Breath of Life

Chapter 15

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After I left Legolas I hurried to the house of Bard to look after the others. When I entered I was greeted by the little lovely Tilda. She swung her arms around my waist and cried. I bend down and took her little face in my hands and soothed her. "Shh... it's alright, they're all gone, they aren't coming back..." I wiped away a little tear off her face and smiled reassuringly to her. "I will protect you, little princess." A smile flashed over her adorable face and she hugged me. "Thank you, Mer." I hugged her and saw Fili smile at me. I flashed him a sweet smile while I stroked gently Tilda's hair.

I stood up to look after Kili, with a sigh of relief, I saw, that his leg felt better now and he could walk now. "Are you okay Kili?" I asked him with concern written over my face. "Yes Mer... Thank you, you always looked after me, I don't know where I would be now, if you didn't look after me." - "Well... surely not here with us." I winked at him. He crooked a little smile and nodded. "Do you think, uncle and the others were successful?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Hello there... it's your uncle, and I believe that by now, he kicked the crap out of Smaug's ass." I tried to be reassuring to him and flashed a wide grin over my face. He just chuckled. "Poor Smaug." I patted him on the shoulder. "Indeed." I looked away now to the little window, where I could see the peak of the lonely mountain. "Indeed..." I whispered more to myself and stared at the peak absentminded.

"We have to go... now!" I heard the She-elf suddenly shouting at us. I teared my eyes from the window and heard bells ringing all over the town and cries of the people outside. All shouting and talking in a huddle and full of panic. "What happened, Tauriel?" Kili shouted. "They woke the dragon and he's on the way here..." Tilda ran to me and clung on my dress. Suddenly Bain entered the house in a hurry. "My father... they arrested him!" He said short of breath. I hurried with Tilda's hand in mine to Bain. "Bain, do you have a boat to escape?" He just nodded. "Yes, follow me!" We all packed our things hastingly and followed him down to the boat. "Alright, everyone is on the boat." I counted. The only one to stand outside the boat was me. "Merenwen... quick!" Fili gestured to me and offered his open palm to me to grab. I looked on the sky and it was filled with fire and smoke, the invasion already started and I had the urgent feeling to do something against it. 

I saw how Smaug was flying over the town without mercy and burn down houses and people. I could smell blood in the breeze. "Mer... come on! Hurry!" I gave them a last quick glance and saw Fili desperately hold out his hand to me. "Please..." He had tears in his eyes. I stepped to the boat and enclosed Fili's face between my hands and crashed my lips on his. I could feel his tongue sliding in to my mouth. He desperately clung on my arms, with the intent to not let me go. When we parted I laid my forehead on his and closed my eyes. "We will see us again, amrâlimê." I looked at him straight into his eyes and gave him a sad but sweet smile. He let go of me and the boat began to become more tiny in the distance. 

I turned around and for once again I looked up in the sky. I gulped. All that I heard were people screaming in agony. "Oh Smaug, what have you done?" I murmured and began to run after him. A single tear ran down my cheek. "I'm so sorry." I whispered to myself. When I was near enough to teleport me, I disappeared from the town and reappeared on the back of Smaug. He first didn't notice me. I looked in awe at his panzer and was somewhat proud that I had produced such beautiful creature. I know sounds odd, but he was my kid, well a very greedy and bad kid but he was my kid and a mother love his son, no matter what. 

"Smaug!" I cried loud enough to hear me. He turned his head slightly and looked at me with wide shocked eyes. "What are you doing here, mother?" He hissed. "What do you think?" I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at him with a scolding glare. "You can't just fly around and burn cities or steal possessions of others! That's not what I taught you!" I snapped. He let a low growl out. "I'm old enough to know to make my own decisions and don't think I can't smell the scent of disgusting dwarf-scent on you." 

"You know excatly that it's pointless to discuss with me. I'm older and more powerful than you and I could destroy you in a blink of an eye. I made you, don't forget that. But I will give you a chance, because believe it or not, you're my blood and I have affections left towards you, despite you did such crime! Leave it now, and your life may be spared" He seemed to process my words and stopped spitting fire to the town. He turned his head to me and glared at me.

 Never!

And again his belly filled with fire, ready to spit. I watched in horror underneath us how the flames crushed with fierce and without mercy into the town. Suddenly I heard arrows been shot at Smaug. In the distance I saw Bard aiming in the direction of us. That fool, didn't he know that only the black arrows could pierce through the panzer? Smaug seemed to notice him and began to crawl in his direction spitting venomous words against him. Suddenly Bain appeared. "You might need this, father." He handed him the black arrow.

I quickly teleported to Bard. "Wha... have you to startle me like this?!" He shouted. "Yes.. yes... later to that, now you have to defeat a Dragon! Or do you fancy to end roasted?" I shouted and with every second passing, Smaug was approaching us. "Now how many black arrows do you have?" - "Only this one..." He smiled humourless. "Well..." I looked in the direction of Smaug and there I saw a spot, unprotected under his panzer. I pointed at the spot. "There! The story is also true!" Girion didn't miss his target.

"What are you doing now, Bowman?" Smaug began to roar. "And you... mother." He spit the last word out in disgust. Bard was aiming the black arrow after the unprotected spot, waiting for the right time using Bain as supporting leg. Bard turned to me "Mother?!" he mouthed in suprise. I waved him off. "That story for another time." 

"Oooh is that your son? How pitiful he has to die so young and in the fire." Smaug began to roar. "Bain, look at me. Ignore him, focus on me. We will succeed." Bard reassured Bain and he nodded, obviously fear in his features. "Mother since when do you fancy the company of simple humans and dwarves? I didn't see or hear from you and then, when we reencounter, you show up with a pack of stinking dwarves." 

"I offered to spare your life and you refused, now you have to pay the consequences!" I shouted back. A tear ran down my cheek, I knew, this was the last Smaug will ever do because tonight he is gonna die. He came nearer and the spot was now well visible. "Shoot!" I whispered to Bard. He aimed and gave his son directions and the arrow pierced through the air. Everything went quick. The arrow hit the spot. Smaug let out a loud cry of pain and began to flew to the sky to only fall dead back and land in the sea. 

"Hvil i fred, min elskede barn" I silently said and wiped away a tear from my face.

Note: "Hvil i fred, min elskede barn" means "Rest in peace, my beloved child" in Norse.