"Hello!" the girl calls, waving, once she's in reasonable shouting distance, then proceeds to scramble up closer to the dragons' perch.

"You are bold, mortal, to approach so close so quickly."

"People usually call me foolish," she murmurs, catching her breath a bit.

"That, as well." Brisingr can likely pick up the subtle hint of amusement in her voice.

Brisingr is definitely grinning, her head arched above her crossed paws.

"Did you seek us out for a reason, little mortal?" she asks, almost purring.

She straightens, then seems to remember that manners exist and bows, briefly. "My name is Russet Took, your - dragonnesses. I have traveled from a land far to the West, to see what might be known of the late inhabitant of this mountain - to find him dead in a rather impressive accomplishment. You are clearly the superior dragons, and I would speak with you, if I may."

"You already are," Ellisaria points out.

"Well, more than implied by just an exchange of greetings."

"Fair enough. Your words have been unobjectionable thus far. You may continue, if you desire."

Deep breath. "Well, first - the folk nearby are quite understandably worried about things changing, and I would like to ask on their behalf what your intentions are towards them."

"I don't particularly care about their scurrying, so long as it does not bring them too close to me. I expect we won't be staying much longer, in any case."

Nod. " - If you're leaving, are you planning on coming back?"

"That depends on what success we see elsewhere. This location is defensible, if nothing else, though too close to mortals for my taste."

"My concern right now is for the inhabitants of the mountain before Smaug, the dwarves of Durin's line - they've been cast out from their ancestral homes time and again, and here would be their best stronghold to renew their people. Right now, the only halls that will hold them were ruins even at the dawn of the Second Age."

"I'm aware the history between the dwarves and the dragons is a long, fraught one - but it's history. It doesn't bind our actions now, and... Surely great dragons such as you could claim any mountain you wished for your stronghold."

"The dwarves, hmm? This mountain was carved with care and craftsmanship. If its original stewards wish to take their place anew, I have no quarrel with them."

She beams. "You have our gratitude."

"Of course, this comes with the understanding that their legacy of thoughtful care will be continued into the future."

"I don't think this generation has anything to worry about, there."

"That is good. I would not like to have to burn another nest of rats out so soon after the last."

Slow nod.

"Do you care a lot, about mountains being taken care of?"

"All the earth is my charge."

"Huh."

" - You don't seem a lot like story dragons."

"That would most likely be because I am not one, little gnome."

"What are you instead?"

She's going to just ignore that she doesn't actually know what a gnome is. Probably another word for Hobbits; the big folk seem to have a lot.

"Oh, I am a dragon. I am simply from another world. You would not have heard stories about my kind."