Chapter 23 — Does the Expedition Still Matter?
Rivendell.
The High Terrace.
The moment those words were spoken—
Boom.
Gandalf, Saruman, and Elrond all felt their minds explode. Their expressions changed dramatically.
Galadriel handled it slightly better—though only slightly.
The next instant, Gandalf spoke, his voice urgent.
"Is that true?"
Deep down, he had always feared Sauron's return. Unable to hide his anxiety, he pressed on.
"Has Sauron begun to move again?"
Smaug nodded.
"Not begun," he said calmly. "He has been active for a long time already.
And while we're at it—I know most of his plans. Don't ask me how."
Gandalf and the others: "????"
"What are those plans?" Gandalf asked immediately.
"That kind of information doesn't come for free," Smaug replied with a grin.
"I'm not an idiot."
"…."
For once, Gandalf had nothing to say.
At that point, Elrond had regained some composure.
"You claim you are willing to help us oppose Sauron," he said evenly.
"What exactly are you capable of doing?"
"Lord Elrond," Smaug replied bluntly, "that's a rather foolish question."
"Leaving everything else aside, the fact that I can change form at will is already more than enough. I can walk straight into Mordor without raising suspicion."
"…."
Elrond fell silent.
Saruman finally spoke, his tone sharp and hostile.
"And how are we to know you are not lying? Why would Smaug the Dragon oppose Sauron? Sauron is Morgoth's servant—and your kind was born of Morgoth as well. You belong to the same lineage. Why betray your own side?"
Smaug disliked Saruman immensely. At that moment, he nearly laughed out loud.
Betrayal?
Who exactly betrayed whom?
A traitor like Saruman had no right to speak of loyalty—certainly not to a dragon.
"I don't like Sauron's methods," Smaug replied casually.
"Rule built purely on violence never lasts. Sauron fails to understand that."
"As for Morgoth?" Smaug snorted.
"That thing has been dead for how long now? What does it have to do with me?"
"I don't believe you," Saruman said stubbornly, his beard trembling with anger.
"Believe it or don't," Smaug shot back coldly.
"I'm not trying to be your friend."
Saruman was so furious he nearly choked on his own breath.
"…."
Smaug shot Saruman a cold glare, then turned his gaze to Galadriel.
"Your Majesty—what do you think of my proposal?"
For a brief moment, Galadriel said nothing. In that silence, countless thoughts passed through her mind. When she finally spoke, she answered with a question of her own.
"What is it that you truly want?"
Smaug smiled faintly.
"That is my concern."
Galadriel frowned slightly, but did not respond.
"Well then," Smaug said after a moment's thought, "it's obvious you'll need time to discuss this. I'll take my leave."
With that, he lifted the cup to his mouth and drained most of the remaining wine in one long gulp, then turned and scampered away.
Moments later—
As they watched Smaug disappear, Saruman was the first to speak, his tone sharp and agitated.
"Your Majesty, you absolutely must not trust that dragon!
It's far more likely he has already agreed to cooperate with Sauron!"
Galadriel remained silent.
Elrond hesitated, then chose to support Saruman.
"Your Majesty, Saruman has a point. Smaug would never suddenly act out of goodwill.
Dragons simply do not behave that way."
Galadriel still did not speak aloud. Instead, she sent a thought directly to Gandalf.
"Mithrandir… what do you think? Has Smaug truly changed?"
Gandalf had turned this question over in his mind many times already. He answered her in kind.
"During these past days, Smaug had countless opportunities to kill me—and Thorin Oakenshield as well. Yet he did not."
"That alone doesn't prove he has changed… but I do believe he is no longer the same dragon he once was."
After a pause, Gandalf added,
"No matter what, I believe we must try. Otherwise, all it takes is one turn of his head—and he sides with Sauron."
"If Erebor falls completely, Sauron's armies will pour straight into Middle-earth. The consequences would be unimaginable."
This was precisely Galadriel's greatest concern.
Erebor's position was far too critical. If Smaug truly allied with Sauron, who could stop the orc legions?
The Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor had long since fallen; the dwarves were scattered and divided.
Men were no safer a hope—once-mighty Gondor had declined into shadow, and realms like Rohan fared no better.
As for the Elves…
Their numbers had not diminished greatly, but immortality had dulled their fire. Few would truly fight to the death for the sake of other races.
And more than that—many Elves had never been deeply attached to Middle-earth at all. The thought of sailing west to Aman was always there, waiting.
Put bluntly, the Elves could abandon Middle-earth at any time.
With that realization—
Galadriel finally spoke.
"If Smaug were to ally with Sauron… the price would be one we cannot afford to pay."
That was the final word.
She turned to Gandalf.
"Gandalf. You have spent time with him. You will speak with him first."
"I will remain here for several more days."
"I understand," Gandalf replied without hesitation.
Saruman was furious. He wanted to say that this was madness—but in the face of Galadriel's authority, he swallowed his words and remained silent.
---
Later, the High Terrace stood empty save for Gandalf alone.
Leaning against the railing, pipe in hand, he gazed down at the dwarves gathered below. With every draw of smoke, his headache worsened.
What now?
Smaug had revealed himself.
What meaning did this expedition still hold?
Continue forward? Toward what end?
Smaug was here. How were Thorin and his company supposed to steal the Arkenstone and reunite the dwarves?
Even if by some miracle they succeeded—then what?
How would they reclaim Erebor?
Ask Smaug to politely step aside and surrender his kingdom?
…Absurd.
So then—abandon the expedition?
Gandalf seriously considered it.
Strictly speaking, his true purpose had never been restoring Thorin's kingdom. That had only ever been secondary.
What he feared was delay—Smaug awakening fully and joining forces with Sauron.
If Smaug truly intended to stand with them…
Abandoning the expedition now—cutting losses early—might actually be the wisest choice.
Of course, Gandalf could already imagine Thorin's fury.
And guilt weighed heavily on him as well. He had given Thorin hope—only now to consider taking it away.
Gandalf thought long and hard.
And finally—
He arrived at a solution that might, just might, satisfy both sides.
With his mind made up, Gandalf turned at once to seek Smaug—
Only to find him already there, sitting casually atop the stone table beneath the pavilion.