The human food and wine worked a strange magic on Gollum, momentarily allowing his long-buried memories of being a Man to surface.
Feeling safe in the shadows of the terrace, he cooperated with the warm water and the wooden tub, scrubbing centuries of filth from his spindly limbs. As the warmth seeped into his skin, the memories of a sun-drenched day long ago came rushing back.
He saw himself as Sméagol, fishing on a small boat with his dear friend Déagol. He remembered the tug on the line, the struggle in the water, and the glint of gold in the riverbed. Then, the darkness—the murder, the flight, and the long, cold centuries in the damp tunnels of the Goblin Kingdom.
Smaug, watching the expressions of pain and regret flickering across the creature's face, decided to push the psychological envelope. He leaned over the edge of the tub. "Do you remember now... Sméagol?"
The name hit the creature like a bolt of lightning. He let out a shriek and nearly leaped out of the water.
When he splashed back down, his large eyes were wide with a mix of agony and bewilderment. "How... how does you knows our name?"
"I told you, I am your friend," Smaug said with a faint, sharp-toothed grin. He felt a mischievous spark. "I spoke to Déagol in the spirit-world. He said he forgives you."
Thump.
Gollum's entire body shook. "Truly? He... he says that?"
"Truly," Smaug nodded solemnly. "He knows it wasn't your fault. He knows it was the Ring."
"Not our fault... not our fault..." Gollum repeated the words like a mantra, his large hands wiping the water and tears from his face. "We didn't wants to... we didn't know why we dids it... the Precious made us do it..."
Seeing the creature begin to spiral into his split-personality mutterings again, Smaug pulled back. "Whatever happened, Sméagol, it's in the past now."
Gollum didn't seem to hear. He submerged his head beneath the water, hiding from the world.
The Return to the Mountain
Eventually, Gollum emerged from the bath, and with Bard's reluctant help, he was dressed in a set of clean, child-sized clothes. The fit was surprisingly good. Gollum spent a long time touching the fabric, his fingers trembling.
"Sméagol, come with me," Smaug said, opening his massive claw. "You will stay in the Mountain for now."
Gollum looked at the claw for a few seconds, then silently climbed in.
"My thanks, Lord Bard," Smaug rumbled as he took flight.
Minutes later, they landed in the Great Hall of Erebor. Smaug set Gollum down on the cold marble. "You stay here. Do not wander. This hall has only one entrance—the main gate."
Gollum instinctively began to follow Smaug toward the lower levels. "My Precious... give us the Precious..."
"I live below," Smaug replied without looking back. "You stay here and watch the gate. This is your first mission. If you complete the tasks I give you, I will fulfill my promise and give the Precious back to you."
Gollum froze. "You... you swears it? You won't tricks us?"
"I swear it," Smaug chuckled.
He left the creature standing in the center of the vast, silent hall. As Smaug descended into the deeps, he could hear the faint, echoing argument behind him as Gollum debated with himself whether to trust "the nice Dragon" or "the lying Thief."
The Golden Reward
Back in his hoard, Smaug settled onto his bed of gold. He summoned the system interface, his pulse quickening. It was time for the Golden Mystery Box.
Open.
[You have opened a Golden Mystery Box.]
[Reward: Absolute Body Fortification (One-time use).]
[Effect: Your wounds will heal instantly. Your hide will become impervious to all physical weaponry. Only Divine Power (Ainu or Eru) can harm you.]
[Note: This durability applies to all your shifted forms.]
Smaug sat in stunned silence. This is a game-changer.
He was already the strongest creature in Middle-earth. Now, he was effectively a god. Unless the Valar decided to sail back from the West or Eru Ilúvatar personally threw a lightning bolt at him, he was invincible. No Black Arrow, no Elven blade, and no Dwarven axe could ever touch him again.
"I'm basically a cheat code," he whispered.
He felt a surge of excitement, followed by a strange, sudden hollow feeling.
He was rich. He was invincible. He had a kingdom. What was left to strive for? If he used this power now, the story was over. He could walk into Mordor, slap Sauron, and be home in time for dinner.
"It's lonely at the top," Smaug sighed.
He made a decision. He wouldn't use the fortification yet. He wanted the other inhabitants of Middle-earth—the Elves, the Men, the Orcs—to keep their "hope." He wanted them to see his old wound and think, "We can still kill him." Without that hope, the game would be boring.
"I really am a benevolent dragon," he mused.
He turned his attention to the Silver Mystery Boxes.
[You have opened a Silver Mystery Box.]
[Reward: Binding Contract Fragment (1/4).]
[You have opened a Silver Mystery Box.]
[Reward: Binding Contract Fragment (1/4).]
[You have opened a Silver Mystery Box.]
[Reward: Binding Contract Fragment (1/4).]
Three fragments. He was one piece away from being able to summon and bind Scatha the Worm.
"Well, the road to total dominion continues," Smaug said, his eyes glinting with a new determination. "I have to keep struggling. I have to keep 'grinding' for that last fragment."
He stood up, his massive frame shaking the mountain. He had a kingdom to build, a ring to hide, and a "parade" of Dwarves to prepare for.