Heart of Fire
"Kathryn, my angel of the night and the moon of my life. You are the fire which burns in my heart. The storm in my soul which leaves me at unrest. The woman whose wind has held me aloft. You are the spear that pierced me, the rage that consumes me, the darkness that blinds me, the jewel that adorns me, and you scorched me with your heart of fire. You are the nightingale of emperors! I have waited for this day for a long time. For years I have slept waiting for the day where I could feel your fire against me once again. I crave your warmth, your face, your skin, your light. I know that I must have you, it is a burning need that gnaws at the very core of my being, one that I can never truly suppress, and never will again. I will drown us both in blood if only to have you by my side once more. Nothing will part us, I will not allow it, and even though you are stolen from me, I will fight to find you until the world is naught but ash and dust. For if Oakenshield craves his most precious gem, then I crave you my Arkenstone, my angel of the night. For you are the Queen Beneath the Mountain, the Dragon Queen herself… and I couldn't protect you, not even from myself."
—Smaug
Heart of Ashes
Lord Beronor: Do you know how I got to where I am now? Yes, I was born into my family title, but it was I who dragged my family name up to become one of the most influential houses in Dorwinion. And I did not get here by allowing anyone to stand in my way. Do not stand in my way, witch… life will become very unpleasant for you if you do.
Kathryn: Is that a threat?
Lord Beronor: No, that was truth. A threat would be if I proposed something I had a chance of completing; when I say truth, I mean it with utter certainty.
Kathryn: You will leave my presence please, Sir.
Lord Beronor: You need to understand the natural order of things Kathryn. You are a parlour trick, nothing more. Yes, your powers may be extremely advantageous to us and a great thing to possess now. But soon the novelty will wear off, and when you cease to be useful it will only be a matter of time before your brash and insubordinate behaviour gets you killed. However, if, from now on, you do as you are told and do as I say, that can be avoided.
Kathryn: Do you believe me to be a little puppet for you to pull the strings?! Do not think that because I am a woman, I am feeble! I too can command the winds sir! I have a hurricane in me so great it will strip the leaves of your Noble House bare if you dare to try me!
Lord Beronor: You dare to threaten me?!
Kathryn: I do! You are little more than a dog scrounging for food at the King's chair! I am more then what you or that weakling of a king could ever dream of! You have no idea who you're dealing with – ARGH! [is backhanded by Beronor who proceeds to calmly walk away]
Lord Beronor: And apparently… neither do you.
Kathryn: Is that a threat?
Lord Beronor: No, that was truth. A threat would be if I proposed something I had a chance of completing; when I say truth, I mean it with utter certainty.
Kathryn: You will leave my presence please, Sir.
Lord Beronor: You need to understand the natural order of things Kathryn. You are a parlour trick, nothing more. Yes, your powers may be extremely advantageous to us and a great thing to possess now. But soon the novelty will wear off, and when you cease to be useful it will only be a matter of time before your brash and insubordinate behaviour gets you killed. However, if, from now on, you do as you are told and do as I say, that can be avoided.
Kathryn: Do you believe me to be a little puppet for you to pull the strings?! Do not think that because I am a woman, I am feeble! I too can command the winds sir! I have a hurricane in me so great it will strip the leaves of your Noble House bare if you dare to try me!
Lord Beronor: You dare to threaten me?!
Kathryn: I do! You are little more than a dog scrounging for food at the King's chair! I am more then what you or that weakling of a king could ever dream of! You have no idea who you're dealing with – ARGH! [is backhanded by Beronor who proceeds to calmly walk away]
Lord Beronor: And apparently… neither do you.
Smaug: [telepathically to Vathvael's people] Well done. The sheep have hidden themselves well from the wolf. And though some have fought, they have died all the same, but there need not be any more wasted death. I am therefore withdrawing from the city, and allowing you to regroup and to find your dead… what little is left of them. You all know of the destruction that I wrought upon Dale, now you too will have the wrath of Smaug rained down upon you. But, obey my commands and that fate shall be avoided. I demand that you give to me the Seer. Bring her to me at the plains outside of the City within one hour, alive. Do this, and I will leave your crumbling city and no further harm shall befall you at my hands. Refuse me, and you cannot even imagine the consequences! Kathryn… Kathryn, I now speak directly to you.
Kathryn: Smaug…
Smaug: Kathryn… [chuckles coldly] What wonderful games you wish to play.
Kathryn: Smaug – [starts speaking in her thoughts] Smaug, what are you doing?
Smaug: I am simply taking what is mine. You should have known that this would happen before you acted so foolishly!
Kathryn: These are innocent people!
Smaug: Worthless worms!
Kathryn: You would kill them to get to me?
Smaug: It is in your power to stop this. You are the only one that can decide their fate.
Kathryn: You can't do this! I can't let you!
Smaug: Then you will hear their screams as you run from me again! Wherever you run, the screams of the dying will follow!
Kathryn: I am NOT going to run! I will not run from you anymore! I am going to stand here and WATCH you do this! Every one you kill, every thing you destroy… each and every blow will cut into my heart and tell me who and WHAT you are!
[Smaug roars and strikes the castle in anger outside before continuing his speech after a long pause]
Smaug: Come to me, as I have demanded, you belong to me – I know you know this. I have tolerated your games up until now, but NO MORE! You will come to me willingly, and if you do not… I will kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me. And do not think I won't because I have killed more for less! Either way, I always get what I want. I give you one hour, Kathryn. One hour…
Kathryn: Smaug…
Smaug: Kathryn… [chuckles coldly] What wonderful games you wish to play.
Kathryn: Smaug – [starts speaking in her thoughts] Smaug, what are you doing?
Smaug: I am simply taking what is mine. You should have known that this would happen before you acted so foolishly!
Kathryn: These are innocent people!
Smaug: Worthless worms!
Kathryn: You would kill them to get to me?
Smaug: It is in your power to stop this. You are the only one that can decide their fate.
Kathryn: You can't do this! I can't let you!
Smaug: Then you will hear their screams as you run from me again! Wherever you run, the screams of the dying will follow!
Kathryn: I am NOT going to run! I will not run from you anymore! I am going to stand here and WATCH you do this! Every one you kill, every thing you destroy… each and every blow will cut into my heart and tell me who and WHAT you are!
[Smaug roars and strikes the castle in anger outside before continuing his speech after a long pause]
Smaug: Come to me, as I have demanded, you belong to me – I know you know this. I have tolerated your games up until now, but NO MORE! You will come to me willingly, and if you do not… I will kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me. And do not think I won't because I have killed more for less! Either way, I always get what I want. I give you one hour, Kathryn. One hour…
Heart of the Inferno
Smaug: [enters Bilbo's room in his human form] Hello, hobbit.
Bilbo Baggins: Who are you?
Smaug: Such a strange creature you are. A hobbit. I had never encountered something of the like before – but I suppose that is why you were chosen.
Bilbo Baggins: What are you talking about? I don't believe we've met.
Smaug: Could I have left such a small impression? I had thought we were getting along famously.
Bilbo Baggins: I… I don't remember… Please, sir, you'll have to forgive me, my memory's not what it once was. I get headaches rather easily now…
Smaug: Always with your good manners and pleasant speech. Your visit was an interesting one. I would make a note to invite you for a cup of tea. You were good to listen to with your honeyed words… even if your intentions were not as appealing.
Bilbo Baggins: Please, m-might I have a name to call you?
Smaug: You called me many a pretty name. Though I did find it quite insulting that you refused to give me yours. It left me with quite the puzzle, you see. Lucky for you, I liked the puzzle – oh! That was what you called yourself, wasn't it? Mr lucky number.
Bilbo Baggins: Mr lucky…
Smaug: But of course, my memory slips now and again. I remember I called you by the name I found you with. I admit, I might have come up with something a little more imaginative then 'thief in the shadows'.
Bilbo Baggins: Thief in the… [pales at the realization] You!
Smaug: Yes. [pins Bilbo down with a grin] Me.
Bilbo Baggins: B-b-but, how?!
Smaug: A hunter is always patient. I've waited years for this. I'm amazed you managed to last this long – and in such good condition. I thought you would die before I finally found you. Thank you for your consideration. [turns his hand draconic]
Bilbo Baggins: Oh! Great and terrible Smaug! Mercy!
Smaug: You evaded me once or twice before. Yet your power seems to have left you. How convenient for me. [prepares to strike]
Bilbo Baggins: It wasn't me! It was my–
Smaug: [pauses] Your what?
Bilbo Baggins: The precious!
Smaug: Precious?
Bilbo Baggins: No! You can't have it! Greedy wormy-thing you is! Can't have it! Mine! My precious! [frees himself from Smaug's grip and starts pacing the room] It's here! I know! I can hear its pretty song – so pretty, it calls for its Bilbo… my precious, sings. You hear it? Mine! My precious… [starts wobbling] Oh, precious… my head hurts…
[Smaug decides that Bilbo's not worth killing because of his "insanity" and makes his exit]
Smaug: Be left with the prison of your own design, with the poison of your own making, thief-in-the-shadows. Once again, you've denied me the satisfaction of killing an enemy. But I know death will come for you. It comes for all of us. Especially the insane. Enjoy your tormented world, Bilbo Baggins. I shall certainly enjoy watching you slowly die.
Bilbo Baggins: Who are you?
Smaug: Such a strange creature you are. A hobbit. I had never encountered something of the like before – but I suppose that is why you were chosen.
Bilbo Baggins: What are you talking about? I don't believe we've met.
Smaug: Could I have left such a small impression? I had thought we were getting along famously.
Bilbo Baggins: I… I don't remember… Please, sir, you'll have to forgive me, my memory's not what it once was. I get headaches rather easily now…
Smaug: Always with your good manners and pleasant speech. Your visit was an interesting one. I would make a note to invite you for a cup of tea. You were good to listen to with your honeyed words… even if your intentions were not as appealing.
Bilbo Baggins: Please, m-might I have a name to call you?
Smaug: You called me many a pretty name. Though I did find it quite insulting that you refused to give me yours. It left me with quite the puzzle, you see. Lucky for you, I liked the puzzle – oh! That was what you called yourself, wasn't it? Mr lucky number.
Bilbo Baggins: Mr lucky…
Smaug: But of course, my memory slips now and again. I remember I called you by the name I found you with. I admit, I might have come up with something a little more imaginative then 'thief in the shadows'.
Bilbo Baggins: Thief in the… [pales at the realization] You!
Smaug: Yes. [pins Bilbo down with a grin] Me.
Bilbo Baggins: B-b-but, how?!
Smaug: A hunter is always patient. I've waited years for this. I'm amazed you managed to last this long – and in such good condition. I thought you would die before I finally found you. Thank you for your consideration. [turns his hand draconic]
Bilbo Baggins: Oh! Great and terrible Smaug! Mercy!
Smaug: You evaded me once or twice before. Yet your power seems to have left you. How convenient for me. [prepares to strike]
Bilbo Baggins: It wasn't me! It was my–
Smaug: [pauses] Your what?
Bilbo Baggins: The precious!
Smaug: Precious?
Bilbo Baggins: No! You can't have it! Greedy wormy-thing you is! Can't have it! Mine! My precious! [frees himself from Smaug's grip and starts pacing the room] It's here! I know! I can hear its pretty song – so pretty, it calls for its Bilbo… my precious, sings. You hear it? Mine! My precious… [starts wobbling] Oh, precious… my head hurts…
[Smaug decides that Bilbo's not worth killing because of his "insanity" and makes his exit]
Smaug: Be left with the prison of your own design, with the poison of your own making, thief-in-the-shadows. Once again, you've denied me the satisfaction of killing an enemy. But I know death will come for you. It comes for all of us. Especially the insane. Enjoy your tormented world, Bilbo Baggins. I shall certainly enjoy watching you slowly die.
Smaug: I will make this very simple for you, elf. The woman, or I burn this entire regiment.
Faervel: You would cause us harm? After we have allowed you to speak in good faith?
Smaug: Oh, you are smart, Faervel. Now, shall I destroy you, elf? Should I kill the kings of Dale and Erebor as I did in days of old? Shall I melt all these little men in their suits of armour? Or will you give me what I want?
Faervel: If I do so, I have no guarantee that you will not destroy us all in vengeance for this slight.
Smaug: Well then, let's play this out logically, shall we, little elf? Firstly, if you do not return Kathryn to me, I will kill these soldiers on my left to demonstrate my resolve. Then, if yours holds, I will have no choice but to kill you and every mortal around you.
Faervel: You do that, and you will also be putting Kathryn in harm's way. You will kill her.
Smaug: Kathryn has the ability to summon Raw Magic to protect herself, your soldiers do not have the same advantage. Her shield will last long enough to let her survive the initial blast of fire I will unleash. Then I will bite off the heads of your horses to prevent you from escaping. And then, after I have torn apart every single person gathered here, I will walk over your cold corpses and take back my woman. Now… Shall we begin?
Faervel: You would cause us harm? After we have allowed you to speak in good faith?
Smaug: Oh, you are smart, Faervel. Now, shall I destroy you, elf? Should I kill the kings of Dale and Erebor as I did in days of old? Shall I melt all these little men in their suits of armour? Or will you give me what I want?
Faervel: If I do so, I have no guarantee that you will not destroy us all in vengeance for this slight.
Smaug: Well then, let's play this out logically, shall we, little elf? Firstly, if you do not return Kathryn to me, I will kill these soldiers on my left to demonstrate my resolve. Then, if yours holds, I will have no choice but to kill you and every mortal around you.
Faervel: You do that, and you will also be putting Kathryn in harm's way. You will kill her.
Smaug: Kathryn has the ability to summon Raw Magic to protect herself, your soldiers do not have the same advantage. Her shield will last long enough to let her survive the initial blast of fire I will unleash. Then I will bite off the heads of your horses to prevent you from escaping. And then, after I have torn apart every single person gathered here, I will walk over your cold corpses and take back my woman. Now… Shall we begin?
