The Hobbit

Back at the base of the mountain, Bilbo and the dwarves are anxious to determine what the presence of a great host of carrion birds could mean. Into their midst flies the old thrush, and flying away and returning, it brings an ancient raven to the dwarves, a raven who can speak the ordinary language of Bilbo and the company. Addressing Thorin, the raven croaks that “there are great tidings in the South” (212), telling them all that Smaug is slain. Putting a stop to their cries of joy and relief, the old raven warns them: “The news of the death of the guardian has already gone far and wide, and the legend of the wealth of Thror has not lost in the telling during many years; many are eager for a share of the spoil” (213).

Hearing news of the impending armies of elves and men, and anxious to guard against any invading thieves, Thorin tells the old raven to send word to his kinsman Dain in the far north while the dwarves work to fortify the front gate. One night soon after they had returned to the mountain, the company sees a great many torches in the near distance, signaling the presence of the armies gathered at the base of the mountain. The next morning, the elves and men peacefully approach the gate, and they attempt a parley; their attempt is met with disdain, however, as Thorin refuses to do business with an armed horde lying at his door. Furious at Thorin’s disrespect and injustice, Bard—the leader of the army—shoots back, “We will give you time to repent your words. Gather your wisdom ere we return!” (218). Bilbo, for his part, is sick of the mountain, wishing increasingly for a change in circumstance.

Biding their time, the dwarves spend their days gaining stock of their treasure while Thorin insists that they find the Arkenstone, which to him “is worth more than a river of gold in itself […] I will be avenged on anyone who finds it and withholds it” (220). Thorin also hears that his kinsman Dain, along with 500 dwarf warriors, are just a two days’ journey from the mountain. Bilbo slips away in the night by using the ring and ventures out to meet with the king of the elves and with Bard, hoping to help resolve the stalemate he is sure will end in grief and bloodshed.

Gaining an audience with the leaders, a completely exasperated and homesick hobbit sums up the situation for both sides and presents the Arkenstone. Bilbo hopes that the stone can be used to bargain with Thorin to end the offensive. Stunned by the sight of such a gemstone, both Bard and the Elvenking praise Bilbo, begging him to stay in their company to remain safe from Thorin’s guaranteed wrath at the treaty terms. Bilbo refuses, desiring to be back in the company of his friends, and on his way out of the camp he is surprised to meet Gandalf. The wizard congratulates Bilbo on his shrewd strategizing with the Arkenstone, but, though Bilbo is delighted to finally see Gandalf again, he is anxious to make it back before his absence is noticed. Bilbo hurries on his way.

The next day, a small party approaches the mountain. Thorin, who assumes they plan on surrender, is surprised to spot Bard and the Elvenking among the members, as well as what looks to be a crooked old man. Thorin calls out to the group, declaring the uselessness of their entreaties if they refuse to retreat, but Bard has one more piece to play: ”What of the Arkenstone of Thrain?” (226). He reveals the gem from a small casket carried along by the old man. Seething, Thorin demands to know how they came by the relic; Bilbo, afraid for his life, squeaks out a confession.

Thorin spits out a concession that he will trade one 14th share of the treasure—the formerly agreed upon ration of each of the company of dwarves—in exchange for the Arkenstone, and he commands Bilbo’s departure if he values his life. In a flourish, the old man reveals himself to be Gandalf. Demanding that Bilbo’s safety be assured. When Bilbo is let down from the walls of the gate, Bard tells Thorin that he has until the following day to bring out their portion of the treasure.

The next morning, however, after receiving the urgent message from Thorin, Dain and the army of dwarves arrive, and the company of the three armies meet before the mountain, as Bard and his men refuse passage to Dain’s people. While the elven king urges patience, the dwarves launch into attack. Before they can come to serious blows, however, Gandalf springs into the fray and cries out for all to look to the North. From seemingly out of nowhere, what appears to be a great storm approaches: ”The Goblins are upon you! Borg of the North is coming, O Dain! whose father you slew in Moria. Behold! The bats are above his army like a sea of locusts. They ride upon wolves and Wargs are in their train!” (231).

Thus it happens that the three armies who had been at the point of war find themselves allied against the armies of the goblins and the wild wolves, who, learning of Smaug’s death, wish to expand their empire in the absence of the great power under the mountain. Retreating to the mountain, Bard and the defending armies move back to the eastern shoulder, but the battle is quickly upon them all. The elves rush into the fray first, having an especial hatred for the goblins, and from the opposite battle line the dwarves charge in; elves, men, dwarves, and goblins all clash in the valley before the mountain. In the confusion, they had all forgotten about Thorin and the dwarves, when out rush the company from the front gate, Thorin bedecked in shining armor as he “wielded his axe with mighty strokes, and nothing seemed to harm him” (234). Bilbo, who had retreated to the lookout peak of Ravenhill, sits with Gandalf and a group of elves bewailing the misery of war. At that instant, Gandalf cries out, ”The Eagles are coming!” (235), and out of the sky the great eagles begin to dive. Bilbo is at that moment struck by a rock from high up on the mountain and falls unconscious.

Bilbo awakens from his stupor and gazes about him, vaguely aware that a victory must have been won due to the lack of ongoing fighting. Weak and injured, he is rescued and carried down into the valley to the camp of Gandalf and the others. There, Thorin lies in a tent, mortally wounded and wishing to make peace with the hobbit: “I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate […] There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West” (237). Unable to contain himself, Bilbo leaves the tent and weeps bitterly.

Shortly after, Bilbo learns what happened after he was knocked unconscious: Suspecting the goblin’s offensive, the Eagles came to the battle. Beorn also appeared, and “he seemed to have grown almost to giant-size in his wrath” (238), rescuing Thorin from where he fell in the middle of the field and slaying the goblin leader, Borg. The goblin hordes then lost hope and fled before being chased down and stamped out as the last of their forces perished in the dark places of Mirkwood.

Bilbo and the company bury Thorin deep within the mountain, along with the Arkenstone, and Dain occupies the mountain as king in his stead. The dwarves decide to remain with Dain—all except Fili and Kili, who were slain in battle defending Thorin—and Bilbo prepares to return home, taking two chests of silver and gold, carried by a pack mule.

Saying their farewells, Bilbo and the company meet to pay their respects. Balin assures Bilbo that if Bilbo is ever to return that way again, he will always be welcome; Bilbo in turn assures the dwarves that if they ever visit, they need not even knock (“Tea is at four; but any of you are welcome at any time!” [240]). Gandalf and Bilbo head south with the elves, who, while melancholy, are also in good spirits, as the great evils of Smaug and the goblin hordes are no longer a threat to the world. Stopping at the edge of Mirkwood, Gandalf and Bilbo say goodbye to the elves and their king as they decide to make the journey around the woods with their companion, Beorn. Before departing, Bilbo makes a present of a necklace to the Elvenking, who in turn lauds Bilbo and his daring: ”I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent! [...] I name you elf-friend and blessed” (241). Gandalf and Bilbo arrive at Beorn’s house by midwinter and depart again with the arrival of spring, heading home for the shire.

The pair reach Rivendell on the first of May, and upon entering the borders of the Last Homely House, they are greeted with the singing of the elves. While resting for the final leg of their journey, Bilbo learns that Gandalf, in his long absences throughout the journey, was driving the necromancer out of Mirkwood with a council of other white wizards. A week later, Bilbo and Gandalf depart the valley.

Recalling the memories of his great adventure, Bilbo eventually arrives at his old home—which he discovers is in the middle of being plundered by his neighbors. Presumed to be dead, Bilbo arrives just in time to stop an auction where his own goods are on display.

While his return creates quite the commotion in the Shire, “for ever after he remained an elf-friend, and had the honour of dwarves, wizards, and all such folk as ever passed that way; but he was no longer quite respectable” (247) (hobbits are not expected to go adventuring). Many years later, sitting in his study writing his memoirs—entitled “There and Back Again, a Hobbit’s Holiday” (248)—Bilbo is surprised to be met by Gandalf and Balin, who recount many tales of mutual friends and their circumstances: Bard has rebuilt the town by the lake, and friendship has developed between the elves, men, and dwarves. Content that all is well, it is all that Bilbo can do but laugh.