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Saruman led Bilbo to one of the once powerful strongholds of the dwarves. The massive gates had once been locked and barred, sealed from within. Now, however, the doors were cracked open. A small curl of smoke drifted out. The dragon inside was on the move. Bilbo swallowed nervously as Saruman led him in, asking him questions about his dwarf adventures and his home in the shire and his family. Bilbo relaxed a bit, feeling a bit more at ease as he spoke of himself. Saruman led him through the big doors and down into the antechamber of the great treasure hoard of the dragon. The dragon was curled up there, a massive jeweler's loupe screwed into one enormous eye, examining precious gems. He looked up when Saruman and Bilbo entered.
"What." he said.
"Well, Smaug, this is an old friend of mine, Bilbo Baggins. I remembered you'd been looking for a bit of company in this rambly old place so when I ran into you, well, I thought you'd make a nice fit." He bounced on his heels as he spoke, smoothed his long white beard again.
"Really." Smaug took the loupe out of his eye and examined Bilbo.
"You've had a bit of trouble in the Shire, eh?"
"Well, not exactly trouble, but--"
"Do you have the time?"
Saruman bounced again.
"Loan him your watch a tic, Bilbo. It's a trick he does. It's a bit insufferable but very clever. That's him in a nutshell."
Bilbo frowned a bit but then handed over the solid silver pocket watch his father had left him. Smaug plucked it delicately with his razor sharp claws and studied it.
"I see you come from a wealthy, established, respectable family that has a streak of daring in it. You've just returned from an extended trip to find the confines of your old home even more confining. Your father left you this watch, he had a tendency to drink to excess, but at least he wasn't violent... unlike some of your still-living relatives."
Bilbo was impressed despite himself. One eyebrow lofted toward his hairline.
"You somehow managed to read that from my pocket watch? Observing minute details about it which allowed you to infer my life?"
"That or I'm a bloody dragon with excellent hearing and you discussed yourself all the way here."
Bilbo frowned sternly at him.
"May I have my pocket watch back now?"
"What part of "I'm a dragon" do you not understand?"
"What." he said.
"Well, Smaug, this is an old friend of mine, Bilbo Baggins. I remembered you'd been looking for a bit of company in this rambly old place so when I ran into you, well, I thought you'd make a nice fit." He bounced on his heels as he spoke, smoothed his long white beard again.
"Really." Smaug took the loupe out of his eye and examined Bilbo.
"You've had a bit of trouble in the Shire, eh?"
"Well, not exactly trouble, but--"
"Do you have the time?"
Saruman bounced again.
"Loan him your watch a tic, Bilbo. It's a trick he does. It's a bit insufferable but very clever. That's him in a nutshell."
Bilbo frowned a bit but then handed over the solid silver pocket watch his father had left him. Smaug plucked it delicately with his razor sharp claws and studied it.
"I see you come from a wealthy, established, respectable family that has a streak of daring in it. You've just returned from an extended trip to find the confines of your old home even more confining. Your father left you this watch, he had a tendency to drink to excess, but at least he wasn't violent... unlike some of your still-living relatives."
Bilbo was impressed despite himself. One eyebrow lofted toward his hairline.
"You somehow managed to read that from my pocket watch? Observing minute details about it which allowed you to infer my life?"
"That or I'm a bloody dragon with excellent hearing and you discussed yourself all the way here."
Bilbo frowned sternly at him.
"May I have my pocket watch back now?"
"What part of "I'm a dragon" do you not understand?"
