"I have decided," Beorn said, his voice a low growl that brooked no debate. "I will move to the Mountain. But know this: my only purpose is to take the head of Azog."
"I will not be your slave. If you command me to do something I find dishonorable or foolish, I will refuse."
"No problem," Smaug replied instantly.
His goal was to have a titan like Beorn ready for the coming storm. As for chores? He had enough gold to hire servants; he didn't need a bear-man to sweep the floors.
"Do you need help with the move?" Smaug asked. "I can send labor to assist you."
Beorn started to shake his head, then paused. "I must cross the Mirkwood. Those Wood-elves are... difficult neighbors."
"Hah! They certainly have a reputation," Smaug laughed. "I'll fly over to see Thranduil immediately and ensure you have safe passage."
Beorn nodded. "Very well."
"Then it's settled," Smaug said, spreading his wings. "I'll see you at the Mountain."
[Quest Complete.]
[Upgraded Bronze Mystery Box issued to Storage.]
Smaug didn't claim the reward yet. He shook his massive body, shifted back into his true draconic form, and soared toward the dark eaves of the Mirkwood.
In the Elven halls, the guards were enjoying a rare moment of peace. They hadn't been "harassed" by the dragon for several days and were beginning to relax. That relaxation evaporated the moment the massive silhouette appeared on the horizon.
"He's back!"
"Sound the alarm?"
"What else? Better safe than sorry."
The silver notes of the conch shell echoed through the trees once more. Within minutes, Thranduil was notified of the dragon's return. He ground his teeth, a string of Elven curses on his lips, before heading to the high balcony to meet his persistent "neighbor."
As Smaug approached the landing, a mischievous thought struck him. He decided to give the King a "little shock." Mid-air, he triggered his skill.
Shapeshift.
Thranduil's jaw nearly dropped. He stood frozen as the gargantuan Fire-drake vanished, replaced instantly by a majestic, golden-feathered Eagle.
The Elven-king was stunned. His mind raced: How? Is this an illusion? No... the spirit is real. He wasn't alone; every Elf who witnessed the transformation stood as if turned to stone.
Smaug landed on the marble railing, only a few feet from the King. "Old neighbor! It's been a few days. I hope everything is well in your woods?"
Thranduil found his voice, though his eyes remained wide with shock. "What... what manner of sorcery is this?"
Ordinarily, Thranduil would have offered a cold "It would be better if you weren't here." But pride was useless in the face of this revelation. The King realized with a cold chill that if Smaug could wear any skin, no vault or bedchamber in Mirkwood was safe. The dragon could walk into his throne room as a common moth and burn the palace from the inside out.
For the first time in an age, Thranduil felt a genuine, cold fear.
Smaug was delighted by the reaction. "Shapeshifting? Just a little trick I picked up recently," he said with a playful tilt of his head.
"A little trick?" Thranduil repeated, his voice tight. "Can you... can you become anything?"
Smaug nodded.
The King's mind was a storm of conflicting impulses. His first instinct was to draw his blade and strike the Eagle down while it was small. His second was to abandon the palace entirely and move his people to the coast.
Neither was viable. If he failed to kill the dragon in one strike, Mirkwood would become a funeral pyre. He could imagine it: the dragon infiltrating as a cat, a bird, or a squirrel, setting fires and vanishing into the shadows.
He remained silent, his mind reeling. Smaug let him stew for a moment, enjoying the psychological victory.
"Old neighbor," Smaug said, his tone turning serious. "I've actually come to ask a favor. I'll pay in gold, of course."
Thranduil braced himself. "What favor?"
"You know the skin-changer, Beorn? I've struck an accord with him. He is moving to the Mountain soon. The shortest path is through your woods."
"I ask that you send a few of your scouts to guide him to the river, and provide boats to ensure he reaches Dale without incident."
"..." Thranduil's brow furrowed. Beorn was a legendarily reclusive and powerful warrior. How had the dragon recruited him? "First a kingdom, now the skin-changer. What is it you are building, Smaug?"
"I spent a great deal of time in Rivendell recently," Smaug replied casually. "I spoke with Lord Elrond and the Lady Galadriel on this very subject."
Thranduil felt like he was being hit by one shock after another. Rivendell? The White Council?
"The Necromancer of Dol Guldur reached out to me," Smaug continued. "He wanted an alliance. I refused him. Soon, his shadow will stretch across these lands, and the Mountain will be the first line of defense. Beorn is coming to help hold that line."
Thranduil stood in a daze. He had taken on more information than his immortal mind could process in a single sitting.
~~----------------------
Patreon Advance Chapters:
[email protected] / Dreamer20