Natalie Hellsing

~~~

With a blood curdling scream I rip my hands away and fall back.

"Natalie!" Emily exclaims and kneels next to me.

"I remember. I remember it all," I gasp.

"I do as well," Smaug mutters sitting up slowly. His brilliant orange eyes meet mine and time seems to stop.

"You were cursed," I state. The pieces slowly come together in my mind. I heard a tale about a man cursed to be a dragon till he met his soulmate. I guess he's the cursed man and I the soulmate.

"I was cruel to a witch. But you have released me," Smaug replies and gets up. His height is taller than Thranduil's. "All the destruction I did. I've never been more regretful." His eyes are sad.

"Why'd you do it?" I ask and take his outstretched hand. Smaug hauls me to my feet with ease.

"The witch wanted me dead so she created an alternate personality that took me over. So all this wasn't me, it was him. I guess the remaining drake traits serve as a sick reminder," Smaug explains. His eyes wander around examining every bit of chaos he caused.

"And me. The legend says we're related. Do you know anything about that?" Emily suddenly asks.

"I don't I've been alive for long time," Smaug admits. "But I have never been happier than now. Natalie Hellsing advisor of Greenwood from the Shire I will protect your life with mine for as long as I live."

"That's a very serious vow to make for a Shire hobbit," I chuckle nervously. Smaug falls to one knee before me and bows his head.

"I'm very serious about your safety. You've freed me from my curse and you are my soulmate." I bite my lip and oddly pat his black curlys.

"I suppose I'll try my best to keep you safe as well," I say with an awkward smile.

"EMILY! NATALIE!" Alex shouts and our gazes turn to the approaching boat. Fili, Tauriel, Lacy, Kili, Fili, and Alex clamber off the boat and up to us. Fili runs into Emily's open arms while Alex and Kili help each other come to Smaug and I.

"Alex, Kili this is Smaug my..uh..soulmate I guess," I introduce with a weird hand gesture.

"Your soulmate is a fucking dragon who killed at least ten thousand people!" Kili exclaims.

"That's fucking awesome!" Alex cheers and grabs Smaugs hand roughly. "It is so nice to meet you. You are such an inspiration to me!"

"Thanks I guess?" Smaug murmurs.

"That's why your bond line is on fire," Lacy remarks. "I was wondering."

"Lacy stay back. I do not trust this beast," Tauriel hisses and steps in front of Lacy protectively.

"It's okay Tauriel. He was cursed he had no clue what he was doing. He's no longer dangerous," I assure. Tauriel looks skeptic but steps aside nonetheless.

"Now that we've all met I think we need to escape this town," Bard cuts in. His children are clinging to his legs desperately.

"Smaug and I can fly ahead and behind guarding against possible falling debris the rest of you load up," Emily orders. Her leadership skills are natural and we all follow her guidance.

I have no idea what to make of anything.

~~~

Sam

~~~

The crash is loud and makes the ground shake. I see the dragon's body fall.

"Wh...what was that? What happened?" Ori questions. Dwalin has a firm arm wrapped around his shoulders.

"It fell, I saw it. It's dead," Bilbo replies the turns to face the dwarves. "Smaug is dead." A heavy silence settles over us. I just stare at the body. In a blink of an eye the body disappears. I hold back a gasp.

"By my beard, I think he's right!" Gloin exclaims pointing to birds flying back to the mountain. I say nothing referring to the missing body. Jacob gives me a side eye and we both nod to each other. We'll keep this quiet. "Look there! The Ravens of Erebor are returning to the Mountain."

"Aye, word will spread. Before long, every soul in Middle Earth will know the Dragon is dead!" Balin agrees vehemently. The dwarves pause and let the information settle before shouting and cheering. They hug each other and rejoice. All but one. Thorin doesn't cheer instead he slinks back to the mountain.

~~~

Emily

~~~

Fili marvels and runs his hands along my scales and wings as we float away from the town to a nearby shore.

"They are warm to the touch and so magnificent," he whispers.

"You like them? I think they're quite shiny. In truth I am very freaked out by the sudden transformation I had," I confess shyly.

"I'll love you regardless of what you look like. I'm very glad you're okay," Fili says and carefully kisses me. The fangs in my mouth are new and make it kind of hard to close. I hope I can go back to regular old hobbit form. I don't think I want this full time.

Looking up I see survivors swimming onto the shore. Tauriel leaps out of the boat and shoves it onto the beach with the help of Smaug.

"Will somebody help me! Don't let me go!" a civilian cries out. Lacy bends down and grabs his arm pulling him out of the water and onto the beach.

"Help!" Alfrid yells and we all selectively ignore him. Bard steps out of the boat and helps Tilda and Sigrid out. Bain is adamant to do it himself. I flap my new wings and glide out. Smaug barely lifts his leg to get out and he easily picks up Natalie setting her on the ground. She glares at him for that.

"What now?" Lacy wonders out loud.

"Ahh! Why me?" Alfrid wails flipping on the beach like a fish. It's extremely pathetic.

"We have to go now I know. If someone sees Smaug they could connect the dots and get angry," Tauriel answers in a low voice. We only came ashore to drop off Bain, Sigrid, Bard, and Tilda.

"They'll go batshit crazy," Alex rephrases.

"So I'll stay in the boat then," Smaug offers and steps back in, sitting down.

"Alex! Tauriel!" Grace yells running out of the woods. Legolas trails behind.

"Grace, Legolas I thought you went after the orcs!?" Tauriel greets, surprised.

"We were but after hearing the dragons death we turned back. Figured you'd need our help," Legolas explains with a shrug.

"But our work isn't done. We just came to check up on the town then we have to move on. There is lots to be done," Grace adds. I climb back into the boat with Fili, letting them converse.

~~~

Lacy

~~~

"My lord and lady do you want my service?" Tauriel inquiries. That doesn't sound good.

"We'd like it yes Tauriel. But it's your choice," Grace responds.

"Tauriel," I call and hop out of the boat to walk to her.

"Lacy, come on. We're leaving," Natalie announces waving her over. I hold up my hand to signal them to wait. I don't want to part from Tauriel again.

"They are your company, you must go. The mountain will be safe for you. It's the safest place now," Tauriel utters to me. She reaches out and hos both my hands in hers.

"Come with us. I wish not to be apart again," I beg.

"Lacy I need to help. The dragon is no longer returning to take the gold out of the mountain therefore many vile things will be after it. A battle may start and if I can I want to stop it. You need to stay safe," Tauriel argues. She has a point. I can't fight.

"Alright but you come back to me," I relent. "Come back to me when it's over."

"I will I promise," she vows and lightly kisses my lips. Slowly we break away and she goes with Grace and Legolas. I go with the dwarves, another elf, and part dragon people.