Chapter 17; Sickness:

Holy Hera...I...I cannot express with words how sorry I am that I left you all for so long. AND ON A CLIFF HANGER NO LESS! Oh, my dear gods, I am just so sorry. So sorry. I have no excuses. Well, a few. I mean, I graduated college. Got a job. I work at a library now (on my way to fulfilling my life long dream of being a librarian). So...I was busy? Still, I should have tried harder. But here, here is a chapter at last to make up for all the waiting you guys had to suffer though. I appreciate your patience (and understand your impatience), and adore your comments, favs, and follows that have brought me back to doing what I love. There are too many reviews to thank, so here, just read this little peace offering chapter and know that I will try my hardest to keep at this story. Well, go on kiddies, read it, enjoy it, and possibly forgive me?

Smaug landed back on the mountain as the night came. His hunt had been most successful, eating two stags for himself and bringing a doe back so that his songbird may taste its sweet meat. He was careful with its corpse as he held it in his jaw, not wishing to bruise the meat. He walked the dark path he carved for himself inside Erebor with ease, knowing it by heart. He slowly made his way to the library, dropping the doe by the small path that led to the kitchen. He had commanded Raelynne to be taken to his horde before he left to hunt, but even still he took in a breath to test the air of her library to see if she was there. Strange how he thought of it as such, hers, when it was a part of his kingdom, but it held true. She had more love and use for the room than he, and oddly he could not imagine the room without it being hers now. In a curious way he supposed it pleased him that she was becoming a natural part of his kingdom, a fixture like any marble column or gold coin.

It was just as well, since soon he would make her his mate. His, in every way. She would no doubt protest to such, but he had patience enough to win her over. He needed to, for his plan to work.

Turning away from the library with its fire long cold, Smaug went towards his horde. He caught the faintest hint copper and lilac coming from it. Somehow, with the lateness of hour, he had assumed she would disobey him to take her bath rather than await his return for so long. She grew cold all too easily in the mountain when night came. Yet she was waiting for him to come still, and so he would not disappoint her.

"Songbird?" Smaug announced once he came into the vault. His voice resonated in the empty space of his horde, but there came no answer. This made Smaug suspicious. On instinct he thought of the worst. His songbird had escaped once through a path in the vault, slipping through a crack in the wall like a fish through a tattered net. A growl worked its way up the back of his throat, still thick with fresh taste of blood.

"Do you hide from me, my pet?" He snarled as he began to search through the mountains of gold. His claws scraped over the stone and coins, leaving wakes of sparks. Following her scent, it confirmed his suspicion as it led him to the corner in where the path she taken to escape lay. Rage boiled in him. Her punishment would be worse than before, a hundred times so. His plans would not allow for her to be killed, but certainly she did not need both her legs…

"You have nothing to fear from me. Come out, dear songbird." He lied with a scowl as he came over the final hill of gold that separated him from his songbird. Teeth bared and bloodied, he was prepared to be met with her cowering and pleading, but what he saw with was quite a different picture. His songbird was there alright, but was lying stretched out upon the stone floor, motionless. Smaug stilled as he found himself at a loss for what to do as his senses flooded him with things that should have been obvious before. Listening, he could tell her heart and breath was weak, almost absent. With her eyes open and unseeing, the green and blue of Raelynne's gaze landed on him so piteously it made the dragon feel a repellant shudder travel through him. Her skin was pale, sickly, and she was coated with a sheen of sweat as she lay unearthly still.

In one, quick stride, Smaug descended upon his songbird and the horrific sight she made. He snarled in fury as he looked for a wound, the cause of her affliction. Someone must have attacked her. Yes, someone had harmed his possession, and that incited his rage to run deeper than the thought of her running from him. Whoever dared would pay. A thief, Alfrid. It would not matter who they were, for they would burn and scream and beg and rot! Stupid female, why did she let herself be harmed? Why did trouble follow her as if it was some sick, loyal pet? If she was to die, it would drive him to pure fury! To have his plans ruined before he could even carry them out, to have her die because he was absent to protect her, it was insulting and unforgiveable.

And yet he could not smell blood on Raelynne. This only furthered his alarm, for she was most certainly on the brink of death. If she was not wounded, then what happened? Could she be sick? He pressed his snout to her body, nudging her gently to try and awaken her from her state. Her body responded limply to the motion, like a lifeless doll, and the lack of warmth coming from her was disturbing. She was cold, nearly as cold as stone, and yet she was covered in perspiration as if in the pitch of a raging fever. Taking in the scent of her, he tried to find a source, a reason for her condition. He snarled to find there was nothing he could discern for all his senses. He was beginning to see the futility of his examining, and incited himself to action instead.

Smaug lifted his head, about to call for Alfrid, but a glitter caught his eye. Not far from his songbird was a sight most familiar to Smaug, so natural that on first glance he could not understand why it now struck him as strange. The Arkenstone. It was off of the pedestal on which he had placed it so long ago, liking to see it stand above the rest of his horde, lying close to his songbird. Her hand was stretched out towards it accusingly, as if in her deep sleep she meant to help him in putting the pieces together.

Immediately Smaug reached out to cradle his songbird into his clawed hand. Time was now more precious to him than it had even been, for if what he now suspected had happened, then Raelynne did not have long. The Arkenstone would tear her apart, body and soul. She very well could be on the edge of madness, the very purity of her being at stake. Grip gentle, he began to carry his delicate burden out of the horde, feeling his songbird move for the first time to shiver against the warmth of his body. There was not much time, given by how cold she felt. He would need to act quickly, or else…no, he would not think on it. With a sense of urgency, Smaug slithered through his kingdom to make towards his songbird's nest, looking back only once to scowl at the accursed jewel that had brought this trouble…

~:o:0:o:~

Raelynne had never known such darkness. It was as if she was buried in it, the terrible weight oppressing her till she had to struggle to breathe. It surrounded everything. It ate up everything. It did not give her any mercy as it took to invading her senses till she was wondering if she had not lost her eyes. It was total, it was everything. There could not exist such a blackness of night, of deep caverns. This had to be a living thing, a terrible curse that only wished to swallow her. She did not know how long she had been there, though the word forever felt appropriate. Was she standing or sitting? She could not tell. Was she even awake? Raelynne wondered if she would prefer it to be real if just so she would not have to fear for her state of mind if it could dredge up such a terrible shadow. She felt compelled to battle it somehow, to defend herself. All she could think of to do was speak, though such a feat took her several tries to accomplish.

"H-hello?"

Nothing. Not even an echo. If she were in a cave, would there not be an echo? So then where was she? Raelynne tried to think back to a time in which she knew herself to be awake and alive. She remembered dancing…and…the dragon! Where was he? Did he put her here? What could she have possibly done to deserve such a cruel punishment? She remembered pain as well…such awful pain. She had been screaming, blind with agony. Was she dead then? Was this hell? If so, she supposed it was not as terrible as what she had heard. It was worse. Far worse.

Take, that is all there is…all that is known...

"Smaug?" She called out desperately, thinking already on how she would plead with him to forgive her, though she still could not imagine what she had done wrong. After listening for what felt like serval minutes without receiving an answer, she began to struggle to move. Apparently she was standing, and though she could not see it she was on firm enough ground to begin walking. She kept her hands clutched to her chest, wanting to feel her way around and yet fearing what she just might find with blind hands. What if she was not alone here?

Take…me…

"Anyone?" Her voice was as weak as a whisper, weaker for now she feared that someone, or thing, may find her. It was all she could do to keep herself from crying out, from screaming.

"What is happening?" She begged the black air, "Please…please, won't someone speak to me?"

A light, sudden and bright, shined out in answer. It was painful and terrible, and as if it were the first she had ever witnessed. She shivered in its wake, hands instinctively reaching to protect her eyes. A warmth came with it, though she never knew she was cold before. Should she be grateful? Or would this light bring with it new horrors? She waited, trembling with fright and anticipation for the moment it would be safe for her to open her eyes. Would it ever be safe? Perhaps she could try to take a chance…or perhaps she could stay frozen forever like this. She could not make up her mind which to choose.

When she finally opened her eyes, there was a sting of sensation that caused her to flinch back. She waited for moment before she tried again. This time she was able to keep her eyes open, squinting as her sights adjusted. A landscape came to shape itself before her, leaving her shocked at what she saw. All at once and terribly, sights, sounds, and smells flooded about her, as if she had come out of the deepest of sleeps to find the waking world ready to dazzle her.

A little river wound its way before her feet, slow and lazy. A forest surrounded it, maple and willow feeling the effect of autumn as brown, red, and gold leaves soared down around her. The wind blew them into a strange dance, one that was all too familiar to her. Every branch in the trees, every pebble in the stream, all of it screamed recognition, and Raelynne shuddered in pure joy.

"I'm…home."

Raelynne felt her knees give out, but she felt nothing else as she was brought to the ground. Her hands clutched at the dry grass below her, itching against her skin in a pleasant sensation. She felt tears fall down her cheeks, her breath leaving her in shakes. She was home. This was the forest by her village, by the house in which she was born. Where her mother would sing to her by the fire and would tell her stories. She used to play in this river all the time. It was where she would go to be alone, to practice her dancing when she was far too shy to let others see. She was home. Home.

How was it possible? How could she be here? She was in the Lonely Mountain. She was a dragon's prisoner. She couldn't be here. This was where she lived happily. Where her father taught her the names of the four winds and how to make the leaves dance. Where he told her stories of the strange lands he visited when young, of how wolves sing only when lonely, and when the mountains would shiver in anticipation of spring…

Raelynne stilled. From behind her she could feel a presence. It was hardly noticeable, so natural it was for it to be there, and yet she immediately singled it out. She stood up and spun around, not expecting anything but her hopes soaring. When her eyes landed on what she wanted to find, she could hardly believe. Hardly breathe. Reason. Blink. But when the figure started to walk towards her, all things surged and crashed around her.

"Papa!" Raelynne sobbed. Her legs broke into a run as she rushed up to the man who towered over her. His odd eyes matched hers like a perfect mirror, framed by long black hair that ghosted over his pale skin. It was as if no time had passed, he looked exactly as last she saw him. In desperation she clung to him, trembling to feel his arms around her.

"I-I've missed you! So much!" She cried, finding breathing difficult. He was alive! She was home and he was alive! Was this a dream? No, she could feel him as real as anything. He held her as tight as he had when she was so young, when she was happy. Why was this happening? What was this? Did it matter? No, nothing mattered. He was here, he was with her! Everything could be as it was…as it was…

"Why did you leave me? You promised…you promised…" Raelynne muttered as she pressed her face to his chest, never wanting to leave his embrace. She felt him chuckle, his hand caressing her hair. He always told her how much he loved that she inherited her mother's hair, calling her his little red bird. His little Raelynne.

"I have never left you, Raelynne." He spoke softly, his voice as clear and as bright as silver. Raelynne shook her head in denial. How could he say that?

"But you died…you left mother and I alone…" She told him piteously. Finally she allowed herself to part from her father, looking up into his eyes, "You died, yes? Papa?"

He did not answer her immediately. Instead, her father turned away to look up into the sky. He often did that, as if he was reading the clouds. He still held her, unable or unwilling to let her go, and she knew he missed her as she him. If that was true, why was he only now returning to her? No…no…he shouldn't be here. He was dead…her father died. This had to be a dream. A taunting memory. He shouldn't be here. She wasn't here, she was in Erebor, trapped. This was a dream…a sweet nightmare…

"You must fight this dream, this lonely madness." He whispered suddenly, turning his face towards a particular breeze that felt different form the others.

"Fight what? This dream?" She shuddered to think of this ending, to live without him again, and shook her head desperately, "I…I can't…I don't want to."

Her father gazed back down at her, his smile full of bittersweet sorrow. He looked her over, as if now noticing she was several feet taller than when last he saw her. And yet she fit into his embrace as naturally as ever. Placing a hand on her cheek, he took in her features as if to memorize. Raelynne knew that in face she came to resemble her mother, apart from her eyes, and she wondered if that made her father happy. Did he miss mother? He opened his mouth to speak, but the question he asked was not what she had been prepared to answer.

"Raelynne, do you know where your heart lies?"

She flinched back, the words striking a peculiar cord inside her.

"My heart?"

"It is divided, lost. You must find it. You must find someone to protect your heart."

Raelynne closed her eyes. She did not want to hear this, she only wanted to be here with him. This was her dream, she wanted to hear him say how much he loved her, that he was sorry for leaving her but he was alive and if he could just explain why he left her she could forgive him and be happy again.

"Papa, what are you talking about?"

"We have a thousand faces and yet no heart. We shine like silver in firelight, like water in the sun, like snow under stars, like rain upon the moon. We are lost." His voice was calm and collected, like it used to be when he was teaching her. But she could not understand this lesson. She shook her head as if it would give her clarification.

"No…no I…I do not understand."

Raelynne heard her father sigh, as if his next words were to pain him.

"You will Raelynne. You will, once you accept that you are not human."

She could not hear this. She did not want to hear it. Raelynne distanced herself, letting go of her father. Her hands reached for her hair, twisting the braid fretfully. This was just a dream. It would end. Her real father was not saying this to her. It was the words of the dragon infecting through her unconscious. This was not her father. No, it could not be.

"Who will protect your heart? Who will guard you?" He asked her again, reaching for her. Raelynne took a step back from him. Inside her welled up a deep anger. How dare he ask her such a question? He was her father, he was supposed to protect her and mother. Instead he left her. It did not matter if he died or went away, he left them to the world to deal with. If he married mother none of this would have happened. She would be home, she would be with mother. Even if he died still, she and mother would not have been detested, outcast. She would not had to live with Doangeld and watch him beat her mother, would not needed to take his attentions and suffer the indignities for the sake of protecting her family.

"I've protected mother and Lorraine. My whole life, I've protected them and myself when you failed to. No one's ever protected me." She told him, full of resent. In her eyes she could feel the sting of tears, but she refused to let them fall. He needed to hear what had happened to her, what she had to suffer through in his absence. She missed him so much it hurt her just to think of him. All those years her mother would sneak looks at the locket to gaze at his picture and cry, alone, grieving and brokenhearted because he did not marry her. Why didn't he marry her? Why did he treat her that way? Why did he not protect them and yet dared to ask her of the same? She covered her face with her hands, wanting this dream to end now more than anything.

"Who will protect your heart?"

Raelynne laughed bitterly, though it came as a sob. She refused to look at him, stepping away from him. It was more than she could bear. She would awake now and he would be gone. Just like mother and Lorraine would be back at home, living without her and happy, and she a prisoner. Mother and Lorraine did not need her any more with them, only that she keep away from them. As for herself, she laughed again, more vicious as she spoke the truth.

"There is no one now."

Take…

"No one."

All…

"I am alone…"

Take…me…

Raelynne opened her eyes. She was back in the darkness, but this only felt natural. It was natural for her father to slip away, to leave her. It was just a dream, a taunt of happy times that would only disappear. She had wanted the dream to end anyway, unable to bear it, but now it seemed she slipped into another one. A voice was speaking to her, one she did not know. A gypsy woman once told her that no one dreamed of someone they had not met at least once before, each face or voice imagined belonging to someone you knew in life. And yet Raelynne could not place this voice. She wiped away the tears, looking about her though she knew it to be pointless.

"You? Who are you?" She asked, trying to recover herself.

The Heart of the Mountain…

Raelynne frowned.

"The Lonely Mountain?"

I am the Heart…

Raelynne began walking, trying to follow the voice. It was everywhere and now where, and yet she felt a keen sense of direction leading her. She wanted to find the voice and comfort it. It was so pitiful, its tone pleading and small, like a child's. The voice sounded so lonely, that she thought perhaps it was her own.

Protect me…I am yours…alone…

"Mine?" She asked, aware of the hopeful note that was in her own voice. Why did that one word feel so sweet to say?

Yours…protect me…take all of me…share none…

Raelynne bowed her head, arms to her chest to protect against a sudden chill. The voice sounded so lonely, all she wanted to do was find it and keep it safe. She hurried with purpose, but the space before her was empty and nothing changed as she went on blindly. And yet the darkness did not worry her. It was promising. If she could keep dreaming this, this blackness, then perhaps she could find a sort of peace. She could pretend that not her dragon or father existed. Just her and the darkness and the voice when she found it. Her heart called out to cry as the voice did, both begging and pleading their fears and wants.

"I…I don't want to be alone…"

I will be yours…alone…no others…

"Others?"

You shall never want again…keep me…

"Never?"

Never alone…keep the others away…yours alone…

"I do not want to be alone…"

No one…no one…you shall covet none but me…please take me…

She could see something ahead. Some shape, a gentle glow. She knew it to be what she had been searching for. Running, Raelynne felt the soft touch of light coming from the curiosity before her. A jewel, spherical and with a thousand faces, shined in brilliant white. The sight of it was familiar, though she could not place it. She circled it, taking it in. This most certainly was where the voice had come from, though now that she had found it she was uncertain of what to do. Inside her still was the pull to take up the voice in her arms and adore it, protect it. The feeling was as strong as a tide, and wave after wave drained her resistance. She was as lonely as it was, it wanted someone as she did to love and shield her from all harm and sin. It would be hers and hers alone. That is what the jewel had said. It had promised. It was trusting her to keep it close, it had called to her, her alone. It was so lonely…so lonesome and she wanted it. No one else would have it…

Raelynne reached out and took the jewel into her arms as a loving parent would a harmed child. The cold surface of the stone made her shiver, but she sighed happily and only held it tighter. It was hers, the jewel was hers. She would not be lonely any more. She would never want for anything. As long as she had this jewel, she would need nothing else. As long as she held this heart she would not have need of her own…

Closing her eyes, Raelynne knelt to the ground, cradling the jewel. She suddenly felt very weak. On the edge of her senses, she could almost hear something. Another voice? No, a hum of noise. It was coming from the jewel, and Raelynne was happy in thinking the jewel was singing. She was conscious of another sensation, just as gentle and invading. At the edge of the darkness, something met with her mind and traveled over. There was a slight push and much give as something gently conquered her conscious. Images started to dance before her, all of the jewel and its beauty. Hands were holding it, rough and elderly, and Raelynne watched them cradle the stone as lovingly as she was now. But something was not right. From deep inside her, dread welled up. No, not dread. Something just as consuming, as twisted.

Raelynne looked about her, but the darkness was all there was beside her and the jewel. It pressed down on her harder than before, forcing her to lie still or be crushed. It caused her alarm as the feeling within her grew to desperation. She still felt lonely. She still wanted. She wanted her father and everything that had been denied her. How could this be? The jewel said she never would again, and yet the feeling was still there and mounting. The image flashed again, and this time there was more than just the jewel to be seen. Panic and screams. Gold scattering, fire growing, bodies falling. She shook her head, wishing to dislodge the images from her mind, but nothing would stop them. The jewel was there, not willing to stay in the hands of the one that treasured it, but answering the stronger bidding of what was attacking. It devotedly answered the insatiability of the one that tore everything apart with fire and claws. The loneliness surged in Raelynne till she felt crippled, and she clung tighter to the jewel. She wanted this to stop. Her desperation was growing into a jealous greed. The jewel would not leave her. She did not want to be alone, it had promised to not leave her alone. She was wanting, wanting so deeply it could not be filled by the jewel's song that was becoming a furious crescendo. She was becoming desperate…so desperate for anything to alleviate this feeling, this hunger.

It was a consumption, a famine…she wanted to clutch onto someone and never let go. The jewel was the only one she wanted, and yet she felt the need for more grow as the images kept replying their madness. So lonely…alone. She was still alone. The jewel was not enough. It was taking more than it could give, which was nothing. She wanted more, her possessiveness outgrown by her loneliness. This was not enough, it would never be enough. She would die of starvation in a place of plenty, all because she clung to the bones. This had to stop. She wanted it to stop. Please, someone, make it stop…it was eating her alive…

"Raelynne."

Through the mad song of the jewel, another sound pressed itself to be heard. Raelynne stilled her breathing to hear it better, frantic for a sensation that would not consume her. It was calm, commanding. Unlike the jewel, this whisper was distinct, coming from the empty space before her. It was inviting, calling her name in an intimate tone that suggested it knew her well. It knew her and wanted her to follow. It wanted her to answer. It wanted her more than the stone. This new whisper was not desperate, it did not plead. It simply demanded her presence and immediate obedience. But why should she answer? The jewel would give her all she needed, all she could ever want. And yet, and yet…

"Raelynne." The voice called again, firm and unforgiving for her delay. Still, she could not place it. There was a darkness to it, more terrifying than that which surrounded her. A feeling of white fire spread itself deeply in her, as if to set itself in her bones. Was the voice doing this? It filled the emptiness inside her that the jewel could not sate, threatening to take all of her.

"Raelynne. Come back to me."

Raelynne found herself weakly rising to obey. Her mind tore itself apart as her instincts to follow the voice battled against her body that still clung to the stone. She felt her hands let go quite suddenly. The jewel rolled away from her, silent and still and lifeless. Raelynne closed her eyes. No more images flooded her mind, no more song was sung. Just the new voice. It was as chaotic as a storm and as smooth as honey. It was as deep as the sun at midnight and it wanted her to submit to its call. Raelynne would not have been able to resist even if she wanted to. But why would she want to? The jewel had been lonely, desperate, and she had wanted to comfort it. It wanted her to give all she had. But this voice was assertive, strong. It solaced her. It held her heart and soul, creating a current that dragged her through the darkness. She was coming to a waking dream, her body becoming heavy as her senses lost themselves in the change. There was a warmth about her, a body next to her that held her dearly. The scent of ashes and tang of metal made her sigh happily as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Ah, there you are."

She was in her library, lying on her divan and wrapped in blankets. A softly glowing fire was before her, its heat gently caressing her cheek. And by her side, with his arms around her, was Smaug. He was in his other form, his scales replaced with skin that was just as smooth and pleasant to touch. Raelynne smiled softly up at him, her hand reaching to touch him. She did not want this to be another dream. She was done with dreaming. When his hand reached for hers its grip was unforgiving, as if to keep her from slipping away again. Raelynne knew she was awake then, truly. Her own hand tightened around his, and a gentle pleasure rose in her at the feel of him. She could hear his voice, and it was telling her to sleep. Obedient, she begun to do so, but only after she uttered her thanks.

"I heard you in the dark…I…I followed…"

~o:0:o:~

When Raelynne next awoke she felt more exhausted than she had ever been in her short life. She had no desire to move, only to fall back asleep again. But a pain of hunger plagued her, forcing her to squirm in discomfort. She heard a chuckle, and felt fingers combing their way through her hair. She stiffened at the sensation, but then relaxed when she opened her eyes to see that the dragon was still with her.

"Smaug...?" She asked, trying and failing to sit herself up. She and the transformed dragon were lying on the divan still, side by side, his arms around her. If he was still here, it was likely he never left her, and Raelynne grew uncomfortable at the thought. Why was he here? Holding her? Only when she shivered did she understand what the dragon was doing. She felt so weary with cold, the sweat on her skin only worsening the feeling. Instinctively she shivered closer to the dragon's body heat, willing to allow his nearness for the sake of his warmth.

"Yes, my dear songbird?" He answered, Raelynne feeling his words rise from his chest more than hearing them.

"What…what happened to me?" It was a question she dreaded to ask, but she needed the answer. For the moment nothing could come to her mind to explain how she had come to be in this position. Not that she would complain. Her body was cold and sore, as if she had been trapped under ice for months, and the only relief she could get was Smaug's warmth. Her hands were pressed against his chest, and though she dare not remove them she felt her sense decency urge her to do so.

"You have been unconscious for three days without waking. Quite impressive, really."

"Three days?" Raelynne repeated in disbelief. The realization of it only exhausted her more, and she whimpered with lethargic frustration. Three days. She must look a frightful state.

"Yes, and now that you are awake, you must eat something."

Raelynne frowned in confusion as she forced her eyes to open. Eat something? Did he bring her food? Wait, had he been caring for her the whole time? Again Raelynne found herself unwilling to complain as Smaug presented her with a piece of apple. He brought it to her face as if he expected her to take it from his hand with her mouth. She may be clinging to him more desperately than ivy to a tree, but she did have some pride. Removing one hand she took the piece herself and bit into it impatiently. Its crisp flesh and flavor made her sigh in pleasure.

"Now my dear, if you do not mind, I would like very much to know what had occurred before I found you, unconscious and half-dead." Smaug went on as he gave her yet another piece of apple. This time he simply handed it to her. Raelynne closed her eyes as she tried to think back. Some things were coming to her, but it was all in a despairing haze.

"I…I am not certain. I was walking and there was this stone. Beautiful and…I…it…"

"The Arkenstone beckoned to you? I thought as much." Smaug finished for her. Raelynne looked up at him, craning her neck almost painfully to catch his eyes with hers.

"The what?"

"The Arkenstone, the Crown Jewel. The Heart of the Mountain."

Raelynne hummed in agreement.

"The Heart. Yes, it said that was its name."

"It spoke to you?" Smaug asked in a tone that sounded close to astonishment. Raelynne was too tired to bother with a reply, and instead spent her energy asking her own important question.

"What did it do to me? I felt lost and…lonely."

"Well," Smaug began grimly, "it is the Jewel of Jewels, mined by the dwarves long ago and given to Thror, the last king of Erebor. It was the finest stone to come from the earth, to this I can attest. Being what you are though, a creature with strong ties to the air and earth, I suspect touching a stone surrounded by a covetous and bloody history drove you to madness. Temporarily, let us hope."

The last king of the dwarves? Raelynne's mind turned over what she could remember. The darkness, her father, the jewel. When she had touched it, the jewel had shown her many things that she now knew to be its history. The hands she saw, that had to be the king. And the fire and death…as that king had been the last, she could only assume that had been Smaug himself coming to Erebor. A bloody history indeed, and him the source. But that was not what troubled her the most in this moment. Her mind still swam with the words that had been whispered to her in the darkness, and would not leave.

"But the king had it in his possession for years, yes? Touching it did not do this to him, did it?" She asked, still not able to understand what had happened to her.

"Perhaps, or perhaps not. Over the course of many years it did drive him mad. But he was a dwarf, and you a changeling. His kind were meant for greed while yours were intended for harmony and valued all of nature."

Raelynne frowned. The words of her father rang through her head now. Was he a part of a feverish dream or some forgotten memory? All he had told her made no sense, and yet she could not help but connect it to what the dragon had been so long trying to convince her of. Why did they both insist she was not human? In a dream or not, why did her father say such things to her? Why did she still hear those words, those dreadful things that she did not understand?

"I am not a changeling." She finally whispered, though the resolve in her statement was weak at best. Smaug scoffed humorously, the deep sound echoing through Raelynne.

"Then how else do you explain your fainting away? Female habit?"

She shook her head futilely to get him to stop speaking, the action pressing her forehead to Smaug's chest. The words buzzed louder in her mind, but soon were drowned out by another sound. Closer to him now than she had ever been, Raelynne could hear the dragon's heart beating against her. It was a loud, steady rhythm, like a drum, drowning out her thoughts for a moment.

"I am so tired…" She sighed, feeling the pull of sleep return. Her eyes shut themselves, suddenly becoming too heavy to hold open.

"I expect you are. Here," With this Smaug reached over to grab a cup of water, bringing it to her lips "Drink."

This time Raelynne did not bother to take from his hands, merely leaned close so that the rim of the glass touched her lips. She could feel the dragon's eyes on her as she swallowed while he gently tilted the glass. The water slid down her parched throat so pleasantly she nearly moaned. Why was the dragon doing this? Tending to her as if he was her nanny? He had never shown her such kindness before. Perhaps it was because he came close to losing her, his prized possession. Yes, that was the reason. This was the same as when he polished the gems against his scales in the vault. Mere upkeep and care.

Raelynne rested her head back against his chest, wishing to sleep. But plaguing thoughts refused to let her go so easily. Why had she dreamed of her father saying such things? Was it a dream, or a part of the sickness? She most certainly had to be sick, some sort of fever or chill, and she had fainted from it. Touching a jewel would not do this to her. And yet she remembered the pull of it when she had first discovered it, when she was most certainly awake. There was something that called to her, beckoned her. Perhaps it was her own despair for being a prisoner turning into madness, but that was equally unappealing. But the pain had been real when she touched it, that she could not refute. So then could it not be true that the rest had been real? Even if only in her mind? The embrace of her father had felt every bit as physical as Smaug's now, though quite different. And his words, they kept repeating themselves in her head, growing only louder. He had said she was not human. No, those were the dragon's words, those were his thoughts, not her father's. To hear them in his voice though, real or not, shook Raelynne's resolve.

"Why are you so adamant about my accepting that I am be a changeling?" She muttered before she knew she had even spoken out loud.

"Because you are the last of your kind, and it would be a waste to keep you in ignorance."

Raelynne opened her eyes, once more turning her face to look up to Smaug's.

"Can you tell me about them? Please?"

The dragon disappointed her by shaking his head.

"No, it would be best not to overwhelm you in this moment. You must get more rest."

Slowly, Raelynne lifted herself, shifting one of her hands to the divan for support while the other balanced against Smaug's chest. She was too weak to move any further, as even that much motion made her feel sick with exhaustion. But it had the effect she wanted; she was looking straight into Smaug's eyes.

"Tell me. I need to know." She said ardently. It was not a lie. There was a plan in her mind now that refused to leave, and she wanted to see it through. Smaug had told her only a little of changelings, just enough to confuse her. But if she forced him to confess to all, then she could laugh at the silliness of it. Like those star charts that claimed to lay out one's entire life, if she heard Smaug describe the changelings to her, she could then dismiss the matter for once and for all. It was just a trick on his part, she felt sure, a game to make her so confused and wrapped around his claws for his own amusement. But it needed to end now, and she was willing to play by his rules to finish it. She would keep score and tally up what was true in her case and, more importantly, what was false. Then she would be able to dismiss the words of her father as some ridiculous effect of her sickness, and ignore the incident with the Arkenstone entirely. She needed to end her own silly worries and thoughts before the dragon could make her doubt any more than he already had. If she was ever to be rid of him, she could not let him in her mind so deeply that he could control her very dreams.

"In time." Smaug dismissed, shifting so that he could sit upright himself. This brought their faces mere inches away from one another, forcing Raelynne to distance herself.

"No, now."

Smaug narrowed his eyes in warning at her, his patience starting to wear.

"You forget your place songbird."

At this Raelynne had to laugh.

"I forget my place? How can I, when all I have to do to be reminded of my imprisonment is to open my eyes?" She seethed at him, her fatigue and desperation exceeding her commonsense. In response the dragon gave a low, awful snarl that showed off his white teeth, still sharp even in this form.

"You will hold your tongue."

"I will not!" She shouted, causing her to wince in pain as she felt her own voice start up an ache in her head. A pain started in her, sharp like a dozen needles, and forced her to remain still for a moment to recover. This confrontation was already leaving her breathless, but she kept the dragon's stern gaze as she went on calmly, "Not until you tell me everything."

By his expression, Raelynne knew Smaug would not do anything of the kind. His gaze was stern and warning her to take back her words before he made her regret them. But she would not, she let them hang in the air and refused to look away from his crimson eyes.

"Please." She whispered, hoping that she sounded pathetic enough to persuade him. He sighed then, as if she was a spoiled child.

"Very well. I shall humor you."

Raelynne's eyes widened. He agreed! She certainly was surprised, but she was not fool enough to think that the dragon was doing it out of the goodness of his heart. That would assume he had one. No, he would try and trick her, but she would listen and would come out the winner in this game. She waited eagerly for an answer as he too sat himself up. This forced Raelynne to back some to sit on her own, but she was happy to distance herself from him, though she shivered from the loss of heat. She fixed that by wrapping the blankets about her waist over her shoulders, looking like some oversized child. Smaug kept her gaze unwaveringly, beginning in a slow and methodical voice.

"Changelings were creatures from the time of this realm's creation. They have another, older name, the Sylph, elementals of air and earth. They had no form or shape, and were depicted as cloud beings by those that saw them, or at least claimed to. They embodied the extremes of nature, mercurial and intense, kind and giving to a fault." He said with a sneer, though Raelynne expected such from him and merely continued to listen intently.

"The sylphs were believed to be a supernatural race comparable to fairies or even the elves, though this is false. As I told you before, they were created by Eru himself for the intention of peace. But they were also the winged rulers of the dream world, controllers of the weather and they lived the high peaks and mountains that touched the sky."

"Which mountains?" She interrupted to ask. Since he did not know where she lived as a child, if he did not answer correctly it would be one false fact she could throw back in his face. His answer only served to frustrate her however.

"All of them, at some point or other. Even this one. They were quite numerous in those days, or so the legends tell. Could not walk a mountainside without hearing them singing, sylphs supposedly having very beautiful voices."

With this he gave her a knowing look. Raelynne had to resist sighing in frustration, and settled for turning to glance away from him. He paused for a moment before beginning again his lecture as he gazed towards the dying fire.

"Now…as my memory serves the sylphs ventured very little outside their homes. They were timid and though they sought to bring peace, as was their purpose, others very often took advantage of their compassion and magic. The sylphs held their word of honor to be inviolate, and once sworn to protect something, they would defend it to or even past their death. They rarely associated with the other races, but when they did, they usually formed bonds that lasted for lifetimes. These so called honorable traits were used against them, forcing them into bonds of servitude or promises that led to their own demise. Cruelest of all was the race of dwarves, for they tricked the sylphs into showing them where the riches of the earth were most plentiful, leaving your kind to weep to see the mountains torn apart for the sake of jewels and precious metals. But there was little they could do, for having no forms, they could not defend their homes. Besides that, the thought of shedding blood was repellant to them, and they were not even willing to create storms or flood the dwarves' mines with their abilities. At most they haunted the dreams of the dwarves, gave them jewels to keep, but that did little to persuade their greed. And the mountains became theirs."

"It was for this reason that the sylphs came down from their highlands and walked amongst the other races. If their homes were to be destroyed, ending a part of them with it, then at least they would remembered for the honor, glory and majesty that was inherent to their kind in spreading the peace Eru intended them for. So went the stories, though it seemed to be a last effort on their part just to try and survive without their homes. But walking among the humans, elves, even lowly beasts, inspired the sylphs. They wished for what the others had, shape and form, and this desire grew into a magic that was all their own. A magic to change their shapeless selves to mimic the others, to become corporeal, even if just for a few hours. This magic of theirs led to their better known name, changelings."

Smaug paused, turning back to take in Raelynne's expression. She remained straight-faced as he smirked.

"Satisfied, my songbird?"

To that, Raelynne would have to say yes. Honor bound and against blood shed? Those qualities did not belong to her. She had lied, stole, and swindled most of her life. It was a part of her trade, from cutting purses to begging on the streets. Honor in her opinion was only for the rich and stupid, as only they could afford it or be ignorant enough to not see how it cheated them. As for being against violence, well, that was also not a trait she held dear to her heart. She had been known to get into a few scraps in her short years. Hell, she just broke Alfrid's nose not a few months ago, though that rat deserved it and it felt good to be the one to give it to him. Worse still, though it had caused the greatest pain in her life besides losing her father, the moment she killed Doangeld, she felt nothing. She had beaten a man to death and she felt no guilt or qualm, knowing that she would do it again and again if the opportunity ever presented itself. How could the dragon think her a descendent of these goodly creatures when she herself was dripping in sin? She coveted jewels as well, it was what lead her to this state. Thinking of the Arkenstone, Raelynne shuddered. No, the greed and desperation coming from that jewel was too much, even for her. Her small yearnings were covetous only so much as was necessary to keep her in comfort, and paled in comparison to what that accursed stone inspired. If she could live to never see another emerald or diamond again, she would be happy.

As for the rest, it was merely dribble. Such little features were in every fairytale, and she was disappointed in the dragon for not coming up with something a bit more clever. Feeling satisfied that she would be able to fully dismiss this whole thing as one silly trick, Raelynne relaxed.

"When did the changelings teach the dragons their magic? And why?" She asked, now only wishing to see how deep the dragon could dig himself with his words. He shook his head however.

"Now, now. It is time to rest. It would not do you well to have you faint again."

Raelynne narrowed her eyes at him. In a move of stubbornness she crossed her arms over her chest. Smaug lifted an impassive brow at her.

"I shall rest, but only when you answer." She told him quite resolutely. Every little thing he mentioned and teased her with before was now going to be discussed at length. She would not rest until she could exploit every loophole he left exposed was found. Then, when all was said, she would be able to laugh in his face and tell him his game with her was done. Of course, she would not laugh out loud, as that certainly would put her at risk for something horrible. He was a dragon after all.

"Such a stubborn thing you are, pet." Smaug grunted, annoyed. Raelynne did not have time to reply to that as he went on.

"My kind and yours met on the Withered Heath, our own refuge after the end of the War of Wrath. My kind had nearly been destroyed then, though our numbers were slowly recovering in the Northern Waste we lay claim to. A few changelings came there looking for new mountains to inhabit, but they and the dragons had little to do with one another in the beginning. Our brutal and avaricious nature was quite a contrast to theirs. But your race came to admire mine in other respects, for we were both of the air and yet were between elements by commanding fire as yours the earth. And though I hold little faith in the axiom 'opposites attract', it seemed to hold true for our kinds for a time, as each had something to offer the other as an unspoken bargain was struck. Yours taught the changeling magic and mine provided protection."

"Protection? Truly?" Raelynne inquired, that word striking as eerily familiar. The thrum in her head started up again, but she did her best to ignore it. Smaug nodded.

"In a way. When the dragons began to leave with Withered Heath in search of more dwellings, we often drove dwarves from their mines, taking their treasures for our own. We did not crave out the land, merely kept and collected what had already been spoiled. Your kind was able to slowly return to their old mountains as mine expanded our territories. We lived…companionably, one might say." Here, the dragon sighed. It was a strange sound to hear from him, almost wretched, "But as time drove on, my kind was once again faced with extinction. Hunted and driven out, the dragons were slain or died off, all but for the last."

"You." Raelynne whispered.

"Yes, songbird, me."

"And I…am the last of my kind?" She swallowed, uneasy to continue now for some reason, "How do you know? I mean, how are you so certain?"

"Because the mountains and sky are empty, and have been for a very long time. They do not sing as they once had when your ancestors played and lived in them. One could always tell when a changeling was near, they had a sort of air about them. Serene, yet, wild in a way. Like a summer storm, carrying the scent of flowers and lightning."

That answer was too vague for Raelynne, and so she demanded more.

"If you had not seen one in a long time, then how did you know I am one? Or at least…half of one?"

"Your eyes." The dragon rose a hand to stop Raelynne, about to speak, from interrupting, "It is more than their unusual color. Remember when you tried to escape me?"

Here she laughed, "I would be a fool to forget. You nearly broke every bone in my body."

The dragon gave her a reproachful look, but did not bother with her statement.

"Yes, and as I had said before, I was going to kill you. But just as it so happened, something in your eyes changed."

"Changed how?"

"Your eyes, they reflected mine. More than that, your eyes became like fire, like light. Red against red. In your anger, your desperation, you mimicked the very thing you feared. A common enough defense to wild things. It was a quick, very subdued change, I almost did not see it. But I suspect it must have been your first time, and unconsciously done, so I must give credit. You were so fiery, running away from me and then daring to defy me with insolence, even when facing death."

Raelynne did not speak for a long time. She stared at the dragon, taking in his features, his smirk. He spoke his lies so easily, it was as if he believed in them. She would not be so easily tricked. He had found a way into her mind, yes, in the pitch of a fever. She had only been sick and dreamed all of it. That was his intention, to plague her with a nightmare of her father to convince she was anything but herself. She had heard stories that dragon's could worm their way into a weak mind, and hers had certainly been weak in her sickness. As for how she had gotten sick, well, it was no surprise. Starve a person of the sun and freedom and of course they will become ill. It was simply her mind weakening as her body was, and the dragon was taking advantage of that. But then, why did he wake her? If it was his purpose to trick her, why bother to save her from the nightmare he created in her mind? Why save her, with his voice so clear and strong and comforting when all else was pain and darkness? To this, she struggled to find an answer.

"I…I do not believe you." She said once she had time enough to collect her words.

"I am not lying to you, my songbird. I never have, and yet you keep on insisting. Frankly, my dear, I feel insulted." Smaug chided her, no longer taking insult against her insolence. How could he, when it was said so feebly, and by such a pathetic invilid? The blankets were no longer enough to stave off the chill that crawled over Raelynne. She began to shiver and shake, her teeth chattering. All her strength had been taken in trying to beat the dragon at his own game. Now that they were at a stalemate, the weakness from before came back a thousand times. She began to waver, but before she could recline back Smaug grabbed her. He pressed her close to his chest and she had no power to fight against his strength or the tempting heat of his body. Disgusted with herself, she trembled against him, shifting herself into a more comfortable positon.

"Hush, you will come to accept all this in time." He whispered as she closed her eyes. The dragon was doing this to her, making her weak. She wanted to call him a liar, say he would pay for every moment he made her doubt herself, made her suffer. But…he had saved her. In the sickness of her mind, he brought her out. She could not care if it was his doing or not. His voice, even now, soothed her.

"Sleep now, my songbird. Sleep."

"I'm human…I'm just human…both of you are wrong, you and…" She mumbled against him before sleep took her words.

I liked writing this chapter, as I always like writing a character that suffers madness/nightmares, whether temporary or permanent. In Raelynne's chase, who knows? And is she a changeling or isn't she? Who knows. Am I just making this up as I go along? Maybe. And I know it was an early loop to throw, but yeah, Smaug wants Raelynne as his mate. We will have time in the next chapter to explain why he does, which is a reason I believe really fits with his character and will bring even more lovely drama with it. But I hope this chapter was enough to sate you guys after so long a wait. Please let me know what you guys thought, and if you can ever find it in your little fan hearts to forgive me.

Raelynne struggles to believe that she is only human and is confused as the dragon continues to play his new, strange game with her. But Smaug's patience is coming to an end, and restraint becomes difficult…