Chapter 15; Necklace:

A big, big thanks to everyone who reviewed, faved, and followed! I love you all and will thank you for your reviews, but I got to go catch a train! You're all wonderful, and I hope you enjoy! The song in this chapter is "Bound" by Karliene. I love this woman's voice so much, so you might be seeing more songs from her.

Swiftly and with silence, Smaug flew over the mountain. The yellow shining sun started rising from the ground. It filled the sky with mighty colors of red and splashed the clouds with endless rays of pink. It was bright and mesmerizing when reflected off the dragon's scales, turning his body into a pillar of fire. Wings beating with the force of a thousand gales, he climbed higher into the sky.

As was his recent custom, the dragon spent his nights patrolling his territory. The orcs were still near, never daring to trespass but not wise enough to leave. After coming across him in his forest, they seemed to have learned their lesson and kept their distance. It appeared they had no quarrel with Smaug, though they refused to retreat back to their scourged lands. From this then, Smaug deduced that they were not here for his gold or kingdom. He knew orcs to be a foolish, blood thirsty breed that were even lesser than man. But he also knew they had not the lack of wit to think they could attack him either with such sparse numbers. No, the orcs he had come across were only in pairs, always on wargs and constantly on the lookout, though that never saved them from his jaws. The orcs appeared to be patrolling the edges of his territory, waiting and watching for something or someone other than Smaug.

This made him curious, and so this morning he resolved to satisfy that curiosity. It did not take him long to track down a pair of orcs. He did not bother to stalk, for it would not matter. Even though they began to flee the moment they saw him, it was all too easy to overpower their beasts of burden. Slaying the wargs, he pinned the orcs beneath his claws. He killed one by opening his mouth and calling forth the fire in his belly, chest glowing from its light as he roasted one of the unwelcomed creatures alive. Its screams served as a warning to the other and aid in loosening its tongue lest it wish the same fate. Smaug enjoyed the slow torment he made the creature endure, though its guttural language made it most difficult to decipher what it was trying to tell him, especially when its mouth began to fill with blood. But Smaug finally got the answer he was looking for.

The orcs indeed were watching his mountain, waiting for someone to come to Erebor. All he got was a name. One name, but that was all that Smaug needed.

Oakenshield.

The dwarves were returning to their mountain, and they were led by their last descendent of royalty.

Smaug tore the orc apart in his anger. The creature died quickly, but the corpse continued to pay for the ill news. He thought of driving all the orcs from his territory then, if just to shed blood for blood's sake. The rage inside him boiled. The impudence of these lowly worms! Dare return to his mountain? His kingdom! As if they could ever dream to conquer him and reclaim what was now his! Did they not weep and flee the day he came to Erebor, called by their greed and ignorance? Did they not leave their dead behind, too many to carry on their backs for proper burial as he crushed their defenses? He knew the smell and taste of dwarf, no one better!

The dragon slowly was able to calm himself after tearing up most of the forest around him. Trees were shattered and earth dug, but Smaug breathed easier. He knew this day would come, when the dwarves that survived his conquest of Erebor would return to claim what was his. He always knew they would one day come crawling back, seeking vengeance. But he was King Under the Mountain, he now had the thrown. They lost and should have taken their defeat to heart. Were they not satisfied till the last of their kind was wiped out? If that was the purpose of their mad quest, then he would gladly comply. But if it was Oakenshield who was coming, the true purpose was obvious. No doubt he wished to reclaim his grandfather's crown, Erebor, and…the Arkenstone. Yes, that foolish heir of a mad king would no doubt seek the Heart of the Mountain. It was a stone unlike any other, one whose very beauty brought chaos. It could corrupt the purest heart, turn it towards greed, and twist the strongest will into insanity. But the Heart of the Mountain was his. Every coin in Erebor, every blade of grass on the Lonely Mountain was his, and he would not part with it. Those greedy half-men were drawn to treasure like flies to dead flesh, and he would swat them away as easily.

Conviction set, Smaug took off into the air and towards his mountain with jealous speed. The orcs were no longer of concern to him, so long as they did not cross his path or intrude his mountain. If they sought the dwarves, they could have them. But if the dwarves made it past their enemies, they would find Smaug waiting and ready.

Landing in his mountain, Smaug felt the need for his songbird's voice. His ire was still running high, and he knew only she could give him peace. He made for the library, which she had claimed long ago as her own space. It still amused him how homey she was able to make the old, dusty space, going so far as to bring a dresser and mirror there for herself. It pleased him however to see her so settled, as it lessened his mistrust of her trying to run from him again. He had not seen his songbird since the previous evening, when she had awoken to find him in his human form. A smirk crossed his face as he recalled her reaction. The fainting was amusing enough, but her trying to attack him when she had woke was far more entertaining. He knew she was fiery, but to see and feel her wrath first hand was another experience. She did not plead him not to hurt her, or ask if he was there to rescue her, but instead threatened and demanded that he leave. So different his songbird was awake, as asleep she was the picture of peace.

He did not know what compelled him to lay beside Raelynne after carrying her to her library. His new body held all of his old senses, but gave the vantage to feel different sensations that would not have been felt by his scaled self. The softness of her hair fascinated him, and the warmth of her skin beckoned him to hold her and keep her close. Yes, though it bent his pride to take the shape of a human, so small and unarmored, it was worth the rewards. His songbird's awe was all he expected, though she no doubt was waiting for him to return to explain what he had left unsaid the other evening. Unfortunately, he needed to patrol, but now upon his return, he wished to enjoy what was to come.

The second time he called upon the magic to reshape his form, it was easier. The last time he had regularly transformed himself, he had been but a hatchling. When younger, dragons mastered magic to defend themselves, as they were often left to fend for themselves from the egg. Smaug had the benefit of a gentle mother to teach him however, and was more adept to magic than others because of it. He had learned dragon-spells to cloud his enemies' minds, and shape-shifting to hide himself away or lure prey close so that his mother might take it by surprise. A much simpler time that had been. There had not been a need of these abilities for centuries for Smaug, but with his songbird there came a benefit to call them forth once again. Slipping on a robe he had left by the doors of the library, Smaug entered his little songbird's nest. Bare feet met rug as he strode in, eyes sweeping till he saw her.

Raelynne was pacing with her hand to her chest before the fire. She had yet to notice him. He smirked as he took the chance to study her once more. Even from this significant change in stature, he still loomed over her, but was now near enough to admire details that before went unnoticed. Her small hands, freckled skin, and, in its own right, warm body. Smaug blatantly looked over her figure, her waist narrow and hips and breasts surging out from the corset to be hugged by the fabric of her dress that for once was long enough to reach her ankles. Its maroon coloring suited her perfectly, matching the shade of her hair and contrasting her eyes until they practically shined by comparison. If there was one clear advantage to this form, it was that it allowed him a better view of his songbird.

It was then as his eyes were appraising the young woman before him that she finally noticed him. He met her stare, pleased to see her look so startled. She appeared to be at a loss for words.

"Smaug." She said after a moment, though it was less of a greeting and more of a statement.

"Yes, songbird?" Smaug purred as he came closer. With delight he saw her back away from him, eyes going wide. She seemed to be very fearful of this form, as if it was worse than his original.

"My, you are a curious creature. Do not tell me you fear this form more than the dragon?"

Raelynne, to his surprise, nodded.

"I grew used to the dragon. You…you are different."

"I am the same." He corrected as he walked past to towards her divan, "My outer appearance has not diminished me in anyway. I still possess all my strength, armaments, and senses, though I make look and feel otherwise."

Smaug sat down on the plush couch, the use of furniture quite alien to him. The blankets and pillows his songbird had piled onto it made it far too soft. But then being a dragon used to sleeping on gold and jewels, anything would have been too soft.

"But then, how–" The young woman began, but Smaug, knowing her question, answered before she could finish asking.

"Think of it as an illusion. One you can touch, and one that can bend shape. I am that illusion, but beneath, I am the same."

Raelynne shook her head, obviously not satisfied with his answer. While Smaug's mood was now content despite all he had learned from the orc, his songbird seemed to be steadily growing worse. His change affected her more than it did him it seemed. In an odd way it pleased him that she should have become so at ease with his true self and this form caused her to be nervous. Running a hand threw her hair, she began to mutter to herself.

"This is impossible. Utterly impossible."

"And yet, here I am." He told her with a sweep of his hand as he reclined fully on her divan, perfectly at ease as she began to warily come closer.

"Yes, here you are."

He watched her as she walked towards him. Tense and unsure, she came towards him as if she expected him to disappear at any minute. It was akin to their first meeting. He could smell her fear, something he had not tasted in quite some time. It was refreshing, as was the elevated beats of her heart and pale cheeks. He stopped his inspection when she dared not come closer than ten feet from him, and sneered.

"I suppose it will take you time to adjust to this form."

"You plan on staying like…that?" She asked, very surprised. He nodded.

"For a time, yes."

"Why? And, why haven't you done so before?"

"Because, my dear songbird, you had yet to solve your riddle. You still haven't, but I grew impatient."

Raelynne blinked, obviously not expecting that answer. The confusion left her face only to be replaced by frustration as all this news became too much for her tolerance. "My riddle? What in Eru's name does that have to do with this?"

"Everything, my dear."

"Then please, explain it to me."

Smaug, having been inspecting his robe, gave his songbird a sly glance. Knowing her to be quite a proud and stubborn girl, he did not think she would give up so easily.

"You do not wish to make one last, final guess?" He taunted her haughtily, reciting the riddle he had made for her. "What is two but belongs to one, what is one but is in shatters. Who resides by the storm waters won, who is ignorant to what matters?"

For a while, all his songbird did was glare at him. Oh, but she was frustrated. That slight blush on her cheeks flushed deeper with her anger, but she kept her composure. He knew that if he was in his true form, she would not even allow this much of her temper to be shown to him. Perhaps she was still having trouble with the notion that despite his new form, her reverence should be the same. He would teach her in time, but for the moment he was enjoying her irritability.

"Alright, two but belongs to one, what is one but is in shatters…" She began with a sigh of annoyance, "You said before that a changeling was a part of the riddle. The two but one refers to them being of the sky and earth, correct? And in shatters, that refers to their being shapeless? Yes?"

He did not speaks, but Smaug gave her a pointedly knowing look. Taking that as his answer, she moved on.

"Who resides by the storm waters won, who is ignorant to what matters?" Here she shook her head, "No, that part I cannot understand. What does it mean?"

Hearing him laugh mockingly, the young woman frowned at him. As much as Smaug was enjoying her struggle, he decided it would be best if he provided her with one last clue. "Raelynne, do you know the meaning of your birth name?"

"My name?"

He cocked a brow, skeptical, "Did your mother never tell you its significance? It means 'graceful one who dwells by the torrent'."

Raelynne looked shocked to hear this, and so Smaug had the answer to his question. Her expression changed once more as this revelation sank in and its meaning became significant. She did not seem willing to believe it, but he could see the moment in which she finally solved the riddle. Her eyes widened, her chest rising and falling in alarm. Oh, yes, she knew the answer, but by the stubborn way her lips remained sealed, she would not speak it. Perhaps because she did not like what implied, or perhaps because it embarrassed her to have the answer so close all along. It was she herself, after all, that was the key to the riddle.

"Now, who is ignorant to what matters?" Smaug asked her, wanting to hear her concede and answer. She disappointed him however, her voice sharp and stubborn.

"You're wrong. I not a changeling. Stop saying such lies."

Again the dragon laughed darkly, pinning his songbird before him with the sound.

"Why would I lie to you when the truth is far more entertaining?"

The young woman shook her head again, denying him. She came closer to speak against him, but he would not let her as he waved a dismissive hand.

"Your eyes give away much more than just your emotions, dear songbird. They give away your true nature. They have from the beginning, though I must admit it took me some time to remember their significance. You should be grateful of them, for if they had not showed me your true identity, I would have killed you long ago."

This certainly caught his songbird's attention, as her shell pink lips parted to gasp. No doubt she had known when she had tried to escape all those months ago that certainly would have been the outcome? She was no fool, no doubt she knew, but he supposed it brought her no comfort to have her close brush with death spoken out loud. However, her death was far from his mind. There would be no need for her to ever fear him again should she obey and respect him, both of which she had learned though seemed to be forgetting in this particular moment. Again, he blamed his new form, but knew she would be able to learn anew. He continued.

"Your ancestry showed itself in that moment, but I needed to be certain. It was believed your kind had been left to history long ago, before even I was born. Having never seen a changeling before, it took me a while to connect the pieces."

He gestured all around them, to the shelves of the library. That had been the purpose of their coming here, for his research. Though dwarves were not ever known for their love of literature, Smaug wished to know if there was anything worthwhile that might be able to give a name to what he had known all along, though had forgotten in the years gone by. In the end however, it was his own deduction that named her.

"What pieces? You have no proof. I was born of two humans, I am a human!" Raelynne exclaimed. She looked near to tears in frustration, but of course with her pride nearly rivaling his own, she would not allow them to fall. Instead she kept her anger, her chaotic eyes burning.

"Are you? Then tell me dear songbird, why are you not like other humans?" Smaug asked with a lopsided sneer, "Your eyes are one thing, but there is more. Human females by your age are usually mated and having offspring, but you yourself find such repulsive, and men more so. That is because your blood rejects their pitiful state. And your body. You were healed by my tongue, though dragon slaver has been known to poison mortals. You have been with me now for many months, and yet, you have not bled."

Raelynne stiffed at his last comment. Her blush of anger became infinitely deeper as her embarrassment became apparent. The expression was positively delicious on her, and Smaug decided he would have her show it again, liking the look of it.

"What?" She whispered, mortified. Smaug, with no care for her modesty or humiliation, pressed on.

"Human females bleed once a month, do they not? You have not since coming here. I would have caught the scent. In fact, I am going to guess that you rarely bleed, at most once a year?" Again, she looked horrified, but she did not make to object as she cast down her eyes. Smaug knew that he was then getting through to her. What was obvious to him was becoming apparent to her despite her stubbornness. He knew it would only take a little more proof and then he would have her.

"Haven't you ever wondered why humans have never been able to understand you? Why you are not like them? Why your father disappeared?"

"He did not disappear, he died!" She yelled then, shaking in anger. This, Smaug would not stand for. From his chest came a sound, deep and harsh, and his eyes flashed in warning. His growl alarmed his songbird back into her senses and she started back. The fury within her was replaced with fear as she seemed to remember she was speaking to her master. Her look was apprehensive as she watched Smaug as he began to speak again.

"Oh, and did you visit his grave? Did you see a body?"

Smaug paid little attention to his songbird as she started to protest again.

"No, you wouldn't have, because your mother did not tell you the truth of your father. Changelings and their descendants, they are wanderers, creatures of the air and land. It would have been against your father's nature to stay in one place for very long, just as it always has been for you. Have you yourself not been wandering for seven years with no desire to settle down?"

"I do want to settle down." She objected weakly to him, "I…I just haven't–"

"Haven't what?" He bit at her, "Found the perfect town, the perfect husband? You know that is not the reason."

Smaug let silence in for a moment, allowing for Raelynne to take in what he had said. He could see it in her eyes yet again, she was beginning to concede. She was a stubborn one, but she was wise enough to listen to reason, his reason. He softened his voice, coaxing and soothing to his frightened pet.

"You have wandered, and would have been content to do so forever. But as luck would have it, you were brought here."

"I was taken by force." She seethed bitterly, though was careful not to look towards Smaug as she spoke.

"Perhaps, but you wandered onto my mountain willingly. It could have been chance, but what chance was there that two beings, the last of their kind, should happen upon one another? No, you were meant to come here. The chances of my finding the very last of the Changelings, it should have been impossible. And yet here you are, as it should be."

She stood before him, transfixed and confused. Wavering, all she could do was look at him. He could see she was beginning to panic in her desire to deny him. Not wanting to cause her any further distress, Smaug decided there was little left to say for the moment. There was much she would need to know, but that would have to wait until she had time to contemplate all he had shared with her. He knew her to be clever and quite adaptable, but he supposed it would take time to shatter her old notions, ideas, beliefs. She would come to see her worth though, he would ensure that.

"Your kind had served mine since the beginning of our creation. It is the order of nature." He told her as a comfort. She looked quite lost, so he gave her the knowledge of her place, and its significance. She however only turned from him, as if she could not face him.

"Of course it is." Raelynne muttered, though if she intended the dragon to hear or not was uncertain. She did not believe him, as he had predicted. She had a painstakingly terrible habit of trying to keep herself ignorant after all. But she was young, and had been fooled her whole life into thinking herself a mere mortal. That last barb seemed to be all the protest he was going to receive from her at that moment, as she retreated into her own thoughts to stare into the firelight beside them. He would show her, but for now, he revealed in her denial. It would be a delight to teach her. However, Smaug would not stand for being ignored long, and demanded her attention.

"Come, I wish to hear you sing."

His songbird said nothing, and for a moment looked as if she did not hear him. But after a time she obeyed him, going over to the table that all her instruments had been placed upon. She grabbed one of her favorites, an instrument called a lyre if he recalled correctly, and came back towards him. When she made to sit on a chair far opposite him, Smaug spoke again.

"No, not there." She looked up at him, perplexed until he motioned to the empty space on the divan beside him. "Sit here."

Again, his songbird hesitated, as if reluctant to be near him. She would touch the dragon willingly, but this form she was averse to be near. This too would need to change. He after all changed his shape to this half form to make his point to her, to show her potential, her history, and perhaps enjoy himself. He wanted her close. Raelynne did not need another command from him, as she eventually came to him. Sweeping her dress out, she sat beside him but made the point to sit as far as possible from him. Smaug smirked, and would have said something, when she began to play and sing.

"In dreams I am wed to a faraway boy,
a love that has never been.
He was all that I knew,
he was all that was home.
I am bound to the love of him."

"In the morn I'll be wed to the bonniest boy,
and I'll bind my hand to his.
He is blood of my blood,
and bone of my bone.
I am bound to the love of him."

…

She repeated the verses, over and over again, like a chant to accompany the notes of her lyre. Her fingers knew which string to pluck, how much pressure to apply, her hand guided by memory as she did not even bother to look. Smaug however did, his dark eyes taking in the small movements, the delicate touches that moved to hail music from wood and cord. It was the same with her lips, as with each breath she was able to lift or sink her voice. It was enrapturing to watch, as with each repeat of the song, her mood itself seemed to lift. Every day her performance seemed to improve in some way, as if she was coming into her own from his constant need for her entertainment. She had told him once that she lived to preform, wanting to be liked, appreciated, desired…

"Lovely, my songbird." He told her once she had finished. His songbird turned to face him fully, a soft smirk on her lips.

"As usual?"

Smaug chuckled, baring his sharp teeth in humor.

"Your vanity is enough to rival a dragon's."

"And you would know."

"Dragons are proud creatures. You should be flattered for the comparison."

Her mood changed then. The effects of her music left her as the light in her eyes darkened and her face grew stern.

"Vanity and pride are different things. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us." She made certain to meet his eyes before continuing, wanting him to pay attention to her next words "And I do not care what others think."

~:o:0:o:~

Raelynne could not stop pacing. It felt like that was all she knew how to do. That, and tug at the pendent at the end of her necklace. And braid and re-braid her hair. All the habits of hers when she was agitated or anxious. Which she was. Thoroughly.

It was if the dragon was not satisfied enough with her as his pet, singing and dancing for him like some puppet. No, he had to go and torment her by giving her heart spasms at every opportunity. First, by transforming himself. Not in her most horrible dreams she did think such possible. A dragon that could change shape, become human. No, he wasn't human. He was anything but. A demon. A perfect nightmare in the shape of an unearthly man come to taunt her. He had the perfect visage of a man, hair, skin, lips, and every time she looked away from him to see him, she could not believe how human like he was. Handsome even, more than any man she had ever seen before. But that only added to his abnormality. She could not stand to be near him, she even feared him. She had always been wary of other humans, men especially, and Smaug in this form drove that instinct of mistrust. It did not matter if he was still a dragon underneath, he now looked like a man. Perhaps that was her trouble, she no longer knew how to act around him anymore, after so long of knowing what to expect from him as a dragon.

This however, was not what bothered her the most. The reason she kept pacing, kept a firm grip on her necklace, was to keep his words at bay. If she stopped for a moment, she would begin to let doubt worm its way in. She was not easily persuaded. She had survived so long because she was a skeptic and had little faith in others, despite her love of fairytales. But she knew the dragon to have a power to plant thoughts into the minds of others, and that was what he was trying to do to her now.

How did he expect her to believe such lies? The evening before, when he had spoken to her, he was trying to twist her mind. But to what purpose? What could he gain with such lies? All for trying to convince she was something she was not. She merely believed him to be teasing her before when he alluded that she was not human but a Changeling. A Changeling? She's sooner believe she was the princess of fairies and sugar plums! And his evidence, it held no sway. Everything he said could easily be explained. Her eyes were from her father, who had died not disappeared. She could remember her mother's pain, her mourning for her father's loss. It mattered little that could not remember a grave marker or funeral. She knew her father was dead, she felt the moment it had happened, the moment he left her side forever.

And what of her aversion to men? She very well knew the reason for that. And she simply did not wish for a family yet, and would have settled if she ever found a man, not some boy was who looking to have his thrills with a traveling singer. As for the dragon being able to heal her without harming her, that could have been an outright lie for all she knew, she only had his word to go by. The only thing he had been truthful about was her…her bleeding. Raelynne blushed, thankful this time she was alone. Had Smaug been a true human she would have hit him for such vulgar talk. Never mind that it was true, his audacity was disgusting. Had she not already sworn to kill him she would have done so then. As for her lack of bleeding, her mother had told her it happened to the women in on her father's side, another mishap of nature like her eyes. Nothing more. He could not make her doubt who she was or what she was. She was human. Her mother was Liana Craon and her father Solomn Pinel. They we're both human and her father had died. She was not a Changeling, she was not some magical creature, and she would not doubt!

But still, Raelynne kept pacing. For there was one thing that the dragon had said to her the evening before that she could not ignore or reason away. He said there was no reason to lie to her when the truth was far more entertaining, but it went beyond mocking her. For it occurred to Raelynne in that moment that the dragon, for all his faults and cruelties, had never lied to her. For all his taunts, jeers, and threats, never had a word of his been false before. Why should that change now? What purpose would it serve to lie about something as this? To torment her? To entertain himself with her anguish? No, impossible, for she was not in anguish. She knew the truth, and for that his plan had failed before it had begun. He had no proof, only lies. Only lies, when before he had never lied…

But he is a liar. Even if he was not before, he is now. He is cruel, manipulative. Why do I look for a purpose to his lies? A monster needs no excuse to act like a monster! It matters not that he –!

"No! Oh, no!"

Raelynne, in her thoughts and doubts, had continued to hold onto her necklace, and had in her fit broke it from her neck. It was now before her on the rug below her. Immediately she bent down to it, taking it up in her hands delicately. To look at it, it wasn't much. It was of low quality metal, a simple chain with a simple lock pendent, but to see it broken now, Raelynne wanted to scream. She chose to swear instead.

"Damn it! Damn it all! This place! That dragon! Damn him to hell!"

She was breathing heavy, exhausted, and not knowing what she should do. The dragon wanted her to believe she was something she was not, and now her last tie to her past was broken. At least the clasp was. As she inspected it, she sighed to see it was salvageable. All that was needed was to bend the clasp back into place. But her fingers were not strong enough to do so. She would need something to fix it, a tool. But there was nothing in the library that looked like it would work. Hesitantly, she turned to face the open doors of her library. The dragon would not be back for at least another few hours. He had taken to patrolling his mountain in the morning. She could go, she could find something to fix her necklace, and be back before he would know. Besides, he never disapproved of her wandering so long as she would be there for when he wanted her to entertain, and it would not be as if she was stealing from him.

Conviction set, she stood herself up, broken necklace in hand. She knew the previous owners of the mountain, the dwarves, were workers of metal. There had to be something. This was a kingdom after all, there had to be a marketplace or a workshop where they made the treasures that now filled Smaug's cavern. It was only a matter of whether Raelynne would be able to find it.

Despite how small her world felt now, Raelynne knew Erebor was a kingdom of great magnitude and remarkable sights. She had once come across the throne room before on one of her wanders, and had been left too stunned to move for a time. She knew no one else but herself would think it a compliment, but that desolate, almost hallowed space inspired a song in her. This was where her romantic nature came out at its worse, for beauty inspired her to try and create more. But in this mountain, there were few things beautiful to see. The emptiness, the useless towers of gold, the pressing cold. Smaug had once inspired a song, but she had no desire to ever play it, certainly not after this latest cruelty of his.

After wandering for less than an hour, Raelynne came across an area that looked like it was a part of a mine. There were furnaces the size of buildings, and bellows that would take ten men to use. Cables ran high above her, their metal bins still from abandonment but heavy with gold. She wondered why the dragon had not taken the chunks of gold from them, but perhaps he only liked gold when it was shaped into coins or jewelry? And here she thought his greed had no bounds. Raelynne walked slowly among the remnants of what no doubt was once a sight of great activity. She wondered what it would be like to see the furnaces lit. There were also these channels in the stone floor. Perhaps they led some place? Where then? She began to follow one, walking between several bellows, careful of the debris that was scattered everywhere. It seemed she would need to climb a set of stairs to follow the channel the rest of the way, that or follow it down as it disappeared into a stone wall. She could fit in that way, being that there was plenty of space.

But before Raelynne could come to a decision, something grabbed her. A pair of arms, strong and firm, wrapped themselves around her waist and pulled until her back was flush against the front of whoever dared to touch her. She shrieked, chest cinched in panic as she felt the hands on her splay themselves out over her hips.

"Escaping, pet?" A threatening voice whispered into her ear. Raelynne reacted the only way she knew how. Her fists clenched, she struck and kicked at the figure behind her. The flesh felt soft, but with the first blow, she felt her hand sting as if she was pounding at stone. But her struggle only stopped when the figure pushed her away with a growl.

"S-Smaug?!" She gasped, confused to see him in his human like form standing behind her. He was touching his chin, one of the places she had struck him, as if it hurt. Eyes going wide, Raelynne's panic only increased.

"Oh, I-I didn't mean, I…are you hurt?"

Smaug rubbed his chin one final time before meeting her eyes, a smirk spreading.

"Surprisingly, yes." He seemed far too impressed to be angry at her for daring to strike him. This flustered Raelynne further, as she did not know what to say to him except the first thing that came to mind.

"W-well, that's what you get for sneaking up on a woman like that."

"Like what?"

"Like a man."

Smaug's pride seemed to return to him as he sneered at Raelynne for her insulting comparison.

"I am no man."

"No," Raelynne agreed as she began to calm herself, "but you look like one. And as such, my reactions will be the same to you as when any other man tries to grab me from behind."

With this, Smaug's brow rose. He looked impassive, but his tone was seething.

"Oh, and how many men have tried that?"

"Too many." Raelynne told him honestly, but Smaug did not seem satisfied.

"And they received the same treatment as I?"

"Worse."

"Good." He told her, his irritation replaced by a smirk once more. For some reason, his expression and satisfied tone made Raelynne smile, as if he was proud of her. That however was short lived as Smaug fixed her with a pointed look and came closer to her.

"This however, does not explain what you are doing in this part of the mountain." He very nearly sneered, his temper coming forth as his eyes burned with suspicion. Raelynne, as much as she wished not to have the dragon thinking that she was trying to escape, was about to speak the truth. But even that was unappealing. She knew of his love for metals, and though her necklace was not as splendid as what he held, what if he tried to take it from her? That was the very reason she kept it hidden, as she would not part with it. She would not part with it now, and so, decided to be vague.

"I got a little lost. I was…looking for something."

"And what might that be?"

She gestured around them, to the dark and empty factory. "Dwarves forged their own weapons and jewelry, right? So there must be at least one forgery around."

This of course did not satisfy Smaug, as he turned his gaze back onto his pet, still suspicious.

"A forge? Why would you be in need of one?"

"I have something broken that needs fixing." She answered hesitantly, making certain to avoid his eyes. His talent for seeing through lies was unsettling at best. He would force the truth from her in a moment, she knew, but she did not care. She would avoid it for a long as possible, and even when he knew she would not let him take it. She refused to let such happen. Silence remained between them, and when Raelynne finally dared to glance back up at her master, she saw him staring at her clenched fist intently.

"You mean that necklace of yours." It was not a question, but a statement. It seems for all her trouble, Smaug already knew. Not expecting such, Raelynne did not know what to say.

"Y-yes. How did–"

"Because for the first time since you were brought here, you are not wearing it. I am not blind, my pet. I knew you were hiding it from me, taking care to tuck it out of sight. But whenever nervous, your hand drifts towards it unconsciously." He told her dismissively, as if she were a silly child for not knowing that he knew. Raelynne sighed in defeat. There simply was no winning against the dragon, no matter what form he took. He would be sure to have the last word.

"The clasp, it broke." She showed him by unfurling her fingers of the hand that tightly held the necklace. Smaug, of course, was unbothered by it.

"Then find a new chain for it."

"I didn't think you would want me taking anything from your horde." Raelynne stated, thinking that to be an obvious answer. Smaug again dismissed her, this time with a wave of his hand.

"You are a part of my horde."

Raelynne considered his offer. She did not think the dragon's greed would allow for her to take something of his for her own. Of course, in his eyes she was just as much a part of his horde as any coin was, so she supposed it made little difference to him. But the answer was clear to her. "No, I don't want to replace it, I want to fix it."

"Why?"

Here Raelynne hesitated yet again. She had shared too much with the dragon already. For the sake of gaining his confidence, she had shared many things with the dragon, earning his interest and trust in her. But there were things she refused to share, with him let alone any other living being. This necklace and its significance were to be hers alone. The dragon had taken so much from her already, surely he would not want to bother with this? Smaug, seeing her reluctance to reply, came closer. Raelynne had no doubt that he would threaten her with an impatient growl, but she clutched the necklace to her chest as if it would protect her. Silly notion, of course, as the dragon said nothing, but grabbed the very hand that held the necklace so tightly. The dragon may look like a man now, but his strength was still there, and without a struggle he was able to take the necklace from Raelynne before she was even able to reason how it was possible.

"No! Give it back now!" She shouted, and by instinct made to lunge towards what was taken from her. Dangling the necklace in one hand as if he was repelled to touch it, Smaug gave her a poisonous look that sent her withering a few steps back. From the back of his throat came his usual warning snarl, and Raelynne wondered how many more mistakes the dragon would allow till he grew weary of her.

"You seem to forget yourself when I am in this form." He scorned, baring his teeth at her out of nature. Raelynne, though her heart was in a panic to get her one possession back, forced herself to be meek. It would only do her ill to challenge the dragon, or worse, try and fight him. She was no fool, but she was desperate to have the necklace back in her hands for fear he might break or take it away.

"As I said, I grew accustomed to a dragon for a master, not a man."

"And as I said before, I am no man." His pride scoffed as he turned from his songbird to inspect the necklace he held. His expression was of disgust for it, which surprised Raelynne. Did dragons not value all metal and pretty things? His eyes came upon the broken clasp that had caused Raelynne so much trouble. After a moment he brought his other hand to it, grasping it, and bent it. Raelynne was about to cry out, thinking he was breaking it, but when he removed his hand she could see that he had fixed the clasp back into place. She did not think himself capable of such delicate work, and in her shock smiled to see her treasure mended.

"Oh! Thank you." Smaug did not seem to hear her, he was again inspecting the necklace, specifically the pendent. It was a small, oval locket with a simple face. Hands clenched, she hoped he would not open it, but instead he spoke, voice full of aversion.

"Why so much bother over such an ugly trinket? It is not even real silver." He questioned, looking to her for an honest answer. Knowing his talent to sniff out lies, there were few options for Raelynne except to be honest with him. But such was painful for her. All that she had ever shared with him before had a point of getting the dragon to trust her, or at least feel like she trusted him. She already had his favor again, so it was not necessary on her part to share. Not to her, but Smaug gave her a look that spoke his demand for her to answer and quickly.

"It was my mother's." She told him quietly. The dragon smirked.

"Ah, so it was your sentiment you were trying to fix." He concluded, going back to look scornfully at the necklace, "And so is she dead, is that why this thing is meaningful to you?"

The way he asked, it was as if he needed a better reason for her to wear something so ugly in his eyes. She wanted to simply reply that not all that glitters was gold, but that undoubtedly would not be wise in this moment. Again, he demanded the truth, which she grudgingly gave him.

"No, but I'll never see her again."

The dragon began to walk away, still holding onto her necklace as he began the trek back to the vault. Raelynne saw no choice but to follow him. It was odd to walk beside him, for though he towered over her, she was still used to the dragon whose body could eclipse the sun. To see him walk on two legs, even that was strange. He wore a robe of rich burgundy, again partly unclasped at his chest and loose in form. She supposed he only wore the clothes for her, but he wore it well. He had not shoes however, but seemed unbothered by the cold or debris strewn ground.

"Why ever not?"

"For one I am here, master." The dragon gave her a humorless glare. Raelynne quickly regretted her quip and spoke hurriedly, "And for another I would not be welcomed home."

The dragon snorted derisively at her answer.

"Being a product of an indiscretion, that is no small wonder."

"Yes," She actually laughed. "And besides, my step-father happened to be–"

Raelynne stopped herself, but knew it was too late. Of all the fools she had ever met, at times she could be the biggest of them all. She already had shared too much, why did she have to let that slip out? To hope that the dragon did not hear her was even more foolish, but she found herself futilely wishing for such. Of course, Smaug looked at her intrigued, but could see her stubbornness to say more.

"Yes…?" He asked, twisting the necklace in his one hand absentmindedly, though Raelynne knew the action to be on purpose. He was taunting her with it knowing its significance to her, prompting her to obey. She did so immediately, however uneager.

"Happened to be one of those men who would try and grab me from behind, so to speak."

The dragon then turned to her with a look that spoke volumes of disgust and anger. The severity of it made Raelynne flinch, as did his dark tone, "You mean he forced himself upon you?"

"What?" Her eyes widened, horrified, "No! I-I mean, he certainly tried, but I have never been with a–"

"So your mother allowed for her husband's behavior?"

"No, she never knew of it. I could not tell her." Raelynne protested, as she would not stand to have an ill word spoken of her mother. The dragon's eyes were narrowed, rigid, cold, and hard. In that moment Raelynne knew he was angry, and she the reason. His states of humor and temper would be the end of her, his emotions had no greyscale, only the polar extremes. She drew in a breath, knowing the burning stare would last only as long as it took him to think of brutality to subject her to should she fail to answer him. But it was impossible for her to speak, and so pointless to run.

"Explain. Fully." He wanted the truth, the full truth. She had crossed the invisible line of his patience, and offended his sensibilities. Adding incentive, he once more twisted the necklace in his hand, watching as her eyes flickered with anxiety. She could not tell him, she did not want to utter a word to him except to curse him and take her necklace back. Raelynne's hate for the dragon swelled. His torment of her was becoming unbearable. First twisting her mind with doubts of her own humanity, now forcing this from her. With a shaking breath, Raelynne began at the only place she could, the beginning.

"I was, am, a child of…indiscretion, as you put it. While my father was alive, my mother's highborn family hoped he would marry my mother because he was a very wealthy man. So the family allowed for them to be lovers, and even had their blessing. But when my father died without marrying my mother and passing on his wealth to her and her family, my mother was marked as a useless slut and I a bastard child."

Raelynne began walking, hoping that a set pace would help make this easier. If she could pretend that she was watching the floor to better keep her footing on the unsteady ground rather than escape the dragon's gaze, then she could escape this with some pride.

"We nearly starved that winter after my father died, her family treating us like dogs and throwing us out, ignoring us. My mother begged and slaved for others in order to feed us. I learned to steal. People called us names, said my father was a monster, my mother his whore, and I their demon child. They stopped after the merchant took us in, though not out of the kindness of his heart. The merchant was a respected figure, his name was Doangeld, and he agreed to marry my mother for a heavy dowry. Being a greedy man he did not mind her sullied name so long as he was compensated. My mother's family complied, as it would save them some face. Not long after my little sister was born, and things seemed happy for a time."

"But…" Smaug spoke impatiently when she failed to continue. They had left the factory space and were now winding their way down a set of stairs. Now came the most difficult part of Raelynne's story, but it was too late for her to take her words back. Perhaps she could make the rest up? Tell him anything but what had happened and risk his wrath. But, against her own mind, her tongue uttered the truth.

"But, that of course did not last. The people of the village would not insult us to our faces anymore, but felt free to whisper behind our backs, mutter oaths and spit at us in passing. The merchant himself too was cruel. He tormented my mother, abused her like she was nothing more than a glorified slave. As for me, he mostly ignored me except to curse at me. The people in our town, they tormented us because they saw my mother as a sinner and I something to be feared. But Doangeld…he enjoyed it, it was second nature for him to be cruel. But over the years, he noticed how I grew. And while my mother remained beautiful, she was no longer appealing in his eyes and had failed to give him a male heir. He started to…"

She hesitated. It was now more than a matter of whether she could tell the dragon all this, but also if she could remember what for so long she had tried to forget. She tried to sound dismissive about it, as if it no longer mattered to her, that she had no scars.

"I was so young and I didn't understand, but I knew it was not right. The way he would speak to me, touch me in passing, leer. It was disgusting, but I never said anything. Often, when he lost his temper, which he did a lot, he would threaten my mother that he would throw her and I back out onto the streets. It was his way of making her comply with his cruelty, and keep me silent. If we were forced out, there would be no one to take pity on us. Worst of all, he would keep my sister, as was his right with she being his only child. I would not leave her alone with that brute. So I retreated into myself, became submissive, and tried my best to pretend that everything was fine."

"I was sixteen when things went very wrong. Mother and sister left for the market, leaving me alone with Doangeld. He interrupted my music practice and decided that he had waited long enough. When he began to tear at my dress, I managed to get away for a moment. I reached for a fire poker that was nearby and stuck him. As hard as I could. I was angry, humiliated, terrified. I hit him so many times that I…"

Suddenly the words Raelynne was to say next become heavy. So heavy she wasn't sure if they would stay stuck in her throat. They came out as a whisper.

"…I killed him."

Finally, Raelynne found it in herself to look at the dragon. She kept her expression as empty as possible, but found his to be unreadable. This, more than anything, left her ill at ease, but she pressed on.

"I knew I had to run. No one would ever believe me if I spoke the truth. The people hated me so much by then because of my birth, my eyes, that they would seek any opportunity to be rid of me. I packed what little I could, taking my mother's necklace with me. It holds a small painting of my father and herself, which she kept hidden at all times in her dresser. I wanted it with me for comfort I suppose, I wasn't really thinking at that moment. I knew if I ran away it would certainly label me the guilty one, and hopefully that would spare my mother and sister any suspicion of being involved. I kept to the forest nearby to spy and keep an eye out, just to make certain they would not be accused. But no, the townsfolk were all too willing to blame everything on me, the monster's daughter. My mother's family protected her from any harm, she being Doangeld's beneficiary in his death and so they welcomed her back with open arms. They fabricated a story that I was possessed. A rotten, spoiled child that tormented my family, and murdered my step-father in cold blood. And the people believed it."

She sighed, the weight of her story leaving her exhausted from speaking it out loud. To speak so much painful truth in so little a time was agonizing. What's worse, this was her first time doing so. Now one had before been privileged to hear this part of Raelynne's past, for she had never trusted anyone enough to share before. She still did not, and to have it forced from her left her feeling as if she was lesser for it. The dragon was the one to put her in this position, but even at this moment she could not call forth her hate, too exhausted and ashamed.

"The rest, you know. I've wandered for seven years, earning what I could with my music and voice, till at last I found myself here."

The dragon said nothing. They were in his trove by now, the hills of coins and jewels looming before them both. Raelynne watched him as he surveyed his treasures, his eyes for once not upon her. He was still holding onto her necklace, but now that it had given him what he wanted, she was unsure if he would part with it. And why would he? He was cruel. Like Doangeld, he did such things for his own pleasure. Smaug seemed to be searching for something, eyes scanning through the gold as if he was looking for something in particular. Raelynne didn't know why, but she wanted him to say something. As silent as he was, her story appeared to have affected him. His jaw was clenched, expression grim but still unreadable. She wanted him to say something, anything, any response to all that she had told him would be welcome. He wouldn't give her pity, she knew that and was thankful for that. But still, why did he not say anything? Not even jeer at her foolish sentiment or that her eyes were brimming with tears? To have recalled her past horrors, she did not have the strength to resist the feelings that remained with her all these years. No matter where she ran, they were always there, driving her on. That is why she never settled, why she never married. How could she? She did not deserve peace, from her birth she caused nothing but pain for others. Perhaps her being with Smaug was to serve as a reminder of such…

"You feel guilt over the merchant's death?"

Raelynne blinked, trying to will away the tears that Smaug had finally noticed. His tone betrayed nothing, though he still appeared tense. She shook her head.

"Only that it endangered my mother and sister. As for killing him…no, I do not feel any guilt."

"Then you should have killed him sooner." Raelynne was taken aback by his response. Her expression became confused to hear such conviction in his voice. She knew he would not condemn her for her past actions, she had not expected him to care at all. Least of all she did not expect him to be so…approving. He cared little, no doubt, for her story. But that he accepted it so offhandedly, it comforted Raelynne in a way she had never know. As dismissive of her pain he had been, he was equally dismissive of her sins. Anyone else would be inclined to pity her or condemn her. To have someone, the first she ever told, be so, for lack of any other word, accepting of such a large part of herself, it felt strange. Welcomed. Raelynne found herself smiling.

"Yes, I should have." She replied, only then become so overwhelmed she had to laugh, "I suppose you are right about one thing Smaug."

"Only one?" He looked towards her with a smirk. She returned it with her own, bitterly accepting a truth of herself she had never before.

"I do believe that men are repulsive."

His smirk grew, almost mischievously as if he expected her to say such a thing. The dragon then turned from her and walked forward onto a nearby bank of coins. It seems whatever he had been looking for before was now found, as he dove his hand into the bed of gold. Grasping something, he pulled it out and walked back over to Raelynne with it. He presented it to her, a necklace of fine gold with a festoon littered with rubies. It looks so delicate, like a spider's web. While Raelynne was intrigued by its beauty, Smaug surprised her further by walking behind her. She remained still, even as she saw his arms around her, holding the beautiful necklace before her. He lowered it slowly, resting it against her as he then clasped it behind her neck as she pulled her hair aside for him. His actions confused her greatly, but she knew better than to protest. Once fastened, Smaug rested his hands upon her shoulders, and leaned his face close to her ear.

"Do not forget that they are also below you, my songbird. And never shall one touch you again." He whispered to her. His dark promise sent a shiver through Raelynne, as did his hands as they wandered from her shoulders, down the length of her arms. Grasping her hands in his, she felt him press her mother's necklace into her left hand.

"You will wear the ruby necklace from now on, and keep this sentimental trinket out of sight."

Some part of Raelynne wished to protest. Another told her not to be so foolish. But a small part of her, small yet quite loud, was yet again comforted. Promising her that no man would ever touch her felt like it should be a loss, a constraint of her freedom. But it didn't. It brought her comfort, as if he was instead promising that nothing would ever harm her again. Such was impossible, and she should not read into his possessive words. He was merely covetous, a jealous and greedy beast. But so were most men. Most people. At least he had to dignity to be forthright about it. And Smaug, for all his faults, was no man…

Yikes! Oh dear, it would seem that Smaug is slowly winning Raelynne over. Will she be convinced, or stay true to what she believes? I hope you all enjoyed finally learning about her past, as I have been hinting at it since the beginning. And what of Smaug and his attentions to Raelynne? It seems to me that he is beginning to get a bit handsy, and now a gift? What will become of poor Raelynne's determination to take revenge for herself? You will need to read on to find out, and I need to go catch my train!

Join Raelynne and Smaug next time as things take a twist. Raelynne, still unsure of how to treat Smaug in this new form, treats him to a dance, awaking odd and unwelcomed feelings. But those are put aside when something, some dark force, enters Raelynne's mind…