Smaug looks at me like the word I've spoken foreign to his ears. 

I tense at his eyes' intensity as he stares into my own. So many feelings hidden beneath. Feelings he never thought he would ever show again. My confession brings warmth to his other cold, greedy heart. The dragon's sickness is long gone, and he no longer wishes for the gold in Erebor. "is it true?" he speaks so softly I almost don't hear him at first. 

I know it is not a good time to speak this, but I nod, the movement causing pain to spring through me again. As he takes in my pained face and my form, Samsung's breath hitches. (s/c) scales glitter in the dying sun and the crackle of his fire. Breathtaking is what he sees. Not a wounded dragoness dirty of grime and her blood. He sees a queen, a dragoness willing to do anything for her people. 

And he knows now that I am the One he has been searching for. All those years ago, when he was young, he had heard tales of dragons finding their One. His friends had done so. His mother and father found each other. His sister. Yet he was the only one in the tribe without one. Alone. Lonely. Scared. Sad. 

With a shake of his great head, Smaug latched his jaws to my scruff and dragged me to my talons. "do you think you can move on the ground?" he asked, his eyes alight with care and newfound growing love. I give him a small pained smile, but it is an assuring one too. "I will try for you, Sia IR." the draconian tongue is a lullaby to my ears, and Smaug seems to kindle in the recognition it sends through him. 

"let's go then," he says and slinks to my side, aiding my walk as we walk away from the burning town on the lake. The force of my cry still rattles the mountains as Smaug takes off in a sprint, me running as much as I can after him, my head starting to spin with the blood pressure. But we can stay here. The Men will kill us sure as daylight. So will the Dwarves. 

As we fly, I see the armies of Elves approach the ruined town, but they are still too far away for the people to know of their coming. We are flying as high as we can in my wounded state. Fortunately, the Elves don't see us, and we let the wind take us to a distant den where we can rest. 

Smaug eases me down to the ledge that sticks out from teh mountain as a sour claw. I wince as blood trickle again from my open wound, but it is as good as I can get it. Smaug walks by my side as we enter the den, his shoulder pressed against mine to keep me standing. His tail brushed against my own and my chest to keep my legs from giving in. 

I have one wing over his back to support myself too. I am not yet too weak. Once we reach the innermost corner of the cave, Smaug lets me lay down as carefully as I can not to strain my neck. "I will be back," he says and turns to the entrance giving me one last glance filled with worry. And then he takes into the setting sun, and I sigh, letting my muscles relax, and my head falls limp against my front paws. 

And I fall into darkness. 

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

When Smaug returns, I feel better rested. Better strength. 

He smiles when he sees me stirring and walks over to me as he places a bowl (what a bowl? yeah, it confused me too but hey, we dragons are evolving) beside my head and grabs the soaking piece of moss before whispering a healing spell in some language I do not recognize. "this will heal you rather quickly. Faster than the first piece of moss, anyway. I got a... well, Elf to help me. I told him I'd do anything for him to teach me those healing Elvish words. he did, and I came as fast as I could. it is a wonder I have not spilled this" 

smaug's voice is light with a chuckle as he presses the soaking moss piece and presses it against my slowly being wound. The feeling of the healing spell rushes into my blood, mending my body and scales together again. When the tingling sensation leaves me, I sigh, open my eyes and look at the mug, which is smiling. "feeling better"?" I nod, and he leans down to plant a soft, tender lick upon my chin. 

"I might return to Erebor just to get you something that would be worthy of a queen," he murmurs, but I cauth it giving him a warning look "you have let the Dwarves take their mountain. I do not believe they will let you return alive," I say. Smaug snorted, his nares flaring, "I am not afraid of some lousy Dwarves. They are nothing against me" I roll my eyes, not having excepted this kind of nature and attitude toward this dragon. 

He is a Fire Drake, a Docar Belikr, one of the dragons that ruled Tiressea. I stand up as the pain is finally left me. Smaug helps me with a gentle snout, and soon enough, I'm on my talons again. I smile. "I will be getting some food before the night, my love," Smaug purrs as he nuzzles me before slipping out of the den, leaving me alone and stunned. 

Did he...? 

Yes, he did, my mind croons, that dragon is as in love with you as a Man is with a Woman. 

I chuckle before letting myself look around in this den. It reminds me of my own at home. 

Home. 

The thought sends a shiver of sadness through me. I knew I told the mother that I would return home as soon as my quest here was complete. And it is now. I've found my One. I have nothing here to do. 

I only hope that Smaug will accept it and leave with me. 

Away from the mountain. Away from the gold that he held so dearly. Away from the greed that plagues his heart. But I fear it'll be a more significant task than I could've feared. 

~ ▬▬ι═══════ﺤ ~