The Hobbit | The Lost Bender {Book 1}

1 | Blood covenant

The wicked smile that covered his face made me feel rather uncomfortable as the blade of the knife he had pick-pocketed from one of the guards shimmered in the dull light of the moon that shone through the secured window a few meters away from our cell. 

"Girls, gather around." His voice echoed through the dungeon, even though it was just a whisper.

 "Rigmor, wake up." A groan was heard from one of the bedrolls as a blonde head poked out under the blanket. 

"What is it?" 
"Come over here." 

After a few reluctant grunts she sat down next to me, looking at Smaug in front of us holding the small pocket knife. 

"It's as sharp as a razor." he hissed through gritted teeth. 

"What do you need it for, smarty-pants? Filing a hole in the iron bars?" I asked sarcastically. 

The raven-haired rolled with his eyes and sighed. "Myrna, why do you have to be so witty..." I snorted. 

"Alright, what did you need us for?"
Smaug looked over his shoulder towards the door to see if any guard came in to check on us. 

"We are best friends, yes?"
"I guess we have no other choice." I joked, earning a elbow in the ribs from Rigmor.
"We are." 

"Good. What if we seal our friendship by blood?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"So we will be together, no matter what happens." 

I looked at Rigmor, who was nodding. "Okay, let's do it. There is no harm in doing it." 

Smaug made a small incision in his thumb before handing the blade to Rigmor.
She sliced lightly across the top of her finger, careful not to dirty the steel surface. 

Hesitantly, I took the knife from her, pressing it against the tip of my index finger, a stinging pain starting to nag in the sensitive skin. I had to resist the urge to put the digit in my mouth to suck up the crimson drop of blood that had appeared on it. 

"To our bond."
"To our invincible friendship." 

We pressed our fingers together, the sanguine fluids mixing on our skin.
"Forever."
"And ever."

~

The darkness had overwhelmed him. There was no going back anymore. His skin had started to flake off, weird scales appearing underneath the surface. His amber eyes had became a weird shade of orange, his pupils changing form. In a matter of hours, Smaug had shed all of his skin.

And then, it happened.

He was surrounded by a purple fog, horrible screams erupting from his throat. The guards tried to withhold him, but their fired arrows tumbled back as if a force field was pulled up around his figure. I was pressed up in the corner frightened, Rigmor next to me, her body shaking like a straw. 

We didn't know what was happening, but it was clear as soon as wings had ripped themselves out of the skin on his back. Tears rolled down my cheeks like waterfalls, we were absolutely terrified.

Their screams were searing, sending shivers down my spine, the stench of scorching flesh wafting though the room, making me gag. The calls for help were heart-breaking, because we couldn't do anything. 

Smaug's dragon breath was humid, making my body hurt as if it was melting off my bones right there with the guards. I had lost track of Rigmor and was blinded by smoke and fire, I could barely make up the shape of a dragon. Suddenly, he turned to me. 

"Run!' He screamed, his voice way lower than usual. "Run! Seek your freedom! Go!" 

I didn't let him tell me that twice. I went on all fours and dragged myself outside, where Rigmor was already standing, coughing loudly. 

"What... Smaug... What was that?!" We made eye-contact for a second before I burst out crying, my eyes still stinging. I stood up, wobbling on my legs before I could run towards Rigmor.
Tears were shimmering on the rims of her eyes. 

"We need to go." 

"But Smaug...!"
"He will manage... I hope. We need to go, before they kill us!" Rigmor grabbed my hand and we started to run into the deep forest, completely disoriented by the unknown trees. 

And we ran, and ran, and ran.
Until we found a small, old house with a thatched roof.