Having been a corporate drone in his past life, Smaug completely understood the mood of the other six Stone Giants at this moment. You don't let the boss eat a feast while the workers stare at an empty plate.
Without hesitation, Smaug took flight again, distributing the gems.
Of course, he understood hierarchy. The portions he gave to the other six were noticeably smaller than what he had given the Queen. It wouldn't do to insult the sovereign by feeding her subjects equally.
Within moments, the feeding was complete, and Smaug settled back onto the Queen's mossy shoulder.
"Honored Queen," Smaug began, getting straight to the point now that her stomach was full. "I wish to invite you and your kin to move to my home. I live in the Lonely Mountain. I have a vast supply of these stones there."
"What do you say?"
The Stone Giant Queen remained silent.
Smaug had no choice but to wait.
He waited for a long time. Just as he began to wonder if the Queen had fallen into a food-coma and gone to sleep for another century, she finally spoke.
"The... Lone... ly... Moun... tain... I... know... it," she rumbled slowly. "Pro... vide... a... bun... dant... food... and... we... shall... go."
Success! Smaug felt a surge of excitement. "You have my word. I will provide all the food you require."
[Quest Complete.]
[Three Silver Mystery Boxes have been issued to Storage.]
Smaug could hardly believe it. He had traded a handful of shiny rocks—which were essentially useless to him as a dragon—for seven super-tier combatants and three high-level system rewards.
What a massive profit! This is highway robbery!
"Good," the Queen replied simply.
"Shall we depart now, then?" Smaug asked, eager to get his new security system installed.
"No," the Queen refused. "We... walk... when... the... sky... is... dark."
"..." Smaug blinked. "Very well."
The Queen fell silent and still. The other six giants followed suit, freezing in place.
So we're just going to stand here until nightfall? Smaug looked up at the sky. Well, at least it's only a few hours away.
The hours ticked by. Finally, darkness fell over the Misty Mountains.
"Walk," the Queen commanded, breaking her statuesque silence.
Slowly, the seven Stone Giants formed a single-file line and began their migration toward Erebor.
Naturally, the movement of seven mountains caused a tremendous racket. However, for the Goblin scouts who had been watching from the shadows, the noise was nothing compared to the sheer shock in their hearts.
"Smaug actually convinced the rocks to leave?"
"It looks like it..."
"How is that even possible?"
"Who cares! This is great news! We never have to worry about them throwing boulders at our caves again!"
The scouts raced back down into the depths, finding the Great Goblin still lounging on his throne.
"Your Greatness! Good news! Smaug took the giants! They're all leaving, heading East!"
The Great Goblin's jaw dropped. What is happening up there? Why does a dragon want rocks? But his confusion quickly gave way to joy. The giants had been a constant hazard to the upper tunnels for centuries.
"Hah! Excellent! Let the worm have them!" he roared with laughter. "The Misty Mountains are finally ours alone! Call for a feast! Bring out the grog! Let the music play!"
Goblin-town erupted into a grotesque, chaotic celebration.
Far below the celebration, in the freezing dark near the subterranean lake.
Gollum, his stomach twisting with hunger, heard the continuous, rhythmic thudding from the surface. The noise was maddening. He scrambled up the slick rocks, crawling through a narrow fissure until he reached a vantage point overlooking the pass.
His large, luminous eyes widened in confusion.
"What is it, precious?" he whispered to himself. "Smaug the Terrible is here? Why are the big rocks following the dragon?"
His stomach gave a violent lurch. "We have never tasted dragon-meat, precious. Smaug looks very... tasty, doesn't he?"
Gollum muttered to himself for a moment longer, his twisted, clever mind working through a dozen impossible scenarios, before turning and scurrying back into the absolute dark.
The night passed, and the first grey light of dawn touched the horizon.
The Stone Giant Queen stopped abruptly. "The... sky... is... bright. We... walk... when... it... is... dark."
Sigh.
Smaug, perched on her shoulder, looked out over the plains. The Misty Mountains were still looming large right behind them. He hadn't realized that the giants, out of a bizarre respect for the small, living things of the world, walked at an agonizingly slow pace, carefully avoiding forests and settlements.
This is going to be a very long trip home, Smaug groaned internally.
And so it was. Seven days of slow, methodical, night-time marching.
By the time the familiar peak of the Lonely Mountain finally appeared on the horizon on the seventh morning, Smaug felt a profound sense of nostalgia. Who knew coming home could be this exhausting?
Meanwhile, the Elves of Mirkwood were losing their minds.
Thranduil, standing on the highest balcony of his palace, stared across the plains toward Erebor. He completely abandoned his usual grace.
"He lied to me!" Thranduil yelled, his knuckles white as he gripped the railing. "He said he found two! THERE ARE SEVEN OF THEM!"
Beside him, Legolas stared at the horizon, his scalp tingling with a cold dread. Seven Stone Giants, forming a wall of living rock around the Lonely Mountain.
With that kind of defense... Sauron's army could never breach Erebor unless the dragon allowed it. And if the dragon ever decided to march those giants into Mirkwood, the Elven realm would be crushed to splinters in an afternoon.
"Father..." Legolas found his voice, though it was hollow. "What do we do now?"
"That blasted worm!" Thranduil cursed, taking a deep, shuddering breath to regain some semblance of composure. "Do not panic, Legolas. The situation is dire, but the giants are not mindless weapons of war. They value life. They will not easily be commanded to march on an offensive campaign."
He paused, his eyes fixed on the distant titans. "However, the reality has changed. The Dragon Kingdom is now an impenetrable fortress. No force in Middle-earth can destroy Erebor without paying a price so steep it would ruin them."
Legolas understood. "So... he brought them here purely for defense?"
"Yes," Thranduil nodded, hoping to the Valar he was right.
He took another deep breath, the anger fading into a cold, pragmatic acceptance. "Legolas... it is time we formally consider Smaug's proposal for an alliance."
Thranduil had no desire to leave his home. Now, with the giants guarding the North, allying with Smaug was the only logical choice to ensure Mirkwood survived the coming storm.
As for the indignity of allying with a dragon? Thranduil pushed the thought aside. He had allied with the greedy, stubborn Dwarves of Erebor in the past.
And if he was being completely honest... the current Smaug was actually much more polite than King Thrór ever was.