Three words. Three words that I have come to despise more than anything else in this moment. Three words spoken from my precious jewel that irked me beyond comprehension. It didn’t help that she was smirking.
“You liked her,” Celestia teased.
I could have wiped that smirk away with a lash of my tail. I should. If she were not my property, I would delight in her suffering. I would feast upon her carcass and rid myself of such irritation. Now however, I could not. She was mine and nothing of mine was ever damaged. I’m just thankful that the humans were gone and I was again the mighty dragon of my birth. Again, the ground quaked under the weight of my scaled hide. The animals of the forest reeked of fear and ran for their pathetic lives. That at least gave me some comfort.
“You are deluding yourself, my precious jewel.” I scoffed. “I cared not for her or her race. I merely tolerated her very existence and even that was a chore.”
“Are you sure about that?” Celestia’s smile never left her face. “You could have easily flown away from us. No one was stopping you.”
Yes, no one could have stopped me. No one could have stopped me from burning her to a crisp either. I didn’t. That puzzled me. That was what a true dragon should do. Those humans were trespassing. They were touching my precious jewel! Talking with her. She was mine! Why did I let that little girl ride my jewel? Why couldn’t I say no to that little girl? This was frustrating. Of all things, it was a little girl to give me pause. Of course, it was the first time that I’ve seen a human hatchling up close. Perhaps they had some sort of innate magic that aided in their deception.
Yes, that was it. It was a feat of trickery. Ha! Did that hatchling think she could keep her secret? I am Smaug, the great and powerful. I see and know all that is within my lands. I will not fall for this sorcery again. However, I still didn’t have much of an answer for Celestia. This was getting repetitive.
“I will not leave my precious jewel,” I growled. “You belong at my side, not as the mount for the race of man. You are far too elegant for such a purpose. A being like you should be admired and treated with respect, not degraded in such manners.”
“I didn’t find it degrading,” I noticed Celestia’s cheeks were tinted slightly red. “I found it to be a wonderful experience, but I thank you for thinking of me so highly. Not many dragons have done so in my land.”
“Then they are foolish dragons,” I quipped. It was strange to think of other lands where dragons were common, or at least common enough that Celestia herself would talk of them so plainly. As if they were just a natural part of the world. I know we aren’t. We are beings bred for war and that is what I excelled at. “If they can’t see a jewel to covet, then they are blind to the world. Perhaps, if I were to ever find your land, I would take their fortune.” My grin turned deadly. Battle lust took its hold and I once more wished to fight another drake. “They certainly have no need for it.”
“There is no need for violence,” Celestia frowned ever so slightly. “Equestria has dealt with dragons well enough for centuries, with few casualties on both sides. I wish to keep the peace for a war would benefit no one.”
“Such childish thinking,” I chuckled. “Dragons always wish for more. They will not sit idly. They were hound your country day after day, burning your cities to the ground. They will devour your people and render your nation naught but an after thought.”
“You have such a low opinion of your race.”
My grin turned sinister as I remember the burning of Dale and the dwarvish keep. Their screams were like music to my ears and their efforts to stop me were hilarious. Well, except for that arrow. “I talk from personal experience.”
Celestia stared me dead in the eyes for a moment. It’s tricky to ponder what goes on through her mind. Although, I could guess. She was playing some sort of game and was now setting up the next peace. “Just remember to keep such thoughts to yourself at the festival.”
I scowled when I remembered the event. “I will try, Celestia. I make no promises, but...I will try.”
Celestia nodded. “Good, now we just need to think about ‘how’ we’re going to attend. I have just the thing in mind.”
________________________________________________________________
They are going to a festival? Why? A dragon can’t attend a festival. They are idiots. Of course they are. I am the greatest being in existence. My shadows will claim them both soon enough. I just have to wait. Wait for something….
HAHAHAHA! Festival? Those foals are playing right into my hooves. Yes, they are. Oh, how foalish they are. I am clever. Yes, so very clever. Festival? This is my opportunity. My chance. Celestia is mine. I am going to be free! My destiny is assured.
THE NIGHT WILL LAST FOREVER!
I must move quickly. There is much to plan. Much to think. It’s hard to think. It’s hard to be, or am I just imagining that? Yes, I am. I am meant to be. I am no figment. I am Nightmare Moon. I am the goddess of the night. The terror that which no mortal can behold. Those foalish Element bearers must lie in their beds screaming each night with my face burned into their minds. I am scary, but I will be loved. Yes, when everyone will love my night!
But I have to move quickly. The shadow mocks me. It claims to be the dark. I am the dark! I will defeat this shadow. I will win...I will win. I must think. Think. Think. The dark is coming. I want it to stay away. I am the dark. It’s...I want it to stay away. The eye is growing near. That eye. That hate. It hurts. I must win. I will win. It’s armies will be crushed with my hooves. I just need to plan………………
There will be a lot of people. People have fear. They are mortals, so fear is easy to stir. Yes, that is it. I will stir it. Celestia will fall soon. The sun will die. Better that I rule over them all. Yes, oh so very clever I am. One goddess! Victory is mine!
_________________________________________________________________________
There is no place quite like home. Well, as close as a home can be in Laketown. As close as someone who was descended from the Lord of Dale could scrounge up. It was dirty, rat infested, and stunk day in and out. This was the best I could offer my family. It was our little sanctum from all the hate and misery outside. Honestly, I doubted they could.
Usually, I feel a bit better with myself after some time in the forests. It was somewhere I could be myself. Where I didn’t have to worry about the mayor or any of the troubles that plagued this town. This isn’t to say I would forget about my children. I love them more than life itself. It’s just I have to get away from this town. To smell the fresh air and clear my head. A break from this decrepit life.
I didn’t feel all that better this time, however. No, I was pacing in the main room. If you can call it a main room. Sigrid was sitting on a chair, while Bain kept little Tilda occupied. I knew now why so many of the men in the village moaned about their daughters. They were mischievous and many a headache’s worth. Though, I doubt they had ever invited Smaug to a party.
My mind briefly clouded itself in my fury. I hated that dragon. He ruined the city of Dale, drove my family to this state. My children would be living normal, happy lives if it wasn’t for him. Though, perhaps I never would have been born...I don’t want to think about this. I shouldn’t be thinking about my hate for the beast. He was coming and there was nothing I could do about it. Yes, I had the last Black Arrow in my possession. That gave me comfort, but I sincerely doubted I would ever get a chance to use it. Perhaps I could have shot him as he held that raven form. No, that probably wouldn’t work either.
For now, I was going to have to let go of my hate. Maybe Smaug had changed. He mayhaps had, for what calamity would keep a beautiful, talking horse with the heart of an angel so happy? Those two seemed quite taken with each other. No, shouldn’t ponder about that. None of my business. My business was my family.
“Do you know what you’ve done?” I tried to keep my voice calm and still as I spoke to her.
“Yes father,” Sigrid answered.
“Do you really?” I walked up to her, looking down at her in a way to garner some respect. Again, I am reminded of my wife when I look into my children’s faces. My agitation ever so slightly lessened. “Do you not remember the legend?”
“No one’s disturbed the dragon, father.” Sigrid said. “With Celestia there with him, he seemed nice enough. Maybe he’s changed.”
I had similar thoughts, but I opted to keep those to myself. “He is a dragon. No matter how much he changes, he will always seek to destroy and conquer. It’s what happened to Dale and the dwarves. I don’t want the same thing to happen here.”
“Why?” Sigrid stood up, narrowing her eyes. “Laketown is sick. It’s dying. I know it. You know it. Why should we care if something happens to it? They hate us. No one talks to us and that weasel and the fat oaf mayor drain us dry. Why should we care if Smaug burns this place to ashes?” Her voice carried such venom that I was taken aback by it. I knew my children suffered, but to say that? Again I cursed this place.
“Because they’re people like us,” I answered truthfully. “They are just as poor and tired as us. They aren’t villains. They aren’t cruel. They are people. People can be mean and think of themselves in lean times, but it will get better.” I put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I promise. One day, things will change and I’ll do my damndest to make sure it’s for the greater good.”
Sigrid smiled. It wasn’t a full smile, but it was enough. “I know,” she sighed and leaned into my chest. I put my arms around her and kept her close. She was safe here. Safe in my arms and no one would ever hurt her. This I swore. “It’s just...I’m tired of Laketown. Tired of the mayor and his weasel.”
“I know,” I whispered to her. “I’m tired to, but we just have to manage.” What more I had to say was cut off when there was a loud knock at the door. I quickly turned to it and excused myself from my daughter’s embrace. Whoever it was better have a good reason for interrupting. As I opened the door, I almost shut it closed on reflex.
Alfrid Lickspittle. He certainly lived up to that name, the weasel. Maybe I should call him rat. It would fit him just as well with the way he scurries about. There were two heavily armed soldiers in front of him. He was a coward. He couldn’t even try to talk to me without some soldiers nearby. The rat opened his mouth, grinning. “Bard, back from your little frolic in the woods I see.”
“What do you want?” I glared at the man, but stilled my tongue lest I say something to upset him and his guards.
“Why the harsh tone?” Alfrid asked. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing?” One of the guards pushed me out of the way and the three of them stormed into my home. I hated how helpless I was here. The rat looked around my home with a sneer, before his gaze fell on Sigrid.
The way his eyes roamed over her body made me want to jab my arrow through his heart. I would die a happy man, but I didn’t listen to that dark thought. That wasn’t how it should be done, no matter how disgusting the man. Still, I didn’t want him near my daughter. “Sigrid, go check on the others.”
Sigrid nodded and hurried off.
Alfrid’s smile was ever present as he turned to me. “Such a beautiful daughter, Bard. Why do you keep her inside so much?”
“What do you want?”
He could see my anger rising and that brought him to chuckling. “To talk. You’ve been visiting the forest around the mountain a lot lately.”
“Yes I have,” I answered, growing suspicious of where this conversation was going. “The fish are scarce these days.”
“Like there’s something hunting them,” Alfrid said, cutting me off. “Or scaring them off. What kind of a creature could do that, Bard?”
“I don’t know.”
Alfrid narrowed his eyes. “Something’s going on with the mountain. We’ve been getting reports for a while now. People are fleeing other towns and coming here. Orcs and the like roaming about and now there are even rumors of Smaug coming out of the mountain. You had to have seen something.”
“I didn’t see anything other than a bear on my trip,” I glared down at the small man. If I couldn’t berate him, I could at least intimidate him.
“Well,” Alfrid pursed his lip. “The master wants you to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.”
"Why me?" I asked, hoping there was some way out of this.
“Because you know those woods better than anyone here,” he poked me in the chest. “You know every nook and cranny around the mountain.”
“I know most of them,” I told him. What was he getting at?
“Good,” Alfrid nodded to himself as if patting himself on the back. “That’ll make things easier than. If the stories about Smaug are true, than maybe we have an opportunity on our hands. Play your cards right and maybe we’ll forget about your family’s shame for a bit when we’re counting the gold.”
My eyes widened and I nearly lost my breath. “You wish to steal from Smaug? Are you mad? He’ll kill us all.” The master had lost his mind to his greed. I knew he was stupid, but this? This was something beyond mere stupidity.
Alfrid chuckled. “He may be a dragon but he can’t keep track of every single coin in his treasury. We’ll just steal a little bit here and there. The dragon won’t notice.”
“Yes he will,” I snarled. My hands were balled up into fists. The guards kept their hands on the pummel of their swords in case I tried something. “He will know and he will track us back here. No one will be spared. You’re bringing death to our doorstep.” Ironic as my daughter had just done that very thing.
Alfrid rolled his eyes. “The decision’s been made, Bard. Just do your duty to the master.” I opened my mouth to say something, but he lifted a finger. “Just remember, you’re expendable. We can always find another hunter or bowman. I doubt your little family could do well on their own without you.”
He had me right where he wanted me. They always did. I was clever, but they were underhanded. They would bleed my family dry after I died, or worse. “Very well.” My shoulders sagged as I accepted my fate. “I’ll keep an eye out for the dragon, but I tell you that you shouldn’t trust those rumors.”
“We’re willing to gamble,” Alfrid shrugged. “Thank you for your cooperation.” He walked away, stopping at the doorway. He turned his head. “Oh and I hope to see that beautiful daughter at the festival. I’d like to be her first dance.”
I just stared at the man, trying to bore holes in his head with just my gaze. All of my hate for this town, all of my hate for the dragon, was directed towards him. Let Smaug come. Let him do what he likes. If he would just burn this filth to ashes, the dragon could do whatever he wanted for all I cared.