The company had managed to make it to the higher halls into a final chamber of the wester guard room which was blocked off by caved in stone. As they enter the room they stop when they notice the decaying corpses of their kin. Thorin felt his heart shatter at his people who had suffered clawing for breath in hope of escaping the dragon.
"Some of us might. Lead him to the forges. We kill the dragon. If this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together." He informed as his heart both shattered and leapt at the sight of Artemis in the doorway. His breathing hitched as he saw a cut at the top of her forehead causing a small trail of blood to run down the side of the face. She was bruised and he had no idea how extent the damage was beneath her clothing.
She was barely able to hold herself up on her feet as she raised her hand to allow her final magic flow through her creating a mirror of fire into the doorway trapping them as they all cry out and Thorin runs forward.
"Artemis! Don't do this!" He begged as she shook her head. He lifted his hand to the mirror expecting it to burn him only to feel a comforting warmth seep into his palm as a stray cheek slowly began to trail down his cheek.
"You will be safe here. It will break when it's done." She slowly spoke as each word seeping out from her chest brought a small pinch on pain in her chest.
"You cannot die!" He cried out slamming his fist against the fire glass as it shook, neither was aware of it cracking slightly from the sudden pressure as she gave a sad smile and place her palm against his.
"I can and I will. You may hate me now but in the future you will thank me." She whispered before her hand slowly left the glass as he itched and scratched at it, in search for her as she slowly turned to leave as he felt like his source of air was taken from him.
"No! Artemis? ARTEMIS!" He continued to cry out as she let his voice vanish from thought as she trusted her nose to search for her father's scent. She found him in the west corridor as he was hovering in the higher halls trying to find the dwarves.
"Smaug!" Her call threatening as his head turned sharply towards her as he snarled and narrowed his eyes. Her voice may have held power but her body showed her weakened state as he slowly slithered down towards his pray as neither blinked.
"Ah my disgraceful kin come to meet your death." He offered as he knew it was a kindness to what she may be currently suffering. He was impressed at how her body was struggling to mend itself from the severe injuries with the additional stress she was already placing upon her.
"You don't scare me." She growled as she felt her inner dragon desperately clawing at a barrier for it to be released so it could fight against him. She needed moonlight but the halls of the dwarves kingdom prevented her from finding the beams of moonlight.
"No? But I do scare them!" He cheered at the advantage as they both turn their heads towards the dwarves as they were running in groups of three in separate directions. Artemis constantly swore and cursed Durin's name as she struggled to keep Smaug's attention on her and preventing them from being killed. He found her efforts useless as he easily flung her aside causing her to skid against the stone as he began pounding in the chase after one of the many groups, before changing.
Glancing to her left she noticed Dwalin with Nori and Bofur sneaking across one of the bridges unaware of Smaug catching sight of them and chasing after them. Bracing herself to her feet and running in their direction they skidded to a stop in both surprise and cheer to see her alive. Though the fear in her eyes and desperation made Dwalin turn to see Smaug about to blow out fire as she pounced in front and deflected the flames.
"MOVE!" She cried shoving them down a small corridor in which her father couldn't follow. Panting she peered out to see his attention had been caught by another. Her heart broke as her face paled to see him chasing after Thorin.
"No" She whispered as Dwalin held her shoulder making her wince and follow her eye line towards where Thorin was running.
"ARTEMIS!" Dwalin shouted as she escaped his grip and chased after him only to skid to a halt when she saw Thorin jump down into a hole and catches a nearby rope, with Smaug then following him over the edge.
"THORIN!" She screamed as she ran to the edge as Dwalin manages to get the rope to bring Thorin back up from the hole, but Smaug catches him with his mouth causing him to stand on his mouth. Watching him balance and Smaug's stomach beginning to glow she leaped off the ledge with the rest of the group calling out for her as she noticed Balin over on a smaller ledge down below. She knew if she pushed Thorin over there he would catch him.
Just as Smaug began to open his mouth to unleash fire she landed beside Thorin and shoved him out of the way before quickly placing her hands in front of her in hope of shielding the fire as she was blasted back up and caught by Dwalin. She groaned as he flung her gently over his shoulder and ran as her clothes smoked and had a few holes in them as her hands smoked. Patches of soot stained her skin and hair and she knew only a good bath would release her from the smoked smell.
She let her eyes close slightly to rest before realising that the dwarves had gathered in the forges where the furnaces where stone cold. Gently placing her against one of the stone pillars the others all ran in different directions puffing and panting. Bilbo rushed beside her to see if she was ok as she opened her eyes weakly to nod. Feeling a warm firm hand on her cheek she leant into the embrace as she knew that warmth anywhere. Thorin let his eyes scan over her form as she held his hand gently before wincing as he helped her to her feet.
"The plan's not gonna work. These furnaces are stone cold." Dwalin reported.
"He's right. We've no fire hot enough to set them ablaze." Balin agreed. Artemis watched as Thorin turns and smiles as they hear Smaug approaching.
"Have we not?" He chuckled as she ran over towards him, more liked limped and stopped in front of him and placing her hand on his forearms so he would look and listen to her.
"For Durin's sake Thorin! Why couldn't you have just listened to me! Now I have to worry about you stubborn dwarves!" She scowled at him as the smirk on his face confused her. He looked like a boy on Christmas morning as he cupped her cheek not really looking at her but rather behind as he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and walked past her. Leaving her frowning and shocked she quickly turned once he began to taunt Smaug.
"I did not look to see you so easily outwitted!" He shouted as it made Artemis uneasy.
"Thorin!" She warned as she saw Smaug start to climb out of the hole.
"You have grown slow and fat in your dotage. Slug!" He shouted as Smaug turns to him in anger and Thorin faces the dwarves.
"Take cover. Go!" he quickly warned as they did as he told as Artemis growled and stormed over towards him.
"Thorin you should have let me dealt with it. Now you're putting their lives at risk!" She shouted as he shook his head glancing at her.
"And what about you? You can't last much longer...."
"That is because I am stronger in my dragon form. But I have no moonlight in here!" She screamed in desperation and fear as Thorin grabs hold of her as the dwarves hide behind the stone pillars as Smaug unleashes his fire into the forge which is so hot it ignites forge's fire. Artemis' back was against the stone with Thorin leaning over her to prevent any harm coming to her as he buried his head in her neck as she did the same.
"Bombur! Get those billows working! Go!" Thorin instructed as he kept his arm around Artemis' waist pulling her along with him as Bombur goes off as Smaug is trying to break through the iron gate of the forge.
"Bilbo! Up there. On my mark, pull that lever." He instructed as Smaug continues to breaks through the Iron Gate.
"Balin, can you still mix a flash flame?" He questioned as Artemis kept her eyes on her angered father as he began to scratch at the melt in hope of it giving way.
"Leave him to me. I will buy you as much time as I can" She promised as she went to leave only to have Thorin hold her tighter.
"I won't lose you" He whispered huskily in her ear as she sighed.
"That is not for you to decide" She sadly whispered before she made her way closer to the gate as her father stopped for a moment to watch her.
"You side with the dwarves? You can watch them burn before I kill you!" He yelled as he smashed against the gate a final time breaking through. Summoning part of her reserved strength Sofus was able to alight as the two dragon began to battle buying the dwarves extra time. They all waited in their positions for Thorin to give them the mark as he painfully watched as Smaug was beginning to thrash the weakened Artemis.
After seeing the opportunity Thorin raised his hand as they all grew ready as Smaug went to give the killing stroke he stopped and looked up to see Thorin dropping his hand.
"Now!"
Bilbo pulled the lever which releases the water and douses Smaug causing him to fall over backwards as the water starts to make several gears turn as gold begins to pour and slowly start to melt. Then as Smaug paces towards Thorin, Balin and Ori throw flash fire at him. It's not working as Gloin cuts a rope holding gold and sends it crashing onto Smaug, at the same time Thorin pulls a lever which pours molten gold down a path.
"Lead him to the Gallery of the Kings." Thorin shouted as he rushes and rides down the molten gold, Smaug starts destroying the forge which makes Bilbo fall from his position.
"Keep going, Bilbo! Run!" Artemis cried out as she escaped down a separate corridor clutching tightly to her stomach. Bilbo follows the rest of the dwarves with Smaug following them to the Gallery of the Kings. Thorin jumps off the barrel he rode and grasps a chain as the liquid gold starts to set into a mould. As Smaug runs Bilbo down when they enter the Gallery of the Kings Bilbo. The tapestries fall hiding Bilbo underneath.
"You think you can deceive me, barrel rider? You have come from Lake-town. This is some sordid scheme hatched between these filthy dwarves and those miserable trading lakemen. Those snivelling cowards with their long bows and black arrows. Perhaps it is time I paid them a visit." He snarled darkly as he turned to leave.
"This isn't their fault! Wait! You cannot go to Lake-town!" Bilbo cried out as Smaug stops and turns to Bilbo.
"You care about them, do you? Good. Then you can watch them die!" He hissed as he turns and starts to make his way out.
"Here! You witless worm!" Thorin shouts out as Smaug stops and turns to face Thorin who is standing on top of a large column.
"I am taking back what you stole." Thorin bravely spoke.
"You will take nothing from me, Dwarf. I laid low your warriors of old. I instill terror in the hearts of men. I am King Under the Mountain." Smaug hissed.
"This is not your kingdom. These are Dwarf lands. This is Dwarf gold. And we will have our revenge." Thorin roared as Thorin and the dwarves pull apart the large column of stones to reveal a giant gold statue of Thorin's ancestor. Thorin holds onto the chain in the air as Smaug is enchanted by the gold when suddenly the gold liquid falls apart taking Smaug down and covering him beneath all the gold. Thorin smiles and lets out a cheer believing they have destroyed Smaug watches as suddenly Smaug rises from beneath the sea of gold and fuming with anger.
"Ah, revenge! Revenge! I will show you revenge!" He roared as Smaug bursts out of the mountain and flies towards Lake-town.
"What have we done?" Bilbo whispered in horror as everything went quiet as moonlight burst into the hall. Slowly coming out from the darkness clutching her wounds she confidently stood into the moonlight as fire began to swarm her. Glancing back at the dwarves she held a said smile and smirk as her body glowed and eyes grew red. Thorin cried out her name in hope that she would remain behind as she was lifted into the air transforming painfully into a dragon.
As her paws landed softly on the stone she bowed lowly towards Thorin before her wings carried her sharply in the direction of which her father had gone.
"ARTEMIS!" Their voices cried out as her eyes hardened in determination. This battle would end now. The time for fear was over. It was time for the prophecy to be fulfilled.