Smaug

The Orcs had retreated, Legolas hot on their trail. It seemed we were safe for now.

Unfortunately no amount of safety seems to last long for us these days.

Soon there were cries from outside as Smaug descended on Lake-Town.

More screams filled the air as the citizens of Lake-Town began to panic at the sound of their warning bells.

"We have no time. We must leave." Tauriel said.

"Get him up." Oin ordered.

Fili and I helped Kili to his feet.

"I'm fine. I can walk." Kili insisted.

"We're not leaving." Bain protested. "Not without our father."

"If you stay here your sisters will die. Is that what your father would want?" Tauriel asked bluntly.

That was enough for him to start moving.

I could hear Smaug roaring in the sky above. People below hurrying, trying to evacuate. I'm afraid it may be too late.

We all hurried and piled into Bard's boat.

We started paddling down the crowded river streets of Lake-Town.

Kili grabbed me and pulled me down as Smaug soared low over our heads.

The dragon dove down and shot the first of his flames, incinerating a line down the east side of Lake-Town. The town was now on fire and people were screaming more than before.

Smaug fired again this time just behind us.

"Can't this thing go any faster?" I growled out.

Flame after flame was shot as fire spread to engulf all of Lake-Town.

"Look out!" Bofur shouted as we were hit by another boat.

I looked up and glared. It was the Master and Alfrid. Their boat was overflowing with gold, jewels and other expensive items. Their boat was big enough to carry at least 20-30 people but the Masters greed was greater than his non existent compassion.

The Master's boat didn't stop. It just kept moving, shoving us out of the way.

"Move it! Move it! Come on! Faster!" The Master shouted. "My gold! My gold!" He cried as some fell overboard.

"We're carrying too much weight." Alfrid pointed out. "We need to dump something."

Alfrid soon learned that was the wrong thing to say, as the Master shoved him over the side of the boat, into the water.

Karma came quickly as they passed by the prison. A rope was thrown out the window and the Master got caught. It yanked him back against the back end of his boat almost choking him to death. The rope let go as the bars were released from the prison window and Bard appeared.

I seemed to be the only one to notice Bard, and I didn't want the kids to get scared or more worked up then they already were, so I said nothing as I watched him run back towards the house.

People were screaming. People were burning with their homes as Smaug sent more fire through the town.

Lake-Town was a lost cause. There was nothing to be done. When Smaug finished here there would be nothing but ashes floating on the water. All we could do now was get Bard's kids to safety and hope he and the rest of the towns people made it out alive.

The warning bell stopped chiming and something caught Bain's attention.

"Da!"

The girls gasped and Tilda screamed for her father. Bard was up at the top of the bell tower, bow in hand battling Smaug all on his own.

"He hit it! He hit the dragon!" Kili cried.

"No." Tauriel said.

"He did! He hit his mark! I saw!" Kili insisted.

"His arrows cannot pierce its hide. I fear nothing will."

I leaned into Kili. What will we do if nothing can stop Smaug?

Suddenly Bain was out of his seat, grabbing onto a near by hook and chain.

"What are you doing?" Bofur cried.

"Come back! Bain!" Fili shouted.

Sigrid screamed for her brother.

I had a feeling I knew where he was going. We all saw Bard take the last remaining Black Arrow from the house, but he was currently shooting at Smaug with his regular arrows. He must have given the Black Arrow to Bain or hidden it somewhere. Bain was determined to get it to him.

Bofur and Fili kept trying to call Bain back but it was no use.

"Leave him. We cannot go back." Tauriel snapped at the two.

I hated to admit it but she was right. Bain was old enough to make his own decisions. And he decided he wanted to help save us all.

I watched the bell tower. Bard hesitated before shooting what I assumed was his last arrow. It sailed through the air and pinged off Smaug's side.

I saw a figure pop up in front of Bard.

"He did it." I mumbled.

"Did what? Who?" Kili asked.

"Bain. Thanks to him, Bard now has a Black Arrow."

Everyone's words died on their tongues as Smaug flew over the bell tower taking the top of it with him.

"Bard! Bain!" I cried.

Smaug landed in the middle of town.

I sighed in relief as I saw Bard still standing on the bell tower, Black Arrow in hand.

"Who are you that would stand against me?" Smaug growled. "Now that is a pity. What will you do now Bowman?"

I strained my eyes to look closer and saw Bard's bow was snapped in half.

"You are forsaken." Smaug continued. "No help will come. Ah. Is that your child?"

The whole time he spoke Smaug was creeping forward, crushing charred buildings as he went.

"You cannot save him from the fire." Smaug taunted. "He will burn!"

I saw Bard jab the halves of his bow into the wood of the tower. He strung them and Bain stood in front of him, Black Arrow resting on his shoulder. A new bow made in seconds. Bard took aim.

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

As the dragon moved I saw it. The stories were true. A scale was missing from the side of the base of his neck. Girion really had hit his mark all those years ago.

Smaug roared and advanced on the two men. Bard lined up his shot as Smaug's chest began to glow, readying himself to let lose another blast of fire.

Then Bard fired.

I heard everyone in the boat stop breathing as we watched the arrow soar towards the dragon.

Smaug roared as he took out the tower and smashed into the town below. He skidded along the houses before shooting unsteadily into the sky. His wing beats were uneven and he was groaning in pain.

"He did it." I mumbled in amazement.

I watched as the glow in Smaug's chest dimmed and the light in his eyes went out. Then he went quiet and was falling out of the sky.

Smaug was dead.