Within the tunnels of the Goblin Kingdom.
The demonic, silent whispers of the One Ring echoed in Smaug's mind. Since he wasn't doing much else, he decided to listen in and see what the "Precious" actually had to say.
"I can give you power..."
"I can give you wealth..."
"Whatever you desire, I can provide..."
Smaug scoffed internally. Power? He was a Fire-drake with a system that promised infinite growth. Wealth? If he piled up all the gold in Middle-earth, it wouldn't match the hoard he already sat upon. As for "desire"... honestly, he couldn't think of anything else he lacked.
"Little trash," Smaug muttered to himself. He leaned down and scooped up the still-cursing, frantic Gollum with his free hand.
"My Precious! Give it back! Give it back, you nasty thief!" Gollum writhed and shrieked, his voice a miserable rasp. Smaug ignored him and strode toward the surface.
Outside the Mountain
[Quest Complete: Obtain the One Ring.]
[Golden Mystery Box issued to Storage.]
Smaug noticed the system prompt. He was slightly surprised the Goblin King quest hadn't registered yet—perhaps the fat monarch was still weighing the "logistics" of moving. No matter. He'd deal with that later.
He set the trembling Gollum down on the grass. "Quiet down, Gollum. The noise is giving me a headache."
"You have to trust me. I really am your friend. If you stay by my side and help me when I need you, I might eventually give your 'Precious' back to you."
He wasn't lying. He had been weighing the choice: follow the script to Mount Doom and end Sauron forever? Or keep the Ring as leverage and try to make the Dark Lord his subordinate? The second option felt much more "draconic." Of course, if things went sideways, he could always melt the jewelry later.
Gollum stopped his cursing instantly. His large, pale eyes bulged like tea saucers. "Give it... give it back to us? Truly?"
"If you is lying, we kills you... we—" Gollum's threat died in his throat.
The miniature Troll vanished. In its place, the gargantuan, hundred-meter-long silhouette of Smaug the Terrible manifested in the morning light.
"Precious! Precious!" Gollum shrieked, falling onto his back. "You is Smaug! You is the Dragon!"
"Hah! My friend Gollum, you've never known the joy of flight, have you?" Smaug had already stashed the Ring safely in his system storage. He reached out a massive claw and scooped Gollum up. "Today, you get the VIP tour."
Before Gollum could even squeak, Smaug surged into the air, heading straight for the Lonely Mountain.
High above the clouds, Gollum looked down at the world, his mind fracturing under the sheer impossibility of it all. Troll? Dragon? Friend? Thief? Who had taken his Precious? His split personality began to fracture even further, the voices in his head arguing at a deafening volume.
Dale
As Smaug flew over the Mirkwood, he noticed a lack of conch shells. The Elves had seemingly given up on alarms, choosing a policy of "If we ignore him, maybe he'll go away."
He didn't stop. He crossed the Long Lake and landed directly on the terrace of the Lord's Manor in Dale. Bard arrived within minutes, looking weary.
"Lord Bard, I require a feast. I am hosting a guest," Smaug said, opening his claw to release the bound Gollum. "Look at the poor fellow. He's all skin and bone. It's a tragedy."
"..." Bard stared at the deformed, pale creature writhing on the marble. Guest? This looked like a kidnapping victim. "What... what is this thing? An animal? A goblin?"
Bard wondered how many more "monsters" Smaug intended to bring to his city. Was Dale becoming a sanctuary for the weird and the wretched?
"He was once a man like you," Smaug replied softly. "Now... I'm not sure what he is. Just get the food. Lots of meat, some vegetables too. A balanced diet is important for growth."
"Fine," Bard sighed, feeling a sudden, unexpected pang of pity for the creature.
Half an hour later, a tray of roasted meats, fresh bread, and wine was brought to the terrace. Gollum, who had spent the last thirty minutes begging Smaug for the Ring, froze the moment the scent hit him.
His nose twitched uncontrollably. It had been centuries since he had tasted "Man-food." His memories of being a Stoor, of cooked meals and warm hearths, surged to the surface, overwhelming his primal instincts.
"Precious! Precious! It smells so good!"
"Gollum, my friend," Smaug said. "Lord Bard will untie you. Don't try anything stupid."
Bard cautiously approached and cut the ropes. Gollum was a blur of movement. He launched himself at the table, stuffing food into his mouth with both hands so fast it created a physical shadow of movement.
Bard stood beside Smaug, watching the spectacle with a grim look. "He... he was really a man?"
"Once," Smaug said. "Long ago."
Bard felt a cold shiver of shared mortality. He looked at the wretched creature and felt a wave of sadness. "I'll fetch some warm water," Bard said quietly. "He needs a bath. And some clean clothes."
Smaug nodded. "Good idea."