'Would you like a piece of gum?'

The question echoed quietly throughout the tunnel, minutes after Thorin and Bilbo had been swallowed by the darkness. Kili, who had been staring fixedly at the opposing wall, had looked mildly over to me as I slunk heavily and lowly, bag on my lap.

I popped the gum out of the packet and held the small, white rectangle toward him. 'It's mint flavored,' I told him, aware of the half-interested looks from the rest of the company. We had been dirty, tired and scared while we waited for what to do next. 'You don't swallow it, you just keep chewing at it. It's like...have you ever chewed mint leaves?'

Kili stared curiously at the chewing gum. 'Yes'.

'It's kinda like that, except more...chewy,' I huffed out a laugh and held it out to him. 'Would you like it?'

I'd only really then thought of giving him something from my world. The idea seemed ludicrous, when you think about it. I'd given him something that hadn't even been invented in Middle Earth, and he knew exactly that. With dirty fingernails, Kili had deftly taken the gum out of the palm of my hand, popped it into his mouth and began chewing.

Have you ever seen those videos where you give a cat lemon juice, or a baby something sour? It was kinda like that.

He blinked and jumped, laughing a little at my loud cackle. The others shushed me quickly, though they themselves were biting back smiles at Kili's startled look. 'I told you,' I laughed. 'It's really minty'.

'Is this a food from your homeland, Millie?' It had been Dori to ask the question. I guess that in the midst of not quite knowing what to do with ourselves in the cramped space, any subject of conversation had sufficed.

I nodded, shutting my bag and blinking in the dimness of the tunnel. Each Dwarf had taken opposite sides of the wall, and the quiet, apparently, was getting too much for all of us. 'Yeah,' I replied. 'You don't really eat it though - you just chew and it makes your breath smell all...minty. It doesn't run out, either. It'll lose its taste though, after a while'.

'Fascinating,' replied Dori. 'The lad seems to be enjoying it, so I suppose it is safe'.

I looked to Kili, who indeed seemed to be enjoying the gum. The image of Kili happily popping away at a piece of gum will be forever embedded into my mind, just so you know. He was like a cheerful little puppy. Everyone else was smiling halfheartedly at the exchange as well, and perhaps that's why I'll always remember that moment as one of our calm ones.

We'd just been attacked by a dragon who continued to hunt us, but we still smiled.

That is, until there was a slight scuffle next to me and Kili and Fili began muttering quickly to one another. Bofur, who'd had his head leaning against the wall, cracked open an eye as his smile had slowly disappeared and asked, 'What's got you two up in hysterics?'

Fili swooped an arm to catch Kili's wrist, holding it tightly. 'Kili was burnt'.

'It's a singe,' insisted Kili, yanking the arm from his brothers grasp and curling it once again against his stomach. His tone was grumpy and quiet, and I almost felt sorry for him as Fili worried over him with narrowed eyes.

'You what?' I balked, sitting straight and practically clambering onto his lap in an attempt to grab at the offending arm. 'Why didn't you say anything, you absolute prune? It could get infected'.

'Oin,' said Fili quickly, but the Dwarf was already unraveling bandages and taking out a salve. 'Kee, you know that Thorin would be upset if he found out you were hiding injuries,' he said, as Oin squeezed past the company to kneel in front of the mortified Kili. The younger dwarf had shifted awkwardly, still trying to take back his arm.

'No shame in admitting to injury, lad,' said Bofur with a knowing nod. 'I've probably taken up most of Oin's medical facilities on this quest'. Ori and Bombur grumbled in agreement.

'Shall we remember the time I fainted after the stone giants, or when a Goblin cut my ear, or when I ran into a wall?' I crossed my legs and stared pointedly at Kili. 'And I was the one who got you burnt in the first place'. I frowned. 'Don't tell Thorin that one'.

Oin made Kili pull up his sleeve before rubbing a quick, white salve onto the burn. Blood seeped from the irritated skin. Thankfully, the rest of the company had quietened down and gone back to their snoozing whilst Oin had taken care of the injury. 'This'll help keep away the infection,' said Oin, wrapping the crinkled bandage around Kili's arm. 'Should be good within a few days, as long as you don't play with it'.

Kili had nodded and drew his arm in quickly, yanking down his sleeve. 'Thank you, Mister Oin'. Oin, though, had apparently not heard and started backward to his sitting place, dodging the legs of the Dwarves.

Fili settled beside his brother, elbowing him quickly. 'They won't say anything to Thorin, if that's what you're worried about,' he said lowly so that only myself and Kili had been the ones to hear. 'But Kee, you gotta say if you're hurt. They won't think that it's because you're young or anything of the sort, you know that. Look at Millie - she's more than willing to admit defeat like a proper warrior'.

I held up my hands at Fili's jest with a heartfelt, 'It's true'.

Kili just fiddled with his arm and grunted. 'It wasn't that bad of a burn and you know it, Fee'.

Fili considered this and had replied with, 'Yes. But any kind of injury can turn into any kind of infection. We're not in Ered Luin anymore, any kind of dirt or filth can get into a wound and do nasty things to it. We have to be more careful'.

I had felt like I was witnessing something far too private, something affectionate between the two brothers. Kili didn't like to be seen as weak, considering how he had been treated because of his age and his appearance. But here he was, allowing Fili to talk to him like he was the little brother, and he was fine with me witnessing it, as long as the others did not see.

It touched me more than he'd ever know.

The moment was cut short though, of course. The ground shook with a friction caused by something big and powerful ramming into the Mountain. We had all yelped and clutched at the walls, holding onto each other in an attempt to ensure everyone's safety. Kili had even spat his gum out in surprise, much to Fili's disgust.

A kind of horror settled in once we realized that Smaug was back.

'He's in the Mountain again,' said Dwalin roughly, standing despite the ruckus. 'We must go and find Thorin and the Hobbit-'

He cut himself off as another grinding of rock and heat swept through tunnel. The Dwarves and myself were on our feet in seconds, drawing weapons and leaving the bags behind as we had simultaneously started into a run. My heart hammered as the noises grew. They had been louder, considering that we were now inside the Mountain rather than at the Back Door.

'The two of them are not coming up the tunnel,' said Dwalin, standing tall (well, ish) and heaving. It had felt like the very Mountain was caving in around us with the angry, harsh movements of Smaug. 'Balin, Kili, Fili and - oh, I'm going to regret this - Millie, follow me up the tunnel. The rest of you; wait at the Back Door. He may yet come out of the Mountain again'.

There was a whirlwind of movement as we had separated from one another, lingering glances shared and the brushing of shoulders. I hadn't, at that time, quite believed that Dwalin had allowed me to follow them to Smaug's lair, where Thorin and Bilbo had not yet returned from. He had trusted me. Despite everything, he wanted this moment for me to prove myself. For me to see true battle.

And shit, I was going to take it. Although, sometimes I wonder how things would have played out if I had merely stayed with the other Dwarves. Sometimes, I- well, I'll never know, will I?

Scared and tense, we had legged it up the tunnel. The darkness grew warmer the more we ran, and I had wondered why Thorin and Bilbo had not yet returned from their trek. Surely they would have run upon hearing Smaug - I mean, the dragon wasn't exactly quiet. Had something stalled them?

There was a light peeking in the distance, and Fili soon pointed it out. The men in front of me had slowed down some, dropping into crouches of which I had awkwardly followed. I drew Snowthorn quickly, the quiet scrape of metal hardly heard above the great, oddly deep voice of, what I had presumed to be, the mighty Smaug.

I had jumped the moment that it had echoed throughout the cavernous space, mouth drying and heart beating fast.

'-A recognize the smell of Dwarf, Thief. I know what accompanies you into my Mountain, and I know that you stole something of mine-'. When they had said that Smaug talked, they hadn't been lying, huh? 'I saw a camp, and at this camp were ponies. I ate them, yes, but not before counting them. I know how many of you there are, and I know that two of you reside in this chamber with me now'.

There was a pause, and a great intake of breath that had sounded like a rumbling growl.

'A woman Dwarf - I have not smelt one for so long'.

I stiffened, drawing myself back and nearly tripping over as the others had jumped, looking at me in alarm. Smaug's voice was smooth, nearly seductive. The way he spoke, it was obvious that Thorin and Bilbo were somewhere beyond the hole in the wall that we had been feet away from, careful to not stray into the light in case were had been seen.

'I have hunted all night and I will hunt all day, Thief. One does not steal from Smaug and-'

There was a sudden rumbling sound and a crash of many small, metal objects. I had wondered briefly if that was the treasure I had heard so much about.

'Laketown!' Smaug said suddenly. 'That is where you acquired the ponies, I would wager. I have not set my eyes upon that Town in years, perhaps I should pay a visit to the Men who attempt to take the Mountain from the mighty Smaug? You speak in riddles, Thief, but you cannot deny the intelligence of a dragon. I will show you what happens to the men of Laketown today, and to those who steal'.

Ha, says him.

There had been the sound of shifting once again, of something heavy being dragged around a floor covered in coins. Smaug had moved, and had we hid. Smaug threatened to kill those who had helped us, and we had hid.

Kili pushed himself forward suddenly, and the yell had escaped my mouth before I could so much grab onto the rough material of Kili's coat. He had heard enough about the threats to Laketown, and in his recklessness had taken action. 'Kili!' He still sprung forward, and Fili after him. Dwalin roared and he himself threw himself out of the darkness and into the light that was cast into the tunnel. I pushed past Balin, uneasy on my feet as the earthquake tore throughout the Mountain as Smaug moved to leave the lair and attack Laketown.

We stopped at the edge of the tunnel, where it had suddenly dropped off into the chamber. It seemed that the small doorway had been around ten feet up from the ground, above a cascade of small golden coins, which suddenly ascended into great, hulking piles of gold and treasure and riches. We had all stopped very suddenly, teetering at the edge of the doorway with awe.

'Dude,' I had muttered, jaw lack. 'Stuff'.

The breath had been practically pushed out of my lungs at the sight of a large, scaled and tick tail falling heavily from the space above and crashing against the gold. Not only because it was terrifying and had scared the crap out of me, but what if Thorin and Bilbo were down there somewhere? We had not yet found where they were hidden, and-

'More thieves, I see,' the sharp voice had said, and suddenly Smaug was there. He had tricked us, it would seem. Waited until we were to angry to hide, left with a threatening comment and waited until we had not been able to bare it anymore. 'I heard your voice, where do you hide?'

He had not see us, but we had seen him.

He was nothing like the silhouette against the fire that I had seen the prior night. No - no this dragon was long and wide, with a pooling belly and a long face, flanked by two curving, bone like horns near his eyes. His skin was dark, but the scales that seemed to crust and act as thick armour had been a hot, fiery red. They glinted against the gold, envying the shine and the solidness. His eyes, although averted from our frozen forms, had been a bright yellow with thin, misshapen pupils.

He was Smaug, and he had seemed unbeatable. Unimaginable.

'Back up,' muttered Dwalin roughly, craning the hilt of his weapon around to Kili's front and slowly pulling the younger Dwarf backwards. I'd never seen any of them in such a frozen state of horror, especially Dwalin. The leader of our small group had stared at the dragon, mouth in a stiff line and movements slow and robotic.

Smaug did not notice us retreat from the hole in the wall and back into the shadows, though he'd had his enormous head cocked - listening for us. He'd breathed heavily, and smoke had curled from his two great nostrils.

Smaug wouldn't leave without incinerating us first. He would wait - perhaps he had already ended Bilbo and Thorin. But he would not leave. That was an impossibility...unless we did something about it.

'Oh!' my voice cracked and Dwalin, who had been moving slowly, turned to face me with such force that he nearly chopped Kili's head off with his axe. 'Oh, Mighty, er, Smaug. You assume that we will show ourselves in your presence, when you threaten us so many times?' If he goes outside, he might see the others. But surely they would know to run back inside upon hearing him? But the people of Laketown - they are involved now too.

Kili was shaking his head at me, slowly and horror struck. Fili was stoic beside me.

You have a decision to make, Fournier. The people of Laketown, or your Dwarves. Your friends. Your family. You could save them, if Smaug would just leave.

I'd swallowed. 'A Thief has stolen from you,' I said, as loudly as I could while slowly pressing myself against the wall. I shut my eyes tightly, afraid of the stiff and echoing silence. We had backed so far up the tunnel that we were out of the light once again, and I had no longer been able to see the dragon. Thank God. 'But not I. If you are slain, though, the Men and Women of Laketown will surely spy out your treasure'.

I swallowed, though my throat had been so dry that it had hurt. I placed Snowthorn beside me, noticing how my hands shook.

My voice shook too, and my sweaty palms had pressed against the smooth wall. My knees had been buckling beneath me, and slowly I had lent against the wall with a weak frame. For them. I am saving them. Buying us time.

I was aware of the stares of the others - the disbelief, the shock.

'It all comes back to the Men of the town in the shadow of the Mountain,' mused Smaug, and his voice was a mulling, sly thing. 'They are the ones to have aided you in reaching the Mountain, in giving you ponies to ride - you talk of them as if you know them, have you met these Men, lodged with them, shared food with them?'

I had not answered. My butt hit the floor and my hand had hovered over my mouth. All was still as his reminder floated in the air - the Men and Women had fed us, given us a house, a way to survive. They had taken us in and celebrated our mere existence.

And I had sent them a dragon.

'There will come a time when you will no longer be able to survive within the tunnels of this Mountain. Your Burglar and Thief has already given me as much information as you, Lady Dwarf. You have food, but it will not last long. Nor will your water. You are weak, and I will smite you once you can no longer survive, and you will be forced out of the Mountain. Until then, I will visit Laketown. It has been in the shadow of my Mountain for far too long'. Smaug moved, and so did the gold, and the ground - but none of us seemed to care.

There was a pause in his movement.

'And I, Smaug, will force light upon the shadow with my fire'.

I was barely aware of him leaving, of his gaping form pushing and pressing against the walls of the chamber as he had crawled out of the space and taken flight. The sound of his wings barely bothered me as the Dwarves broke out into shouts for Thorin and Bilbo, dropping from the hole and into the pile of gold. It had all been too slow, my brain lagging with what was happening.

I saw Fili start off back up the tunnel. Probably to get the others. To check if they were alright.

I saw that Kili was not there, and had known that I had done something truly terrible.

I'd started crying then, for the first time in a while. But it hadn't been for myself, nor the Dwarves around me. It had been for Laketown, and its beautiful wood and its kind people. I clamped a hand over my mouth in a desperate attempt to stifle the sobbing, the sheer horror of what I had done. I had killed a town - people, children, babies, men, women - to buy us time.

I had clutched at my hair, my sobs sounding too young for my voice, for me. They had been high and breathy as I had tried desperately to catch my breath, to breathe. Regret sat deep within my stomach, along with remorse and shame.

'Millie'.

It was not Kili who had stood before me, in case you're wondering. It had been Balin. The Dwarf had not followed Dwalin and Kili into the treasure below to search for Bilbo and Thorin, but had instead been standing quietly back, watching me with wise eyes.

'I understand what you did, and why you did it,' he said, and his voice had been somehow less kind and more comforting. I hadn't wanted comfort - I had wanted someone to scream at me. 'That was brave, Millie. A decision beyond your years - beyond any of ours-'

Do not justify it.

'I-I've killed them,' I gasped out, clawing at my hands and curling my legs inward. 'I-I sent him to them, so that we could have time - so that you all wouldn't die!' My vision had been blurry with tears, and to my horror I had heard the loud, clapping footsteps of the approaching company who had been left at the Back Door.

What if it was not supposed to happen? What if I have changed the entire story so drastically that now...now everything will collapse? Panic settled in at that thought, clawing at my chest.

'It was a decision made with thought and without feeling,' Balin said honestly, standing beside me. His hand touched my shoulder. 'It was the decision of a leader - of a King, a Queen. You did it to save your people'.

'And kill hundreds of others,' I replied harshly, looking up from my hands. My face had felt sticky with tears and my voice had been thick. I'd felt oddly numb - kind of disconnected.

'Perhaps that is not so,' replied Balin. 'A dragons weakest point is his underbelly. Perhaps the people of Laketown know this'.

And perhaps they had.

Yes, okay. I said that I would made certain aspects of Smaug different, and I have. I wanted to show that Millie will change certain things (although, as you know, she only made it certain that Smaug would go to Laketown in a different manner) and do things on her own accord. She will also worry that she has changed things too much, because obviously she knows that this is The Hobbit. Although, sometimes, I think that she is forgetting that fact.

I hope you liked it. I feel that Millie needed something that will show the drastic change of her character, and how she will make these decision to save her people. We will see how the others will react to it in the next chapter, ey?

Feedback for this chapter would be much appreciated! Thank you for the reviews, you're all amazing!

plz don't hate millie