down again, looking resigned to a lengthy discussion. "You forget that I can fly," I said gently. "It will not take me long at all to discover the door from up in the air." Thorin merely grunted, his face saying he conceded that point. "There are more important things to worry about. No, don't interrupt me. What do you plan to do if we accidentally waken the dragon and are unprepared?"

Thorin frowned, considering my words thoughtfully. "We will kill it." He said finally.

I couldn't help rolling my eyes at that statement. "How? Will you punch him to death?" I felt exasperated that he seemed unable to come to a more satisfactory solution. A few of the group began to grumble as they wondered who to side with.

"It doesn't matter!" Thorin growled. "We will deal with him when we come to that. We have weapons!"

I groaned, burying my face in my palms. "You do realize how ridiculous that sounds don't you?" I asked faintly. Glancing up, I caught the affronted look on his face and couldn't help laughing. "Oh Thorin. Don't scowl so, your face will get stuck that way," I teased. Sobering, I explained my thoughts. "If Smaug awakens, what is to stop him from coming here, killing all these innocent people? If there is a way to make certain they remain unharmed I will do so, it would be dishonorable not to."

Any protest he had been about to make was lost when I put it that way. His mouth snapped shut and he offered me a defeated grimace. "What should be done? You cannot promise their safety anymore than we can be sure Smaug will die."

I straightened with a snap. "First of all, the worm will die! Maybe you've forgotten, or perhaps you never believed me, but this is not the first rogue dragon to cross my path. The others are all dead. I do not make idle promises."

"We believe you," Balin offered, the first one to add their input to the discussion.

I smiled. "Thank you Balin. Now, for the real problem. You said once that Smaug could only be killed by one of your wind lances. We all saw the one smack in the middle of town, so it stands to reason we are going to have to lure him here. It does not mean the people have to be here when that happens," I said slyly.

A few of the group exchanged looks. "What are you proposing?" Balin asked, looking as if he already had a general idea.

"Simple. We evacuate them before we get to the mountain." I gave them a smug look.

"Where can they go?" Thorin asked with a frown. "There is nothing in the way of shelter for miles around. Dale is in ruins, and the rest of the land is desolate, courtesy of the dragon."

"They might go to the elven king's halls," offered Bilbo softly, wilting when the others turned to him with incredulous glares.

"You out of your mind laddie?" Dwalin barked. "We can make no deals with Thranduil!"

"Actually, that was rather my idea," I spoke up, taking the focus off a grateful Bilbo. "After all, he owes us big time, or at least me anyways. He cannot deny that I will be doing him an enormous favor. Sheltering a few refugees seems small price to pay for having his home restored to its former glory."

"Peace," Balin offered, cajoling a fuming Thorin and Dwalin. The others calmed as well. "I think Alanta has a point. It would do us well to use this to our advantage, and theirs. No one wants these people to suffer for what we are trying to do."

"Alright," Thorin relented. "We get these people out. Then what? I do not see how we can lure Smaug out when we have nothing to offer."

"That can wait. I have a plan, one that I've been working on for years. First I want to get these people out, I fear they will be easily frightened." He looked about to speak again, confusion with my train of thought evident. "Later," I smiled, sensing his need for further explanation.

The towns people were all gathered in the square, down to the last child, muttering to themselves about the proposed plan. As predicted, they were afraid, eyes wide at the thought of their town going up in flames. I could see already it would not take much to convince most of them to leave. Others would be more difficult. I stared at the master where he stood with his followers gathered around him. They glared obstinately back, having made clear their desire not to abandon their homes and the wealth they managed to accrue over the years.

"Why did you not make your intentions clear when first we spoke?" Bard asked suspiciously.

"That was not your," Thorin started angrily before Balin elbowed him into silence.

"What my king means to say is that we have suffered many setbacks, and we were unsure of whom we could trust at the time. It seemed prudent to first gain access to the town before issuing demands or ultimatums. As it stands, the removal of the dragon will benefit all of us, a result I am sure you can agree is greatly desired." The old dwarf's calming words did much to restore an agreeable atmosphere to the meeting.

"You are right there," Bard agreed. "Long have I desired to see the worm slain and peace restored to our lands. We will go with your plan."

A messenger hurried through the halls of Thranduil's palace, the unexpected missive clutched tight in one shaking fist. If he had not been paid handsomely to deliver the message he most certainly wouldn't have bothered. His king's temper was a sight to behold, and the tidings within would likely invoke his wrath. Arriving in the throne room, he handed the folded paper to Thranduil with a bow before swiftly retreating several steps. Legolas stood beside his father, awaiting instruction. He offered the nervous guard a reassuring smile, causing the elf to relax slightly. Both jumped at the sound of their king's icy rage.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked the guard, the elf quailing under his cold gaze.

"The, the men of Esgaroth request asylum until the dragon can be defeated. They seem to have a plan for his demise, but wished to get their innocent out of the way..." the elf trailed off when Thranduil made no indication he was even listening.

"This must be some plot of that damned Oakenshield," he mused to himself. Turning to address the guard again he kept his voice neutral, even as anger bubbled through his veins. "We will have nothing to do with helping those traitorous dwarves and their new allies," he sneered, leaving the room haughtily and effectively ending the conversation.

Legolas sighed as his father retreated to his rooms. He was likely to sulk in there for hours now that his temper had been frayed, and would be utterly unreasonable for days to come. "I will accompany you back to Esgaroth," he informed the guard. "Form up half the guard and summon Tauriel to report here." The elf nodded, hurrying off to do his prince's bidding.

Tauriel was quick to appear, smiling at Legolas. "I heard there was tidings from Esgaroth. I take it Alanta and her dwarves arrived?"

The prince nodded. "Yes, but that is not all. They plan to take on the dragon. Currently they have requested we take in the people of Esgaroth until such a feat can be accomplished to avoid unnecessary casualties."

"Your father?" Tauriel asked knowingly.

Legolas shook his head ruefully. "Locked in his rooms as expected. He refused to become involved, but I know deep down he would not turn the men away, not after we have been allied with them all these years. He's just angry the idea came from the dwarves. He will come around." They headed for the door. "I hope," he muttered softly almost as an afterthought.

Our preparations had been interrupted with the arrival of a fully armed convoy led by none other than the prince himself, all mounted on swift horses. The elves nodded their greetings, Legolas and Tauriel coming forward to finalize terms. The rest milled about, looking over the pitiful town with reserved curiosity. They did not venture here much I gathered from their leaders, Thranduil's paranoia keeping them locked inside their kingdom these last few centuries as the darkness settled over their home.

"So you wish us to take those willing back to Mirkwood, and you will dispose of Smaug in their absence?" Legolas addressed Thorin, trying to hide his discomfort at having to deal with the grumpy dwarf king who technically outranked him. Thorin only nodded, equally uneasy in the presence of his former jailers. "May I ask how you plan to do so?" he inquired politely, looking genuinely curious.

"I have a plan," I spoke up, offering them a sheepish smile. "Hello again Tauriel."

The fiery elf smiled back, showing all was forgiven. "Hello my friend, it is good to see you well. Perhaps you might give more warning before disappearing next time," she gently teased. I chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"Well, if that is all, we should be off," Legolas announced briskly. He motioned to his guard to ensure the villagers were well protected as they prepared to head off. I was about to turn back to our planning when a loud protest reached my ears. I turned, watching as Bard embraced his three children and attempted to send them on without him.

"But Da, you'll be killed!" His eldest cried, worry lining her young face.

"It cannot be helped," he said firmly. "Be brave now, and know that I will do whatever I can to return to you. This is my duty." They seemed to understand some hidden subtext in his reassurance, for they sagged slightly and followed after the others, glancing back a few times to get one last look.

I stepped up beside him when they were out of earshot. "Why did you stay? I would have thought you smarter than the master, especially with how much depends on you," I nodded towards the backs of his retreating children. The dwarves behind me also waited for his answer, wondering if perhaps he was a bit insane.

"One moment," he requested, dashing off into his house and returning with a wrapped bundle. Stripping the cloth aside, he revealed a long dark arrow, wickedly sharp and unusually large. The dwarves gasped.

"A black arrow," Thorin breathed. "I have not seen one of these since the day Dale fell. How came you by this?"

Bard hesitated a moment. "I have not been completely honest with you either, master Thorin," he admitted. "My ancestor was Lord Girion of Dale, and this is the last black arrow in existence. The others lie at the bottom of the lake. This one was passed down through the generations should the time come to use it one day."

Balin nodded knowingly. "You wish to finish what your ancestor started laddie?"

Bard nodded, smiling at being referred to as a lad. "Yes. It is my duty to kill the dragon. Get him here, and I will end him."

"Ah yes, so we come to that now," Thorin turned to me expectantly. "You said you had a plan, and that you would tell us when the villagers were gone. Let's hear it."

I thought for a moment before coming to a decision. "Come, this way." I led them swiftly out of the town and back across the bridge. Once we had the entire shoreline in front of us I stared at them. This was the moment of truth, a time to overcome years of hatred in the hopes they wouldn't kill my allies before listening to my explanation. I decided to err on the side of caution. "I need to tell you a story," I began.

"Is this necessary?" Thorin grouched, looking impatient.

I nodded. "Very. In my world our guardians sometimes work under the guidance of some unusual allies. Dragons." Immediately following my words the expected shouting match broke out, accusations flowing forth with remarkable speed. I let them yell out their anger for a few minutes before silencing them with a shout. "Enough! Yes my people were, and still are allied with dragons. They were the first of us. Before guardians came into being, the dragons were tasked with protecting our fragile world. The one that killed my family was arguably the strongest protector of them all." Here my voice broke as old memories surfaced. "Until he went insane, his mind snapped by the endless invasions of evil we suffered. That is why it was such a betrayal, because he was once the best of us. From earth warder to earth render, the distinction is a finer line than you would believe. We had to kill him to end his torment."

"So, most of the dragons are good then?" Ori asked, scribbling all the while in his notebook as he hurried to get my words down.

"Yes, most of them are. They are our friends and allies, and their children joined with us to aid where we asked. I have several companions of this nature. I think it is time you met them now."

Thorin looked conflicted between outrage and curiosity. "What does this have to do with Smaug?" he asked at last.

"Everything. I believe another dragon would be the perfect thing to lure him out, it is the only thing we have that he might consider a threat. It is something I have done before."

"Makes sense," Dwalin said shortly. "You are certain they will aid us?" he asked slightly worriedly.

"Oh yes," I agreed. "They do what I ask of them, and they would never hurt a friend. Shall I bring them out?" Tense anticipation settled over the group as I called silently for the first of four companions, the air exploding with a loud bang at the size of the being that appeared. Bilbo fell over in shock while Bard and the others visibly flinched at the sight, though to their credit they remained where they stood. It was a sign of their trust in me that they stayed calm even in the face of their worst nightmare. The young dragon towered over me, my head reaching its shoulder.

"This is Sable," I introduced her. The ebony colored beast gave a sort of bow, inclining her head to eye my present company in interest. Her fiery stomach gleamed in the light of day, and her eyes glowed a dull orange. "If she were older she would be able to communicate with you without my aid, but she has not yet learned the trick of human speech. The others are different, more wild versions of their kin. They are unable to speak no matter how they age, but I am still able to talk to them."

"Sorry, how many are there again?" Bilbo asked faintly from his position on the ground.

"Four in total. I will call the next one now." Another whoosh of air dissipated to reveal an emerald colored drake. She was slightly opaque, the only completely solid thing about her being the amber colored horn protruding from the back of her head. Her eyes were a pale yellow, as was her stomach. "This is Ysana, a netherdrake from the outer worlds of my home."

Another call, another companion. The third one was hunched lower to the ground than his predecessors, giving him a feral look. His rusted scales were adorned with fiery runes and his mouth opened to reveal massive teeth to go with his impressive talons. "This is Bronne. He is the product of titans experimenting on the wild drakes of the north, and quite unique."

I called the last one. An almost rumbling sound accompanied his arrival. The drake was crafted of the very same living stone as some of my other companions, his grey-green complexion adorned with glowing amethyst crystals. "Last, but certainly not least, this is Aeon. As some of you may have guessed he is a stone drake, born of the rock in the very core of my world. He also is unique, even more so than the others for how incredibly difficult it was to befriend him. The stone remains unchanged it is said, not often bowing to outside influence."

"Impressive," Bard said admiringly, his fear less than the others due to never having seen a dragon before. "Do they breathe fire?" he inquired. "I dare say they could take on Smaug without our help."

I shook my head. "They would not last against a full grown dragon, their fire is small due to their young age. Together though I think they will be more than enough to make him uncomfortable and eager to come out. I haven't yet met a dragon that could stand the scent of others of their kind without some confrontation."

We had finished our planning by the end of the day, uninterrupted by the remaining stubborn villagers. The master had looked ready to come over to us and protest the fact that we were ignoring him, but one glance at my companions had him scurrying back to his house, face white in terror. I was glad not to have to deal with the greedy fellow, he left a bad taste in my mouth.

I sat on the dock outside the guest house now, enjoying the evening. My dragons had vanished for the night, promising to return when we departed in the morning. I could hear the sounds of the others inside, their laughter and chatter filling the air. While I enjoyed a good party, for now I was just savoring the quiet, the knowledge of the approaching confrontation heavy on my mind. No matter how we planned, there were still so many things that could go wrong, and I had no other guardians to back me up. Just a handful of people most precious to me. My thoughts were interrupted, but I didn't turn when the sound of heavy footfalls reached my ears. Thorin settled himself down beside me, contemplating the water as I did in companionable silence.

"What's on your mind?" he rumbled at last.

I sighed, leaning back on my hands to look at him. Rather than address the real object of my focus I decided to ask him another question. "Have you ever thought about how your life will change when Erebor is retaken?"

He frowned thoughtfully. "It will be different, but this is something I have trained for all my life. Though..." He trailed off, suddenly looking uncertain.

"What?"

"Sometimes I'm not sure if I'm ready. To be king that is. It should have been my father on that throne." He grinned then. "Things will be even more interesting for you," he said with a chuckle.

"How do you figure?" My mind worked its way around his words, trying to find the humor.

"Well..." He stopped, obviously thinking hard about something. "I meant to wait, but supposing this goes ill tomorrow," he muttered, digging a hand into his pocket. He pulled out something small and shiny, fiddling with it for a moment before placing it in my palm. It was a bead, its bright mithril surface carved with familiar runes. I gasped at their meaning. "Will you accept me for always?" he asked haltingly. My mind blanked, stunned by his request and the way it made him so very nervous. He was never nervous, always certain of his path and purpose.

"Of course," I choked out. Realization suddenly dawned on me of what that would mean for me. "Wait... but that means I would be..." I paled, afraid of the thought that now crossed my mind. His arms wrapped around me and I gazed up at him, calming in reaction to how at peace he looked.

"You will be perfect," he said firmly. "Everything you do already, you do for others. This is not really any different, it just has another title to go with the job."

"I suppose you're right," I frowned doubtfully, trying to accept his confidence in me.

Dawn was breaking in pale shades of pink and gold over the lake when we stood at its edge, readying the boat that would take us across to Erebor. A small amount of supplies were placed on board, mostly food, and we were all sufficiently armed. Before we pulled away from the dock we turned to give our farewells to Bard, leaving him with to wait for our return, hopefully with Smaug in tow.

"You sure you want to do this?" I asked him, knowing how much was at stake and hoping he wasn't one to suffer from nerves.

"I'll be ready," he assured us. "Luck go with you and I hope to see you all soon, alive and well." We clasped arms for a moment in a gesture of solidarity before pushing off, watching as the man we pinned our hopes on grew smaller with distance.

The trip was uneventful, time passing quickly as we rowed in shifts. Once we reached the other side we shouldered our packs and set off for the mountain. Another couple hours march saw us at its base, and we quickly found a sheltered nook in the scattered boulders to stow our gear. I took flight then, shooting up high into the air to gain a better vantage point. All I could see was barren rock, scored by dragon claws and turned black in places by fire. It was a dismal sight with nothing to break the monotony of the scene. Only one thing stood out. The massive statues carved out of stone that flanked the front gates to the abandoned city. The gates were shut, the statues to either side guarding their secrets eternally.

I couldn't help myself from flying closer to them for a better look, intrigued by the workmanship in the intricate figures. They were formed not as kings like I had expected, but as warriors, one holding an axe and the other a pick. Shaking myself from my distraction I moved on, beginning a wide loop around the mountain. I had reached the western side when I spotted another figure, this one oddly out of place in the side of the mountain. Going with the theory that the statues guarded doors, I headed over to examine it. This one held an axe as well. At first glance the statue appeared rather nondescript after the first two, but closer inspection revealed something rather interesting. A pillar that the figure appeared to be leaning on, with a curious zig zag pattern leading all the way up to the flat axe handle from the ground...

Shooting back to where the others had gathered, I threw myself to the ground, phasing as I collided with the earth. Several arms steadied me while I caught my breath after my hurried flight. I gave them all a triumphant grin. "I found it!"

Cheers met my pronouncement, the others following with the supplies as I led them to our destination. It was a short climb through the rocks to the base of the hidden stairway, and then a much more arduous climb up stairs that seemed more designed for men than dwarves. We were all winded when we reached the top, and slightly discouraged at the sight of an innocent looking blank wall, but it was clear this had to be the spot we were searching for. We settled down to wait, making camp until the day came that the door was destined to open.

Durin's day arrived at last, and we rose at the sound of the first timid bird calls floating through the chill air. The dwarves were immediately consumed with figuring out how to open the door, even going as far as to ignore breakfast. I shook my head in amusement, setting myself at the cliff edge and watching the horizon, imagining the land as it might once have been. I let my hands trail over the ground, leaving a sweep of green grass and flowers, oddly bright against the stone. Grinning in happiness, I rolled to my stomach, leaning over the edge and letting my hands rest against the stone. Ivy cascaded out from my touch, twining down the mountain side and weaving its way though the rocks.

Taking a break from my terraforming, I wrangled together a decent meal of meat and cheese with thick slices of bread besides. "Come on you guys, take a break and eat."

A few made their way over right away, namely Bombur and the younger ones, only halting at the sound of their leaders grouchy voice. "We need to find the door! Time enough to eat later." They slouched back over to Thorin, looking crestfallen at the thought of going hungry.

"Oh relax," I snorted. "Starving yourself isn't going to make that door open any sooner. Might as well keep your strength up."

"Hear hear," Bombur cried, already inching back towards the food. A round of chuckles circled the group as Thorin gave up his protests with an annoyed shrug. The day continued in much the same fashion, though I had a harder time convincing the others to eat as the sun headed for the western horizon. No progress was being made at the door, and Thorin was now pacing in agitation, muttering furiously to himself. A few of the others sat tiredly off to the side, staring at the stone as if to will it open. I kept back, knowing it would do no good to force the issue, the problem would resolve when it was ready. I already had a slight idea of when that would be, but knowing the others weren't likely to listen I kept my thoughts to myself.

The sun was now a faint glimmer on the far edge of the darkening sky, while the first stars were showing across the heavens in the east. With a sigh, the last light slipped away, plunging the sky to a murky twilight. I watched as Thorin's face fell, and he crumbled to a spot on the ground not far from the door. "What went wrong?" he whispered roughly. "What did we miss? The last light of Durin's day..." He shook his head, despair filling his voice. He turned then to me, looking to find comfort and instead being met by my calm gaze as I turned my focus to the wall. "You don't look upset," he managed to note, sounding almost disgruntled that I was unconcerned.

"I have an idea," I said slowly, now watching the sky, the minutes ticking by as I waited for confirmation. "How did you come across the clue that told you about the door?"

Thorin looked perplexed. "It was on the map."

"Well yes I know that. But how did you read it? You had to go to Elrond," I gently prompted him.

"He said something about moon runes I think, I wasn't really paying attention to that part." He looked a little, a very little bit guilty with the admission, though it faded almost as fast.

When he didn't continue the thought, failing to grasp where I was headed with it, I sighed. "Honestly Thorin, sometimes you miss what is right in front of your face." He gave me a surly grimace now, opening his mouth to protest before I loudly continued. "If the clue was visible in moonlight, doesn't it stand to reason that perhaps the door is too?" Instantly his expression changed to a smile of realization.

"Of course!" We all studied the wall intently now as the moon rose through the sky, exclaiming in delight when its soft rays illuminated a hole in the stone that most certainly was not there before. Quickly the key was inserted, and with a muffled thump the door opened...

Bilbo and I bid farewell to the others, taking their promise to remain up top while we investigated. Bilbo was going to do some scouting and then return to them, while I lured Smaug outside and away to Esgaroth. Thorin pulled me into a fierce embrace before I left. "Stay safe," he murmured worriedly.

"I'll be fine," I promised him with a smile. I gave the company one last look before striding into the darkness, walking fast now that I was on a time limit. The light was soon lost as we came into an oppressive darkness, and the only thing to be heard were the faint sounds of our companions receding as we left them behind. The air was thick, and grew steadily warmer as we approached what we expected would be the treasure room. Light became visible again, at first only a hint of illumination before strengthening into a steady glow ahead of us.

The sight that greeted us stopped us in our tracks, rendered silent in awe. Mountains of gold extended as far as the eye could see, peppered with a rainbow of gems and interspersed with the colder glow of silver. I let out an involuntary gasp of delight, unable to stop myself from reaching out a hand to touch it, to be certain what I was looking at was truly real. It was a staggering vision to behold, testament to the skill of Erebor's people. My eyes danced from one pile to the next, each new thing to catch my interest drawing me farther into the hoard, and I fought to keep silent as I spared half an eye for the dragon. He was nowhere to be seen, but already my sharp ears had picked out the low sound of steady breathing, the audible proof of a beast somewhere nearby.

I turned to Bilbo as he stepped up beside me. "Go wait by the door and stay hidden," I ordered him in a whisper. "When we're gone you can come out and do your investigating, or get the others, your choice."

He nodded, eyes wide as he took in the sight around us still. Stumbling slightly, he made his way carefully back over the unstable piles, disappearing from sight as he got to the door. I made a mental note to ask how he accomplished that before taking to the air as a raven to complete my task. I had called on a few of my avian friends, sending them down other tunnels to find the fastest route to the main gates. Once they returned with directions I landed in the large doorway leading the right direction, sending them away to safety. My thoughts turned now to my dragons, summoning them to array themselves at my back. They waited patiently as I took a deep steadying breath, summoning my courage.

"Smaug!" I yelled, cupping my hands around my mouth to amplify my voice. "Come out worm, and meet your end! The mountain will not be yours any longer!" Silence met my declaration for a terrible long second, before a shifting of gold announced the awakening of my adversary. Blood red scales covered the massive head that rose from the floor, the amber eyes examining me with mirthful interest. I was heartened to see that while large, he was not as big as the last dragon I had faced, and my companions were each a quarter of his size. I watched him note their presence, expression unreadable.

"You seek to challenge me?" he said at last, his voice a sibilant hiss. He strove to sound amused, but I detected a faint note of concern as my dragons stepped towards him with a snarl of defiance.

"Not challenge," I shook my head. "I'm here to end you." I was armed with the certainty that I was right, and my voice rang with confidence.

Smaug eyed us with speculation, making no move to end the discussion. "Yet you come backed by my own kind, how easy it would be to turn them," he mused.

"They are nothing like you. They are the children of guardians, protectors of all that is good. That does not include you," I stated flatly. Still he remained unmoved, far too slow to anger. I realized I would have to change tactics. Grabbing the nearest treasure I could get hold of, I tossed it to one of my companions, smiling craftily as he obediently vanished. The mixture of confusion and anger that overcame Smaug was a welcome sight. "I could steal all your treasure piece by piece and there would be nothing you could do about it," I informed him softly, watching with satisfaction as his temper flared at last. He launched himself at me with an incoherent snarl of rage, chest lighting up as he gathered his flames to him. I phased swiftly, adopting wings and throwing myself out of the path of the flames.

The chase was on, the enraged dragon staggering through the halls after me, unheeding of the small flames hurled his way by my friends, or the walls that stopped him up before he crashed his way through them. I flew in a zig zag pattern, constantly switching directions and throwing in random dives and climbs to evade capture. I could see the great gates looming ahead in the dim light, and it was the work of a moment for my companions to smash them open and free us into the day. Smaug seemed not to notice anything else but the ones who threatened him, and I used it to my advantage to keep him headed swiftly to Esgaroth, knowing his need for revenge would outweigh his desire to return to the treasure.

Bard waited at the top of the defense tower, watching the horizon for the telltale sign of Smaug's approach. He remembered Alanta's warning well, that he would have only seconds from the first sight before he was upon the town. Dragons were frighteningly swift, she had said, and he took her words to heart. Wiping palms slick with fear sweat on his trousers, he jumped slightly at the far off sound of a roar. He placed himself at the wind lance, making sure the arrow was secure as he scanned the sky with intense focus. A dark blot came into sight on the horizon, black against the pale clouds, and the sight had him start counting.

Ten... The roars were louder now.

Nine... The dark form grew wings.

Eight... There was Alanta and her dragons, small against the enemy.

Seven... Bigger still and lit with fire.

Six... He could see the air shimmering in waves around the fiery beast.

Five... The smaller dragons were dodging attacks, he could see now how young they must be.

Four... The beast seemed to fill the sky as it drew near.

Three... He had promised to come back to his children, but what if he failed?

Two... Alanta and her companions streaked by overhead. He grasped the bow firmly, heart pounding in anticipation.

One... The moment seemed to stretch into forever. A sudden calm filled his being as he aimed. Taking a last breath, he fired...

Author's note: I sincerely apologize for how long this chapter took to post. For some stupid reason the words were refusing to leave my head in any coherent fashion, so it took a fair bit of persuasion to force them to cooperate. I suppose you could say I left it at a cliffhanger, though I had not expected to do so, but there we are. The countdown scene was something I wanted to do for a while, it was inspired by the eight seconds a bull rider has and the thoughts such a frenzied scene might create. Oh, and yes the bead thing was a marriage proposal for those who may not have been certain, and it was a long time in coming. That's not to say of course that things will be easy breezy for them from now on, that would be far too nice. I made a deliberate change in the story by evacuating the townspeople, with the idea that this changes the way things go in future, how much I can't yet say. More action to look forward to next chapter and some other significant changes. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and thanks again for sticking with me for the journey!