Disclaimer: J.R.R. Tolkien owns all save for the characters not in his works.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
"Nuil, we must go."
She didn't move, staring at the decaying corpse of her mother. Her mother, Meldamar, had not died in dragon fire, or buried in rubble. She had died in the western guard room, waiting to be saved, waiting for her to come back. The child at her side, clung to her like Nuil had done when she was that young. She could only assume that the child had been orphaned, in the brief time between Smaug's destruction and her death.
Finally, after countless minutes of urging from Thorin she looked up at him. Her hot tears still ran freely, and her heart felt like it had been pierced. The hurt- it was paralyzing.
"Nuilweyil, âzyungâl, we must go," he said compassionately. "There will be a time to put her to rest properly."
If they lived. If Smaug didn't kill them first. But how could she leave, leave her mother here, again? In the end, she didn't move of her own volition. Thorin took matters into his own hands. Swiftly he picked her up, wrapping her arms around her as he spoke to the others, while she buried her face into his shoulder. He then pulled away, but held onto her, leading her from the room.
Staring over his shoulder, Nuil watched the bodies, her mother disappear around the wall.
"Was that Aunnie's amad?" she heard Kili murmur to Fili. Both looked grim and afraid. Their words echoed off the walls, even if they were as loud as a whisper. Nuil didn't need to look back at them to see that they were staring at her.
"Aye," came Fili's response. They fell into silence, which Nuil was both glad for and loath for.
He knew she was grieving, but they did not have time for it. Thorin held onto her tightly, half afraid that she would collapse at any moment. The discovery of Meldamar was both unfortunate and perhaps a relief. The timing was not good. She should not have to grieve for this, not now. His mind turned to the matter at hand, Smaug.
He was determined not to die cowering or trapped. Waiting for death. He would take Smaug with him, Mahal willing. He thought nothing of losing his nephews or Nuil. It did not cross his mind, he was so determined to get rid of the beast. Thorin stopped, still shadowed by the safety of the corridor but at the mouth of the bridges spanning across the hall. Briefly he thought of the gold he had seen, wondering if he would get to bury his hands in it. Only if they defeated Smaug. With that in mind Thorin turned to the others, splitting them into groups.
"Balin, Nuil and Bilbo will go with me," he murmured quietly. "Dwalin, Fili, Kili and Gloin will go to a higher level, Bifir Bofur and Nori below. Bombur, Oin, Nori and Ori head to the forges." They did not argue and nodded silently.
Still holding onto Nuil he had Bilbo and Balin follow him, giving Dwalin a look as he sent Fili and Kili to him. Dwalin nodded, leading them down the corridor and out of sight. Thorin knew Dwalin would watch over them like they were his own sons. His worry lessened. Soon, soon, he thought to himself while leading his group across a bridge, the mountain would be his again. Things would be well.
He stopped in the middle, facing the great open cavern, Nuil at his side grim and pale.
"Here worm!" He yelled, his voice echoing off the stone. "Come and face me, the true King Under the Mountain!"
Nuil's grip on his arm tightened, from nerves or fear, it mattered not. They heard it not long after the last word had passed his lips. The rumbling and breaking of stone, before Smaug appear from behind a column. His golden eyes full of rage as his red scales glowed within his chest.
"You dare to taunt me, puny dwarf?!" he roared, advancing on them. "I who have sat upon your gold for years while your kin withered?"
Thorin saw red, stepping dangerously close to the ledge, hating Smaug with every fiber of his being. "Then why, oh indolent worm, have we been able to return?"
Smaug's eyes narrowed, his chest glowing brighter. Thorin knew what was coming and turned, pushing the others ahead of him towards the other side of the bridge as fire leapt from Smaug's mouth and licked at their heels. It was scorching hot and sweat dripped down his face. His back felt as though he were on fire, but it was not. His tunic was damp with his perspiration.
"Over here you oaf!" rose another cry from far away. The others had begun to lead Smaug towards the forges. Thorin caught his breath before urging them forward.
"We must get there with the others. Hurry," he told them. Without waiting for a response he led the way, not bothering to see if they followed.
They were somewhere near the throne room when Smaug found them again. There were shouts ringing through the air, they sounded pained and Nuil had a sick feeling that one of their companions had been caught in Smaug's fire. She hoped for their sake that it was not grievous, or that if it was, they perished quickly. She had seen the victims of dragon fire, their scarred skin eternally marred, and a darkness resided in them.
Thorin entered through the doorway first, freezing at the sight of Smaug sitting on the crushed throne of Thror. It was newly done, a few pieces still clattering down and into the open cavern below.
Bilbo, herself and Balin followed, freezing in the same manner.
Smaug watched them with his golden eyes, looking pleased with himself. Had he not been in Erebor, Nuil would have thought that he looked like a king. A regal beast with an air of importance that could not be ignored. He looked smug, sitting upon the ruins of Thror's throne. Smaug's tail flicked lazily as he leered at them.
"So you have come, Thorin son of Thrain, supposed King Under the Mountain. And you have brought the Barrel-rider as well." He lifted his head. "And what's this? Two treats for when I finish with you both? How kind."
Thorin bristled with anger, fists shaking at his sides as Smaug hummed, almost gleefully.
"Will you not speak, King of Nothing? Have your taunts run dry now that you see the truth before you? My, you are a pathetic little thing."
"You are an abomination!" Thorin finally growled. Smaug threw back his head and laughed, a deep rumbling sound that shook the walls. Dust drifted down from the ceiling. Nuil gave Balin a worried look. Much neglect and damage had been done here during Smaug's reign. She worried that he might bring down the ceiling and crush them all.
"Me?!" Smaug said incredulously. "I am King! I laid waste to your kind, bathed in your riches, drank the blood of your people! I, Smaug, the great, won."
"You will die, filth, for what you have done. I have traveled long and far to reclaim what is mine, you will not keep me from my birthright!"
"Your birthright-" Smaug said raising his voice, "-is to die! Be it by my fire or my claws, you will fall." Then he lowered his voice to almost a purr, "or perhaps your madness will kill you, perhaps I will let you wither with my gold and watch it consume you."
Thorin was ready to charge Smaug, his sword drawn and raised. Nuil reached out and stopped him, gripping his arm as tightly as she could. What was he thinking? Smaug watched her movements carefully, calculatingly. She knew he was intelligent, and did not try to hide her actions. Nuil kept her gaze on the dragon, ignoring the fierce glare that Thorin gave her. She would not let him rush headlong to a certain death.
"Your woman, dwarf, would make a fine treat," Smaug murmured, "or even a fine pet." Thorin growled, pushing her behind him protectively. Smaug turned his eyes on Bilbo and the hobbit cowered. "I am very fond of your- hm, Luckwearer, our conversations have been amusing to me, perhaps she will be the same. Well?"
"What do you want me to say, death-bringer?" She said from behind Thorin. "I'd rather die than be your pet."
Smaug laughed in amusement. "Your tongue is hot, woman, I have eaten tamer things than you. What should I call you?" Interest laced his voice. Nuil grit her teeth, wanting nothing more than to leave the hall and continue leading Smaug to the forges. She worried also about the others, for she had not heard anything since before they entered the throne room.
"I am Nuil, daughter of Nolan. You are a murderer of thousands."
"I suppose that I am," Smaug preened. "I am great, and I am lord of rivers of gold. The people of this land bow before me, their master. I have been called magnificent, even stupendous, by your little companion. Although such flattery will only go so far."
"Indeed," Nuil said disdainfully.
Smaug peered at her thoughtfully. "Perhaps you know riddles, they are appeasing. Speak Barrel-rider or daughter of Nolan, amuse me and mayhaps I'll spare you for a time."
"Hm, well," Bilbo glanced nervously at them before speaking, "Past mountain, meadow, field, and hill, it follows a river while standing still."
"Ah," Smaug murmured pleased. "A riverbank. Easy places for catching prey." Bilbo nodded as Smaug looked to her. "And you? A challenge would be pleasing."
"I know little of riddles," she said, "but, what flies high in the sky, breathes destruction, and dies?" Smaug turned thoughtful, thinking it over, but Nuil did not let him guess. "The answer is, a dragon."
Smaug's face lost all traces of amusement. "You impudent whelp, I shall not keep you as pet. You would taste better and be more appealing as my meal."
"I hope you choke," she said.
"Enough!" Thorin yelled, stepping forward. "You will die and many will rejoice. This mountain belongs to the dwarves of Erebor!"
Smaug uncoiled himself from his sitting position, rising up to fill the hall where he sat. He unfurled his great wings and they all took in sharp breaths. They were filled with awe but also anger and despair.
"This grows tiring," he murmured. "You said many will rejoice, does that mean you are not alone in this foolish venture?" Thorin lifted his chin defiantly. "It is that little town of men on the lake, a mere pebble in a sea of water. They have helped you haven't they?" When they did not answer he grew angry, advancing on them in a rage.
"Those men of the Lake need to be reminded who is the real King Under the Mountain!" he bellowed. He leapt towards them and they jumped to the sides of the hall as Smaug crashed through the stone walls, blind with rage. Nuil scrambled to her feet, sprinting after Smaug as he tore from the mountain. At the main gate, Smaug smashed through the caved in gates, spreading his wings and rising up into the night sky.
Several pairs of feet running reached her ears and she was joined in the entrance by the rest of the company. Ori was supporting a badly burned Dori with Nori on his other side and the others were singed. Bilbo came to her side, eyes wide as Smaug ascended higher and higher, heading towards the lake.
"I am FIRE!" Smaug bellowed into the air. "I AM DEATH!"
Nuil gripped the jagged stone wall, her knees going weak. All those people, against the wrath of a dragon. Families, children. Had Bard not warned them? She turned to looked at Thorin. He was gazing at the Lake, his face looking stern and angry. Did he worry about them? Did he care that Smaug was going to kill them? As she looked at Thorin, Bilbo gasped,
"What have we done?"
I rewrote this chapter several times. I just could not get it right. I didn't want to follow the movie and wanted to add bits of the book. So it's a mix of book/movie/me. I still think it lacks . . . I don't know, something important.
When writing Smaug, I imagine Benedict Cumberbatch's voice. It's really funny. I can't help it. And I've always liked Bilbo's last line from the movie, so I added it.
Thank you to all my followers, readers and lovely reviewers. I never noticed until now but this story has nearly 55,000 views! And almost 200 reviews. WOW! So a big thank you to everyone who has stuck with me throughout this long process!
This ends the Desolation of Smaug and begins the Battle of the Five Armies installment. I've begun writing the next chapter already, and I'm going to show more of what's going on outside of the story because I think it will be key in this last part. The end is drawing near :(
Much love,
~filimeala