The Firedrake's Lost Heir

Chapter 22

I know this is long overdue, and I am really, really sorry about that since I've had so many other stories to finish too. Hoping there will be more action in the coming chapter if I can get some review or pm ideas for this.

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Father and son eventually before morning managed to return to the Lonely Mountain. The dwarves were waiting outside the door, hoping Brooklyn hadn't been killed.

Soon Killi's eyes spotted a pair of flying figures above them and he pointed. "Look! I think it is them!" He called out along with the others who also noticed the father and son arriving.

Smaug noted how tired and nervous looking his son was, knowing there was going to be a long road to recovery from this. He gave Brooklyn a soft fatherly smile, Brooklyn looking over but then turning his head away.

They landed, Bilbo running over to greet them, Fangspirit also nearby, woofing in his way in greeting. Brooklyn grinned halfheartedly, nuzzling his warg pal. Bilbo looked at the former gargoyle in worry. "What happened out there?" He demanded.

Smaug gave a low hiss, demanding him and the dwarfs to stay away from Brooklyn. Brooklyn shied down from how angry and protective his father was, going to run away inside and hide from everybody for the rest of the day, his embarrassment having reached his peak.

The others looked at one another besides Smaug who ran in after his son into the castle, all unaware that soon the orc army would track them down and to try to get Brooklyn back for Sauron.

Inside the treasure vault, Brooklyn sat there in the corner of the room, his heart still thumping from having Sauron nearly killing or possessing him, feeling like he was only putting his family in danger. Eventually too his old clan came into his mind, tears beginning to fall down. Just from having all of these emotions overtake him caused his gargoyle form to return.

Brooklyn gathered himself up, trembling after the transformation and knew that inside, he didn't want anybody to be killed because of him. Eyeing a dagger nearby, Brooklyn made his final decision, taking up the golden dagger and moving into a dark corner.

Smaug went into their home to find his son, hoping Brooklyn wouldn't do anything to harm himself. He glanced about, smelling his scent in the room, unaware of what Brooklyn was about to do.

Curled up in his corner where Bilbo had hidden when first entering the treasure room, tears came down Brooklyn's cheeks, the knife about to slash across his chest. "I can't do this anymore, father. Y-you all don't deserve me if I keep hurting everybody. Goodbye..." Right as his dagger was making some blood on his chest and neck, Smaug had smelled the scent, eyes rounding in horror, spotting Brooklyn back in his old form again like when they were captured.

"My son! NOOO!" Smaug roared, startling Brooklyn greatly, dropping the knife before it did anything too extreme, eyes bright in tears and grief, spotting his father who soon scooped him up into his wings. Brooklyn sobbed, struggling. "Let me go!"

Smaug held his son tight against his chest, and he could feel Brooklyn's gargoyle body shaking badly, having a lot of questions for him. "Hatchling, what ails you into doing this horrible thing? I wouldn't be able to live my life without you."

Brooklyn glanced into his father's eyes once, before breaking down, his body changing back into a dragon, Smaug nuzzling him lovingly. "M'sorry f-father but... i-it just feels like that Sauron had... b-broken me... I don't think I can go on living like this and... I miss my old clan!"

Father and son both hugged one another, Smaug now realizing, and his heart broke for his hatchling. "Brooklyn, life wouldn't be the same if I lost you again. You made living here even better than before and opened up the better side of me." He murmured, nuzzling Brooklyn whose eyes filled up in tears even more, glad now to have an actual bloodline parental figure around. But no way would he forget Hudson's wisdom.

Soon a woofing noise came along, Brooklyn looking up and spotting his warg friend in happiness, the two friends racing one another in the treasure vault, Bilbo and the others coming inside too after hearing the sobs of Brooklyn from earlier, Smaug feeling a little better than he had before.

Thorin eyed Smaug then Brooklyn, looks of concern on his features as he spoke up. "How does he fare, great dragon?"

Growling softly, Smaug answered. "He is fine. I saved him from nearly doing himself in. But what about the orc army? They are bound to track us all down, wanting my son back!" He hissed.

Balin raised up his hand in an attempt to calm down their larger ally. "We must rest first and let the lad recover before trying anything Smaug. You both just returned a few days ago, and mentally exhausted.

Brooklyn soon stopped playing with Fangspirit for a moment, turning to his friends with a look of regret and guilt. "I'm sorry that I haven't spoken to you all so much. Especially after... after being held by them. It's gonna take me a while to forget everything and be normal again."

Killi gave a grin and a shrug, having warmed up to the dragons which he now knew would be a great ally to go up against Azog. "Hey, no worries Brook. We're all glad you're alive, and I think this is a reason to have a feast over."

The rest of the dwarfs agreed, and eventually plans were made to get some food together for them all to dine upon. Brooklyn was ready to have real food and water after that horrible black liquid stuff those orcs fed him, making his skin shiver in disgust.

Bombur managed to make some large portions of meat along with water for their giant allies, having them sit next to the table in the King's Hall since they couldn't fit into the chair, Brooklyn smiling at his father while they ate, happy to have some time for peace at the moment.

Everybody laughed and dined together, even Gandalf coming to join them after being healed. Brooklyn inside eventually wondered if Gandalf's magic could possibly send him to Manhattan for a visit after this war was long over, wishing to see Lexington and Broadway again. Filli and Killi sometimes reminded him of them, staring at the tapestry hangings while slowly munching his food, glad though his new family would keep him from being lonely.