The company was on their way to Erebor with the boat they were given from the Master of Lake-town. Everyone was in silence and there was no one who told jokes, or tried to keep the spirit up there was a reason for that. The trip to Erebor was not too long, and the dwarves pushed the boat up to land and begun to walk their way to the Lonely Mountain. To the hidden door, which the last light from the Durin's day will shine upon, and show the keyhole. The company was climbing up by the hidden stairs, stairs after stairs, and following the small broken path, which leads them to the area where the hidden door is. It took them almost the whole day only to get up to the hidden door, and their time was running out.

"This most be it, the hidden door," Thorin said with a smile on his face and watched the wall. "Let all those who doubted us, rue this day!" Thorin smiled, and hold the key in his hand the company of dwarves begun to cheer. Dwalin walked up next to Thorin and begun to search the door for the Keyhole. Thorin looked at the sun, which was going down the hill behind them. "The last light on Durin's day will shine upon the keyhole." Said Thorin and then turned his attention to the hidden door.

The sun was slowly going down the hill, and Dwalin still haven't found the keyhole, Thorin looked at Nori and he began to help to search for it, by knocking on the wall and quietly listen to found it. The time ran away and the two did not find the keyhole from the wall. "Break it down!" Thorin yelled, while Dwalin begun to hack through the door with an axe. But it was no use the door is sealed with a magic spell.

"It's no use, the door is sealed by powerful magic." Said Balin aloud and turned his eyes to Thorin. "It won't open by force." He added, and Thorin got an idéa when the old dwarf mentions "magic". He turned to Valerie, "Valerie, I believe that you can break the spell upon it." He smiled and walked up to her, who sat on a rock and turned her attention up to him. "I can't promise you it will work, but I can give it a try," Valerie said, and she walked up to the stone wall and reached her hands out, and placed them on the hidden door. She focused and closed her eyes, as the company could see a thin layer of coating which is located upon the hidden door. They could see it cracking when Valerie concentrated her magic to break the sealing. Underneath her palms, it began to spark. A loud cracking sound was coming from the shield of the wall. "Valerie get away from the door!" Thorin cried out, and all their eyes went wide, when none of them expected that the magic is too powerful.

A bright light appeared from the door, and it knocked out Valerie like an electric shock and send her flying backward. The shock wave had made everyone fall to the ground, and lose their balance. When the light and the tinnitus had slowly disappeared the dwarves, the knight, and the elven maid was back to reality again, they watched each other to see no one was hurt.

"Val, Valerie. Valerie!" Bilbo shouted as he held her shoulders and shook her gently. The hobbit was sitting next to where the girl laid on the ground. "No, no!" The hobbit started to panic even more. Thorin ran up to them, and placed a dagger under Valerie's nose, to see if she is still breathing. "She's not breathing," Thorin spoke as he placed two fingers to her throat to hear her any heartbeat. But, there was none. The king then began to do the heart resuscitation to give her heart a kick. This was not what he intended to happen, as panic began to strike him by fear.

Everything had happened in just a second, and so fast. Bilbo looked up at the others in the company, who all stood with wide eyes and everyone was all clearly shocked. The hidden door was still sealed by the magic, nothing but the light will hit upon the keyhole and make it possible for the company to open the door. But it had gotten a large crack in the middle of it, and that was quite noticeable to see.

The company stood still, noone knew what to do at that moment. She wasn't poisoned & she didn't have a scratch, so there was nothing they could fix her with medicinally. However, Rash was a few yards away from Thorin who had dove to the ground where she laid. Thorin tried blowing air into her lungs & create small shocks with his hands on her chest, so that her heart would start beating again. As it wasn't working, the king had started shaking with panic, realizing that he didn't know what to do.

Several shaking steps in quick succession was heard from behind Thorin and Rash appeared next to Valerie's other side. He knelt down & ripped her leather chest covering open from it's buttons & down, exposing her naked skin beneath. Thorin darted around with his eyes & looked at Rash with a strange look. He then suddenly remembered how Rash had used Kingsfoil to heal the girl before, and he rose up as to leave the knight to his workings.

Rash pulled the blade, Akandir, from his back holster. The tip of the blade made a ringing sound as it slipped out into the open air & as soon as the blade was visible, it started pulsating a small light. Rash held the sword high, then lowered it with his one hand, and with his other hand he took Valerie's lifeless left arm & forcibly made her hand grab the hilt of the sword. As her hand was now firmly in place, Rash held his hand upon hers then placed his other on her chest, making skin contact. He then started a sentence in what sounded like old elvish, but it was no hymn. It was a regular sentence, but as if he was asking something of someone.

The blade pulsated with a stronger light now, increasing in intensity. Now, it looked like a heartbeat flashed inside the sword. Then, Rash felt it. Valerie's chest rose, then lowered. Then rose again. She was breathing & all the dwarves were stuck with their eyes on her.

Thorin fell his knees, breathing out from his panicked state. He then started chuckling a little & one could see him smiling again. Bilbo stood next to the mountain wall & had to rest with his arms supporting him from the wall. Bilbo had also experienced a fright & was breathing in that awkward kind of way that only Bilbo did.

As he stood, resting against the wall, the moon had started shining. The light from the moon hit the wall, revealing the keyhole that they needed to find so badly. Bilbo's eyes shot up & he pointed to the hole.

"Thorin, the keyhole!" He shouted to his kneeling friend besides Valerie.

At that very moment, the company thought it was about the end of this journey. But when her heart started to beat again, their eyes filled with hope. Valerie still had her eyes closed, while she laid on the ground. "The door to Erebor holds strong power over it, not even a wizard could break through that magic," Valerie said, with a small smile on her face and the company all chuckled. Everyone's impressed by the powers Rash held, but none of them knew he made a scar on his own soul to save her. None really thought of the door, or the keyhole as their friend was so close to death. Thorin helped Valerie to sit up, as she had her balance the king hugged her tightly, "I should have trusted what Balin said." He spoke to her and stroked the back of her head. "If it wasn't for Rahs and the Wolf." Thorin said and turned his attention to the knight. "I know, they lead me back somehow." She smiled at the knight with a nod of her head. Valerie had tied back her corset tightly again which is over the sleeved top she wears underneath the corset. Then Bilbo had found the keyhole from the moonlight hitting upon it, and he understood the meaning that the last light from the Durins day, which is but not only from the moon itself.

"Thorin, the keyhole!" He shouted and the dwarves walked up to the door. The key was hold in Thorin's hand, and he opened the hidden door everyone watched. Their way into the mountain and a new chapter on their journey was only beginning. The company of dwarves was first to enter their home, Thorin and Balin remember the halls and spoke about them, which once was lighted up by gold and with life.

Thorin & Balin wandered slowly through the secret passage in the mountainside. Thorin made sure to take all the wonder in, as he wanted to remember the moment they had claimed the mountain for their own again. He turned around to face Balin, who looked around in wonder at his old kingdom.

"We're home again, Balin." The dwarf king uttered with a tone of happiness & bewilderment. The old dwarf facing him nodded in a nervous manner, having a hard time controlling his emotions.

The other dwarves followed close behind, and Bilbo, Valerie, Lilian & Rash after them. "The great kingdom of Erebor. I never entered here, even after all my years on middle-earth." The knight said with a deep but almost silent voice. Rash knew that there might be a dragon somewhere in the enormous dwarven halls, so he kept his voice down.

Thorin spun around slowly, looking at Rash with a smile as he did. "Be sure to remember this day, Knight of the Wolf. This is the day we reclaim these glorious halls & the riches within it." The dwarf king turned to look at an etching over the doorway which depicted a throne with a shining orb above it. "And that." He pointed to the depiction, focusing on the orb-like inscription.

Bilbo stood next to Balin & Thorin, turning around as Thorin pointed to the depiction on the wall. "What's that?" He asked, curiosity peaking in his voice.

Balin turned his head to face him. "That, master burglar - is why you are here." The old dwarf uttered with words of anticipation & smiled.

Valerie was taken by the halls of the mountain, she could picture it with life, light, and gold when Thorin had explained how it once was, in the days he and his kin lived here. As so for Balin, who let a tear ran down his cheek when he was finally back home again. "That, master burglar. Is why you are here." Said Thorin, Balin rest a hand on the hobbit's shoulder and walked with him. Balin and Bilbo walked into a tunnel leading to the interior of the Mountain. Meanwhile, the company was waiting for their Burglar to do his task.

”You want me to find a jewel?” Bilbo asked and eyed Balin, who walks next to him in the tunnel. ”Yes, a large white jewel.” Said Balin and nods. ”That’s it? Only, I imagine there’s quite a few of them down there.” Bilbo said. ”There is only one Arkenstone, you’ll know when you see it.” Balin corrected him. ”Alright.” Bilbo said, Balin, turned away, ready to get back to the others. ”In truth lad, I do knot know what you will find down there.” Balin looked back at the hobbit, who turned his eyes to him. ”You don't need to do it if you don't want to, there is no dishonor in turning back.” The wise dwarf spoke, and the hobbit could see he was afraid and worried for him, going down there all alone and facing a dragon. But Bilbo smiled and shook his head. ”No, Balin. I promised I would do this, and I think I must try.” Bilbo said and Balin looked at him with a surprised look on his face.

Then he chuckled. ”It never ceases to amaze me.” ”What’s that?” Bilbo asked confused but smiled at his wise friend. ”The courage of Hobbits. Go now with as much luck as you can muster.” Bilbo nodded and proceeded down the tunnel, while Balin walked back to the company, but turned back. ”Oh Bilbo. If there is... In fact a dragon down there.” He said and Bilbo looked up at him. ”Don’t waken it.” He added and Bilbo looked a little worried for a moment but nodded. The hobbit walked a few steps before he turned his head up to the tunnel, and were about to ask Balin something but the old dwarf was already disappearing around the corner of the tunnel. Bilbo tiptoed his way toward Smaug’s lair.

The dwarves & the trio of companions went outside the entrance again, waiting for Bilbo to return with the Arkenstone. Most of them were worried, not only for Bilbo's safety but the risk in waking the dragon that was slumbering in the treasure trove below. Even if the Arkenstone should lay among the treasure, it would sure be hard to find as the treasury halls were as large as a city, almost filled completely with gold & stones of immense worth. Should Bilbo bury too deep in the troves, he might actually get choked by all the gold falling down upon him or in the worst case, waking a dragon.

Rash had taken his place on the edge of the cliff overlooking the great mountainside, facing the river that lead down to the enormous lake & Laketown. He realized that should Smaug be angered once more & if the company wouldn't be able to stop him, Laketown & it's people would fall victim to the wrath of the dragon.

He grasped his sword hard on it's hilt, then he turned to face Valerie who had walked up behind him. He took a deep breath & made a small smile, making Valerie feel reassured in an odd manner. The knight then looked to his other side as he saw Lilian sitting by herself on large, flat stone. He took large steps & made his way to her, promptly taking a seat beside her.

"You're an elf. Do you have any sort of knowledge in making sleeping powder for dragons?" The knight said, making an ironic expression as he looked at Lilian. The elf maid turned to look at the knight with humored eyes. She shook her head a little & kept looking at the view, stretching for miles beyond miles.

The knight saw the worry in her body language & as he listened to the wind, he could hear her heart rapidly beating. Rash saw this as fear & decided to comfort her. He did not understand however, that her heart was fluttering because of how close he was to her. This entire time, she had thought she followed Gandalf & Rash on this quest because of the adventure. But as she slowly started to understand, it was not only because of that sole reason. She had fallen deeply in love with the wolf knight - and her jealousy was apparent whenever Valerie came too close to Rash, either physically or mentally. She did not mean for it however, and she had started retreating to her own privacy because of these dark feelings in her heart.

But now, when he chose to sit beside her, she felt renewed once more. Slowly but surely, a smile was creeping up on her face. The knight saw this, and rose his hand to stroke the long hair on Lilian's back. Lilian closed her eyes, savoring the moment.

Further into the mountain, Bilbo was tiptoing his way into the golden halls of Erebor. When he arrived at a large balcony, he finally saw the sea of gold in front of him. It was stretching far beyond & Bilbo had a hard time finding an end to the riches. Bilbo shook his head for a moment, regaining his thought & noticed a large stair leading down into the hoards of gold. He kept tipping on his toes as he reached the first gold coins laying on the floor. Bilbo tried his best at not making a sound, but the scrambling of metal could be heard nonetheless. He felt the coins under his feet & an excited feeling started to grow in his stomach. He was stepping on riches beyond the dreams of any mortal being & it almost made him feel humbled, he regained his composure however & looked on with eyes like a hawk for the white, glowing stone that was supposedly somewhere to be found.

The Daughter of the Moon kept her eyes over the view over the lake and village from the distance, she knew like the others that Smaug will take his chance of revenge, over the poor and innocent lives in Lake-town. Valerie never intended innocent people to die, when she signed the contract in the Shire. They could feel how the ground started to shake, just like an earthquake. "What was that?" Kili asked in worry and looked at Balin, "That was a dragon." Balin replied. "You're afraid," Thorin said to Balin, the two was talking while watching over the large lake. "Yes! Yes, I'm afraid!" Balin spoke aloud, grabbing everyone's attention. "I fear for YOU, Thorin. A sickness lies on that treasure, a sickness that drove your grandfather mad!" The wise dwarf said and his eyes turned to the town from the far distance. "I am not my grandfather." Thorin said, "You are not yourself! The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there." Balin didn't finish the line before Thorin growled under his breath, something was not the same about him. "I will not risk this quest for the life of one burglar." He spoke, Balin's eyes were wide of how Thorin spoke about the hobbit. "Bilbo. His name is Bilbo!" Balin narrowed his eyes at how Thorin acted to his friend.

Valerie looked up at the two, and so did the rest of the company, by reaction of what Thorin just had said. "You will not go in there and help him?" Kili asked, he walked slowly up to the side of his uncle, who stood quiet. "I am going in." Valerie stood up and eyed her friends, as they all stopped arguing. "No, Valerie," Thorin said and grabbed her arm when she was about to turn around. "Bilbo is our friend, he is in there alone and he needs our help!" She tried to grab her arm back to her, but the dwarf king held it in a firm grip. "I can't let you go in there." Was this already the beginning of the sickness, was it already taking hold of his heart? "I won't stand here and do nothing!" Valerie looked at him, "I won't risk your life for him." He said she froze by hearing what he just told her, "Life will be spilled whatever we choose to do. The people of the Lake-town will suffer once again." Said Thorin and locked eyes with hers. Valerie grabbed her arm back, with force and her eyes narrowed.

"I didn't sign this contract to stand and watch as our friend die, nor the innocent people from Laketown!" She spoke, "I have seen enough of death, and lost people that I care about! I am not letting it happen again." Said Valerie who walked into the entrance of the mountain. She ignoring how Thorin called her name out after her. "Thorin, have some sympathy. We need to go and help Bilbo."

Valerie couldn't live with herself if they should stay there and let Bilbo get killed. She ran the way through the long hall, and down the stairs. She took shelter, while she saw the large dragon, who's talking to Bilbo. She breathed out in relief to see him unhurt. They were far from a distance, and none of them could see her. But Smaug already knew Bilbo wasn't alone, he had already smelled their smell of drawf, an elf, and two different humans.

”I am almost tempted to let you take it. ” Said Smaug, when the Arkenstone laid by the golden coins, not too far away from where Bilbo stood. The hobbit found his eyes on it and looked at the stone for a long moment. ”If only to see Oakenshield suffer. ” Smaug said, ”Watch it destroy him.” Smaug smirked darkly, ”Watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad!” Then Bilbo disappeared into the shadows, by the power of the ring. He ran and took the Arkenstone, hid it inside of his jacket while he ran for his life away from Smaug.

Valerie was hiding and unseen by the dragon, but she had heard everything he said. She almost felt like her heart broke, that stone wasn't really as good she thought it would be. It would destroy him.

Bilbo put on the ring at the last second after picking up the Arkenstone & as he disappeared into the shadows, Smaug let loose a breath of fire that engulfed the entire area that the dragon was facing. Luckily, Bilbo had taken cover behind a large pillar. Smaug sensed that Bilbo was still alive, fully unhurt. He roared in irritation & started circling around the large chambers in the hopes that he would find the hobbit again.

Thorin took his time at a decision but after seeing how Valerie valiantly ran off to help Bilbo, Thorin felt he had no choice but to go down to the golden halls himself. He ran off into the old hallways & hurried as he could hear & feel the ground and walls shaking. The dragon was indeed awake & he was furious.

Rash had made his decision also & had followed Valerie before Thorin. Before he left with Valerie, he had told Lilian to stay put with the dwarves, that none of the company might come out alive if they went inside. She agreed & sat down next to Kili & Fili, who were waiting impatiently for a chance to fight the dragon.

However, the knight had stopped a distance from the exit into the gold chambers as he knew that if he would follow Valerie the entire way, the dragon would hear his approach because of his size. So Rash carefully walked up to the exit, trying his best not to make a sound. However, it was too late, as Smaug had already smelled his scent. The dragon was at the far end of the chamber, but he turned his head slowly as he smelled the giant knight, crouching next to the large doorway located on a balcony.

Bilbo ran up the stone stairs on the balcony & as he was about to exit, Rash appeared. The knight however, didn't stop for Bilbo, but kept his eyes pent open for Valerie.

"Did you see Valerie come down here?" The knight asked quickly, staring a Bilbo for a short moment. The hobbit seemed confused, not knowing fully how to react. "V-Valerie? No.." He said, confounded & suddenly worried.

Rash then made a disappointed face & tried hurrying down the stairs in the hopes of finding the girl. Thorin then exited the doorway almost at the same time that Rash had run down the balcony stairs.

Bilbo turned to look at Thorin & his heart lifted even more, knowing his friends seemed to worry about him. Thorin however, stood still, staring at Bilbo.

"The Arkenstone, Bilbo. Where is it?" He snapped with what sounded like an order. Bilbo hesitated for a second. "I didn't find it, we need to get out of here Thorin!" He panicked as he talked, trying to hurry towards the exit. Thorin stretched out his sword, pointing it at Bilbo & keeping him from moving.

He then only stared at the young hobbit with a sinister look & for a moment, didn't seem to be the same person anymore.

Thorin didn't low his sword from Bilbo, he looked at the hobbit with a cold glare as he felt the need to have the Arkenstone. However, Rash had stepped in between the two, and took his giant hand over the blade of the sword which Thorin holds, to the hobbit's chest. The knight stopped the dwarf from doing something stupid, but he could also see the change in Thorin's eyes. The company slowly walked their way to where Thorin, Bilbo, and Rash took shelter. "Is everyone unhurt?" Balin asked in a whisper, when they had approached the trio, he looked at them then he looked at Thorin. "Where is Valerie?" Asked Kili worried, and walked with his older brother Fili, to their uncle. Who turned his eyes to them. "She must be somewhere in here." Bilbo breathed out and looked at Kili who turned his eyes to the hobbit, then to his uncle again.

"We need to find her before Smaug does," Kili said and was ready to step out and look for her. But Fili grabbed his brother's arm and stopped him from walking away alone. "Kili, we will find her." Thorin nods to him and looked at his sister's son. Bilbo was just right there, a few yards away from where Valerie was hiding behind a large pillar. She could see him disappear into the shadows, and then Smaug made his way around the treasure to find the hobbit. She made her way to where she thought where Bilbo had gone to. Valerie looked for Bilbo, she couldn't but feel a bit afraid, in fact, that she is alone and a dragon is lingering around. She holds her hand on the sword knit, as she walked with soundless steps in the dark long hall. Underneath her was the gold, too much gold for only one person to own.

”Watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad!” Smaug's voice spoke in her head, she shook her head and tried not to think about it. Valerie heard how large and dangerous footsteps were incoming. Not too far away from where she is, on the large stone bridge. She ran to take shelter, while she tried to calm her breathing. Smaug's feet fall down to the ground of the golden treasure, next to where the assassin took shelter. Valerie holds her breath, not to be seen by the dragon. She then could hear her friends talking, she looked out to see them and finally set her eyes where they were hiding.

Valerie had no chance to run over to the unseen by Smaug at this point. From the corner of the company's eyes, they could see a large shadow incoming from the distance. Their eyes went wide as they all faced Smaug who made his way to the group of dwarves. "Take shelter!" Thorin yelled and ran with them into the halls of the mountain, "You will burn!" Smaug said, and his chest become glowing and the fire was collected in his lungs. Running into the shadows unseen, when Smaug had his attention elsewhere. But Smaug had already smelled Valerie, from a far distance and located where her heartbeat was coming from. He let his attention go from the group of dwarves, who had no clue where he was going or thinking. Smaug amber eyes lend on where the girl was in the shadows. Quietly and quick she was, but he could hear her heartbeat from the shadows and slowly the dragon made his way over to the assassin.

The dwarf group kept running along a bridge that was far above the hoards of treasure. They had all ran into a large room which had no exit. The company realized that his was a chamber where many a dwarf had withered away & died, since the skeletons & moldy corpses still lay across the room. The company were horrified to realize that all dwarves here had starved to death, not able to get out.

"Valerie, we need to rescue her!" The young Kili said, feeling desparate. Thorin then turned around, looking into Kili's eyes, then each & every dwarf in his company. "Aye. If this should end in fire, we will all burn together!" The dwarf king shouted as he made his way to the exit towards the bridge again.

"We need to get him to the smeltering room. Everyone, split up into groups. We'll have to distract him." Thorin said, then ran towards the bridge again.

Further down, Smaug was slithering about, searching for Valerie. He almost seemed to lick his maw with his tongue - seemingly salivating at the thought of eating this human.

"You are not like mister Underhill, human. Your...scent is diffferent, sweet." The dragon seemed to have a certain bewilderment in his voice. "I will take great satisfaction from eating you, just the way you are.." The booming voice was almost whispering now, salivating at his jaws.

"No, you will not!" An angry voice yelled out & Smaug felt a large push towards the side of his belly. A titanic human had charged into the dragon. The large body of Smaug almost flipped over from the blunt force that had just smashed into him & the dragon had moved several feet to the side.

"What are you?!" The villainous dragon hissed at the strange, large human that had just offended him. Smaug corrected himself & faced the human.

"Don't you worry about that." Rash said, as he pulled his large sword from his back. The blade pulsated with a dim blue hue as the knight grabbed the hilt with two hands.

Just then, Smaug seemed to go into a fury & took a deep but quick breath, then his breath of fire engulfed almost the entire treasure chamber. Valerie, whom was hiding behind a pillar, could feel the flames approaching. There was no escape from it now, the dragon fires would take her as she could feel the heat.

Rash had realized at the last moment where Valerie was hiding - And he knew that her immunity from natural fire would not protect her from that of a dragon's. He jumped with a great leap away from the flames trailing him & ran with long steps towards Valerie. As he reached her behind the pillar, he simultaneously grabbed her hands & placed them upon the hilt of the sword, as he held the sword with her.

The blue hue pulsating from the sword now suddenly became bright as the moon & a bubble formed around the pair, as fire engulfed the surrounding area around the bubble.

Just then, the wolf knight stared into the eyes of Valerie & for just a moment - They could watch eachother in silence as the bubble protected them from the fire. The dragon chuckled with a dark, deep tone as he started making his way toward the pair.

Then, Thorin appeared on the large bridge above.

"Hey, you! Have you lost your taste for dwarf?" The kingly dwarf shouted in a mocking tone. Smaug gave chase towards the bridge.

Valerie held her breath as she hid in the shadows, silent as Smaug talked to her. But, then as he said he would like the pleasure to eat her, she heard a voice and how Smaug fell in silence. The knight had made his way safely to Valerie while Smaug had breathed hellfire at the man, and at the direction where Valerie hid. Rash took the assassin by his side and placed her hands on the sword hilt. While doing so a large light blue bubble was around them both. Valerie had felt the warmth before from the sword, she knew its powers and she is not afraid anymore. Akandir helped the two and was protecting them from the dragon fire. Smaug however was growling by rage, to see that the two survived and got away from him.

His eyes and attention were soon elsewhere, on the dwarf king. Who was standing from a distance away from him. Smaug turned around and faced Thorin, who got the dragon's attention off of the knight and assassin, so the two could make their way to flee. Smaug growled by irritation, and with fury, he walked on his four the way to where the dwarf king stood.

"You have grown fat, and slow!" Thorin mocked the dragon, who narrowed his eyes at him didn't stop walking. "Slug!" Thorin smirked and Smaug had enough of the dwarf, he launched his neck for him, but Thorin hid just in time as the dragon did so. Rash and Valerie ran together out from the pillar, with the little time they had from Thorin. Who takes Smaugs attention away from the two. They ran to the smeltering room, where the dwarves were all behind each pillar and hidden, as Thorin told them to stay still as he took Smaugs attention again. The plan Thorin has is to make Smaug breathe his fire into the large bowl, which will melt the gold inside it. It's one and old way to make statues of pure gold. The plan was to drown Smaug in gold, and kill the dragon. That's the only chance they might have.

Smaug who're angry at the dwarven king, and his kin didn't think before he had started to breathe fire at the large bowl of gold. Thorin and the company cheered out and knew the plan would work. The gold followed down different paths, craved in the ground, and made its way to a large mold of stone. Which the dwarves had built a long time ago.

The company had split up & as the dwarves constantly distracted the dragon, Bilbo had gotten ready pull a giant lever which controlled an enormous water-pump. Smaug was about to shoot fire at Thorin, who was running & leading him away & at that moment, Bilbo pulled the lever. Huge locks were pent open on what looked like constructs of dwarven faces. The row of giant constructs seemed to open their mouth like structures, and a flow of water shot out towards the dragon, quenching the flames that were building in his chest.

Smaug was now furious & started to give chase towards Bilbo. The hobbit had already made his escape in the form of running towards the main entrance to the mountain, running through a small doorway in a huge wall that was clad with enormous banners. As Bilbo came out on the other side of the doorway, Smaug was close behind. The dragon smashed against the large wall, completely annihilating it. The large banners fell lightly through the air, covering Bilbo as he ran. Smaug couldn't see the hobbit, but made his way towards the main entrance of Erebor.

While stomping through the enormous hall, the dragon spoke in an upset manner. "You think you can deceive me, Barrel-Rider? You have come from Lake Town! This is some sort of scheme hatched between these filthy dwarves and those miserable tub-trading Lakemen, those snivelling cowards with their Longbows and Black Arrows! Perhaps it is time I paid them a visit!"

Bilbo felt the panic rise in him at that moment, Smaug could not once more kill an entire city of people that were innocent. "Oh, no... This isn't their fault! Wait! You can not go to Lake Town!"

The dragon then turned for a moment, seeing Bilbo crawling up from the banners that laid upon him. "You care about them, do you? Good! Then you can watch them DIE!" Smaug hissed in a cruel manner.

As he started making his way towards the exit again, a voice could be heard from behind him, taunting him. "Here! You witless worm!" Smaug turned to see Thorin standing in the distance, on what looked like a stone structure.

"You!" The dragon hissed, seemingly disgusted by the mere sight of Thorin.

The dwarf king then grabbed a chain that was hanging next to him, a furious expression was upon his face. "I'm taking back what you stole."

Smaug started walking slowly towards Thorin in a mocking manner as to instill fear into the dwarf. "You will take NOTHING from me, dwarf. I laid low your warriors of old. I instilled terror in the hearts of men. I ate your brothers & sisters like a wolf among sheep. I AM KING UNDER THE MOUNTAIN!" The dragon yelled.

Thorin then smiled a little, looking confident in his posture. "This is not your kingdom! These are dwarf lands. This is dwarf gold! And we will have our revenge!" He yelled at the approaching dragon, as he pulled a chain & screamed something in dwarfish to his cousins that were holding chains of their own, standing at different sides of the construct. Stone plates were pulled apart & as they fell, revealed a statue of nothing but gold. A statue of an old dwarf king which was as big as Smaug himself.

As Thorin spoke Smaug’s chest started to glow with fire, and Thorin slowly reached up toward a rope above him. Just as Smaug opened his mouth, Thorin yelled something out in Khuzul to his brethren.

Thorin yanked on the rope, and a pin behind the stone fell out, releasing heavy wooden bands and chains which was wrapped around the stones. Smaug reared his head in confusion as he watched, the other dwarves pulled on their chains and more pins similar to the first was pulled out of the stone. The stone structure which was now revealed to be the mold into which the liquid of gold from earlier poured into, fell apart and revealed a massive statue, of a dwarf king made entirely by solid gold. Thorin swung on a rope to escape the falling rocks, Smaug looked at the golden statue, which was even larger than himself, in awe and desire. As he approached it, his mouth opened slightly in greed.

Suddenly the gold around the statue's eyes warmed and then exploded into liquid. The gold in the statue had not yet fully solidified and the entire statue collapsed and exploded into burning hot liquid. Smaug roared, he was entirely smothered and drowned on the gold. Which filled the entire hall in a layer several feet deep. The gold settled and there was no sign of Smaug, the dwarves began to smile with joy, that they had taken the dragon down. But, the surface of the golden lake exploded suddenly, and eyes lend on it with fear. As Smaug leaped out from it, he was fully covered by gold and he screamed out in rage.

”Aah! Revenge?!” The dragon yelled with rage. ”Revenge! I will show you REVENGE!” As the company looked in shock while Smaug was unhurt by the gold, and moved down the hallway.

Outside the mountain, it was the night the great doors of Erebor were suddenly broke as an enraged Smaug smashed his way out from the Mountain. He flapped his wings and lifted off into the night sky, spinning and causing the remaining golf on him to fall off in a golden shimmer. He swooped off toward Laketown. Bilbo was the first to run out the destroyed gates of Erebor and climbed up some ruins. Valerie ran after him, and the company made their way after the two. They looked after when Smaug had left the mountain, the assassin fell to her knees as she and the others watched the dragon getaway. Bilbo despairingly panted and looked in shock.

”What have we done?” Bilbo breathed, no one could give a reply but, to stand there in silence as they all watched the innocent people of Laketown.

"I am fire. I am... Death."

The people in Laketown had noticed how the ground shook time & time again, and the shockwaves of sound that could be heard from atop the misty mountains. Now, a golden shimmer had covered the moonlight visible over the tops of the mountain. Several men & women pointed to the sky in the distance & they saw how a gigantic dragon was now approaching quickly.

People started panicking & screaming, fleeing in terror. Bard, who was now in prison by the masters' orders, frantically tried to get out of the cage he was in.

After circling the town for a moment, Smaug let loose a rage of fire that had built inside his draconic chest. The fire covered a large part of Laketown & the dragon reveled in the anguished screams & wailing of the humans beneath him. People were dying from the extreme heat, most of them never realized what hit them. But for those who did, it was torture.

Further away, at the entrance to Erebor, Bilbo had ran up toward a hill overlooking the large lake. He could only witness how the dragon completely destroyed the village with a reign of hellfire. All men, women & children in that town were innocent to any crimes, yet the dragon did not care for the lives of humans.

Thorin & the company had followed Bilbo outside & they were all feeling the guilt building inside of them. Kili was especially ridden with guilt & his face contorted in sorrow.

"This is because of us! Had we not awoken the dragon, this would never have happened!" He yelled in anguish. Right then & there, Valerie had appeared - Walking up to Kili & hugging him tightly against her chest.

Rash then followed up, standing next to Balin who was supporting himself against a small wall. The knight laid his hand on the old dwarf's shoulder, then turned his head a little to look at Kili.

"Had we not arrived here frst, another more sinister power would have. That would not bode well for the world, for who knows if someone were to be in leagues with the dragon. That is why Gandalf could not follow us, because he needed to investigate if there is another power brewing, one possibly greater than Smaug's." It almost seemed that Gandalf spoke through the knight, as the knight had possibly memorized the speech as a message from the wizard incase the company would doubt their mission.

Meanwhile in Laketown was a small pack of orcs coming. They attacked the house where Bard and his kids live, who was at home alone. The youngest girl ran and took shelter under the kitchen table, to hide from the monsters who had broken into their home. The brother and the oldest sister took plates as they threw them at the orcs by the doorway. The orc leader of this small pack, was Azogs son himself, he and his pack were here to find Oakenshield and the kin.

The son of Azog called for his small pack to move back to his father, and follow Azogs orders from here. He didn't smell the dwarf king nor the company's smell anymore. But knew they are in Erebor and Smaug who flew in the sky and was also a threat to the orcs.

Bard's children were safe and unhurt, luckily the orcs were never interested in them and left. But everyone didn't get so lucky. The innocent people fleed to their boats and families tried to save themself from the fire. Many people didn't have the luck as others. Screams of people were heard in the night and the fire swallowed the small villgae. Bard's family was soon safe by Legolas and his companion, Tauriel. Who had arrived in time when the orc pack had attacked the village. Legolas and Tauriel together saved the two girls and the son of the bowman. Bard who had luck with him got himself out from the chambers and made his way to the tower to kill Smaug. With only the black arrow, which is their last hope.

The dwarves were in silence after when the knight had spoken in Gandalfs words. He had a point, but it didn't make anyone feel better but wonder, what more kind of more evil than Orcs and dragons in those lands? They watch how the dragon flew around the village in the sky, as he drove down and breathed fire upon the village.

"Innocent souls..." Said Balin who looked down. As he did, from the corner of his eyes he saw that Thorin had turned his eyes to the Mountain again. And it worried him of the dragon sickness, that was yet again taking a hold of Thorins heart and mind. Thorin made his way back to the Mountain, he had said nothing and made his way to where the treasure lies. Balin watched as he walked in silence away, and shook his head. "Dragonsickness..." He mumbled under his deep breath, and Rash who stood beside him looked down at the old and wise dwarf. Bilbo froze, as he watched the village burn. He knew they couldn't do anything to save them, his face contorted with sorrow. Valerie felt the grief grow stronger within her, she blinked away the forthcoming tears and turned her eyes away from the burning village. And as she did so, she saw Thorin leaving the company.

"Thorin?" She spoke in the hope he would turn around, but he didn't even react. "Thorin!" She shouted once again there was not even a reaction from him. He kept his focus on the mountain and the sickness slowly swallows his mind and sense. Now the dwarves also looked at their leader, who had left them and seem to not care about the innocent lives in Laketown.

"Dragon sickness, I have seen it before," Balin spoke aloud, he turned his eyes up to the towering knight, who stood next to him. Then to the company. "It's already taken a hold over him." Balin turned his gaze with sorrow, to where Thorin had walked. The king under the mountain had already made his way back into the Mountain and climbed upon the rocks that were once the door.

People fled left & right, trying to survive from the lashing onslaught of the gigantic dragon. Fires were everywhere, consuming everything that made contact with it. Tauriel & Legolas, the two skilled elven warriors, had helped the children of Bard get away by boat. Legolas however, pursued the orc that had led the assault on Bard's house. While he was in pursuit, Tauriel stayed behind with the children, making sure they made it out of Laketown by boat.

Bard was climbing the tower, bow in hand - while avoiding the fires that were consuming the wood around him like kindling. Climbing the tower was no easy task however, as it was slowly crumbling beneath it's own weight. The supporting foundation was almost completely burnt up, and Bard could feel the tower rumbling as it was falling apart. For a moment, he lost his footing as a small stone step gave away from under him. He caught another small pointy stone & with great effort, he threw himself toward a small wooden platform that was still untouched by flames.

The dragon kept raining it's fire down upon the town & it was with a narrow angle that the tail of the dragon slammed into the tower .

Finally, Bard took a final step upon the top of the tower & looked around to get a clear view of the dragon. Bard aimed with his bow at the dragon as it flew past him, wind pushing out from all sides of the dragon. It was enough for Bard to lose his step as he released an arrow at the dragon, and it missed the naked spot beneath the dragons chest with great margin. The arrow bounced off with a clang against the scales of the majestic creature. The dragon turned his long neck in sudden realization & turned in the air with such force that the winds from his approach blew several houses apart.

He then landed with a slam that felt like an earthquake, facing the tower & directly staring at Bard.

"WHO are YOU, that would stand against ME?" The great Smaug roared in anger. "What will you do now, Bowman? You are forsaken. No help will come!" The dragon made crawling steps toward the tower, almost like he was savoring the moment before killing the defender of Laketown.

"Tell me, WRETCH, how now shall you challenge me? You have nothing left but your DEATH!"

Bard however, had tightened his bow once more - albeit now he used his black arrow, the last one ever forged. He spotted the bare area on the dragons chest & aimed with all his concentration, completely forgetting about the crumbling tower around him.

Smaug charged the bowman & roared in fury. Buildings were ripping apart from the pure weight of the force making it's way toward Bard.

And then, the bowman released his hand. The black arrow that looked more like a spear, cut the air around it, making a high-pitched noise from the speed.

It struck. Hard & deep, cutting through the heart of inferno of the monstrous dragon.

Smaug roared & crashed through the tower, seemingly taking Bard with him in his fall. The dragon then desperately flapped his wings, trying to escape from the pain that was echoing through his entire body. He flew up far into the air, almost breaking the clouds above - screeching & hissing in a chilling manner that made men shiver & women & children cry, all before the flames in his eyes were snuffed out.

The gigantic winged monster then silently fell through the air, crashing like a meteor into Laketown again.

Smaug had drove up in the night sky, desperate and he was in a lot of pain. He dies in mid-air and his life was blown out from his eyes and the fire glowing in his chest was glowing out as well. Then he fell down from the sky to the town again and fell upon the Master of Laketown, who had a large boat and fleed away only with himself and his gold. However, the man mad in power was dead and drowned when the dragon fell upon his boat.

Bard soon joined the rest of his people, who had survived the fire and he found his children who were with two elves. Who had saved them from the orc attack. The bowman was relieved to see them unhurt, and he thanked the prince of the elves and his companion for saving his children when he wasn't there for them. As he did, an army of elves was coming, and the prince elf looked at the soldier from his father's men. The soldier spoke in elvish to Legolas, and he returned a slight nod to the soldier. Tauriel was thankful that their king would help the innocent people. Thranduil was here too, he had loaded carts with food, water, and medicine for the people who were injurded, sick, and for the children.

The people of Laketown blame the dwarves for waking the dragon, but some assume that the company is dead from the dragon. But they were promised by Thorin to get enough of gold from the Lonely Mountain. With help they can rebuild their home in Dale again. The company was still outside of the Mountain with grief and sorrow over what they had done. The hobbit was still watching over Laketown, from the far distance. Which was still on fire and the auburn flames has become much larger than before.

Bilbo could point out that the dragon fell down from the night sky, and it seems like Smaug was defeated for once and for all.”He fell..." Bilbo gasped for air, he turned to see the rest of his friends. "He is dead.” Bilbo spoke again. "Smaug is dead." The company looked at him, then at Laketown and none could see Smaug in the sky anymore. It was hard to see by the flames and clouds of fire, which had gathered around the small island of the village. But Bilbo was telling the turth, the dragon is dead. The people who had survived the hellfire were walking by foot to Dale. While some took camp for the people who are very ill, or sick with the help and supplies from Thranduil.

The humans who survived was getting back to their home again in Dale. They had lost everything they had in Laketown. They had suffered enough, but there was hope to rebuild their home. But, the gold in the Mountain it was enough for them to rebuild their home in Dale. And Thorin had given his word, that he will let them rebuild Dale, to once again be the home it was 60 years ago.

The company who was all worried about Thorin's condition had begun to speak who would go back to talk with him. Balin said it might be too dangerous to do it. He knows more than anyone, how it ended for someone who was under the dragon's sickness. Valerie looked over where Balin was talking with Dwalin and a few of the other dwarves. Rash was also standing with the wise dwarf, and soon Lilian had approached the group. The elven maid had stayed quiet for a long while, she didn't know what to think or what to say. She didn't know Thorin well enough to speak out and help them.

"I can go and talk to him," Valerie said and eyed the wise dwarf, who looked up at her. "If you go alone, you must have someone with you," Balin said and turned his eyes to the knight, then at the young girl again. Valerie shook her head, thinking that would be seen as a threat to Thorin as if she didn't have any trust in him anymore. "I will do it alone," Valerie was calm and collected, "he will only misunderstand by thinking I don't have trust in him any longer; by someone who lingers around spying." She said, and the company thought the idéa again and agree. "Thorin is not himself anymore, Valerie. You should be afraid of him." Balin said and the assassin frowned to hear that.

"I am not afraid of him, he is still the same stubborn dwarf I met from my farm. You know this Balin, he won't hurt me." She said to her wise friend who was terrified of something to happen, and Lilian agrees and stand up for Valerie, "Val is right, give her the time she needs to talk with him." She spoke. "Maybe it will help him to awake, at least a bit from the sickness." Valerie looked at the she-elf and give a smile with a slight nod. Lilian looked at Valerie, "If you can give us any sign that he is going under control, then contact however you do it to Akandir. Then Rash will know and we'll be there." Lilian had a good point and idéa, Valerie smiled to the elf and looked at the rest of the company.

Thorin wandered downwards the golden halls of Erebor, taking in all the magnificence that was. It was like a trance, Thorin's consciousness was completely overtaken by an immense greed, almost like another personality alltogether. As he was approached by Valerie from behind, Bilbo had equipped the ring on his finger, making him completely invisible. He followed the girl as she was getting closer to Thorin.

Bilbo could see how Thorin fumbled through the gold that laid widespread all over the entire treasury chambers. Sometimes he tripped just a little, but that was enough to cause small avalanches of gold , running down next to his feet. Not only was it gold, but jewels of extraordinary worth. Bilbo himself, who usually felt very content with life as is, felt a tinge of greed running up his spine. He knew however that this was the effect of dragon sickness, quickly taking hold of already greedy people.

The wolf knight however, had already realized that trying to converse with Thorin was for naught. He had seen the sickness over gold before, as Erebor was not the only mountain in Middle-Earth's history that contained riches beyond imagination. He knew he had to keep his ears open for any kind of activity or arguing & one could hear very well the steps echoing from the golden halls, as one stood outside the entrance to Erebor. The wolf sword also had a connection with Valerie, and should her life be in any sort of danger, Rash would feel it too.

He stood at a distance from the dwarves as they made their way back into the mountain, having had enough of the mayhem visible from Laketown.

The knight looked with spying eyes on the smoldering town as the fires had died down. He knew that most had survived, but many had perished. He turned around & was the last one to enter behind the company.

The Daughter of the Moon watched the gold glimmering around them, almost blinding her vision. Thorin turns around and hold his hands behind his back, his eyes drifts over to Valerie, who walks her way to him. Their eyes locked and he was calm to see her, he approached her, "I will show you something, come." Thorin said and she took his side and walked over to where a stone table is placed by the balcony, a large table in the middle with many coins, a few jewels in all kinds of colors and forms.

Thorin held something which glimmered in the light, Valerie turned her attention from the table and map up to Thorin as she rose her brow. "Turn around," Thorin told her, she swiftly turned her back against him, as he placed something cold around her neck and tied it in the back, then gently took away her hair and let it fall down on her back. Valerie felt something cold land on her collarbone, she drew her fingers over the charm of the necklace. It's a golden necklace,symbol formed like a circle, and inside is a small navy blue jewel, looking like an eye. "I want you to have this. It's the eye of the mountain, and it will protect you." Thorin spoke, Valerie turned around to face him. "It's very beautiful." She smiled warmly and eyed the charm of the necklace. She then could see the warm smile in his eyes back again.

But it didn't take long until the warm smile in him faded away. ”The Arkenstone.” Thorin breathed out through his clenched teeth, he stepped closer, ”One of them had taken it.” He was talking about the company, his brethren, and family, he doubted their loyalty. "One of them is false." Valerie sighed and looked away over the gold. ”Betrayed by my own kin.” Thorin continued on, but Valerie shook her head. ”No one is betraying you, Thorin.” She spoke aloud and grabbed his attention for a short while. "You give your word to the people of Lake-town." Valerie said and looked at him. "You promised to help them. The gold will be enough for them to re-build their home in Dale." She was saddened to hear what he next had to say about the gold and sharing it with the people who still survived the hellfire. ”The treasure in this mountain does not belong to the people of Laketown.” His eyes darkened, as so did his voice. ”This gold. Is ours. And ours alone.” He breathed out, while he spoke. ”By my life. I will not part with a single coin. Not... one piece of it.” Thorin's voice was almost like Smaug's, it gave Valerie shivers down her spine by fear.

Valerie couldn't see Thorin like this, she didn't want to belive that this sickness could win him over. She could see the old himself, but he was buried deep down and it didn't take long before the sickness was controlling him again. Bilbo was watching everything, he couldn't step out into the light, which would only make Thorin snap in a fury and make things worse.

The hobbit didn't like this, not at all. Thorin had gone mad over so short time, but Bilbo was the one who had the Arkenstone all along. He knew what he had to do, to bring it to the elven king and to Gandalf. They most know what to do with it.

The day came that Bard came riding alone to the entrance of Erebor. Thorin knew he would, so he commanded his dwarven brethren to build a stone wall, hindering anyone from entering the mountain. Bard, the honorable man that he is, asked to have an eye-to-eye conversation with Thorin, as he would prefer not to speak by shouting over the wall. Thorin agreed, and made his way to the bottom of the stone wall, where there was a small hole through which one could see one another.

A dialogue was had, with Bard trying his best not to seem disrespectful to the heir of the mountain. Although a respectful fellow, Bard demanded that Laketown would receive a portion of the riches inside the mountain, for the damages caused by the dragon.

Thorin seemed somber for just a moment, before denying the Bowman any kind of compensation. "Why should we pay for something that was wrongfully stolen from us!?" He shouted in anger through the small hole.

Bard made an expression deep in disatisfaction. "You gave us your word. Does that mean nothing to you?"

Thorin then expressed a solemn reaction, for a moment it seemed that he would agree to the terms because of the conscience that was hid deep inside his heart. However, after he had turned around to look at his dwarven company, his selfishness & irritability returned.

"Be gone! 'Ere the arrows fly!" The mountain king shouted, challenging Bard.

Bard was visibly upset as he hammered the wall with his fist, then turned around & took his horse to return to the camp.

Rash, who was standing close to Bilbo at this moment, behind all the other dwarves, peeked at Bilbo with his sharp eyes. Bilbo turned his face a little to look at Rash. The knight only had to nod at Bilbo for him to understand what he had to do. The hobbit walked away from the gathering, disappearing out of sight.

The knight stood in thoughtful silence as he observed the company, he had realized what would take place in the coming days. The only hope he knew of now was with Bilbo. The knight turned around to see Valerie, visibly upset behind him. She made her way off into the mountain. Thorin snapped his eyes to the entrance as he heard her steps echoing through the halls. The conscience inside his chest was growing, but his selfish nature grew over his heart like unwanted weed.

Rash put up a hand towards Thorin, making a sign for him to not follow. Instead, Rash followed Valerie into the mountain, trying to think of a way to console her. He had naught nice things to say about Thorin, however, he would let that topic rest for a while as he had other thoughts that he needed to share with the girl.

Back at the camp, built into the fallen city of Dale, there was an army of elves waiting with their king. Bard approached from the mountain on his horse, delivering a grim expression & disappointing news. "He will give us nothing." The bowman said with irritation.

The great king Thranduil eyed the man for a moment before turning his horse. "Such a pity. Still, you tried." He uttered.

Bard let a confused expression run down his face. "I do not understand. Why would he risk open war upon his kingdom?"

The king replied while unsheathing his sword, "It is fruitless to reason with a dwarf. They only understand one thing." He rose his sword towards his elven troops. "We attack at dawn." He said with a raised sword, looking at Bard.

"Are you with us?" The elf king asked the bowman.