Flames

2.10

Azalea paced back and forth. It had been at least half an hour since they'd sent Bilbo into the dragon's lair. She decided to sit since pacing wasn't doing much good. Someone sat next to her. She turned her head and saw Fili.

"Hello," she said.

"Hello," he repeated. "I'm glad you're staying. I haven't seen anyone make my uncle this happy in a long time."

Azalea tried not to smile.

"He seems to make you happy, too," he noticed.

"He does," she muttered. "I'm worried about Bilbo."

"We all are."

Suddenly, the mountain shook violently.

"What was that?" Azalea asked. 

"Was that an earthquake?" another dwarf wondered. Balin shook his head grimly.

"That was a dragon."

That settled it. Azalea stood up and marched towards the door to the mountain. Thorin stopped her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm going in after him," she replied. "I'm not content to just sit out here and wait for him to come back."

She briefly kissed Thorin and began to walk past him again. He grabbed her arm, pulled her down, and kissed her again. A lot of things were said in that kiss. Be careful. I love you. If I never see you again... He pulled back and let go of her.

"Don't do anything stupid," he warned.

"Do you know me?" she joked. Then, she entered the mountain at a sprint.

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"If she gets killed in there, it's not my fault" Thorin muttered to himself. "It's not my fault."

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Azalea slowed to a silent walk just before she hit the treasury. She felt the deep rumble of Smaug's voice before she heard it. The breaks in between the rumbling must've been where Bilbo was talking. She crept onto a landing and had to stifle a gasp.

She'd been expecting a dragon. Whatever she thought she'd prepared herself for...that wasn't what stood before her.

For one thing, Smaug was huge. He took up almost the entire room. He was red, not at all what Azalea had thought he would be. He was smart, based on the conversation he was having. He froze, sniffing the air.

"There's a Man in here," Smaug grumbled. "Not from the town on the lake, no. Where? Where are you?" 

Azalea hid behind the wall. Smaug paused, then returned his attention to Bilbo. She left her hiding place.

Suddenly, Smaug was yelling and spewing fire. Azalea barrel-rolled to avoid the flames, but misjudged how much room she had left on the ledge. She fell several feet, landing hard on the coin pile. She groaned in pain.

"There you are," Smaug greeted. "I wondered when I would meet you, Man."

Azalea felt heat on her back and noticed her braid was on fire. She pulled a knife out of her sleeve and sliced the burning hair off. She slowly stood up again. 

"Tell me, Braid-Cutter, who are you?" Smaug asked.

"I am the Hobbit's friend. He'd been in here for a while, and I was worried about him," Azalea said, her voice strained.

"Yes, and what of the dwarves?"

"Dwarves?" Azalea stammered. "I've never known a dwarf in my life."