I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING MY GIRLS AND THE WAY THEY FIT INTO THE MOVIES AND ALL THAT JAZZ! PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW YOU LIKE IT AND LET'S GET GOING, SHALL WE?

GOD BLESS AND GOOD DAY!

~THE LUPINE SOJOURNER

(A)

"I did not look to see you so easily outwitted!" Thorin calls. Smaug roars in response.

"You must be ashamed, Smaug. Lowly Dwarves duped the so-called Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities. Guess you are not all they claim you are!" Smaug comes into view then, coming up slowly, clawing the sides on the mine and heaving himself up.

"You have grown slow, and fat, in your dotage, slug!" Thorin adds. Once we see Smaug's eyes ignite in outrage, we whirl. "Take cover. Go!" Thorin calls, ducking behind a pillar. I turn to my side against a pillar just in the nick of time as a wave of flames sweeps toward us. All is heat and blinding light for a moment and just when I think I will catch on fire and die, it's over. I wait with bated breath to see if it worked. If not...we're doomed. Suddenly, just as we were about to give up, flames roar to life in the bowels of the furnaces and roar upward. I will never forget the sight as long as I live. The mighty and legendary Forges of the Dwarves are roaring with life once more.

"Ha! Our insane plan worked, Uncle!" I cheer and, again, am struck with the desire for the company of those in Laketown, but that's wiped away as Smaug rams into the pillars we'd hid behind and we all run away and into the forge room. Thorn strides with confidence and surety.

"Bombur, get those bellows working!" He orders, then whirls as Smaug keeps ramming the gates. He'll be inside in no time... "Bilbo! Aili!" Uncle calls. Bilbo nods. "Up there." He says, pointing to a lever on a platform on top of a staircase. "On my mark, pull that lever." We nod and sprint off. I know why Uncle bade me go with Bilbo. Bilbo needs protection and someone to have his back. I am also the only one that didn't know the layout of this place or any other useful tidbit that plays into his plan. Just as Bilbo and I reach the lever, Smaug breaks through and comes storming into the forge, all fury and menace, growling low in his throat, his inner fire nigh on bursting out. He storms toward Bilbo and I without apparently seeing us, until he catches Thorin out of the corner of his eye. His massive head swings around and he growls, eyes narrowing in the promise of fiery revenge. Smaug then turns and stalks toward Uncle. "NOW!" Thorin roars. Bilbo and I shake ourselves and leap up, grabbing the lever and yanking it down.

This unleashes a massive wave of water from the statues lining the wall holding the lever. It slams into Smaug, extinguishing the fire in his mouth seconds before Thorin would have been consumed. He slams into the forges twice before flapping up and veering drunkenly about, roaring in fury. With Bombur at the bellows, the furnaces are not extinguished in the deluge, which trickles off and starts water wheels that power the carts on thick steel wires above us. Smaug comes back and comes toward Thorin again. Just then, there is a flash of blue fire. And again.

Suppose that's what a flash-flame is. Balin was to make them. I now remember Thorin asking Balin if he still knew how. It doesn't go anything but annoy Smaug, however. It may as well be a bee sting. Above us, Bifur and Gloin slice through a wire of carts and that only makes Smaug stumble as the carts of ore slam to him. He doesn't stop for more than a few seconds. As Smaug struggles to get the wire off him, I realize why Thorin made all this apparently wasted effort to hurt Smaug; it was all about letting the gold heat up. Thorin pulls the chain to release the molten metal.

We're going to scald Smaug to death with molten gold. Somehow.

=#=#=#=#=

(M)

After all was said and done, and Fili and I had reentered the house, we help Sigrid whip up a little something to eat. We then swiftly scarfed it down before busying ourselves with gathering our things for tomorrow. Oin and Bofur were already smoking and deep in conversation on the ground before the fireplace. I chuckle fondly at them before making sure the dishes were done. That done, I sigh and suddenly Fili is hugging me from behind, muzzling my neck on tip-toes. I only resist for a moment before sinking in to the embrace.

"I love you, Mithra Earthstrider." I chuckle.

"I love you, too, Fili Durin." I reply, chuckling. "Amazing how easy it is to say."

"It is when you know it is true." He replies. I then blush.

"Fili...the children. And the others."

"Are in the other room." He replies softly, nuzzling me again. I can't hold in a giggle.

"Still."

"We can be quiet." I flush and break away.

"Behave yourself, sir!" I hiss playfully. "Honestly, I would think you are a tween-ager, the way you're acting." I tease. he bats his eyelashes at me.

"Only cus I'm in love." I roll my eyes and leave to check on the kids after pecking Fili on the cheek. I find Tilda sitting on her bed, looking at one of the few books in the house. When I enter, she looks up and grins.

"You like that Dwarf, right?" She chirps. I flush. It's now clear she was eaves-dropping. Oh, Mahal.

"Tilda, sweetie...no eaves-dropping! I feel certain your father told you so. But...yes. I...yes, I do. Now, want me to read?" She squeals and all but throws the book at me in her enthusiasm. I sit with her on the bed, one arm around her shoulders, drawing the covers about us. The book was a cheering tale of Dale when it was not a ruin. it describes one child's pursuit of a wayward ball, the adventure leading all around town somehow. I peck Tilda's forehead when I am done and she snuggles under the covers, yawning. I chuckle fondly, smoothing a little of her hair away before leaving, blowing out the candle. I turn to find Sigrid and Fili in the doorway. Sigrid is in her nighttime smock and Fili has taken off the outer layers, leaving only a cotton shirt and trousers. I have to resist the temptation to kiss him.

"I was just about to read to her myself. You needn't have bothered." Sigrid tells me once I've closed the door.

"It's no trouble. You should get some sleep." I tell her. "You and your brother." She nods, shuffling off. I sigh. Fili then smiles.

"Where were we?" He whispers. I blush. This was a bit much yet, really...

"Fili, we need to get some rest. We all do." I say, raising my voice a tad on that last sentence. The Dwarves don't pay me any mind. I roll my eyes.

Typical Dwarves.

=#=#=#=#=

(A)

Smaug rears up suddenly and tears through the cord supporting the Dwarves. I pale, but relax when they roll out of the carts as Smaug stumbles and trips, slamming into the ground.

"Lead him...Gallery of..." Is all I catch as Thorin gives orders before running and grabbing a wheelbarrow. He then pilots it toward the stream of gold. I frown. What on Earth was Thorin's plan? Regardless, Smaug sends a cart whirling directly above Bilbo and my head, and I duck, grabbing Bilbo, as well. Then, as he continues to struggle, something hits the base of our ledge and it starts to fall. I pale and can't help a scream, still gripping Bilbo's shirt. I toss Bilbo off at a safe enough point and then leap off myself. I saw everyone heading in the same direction, more or less, as Thorin, taking a left turn to do so, so I pull Bilbo up and start running.

"Keep going, you two! Run!" Uncle calls as Smaug roars toward us. We sprint and half-roll, half-tumble down a smooth slanted exitway. We keep running and find ourselves in a gigantic open area that had multiple statues lining it. I scan it briefly, even as I keep running, and wonder what to do next.

The question is answered for me as Smaug comes bursting through the wall behind and above us. I cringe, pulling Bilbo down as a tapestry that must have been beautiful comes falling over us, shielding us from detection, inches from the pole.

"You think you can deceive me, Barrel-Rider?!" Smaug roars and Bilbo lifts the tapestry an inch. I cock a brow at the title. Had Bilbo given himself that title, or had Smaug? Regardless, Bilbo's pale and shaky. I put an arm stealthily over him to reassure the Hobbit as Smaug scans the room for us. "You have come from Laketown!"Smaug goes on. "This...is some sordid scheme hatched between these filthy Dwarves and those miserable tub-trading Lakemen." I pale. Oh, no. He's realizing the best way to hurt us. The best way to exact revenge; killing those associated with us, for no other reason than vengeance and fury. I gulp, drawing Bilbo tighter to me. "Those filthy cowards, with their long bows and Black Arrows!" Smaug growls, surveying the area carefully for any sign of living things. "Perhaps it is time I paid them a visit." I gasp as softly as I can. No! No, no, no! Bilbo and I tear out of the tapestry in unison.

"This isn't their fault!" Bilbo growls.

"We're acting on our own! They had nothing to do with this, I swear!" I add, trying not to let my fear get the better of me.

"Wait!" We cry. "You cannot go to Lake-town!" Bilbo snaps.

"This is our own quest, separate from them. Leave them be!" I add. Smaug freezes, pondering.

"...You care about them, the two of you. Don't you?" He muses wickedly. I gasp. We'd just doomed them. Oh, Mahal help us! Bilbo and I charge forward defiantly as Smaug pivots to face us.

"No, but they are innocent of this. Leave them alone." I reply, sounding far braver than I really felt. I take Bilbo's hand and we bolster each other's courage.

"Good. Then you can watch them die." I swallow, paling and freezing up. Oh, Durin, NO! Smaug begins leaving and we're powerless to stop him. There's nothing we can do.

We failed. Bofur, my brothers, Oin...Mithra...they're all- -

"Here!" Uncle roars. I whirl, a glimmer of hope flaring. I spot Uncle on top of some kind of mold, I think. Smaug pauses. "You witless worm!" He adds and Smaug tenses.

"You." Smaug growls.

"I am taking back what you stole!" Thorin calls confidently. I smirk, somehow. Maybe...maybe this would work, after all. I now see what Thorin means to do; he means to let the gold out of the mold, where it will pour out and Smaug would succumb to the heat and weight of the molten metal. Maybe...maybe it will be enough. I pray it will be as Bilbo and I come to the other half, where Thorin stands, facing Smaug with no trace of fear.

"You will take nothing from me, Dwarf. I laid low your warriors of old. I instilled terror in the hearts of Men! I am King Under the Mountain!" Smaug roars, rearing up to come to eye level with Uncle, who doesn't back down. Bilbo pats my shoulder comfortingly and I just now realize that I had been chewing my nails in a fit of panic. I put my hand down, subtly spitting out the bits in my mouth.

"This is not your kingdom!" Thorin replies, nonplussed. "These are Dwarf lands. This is Dwarf gold. And we will have our revenge!" I cock a- -oh, Mahal, we gotta move! Thorin shouts a command in Khuzdul while pulling a rope and a chain. I pull Bilbo away to a safe distance as the mold clatters to the floor, leaving Thorin hanging in mid-air, clinging to a chain. All is silent for several moments, tense and heavy, as we wait for the plan to work or fail. I have to admit...it's a shame we have to ruin this statue. It's amazing!

Then, just as the silence nears ten seconds long, the statue's eye bursts out in a stream of melted, boiling gold. From there, the statue burst it's pattern and came crashing down.

"Bilbo, watch out!" I call, but needn't have worried. This half is high enough to avoid the gold. Smaug stumbles back, reeling in shock. We all hold our breath again as we wait to see if that had taken care of our nemisis. I gulp, praying to Mahal that we wouldn't see Smaug again, that he would be sealed forever beneath the golden floor.

However, luck was not on our side as Smaug burst furth in a rage, gold flying everywhere as he stumbled blindly toward the exit.

"Revenge?!" He roars. "Revenge?! I will show you revenge! He screams, shaking bits of gold all over the walls as he storms on to the gate. I pale. Oh, Durin protect that town! Somehow, please!

=#=#=#=#=

(M)

I hum to myself as I gather up blankets. Apparently, I am that kind of girl, now that I am...courting someone. Oh, Valar, this is so new and so amazing! I hand them out, almost wanting to skip, but restraining myself. Fili grins and winks at me when I hand him his. I roll my eyes and move to put a few over Kili, who had been moved to the one cushioned armchair in the house, and he was asleep. I sigh, remembering how much pain this poor Dwarf endured. I gently move hair from his face. It's drenched in sweat, but his forehead no longer burns. I breath a sigh of relief.

"It scares me to think how close we came to losing him." Fili whispers, gazing with fondness and love at his little brother. Kili's face is peaceful, if not still slightly pained every once in a while.

"It scared me, too. I know how this feels, watching someone you love succumb to sickness." I reply. Fili takes my hand. I gulp. "My...my mother. She caught the Blue Mountain Virus. We were too far from any village to get help. She died...right in front of me." Fili takes me into his arms.

"Oh, Mia...I...I am so sorry. That...that's awful. I hope your mother is at peace at last, though." I nod, wiping my misty eyes.

"I do, too. I suppose we'll know when we go to Valhalla, though." Fili nods, releasing me and taking my hands again, our fingers interlacing in mutual comfort.

'Indeed."

Just then, a horrible quake rattles the house and we all freeze. There's something...ominous about this one. I scurry to the porch and view the mountain. I see red and orange light and pale. Oh, Mahal.

"Valar...no." I whimper.

"Amralime?" He asks. "What is i- -oh, no..." He trails off, catching sight of the mountain. We then hurry into the house, exchanging a glance. Everyone is gathered in the main area, all seeming to have some idea of what this means.

"Smaug is coming." I tell them grimly. "We need to leave."

=#=#=#=#=

(A)

"NNNOOOO!" I scream, racing after him, halting as Smaug smashes through the gate before taking off again. "No, no, no!" It's hopeless, but I keep running. Suddenly, Dwalin is grabbing my waist, hoisting me just high enough that my feet don't touch the ground. "Let me go!" I roar, wriggling. "Dwalin, please! LET GO!"

"Nay, lass!" He hisses. "Be still!" I buck and struggle as Smaug wriggles in mid-air to rid himself of the gold on his body. "Whether the poor souls live or die is in their hands now, Aili." Dwalin tells me. "There's naught we can do for them now." Finally, as if something struck a chord deep in me, I was still. I went slack, hopelessness and despair clenching my heart and oppressing my very soul, causing an agony unknown. I gulp, tears spilling out.

"Th-they're gone." I sob. "Smaug...we failed..." I whimper, burying my face in Dwalin's shirt, regardless of the fact that he was the least touchy-feely of all the Dwarves. I didn't care.

Smaug will kill everyone. Smaug will kill my brothers, my One, my friends, and the whole of Laketown. And I could do nothing about it.

Bilbo sums up the situation adequately with these words: "What have we done?"

...

THE.

END. WOW. I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK JUST AS MUCH! SEE YOU ALL THERE!