Fire exploded in a line directly through lake town as the dragon soared overhead. It scotched the town in half. Everyone in the boat ducked as screams echoed through the air. Heat glazed and things exploded in the background. They were only saved because they were on the water, the heat passing over the canals with audible hisses. Tilda was sobbing into her sister's arms. Bard's house nothing more than burning timbers.

"Where's da? Bain?" She wailed as the boat continued to float through the wreckage. Luin looked down at her tear streaked face. The little girl was scared. Around them, heat blazed.

"Luin what are you doing?" Fili called as Luin stood up. The boat shook slightly as he moved. Legolas turned and grabbed Luin by the arm, eyes wide and face open. The honesty there caught him by surprise and he paused. Luin meet Legolas' gaze and the elf's expression quickly shuttered.

"They are dying", Luin answered desperately to the silent question. The orange heat of the flames shone against his black eyes and glinted off his skin. His hair was falling out of the braids Legolas had braided days ago. The strands flew wildly around his face as he looked at them. Blood still stained his torn tunic and his bandages were visible through the holes.

"There's a dragon out there!" Bofur yelled. Something exploded behind him and someone screamed. "This place is burning. You will die!"

"Luin", Legolas said softly. He met Luin's gaze, eyes emotive and grip on his arm tightening. "You're still drained and injured".

"This is fire!" Luin replied, gesturing to the devastation. There was a gleam of excitement and certainty within the whites of his eyes. "I am fire. I am air! This will not hurt me". He glanced around at everyone's worried expressions. "Get to the others. I will meet you at the mountain". Fili and Bofur nodded. Kili was still passed out on Tauriel's lap, head lolling. Fili looked at his brother before pulling at the oar. The boat continued drifting forwards.

"Luin", Legolas repeated his name. Luin looked at the elf for a moment before pulling his arm out of his grip. The other's fingers did not pull him back. He leapt agilely from the boat, landing back on the wooden street. Sharing one last glance with the occupants of the boat, Luin turned and sprinted back into the town.

He was knocked and jostled as fleeing people fought to get away from the fire. A particularly harsh shove almost sent Luin falling into the water. He managed to catch himself on the edge of a bridge and push himself back onto his feet. As he got closer to the fire, the more he could feel the heat. It stung his skin and made his eyes water. Luin blinked back the tears as he turned a corner. Fire roared up in his face and he reflexively jerked back. Taking a deep breath of hot air, Luin shaped his nerves. He had done this before of course, just not with dragon fire. It should work the same way and not affect him. It was basically the same, just with more magic infused with the flames. If it didn't then he would very soon be dead.

Luin concentrated on his Qi. He flexed his energy levels like a muscle, wincing at his depleted levels like an ache. It was low, scarily so for what Luin was going to be attempting. Gandalf would chastise him for even thinking about doing this on such low reserves. The last time he had tried this, it was with full power and a refreshed body and mind. Not injured, drained, and worn out both physically and mentally. Luin tried not to panic. He needed to do this. Concentrating hard, he explored his magic. It expanded around him like a shield. His fire root allowed him to mix his magic with heat and absorb the surrounding fire. It should hypothetically protect him as well as turn the fire around him into energy. Hypothetically that is. Luin took another deep breath and stepped right into the blaze. The flames swallowed him whole.

For a second he waited for the blinding agony but it did not come. The flames flickered around him like soft touches. Encircling his body like a second skin, his Qi was pulsing. Luin laughed at the feeling. It had worked. He could feel as the fire was absorbed into his magic, rejuvenating and fresh. His flowing Qi dousing the heat like water, mixing it around and purifying it. Luin absorbed the flames around him as he began to walk. The energy being dragged out of the wood and air, leaving nothing but charred remains sweeping behind him like a path.

Smaug the dragon swept over the town again. His huge wings sending gusts of air down to fan the fuel. Fire fell from the sky along another line of structures. Luin was running before the first explosion had finished echoing. All around him people screamed. Feet pounded on the wooden paths as everyone panicked. "Get to the boats!" Luin shouted as he passed. "Find anything that can float. Get into the water!" Some people listened to him and immediately began grabbing barrels and jumping into the waters.

"My baby!" A woman screamed. She was on the floor of a small raft, sobbing hysterically. Her hair matted with sweat and grime and dress haphazardly tied on. Luin stopped as she pointed towards a blazing house at the end of the street. "My baby and husband are in the lower floor! Please!"

"Stay here!" Luin commanded before running into the house. It was a house like Bards, with one living quarters underneath and another one for another family up top. The fire was curling up one side, the house just in the edge of Smaug's attack. Luin broke down the door with his shoulder, ignoring how it pulled on his injury. The wound throbbed and he grimaced, pressing a hand to it as he gazed around. The top floor was completely consumed and flaming sparks drilled from the ceiling. The whole place could collapse at any moment.

Something was wailing over the crackling, a high pitched dry cry broken by small coughs. Knocking sparks back with his hands, Luin sprinted across the room. He vaulted over the small kitchen table table and into a back room where the sound was coming from. There was a screaming brown haired toddler, probably about one or two, sat on a cot in the corner. The cot was smoking from fallen sparks but mostly unharmed. Part of the wall and ceiling had caved in, obstructing the door and breaking part of the wall. Luin climbed over it and crossed quickly to the child.

"Hello I'm going to get you to your mum", he muttered as he picked the toddler up. The little form kicked lightly against him as Luin tucked them to his chest. He looked around for the husband and winced. The man had been crushed by the caved in ceiling. He was already dead, form sticking out near the remains of the bed. Clutching the child closer to his body, Luin wrapped them in his flow of energy. The infant made a cooking noise as the wave of cool healing Qi enveloped them. Turning back, Luin hurriedly scrambled back over the debris and sprinted for the door. As soon as he made it outside, the crashing of another part of the structure sounded behind him.

"You need to get out of here", he stated as he handed the toddler to his mother on the boat. He kept his voice stern and loud. "I couldn't save you husband. But you need to go". The woman sobbed as she took the child into her arms. She blinked at him through her tears, checking her baby for any injury and rocking him against her shoulder.

"No!" She stated, staring up at Luin with a surprising stubbornness. "There are other children and not enough boats. Bring them to this one". Her green eyes shone with fierce determination as she held Luin's gaze. Her raft was small and could probably only fit about two or three people on it, but it was well made and sturdy. Someone screamed behind him and Luin glance around.

"Okay. I'll be back", he promised before running off down another street. He found two young children in another burning building a short distance away. Both were crouching holding each other under a table. They looked no more than eight and there were no adults to be seen. He managed to coax them out and hoist one on each shoulder, running through the flames back to the woman on the raft. She was still there, waiting nervously as the fire increased. Luin dropped the children next to her. The two of them crying silently, tear streaks on blackened faces.

"You need to go now!" He stated, this time not taking no for a answer. "This whole place is collapsing. Get out of here".

The woman nodded, this time no arguing. "Thank you", she muttered as Luin untied the raft. He handed her a plank to use as a oar before sending a magical burst to push it onto the canal out of town. The mother began paddling, their raft drifting safely away.

Luin did not stay to watch them before he continued his journey through the the remains of town. He broke people out of houses and helped them into boats. He was just handing another baby down it's mother when a figure running on the street opposite him caught his eye. Pushing the boat off, Luin jumped and glided over the water onto the other street. "Bain!" He called, casing after the boy.

Bain turned and his eyes widened as he recognised him. He held up a long metal rod, not stopping. "I've got to get this to my dad!" He yelled. He pointed up at the bell tower high above the rooftops. Looking up, Luin could see a distant figure shadowed agains the light of the fires below. Cursing under his breath, Luin held up two fingers. The sword on his left flew out of it's sheath and Luin jumped on. It glided through the air faster than running. He scooped Bain up behind him as he passed, ignoring the boy's startled yelp as he was lifted into the air. Luin pulled him up onto the blade behind him, a arm around his waist to steady him.

"Holy shit I'm flying", Bain squealed as the sword rose above the flames. Luin held the boy close as they flew towards the top of the bell tower. "Da!" Bain yelled as Bard turned. They circled in close until the sword was level. Luin dropped the boy onto the wooden platform as Bard looked at them in surprise.

"Bain!" Bard grabbed him by the shoulders. "What are you doing here? You were supposed to leave with the girls".

"I came to help you", Bain replied. "I brought this". He held up the long iron rod, which Luin now realised was a massive arrow. It was one long pole, forged and twisted in a way that made it gleam. Both nondescript and yet beautifully crafted. Luin tore his gaze away to look our over the night sky. The fires of the town lighting everything with a golden red glow.

"Look out!" He called as Smaug swooped down, claws outstretched. A massive shape of scales, teeth and talons screaming down towards them. Bain and Bard threw themselves to the floor as the top of the Bell tower was ripped to pieces. Luin had been forced to dive downwards, sword wobbling under his feet as he descended. If he was any less trained, he would have fallen off when trying to do such a risky man over. Instead, Luin was forced to twist a few times before he regained control.

He began to rise up higher in the air, feeling his magic swell. The dragon had settled on the flaming buildings and turned to look at them, grinning in satisfaction at his display. Luin brushed his hair out of his eyes and glared back at it. Smaug's scales gleamed like dark gold under the light of the flames. Terrible and all consuming. When Smaug spoke, it was with a raspy deathlike voice that had goosebumps trailing along Luin's skin. His long forked tongue flicking out around his teeth as he smiled.

"Hello wizard".