Chapter 89: Revenge!

[General POV]

"'I was planning to make you my appetizer,'" Smaug bellowed furiously, "but now you'll be my first meal. After you, I'll hunt down those cursed dwarves and humans!" His palpable rage echoed in every word, as if the inhabitants of Middle-earth had forgotten just how fearsome he was. The mighty Smaug would have to remind them that they should fear a dragon!

With nowhere to hide, Aldril had only the nearby mountains of gold for cover. However, taking shelter there would be foolish, Smaug's flames were hot enough to melt the gold, and if Aldril hid, he risked burning in the molten metal. Smaug doubted the boy would be stupid enough to take that chance.

But, oh, what a surprise awaited him. Smaug released a burst of his accumulated fire breath, and a wave of heat illuminated the dim hall. Against all odds, Aldril slid over the mountain of gold, adrenaline pumping. Behind him, the gold cascaded like a river of molten metal. If he were caught by that molten gold, he would not only be trapped but likely killed. He wasn't foolish, he wasn't a dragon, able to withstand such heat.

Reaching the bottom of the golden mountain, Aldril quickly gripped Anguirel. With the agility of a warg, he turned and sprinted toward the towering dragon, who continued pouring flames on the same spot, oblivious to Aldril's subtle movements.

"'His weak points are the wings, they'll keep him from flying if you strike there. Take advantage of it,'" Glorfindel's advice echoed in his mind, the elf's voice resonating in his subconscious.

With a leap that defied logic for a human, Aldril delivered a powerful slash to the scales near Smaug's wing, making a deep cut that tore off several scales. A priceless treasure by itself, yet ignored by Aldril as he rebounded from Smaug's wing like a spring.

"Bam!"

"Aaagh! You cursed rat!"

Smaug roared in pain. Fearing Aldril would cut his wing membrane, which allowed him to fly, Smaug summoned all his strength, slamming his wing against the nearest pillar. That cut had wounded him! How dare this little boy harm him! And all because of that damned sword! Otherwise, he would have paid no heed to any cuts, countless warriors had tried to pierce his scales, but only two had succeeded in wounding him, and now there was a third.

The small figure fell among the gold coins. Smaug wasted no time, his open jaws lunged straight toward the tiny figure. If he couldn't burn him, he would eat him! But his massive jaws found no taste of flesh, only the bland, metallic taste of gold filled his enormous mouth.

"Blah! Where's the little rat?!" he spat out the gold in disgust, indignant at failing to capture the small human-elf. "Where are you, cursed rat? Hiding in your hole?!" he sneered, his tone laced with mockery and frustration.

Sniffing the air, he caught Aldril's scent. Ugh! The familiar scent of an elf filled his nostrils. Despite his disgust, he had located Aldril's position, but in his cunning, he planned to feign ignorance, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Where could you be?" No anger laced his words, why? The answer was simple. Smaug was arrogant by nature, and with victory seemingly near, he felt no problem in toying with the little mouse.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a silver glint hidden behind a pillar. "There you are," he thought with a smirk. His tail slowly rose into the air, positioning itself at an angle difficult to see. Then, like lightning, it slammed into Aldril's location with a loud crash.

"Damn it!"

Aldril shouted, narrowly evading the attack, leaping back with an aerial maneuver that twisted his body mid-air. It was a risky but necessary move. However, Smaug seized this opportunity, swiping a powerful clawed hand at Aldril, sending him flying through the air and crashing into a mound of gold.

"Well, there you are!" Smaug taunted arrogantly. "The little rat can't hide anymore," he said, striding slowly toward Aldril, who was painfully getting to his feet.

Despite the pain, Aldril rose with a groan. Some ribs were broken, but it didn't matter, the elven stone in his chest was the key! His ribs cracked as they set back into place, the stone's magic healing them.

"I have to be more careful," he thought as he stood up again. Smaug loomed before him, towering with arrogance and mockery, believing he'd already won. Aldril's slow movements hinted that he was severely wounded.

"'Be grateful,'" he said arrogantly. "'Only two people have ever managed to wound me, now you're the third, and the last.'" His jaws opened, flames gathering inside as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

"The dragon will let his guard down if he thinks the fight is won," Glorfindel's words echoed in Aldril's mind. "Take advantage of that moment and strike with all your might, deal him a blow so powerful that it turns the tide in your favor."

Smaug lowered his jaws, bringing them close to Aldril, ready to grant him the luxury of being burned. He would have preferred to devour him, but the humans of that town would be treated to that fate. For now, he wanted to see this one writhe in agony as he was scorched.

But how naive he was. Aldril had formed a sign with his fingers, and as Smaug lowered his jaws, he seized his chance. With the witcher's sign, he created a wave that surged outward.

"Boom!"

"Angh!"

The telekinetic blast interrupted Smaug's flames, causing him to recoil. Aldril seized this brief moment, mustering all his strength to sprint toward the dragon. His energy, slightly restored by the elven stone, allowed him a burst of speed. He leaped, touching Smaug's head with one foot, using it to propel himself into the air. Anguirel shone brightly, briefly blinding Smaug as Aldril descended with the full force of gravity, ready to strike.

A powerful downward slash toward Smaug's head. Dormant instincts jolted to life in the dragon, warning him, "If you don't dodge this strike, you might die." Instinct drove him to pull back as fast as he could, tucking his head to evade.

"Slash!"

He dodged the blow, but at what cost?

"Arrgh, you vile insect!"

His eye, the dragon's vulnerable spot that let him gaze upon his prey as mere insects, had been cut. A line traced across his eyelid. Though he had shut his eye reflexively, it was useless against the Gondolin-forged steel. Blood pooled from the wound.

Smaug's head thrashed feverishly, like a serpent with something lodged in its snout, whipping from side to side, overcome by a pain so intense it clouded his thoughts. Not even that elf had inflicted such an injury! Now he was blind in one eye! Poor Smaug howled in agony, a cry that could burst eardrums.

"Ahh, it hurts! It hurts!"

He bellowed, attempting to quell the pain by slamming into nearby pillars. His arrogance had cost him an eye. But how could he have known? How could he have foreseen that this insignificant creature would hurt him so deeply? Aldril might not have his mother's strength, but he had something she lacked: the patience to seize the right opportunity. His strength was growing, slowly but surely.

Blinded by fury, Smaug abandoned his fight with Aldril. Enduring the pain, he turned and ran toward the exit. He had to flee! Memories of fear from years ago surfaced his diamond-hard scales were useless against a sword forged in Gondolin. He had to escape! "I will have my revenge! I will have my revenge!" he screamed aloud.

"If I can't kill you, I'll kill those wretched humans!" he bellowed, rage-blind, racing toward the exit. His wings unfurled, breaking through nearby walls.

"No, you won't!" Aldril shouted, chasing after Smaug, managing to grab hold of his tail and slowly climbing up. The pain was so intense that Smaug didn't notice Aldril scaling his tail.

Countless chambers blurred by as Aldril climbed. The speed of Smaug's movements made it hard to ascend quickly, and at some point, Smaug took to the air. The ascent grew more difficult for Aldril, who clung tightly to the dragon's tail spikes. Anguirel had slipped from his grasp during the climb, but it didn't matter. Anguirel would return to him, a quality granted by Varda, copied from Tuor's axe, which would always find its way back, a blessing given by Ulmo.

He held on with all his strength as the wind battered him, finally pausing when Smaug landed at the entrance to Erebor. The entrance, blocked by a pile of rocks, was easily scattered by Smaug's massive size, sending debris flying. Small bits of gravel pelted Aldril's head.

With a roar, Smaug burst out, the dreaded beast of legend had returned to the surface! His presence signified nothing but destruction and death.

"I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!" he roared, his thundering voice echoing across the distance, proclaiming his return to all.

"I AM FIRE! I AM DEATH!"

***

For those who follow me on patreon know that my laptop and cell phone have been stolen when I was coming back from work, today I was supposed to get my new laptop, but the stupid delivery man says that until tomorrow, whatever, that's the reason why I have not uploaded chapters, I'm not feeling well, everything has gone wrong for me. 

15 advance chapters in "p@treon.com/Mrnevercry"