Hello everyone! Firstly, this isn't going to be like the usual oneshots I do. It's more an alternate scenario rather than a romantic story. If you like this and want more, than tell me! I'd really like your feedback. Thank you to Averybrowner for requesting this! I hope you like it. Have a lovely day. Xx  

-♛ 𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔 ♛

[For some background, you are a hobbit that was enlisted by Gandalf to help the dwarves reclaim Erebor- you essentially replace Bilbo.]

She placed the ring of gold on her index finger. There was a rush of adrenaline, and she found herself in a shadowed realm. Everything was marred in grey, as if the light in them had been dashed. Each step she took rang through her ears, as if she were stomping like a giant.

(Y/N)'s breath hitched. The giant chambers before her shimmered in gold, mounds upon mounds of glittering coins and beguiling jewels. Her hand fastened over the hilt of her blade. Under the deceptive beauty of this gold, lay a dragon laden with age and crimson, waiting for a sound, a movement- for meat. She tread lightly over the stone floors, avoiding the litter of coins. She did her best to ignore her rambunctious beating heart.

Each step had her tingling with terror. Her eyes scanned frantically, trying to find a stone that matched the description Thorin had given her. Alas, the jewel was not in sight- if not for the contract she had signed, (Y/N) would've made a run for it by now. But her morals had her pinned to the spot, and she had no choice but to move forward.

Sliding down a heap of gold, she scavenged her way through the coins, finding gems as big as her fist and as silver as the stars- but no Arkenstone. Some of them were elvish, as they glimmered without the need of any light. Most were dwarvish, hewn from the mountain itself. She kept picking up sapphires and rejoicing, before realising it was not the stone she was looking for.

Stumbling over, she reached to climb up another mountain of gold. But as she fisted at the coins, her hands went straight through. Her fingers burnt at the touch of rubbery scales. (Y/N) yelped and fell back, splashing into the coins. Clamping her mouth shut, she slowly realised what she had done. Scampering as silently as possible, (Y/N) propped herself up behind a pillar, shivering with fright.

The chamber was silent.

She waited long and hard for it to emerge- but it didn't. Turning back to see, the mound of gold had not moved an inch. She couldn't bring herself to sigh in relief- she couldn't risk the terror waking.

She shifted her gaze at the sight off a glimmer. She thought it would be another elvish jewel- but it couldn't be elvish.

Before she could even dare to approach it, there was a rumble. A couple of coins tumbled down the slope. She strangled the gasp in her throat and threw herself firmly against the pillar. Her mind went to immediately curse the dwarves who had brought her here.

She heard the clink of goblets and jewels, as the gold slithered down beside her. Her feet began to be submerged by the coins, and she had to keep walking upwards to avoid getting stuck. A shadow loomed over the coins, blocking out their glimmer.

"I can see you," a throaty, aged voice jeered. "I can hear your breath, soft wheezes of fright. I can feel your heart, pounding at the sound of my voice."

Don't listen...pretend it's not there... she told herself, curling into the pillar.

"You bare something precious...something golden."

The ring on her finger began to burn. The power of it pressed inwards on her, the darkness crawling under her skin. (Y/N) clenched her fist, shaking her hand with might as the ring warped its power through her. It scavenged deep through her veins, grasping at her forsaken heart.

"Show yourself."

She reached to pull of the ring. Darker things than death would occur if she allowed herself to be corrupted. Once the gold band was off her finger, the gold seemed to glimmer more brightly. But she could not think of that now- for she was faced with a scaly creature, who smirked silently at her.

"There you are," he said, his voice rumbling with amusement. "Found you."

It took her a moment to reply. "You... certainly have," she said timidly.

He bore his yellowing teeth. "Hmm. The dwarves sent you, did they?"

"Dwarves? What dwarves? I am no dwarf!"

"You aren't? Then what are you?"

"Hobbit. Halfling. Little people. From the Shire. Been there? It's a lovely place."

(Y/N) could feel the sweat that welled in the nape of her neck. It felt like she'd just gone for a swim, in her clothes, on a hot summer's day. She found words darting through her mind, yet she never spoke them with eloquence.

"The Shire?"

"Mhmm. The Shire. And--"

"Tell me," the creature said, swirling its neck clockwise around the woman. "How does a 'halfling' possess such a piece?" His eyes were fixated on the ring in her hand.

"Found it."

"You mean you stole it."

She froze. "You're mistaken."

"I am very rarely erroneous."

"Then let this be a rare occasion."

Her voice was as sharp as a blade- yet the dragon's eyes had the might of a roaring inferno. She melted in his gaze, instantly regretting her words and biting down on her lip. She positioned the ring so she would easily be able to slip it back on.

But Smaug was not deterred- his smile twitched with intrigue.

"What is a halfling doing in the mountains?"

"I am...a traveller. A bard."

"A bard?"

"Yes, a bard. As a child, I...I heard stories of the magnificent Smaug! I h-had always thought you a myth. I came h-here to prove to myself...that you were not real."

He rumbled with amusement, parting his teeth to chuckle. "It seems you are the one to be erroneous now."

"Indeed," she gulped. Her free hand groped for the pommel of her sword.

"So," he cried, unravelling himself from around her. "Do I live up to the tales, my dear?"

Her fist hardened around the hilt- the ring settled into her back pocket. "Do refrain from calling me dear, dragon."

"Does it really irk you so? Even when you are at my mercy?"

She lowered her gaze, shivers spasming down her spine. Her moment of defiance had failed- she could only hope that Smaug wouldn't incinerate her.

"I had no expectations. I...I didn't think such a creature existed. Yet here you are, in all your...glory," she spat, her voice akin to venom.

"And am I as dashing as they say?

She gritted her teeth. "I cannot say."

"Then look upon me, child."

She dared to gaze upon the great wyrm with his wings outstretched and belly exposed. Cracks of scales and jutting bones prickled his skin. The lines in his stomach glowed gold like the coins that he stood over, as smoke swirled from his nostrils. Heat began to beat down on her, as she beheld this loathsome creature.

Her hand slid from her hilt- she couldn't defeat him with such a blade.

"I'm guessing I am far more than you expected."

"You are. Far more, Great Smaug."

"Hm?" he muttered, slamming his claws forward, slithering his head through the air. She stumbled, but she was not fast enough for his swooping head. "Tell me, (Y/N). Will you write a song about me?"

"P-perhaps..."

"Good. Those dwarves will know then to keep away from my gold." His smile widened, making the halfling feel queasy. She could smell the smoke billowing out of his throat. "Was there anything else, Lady (Y/N)?"

He sounded as if he wanted her to leave- but his mocking face gave him away. Smaug's eyes were full of hunger, and it was not only a meal that he desired. She feared if she didn't keep this conversation up, she'd be scooped up by his gargantuan jaws and torn to shreds.

But words were failing her.

"Well, (Y/N)?" he said happily, his tongue racing across his teeth.

Think! Think before he rips you apart, think! she screamed at herself.

In her desperation, she searched everywhere but the dragon itself; and again her eyes lay upon it.

The Arkenstone.

It had to be. Blue, white, silver, gold, she didn't know which colour it was. It seemed to ebb and flow, swirling inside a case of glass. It was beyond anything she had ever laid eyes on. To simply say it was beautiful would be an injustice.

It suddenly struck her- the dragon had gone quiet. She snapped her head back, finding she was staring at the mound of gold. Panic struck her heart, turning again and again, but to no avail. Her lungs could not be satisfied, heaving at the thought of where he was.

There was a mellow swoop, as her hair fluttered softly over her eyes. (Y/N) grimaced, tucking the strands behind her ears. The wind did not disappear, and instead billowed fervently. There was a sharp intake of breath, which increased in volume as the seconds ticked by.

There was something above.

She dared to look up, at the cavernous mouth that was wide open, tongue stretched back and teeth ready to gollop. It was advancing towards her, ready to snatch the life right out of her.

She didn't know where she found her strength, but she did; she rolled out of the way, skidding down the hill of coins. Smaug slammed himself into the gold, showering gold and gems in the air- the ground beneath her tremored, as the gold shifted rapidly beneath her feet.

She didn't wait for him to turn back to her. Wedging the ring onto her finger, she scrambled over the hills and back up onto the stone platform.

The dwarves can get their own damned Arkenstone! she thought furiously.