The sounds of the festival filled my house. I hated them. They sounded so jolly, but there was nothing to be jolly about. Not with our ‘Master’ sucking us dry. I didn’t want to hate these people. I knew there were plenty of good souls that dwelled here. They were the only reason I stayed. I needed to help them. It wouldn’t be right to just leave them in the hands of a slave driver and an overgrown weasel. That and the orcs that patrolled outside of the town’s sight. I would not risk my family’s safety with such a perilous journey.
That said, I really didn’t want to attend. I usually don’t. Under normal circumstances, I would be content to stay inside with my family. Now was not the time for ‘normal’ however. I was going to be escorting a fire drake who ruined my family’s name and a talking winged unicorn. All the while, I was to keep a wizard updated by whispering to butterflies.
I chuckled. Even though my life had turned upside down, I found it a welcoming experience. It certainly gave me something to think other than keeping this town afloat. It was a telling sign that I preferred to deal with Smaug the terrible than the Master of my town. How he ever became our ‘Master’ is beyond me. I don’t listen to the rumors of his more ‘caring’ past. He is vile and he was always vile in my own mind.
Anyway, I had to get ready. Tilda was talking my ears off. It was always something to do with Celestia or Smaug. I haven’t seen her this lively in years. Not since…
I would not dwell on her death. She wouldn’t have wanted me to. I was going to make this day the best they ever had. For them. For her. Which reminds me….
I walked upstairs. There was one suit that could fit this occasion. Something that I haven’t worn in years. Something precious. Walking into our….my room never sat right with me though. It was just so empty. It was missing the warmth. The love. I would never get it back, but my kids would be loved. That much was assured. Tilda still sometimes likes to come sleep with me when she has a nightmare, even if I’m trying to get her out of the habit.
Maybe she just doesn’t want her father to be lonely. Heh, she has a heart of gold, just like her mother. Sigrid definitely inherited her attitude and Bain took a bit more from me. Now, for my suit….
I hesitated. My hand hovered over the doorknob I was shaking slightly. I shouldn’t be. This was simple. I wanted to make my children smile, but this suit was special. It...I needed to steel myself. I took in a deep breath and then opened the door.
“Hello,” I smiled, giving the suit a look over. Thankfully, it was still in one piece. No mold or rats had gotten to it. “It’s been a while.” I carefully put it on. I don’t know why I was so careful. It was a cherished piece of clothing, but it was just clothing. “I still look a tad bit strange in this.”
“I think it makes you look quite dashing.”
I smiled. “Dashing? Me?” I chuckled and turned around. “I’m quite the opposite.”
My wife stood before me, a heavenly glow about her. “I beg to differ,” I watched in awe as she walked towards me. Most would call her a plain woman. She didn’t have ‘poetic’ looks to her face, nor did she like to wear anything of note. She was plain to most. To me, she was perfect. “However, your collar needs a bit of work.”
I chuckled as she fixed it. “You always knew best.”
She smiled. How I missed that smile. “Of course I do. I’m your wife.”
I looked into her eyes and held her hands. I wanted to stay like this forever. “What would I do without you?”
“A lot of things, my love.” She said. Her voice making my heart soar. “You’re doing well with the children and that’s all I ask. Even the town is in your debt.”
“All I want is you,” I held a hand to her face. I’m sure it was there.
“You can’t have what’s not here,” her smile faltered. “Don’t dwell on little ol’ me.”
“I’ll dwell as much as I want to,” I told her, choking back tears. I would not be weak for my wife.
“The kids need you, my love.” She said. “The town needs you. Don’t dwell on me. Please don’t.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but I was interrupted.
“Da,” Tilda came running into the room and I turned my head to look at her. She was wearing the brown dress her mother had sewn her. “Do you think this will be enough for the Princess?” She frowned as she looked at my face. “Are you alright, da?”
I turned my head. My hand was touching thin air and my collar was a mess. “Yes,” I bit my tongue to still myself. “I’m alright.” I smiled and walked over to my daughter. I quickly smoothed over my collar. “As for you, why, I think she’s going to be jealous.”
“Why?” She tilted her head in confusion.
I touched her nose lightly with my finger. “Because you’re far prettier than any princess.”
Tilda, my sweet Tilda, giggled. “Da, you’re just saying that.”
“It’s true,” I nodded. “Now, how are your brother and sister fairing?”
“As well as they always do.”
“I was afraid of that,” I chuckled, patting her little head. “I best help them sort themselves out before they burn the house down.”
_____________________________________________________________
Silence. That’s all this river trip was. Silence. I could understand Smaug being quiet. Before I arrived, all he had was Thrush to talk to. I could obviously see that they didn’t talk often, so Smaug wasn’t one used to chit chat. I’ve been making strides in that regard, but he still prefers to stay quiet for hours on end. The rower seemed like a man of few words. I could respect that as well, but he seemed….boring in a way. I don’t want to think ill of him. He seems like an honest man, but there just is a spark lacking. Perhaps I could fix it. Even help him make a friend on this lonely journey.
Which is why I decided to break the silence.
“Mister Rower,” I spoke up, garnering his attention. “Perhaps you could talk a bit about yourself.”
“Why?” He asked, obviously unsure of how to react. He definitely didn’t get to talk to a lot of people.
“Because I wish to know you,” I smiled. “We’re strangers and you seem like an honest man. I don’t think a little talk is going to hurt.”
The man blinked a few times before saying, “Alright.”
“What is it that you do?” I started with a simple question.
“I just row,” was his response.
“I mean, what else do you do?”
“I just row.”
I frowned. “So, you just row? You don’t have any hobbies or anything of the sort?” I know there are plenty of creatures with simple hobbies. Rowing isn’t the strangest. Still, seems like a lonely one.
The man nodded. “Sometimes I fish or sing a little bit to myself.”
“Sing?” I grinned. “Oh I would love to hear something.” I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece given his voice, but I am often surprised by sapients.
The man grew a bit nervous. Awww, he was shy about his singing. “Oh I love to row my-” he paused and looked at his oar. “-oar~ Rowing.” His voice was just a little bit livelier than his usual monotone.
“Another,” Smaug growled, finally speaking up for the first time since we got on this boat. “Pick another song or I will roast you alive.” I narrowed my eyes at him and he caught my meaning. “I will talk to this vermin the way I wish to, my precious jewel. Now sing, rower.”
“My name is-”
“Rower, now sing.” Flames licked Smaug’s lips. Did he forget we were trying to not make a scene? I know it’s just one human, but I thought he could keep himself together long enough to make it to the festival. Apparently, I underestimated his impatience.
The rower gulped. “It’s a small world after all AHHHH!” The man screamed in fear when Smaug actually threw him off the boat and several feet away into the lake.
I glared at Smaug as he sat down. “What?”
“Did you really have to throw him?” I quirked an eyebrow.
Smaug huffed. “His voice is grating, Celestia. If I had to listen to him sing another note, I would have ripped out his throat. Be glad I was merciful this time.”
“Still,” I shook my head, sighing at his antics. He was a cranky dragon. I’m glad he had his looks and general cute attitude to balance it out. “We should help him. He knows where the town is.”
“So do I,” Smaug spoke. “I can smell the putrid stench of the cowards who fled my flames from here.”
“None of that now, my dear Smaug.” I pet his cheek. “We’re here to socialize. They aren’t cowards, nor are they firewood.”
“They aren’t?”
“Must you always think of killing?”
“Yes,” Smaug simply replied. “That is the very nature of dragons. We are creatures of death and destruction and none can hope to match my own history of such. I am the greatest drake to have ever lived for nothing can slay me.”
What he was saying is true in a way. Dragons are creatures of destruction, but they can be keepers of great knowledge as well. I personally quite a few elderly drakes back home that helped me out in tight spots. “Please don’t be so overconfident. It may just lead to your downfall.”
“Do you doubt me?” He growled.
“I don’t doubt your power,” I quickly said. “But I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“And I won’t,” Smaug grinned, touching my cheek. For a being of destruction, his touches can be quite delicate. “I will never leave my hoard unguarded, nor will I give anyone the pleasure of killing Smaug the golden. I will endure forever.”
Please, please do. I didn’t want to get so attached to this drake. He has a dark heart and a terrible past, but I saw good in him. He was nowhere as evil as Discord, nor were his deeds as horrible. Discord was a complete monster, but now he knew the power of friendship. Smaug would see that soon.
He’d also see the full might of an alicorn’s lust~
“I know, but let us rescue our rower. I will not leave him to wallow here in the lake.”
Smaug rolled his eyes. “Anything for my precious jewel.”
______________________________________________________________
I could see the humans celebrating. They seemed so relaxed and happy. To them, it was the best night of their lives. I wanted to savor it, for it would be their last. I wanted them to feel the highest of highs, before I brought them low into the dirt. I will show them that they have no reason to celebrate. Humans are weak and their time is up. It is the age of the orcs.
Astride my faithful warg, I looked over the catapults my forces have set up. There are only a few here and there. Barely anything to really care about, but these were simple townsfolk. They would be slaughtered no matter what. I grinned as I imagined the horrified screams of women and children. Staining the lake red with their blood. Oh, I couldn’t wait to taste man-flesh.
The sun agitated my eyes as I looked at the teams of orcs preparing for the oncoming attack. The day was not the place for true orcs. The sun was abysmal. It was distracting and so...lively. The night was the time for orcs. Soon my master will blot out the sun and a true age of eternal darkness will sweep across these lands. Perfect for orcs.
“FASTER!” I roared. “I want more boats on the waters. I want every orc there before the first light of the new day. Those that don’t make it will serve as food.” The other orcs fearfully obeyed. As they should. I am the commander of this army. I was the biggest and strongest. No orc could best me, nor could any man, elf, or dwarf.
Dwarves.
The infernal race still made my blood boil. They tried to take my lands that I rightfully conquered. They dared to oppose me. ME! Azog the Defiler. They were proved wrong, but I was not able to keep that king’s head. I will make up for that with Thorin’s own. Bolg is clever and strong, but Thorin is to. I grinned. I would see him one day and kill him myself. Until then, I will settle for man-flesh.
This ‘force’ my master wished to capture would sense our attack. Whether they came meant little to me. I just wanted to kill something. My master instilled terror even in me. I would lookout for this ‘being’. If it was a predator like orcs, it would hate us for coming into its territory. Good, then I will have something worthy to fight until Thorin comes to his doom. All the world will fall to the orcs.
I'm surprised as well.
Well, all it takes is an arrow narrowly missing Celestia and Smaug will unleash his flame on the orcs. I would love to see Smaug, Celestia, and Bard cordinate the defense of the town while the Master cowers and hides with Alfrid.
I STILL SAY ELECT SMAUG AS MASTER OF LAKETOWN AND THE TOWN WILL BE BETTER OFF!!!!
I would art, but I can't really art. Great story, though.
And now (or soonish) is the point where the orcs attack and Smaug accidentally saves Laketown, much to everyone's confusion.
Though rude, I have to agree with Smuag: I'd throw the boatman in the lake for singing that song too XD
I want to see Smaug reform himself a little bit and start a "protection" business in exchange for tribute. It still stays true to his draconic nature and greed, the people of Laketown will be safe, and Smaug becomes less evil. Win, win. Especially since Laketown needs to be protected.
Things are about to get dicey.
Have the orcs kill/injure/capture one of the children and have Celestia flip out.
Pffft poor Smaug. He's going to end up "savior of Laketown". He'll be so crushed.
From the sound of it the only thing needed to repulse an orc hoard is at hand, your singing rower. -Smaug
greetings, English is not my language, but I manage to read his fascinating story.
Please continue your work, will be incredible to see if Smaug manages to leave his greed for love a beautiful Alicorn.
'Almost there' You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?
6330503 I would vote for Smaug.
6330600 To be fair, I think ANYONE would have done that, Smaug probably did that because he'd heard that song before (He is VERY old) and he'd JUST forgotten about its existence.
Soon a dragon shall taste orc flesh...
Yeah, I'm going to call bullshit on that. I'm pretty sure Smaug is evil as they come.
6330683 Not if the townspeople start paying him their taxes instead of the Master getting them.
6330642 THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR THE LAST 6 OR SO CHAPTERS!!!
6330932 Sauron was arguably weaker after his first death, the Fall of Numenor, as he could no longer assume a form that would appear fair to the eyes of elves or men. Elendil and GG shanking him during the Last Alliance probably didn't do much; rather Isildur making off with his Ring is what made that a particularly crippling defeat. During the War of the Ring he likely did take physical form, as Gollum explicitly mentions that he has only four fingers on one of his hands.
IIRC none of the Ainur had to take physical form, doing so just made interacting with the world easier.
If it makes you feel any better, I'm wishing my stuff had a TVTropes page too.
Anyway, yay for new installment! Can't wait to see the orcs get what's coming to them at Celestia and Smaug's appendages.
6331432 OMNOMNOM!
Azog will be shocked once Smaug appears to roast his worthless ass. I can't wait to see his reaction
Either the Orcs threaten Celestia & Smaug flips out. Or They threaten a child / children, Celestia flips out, (the Nightmare within breaks loose no less), and then Smaug flips out.
Those Orcs are a couple different kinds of dead. They just don't know it yet.
6331478 Celestia's kind of chalking most of his behavior up to his nature as a dragon. Discord chose to do what he did. Smaug's nature as a dragon is to burn and pillage. It's kind of what they do. Smaug just takes pleasure in it.
Celestia also likes giving others the benifit of the doubt, as well she's quite taken with the drake. She isn't going to think him 'irredeemably' evil.
6330932 Well I honestly think Smaug is a terribly prideful drake, thinking himself the better of any, even the great drakes of the past. As well, it's never stated Smaug was alive when Sauron was in charge. It could very well be that Smaug was born after Sauron's defeat, so all he has is stories and possibly felt his presence.
6331478
Naa Smaug is just a dragon. A calamity like a hurricane or a tidalwave. He joked with Bilbo, played riddles, liked to brag and show off and enjoyed things like his hoard, eating ponies, ravaging armies and knights and being a bad ass.
He is dangerous and fearsome but its primarily his greed that causes his destructiveness not evil per se. He got his hoard by playing king of the hoard and then went to sleep, not bothering anyone for a hundred years. He is honest, loyal to his nature, versed in magic, and laughs at his and others jokes even if his sense of humor is grim.
And this Smaug has also shown care, concern and even kindness, and is being generous to Celestia by giving into her requests and accepting her help and flattery.
He isnt an element bearer or even very nice, but he isn't evil or a a tyrant. He just likes stuff his way and is strong enough to make it so. He just needs some guidance and friendship to push his power into productive rather than destructive channels.
After all a mountain of gold is a lot of gold, but consider what defence for decades or centuries in middle earth cost (and the costs in lives). What would a dragon be worth if you could deploy it on the battlefield of middle earth? Some yellow metal and crystals seem like a small cost to pay for a reusable nigh unstoppable WMD vs. Sauron the dark enemy of the world. Plus the dwarves got a free Balrog killing out of it. I bet they could retake Moria now instead of Erebor and the Lonely Mountain.
US national defence is 550 billion. Forbes estimated Smaug's wealth at $64 billion. Even at 10 or twenty times that Smaug could still be a bargain. The dwarves would gladly trade Erebor for Moria.
Oh boy, I smell incerniated orcs.
Wait, does plasma leave something to smell behind?
6330683
Are you kidding? His ego is bigger than laketown. "Of course they're praising me. I deserve it. After all their lives belong to me."
The dwarfs are going to be in for quite a surprise by the time they reach Laketown...
6332371 At the same time as Smaug and Celly. Orcs and dwarves and dragons oh my!
6331478 Agreed. Not that I'm saying Smaug is pure evil, but the dude has a body count of innocents in the 4-5 digit range. Discord caused chaos and probably ruined lives with his magic, but as far as we know he never killed anybody. And chaos magic is at least as much in Discord's fundamental nature as greed is in a dragon.
I think Celestia is letting her hormones do her thinking at this point.
6333391 Well, Smaug just killed you.
Discord would make you wish Smaug had. Sometimes just killing someone isn't the worst thing you can do.
Celestia is letting her hormones affect her a little bit, but she knows well enough Smaug isn't an innocent. She knows he's killed and enjoyed it. However, he is a dragon. Dragons are fundamentally beings of destruction and death. It's just there nature. It can be avoided or fixed, like Spike and other drakes in media. She just knows she has to play her cards right to make sure he doesn't follow it again.
You know, it's funny how this gets talked about so much, but 'The Rower' and his song gets only two mentions, and no one even comments on Bard's scene and him talking with his dead wife in his mind. Huh, I thought that scene would garner something.
6333532 Yes, Discord at his worst could honestly make a few of his victims long for death. But A) I'm assuming that when the Elements of Harmony were used, they wiped clean his chaotic magic effects each time, they did the first time the Mane 6 used them. I don't know of any magic item that has resurrected the dwarves.
B) Discord now seems remorseful for at least some of his actions, Smaug is still positively gleeful about burning alive dwarven men, women and children by the thousands. I'm worried he's going to bring it up as a fond anecote at the party.
C) Discord is the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony. How can Smaug be a creature of destruction and death, and thus forgiven for acting in his nature, but Discord is not forgiven for causing chaos?
I feel like Celestia is penalizing Discord for reforming, because she's using the fact that he reformed as proof that he could have chosen not to cause chaos all along, but she isn't holding Smaug to the same standard. I'd love for AJ to weigh in on this eventually.
Maybe a better comparison would be between Smaug and Tirek. Tirek doesn't have the nature excuse, and he never reformed, and he definitely was planning to kill ponies.
6333564
You know, one small comment from Celestia that I made off-handedly without much though wasn't something I thought would cause such a debate. Both Discord and Smaug were villains. Discord is reformed, Smaug isn't and Celestia's pushing for the same with him. I didn't give this comment much thought, because I was making sure Bard's section was secure and well voiced.
Discord hurt Celestia personally, Smaug hasn't. End of story. Discord chose to turn his back on friendship and caring for others and he knew the concept well enough. Smaug doesn't know anything about that, since all he knows is hoarding and killing, a dragon's basic instinct.
6333606 Fair enough, it's a subjective point of view. Everyone makes judgments on others based on how they are treated by others, Celestia can certainly do the same. Sorry if I got pedantic on you.
6333644 Oh no. You were fine. I just wasn't expecting this comment to bring up such a debate, or really any mention at all because, again, it's just a little sidenote in my story. I should be apologizing for snapping at you. It wasn't right of me. I just had a frustrating day.
I must ask, because I'm not sure, and I don't think it was mentioned: what time of day does this festival is going? And if it's in day, does that mean that Tia is charging her batteries, as they are outside during the day?
6333668 The festival starts in the late afternoon, so the sun's still out and gives the people some time to party during the day before the night portion starts. Yes, she's currently charging up. She's nowhere near her full power, but I think the orcs are going to find her a bit more difficult than the average woman.
6332181 Ever consider Smaug might also be plum lazy?
6333841
6333841
Well sure but real evil requires being a type A.
And i liked the ghost scene it was very Tolkein like.
6334060 Really? Thank you. Finally someone comments on it.
What?
Discord: Messes with the laws of physics but as far as I know never killed anyone.
Smaug: Murdered thousands of men, women, and children, destroyed two kingdoms, and stole all their stuff.
Nope, nowhere near as evil as Discord. *nods*
row row row your boat
gently down the stream!
:P
Smaug is the more sympathetic character. He's evil, but grandly so. The Master's just petty. In terms of greed, there's little to choose between them, but Smaug has nicer things.
Admittedly, because he destroyed a city of Dwarves to get them.
6333532
And all of a sudden, Spike is a draconic gelding. Way to go imagination, you done flubbernucked.
I honestly wonder about Smaug throwing the Rower. Mostly because I feel like the idea of him rowing would be beneath him, and I just pictured him standing there in the boat with his arms crossed petulantly refusing to get the rower, and they just float there for half an hour.
Sooo, you've got an aversion to the sun do ya'?
1) JUST FING F
2) Sudden flashback to defender2222's Cadance
3) Damn that's kinky.
4) {Redacted}
And:
Still waiting for that Nightmare-Sauron teamup.
7549261 If that ever happens, i'll eat one of my scales, maybe two if they make a perfect team.
RIP Rower
????~Aug 17, 2015
8078693
Don't eat your scales man. They'll give you indigestion. I should know, I ate one.