A dragon's redemption

Chapter 3

Erlösung spat her new treasures on the floor of the cave upon entry.

The treasures jingled and clanked when they hit the floor Erlösung watched them until a snort made her jump. 

Her head lifted and began to swivel as she observed the cave for any potential threats.

Then she glanced at the male drake.

The male was twitching slightly and muttering things under his breath.

"Thieves... It's mine..... dwarves..... curses...."

Erlösung slunk closer only to draw back when the male's eyes snapped open.

He looked mad as he surged to his feet eyes wild and teeth bared and a warm golden orange glow creeping up his stomach.

Erlösung recoiled in shock as his wild orange eyes glared daggers as they darted wildly around the cave before settling on her.

She rumbled a warning deep in her throat waiting for him to settle down and wake up more before she began speaking.

Once he looked at least a little less like he was going to melt her face off for breathing she spoke.

"Good morning. I'm sure you have some questions about what's happening right now but first, would you tell me your name?"

There. Short simple and polite. Shouldn't make him too mad.

The drake inhaled glaring at her his entire body tense and a faint line of smoke drifted from his nostrils as he absorbed her words.

Erlösung suspected he was still half asleep and that was why it was taking him so long to answer.

'How hard is it to just tell me a name' she thought to herself with an eye roll.

"I am Smaug! My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords my claws are spears, the shock of my tail is a thunderbolt, my wings are a hurricane, and my breath death!"

Erlösung wrinkled her nose and her tail twitched 'Well he's certainly full of himself' she thought

"What lowly worm are you and where have you brought me? Speak snake!"

Erlösung snarled at his condescending words and manner and stalked towards him

"It would do you well to learn respect for those who have saved your sorry scales! You fell into the lake with a black arrow near to penetrating your heart DISTURBING MY SLUMBER and when I drug you back here, made sure your wounds healed properly, fetched you food for when you woke up what do you do? Insult me of course! Well, keep in mind that you are weaker now than when you first hatched! I could just as easily kill you as I did save you! But I won't because I in fact am not a lowly worm! I have honor and am a respectable dragon unlike you who runs around burning people and giving our kind a bad name! You're in my home now and you will follow my rules!"

Erlösung was now inches away from Smaug who looked mildly aggressive but mostly confused.

She growled at him softly

"I see," he said slowly with slight snark but significantly calmer now

Erlösung huffed and pushed past him to grab the two remaining deer.

She then threw them at Smaug and gave him a narrow-eyed glare

"Eat"

Smaug watched her suspiciously while he ate and Erlösung grew more annoyed.

Once he had finished the deer Erlösung walked over and threw him a sharp look.

"Lay down."

"If you think I'm going to take orders from you-"

Erlösung snarled and shoved him down

"Hold still!" She snapped when he tried to fight to his feet

When she finally forced him to stay still she took the bandage off his chest to check the wound.

She eyed the wound carefully before letting Smaug up

He immediately lunged towards her snarling but hesitated before glancing down at his chest where the newly closed-up wound was.

"There's no infection and it's healing nicely. You'll be fine"
Erlösung stated briskly.

'Can he go back to being asleep and leaving me alone now?' She thought wistfully.

She could tell from the way he was eyeing her with suspicion there was no way she was getting him to sleep anytime soon.

"You are in my cave. You will not leave the cave. You will not bother me when I'm sleeping. There's a barrel of fish you can have. Over there. Now be quiet and let me sleep."

Erlösung then trotted to a far corner where she could see him and be comfortable. She rolled her eyes as she started to relax. Smaug was glaring at her like she murdered his mother. She finally dozed off with a slight sigh of resignation. Dealing with Smaug was definitely going to be harder than she thought when she first saved him.