Once Upon A Dream || The Hobbit ¹

16| 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓸𝓷

the lonely mountain, erebor

— WHEN SCARLETT ENTERS THE VAST CHAMBER OF GOLD, SHE KNOWS THIS SEARCH WILL NOT BE AN EASY ONE. Not only does this massive room seem impossible to even sift through, but it is only the first of many. As they step out into the gold, the clinking of coins rises from beneath their feet. As they move across the mounds, searching and searching, Scarlett tries not to think about her conversation with Thorin the previous night; she tries not to think about what her previous... employers would do to get their hands on the contents of this mountain.

"Arkenstone..." Bilbo mutters. "A large, white jewel. Very helpful." Scarlett shoots him a rueful smile, and they continue on.

The search is still getting them nowhere when Bilbo picks up a golden goblet that sends treasure flooding down from above it, like a broken dam. Scarlett holds her breath as she watches, already knowing what comes next. From beneath the gold, deep red and black and coppery scales emerge; the dragon's eye. Bilbo grabbing for her hand is what pulls her from her frozen state, and they both hurry to hide themselves behind a great stone column. When Smaug's nostril breaks free, though, she knows the chances of escaping unnoticed have just gone from slim to none. The sheer distance between the eye and nostril are a good indicator of his size, and she has no idea in what direction the rest of his body stretches. When they turn, more gold spills from his back and tail past the opposite side of the column. Her eyes flutter shut for a second. Fuck. There he is. They've only taken a few steps forward when Smaug's head shifts further down, closer to them. They freeze. It is when his eye opens that they dive behind a small hill of gold in a desperate attempt at hiding.

Scarlett nudges Bilbo with her elbow, motioning to his pocket with urgent eyes. He shakes his head vigorously when he realises what she wants him to do, but her eyes bore insistently into his, the message clear; Hide yourself. Now. I'll be okay. Gritting his teeth, he takes the ring in his hand, and slips it on. Just like that, he's gone.

Smaug's head lifts fully from his horde and Scarlett takes a deep breath before standing to face him, her heart pounding deafeningly in her ears. If it's possible, the dragon seems to grin. "Well... thieves."

She holds her head high, despite the fear pumping through her veins. "Thieves?" She is glad to find that her voice holds strong. "It is only I, Smaug, the Huntress, and I have come to talk, not to steal." She wills the wings to materialise and opens them behind her, proud and wide. Not only are they a comfort to her, soothing some of her fears, but she hopes they also make her appear a little less meek and a little more impressive.

A deep chuckle fills the cavern. "The Huntress? The Blue Witch from another world. Even here in the mountain, whispers of you have reached me. I thought perhaps you were a fairy tale."

"Apparently not."

"So it would seem." A small growl rumbles up from his throat. "As for the other... you cannot hide him from me. I smell him... I can hear his breath and feel his air."

"I am much more concern to you than any thief." She snaps.

"Indeed you are," the dragon agrees. "But still, I must know how you have cloaked him so well. A dragon's eye sees through much magic, but not this? Where are you? Where are you?" Footsteps suddenly take off through the gold, fleeing, and Scarlett is forced to take flight to avoid being crushed as Smaug plunges through the sea of gold to follow.

"Enough!" She yells as she lands again.

Again, he laughs. "For now, you are safe from any wrath of mine, child. But you will not come into my home and hide any thief from me." When he speaks again, he seems to be addressing Bilbo. "Come now, don't be shy. Step into the light." He seems to ponder as he weaves around the column Scarlett stands by. "There is something about you... something you carry. Something made of gold. But far more precious." With that, it seems Bilbo can take no more. He appears only a few paces from the shapeshifter, breathing hard, ring in hand. She steps quickly to his side, spreading a protective wing over his back. "Ah," the dragon seems all too pleased. "There you are, Thief in the Shadows."