If this is to End in Fire: Hobbit Fan Fiction Skin-changer

Chapter 21- Rumbles of the Dragon

Lupine found herself grasping instead, the sliding scales of the dragon's neck, as the platform tumbled away into the gloom. With some unknown propulsion the dragon hurled her upwards so that she somersaulted above him towards the top of the shaft.

This time she did not fall however, and instead, the dragon came upwards to reach her, so that her feet found a foothold across its jaw and its eyes were mere heartbeats from her own.

They continued to fly with tremendous speed and Smaug's chest glowed with the threat of flame. His lips wavered and opened so that Lupine straddled his jaw, and she closed her eyes so that she could feel her balance once again. She felt a rush of air as the dragon inhaled and then suddenly, the shaft ended and in a plume of flame, Lupine leapt into Dwalin. The dwarf stood rigid, catching her and bundling her away as the fire sliced above their heads. The axe he had used to sever the pulley and halt the platform's descent, was shouldered once again and the pair slipped through the tunnel where Thorin and Bilbo had hurried to the forges.

Whilst Sipeon preferred the water and Eorne the air, Lupine felt secure only now that her feet could pace the firm ground again. Despite the roars of the dragon behind them, she understood that they still had a chance, and as Dwalin followed her into the next chamber, she knew she could trust in Thorin's plan.

The dwarves and Bilbo had aligned themselves each behind a thick pillar, and as Lupine and Dwalin were pulled back by Fili and Bofur, they recognised instantly why.

Flame rushed behind them as the dragon followed their path and nothing but the hard stone prevented their speedy death.

As she regained breath, tucked beside Bofur, Lupine watched the puff of yellow smoke arise from each of the forges and noticed Thorin dash towards the main gathering of the company.

The dragon had taken a momentary pause as he eyed the scene, and the dwarf used this advantage to set the group to order.

"Bombur! Get those billows working. Go! Bilbo! Up there- on my mark, pull that lever. Lupine, go with him. Balin, can you still mix a flash flame?"

"Aye," replied the old dwarf, "it will only take a jiffy!" He hurried away, Dori, Nori and Ori at his side.

"We don't have a jiffy." muttered Dwalin, as the huge dragon begun to push against the stone pillars in a furious rage. He could not yet reach them, but they had a minimal interval with which to work.

Lupine followed the hobbit as he scurried up the steps towards the lever.

"Faster Bilbo." she urged, as the dragon rammed himself against the pillars again, sending quivers through the earth.

They reached the height of the platform with little time to spare, the hobbit positioning himself below the handle, and Lupine lowering herself to a crouch, eyeing Thorin for his signal.

Then, with a tremendous crunch of stone, Smaug collapsed into the room, the pillars breaking and crumbling like waterfalls. Fragments of debris flew their way in a spray of air, and Lupine slipped on top of Bilbo so that he sank to the ground to avoid the slicing shards. He buried his head in the crook of his elbow and Lupine lay against him to protect his back. She held him there for a moment, before springing suddenly up once more and regaining sight of Thorin.

"Now!" cried the dwarf, as the dragon faced him, his chest glowing with golden flame.

"Go Bilbo!" shouted the skin-changer to the hobbit, who had scrambled to his feet, and leapt up to grasp the lever. Dangling in the air, all his weight was used to pull it down, and as it slowly sunk, a cascade of water erupted from the walls.