Chapter 3 – Contact –

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Saphira first knew that she was being watched when she felt something brush along the parameters of her mind.

Since she had entered this new land, she had made sure to reinforce the walls around her mind but stretching out her sensors so that she could know whenever something drew close. She had been travelling south west, going through the mountains that she had previously spied, and now she was on the southern point of the mountain range, and she could see that perhaps a hundred miles or so south, was a single solitary peak, to the south-west of that was a huge forest, but Saphira saw that if she carried on straight west from where she was that the mountains continued on. Knowing that it would be her best chance to stay hidden and to perhaps find what she sought, Saphira decided that she would stick to these northern mountains.

Her wings had healed well, the muscles had regained their strength with two days' worth of rest and Saphira had been flying lazily along her route through the mountains. She was steadily regaining her weight, eating whenever she had the opportunity and always sleeping afterwards in order to absorb the calories and not burn them off with excess movement. She had eventually come across a ravine, and stopped for a long drink, allowing her exhaustion to fully take hold of her as she closed her eyes momentarily. Perhaps it would be wise to seek a place to nest for now, resettle myself and then continue in a few days when I am rested. She thought to herself. Looking at the mountains around her she knew that there must be a cave big enough to hold her somewhere within those peaks. Perhaps she could find a cave and stay there for a few days to get back to full strength. It would only take her three perhaps four days; she was an excellent hunter and she had seen no predators so far that could match her.

But whilst she drank the waters of the stream, dipping her muzzle into the cold water for another long mouthful, she felt the edges of her mind detect a presence. Instantly on alert, Saphira gently probed at the mind in question, so tentatively that the consciousness would not even feel her. The mind was protected, but naturally, not through any self-made fortification, and Saphira knew that she might be able to easily break into it if need be. But she felt it come closer and closer, meaning that it knew where Saphira was and it was coming onto her position. She couldn't scent it because it was downwind, but she wanted the element of surprise yet had no time with which to hide for an ambush. So Saphira staid exactly where she was and acted as if nothing were amiss. Her back was to her adversary, so she relied on her hearing and the feel of the earth vibrations and the wind that the creature disturbed. From what she could tell, it was up high, perhaps on the rocks on the incline above her, but it also carried a lot of weight.

However, she was unprepared when the shadow was cast over her back, and she glanced to see a long serpentine neck with a crocodile-like head in the shadow. Heart suddenly hammering in her chest with surprise, Saphira spun around, a surprised growl erupting from her jaws as she bared her teeth at her attacker. She looked up to where she knew the creature to be, but could only see the silhouette where the sun was directly behind it. It was only when it moved down the incline and out of the light that Saphira saw what it was, and she hissed under her breath with shock.

Slinking down with the fluid motion of a snake, came a dragon! Saphira was left utterly speechless as she stared at him, for now that she could scent him as he stood only a hundred feet away, she could scent the deep musk of masculinity that radiated out of his every pore. He was perhaps half the size that Shruikan had been, but was still almost twice as large as her. He appeared to be so odd compared to what she had expected of a dragon. Unlike her and every dragon she had encountered, this male had only two legs instead of four, his wings were not folded against his back, instead he had two long fingers and a thumb coming from his wing hinge, allowing him to use his wings like front legs, the membranes of the wings folding behind him. He was covered in red scales, similar to Thorn, though his underbelly was a gold that sparkled oddly in a certain light, as if he had shrapnel pieces of metal stuck between his scales. He did not have horns, instead he had large spikes protruding from the back of his head that flexed and moved, Saphira gathered that they helped to express his mood. His eyes were a brilliant flame-yellow that glowed as he stared at her. Saphira did not give much thought to his differences other than to assess for weaknesses. Perhaps this was how dragons here had evolved, and she knew him to be a dragon for the familiar scent of their kind clung to him as it did to her.

Saphira shrunk herself into her own mind, and sealed herself within, strengthening her defences so that this male would never be able to breach into her mind. It was the first lesson her master Glaedr had taught her for when facing other dragons, to look for weaknesses, and to never leave your mind open until the dragon was trustworthy or clearly not an enemy. Saphira's eyes scanned over the male before her, noticing how he had several battle-scars that lined his body, from one scratched across his muzzle, another down his thigh, and a peculiar one upon his chest: a black scar where a scale appeared to be missing. Saphira looked back to the face of the male, to see him almost grinning to himself.

Although she was loath to ever retreat from a fight, Saphira knew when something would do her no good, and picking a fight with a territorial male whilst she wasn't at her strongest was DEFINITELY not good for her. She began to back away slowly, head lowered, though not in a threatening pose, her wings a quarter of the way extended, her tail twitching with her agitation, her lips curling slightly to show her distrust. But she didn't make it three steps before something happened that she certainly did not expect.

"Going somewhere, my pretty one?"

Saphira was so shocked that her head bolted up, a yelp escaping from her jaws as her eyes bulged in her head. The male had spoken! He... he had spoken the two-legged language! She had seen his jaw move, his lips distort and sound had been produced from his throat that she felt vibrate through the air in a deep voice. Saphira continued to stare, completely shocked beyond anything she had ever been in her life, for she had never seen nor even heard of a dragon – wild or bound – that could speak! The male chuckled darkly, adding to her surprise as she realised just how much human like sounds he might be able to make.

"It is considered rude to not show respect to your superior," he told her smugly, his eyes glinting in his head as he fixed his eyes upon her. "But since you are young, I will forgive this... once," he chuckled again.

All thoughts of leaving left Saphira's mind as she felt her anger bristle at his remark. She straightened herself to her full height, a scowl forming upon her face as she dug her claws into the earth. How dare this male compare himself to her as her equal, let alone to surpass her! He did not know her, he might be bigger then she, but she had fought many battles and learned many ancient secrets that would have put many dragons – even in the days of the riders – to shame. She bowed to no one, only to those who were clearly deserving of her respect, and those had been a very select few. This male was not one of those few.

As she drew herself to her full height, puffing out her chest and unfurling her wings in a display of dominance, she saw the male's eyes darken with the threat of anger as his smug smirk turned into a distrustful line. Saphira still did not open her mind to him, not even to communicate, her body language should be plenty enough for him.

"Careful young one," the male gave off a growl, but Saphira only narrowed her eyes at him, unaffected by his quick mood-change. "Is it possible that you are so young that you do not know who's presence you stand in?"

Saphira remained silent, only watching him with her piercing blue eyes.

"I am Smaug!" the male proclaimed proudly, straightening his wing-forelegs and puffing out his chest as he towered over her, striking a pose as he lashed his tail behind him, evidentially trying to impress her as he continued to speak. "Conqueror of the Lonely Mountain, destroyer of Dale, Bain of men, the dragon-dread! Smaug the magnificent! Smaug the golden! The chiefest and greatest of all calamities!"

Saphira sat there with a purposefully bored expression upon her face. It had the desired effect as she saw the male look at her as if in shock and/or horror and outrage, bringing no end of sick pleasure to Saphira as she watched him writhe. Served him right, in her opinion. He thought he was the greatest? As he called himself: 'the greatest calamity'? Saphira would have laughed, she had faced a threat far greater then what this male appeared to be and survived, she had even had a hand in slaying such a beast.

Thinking of Shruikan made her remember the look in his eyes before he died, the loneliness, the madness... the loss of a rider, the same predicament that Saphira now faced. Remembering her reason to be here, Saphira almost opened her mind to speak with this dragon, but decided against it. This one was too pompous and arrogant to know anything useful. She would search out one, perhaps an elder dragon, who would have more wisdom and respect for a female of her calibre then this fool here. She simply turned on her heal dismissively and started to walk away from the male so that she might have enough room to open her wings without buffeting him.

"Don't you dare turn your back on me!" came a ferocious hiss, and Saphira was so caught off guard that she had to twist her neck around so that she could regard the male, Smaug, with a quirked brow. He was absolutely furious, his lips quivering in a barely suppressed snarl of rage, his eyes narrowed and focused on her dangerously. Saphira felt her stomach quiver, not with fear, but apprehension for the fight that she could feel coming. "I know why you are here,"

That got Saphira's attention, so much so that she turned straight back around in order to face Smaug fully, looking at him with wide and hopeful eyes. Could it be? Was it true? Was her journey, her torment already over?! Smaug seemed a little more pleased now that she had turned to face him, a small smirk creeping across his lips.

"Females will do anything for their basic needs," he muttered, perhaps thinking it was to himself though Saphira heard it, and it both confused and greatly angered her.

But then, the male – Smaug, she reminded herself as she tried to pronounce the odd name in her mind – did something again which she was not expecting. He leaned forward, nostrils flaring as he took in her scent, rumbling at her as he came closer. Saphira took an instinctive step back, causing Smaug to growl at her impatiently and despite herself, Saphira suddenly rooted herself in place. She watched, absolutely dumbfounded as he brought his head alongside hers, going parallel with her neck as his snout came towards her shoulders, sniffing her and maw slightly open and tongue hissing out to taste the air. Saphira snarled when he made a move to come closer to her, and snapped out her wing so that it batted him in the face and pushed him back. Smaug, taken completely by surprise, back-pedalled away from her, shaking his head from the force of the blow. Saphira glared at him for his rude, insolent behaviour, snorting steam from her nose as once again she turned on her heal and made to leave.

But suddenly, the male was above and in front of her, rearing back on his hind legs as he spread out his impressive wingspan, flapping them lightly, herding Saphira backwards towards the south a couple of steps as she was forced to retreat from his advance as he walked towards her, a glare in his eyes and his jaw locked with determination. Saphira growled at him, showing her teeth, warning him, but he took no heed and continued to push her back, forcing her to go in the direction that he desired. When she hesitated to move a fraction of a second too long, he then moved his head towards her, perhaps to bump his head into her and push her physically, but now beginning to both panic and become infuriated by these antics, Saphira completely misinterpreted the meaning. All she saw was a draconic head coming towards her full of teeth.

Without even needing to plan the move, Saphira easily and quickly side stepped around Smaug and bit into his neck, snapping her jaws at him defensively. It was not something that would harm him or cause him to bleed, but it was enough to make him hurt. Smaug yelped in surprise and pain, reeling away from her, and then becoming eerily still as he had his back to her.

Saphira did not feel fear, but she still felt a sense of dread creep into her stomach as she realised that something had just gone very wrong.

Without warning, Smaug exploded with furious anger as he spun in place, his long tail whipping through the air, aimed directly for Saphira's head! She ducked under the blow but then barely had enough time to hop back out of the way as Smaug smashed his fist towards the ground where she had been crouching. He glared at her with glowing eyes, teeth bared as he snarled with uncontrollable rage.

Saphira felt the rush of battle race through her veins and enjoyed it immensely as she bellowed out a torrent of flames that hit Smaug right beneath his chin onto his softer underside of his neck. He flinched but showed only slight discomfort as the flames bathed over him. Before Saphira could stop him, Smaug rushed forward and rammed his shoulder into her chest, knocking the wind from her lungs as she was pushed back and fell to the floor awkwardly on her back. Quickly shaking the wooziness from her head, Saphira expertly flipped herself back onto her belly and made to leap upwards.

She knew that in order to win this fight she would need every advantage she had. Smaug was bigger, stronger, and intelligent to boot, he had reach and all of that worked against her on the ground. But Saphira knew that her true advantage would be in the air. She had yet to meet any dragon that could best her in flight: she was the fastest, the most agile, the greatest flier of the skies; She could use her speed and agility to out move Smaug, he had reach but that only counted on the ground, seeing as his arms were a part of his wings, he needed them occupied to keep him aloft, whereas she had no such problem. From the scars on his body, Smaug seemed to have fought a few many battles in his life, but Saphira had tactical training and experience with fighting other dragons, not for territorial disputes like what Smaug had most likely fought, but she had trained to maim and kill. She could use all of this to her advantage.

But it appeared that Smaug knew also that the best way for HIM to win this fight was by keeping her earth bound, as she discovered, when as she tried to get to her feet to jump into the air, she felt a sharp pull and turned around sharply to see one of Smaug's hands gripping her tail and pulling her towards him. Saphira roared in outrage and pulled against him, though his strength was great, she held her own as she used all the strength she had, digging her talons into the earth as she locked her legs into place. But slowly, she felt herself edging backwards inch by inch. When she felt the pressure build between them until she thought she might snap, a sudden idea came to Saphira, and she simply let go.

Smaug's over-strength in which he had been using to pull her in, suddenly had no resistance, and Saphira flew backwards along the ground, Smaug yelping as he was suddenly caught off balance by the shift. As she was wrenched towards him, Saphira turned herself so that she was on her side as she came close to Smaug. Lifting one hind leg, her foot hit against his chest and reversing the momentum, Saphira pushed off of him, shoving Smaug backwards whilst also propelling herself forwards at the same time. Caught off guard, Smaug's grip was not enough to hold her as she slipped through his fingers.

Knowing he wouldn't be back long enough to let her get airborne, Saphira shot herself towards the rocky incline that Smaug had been perched upon earlier, and bounded off of it back towards Smaug, and leapt straight onto his back! Smaug roared as he stumbled from her weight suddenly hitting him with such force. He bucked beneath her and tried to reach for her with claws and jaws and swat her with his tail, but she kept out of his reach and snapped at his neck, her claws creating bloody furrows in his wing membranes as she struggled.

With her hind legs on his back, Saphira reared up, placing more weight upon the concentrated area and pushing him further down. She then reached around his neck with her forelegs, hooking them around from just behind his head and squeezing his neck in an effort to strangle him. Knowing what she was doing, Smaug's frantic efforts to displace her grew more ferocious, snapping his jaws at her though she tried to restrain him as bit his snout.

But suddenly, Smaug lurched his weight to one side, causing one of Saphira's hind legs to slip forward, unbalancing her. Sensing her weakness, before she could readjust herself, Smaug threw his weight forward, sending her tumbling off of him, even as she clawed and fought to keep her place on top of him. Realising how vulnerable she was, Saphira desperately tried to squirm her way out from under his shadow, hoping to bound away and get far enough just to leap into the sky. But she suddenly felt a blast of pain as she felt Smaug's teeth sink into the shoulder of one of her wings. Saphira was suddenly powerless, knowing that any resistance could mean that he might tear her wing off, and she was petrified by the idea to be without flight. But then, she felt herself being dragged and had to go along, when she was suddenly flung into the air and hurled across the ravine –

Saphira roared in agony as he back hit against a rocky wall, her neck snapping back with the force of her momentum, and she heard a dull ring as her head smacked against the rocks. Everything went white in an instant, all sight and sound and even pain ceased to exist as Saphira was suspended in time as she slowly fell from the rockwall to the floor. She lay there in a heap, her head pounding from the force of the pain in her skull, still she could hear nothing, even as the white faded and was replaced by a world out of focus that was slowly fading away. She tried to get up, knowing that there was something there that she should be worried about, but she couldn't remember what it was... Her legs shook underneath her, hardly able to even take her weight, and she collapsed onto the ground, going completely limp.

Her world faded to darkness as unconsciousness claimed her.

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Smaug stood there, panting from the exertion as he glared down at the still form of the female at his feet. It required an extreme physical effort on his part in order to dampen the rage that blazed inside of him; he wanted nothing more than to rip out her throat and leave her carcass for the birds for her insolence! The temptation was so strong that he even felt his jaws salivate and a growl erupt in his throat as he glared down at her limp form.

But as he stared, his eyes caught on those scales – such a lovely shade of blue, as if she were made from sapphires. Smaug considered himself a collector of all things precious and valuable, all treasure was his to have, and as he gazed down upon the female, he realised that she looked as if she had been carved from treasure, and seeing as she might be the last female of his species left in Middle-Earth, her rarity suddenly made her priceless.

Smaug sighed in annoyance as he knew that he couldn't even think his way out of this one. Once he had decided on something, there was nothing in the world that would change his mind. And he had decided earlier on that he would mate this female, before she had dared to strike him – the nerve of her! Oh well, Smaug thought to himself as he gazed at her smaller frame, judging her weight as he estimated the easiest way to get her back to the mountain. She hadn't been that willing whilst awake, as when Smaug had tried to herd her in the general direction of the mountain, she had fought back.

He rolled his neck as a phantom pain shivered down his throat where she had bit him. That had hurt, damn it all. It had not opened him, his scales were much tougher than that, but it had still stung. The surprise had stunned him for so long that it actually took a moment for him to register that she had attacked him. His rage at her impertinence was astounding, and he barely managed to not apply deadly force to her as they fought. Yet he had been surprised once again by her competence in battle. She had displayed great strength as well as great tactical and level-headed thinking, even when enraged as she had been. This almost gave Smaug a twisted sense of pride to think that his potential offspring might have brains and brawn from both father and mother, as well as the magnificence and beauty of both as well. Though he was concerned by the fact that the female appeared to be mute, a defect that he was not all too happy with, but would get to the bottom of when she awoke. Perhaps she had just been rude to him earlier, a fact that he was choosing to ignore lest his anger get the better of him again.

So it was decided. He would take her back to the mountain. Once there Smaug would tell her the situation and make the appropriate arrangements for them both. She would soon grow accustomed to her new life; the trouble will just be house-breaking her up until that point. And if she tried any more funny business, then Smaug would just kill her. He wasn't so desperate for the female body that he would completely loose his senses as to allow her such leniencies TWICE.

The only problem with her being unconscious however, was the fact that he now had to figure out a way to carry her.

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author's note: so I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, sorry this one took longer then before, but I've been busy with other stories, and one of my sisters turned three this week! :D

But please review! All comments welcome!