The Navigator

The Dragon

First came the quaking. Then what sounded like thunder, but Vistial knew better. It was the dragon.

"It's awake. The dragon's coming." She says.

"We must leave." Tauriel says, gathering the children together. "Get him up." She gestures to Kili.

"Come on. Let's go." Fili orders, helping his brother up.

"I'm fine. I can walk." Kili mutters, pulling his arm out of Fili's grasp. Vistial sees Fili's crestfallen face and nudges the dwarf. She understood that Kili was tired of being treated like an invalid.

"Fast as you can." Vistial says to Kili, who nods. Tauriel leads the way down to the lower level of the house. Fili and Bofur help Kili into the boat while Oin and Vistial help the two girls. Vistial reaches to Bain, but he refuses.

"We're not leaving." Bain pulls his hand out of Vistial's. "Not without our father."

"If you stay here, your sisters will die. Is that what your father would want?" Tauriel questions. Bain averts his eyes, but climbs into the boat. Fili pushes the boat off and he and Bofur start to push the group through the lake.

"Watch out!" Vistial shouts as a large barge almost tips their tiny boat over. The barge was covered in gold, the Master sitting in the middle of it all.

"Why isn't he helping people?" Tilda asks.

"Has he ever helped before?" Vistial asks. The young girl shakes her head in response. "Then why would he do it now? He only cares for himself and the gold he has obtained. Greedy men always do."

"Look out!" Fili shouts as Smaug sweeps overhead, firing on the town below. Vistial covers Sigrid and Tilda with her body to protect the girls.

"Are you alright?" She asks. The two girls nod.

"Da." Sigrid suddenly stands up. "Da!" Vistial follows her gaze and spots Bard, firing arrows at the dragon.

"He hit it! He hit the dragon!" Kili exclaims as the dragon made another pass. "He did!"

"No." Tauriel responds.

"He hit his mark! I saw." Kili argues back.

"His arrows cannot pierce its hide." Tauriel states. "I fear nothing will."

"What are you doing?" Vistial demands as Bain stands. The boy jumps off the boat quickly. "Come back!" Visital tries to go after him, but her fingertips just graze his clothing. "Bain!"

"Bain! Bain!" Sigrid calls after her brother.

"Get back here!"

"Bain!"

"Leave him. We cannot go back." Tauriel says.

"Bain!" Tilda collapses into tears, leaning into Vistial. Vistial wraps her arms around the girl, who sobs into her arms. The sight of Tilda tore at her heart. She realizes what she had to do.

"Kili, there's something I have to do." Vistial looks at Kili. The dwarf recognizes the look in her eyes and understands.

"Are you sure?" He asks. Vistial nods. Kili reaches over and hugs her. "Be careful."

"I will." Vistial passes Tilda off to Oin and stands. She hears Tauriel gasp as she shifts. Vistial springs off the boat and grows as she flies into the air. She circles the boat once before flying off. Kili watches Vistial grow smaller, headed straight for Smaug.

"Come back to me, Amralime."