I openly stared at Smaug in dumbfounded shock. "What? It's that easy?"

He sneered at me and whipped his tail into a pile of gold, sending it flying in all directions. "I suppose it would be to your mind. The Earthshaker has a destiny, and that destiny is to take over the rule of dragon and Dracari alike. You hold an ability to use a small portion of each of the elemental powers, do you not?"

"I don't know. I've never known I had abilities like this until a few days ago. In fact, I didn't know I was Dracari until you called me one."

He seemed slightly amused, and lowered his head closer to me to look at me with one giant eye. "Then you have much to learn. You are right in that it is strange for me to just follow you, but I have no Dracari of my own. A dragon and a Dracari united are very powerful. I say this: I will leave this mountain and not bother anyone in the surrounding Lake Towns or anywhere nearby on the condition you ally with me."

"I thought Dracari could only share mental links with one dragon." I say. "And that it is irreversible."

"Not necessarily. A dragon can chose to communicate with other Dracari mentally. It will never be the same as you with Finian."

"So what exactly do you get out of this? You are literally just doing what I say." I say, tilting my head to the side. "It seems more heavily weighted in my favor."

"Because, Earthshaker. By you choosing to unite with me, I shall gain power. With you, I can achieve great things."

Only if I allow it, I thought to myself. "Alright. It's a deal." I say and hold my hand up, palm out. He touched his nose to my hand and my hand grew warm and glowed slightly.

Suddenly, off to the right, a pile of gold slid down a pile and Smaug whipped his head towards the sound. And that's when I saw it, glowing white and blue and being lifted into the air by an invisible hand.

The Arkenstone. Bilbo turned around, slipping something off his finger and returning it to his pocket and his smile disappeared when he saw the dragon staring right at him.

I froze and Smaug moved closer, and I thought for sure Bilbo would wet himself as Smaug looked at him curiously.

He sniffed and said, "I've never smelled your kind before. What exactly are you?"

Bilbo looked at me and I said, "A hobbit, and my friend, Bilbo Baggins."

Smaug lifted his head and seemed amused. "So you, Earthshaker, were the distraction?"

"Of sorts. You have the rest of the gold- what does one gem make a difference?"

He looked at me, a deep rage in his eyes as he snarled, "It makes a difference."

"And you'd do best to remember our bargain." I replied. "Especially if you expect me to keep up my end."

"Freya, what are you two saying?" Bilbo practically squeaks.

"Don't worry about it." I say to him in the Common Tongue. "Smaug won't hurt you."

He seemed relieved, but was wary to show it. "And you're sure?"

"If I wanted to kill you, hobbit, I would have done so already." Smaug said, settling back down onto the gold and seeming amused with himself as Bilbo began to shake.

"Stop being a dick." I say and rolled my eyes. "I'm going to tell the others to come in, got it? And you're gonna sit there and behave."

He stretched his body like a cat, wings stretching out and almost filling the massive cavern as he replied, "Whatever you say, Earthshaker."

"I'll get you a couple goats if you're hungry."

"Mmmm. That will be good. And tell your dragon he need not be afraid of me." He says and rests his head on a pile of gold. "I'd like to meet him."

"I'll... make sure to do that." I say and nodded for Bilbo to go up the stairs by me and he did, and I followed after him.

We got back to the others and Thorin ran to me and checked me over again and I said, "Thorin."

His whole body stilled and he met my eyes. "Well?"

"I did it." I say. "We struck a bargain. He is under my command, but will come and go as he pleases and won't be a danger to anyone."

"Are ye sure about that, lassie?" Balin asks worriedly.

"Yes. I am. He won't harm any of us. I swear it. He is allied to me, and that means to you. He won't go back against me."

Thorin merely nodded and looked back to the others. "Go. Find rooms. Rest up and gather what you can for supplies. Bilbo? Did you..." he drifted off when his eyes fell on the glittering gem in Bilbo's hands.

"I found it while Freya was bargaining with Smaug. He didn't even notice I was there until the very end." Bilbo says with a smile.

"Fili, Kili, please show Bilbo to some rooms he can use. We could all use some well-deserved rest. In our home."

The others all nodded and turned and left into other tunnels. Thorin slipped the stone into his pocket and took my hand and I walked with him through the familiar halls of stone. We walked through the vacant throne room, the dining hall, the library we used to hide from the others and read together in.

Memories floated between us silently as I thought back to when Thorin was just my friend, and when I volunteered to join him on his quest to locate his father.

Thinking back, I always thought it was strange that the Durin's raised me as their own. There was only a mere 20 years difference between Thorin and I.

I grew up here with Thorin always there as my closest confidant. And now I'd have him with me forever.

When we stopped outside the royal chambers, I paused. He looked back at me, his hand resting on the dusty handlebar. "What is it, Freya?"

"You know, I've never actually been behind these doors." I say.

He looked at me. "Well, then be my guest. This will be your room now, too."

A small smile touched my lips as I lifted my hand to the handle and turned it. The door swung open with a creak and I coughed slightly. Everything was neat and left as it was. The bed was covered in a sheen of dust, however. To the right there was a set of large windows, and a bathtub built into the ground.

I smirked back at Thorin. "Is this what you were talking about when you mentioned baths?" I asked coyly.

He closed and locked the doors, then came up behind me, hands moving around my stomach as he pressed kisses down my neck. I leaned back into him, tilting my head to the side as he kissed me, closing my eyes. 

"Hm. Perhaps." He murmured against my skin.

I turned in his arms and moved mine up around his neck as his moved to circle my waist. His forehead pressed to mine as he whispered, "I love you, Freya."

"I love you too, Thorin." I replied and moved my hand to his cheek as I pulled him into a kiss.

His arms moved around me as he kissed me back. He pulled away to say, "We need to talk..."

I scowled and pulled him into another kiss, "No. Later. I've been needing you alone for days now." I said against his lips.

He laughed and lifted me into his arms and carried me over to the dusty bed. But, there would be a bath later to take care of the dust...

******

I didn't realize we needed each other alone this badly until we lay side by side, just gazing into the others' eyes.

"You know..." I mused. "We're gonna have to plan a honeymoon." I said and rolled over to rub my hand up and down his chest.

"That sounds nice." He mused, his hand playing with my hair. "And where shall we go?"

"I don't know. Somewhere no one will disturb us with questions." I say and kiss his shoulder.

He rolled his eyes. "You really are a flirt, aren't you, Freya?"

"Only with you." I teased and kissed up his neck.

He groaned softly and muttered, "Be careful, Freya, or I might just have to start round two."

I smirked and pushed off of him and slid off the bed, walked towards the tub and called over my shoulder, "Well, you'd better join me over here if you want that second round, love."

He grumbled something incoherent as I got the water going and we fell into the water, his lips on mine as we enjoyed our peace in each others' arms.