Chapter 8; Escape:

Action packed chapter here folks, to make up for not updating sooner like I promised. I got to rewriting an old story that I had ignored for a long, long time, but now I'm back! Not much by way of Raelynne's perspective, since I want to make up for the lack of Smaug in the beginning of this story. You're in for a bit of thrill folks, if this chapter's title is to be any clue. Let's just hope poor Raelynne survives to see the end of it…

The song for this chapter is 'Dirty Paws' by Monsters and Men. This song was suggested by Anna 'God Of Something' to use and I fell in love with this song. Which reminds me, feel free to suggest songs you want Raelynne to sing to Smaug. Has to be somewhat era appropriate (I don't know how well Smaug will take to rap, but if the lyrics are interesting, I'll take it into consideration). The songs can be instrumental or lyrical, but please, I would love to know what you guys want to hear when reading this story!

Raelynne was uncertain whether a week or a month had passed. Time stood still in the dark mountain, though she knew it was moving. At least, she hoped it was. It was difficult to tell. The only marks she had to signify that time still functioned as she remembered it was whenever Alfrid showed up to escort her from the golden vault to the bath, where she could clean and refresh herself, every other day. While she loathed the moments spent with the horrid man, the brief solitude she had while bathing was the only peace she knew in the mountain.

Every waking moment was spent in either fear of contempt for this place and its residing beast. He took it upon himself to constantly remind her about her fragility with his presence, and would ensnare her gaze to look into her eyes, studying that cursed part of her zealously, though his reasons were hidden from her knowledge. It only served to put her to shame every time. Nothing she did could take her mind away from the awful reality around her, but its consistency kept her focused and her desire for her own sovereignty grew more desperate and bold with each passing day. Once a creature of passionate moments, Raelynne now turned her passion inward to fortify her resolve and her plans. She would not remain here, she refused such a fate. Raelynne would fawn and please the dragon, let him stare into her eyes in the same manner a merchant would when assessing his purchase. All the while, she would be taking what steps were needed in insuring her freedom; to her last breath she would do this.

But her master was relentless in his want for entertainment.

The dragon mostly slept a couple hours at a time, though it became a more frequent occurrence for him to sleep a day or two as time slipped on. But this boon only spurred the dragon to demand more from her when awake, as if her music was a draught that cured his condition. He would drink her dry of her talent and voice. But she was used to a demanding audience, and was always ready with something new, from a new instrument to play for him to a song she had created while he slept. And Raelynne still had some other tricks up her sleeve. Though she was not looking forward to when the time would come for her to dance for the dragon, his jeweled hoard making for a very unstable stage, she knew that she would be able to buy herself time to further perfect her escape with such a distraction for the dragon.

For while the dragon slept, she became bolder in her movements. No longer would she sit still by her column as he slumbered, but would explore. The dragon did not seem to mind, only making a comment once about it. He seemed to think her admiring his treasure. She played along with this presumption of his by asking what the title of this new jewel was or how this crown glittered so handsomely. Her flattering seemed to fool him, his pride making him unable to see how she noted each and every door, gate, and crack in his mountain. It was obvious to her to stay away from what she quickly assessed was the dragon's chosen path to exit his mountain, as that would not aid her in the least and would only gain the beast's attention. The stone arches and columns created a maze that took her quite a while to become proficient at navigating through, and the steep hills of coins did not make her mission an easy one.

Until, at least, she found what she was looking for. A breeze.

To feel the soft whisper of wind against her cheek breathed life back into her. She did not know how starved she was for something as simple as the wind, and to remember made her shake with excitement. The promise of the outside world came from a small corridor, one that led quickly into a dark hall that she dared not explore. If her scent was found outside of the cavernous treasury, then surely the dragon would know what she was up to. But she memorized its position, burning it into her memory as hope trembled within her like a second heart.

Now, all she needed was an opportunity.

~:o0o:~

Smaug awoke to the sound of light chimes. He knew what it was instantly, as it had become something rather familiar to him over the past few weeks since his songbird had arrived. The habits and idiosyncrasies of the human woman fascinated him, and her attempts to keep herself entertained were equally, if not more so, entertaining to the dragon. He continued to keep his scaled eyes closed, merely listening to the tosses and misses of the songbird as she aimed coins at whatever it was she targeted. Every once in a while, he would hear a grunt of frustration whenever she missed, taking the small challenge of her game quite seriously.

By the entertainment she provided and by her eyes, the songbird had become a natural part of the dragon's horde. His pride would not allow her to be anything less to him, even if she was human. Dragons and humans never had known any peace between themselves, both warring with one another as well as with their own kind, something rarely heard of within other races. Though the devastation was more abundant on the side of the mortals, it had not been a rare occurrence to have heard of a dragon being felled by a human's hands in the days when Smaug's kind were abundant. Such fates belonged only to the weakest of them however, the rest dying with dignity in fights for territory, mates, or treasure, or succumbing to the millenniums of their age. Smaug himself could not dismiss his own close encounter with a human however, and because of such he could not abide the breed of them. But, he also could not deny how much they managed to fascinate him, his songbird being a prime example. She and her attempts to survive his presence and cure his lack of sleep were most engaging and beneficial to him.

But today, it was not his curse of restlessness that awoke him. It was his hunger. Smaug would need to go hunting soon, as Alfrid had recently informed him that his store was nearly depleted. His jowls watered with the thought of warm flesh and blood, and his tail twitched with the promise of a hunt. It would be nothing neither great nor challenging, but a dragon could never help but enjoy the approaching of violence, and his thoughts of exploits past only spurned him further. His subtle movement however did not go unnoticed by his small human, who cried out in surprise at his being awake.

Lazily cracking open one eye to lay it on the startled figure of his songbird, Smaug's lips curled in an indolent smirk.

"This nervous habit of yours will never do."

She was sitting nearby her column, as to be expected of her these past few weeks. Being female, Smaug was not surprised to see the beginnings of a nest forming at that spot, the woman gathering large furs and blankets to create a make shift bed, strategically placing candelabras nearby to provide herself light and warmth. The soft luminance of the small fires complimented her well by bringing out hidden tones her hair and pallor, making her strange eyes dance. At first, Smaug found it strange that he could find such beauty to be held within a mortal, for to him, it was indispensable for beauty to lastingly immortal, as he. How else could a being such as him then enjoy it? But his magnificence and his treasure were locked in time and otherworldly, and she felt the nights and the seasons, prettily wilting or blooming depending on the day or her spirit. It was a unpredictability he enjoyed watching. Perhaps it was this that made the humans so intriguing.

"I apologize for my nature, oh Smaug the Vindicated, but being your presence is difficult for the meek." She replied. The songbird's speech had not trembled so in quite some time, and it was an improvement Smaug appreciated, as it signed her slow accumulation to his presence. The dragon felt his pride inflate at her words, but he did not show it. She had a disturbing talent for flattering him with such sincerity that he could not help but be suspicious of her words. Such was not needed however, and his conceit sang every time he failed to smell a lie or hear her heart quicken in falsity.

Spotting Alfrid suddenly approaching, the maiden immediately stiffened. It seemed to the dragon, for as much fear as she held towards him, she was far more resentful and angry towards his servant. Smaug had no doubt, that if the two humans were left alone, his songbird would make her begrudge quite physically known. And while the thought was entertaining, he did not want his possession to become bruised.

"My lord," Alfrid bowed towards Smaug before heading towards the maiden, whom he only nodded to "and pet."

As Alfrid came towards the maiden, he placed a bowl of fruit and bread before her, which, despite her trepidation at having him so close, she took it with no quarrel. Alfrid then made his leave, bowing once more to his master. Where he spent his time, Smaug bothered himself little to be concerned with. But as he turned back to the songbird, he knew that her thoughts were preoccupied with the insignificant servant. The displays of her temper were always amusing, but Smaug wanted his songbird's attention to focus on other matters, namely in serving him.

"Eat." He softly commanded her. Broken from vengeful thoughts, the maiden's distracted gaze turned towards him.

"Hm?"

"Then you will play for me."

"Ah, yes. Of course my master." She obeyed, understanding his demand. Discrete from her normal mannerism of eating, she took timid bites of her meal, quite aware that Smaug watched her. Her typical avaricious, almost mannish way of eating could not be completely hindered by her self-consciousness though, she taking the time to greedily lick her fingers as fresh juice from the consumed fruits trickled down them.

The dragon snorted.

"For one who eats as gustily as you do, your body does not reflect such an appetite." He noted, his eyes summing up her thin body. The maiden was no longer than a digit of his claw, but in comparison to other humans Smaug supposed that made her tall for her fair gender, so it was no oddity that she was willowed as well. But even with his limited experiences with humans, he knew his songbird to be too thinly in figure. Though beautiful, she did not quite reflect the fertility of life all females held. At first, he thought that it was because of a lack of regular meals, but after several weeks of regular nourishment, his songbird remained frail. That would not do. As with everything in his kingdom, she needed to be perfect.

The maiden merely shrugged at his comment, still eating.

"I had learned at an early age to never waste food, if that is what you mean."

"Is life so harsh for the humans now? From last I had seen your kind was spreading like a plague." He asked in mild curiosity, though the distain in his voice for the mortal breed could not be mistaken.

"For the rich, no, for the poor, yes. But that's the way it's always been. We cannot fight our allotments, only survive them." The female answered without hesitation, becoming quite used to conversing with the dragon and answering his questions. The dragon though, noted the way she began to fidget, nervousness for the subject beginning to show as she put down the apple she had in her hand.

"And I take it your allotment was not of the wealthy." He pressed, and as he expected, she squirmed under his observation. Still, she answered him, though this time not in a voice so confident.

"It was for my family, but they did not like to share," The woman made to stand then, stretching herself from the trembling ground to the bliss of her thinly figured hips. "What shall you have me play for you today, my master?" She transitioned as she smoothed out the train of her white dress.

Though far from having his curiosity satisfied from this new information of his songbird, Smaug decided to humor her.

"I leave the choice to you."

Smaug closed his eyes, and waited for his songbird to start. When her voice started, he noted the slowing of his breath, but attributed it to his contented mood. There was nothing separate about her notes. Like drops on a window-pane, they ran together, shifting and falling as the song needed with her skilled tongue. Such a troublesome thing, an organ used to bless the gods and curse men, but his little songbird used it in such a way that Smaug delighted in hearing again and again.

"Her dirty paws and furry coat, she ran down the forest slope. The forest of talking trees, they used to sing about the birds and the bees."

The bees had declared a war, the sky wasn't big enough for them all. The birds, they got help from below, from dirty paws and the creatures of snow…"

Her song continued, and Smaug could feel his consciousness beginning to drift. While this was welcomed, he did not wish to put of his hunt for another day. Slowly raising his body from his bed of gold, his stirring caused his songbird to immediately stop, staring up at him in fear.

"Is something the matter, oh Smaug the Stupendous?" By her cautious tone, he could tell she was afraid that her performance did not please him. He often delighted in disquieting her with uncertainty, as her fear and false calm amused him, his cruel games never failing to provide amusing responses from the human. But he quickly put her worries to rest.

"It is time for me to hunt."

In addition to filling his stomach, he decided that he would also search for something suitable for his songbird as well. Bread and fruit would keep her healthy, but meat would add needed weight and richness to her figure.

"You will remain here. I shall want more of your entertainment when I return."

As he turned to leave, his songbird bowed, a strange smile playing on her lips.

"Of course, master."

~:o0o:~

She waited. Gods help her, she made herself wait.

Raelynne did not move, but every nerve of hers danced. With breath held she waited till she could no longer hear the dragon's receding steps. Then she waited some more; she wanted to make certain the beast would not be returning soon. But as the mountain grew deathly quiet, she knew that this was her change. It may be her only chance. There was no need to still her heart or to summon her courage. She had been waiting for this moment so long.

I am sorry Smaug, but I have had my fill of entertaining dragons.

She ran.

In a short amount of time, stumbling over stone and jewels, she made it to her beloved corridor. There was no hesitation in her steps as she raced through its archway, headlong into the darkness. Her eyes failed to aid her, but she replaced them with her hands, touching the edges of the corridor to guide her through its long twists and turns. The soft, murmuring current of air surrounded her in an instant, whispering encouragement to her as she felt her way through the black. Soon, she was gifted with a soft light, and the thin hallway parted from her as she entered a new chamber.

The stone columns and high ceiling of this place matched that of the dragon's treasury, but the space was much smaller. Instead of gold and jewels, there was a long, elegant table of wood surrounded by overturned and rotting chairs. A chandelier of crystal had dropped on the tables center, its rope having given into the rot of time long ago, spilling its beautiful shards into almost all corners of the room. Cracks in the ceiling allowed natural light to spill in, the softness of it being shattered by the broken chandelier, casting perfect discs of radiance. Dark tapestries draped themselves in tumbles down the walls, bringing a dead life to the previous owners outside of their lust for gold. Raelynne almost wished to admire this first scene of normalcy she had seen in quite some time, but she turned at the feeling of invisible fingers combing themselves gently through her hair.

The wind. It was stronger here. She could almost smell the dried wood of the forest, the decay of leaves, and her heart raced painfully to go to it. Following the gentle caress of the wind, Raelynne ran towards the end of the room, disappearing into one corridor after another, chasing her hope.

~:o0o:~

Smaug returned within the same hour he had left. The mountain side provided a bountiful hunting ground, and in the oncoming winter the forest's creatures exposed themselves to search for the remaining stores of nutriment to prepare for the cold. Three stags served to satisfy Smaug's immediate hunger, and he found three more and a bear to keep in his store. It took some searching, but he also managed to trap two rabbits and a pheasant. This he would give to his songbird to eat, the tender meat of the smaller creatures no doubt better suited to human taste. Holding his catch carefully within his bloodied claws as he flew, the dragon dropped his catch at the entrance of his kingdom before entering himself. Alfrid would be the one to carry the meat in and prepare it, a task he would put the human to immediately. The dragon however, made his way back to his horde, wanting to count his gold. Upon entering the chamber, his eyes danced in pleasure for his treasure and from the fresh scent of death that still clung to his jaws.

Making his way to his favorite bed of coins, Smaug reclined himself, smoke escaping his nostrils as he breathed in the stale mountain.

"Alfrid." He called, knowing his servant would arrive shortly to serve him. In the meantime, he listened for a moment, but no trace of sound could be heard in his collection, making his neck to straighten in attention. The muscles in his tail coiled, and he strained himself to listen for any whisper of his songbird. She often took to walking about his horde when he was asleep, but she was never out of hearing to the dragon. Perhaps Alfrid had taken her to bathe. In that case, he was content to wait. But his senses told something was not quite as simple as that. His songbird's scent, faint and delicate as it always was in comparison to the metallic tang, had nearly faded from the chamber.

Just then, Alfrid entered.

"You called, master?"

Not bothering to turn to face his servant, Smaug answered him.

"Take the meat at the entrance into the store room. Once done, bring the songbird to the kitchen, and have her make something for herself."

Though Alfrid served his own needs properly, Smaug had no knowledge of his servant's skills for cooking. However, mortal females often learned of preparing meals for their families, so the dragon thought it best that the maiden herself should make her first warm meal. Alfrid bowed in obedience.

"Very well, Smaug the Horrible, and just where is your pet?"

Smaug then turned to look at the human. Alfrid, though resenting the thought of having to accompany that loathsome wench for any amount of time, could hardly miss the coldness of his master's stare. Something was not right here. The dragon spoke as if he should know where the wretched girl was…

It dawned on the poor man too late just what terribleness he had been dragged into as he fell to the ground, prostrate with terror.

"Oh my most terrible master, forgive me!" He shouted pitifully. That stupid quim! He warned her not to do anything foolish, and here she has done the most foolish thing of all!

Without warning, the dragon rose, pieces of gold flung about as he struck his tail through piles of silver and copper, fury gripping him tightly. Smaug roared, his lethal voice becoming a wrenching agony in its echoes, causing the very stone of the mountain to tremble. His body whipped this way and that, senses working to narrow the location of his condemned possession. Finally, her scent came to his awareness, and his body tensed in further anger. His lethal stare, painful and piercing, alight with dark anger, became tell of his temper becoming a storm that none could hope to endure. Least of all, his foolish songbird.

"When I find her, the both of you shall pay for your follies!" Were Smaug's last words to his trembling servant before his fury transformed his voice to a roaring crash of snarling teeth and fire. With a bound, the dragon followed the trail of the doomed human.

The human's scent had gone down a path Smaug could not follow, but he knew where all paths led in this mountain of his, and knew precisely where the one she had chosen would lead her to. And he would be there before she could even step back into the world she so longed to flee to. There was no doubt of the reason for her missing presence, she sought to escape him. Such would be her final acts in this world. If she would not heed his warnings, she would bear his wrath. How could such a creature be so imprudent to want to escape him? Had he not given her a greater purpose in becoming his possession? She would have wanted for nothing the rest of her days, blessed to be in his company and to see his collection of gold and jewels. Such ignorance on her part to insult his pride served to stir Smaug's anger further, dark plans for her flesh bringing a burn to his chest as his fire built up from within, causing the smell of hot metal to fill the air. His senses continued to pick up on her path as he maneuvered his way through tunnels and corridors. His hulking movements caused strong gusts of wind to lash through the columns, his body twisting gracefully between them as he pushed onwards.

Finally, Smaug stopped.

The chamber he was in was large and wide, allowing him to stand at his full height between the rows of stone pillars. It was one of the many halls in which the dwarves had hung their best tapestries, cloths so large and heavy they could blanket the dragon. An enormous statue of one of their sacred kings rested by its entrance, cold and eroding with neglect, this place once the proud resting place for dwarven royalty, now only trivial dead end to the dragon's hunt.

Smaug's tongue raked the air, picking up on the subtle tones of the human's scent, both copper and florae. She was so near, he could taste her sweat and fear. She was in this hall, and she was well aware he was as well, no doubt hiding as a rabbit would from a wolf, trembling in some dark corner.

The dragon smirked sadistically.

"Where are you, songbird?" He called out sweetly, his anger turning into dark amusement as his eyes slowly examined every column and tapestry for his possession. He slowly began to pace through the supports, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Do you think you can hide from me?"

The dragon chuckled darkly as he heard a small tremble of breath. Slowly, he craned his neck in the direction it came from.

"Come on now, don't be shy. Step into the light." The cloying husky growl of Smaug cut softly through the hall, his words strung together as a charming whisper. He was offering a chance for the maiden to show herself to him, but his ravaged mind wished her to stay hidden so that he may have the pleasure of trapping her himself. His songbird was nothing more than his prey now by her own folly. No doubt she already knew that there was no way out, and was merely clinging to the last of her life by hiding. Of her death, there was nothing but certainty.

"I can taste your air. I can hear your heart. It betrays you, my little songbird. It beats in fear!" His anger thickened his voice, his teeth bearing themselves.

"Come out now, and I shall be forgiving…"

Smaug trailed off, his senses pinpointing exactly where his songbird was. Jowls parted in a sneer as he caught the quivering of her shadow hiding behind the stone base of the column. As his neck curved, he saw her, caught by her fear and made helplessly immobile.

"Ah, there you are."

A smoldering stare held the maiden frozen in front of him. Smaug could feel his thoughts all gnarl together as the temptation to hurt her poisoned his bloodstream. She had flouted him, the rules had been fragmented, and now, her chaste soul was going to pay. Under his gaze, he could feel her squirm, her delicate frame pinned to the stone. An immaculate rage twisted the dragon's insides as he lurched forward.

"Please, no!" The songbird shouted, tripping back on her heels as the dragon made to snatch her where she stood with his jaws. She recovered quickly, standing up to quickly back away from Smaug, panic glazed eyes looking for a place to run.

"Beg all you wish! Your pleas will hold no sway!" Smaug roared as he twisted his body to follow after her retreating steps. As she moved back, she was blocked by his long tail, which instantly curled around her. The songbird let out a strangled gasp, the scaled limb pressing her ribs tightly, but whatever piteous words she wished to use on him died on her tongue as she was forced to fight for air, hands struggling against his grip. Brining his frame into a tight curl, the trapped maiden became surrounded by Smaug's body on all sides. Her weight was light in his grip, more akin to a feather pressing against his scales, but the frantic pulse of her heart's veins deepened his sensation of her. Lifting her till she was before his face, Smaug smirked.

"Now, my pretty one, what punishment is befitting enough for your foolishness?"

Her fear hung heavy in the air as his narrowed eyes took all of her in. He was silent for a time, considering what would teach the lesson best, and with a heartless grin, settled on a decision. Lowering her back to the floor, the maiden collapsed the instant he let go, greedily taking in the sweet air he allowed her to breathe once more. Confused, she looked up at him in expectant horror.

"Dance."

She visibly paled.

"W-what?"

Smaug repeated his command, dark amusement seeping into his voice.

"Dance for me. Now."

Unsure, the songbird stood herself up, legs trembling. She bowed her head submissively. The pitiful creature would do anything to lengthen her life.

"Yes. O-of course my lord."

Bringing her hands before her face, the young female began.

There was no music to aid her, her only rhythm being the shuttering intake of her own breath. All her movements were restrained and slow, all grace weighed down by his stare till there was none to be found. Her steps restricted her to the very spot she stood, her dress splaying out further than she would dare to. Twists and spins became a wretched attempt at poise as she moved with all the elegance of a bird with cut wings. It was clear she could not fathom his intentions, but Smaug watched her movements, enraptured by her fearful shaking that turned her dance into a shiver, her chest already panting in effort.

All too soon, her dance was brought to an end as Smaug lashed out at her legs with his tail, causing her to collide against the stone floor. If he had been but a little harsher in his swing against her willowy legs, he had no doubt her body would have snapped far more easily than the tree she represented.

"Not very graceful, are we my song bird?" He mocked when the maiden glanced up at him, her hair curtaining her eyes.

"And here, you boasted to me that you were of most nimble grace. Perhaps our little game of hiding and seeking has tired you out?" Snaking his head closer to leer at her, the dragon snarled. "Or, were you lying to me?"

He watched her shake her head vigorously, unable to trust her own voice.

"Again."

Timidly, she cast those strange eyes up at him in confusion.

"Dance again. I want to see more."

With more effort than before, the songbird brought herself to stand. She continued to stare at him for a moment, now wary to start again, still unsure what he intended for her but the dragon could tell she was beginning to form a notion. Again, she started to move, this time with less grace than before, her tumble adding pain to the fear that burned out from under the grace of her movements. The pitiful human could hardly take a step without wincing, her chest seizing up, aching, and forcing her to pause. Smaug's claws came crashing down not but a few feet from her, forcing her to cower to the ground.

"Did I say to stop? I said I wanted to see more!" The dragon shouted, her fear singing to his instincts. With a snap, his tail lashed out to the spot of ground she clung to, but her managed to roll away in time, stumbling to stand and start again for him.

And so this continued. Smaug would make the human dance like a mouse and he would paw at her like a cat, making her dance all the more desperate and him growing all the more cruel. For the moments in which she showed lacking respect, she now paid in full. For her foolishness in running, his pride demanded the ultimate punishment, one which he was more than willing to comply with, when, finally, the human could not take any more and pitifully fell to the ground, gasping in exhaustion.

"Up! Get up!" Smaug roared, causing her to cringe at the heat and stink of his breath. She tried to obey him, but her arms shook desperately, causing her to falter. Her despondent state was not enough for Smaug however. He wanted her suffering to continue long into this night.

"Did you think to escape me? Answer!" Smaug shouted, anger rising till it beat alongside his heart.

"…yes." She said meekly in her fatigue.

"What did you say human?"

"YES!" The songbird screamed back at him "I thought I could escape you!"

Smaug was taken aback by the sudden boldness of her, her eyes dancing in a fury that matched his own.

"I thought I could escape to feel the sun again! To see the sky! I thought, no, I dared to believe I could escape from a dreadful beast!"

With a snarl, Smaug came closer to the girl who clung to the stone floor as if it was her life line. Her foolishness did not waver from this, and she made an attempt to stand up again, this time for her own pride. Once at her full height, she continued to meet his gaze, ready to face whatever he had next for her.

"You thought wrong. And for this mistake you will pay dearly."

Smaug's jaws opened wide, teeth ready to tear.

But then, his features softened.

Confusion coldly dimed the fire of his rage as he shut his maw, gaze hardening to make certain that his eyes were not being deceived. His study of the woman found nothing that did not belong, but he could sense something far more curious at work within the mortal besides fear and last minute courage. Something old and familiar, flickering in desperation within her damnedly divine eyes. The dragon let in an awe-like take of breath as memories danced back to life at the sight, bringing both questions and doubts to the dragon's mind, spurring a tempering curiosity. The wish to destroy the disobedient woman was subsided by something that was nothing less than priceless and above cruel reproach, however deserving the unwise female was of it. It seemed the songbird had one, last snaring enchantment, one that he doubted she even knew about. With a sigh of annoyance, Smaug knew that his original intentions would have to be delayed until answers were gained, his nature not allowing for anything less.

Without a word, he snatched the surprised young woman with a clawed hand, turning to head back to the golden horde.

Bit of a last minute twist there, wasn't it? Poor Raelynne. Nothing ever goes right for her, and now she is really in a mess! Scary ending for her there, but I'm sorry, I just kept laughing when Smaug and Alfrid just awkwardly stare at one another, thinking the other knows where she went. Like a set of lost keys. And even though it was terrible, I liked writing the scene when Smaug found her, if just for all the tense feels it made me go through. Poor, poor Raelynne.

And just what reason kept Smaug from killing Raelynne? Oh, you'll have to wait until the next chapter for that! Join Raelynne as she pays for her mistake and her spirit is broken. Smaug tries to fix her, but also has his own dark plans for her…