Chapter 19: The King Beneath the Mountain
"I am Fire…I am…DEATH!"
Oh, Thorin…
A tear ran down Ariel's cheek.
What have you done?
What had he done indeed?
Four Hours Earlier:
Thorin Oakenshield was a dwarf famed not only for his might on the battlefield but also for the steadiest of hands, especially when it came down to his work in the smithies and forges.
So it was with great surprise that Bilbo watched on as the Dwarf Prince's hands shook as he carefully made to press his weight upon the rock wall in front of him.
The eight other dwarves and the hobbit behind him all waited with bated breath as with a small grunt; he pushed upon a slab of rock that swung back at once to create a large rectangular wall in the mountainside.
It was fairly large by dwarf standards, five feet high but broad enough for three to walk abreast. Its hinges were hidden, as had been the outline of the door itself, so perfect was its camouflage.
But Thorin did not care for the doorway's craftsmanship, though that in itself was astounding in its own right. No, all his eyes were focused on were the stone walls that lay just beyond the threshold.
"Erebor…" he murmured just as Balin came striding up towards him.
"Thorin I…I…" but for the first time since any of them had known him, the old dwarf could not seem to find the words to say, for his eyes were full of tears.
Not that Thorin could blame him. He himself was struggling to gulp down the unfamiliar lump in his throat and the sting in his eyes as he stepped into a long dark corridor.
"I know these walls…these halls…this stone", he whispered as he made to touch the stone alongside him.
"Do you remember it, Balin?" he turned back to the others, and Bilbo was astonished to see a small wistful smile adorn those usually grim features "Chambers filled with golden light."
"Aye…I remember" Balin did not bother to hold back the tears as he too stepped inside.
The other dwarves followed quietly, and their faces lit up in awe. Only Dwalin seemed to share the same reaction as his brother and prince. When he too felt the stone wall by his hands, it took nearly everything in his brave, fierce heart not to break down into sobs.
This place…this dark place…had been the place he had been born and raised. So rough, so old… but still so familiar…still…home…
As Bilbo finally sidled in last, Gloin's voice suddenly filled the dark void about them as he looked up to read a carving over the top of the doorway.
"Herein lies the Seventh Kingdom of Durin's folk. May the Heart of the Mountain unite all dwarves in defence of this home."
Bilbo frowned a little as he examined the carving above. It seemed to resemble a great chair or throne.
"The Throne of the king", Balin explained, taking in the Halfling's confusion which only deepened as he asked.
"And what is that?" he pointed to what appeared to be a shining star above the throne. Or was that an egg?
"The Arkenstone"
"The Arkenstone? And what's that?"
He'd never heard of anything quite like the Arkenstone before. He'd seen no mention of it even in his contract.
His musings were disrupted when Thorin stepped forwards. His composure returned to him as he gruffly murmured.
"That Master Burglar…Is why you are here."
Bilbo blinked, and quickly he looked around himself. All the nine dwarves about him looked at him with such expectancy that one would expect to find in dogs eager for a single bone.
This is it…
He gulped as his heart sank into his gut.
Come on, Bilbo Baggins
He chided himself sternly.
You've faced three trolls, goblins, orcs, a…Gollum? And not to mention you've slain giant spiders in a cursed forest and then escaped from an elvish prison in empty wine barrels. You can surely take on a sleeping dragon…
But even as he took the first step into the passageway beyond Thorin's body that blocked it, Bilbo could not help the shudder that passed through him.
No matter what, he tried to keep telling himself he could not help but wish he'd have someone walk with him, preferably someone female with red hair and wearing green.
You'd know what to do, wouldn't you?
He paused for one moment and bit his lip.
You'd be scared at first, but you'd know…
And so would you, Bilbo… He could almost hear Ariel's voice as clear as if she'd spoken beside him. Don't give up just yet…
"Bilbo", Thorin growled, but Bilbo quickly put up a hand to silence him.
"Yes, I know! Just…just give me a moment to um…"
The Dwarf Prince nodded and quickly backed away to join the rest of the dwarves as they gave their burglar some much-required peace and personal space.
He carefully reached into his coat pocket and fumbled about inside it.
He could feel the metallic surface of his ring as it slid over his skin. But for once, Bilbo wasn't interested in using it or checking it.
No his hand was gently fingering the velvet petals of a small flower tucked gently within.
He'd found it up on the mountainside just outside where the door had been. A single solitary white bud. It had bloomed probably just that very day, the only living thing that they had ever found amidst the dragon's desolation.
He stiffened as he felt the stem of the plant suddenly writhe in his pocket like a snake as it slithered up his wrist. But even as he made to jerk his hand out of his coat, he could feel the plant quiet down in its motions as it secured itself like a band about his wrist.
For a moment, he considered wrenching it off, but something stopped him.
For some reason, he could not fathom; he knew in his deepest of hearts that the plant was special, and for some reason, he had to keep it.
He took a deep breath and turned around only to see Balin standing alone with him in the passageway.
"The Lads are outside." He explained. "They figured it would be stealthier if only one of us were to show you the way in than if all of us were to come barging in."
"…alright then…let's go…"
The treasure hall of Erebor was truly a sight to behold.
To one from a distance, it would've appeared to be a great underground desert, with gigantic dunes of glittering gold and jewels as its sands and the great roof above its night sky.
Even Bilbo Baggins, who had by now seen some truly tremendous sights on his journeys, was astounded as he stepped down the comparatively tiny stone steps that led down into the almost oceanic waves of treasure.
Find one white jewel, Bilbo! Just have to find one white jewel…
There was the clinking and hissing sound beneath his feet, and the little hobbit looked down to see a multitude of solid gold coins slide away from where his furry feet were sinking into the great pile.
Easier said than done…
He gulped as he gingerly did his best to quietly tug his feet out and tiptoe over the giant mounds of treasure, unaware that something below his feet had just stirred.
Smaug, the last of the great fire drakes of the north, The King Under the Mountain, had been deep in sleep when the first tinkling of metal had hit his sensitive ears.
A mountain rat
He first thought calmly—a rat scurrying about, trying to find a way back to its hole.
But once he felt the small pitter-patter of bare feet scurry up the sides of his gargantuan ribs, his whole body stiffened.
Not even the greatest of rodents could manage to make themselves felt against the hardest of his scales.
Nor even did rats step with such large feet for their stature.
A thief…
Smaug rumbled in his head, his thoughts a whirr of rage and suspicion. However, the more his keen ears listened, his suspicions were quick to turn into curiosity.
Whoever the thief was, he was moving very stealthily. Too stealthy to be of the race of man, he noted, and too light to be the footsteps of a dwarf. He thought it could be an elf, but something about the flavour of the air about him told him otherwise.
Curiouser and curiouser…
His great reptilian lips curled in a sneer as he shifted his head from beneath the pile of gold it was under to sniff the air.
No…the smell was definitely not of an elf. It was far too earthy and rustic, but it was also far too sweet to be like a dwarf or even a man.
Ah…so the little thief has seen me…
He mused with amusement as he heard the tiniest intake of breath from somewhere close by.
A great big yellowing red eye opened, its vertical pupil shrinking and expanding as it did its best to quickly readjust to the new light.
However, when its gaze focused on the dunes of golden treasure about it… nothing was there.
His lips curled as he took a greater sniff. No, there was definitely something there, something that was definitely foreign to his senses.
"Well, thief…" he hissed into the still air of the hoard ", I smell you. I hear your breath. I feel your air…where are you? Where are you?!"
There was a sudden clinking of gold, and Smaug's sneer widened victoriously as he saw masses of coins topple down the great pile of treasure as someone's footsteps disturbed them.
Got you, little rat!
Smaug chuckled to himself as he slithered his way smoothly about the hoard. Despite his massive size, his sinewy body managed to twist itself gracefully around pillars, his red scales reflecting onto the walls and ceiling of the giant mountain, the golden sheen of the treasures that surrounded them. His movements were so slick that even the deadliest of sharks in the sea would be envious of his grace.
But more than that, they would also be terrified of his bite, for when he spoke next, he allowed his lips to part, revealing two magnificent rows of gleaming fangs, each as big and as sharp as swords.
"Come now. Don't be shy. Step into the light."
He could hear the frantic puffs of air as the tiny invisible thief trembled and shook from the pillar he was hiding against. Or trying to hide in this case.
Smaug supposed he should pity the tiny creature and put it out of his misery. But pity was not an emotion he was overly fond of feeling. And besides, he always preferred playing with his food before he ate it.
But even as he sniffed the air again, he caught a whiff of something…something familiar and yet foreign…
"Hmm…" the great dragon hummed with amusement as he slid his head around to peer into his prey's hiding place. "There is something about you. Something you carry…something made of gold. But far more precious."
There was a small grunt as if of pain, and Smaug's wicked smile widened as, out of nowhere, a man appeared.
"There you are. Thief in the Shadows"
It was an unusual man. He was about the size of a human child, but it bore the face and proportions of someone fully grown. His ears, like an elf's, were pointed and stuck out a little from under a mop of brown curls, the colour of which matched two large tufts of hair that covered its enormous, very grimy feet.
He was dressed in clothes that were much too big for him and very much tattered and darned. The only thing really of worth was in his hands, and even then, that was only one small golden ring.
Had Smaug not been so intrigued by the oddity of the being itself, he might have discarded the tiny golden band entirely. This treasure hoard had more than enough gold rings in its keeping. One more would barely make a dent in its value.
And so it was with great curiosity that he allowed the small creature before him to speak.
"I-I did not come to steal from you O Smaug, the Un-assessably Wealthy. I merely wanted to gaze upon your magnificence. To see if you really were as great as the old tales say. I did not believe them," he finished with a bleat as Smaug's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Sneaking invisible into this kingdom just to look upon a dragon? This pathetic little worm cannot lie even to save his own skin.
Smaug's hackles raised slightly. If this little critter thought that flattery would keep him alive for long, he was sorely mistaken.
But he hadn't crossed the line yet, and so Smaug decided to humour him. After all, the thief had made it this far, and it would be vulgar not to reward his efforts.
The great red dragon took malicious pleasure as he slithered his way into a wide-open expanse of treasure and drew his whole body up to its fullest of heights so that he nearly filled the space between two pillars.
"And do you now!"
He was pleased to see the little thief tremble and quake before him in genuine awe.
"Truly…the tales fall utterly short of your enormity…oh Smaug…The stupendous."
"Do you think flattery will keep you alive?" Smaug snorted, his pleasure growing as the tiny thief before he shook his head.
"No-no-"
"No indeed." Smaug steamrolled over him, his eyes narrowing into slits even as he made to lean his great head close to the small creature. He was so short that if the great dragon were to eat him, he would only give the same amount of satisfaction as eating only one half of a tiny measly potato chip.
Which to Smaug begged the question:
"You seem familiar with my name. But I don't recall ever smelling your kind before. Who are you, and where do you come from, may I ask?"
"Uh…you may indeed…" the little man nodded with a small gulp as distractedly he glanced down to the gems beneath the dragon's feet. For a split second, his gaze halted on a small spot by the dragon's claws, but before Smaug could follow his gaze, he was quickly speaking.
"I come from under the hill."
"Underhill?" Smaug tilted his head.
"Yes, and under hills, my path has led." The small creature nodded vigorously, relieved to have temporarily found a distraction for the great beast before him.
"And through the air. I am he that walks unseen. I am the clue-finder, the web-cutter, the stinging fly. I was chosen for the lucky number. I-I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them, and draws them alive again from the water. I came from the end of a bag, but no bag went over me. I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles."
"Impressive. What else do you claim to be?" Smaug admitted, his voice a mocking hiss, though the little creature before him could clearly see that the dragon was becoming rather enthralled with the riddling.
"I-I am Luckwearer…R-riddle maker…"
"Lovely titles. Go on."
"B-Barrel-rider"
"Barrels? Now that is interesting," Smaug snapped, his mind suddenly flashing from curious to seething in an instant.
Though he wouldn't admit it out loud, he was starting to rather enjoy the riddling game with his new guest. There were very few people that could keep a dragon's intrigue for so long. However, he supposed that he should've known that this little fellow wouldn't have lasted much longer. His terror was consuming him. He was slipping up. After all, it didn't take a genius to work out that last little clue.
Oh well…at least it is one less miserable rat in this world to steal from me…
Smaug's tongue slithered over his razor-sharp teeth as he sniffed the air eagerly, only for him to stiffen in surprise as an all too familiar stench hit his nostrils.
He'd know it anywhere. It had permeated these very halls for many years, even after he'd completely settled in the mountain. It was an odour that Smaug had hoped to be rid of his halls, but now it was stronger than ever as it wafted down from an unseen corridor above his head.
And so it was with great wrath that he spoke again from the shadows of the great hall.
"And what about your little Dwarf friends? Where are they hiding?"
"Dwarves?" the thief made to frown before shrugging dramatically. "No. Nope. No Dwarves here, you've got that all wrong."
"Oh, I don't think so, Barrel-Rider!" Smaug snarled, his amber eyes flashing more red than orange in the darkness in his anger and ire. "They sent you in here to do their dirty work. While they skulk about outside."
Now the little Barrel-rider truly was looking desperate even as he half bowed before the dragon.
"Truly, you are mistaken o Smaug Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities."
Smaug would have purred with satisfaction at the flattery had his anger still not been flaring up in his mind, hotter than any fire he could set loose from his mouth.
"You have nice manners for a thief…and a liar! I know the smell and taste of dwarf. No one better. It is gold. They are drawn to treasure like flies to dead flesh."
There was suddenly a flurry of movement, and Smaug turned quickly to see the little thief dash off down the heaps of gold, chasing after a glowing pale jewel with what appeared to be rainbow light dancing within and sparkling against the darkness.
The Arkenstone!
His eyes now flared red as he all but bellowed.
"Did you think I would not know this day would come?!"
He smashed his neck forcibly into a stone pillar so that the entire hall shook violently.
"That a pack of canting dwarves would come crawling back to the mountain?!"
Smaug made a great bite in the direction of the little thief who was now slipping and sliding down the dunes of gold, deeper and deeper down towards the darkest heart of the mountain.
Far from the exit…and far from help.
"Was that an earthquake?"
"No. That my lads…was a dragon."
Nine dwarves all clutched onto the platform's stones on the dark stony mountainside that they were currently sitting at.
They had been waiting there for more than two hours now. Waiting and wondering, their hearts full of fear, their backs stiff and their brows sweaty from the trepidation of their inactivity.
Of all of them, Thorin was perhaps the tensest as his gaze fixed itself upon the large gaping black chasm that separated them from the halls of a dragon guarded kingdom.
His kingdom. His gold…
The dwarf prince reminded himself as he caught sight of Ori sidle timidly up to the secret doorway just in time to see the flicker of firelight against a far wall inside.
"What about Bilbo?" the young dwarf's voice was shaking even as he looked about at them all.
But Thorin only waved him off.
"Give him more time."
"Time to do what?" Balin glowered at his prince sternly. "To be killed."
Thorin looked up at the older dwarf and was astonished to see that his usually kind, wise face was wrought with anxiety.
"You are afraid."
"Yes. I'm afraid," Balin snapped, "I fear for you. A sickness lies upon that treasure hoard. A sickness which drove your grandfather mad."
"I am not my grandfather", Thorin growled, turning away, but Balin shook his head.
"You're not yourself. The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there-"
"I will not risk this quest for the life of one small burglar", Thorin announced, his voice cold and clear even as he looked back at all his companions, a gold glint faintly glimmering for a split moment over his glazed eyes.
Balin took a step towards him, but there was no anger in his tone or stance, only genuine worry and care.
"Bilbo. His name is Bilbo. And he's not just our burglar. He's our friend. One that you promised you'd look out for no matter what. Just like you promised to go back for your nephews…for Oin and Bofur…for Ariel…"
There was a silence as the eight other dwarves all watched with bated breath as their leader's eyes suddenly darted down to his pant pocket. Carefully his fingers ghosted over it before slipping inside to finger a small piece of paper tucked away safely inside.
He had barely handled it for a day, but already it was crumpled so much that the leaf had lost its stiffness such had been Thorin's nerves of late.
Even now, as the mountain shuddered ominously, he found himself clutching to it rather than the stone wall even as he spoke.
"Very well…we shall help our friend."
So…
A pair of glowing fiery eyes narrowed down at the shelf of rock warped and distorted within the surface of the orb they scried through.
They've woken the beast…
Sauron's blackened claw-like hands curled as he watched a head of dark, grey flecked shaggy hair suddenly storm into the hole in the wall shaped like a door.
And Thorin Oakenshield wishes to play the hero…how noble. Very well then, he can try to take back his mountain home. Even if the wretched wyvern does perish, I still have everything I need in place to-.
He stopped quickly as he felt something tug in his core and looked down. Amidst the shadows, he could see the vague ghostly form of his chest. It was glowing a very vivid green.
But…how…
The Dark Lord's question was soon answered as the orb's image before him on its pedestal suddenly changed. Now he could see plainly to his eye, a young woman with red-brown hair holding onto a seedling and a sprig of some small plant as she shut her eyes and concentrated with all her might.
Okay, Ariel, you only have one shot at this. Let's make it count.
He heard her voice echo through his head.
But what if it doesn't work? What if Sauron's hold is too strong? You'll never know unless you try.
"But there's still a chance nothing will happen? And then what? Your precious little friend will die, won't he?" Sauron's voice hissed into the darkness. "You won't be able to save him…"
The charred hand over the orb suddenly clenched tight like a vice, and the dark lord sighed in pleasure as he saw the girl convulse slightly in the orb. However, for some reason, she could steady herself where she stood, eyes shut as something in her hands glowed and began to grow.
The green glow in the shadowy chest brightened, and Sauron's eyes flashed as he felt the energy within surge wildly.
The little brat. How could she resist him so much?
His snarl grew as his blackened hand tensed over the orb.
Once this young one's soul fades into shadow, he will become a prize jewel ripe for the picking. Just think about it. Durin's sons finally right where they belong under my thumb, and then the rest of the race of dwarves will follow soon after-
NO!
He could feel her righteous anger surge through him, almost mirroring his own rage in strength.
NO! You will not take him! you will not touch any of them ever again!
And how are you going to achieve that, little girl? Sauron hissed, eyes shutting as he deepened his concentration.
When you've already let me take your dear older brother.
But the girl ignored him as she continued to resist his power, her own pushing incessantly against the barrier he had placed.
Almost there…COME ON!
Wait…What are you doing?! No. NO! No-you wouldn't dare?!
Sauron hissed, but it was no use. The barrier now had too many cracks in it, and her natural energy was leaking through like water through a damaged dam. Still, he pushed on.
He could not let her win. Not this little half-human welp. He was the Dark Lord. She was his to command.
You are my servant.
He growled into the darkness.
You belong to me! AH!
His eyes snapped open like a burst of white-green energy blasted from the orb, and he quickly drew his hand away.
She actually broke the seal. She broke MY SEAL!
The Dark Lord of Mordor and Dol Guldur growled with a rough wave of his charred hand, and the orb became black and glassy once more.
I should have known better than to make that ring out of her own power.
He mused wretchedly as he turned his back on the pedestal and stalked back into the darkness. Then she had not been strong enough to remove his device. Perhaps he could still turn things around before it was too late.
The miserable wretch...
He snarled into the night.
She shall pay. They shall all pay!
To say that Smaug was furious would have been the biggest understatement of a hundred years.
Indeed fury was not even an adjective that came close to describing the true burning fire that raged hotly and jealously within both the mind and heart of the great fire drake.
Dwarves! Dwarves were in his mountain once more. And not just any dwarves, but Thorin Oakenshield himself, the heir of the Durin bloodline.
He growled low as he clawed his way through the lower levels of the great mountain kingdom.
He was currently snaking his way through great forges, though what were once blazing bustling places of industry and fire were now just cold stone lumps of metal and rock—a far cry from the glittering cavernous hall that was his hoard.
But even as the great dragon made to claw his way out of a deep dark mine shaft, a gruff voice bellowed out mockingly:
"I did not look to see you so easily outwitted."
Oakenshield!
Great reptilian eyes flashed like fire as they caught sight of a sturdy, strong dwarf with dark hair and beard and fierce dark blue eyes.
But despite the dragon's anger, Thorin Oakenshield smirked widely.
"You've grown slow and fat in your dotage…slug."
It had been so long since anyone incurred his rage.
Smaug himself barely could contain his own fiery breath as it escaped his body in a massive roar. The sound was so great that the entire mountain shook from its roots right up to the tip of the topmost rock at its peak.
The dwarves, however, did not perish in the blaze, for they were quick to scurry for cover behind the bars of great iron gates set before the bellows of the forges before them.
Do you think you can vanquish me? Do you think your little band of mountain rats could ever defeat me? Such foolery…
And so it was with great personal delight that the great dragon coiled his body tight in preparation.
Then suddenly, he lunged. There was a great grinding of metal, and the dwarves all yelled in terror as they looked up and saw the gigantic metal barred gates behind them bend like tinfoil.
That's right, little rats, run and scurry back to your holes!
Smaug chuckled as, after a couple more heavy thuds, he managed to bend back the gates with one of his claws.
Thanks to his flames, the forges had been lit, but that was of no concern to him.
No…
Smaug had set his eyes upon another prize.
Smaug's lips curled upwards in a sneer as he beheld the small figure of the little thief that had awoken him.
The tiny creature was now trying his best to jump up to reach a lever set about two heads above his own small curly head of hair.
Hmmm…how pathetic…
Smaug chuckled wickedly, the deep sound reverberating off the stone walls as he advanced on his prey, which looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes as he opened his mouth, the flames in his throat glowing so bright they were almost white in colour.
"BILBO! NOO!" Thorin yelled, his face full of horror as he saw the Halfling disappear into a massive jet of flame.
There were many cries of horror and despair as all the other eight dwarves rushed out from their various positions to see the fate of their friend.
No…Bilbo could not be gone…not their burglar…not their friend.
They were so shocked that none of them even noticed as Thorin rushed forwards towards the monster before them, letting loose a loud war cry as he charged.
But Smaug barely paid him any attention and continued to breathe his hot flame, which streamed out of his massive reptilian jaws as fluidly as any river.
He knew better than any of the dwarves below that he needn't have held his fire for so long. However, he just couldn't resist the pleasure of hearing their cries of despair as he tortured their friend's corpse.
…or was it dead.
As he shut his mouth, Smaug sniffed through his nostrils and stiffened.
Something was not right. The air about him and his prey were still warm from the fiery forges, but there was still that earthy smell coming from the place where the little Halfling had been standing by the lever.
But how…
Thorin stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of the drake's vertical pupils contracting to tiny pinpricks of shock as the smoke cleared from his flame's point of contact.
There, just winking out from the dark clouds and plumes, something was glowing.
"Well, bless my beard" Dwalin's voice was breathless with shock.
Not that anyone could blame him.
High above their heads on a small stone platform, Bilbo Baggins stood at the foot of a large wooden lever surrounded by a dome of writhing vines.
For the first time that evening, everything seemed to stop dead in its tracks. Even Smaug was still. His gaze transfixed upon the hobbit who was blinking hard as he looked about himself in confusion.
I'm…I'm alive? But I could've sworn I was surrounded by-
But even as he made to look himself over, Bilbo gasped.
For the white flower that had entwined itself on his wrist was now glowing a bright green.
Smaug was neither one of the oldest nor one of the most powerful of his kind to have lived, but he had existed and thrived long enough in Middle Earth to know many of its secrets.
Many were as extraordinary and as bewitching as the next. And if one were to test his mind, they would be hard put to find a great lore-master to challenge him in a battle of wits.
And yet, for all his great expanse of knowledge, he could find nothing to explain how the small Halfling thief before him was still standing after being blasted by his most powerful flames.
Did it survive?
The great dragon's pupils turned into vertical slits of fury as he looked upon the shocking form of Bilbo Baggins, standing all on his own before a great lever.
The thieving rat survived?! But how-
Smaug's eyes narrowed as he craned his great neck forwards so that he could sniff the air about the small, now trembling hobbit.
It was subtle but very distinct…the smell of something fresh. It smelt like fresh green grass with a hint of musky rose and the faintest trace of rain and earth. And yet, there was something more. Smaug could almost feel a pulsing surge of energy emitting from the thief.
But he had not displayed any real aura of power before. True, his gift for stealth was remarkable in its own right…but this was a different kind of power at work…a greater power…
But even as Smaug leaned forwards to snarl at the small thief, he noticed the green glowing band about his outstretched wrist as he tried to shield his body.
Great reptilian lips curled. Hackles rose, nostrils flared, and Bilbo's face paled.
"Sorcery?!"
The word came out as a mighty bellowing roar that was so loud that the entire mountain shook and trembled.
Thorin and the dwarves with him all cried out as they did their best to stand steady, all of them gripping onto the stone walls behind them hard as the great dragon lunged for a petrified-
"BILBO!" Thorin yelled, and Bilbo ducked down quickly as a pair of large razor-toothed jaws snapped ferociously at him.
However, they didn't touch a hair on him for in a split second decision; Bilbo had jumped up and pulled down the great wooden lever with all his might.
At once, great jets of water streamed down from on high, from great tunnels and channels carved into the mountain walls.
Smaug's roar, along with the glowing dragon fire he'd been about to unleash once more, was swallowed up as tons upon tons of water was plummeted down over his body, drenching him, forcing him back, bowling him over.
And so Bilbo Baggins came to realise that no matter how powerful any dragon was, it was still no match for nature's forces.
Maybe they had a chance after all.
The great banks about the wide lake of Esgaroth were bare of much life. Barely anyone lived on those lands save a few farmers' families, and even they were but small in number.
Therefore late that night, no one was there to notice the shadows of the dark horse and its rider as they skid to a halt at the edge of the waters.
"Shh…" a man's voice hissed soothingly down to the beast beneath him. It was nickered softly and stomped its hooves in discomfort at the sight of the great body of water, in which great ripples were spreading across.
With another soft hush to his nervous steed, the man dismounted quickly, his boots making no sound even against the sands.
Now that he was on the ground, he could almost hear the trembles of the earth itself beneath him.
"not good" Celegon's eyes narrowed as he looked up towards the great mountain looming ominously high above the lake.
Though it was a great distance away, he could see the small flickers of golden light flash and burn brightly from a distant dark hole.
"Not good at all."
Please Eru…
He sighed heavily, his eyes darting towards the small distant shadow on the surface of the lake.
Where ever she is…Please let her be safe…
When poor Bilbo Baggins had been a much younger hobbit, he had always wanted to go off exploring the world and going on grand adventures. He had often gone wandering on his own in the woods with his young cousins, brandishing a wooden stick before him as he approached a small rabbit hole as if he was some great hero going to confront a terrorising beast in its lair.
If only I were back in such peaceful times
The now older hobbit was wishing in his mind with all his heart as he ran helter-skelter into a large grand hallway. It was taller than two cathedrals and was adorned in large great tapestries hanging from the vaulted ceilings.
However, even as Bilbo made to scurry, there was a roar from above.
He quickly looked up, and his shriek was instantly swallowed up as great chunks of the stone walls and roof above him were smashed away from a gigantic scaly body.
"So…thief… You think that a little trinket like that will thwart me! ME!" Smaug's roar echoed loudly about the hall so that the hobbit clapped his hands over his ears from under the tapestry he that had fallen on him.
His entire body shook as he dared to take a small peak from his hiding spot only to see the gleaming fiery eyes of the dragon flashing in the darkness.
Bilbo gulped as he sprang to his feet and made to dash away towards a nearby pillar only to trip over rubble on the floor.
At once, Smaug's sharp eyes caught sight of him, and within moments he stuck his long neck forwards, his mouth opening to reveal flames igniting in the back of his throat.
He would get him this time. The little rat would burn and disintegrate into nothingness.
This is it…I'm done for…this is the end of me…
Bilbo shut his streaming terrified eyes as hot flames burst forwards towards him.
However, like before, the green vine band over his wrist glowed a bright green, and at once, a dome of green energy swirled about him.
There was a great smash, and in a flash of brilliant light, the magic dome forced Smaug's entire body back. The impact was so powerful that the entire great mountain city rang like a great gong had sounded through it, followed by a great rush of whispering winds.
The Lord of Silver Fountains,
The King of Carven Stone,
The King Beneath the Mountain,
Shall come into his own.
And the bells shall ring in gladness, at the Mountain King's return,
But all shall fail in sadness, and the Lake will shine and burn
Smaug reeled back, roaring with anger, but even with all the cacophony around him, Bilbo could still discern, as if they were distant echoes, words hissing through the air.
The great beast will awaken,
All will fall to despair,
His fury great and terrible,
And none shall be spared.
But still, there is hope.
A green maiden may be found.
Then Durin's curse will be lifted,
And the true King shall be recrowned.
"A green maiden?" Bilbo breathed, his eyes widening as the words faded into the nothingness of the air. "A green maiden…Ariel!?"
But even as the name passed his lips, it bounced off the stone walls.
Ariel…
Ariel…
Ariel…
Smaug's head snapped up at once from where he was recovering.
Oh no!
Bilbo clapped a hand over his mouth as great reptilian lips curled into a sneer. He could almost see the gears turning in that cunning mind, and his heart was dropping faster than a stone in a pond.
Oh no-Oh no-Oh no!
"Ariel…" Smaug purred, his snake-like tongue smoothly sliding over the syllables.
"Now that is a pretty name…for a maiden. Tell me, Barrel Rider, is she the one who gave you that trinket? If so, then where is she to protect you now?"
"She's far away!" Bilbo squeaked as he grabbed the hilt of his sword. "She's far, far away! Long gone! In fact, I haven't seen her for months! I doubt you'll ever find-"
"Liar!" Smaug snarled with malicious pleasure as he advanced towards the small hobbit, who was still surrounded by the green light.
"You think you can deceive me?! I can smell her scent off you as clearly as I do your foul little friends. And I know you have all come from Lake-Town. This is some sordid scheme between these filthy Dwarves and those miserable tub-trading Lakemen. Those snivelling cowards, with their longbows and their black arrows. And now they seek to challenge me with a sorceress on their side?!"
Bilbo's eyes widened as great clawed wings clenched against the cold ground like large blades grinding against steel.
"Well then…" the great dragon smirked wickedly even as he made to watch the little Halfling squirm deliciously before him. "Since your precious maiden came all this way, perhaps I should pay her a little visit."
"NO!" Bilbo cried out, horror flooding through him as the dragon bent low to the ground and began to stalk towards a great open doorway that led out into the open air outside the mountain.
But even as Smaug made to stretch the tip of his nostrils under the arch, a gruff voice called loudly.
"HERE! You witless worm!"
"You", Smaug growled, his hackles rising as he turned.
There standing on top of a great metal cast, was Thorin Oakenshield.
His face was grimy with sweat and soot, but his deep blue eyes blazed with just as much fire as the dragon's own flame-coloured irises.
"I am taking back what you stole", he spat, only for Smaug to sneer.
"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"
"This is not your kingdom." Thorin declared, not even flinching as the great beast made to slither up towards where he stood. "These are Dwarf lands. This is Dwarf gold. And we will have our revenge. [Release the chains!]"
And as the last words of Khuzdul were roared, several gigantic metal chains tugged off the metal structure the Dwarf prince stood.
Smaug jerked his head back as the large pieces fell, his eyes widening as their contents were revealed.
Bilbo gasped from behind his pillar.
It was a statue, at least several stories high. Just as high as Smaug, who had strangely become captivated by the sheen of the bright smooth gold, etched into the form of a great dwarven king…the visage of King Thror…
Any second now…
Thorin grunted as he held on tight to the great chain he now dangled from. But for once, the dragon did not pay heed to his struggles.
It was too entranced by the gold before it…that is until it began to shift.
Bilbo jumped in alarm as a bubble burst, spraying liquid gold all over the dragon's face. It wasn't the only one.
Smaug roared in furious confusion as several more bubbles appeared on the surface of the non-tempered gold, splattering onto his scales even as he made to back away.
He wasn't quick enough.
Smaug's roars echoed loudly as he thrashed and writhed, but nothing he could do could stop the golden tide from swallowing him up.
The dwarves all cheered as, like water spewing from a broken dam, the liquid gold crashed down onto the beast before them, waves of the gold lapping at the sides of the hall.
Bilbo did his best to step back from the splatters, even trying to climb onto a pillar to stop the hot metal from searing the hair off his large feet.
They did it…
He held his breath as he watched in amazement the fluid floor begin to settle, the ripples dying down to stillness.
They slew him…we did it…
But even as a smile graced the Hobbit's face, there was a great screech.
"REVENGE!"
No…NO!
Thorin's face paled in horror as in a spout of flames, and a golden dragon burst upwards more violently than any volcanic eruption, his voice louder than any thunderstorm the gods themselves could invent.
"REVENGE?! I WILL SHOW YOU REVENGE!"
Bells were ringing; people were screaming and squeaking. Children were crying even as parents made to usher them into whatever boats they had.
This was the sight that met Ariel when she looked out of a window.
Something warm clasped about her hand, and she turned to see the small form of Bard's youngest daughter Tilda, looking up at her with terror even as she clutched her doll tight.
"They woke him up…" she mumbled softly, tears beginning to stream down her face, "and now we're going to-to…"
Ariel almost felt her heart tear in two and didn't even bother restraining herself as she bent down to scoop the little girl into her arms.
"shh… it's ok, Tilda… It's ok…we're going to be alright…you'll see," she whispered into the soft brown curls. But even as she looked up to the others (Tauriel, Oin, Bofur, Fili, Kili, Sigrid and Bain), her own tears began to fall.
The company had failed…Smaug was awakened, and the dwarves had incurred his wrath…nothing could stop him now.
Then suddenly, there was a clunk, and they all turned sharply to see the front door open.
Ariel and Tauriel both quickly made to grab their weapons on their persons, only to pause as the tall form of Legolas strode inside, his face grim.
"The dragon is nearly upon us. You must all leave now. Take only what you need and nothing more."
"We're not leaving! Not without our father," Bain cried out stubbornly, even though everyone else was quick to snap into action at once.
"If you stay here, your sisters will die," Tauriel said firmly to the boy. "Is that what your father would want?"
Bain shut his mouth though he looked mutinous, not that Ariel could blame him. She would be feeling the same way in his shoes.
She quickly grabbed a shawl from beside her and wrapped it around Tilda, who was still clinging onto her tightly even as she made to help Sigrid, who was already doing her best to quickly grab her father's camping bag and stuff it with supplies.
"I'm fine, Fee. I can stand on my own", she heard Kili snap as Fili tried to help him up.
But even as the elder brother made to open his mouth to retort, a rumble sounded in the distance…the rumble not of thunder…but of a beast.
"Quickly!" Legolas hissed as he ushered them all out down the back of the house, where the family had tied up a small boat.
They all quickly filed in one after the other, all squashing themselves like sardines in a pack just as something dark whooshed over them from above.
"So…" a voice purred into the night. "This is where you've been hiding all this time… Sorceress."
Ariel felt her blood chill in her veins.
"What did he just say?" Oin breathed beside her, his ear trumpet shaking in his trembling hand.
"Shhh", Tauriel put a finger to her lips before signalling to Bain and Bofur, who both had the oars in their hands.
Quietly they both nodded and began to paddle quickly but silently down a watery alley.
"Keep your heads down", Fili whispered, his hand grasping tight at Ariel's as the boat glided over the icy waters.
There was silence in the crowded boat as the dragon's shadow passed over once again.
"Fili I…" Ariel whispered as Fili took her hand gently in his, his blue eyes fearful but determined.
"It's going to be alright", he muttered.
But even as he said this, there was a great roar, and suddenly the waterway before them glowed bright gold.
People screamed as the dragon came over them, a bright jet of fire spewing from his mouth like water from a hose.
But Smaug did not care. Indeed, he relished in the sounds of terror.
Happy though he had been to sit and sleep in his hoard of gold and treasure, he could not deny that he had missed the thrill that came from laying ruin to his enemies.
Even now, as he flew over the burning city, he let loose a roar, delighting in the way building foundations shook and cracked.
Ah, the scent of fear…
He sniffed the air as a purr rumbled in his throat.
Below him, the water of the lake glimmered red as it reflected his shining scales. This, in turn, illuminated all the little boats the people were frantically scrambling in for escape.
He sniffed the air doing his best to ignore the delicious scent of burning flesh and wood as it wafted into his nostrils.
No…he'd have time to hunt all the remaining surviving rats later…he had much more important matters to deal with now.
His eyes narrowed as he searched through the frantic crowds with his sharp amber eyes.
She was close. He could smell that fresh scent now, the same one that Halfling bore on him. that scent of rain, grass and earth. She was somewhere on the water.
"I know you're down there, Green Witch!" he snarled, his voice echoing even over the din of the pandemonium below him. "I can smell you…as well as your miserable little dwarf friends."
But even as he made to open his mouth to breathe fire, something twanged, and in the corner of the dragon's eye, he saw a small dark rod shoot. It hit him on the side of his body, glancing off pitifully from his scales.
Even so, Smaug was intrigued as he turned his head.
There standing at the top of the rather precariously leaning bell tower, was a grim-faced man with a bow and arrow in his hands.
Ariel couldn't breathe.
Fire.
Fire everywhere.
Burning heat.
Smoke choking her.
A dark shadow flying over her.
Just like how it always did in her nightmares. But this was no nightmare. This was real, and she could feel the heat, smell the death.
Tears streamed down her face as a burning red eye flashed over her mind, burning itself there like a brand on skin.
She barely registered the presence of Fili, who was holding tight onto her and whispering soft reassurances in her hair.
Then there was a yell.
"DA!"
Ariel's head snapped up. The shout had come from Tilda, who was currently looking wide-eyed up at something high above them.
Ariel followed her gaze and her heart still in her chest.
Bard was standing at the top of the great bell tower, his grim face set in determination as he fitted an arrow to a great longbow, just as Smaug came swooping down.
There was a sharp twang, and the arrow whooshed through the air hitting the dragon's scaly underbelly.
"He hit it!" Kili yelled as his eyes tracked the shot. "He hit it. He hit the dragon!"
But Tauriel's eyes narrowed.
"No…that's not possible", she breathed, looking at Legolas, who was squinting hard as Bard fired another shot.
"He did hit the mark", the elf prince's eyes narrowed ", but he won't pierce the beasts hide with just an arrow."
"What can he do then?" Sigrid bit her trembling lip as she held on tight to her sister.
Her brother, on the other hand, suddenly gasped.
"lad…" Oin growled as he took in the look of dawning comprehension on the boy's face.
Kili saw it too and quickly made to dive for the boy.
However, even with his reflexes, he was too late, and Bain had jumped off the boat and onto an unburnt wooden walkway.
"BAIN!" both his sisters yelled, though not as loud as Ariel did.
"BAIN STOP!"
"ARIEL!" Fili called. He reached out to grab the hem of her girl's brown coat, only to have many hands jerk him back as a burning beam fell before him and into the icy waters of the lake.
But Ariel did not hear him. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she ran helter-skelter after the boy before her.
What was he thinking?! Why was he running back to the flames?! What could draw him back to such-
There was a great rumbling roar, and Ariel shrieked as fire burst out to engulf her.
Without even thinking, she thrust her arms out before her to shield her face…only for nothing to hit her.
She opened her eyes and gasped.
There right before her eyes was a shimmering dome of light. It was brighter than a beam of sunlight, brighter than even the hot flames that danced about her as she stood on the wooden bridge.
But it wasn't the beautiful shield that held her full shock and attention.
No.
It was the snarling red dragon outside of it.
Okay so phew! that was a marathon and a half. and I should know a thing or two about Marathons because I just saw a Lord of the Rings Marathon in the cinema a couple of days ago. Even though it was only theatrical versions my eyes needed a couple of days of rest afterwards before I could upload these remastered chapters.
Anyways hope you guys enjoyed these four chapters. Hopefully, more will get remastered and uploaded soon. In the meantime please review your thoughts and fave if you enjoyed it.
Happy Easter for those who celebrate the holiday, or Happy Long Weekend for those happy for a break.
Your Author,
FuzzyBeta 3