Chapter 12: Inside Information.
For a long time
the dwarves stood in the dark for the
door and debated until at last Thoren
spoke now is the time for our esteemed
mr. Baggins who has proved himself a
good companion on our long road under
hobbits full of courage and resource far
exceeding his size the four may say sir
possessed of good luck far exceeding the
usual allowance now is the time for him
to perform the service for which he was
included in our company now is the time
for him to warn as reward you are
familiar with Thorin style on the
important occasions so I will not give
you any more of it though he went on a
good deal longer than this it certainly
was an important occasion but Bilbo felt
impatient by now he was quite familiar
with Thorin - and he knew what he was
driving at if you mean you think it is
my job to go into the secret passage
first oath Thorin prince on Oakenshield
may your beard grow ever longer he said
crossly say so at once and have done am
I refuse I've got you out of two messes
already which were hardly in the
original bargain so that I am I think
already owed some reward but third time
pays for all as my father used to say
and somehow I don't think I shall refuse
perhaps I've began to trust my luck more
than I used to in the old days he meant
last spring before he left his own house
but it seems centuries ago but anyway I
think I will go and have a peep at once
and get it over now who is coming with
me he did not expect a chorus of
volunteers so he was not disappointed
fili and Kili
looked uncomfortable and stood on one
leg but the others made no pretense of
offering except old Balin the lookout
man who was rather fond of the hobbits
he said he would come inside at least
and perhaps a bit of the way to ready
score for help if necessary the most
that can be said for the dwarves is this
they intended to pay boba really
handsomely for his services they had
bought him to do a nasty job for them
and they did not mind the poor little
fellow doing it if he weren't but they
would all have done their best to get
him out of trouble if he got into it as
they did in the case of the trolls at
the beginning of their adventures before
they had any particular reasons for
being grateful to him the Paradis
dwarves are not heroes but calculating
folk with a great idea of the value of
the money
some are tricky and treacherous and
pretty bad lots some are not but a
decent enough people like Thorin and
company if you don't expect too much the
Czar's were coming out behind him in a
male sky bard with black when the
hobbits crept through the enchanted boar
and stole into the mountain it was far
easier going than he expected this was
no goblin entrance or ruff food elfs
cave it was a passage made by dwarves at
the height of their wealth and skill
straight as a ruler smooth floored and
smooth sided going with a gentle never
varying slope direct to some distant end
in the blackness below
after a while boggling bait Bilbo good
luck and software he could still see the
faint outline of the door and by a trick
of the echoes of the tunnel hear the
rustle of the whispering voices of the
others just outside then the hobbits
slipped on his ring and warned by the
echoes to take more than hobbits care to
make no sound he crept noiselessly down
down down into the dark
he was trembling with fear but his
little face was set and grim already he
was a very different of it from the one
that you'd run out without a pocket
handkerchief from Bag End long ago he
had not had a pocket handkerchief for
ages he loosened his dagger in its
sheath tightened his balance and went on
now your ring for it at last Bilbo
Baggins he said to himself he went put
your foot right in at that night of the
party
and now you have got to pull it out and
pay for it dear me what a fool I wasn't
Nana said the least to Koosh part of him
I have absolutely no use for dragon
carded treasures and the whole lock
could stay it forever if only I could
wake up and fight this beastly tunnel
was my own front hall at home he did not
wake up of course but still went on and
on till all sign of the door behind had
faded away he was off together alone
soon he thought it was beginning to feel
warm
that a kind of a glow I seem to see
coming right ahead down there he thought
it was as he went forward it grew and
grew so there was no doubt about it it
was a red light steadily getting redder
and redder also it was now undoubtedly
hearts in the tunnel wisps of vapor
floated up and past him and he began to
sweat a sound too began to throb in his
ears a sort of bubbling like the noise
of large pots galloping on the fire
mixed with a rumble as of a gigantic
Tomcat spurring this crude to the
unmistakable gurgling noise of some vast
animal snoring in its sleep down there
in the red glow in front of him it was
at this point that Bilbo stopped going
on from there was the bravest thing he
ever did the tremendous things that
happened afterwards worse nothing
compared to it he fought the real battle
in the tunnel alone before he ever saw
the vast danger that lay in wait at any
rate after a short halt go on he did and
you can picture him coming to the end of
the tunnel an opening of much the same
size and shape as the door above through
it heaps of its little head before him
lies the great bottom most cellar or
dungeon hall of the ancient wars right
to the mountains roots
it is almost dark so that its fastness
can only be dimly guessed but rising
from the near side of the rocky floor
there is a great glow the glow of Smaug
there he lay in a vast red gold and
dragon fast asleep a thrumming came from
his jaws and nostrils and wisps of smoke
but his fires were low in slumber
beneath him under all his limbs and his
huge coiled tail and about him on all
sides stretching away across the unseen
floors lay countless piles of precious
things gold brought and unloads gems and
jewels and silver red-stained
in the ruddy lights smile clay with
wings folded like an immeasurable bats
turned partly on one side so that the
Hobbit could see his underpants and his
long pale belly
crusted with gems and fragments of gold
from his long lying on his ghostly bed
beneath him where the wars were nearest
could dimly be seen coats of mail Helms
and axes swords and spears hanging and
there in rows stood great jars and
vessels filled with a wealth that could
not be guessed to say that Bilbo's
breath was taken away is no description
at all there are no words left to
express his stag immense since men
changed the language that they learned
of elves in the days when all the world
was wonderful Bilbo had heard tell and
sing of Dragon Awards before but the
splendor the lust the glory of such
treasure had never yet come home to him
his heart was filled and pierced with
enchantment and with the desire of
dwarfs and he gazed emotionless almost
forgetting the frightful guardian at the
gold
beyond price and count
he gazed for what seemed an age before
drawn almost against his will he stole
from the shadow of the doorway across
the floor to the nearest edge of the
mounds of treasure above him the
sleeping dragon lay a dire menace even
in his sleep he grasped a great
two-handled Cup as heavy as he could
carry and cast one fear for I are poised
Smaug stirred a wing opened a claw the
rumble of his snoring changed its note
then bill burr fled but the dragons not
wake not yet but shifted into other
dreams of greed and violence lying there
in this stolen Hall while the little
Hobbit toiled back up the long tunnel
his heart was beating and a more fevered
shaking was in his legs than when he was
going down but still he clutched the cup
and his chief thought was I've done it
this'll show em more like a grocer than
a burglar indeed well we'll hear no more
of that nor did he Boland was overjoyed
to see the Hobbit again and as delighted
as he was surprised he picked Balu up
and carried him out into the open air it
was midnight and clouds had covered the
Stars but Berber lay with his eyes shut
gasping and taking pleasure in the feel
of the fresh air again and hardly
noticing the excitement of the Dwarfs
for how they praised him and added him
on the back and put themselves in all
their families for generations to come
at his service the dwarves were still
passing the cup from hand to hand and
talking delightedly of the recovery of
their treasure when suddenly a vast
rumbling walk in the mountains
underneath
as if it was an old volcano that had
made up its mind to start eruptions once
again the door behind them was poured
nearly tuned and blocked afar closing
with the stone but up the long tunnel
came the dreadful echoes from far down
in the devil's son of a bellowing and a
crumbling that made the ground beneath
them tremble then the dwarfs forgot
their joy and a confident boasts of a
moment before and coward town and
frightened mouth was still to be
reckoned with him it does not do to
leave a live dragon out of your
calculations if you live near him
dragons may not have much real use for
all their wealth but they know it too an
ounce as a rule especially after long
possession and smoke was no exception he
had passed from an uneasy dream in which
a warrior altogether insignificant since
ice but provided with a bitter sword and
great courage figured most unpleasantly
to it doze and from a doze to wide
waking there was a breath of strange air
in his cave could there be a draught
from that little home he had not felt
quite happy about it votives so small
and now he glared at it in suspicion and
wondered why he had never blocked it up
of late the ELA fancied he caught the
dim echoes of a knocking sound from far
above that came down through it to his
lair
he stirred and stretched forth his neck
to sniff
then he missed the cup thieves such a
thing had not happened sis first he came
to the mountain his rage boss's
description the sort of rage that has
only seen when rich folk will and have
more than they can enjoy suddenly use
something that they've long had but have
never before you so wanted his fire
belched forth the whole smoked of the
mountain troops he thrust his head in
vain our little hole and then coiling is
left together
roaring like thunder
is sped from ISTE flare through its
great door out into the huge passages of
the mountain purse and up towards the
front gates
to hunt the whole mountain until he had
caught the thief and had tall and
trampled him vs1 thought he issued from
the gates the waters rose fierce
whistling steel and up he soared blazing
into the air and settled on the
mountaintop in a spout of green and
scarlet flame the dwarfs heard the awful
rumor of his flight and they crouched
against the walls of the grassy terrace
cringing under boulders
hoping somehow to escape the frightful
eyes of the hunting dragon there they
would all have been killed if it had not
been for Bilbo once again he gasped
roused by these words they were just
about to creep inside the tunnel
whenever gave a cry moaned the others we
can do nothing
monsters said Thorin recovering his
dignity we can't leave them
gunsight mr. Baggesen body and you sir
fili and Kili the trying shots have all
of us now you are the squirrel rocks be
quick
those were perhaps the worst moments
they have been through yet the horrible
sounds of Smaug Xango were echoing in
the stony hollows far above at any
moment he might come blazing down or fly
whirling round and find them there near
the perilous cliff's edge hauling madly
on the ropes up came Beaufort and SIL
all was safe Bob came bomba puffing and
blowing while the ropes creaked and sill
all was safe up came some tools and
bundles of stores and then danger was
upon them a whirring noise was heard a
red light touched the points of sanding
rocks
they had barely time to fly back to the
tunnel fully can drag in their bundles
when smoke came hurtling from the north
making them out to the sides with flames
beating his great wings with a noise
like a roaring wind his hot breath
shriveled the grass before the door
through the crack they had left and
scorched them as they lay it
the current Flyers laptop a black rock
shadows danced that darkness policy
passed again the ponies screamed with
terror burst their works and galloped
walk me off
the dragon swooped and turned to pursue
and this gone that'll be the end of our
poor beasts set Thorin Buffett can
escape smoke once he sees it
here we are a day we should love to stay
unless anyone fancies trumping the long
open mouths back to the river with smoke
on the watch it was not a pleasant
thoughts they crept further down the
tunnel and there they lay and shivered
though it was warm and stuffy until the
dawn came pale through the crack of the
door every now and again through the
night they could hear the roar of the
flying dragon grow and then pass and
fade as he hunted round and round the
mountain sides he guessed from the
ponies and from the traces of the camp's
he had discovered that man had come up
from the river and the lake and had
scaled the mountainside from the valley
where the ponies had been standing but
the door would stirred his searching eye
and the little high Ward Bay had kept
out his fiercest flames long he had
hunted in vain till the dawn chilled his
wrath and he went back to his golden
couch to sleep and to gather new
strength he would not forget or forgive
the theft nor if a thousand years turned
him to smoldering stone
but he could afford to wait slow and
silent he crept back to his lair and
half closed his eyes when morning came
the terror of the dwarves grew less they
realized the dangers of this kind were
inevitable in dealing with such a
guardian and that it was no good at
giving up their quest yet nor could they
get away just now as Thorin had pointed
out their ponies were lost or killed and
they would have to wait some time before
Smaug relaxes watched sufficiently for
them to doubt the long way on foot
luckily they had saved enough of their
stores to last them still for some time
they debated long on what was to be done
but they could think of no way of
getting rid of Smaug which had always
been a weak point in their plans as
Bilbo felt inclined to point out then as
is the nature of folk that are
thoroughly perplexed they began to
grumble at the Hobbit blaming him for
what at first so pleased them for
bringing away a cup and stirring up
smokes rods so soon asked Boober angrily
I was not engaged to kill dragons that
is warriors work but to steal treasure I
made the best beginning I could did you
expect me to trot back with the whole
hoard of Thror on my back if there is
any grumbling to be done I think I might
have a say you're told what five hundred
burglars not one I am sure it reflects
great credit on your grandfather pin you
cannot pretend that you never made the
vast extent of his wealth glares at me I
should want hundreds of years to bring
it all up if I was fifty times as big
and small his tame as a rabbit after
that of course the dwarves begged his
pardon what then do you propose we
should do mr. Baggins asked Thorin that
lightly I have no idea at the moment if
you mean about removing the treasure
that obviously depends entirely on some
new turn of luck and the getting rid of
smoke getting rid of dragons is not at
all in my line but I would do my best to
think about it
personally I have no hopes at all and
wish I was safe back at home love Mandar
for the moments what are we going to do
now to gain well if you really want my
advice I should say we can do nothing
but stay where we are by day we can no
doubt creep out safely enough to shake
the air perhaps before long one or two
could be chosen to go back to the store
by the river and replenish our supplies
but in the meanwhile everyone ought to
be well inside the tunnel by night now I
will make you an offer I have got my
ring and will creep down this very noon
and then if ever smell ought to be
napping and see what he is up to perhaps
something will turn up every worm has
his weak spot as my father used to say
though I'm not sure it was from personal
experience
naturally the dwarfs accepted the offer
eagerly already they had come to respect
little bilva now he had become the real
leader in their adventure he had begun
to have ideas and plans of his own when
midday came he got ready for another
journey down into the mountain he did
not like it of course but it was not so
bad now he knew more or less what was in
front of him had he known more about
dragons and their wily ways he might
have been more frightened and less
hopeful of catching this one napping
the Sun was shining when he started but
it was dark as night in the tunnel the
light from the door almost closed soon
faded as he went down so silent was this
going but smoke on the gentle wind could
hardly have surpassed it and he was
inclined to feel a bit proud of himself
as he drew near the lower door there was
only the very faintest glow to be seen
old Smaug is weary and asleep he
thoughts he can't see me and he won't
hear me
Sharapova he had forgotten or had never
heard about dragons sense of smell it is
also an awkward fact that they can keep
half an eye open watching while they
sleep if they are suspicious Smaug
certainly looked fast asleep almost dead
and dark with scarcely a snore more than
the width of unseen steam when boba
peeped once port from the entrance he
was just about to step out onto the
floor when he caught a sudden thin and
piercing ray of red from under the
drooping lid of smokes left
it was only pretending to sleep he was
watching the tunnel entrance hurriedly
builder stepped back and blessed the
luck of his ring then Smaug spoke
Wow I smell you
I hear your breath come along
help yourself again there is one to
spare but bill though was not quite so
unlearned that in dragon lore as all
that
and if Smaug hoped to get him to come
nearer so easily he was disappointed
no thank you smoke the tremendous he
replied I did not come for presents I
only wished to have a look at you and
see if you were truly as greatest tales
say I did not believe them do you set
the dragons somewhat flattered even
though he did not believe a word of it
Oh truly this songs and tales for
utterly short of the reality of Smaug
the chiefest and greatest of calamities
replied Bilbo oh you have nice manners
for a thief
I set the dragon
you see Fabio with my name but I don't
seem to remember Somali you before
who are you where do you come from may I
ask you may need I come from under the
hill under the house over the hills my
paths led and through the air I am he
that walks unseen sure well believe you
set Smaug but what is hardly unusual
name I am the clue finder the web cutter
the stinging fly I was chosen for the
lucky number lovely titles near to the
dragon but lucky numbers don't always
come off I am he that buries his friends
alive and drowns them and draws them
alive again from the water I came from
the end of a bag but no bag went over me
fees don't sound so creditable scoffs
mark I am the friend of bears and guests
of eagles
I am ring winner
Lock wearer and iron barrel rider went
on Bilbo beginning to be pleased with
this riddling nice better said Smaug but
don't let your imagination run away with
you this of course is the way to talk to
dragons if you don't want to reveal your
proper name which is wise and don't want
to infuriate them by flat refusal which
is also very wise no dragon can resist
the fascination of riddling talk and of
wasting time trying to understand it
there was a lot here which Smaug did not
understand at all though I expect you to
since you know all about Bobo's
adventures to which he was referring but
he thought he understood in love and he
chuckled in his wicked inside I thought
so last night he smiles to himself lake
mana some nasty scheme of those
miserable tub-trading lake-men will
rhyme elicitor I haven't been down that
way for an age age bubble soon rider he
said aloud maybe barrels your pony's
name and maybe not though it was fast
enough you may walk unseen but you did
not walk all the way let me tell you I
hate six ponies last night and I shall
catch need all the others before long
in return for the excellence fever I
will give you one piece of advice feel
good don't have more to do with dwarf
first then you can help
dwarf said Bobo in pretended surprise
don't charge her BAE said smile the idol
the smell and taste of dwarf no one
better
don't tell me that I can he's a dwarf
threatened pony and thought knowit's
she'll come to a bad and if you go with
such friends thief barrel-rider cry
don't mind if you go back and tell
themselves but he did not tell boba that
there was once smell he could not make
out at all Hobbit smell it was quite
outside his experience and puzzled him
mightily I suppose you got a fair price
for that Cup last night he went on come
Oh butts just like them and I suppose
they are skulking outside and your job
is to do all the dangerous work and get
what you can when I'm not looking for
them but he will get a fair share don't
you believe it if you get off alive you
will be lucky Bilbo who's now beginning
to feel really uncomfortable whenever
smaug's roving eye seeking for him in
the shadows flushed across him he
trembled and an unaccountable desire
seized hold of him to rush out and
reveal himself and tell all the truth to
Smaug in fact he was in previous danger
of coming under the Dragons spell but
plucking up courage he spoke again
you don't know everything I've smoked
the mighty said he not gold alone waters
hidden haha you and Betty HUS loved
smoke why don't say who's 14 and be done
with that mr. lucky number
I'm pleased to hear that you had other
business in these parts beside my gold
about case you may perhaps not all
together waste your time I don't know if
it has occurred to you that even if you
could steal the gold bits by bits a
matter of a hundred years or so you
could not get it very far not that she
was on the mountainside not much use in
the forest to bless me how do you never
thought of the catch a 14-2 share are
suppose or something like it those were
the terms I but what about delivery you
what about cottage what about armed
guards and tolls and smoke laughed aloud
he had a wicked and a wily heart and he
knew his guesses were not far out though
he suspected that the lake men were at
the back of the plans and that most of
the plunder was meant to stop there in
the town by the shore that in his young
days had been gold s karov Hugh will
hardly believe it but
bilbo was really very taken aback so far
all his thoughts and energies had been
concentrated on getting to the mountain
and finding the entrance he had never
bothered to wonder how the treasure was
to be removed certainly never how any
part of it that might fall to his share
was to be brought back all the way to
bagand Underhill now a nasty suspicion
began to grow in his mind at the dwarfs
forgotten this important point - or were
they laughing in their sleeves at him
all the time that is the effect that
dragon talk has on the inexperienced
Bilbo of course ought to have been on
his guard
but Smaug had rather an overwhelming
personality I tell you he said in an
effort to remain loyal to his friends
and to keep his end up toad was holy
enough to talk with us we came over Hill
and under hill by wave and wind for
revenge
surely o Smaug the unassessably wealthy
you must realize that your successes
made you some bitter enemies then Smaug
really did love the devastating sorrow
together I'd imagined that the Hobbit
had come to a sudden nasty end he's
smooth and the light of his eyes lit the
whole
to ceiling like scarlet lightly smudge
the paragon to the bounds on this chart
but floral has can the - seek revenge
carry on
Lord of Dale is - and I have eateth his
people like a wolf among sheep and where
I son sons that dare approach may I kill
where I wish but not dare resist I laid
low the warriors of old
I was shocked of my time
my words are wrong I can't
Oh understood said Bilbo in a frightened
squeak that dragons were softer
underneath especially in the region of
the chest down this once so fortified is
thought of that the Dragons stopped
short in his boasting your information
is antiquated and be snapped by a marmot
above and below with Payan scales and
hard gems no blade can pierce me said
builder nowhere be found the equal of
Lord Smaug the impenetrable for
magnificence to possess a waistcoat of
fine diamonds yes it is rare and
wonderful indeed said Smaug absurdly
pleased he did not know that the Hobbit
had already caught a glimpse of his
peculiar undercovering on his previous
visit and was itching for a closer look
for reasons of his own the dragon rolled
over
he said exclaimed Bilbo aloud but what
he thought inside was oh there is a
large patch of his bestest bearish smell
out of it's shell after he had seen that
mr. Baggins is one idea was to get away
I freely must not detain Your
Magnificence any longer he said him Oh
keep you from much-needed rest
ponies takes some catching I believe
after along start
and so do purpose he added as a passing
shot as he darted back and fled up the
tunnel it was an unfortunate remark for
the Dragon spouting rapid flames after
him and fast nervous
nearly far enough to be comfortable
before the cast Lee had a smile thrust
against the opening behind him
luckily the hole had and Joyce could not
squeeze in but the nostrils sent forth
fire and favorites pursue him and he was
daily overcome and stumbles blindly on
in great
he had been feeling rather police with
the cleverness of his conversation with
Smaug but as a mistake at the end shook
him into better sense he said to himself
and it became a favorite saying of hiss
and passed into a proverb
she won't merely through this adventure
yet he added and that was pretty true as
well the afternoon was turning into
evening when he came out again and
stumbled in a feint on the doorstep
the dwarves revived and doctored his
scorches as well as they could but it
was a long time or for the hair on the
back of his head and his heels screwed
properly again it had all been singed
and frizzled right down to the skin in
the meanwhile his friends did their best
to cheer him I and they were eager for
his story especially wanting to know why
the dragon had made such an awful noise
and how Bilbo had escaped but the
hobbits was worried and uncomfortable
and they had difficulty in getting
anything out of him on thinking things
over
he was now regretting some of the things
he had said to the dragon and was not
eager to repeat them the old thrush was
sitting on the rock nearby with his head
cocked on one side
listening to all that was said it shows
what an ill temper Bilbo was in he
picked up a stone and threw it at the
thrush which made it flows it aside and
he came back said Bilbo crossly I don't
like the look of him Livermore said
Thorin
but the rushes of good and friendly this
is a very old bird indeed and has maybe
the last left of the ancient breed that
used to live about here came to the
hands of my father and grandfather they
were a long-lived and magical race this
might even be one of those that
a couple of hundreds of years or more
ago the man of Dale used to have the
trick of understanding their language
and use them for messengers to fly to
the men of the lake and elsewhere
well he'll haven't used to take to
Laketown all right if that's what he's
after
said bill burr though I don't suppose
there are any people left there that
trouble with thrush language why was
happened cried the dwarves do you get on
with your tale so Bilbo told them all he
could remember and he confessed that he
had a nasty feeling that the dragon
guessed too much from his riddles added
to the camps and the ponies hi I'm sure
he knows we came from Laketown and had
help from there now I have a horrible
feeling that his next move may be in
that direction I wish to goodness I
never said that's about barrel-rider
it would make even the blind rabbits in
these parts think of the Lakeman well
well it cannot be helped and it is
difficult not to slip in talking to a
dragon or so I of always helped said
Balin anxious to comfort him I think you
did very well if you ask me you found
out one very useful thing at any rate
and got home alive and that is more than
most can say who have had words with the
likes of Smaug it may be a mercy and a
blessing yet to know of the bear patch
in the old worms time and waistcoat that
turned to the conversation and they all
began discussing dragon slaves
historical dubious and mythical and the
various sorts of stabs and jabs and
undercuts and the different arts devices
and stratagems by which they had been
accomplished the general opinion was
that catching a dragon napping he was
not as easy as it sounded and the
attempt to stick were no prod when
asleep was more likely to end in
disaster than the bold frontal attack
all the while they talked the thrush
listened till at last when the stars
began to peep forth it silently spread
its wings and flew away and all the
while they talked and the shadows
lengthened
bilbo became more and more unhappy and
his foreboding grew at last he
interrupted them I am sure we are very
unsafe here he said and I don't see the
point of sitting here the dragon is
withered all the pleasant green anyway
the night is covered it is cold but I
feel it in my bones that this place will
be attacked again Smaug knows now how I
came down to his Hall and you can trust
him to guess where the other end of the
tunnel is he will break all the side of
the mountain to base if necessary to
stop up our entrance and if we are
smashed with it the better he will like
it you are very gloomy mr. Baggins said
pouring one whose thoughts mark blot the
lower-end then if he is so eager to keep
us out he is not well we should have
heard him I don't know I don't know
because at first he wanted to try and
lure me and again I suppose and now
perhaps because he's waiting till after
tonight's hunt or because he does not
want to damage his bedroom if he can
help it but I wish you would not argue
Smaug will be coming out at any minute
now
and our only hope is to get well in the
tunnel and shut of the door he seemed so
much in earnest that the dwarves at last
did as he said though they delayed
shutting the door it seemed a desperate
plan for no one knew whether or how they
could get it open again from the inside
and the thought of being shut in the
place from which the only way out led
through the dragon's lair was not one
they liked also everything seemed quite
quiet both outside and down the tunnel
so for a longest while they sat inside
not far down from the half-open door and
went on talking the talk turned to the
dragons wicked words about the dwarves
Bilbo wished he had never heard them or
at least that he could feel quite
certain that the dwarves now were
absolutely honest when they declared
that they had never thought at all about
what would happen after the treasure had
been won
we knew it would be a desperate venture
saturon but we know that still and I
still think that when we have one it
will be time enough to think what to do
about it
as for your sure mr. Baggins so I assure
you we are more than grateful and you
shall choose your own fourteenth as soon
as we have anything to divide I'm sorry
if you are worried about transports and
I admit the difficulties are great the
lands have not become less wild with the
passing of time rather the reverse but
we will do whatever we can for you and
take our share of the cost when the time
comes
believe me or not as you like from that
the talk turned to the great hoard
itself and to the things that Sauron and
Balin remembered they wondered if they
were still lying there unharmed in the
hall below the spears that were made for
the armies of the Great King two earthen
long since dead each had a thrice forged
head and their shafts were inlaid with
cunning gold but they were never
delivered or paid for shields made for
warriors long dead the great golden cup
of thraw two-handled hammered and Carvin
with birds and flowers whose eyes and
petals were of jewels coats of mail
gilded and Silver's and impenetrable the
necklace of geryon
Lord of Dale made a 500 emerald screen
as grass which he gave for the arming of
his eldest son in a coat of dwarf linked
rings the like of which had never been
made before
Feroze wrote of pure silver to the power
and strength of triple steel but fairest
of all was the great white gem which the
dwarves had found beneath the roots of
the mountain the heart of the mountain
the Arkenstone of Thrain the Arkenstone
the Arkenstone murmured Thorin in the
dark off dream away this chin upon his
knees it was like a globe with a
thousand facets but Jean like suffered
violence like water in the Sun like snow
under the stars like rain upon the moon
but the enchanted desire of the hoard
had fallen from bilder all through their
talk he was only half listening to them
he sat nearest to the door with one ear
cocks for any beginnings of a sound
without his other was alert for echoes
beyond the murmurs of the dwarves for
any whisper of movements from far below
darkness grew deeper and he grew ever
more uneasy shut the door he begged them
I feared that dragon if my mera
I like this silence far less than the
uproar of last night shut the door
before it is too late
something in his voice gave the dwarves
an uncomfortable feeling slowly Thorin
shook off his dreams and getting up he
kicked away the stone that wedged the
door then they thrust upon
closed with a snap and no trace of Akiho
was there left on the inside they were
shut in the mountain and not a moment
too soon they had hardly gone any
distance down the tunnel when a blows
moved to the side of the mountain like a
crash of battering rams made of Forest
Oaks and swung by Giants
the walls cracked and stones fell from
the roof on their heads what would have
happened if the door had still been
opened I don't like to think they fled
further down the tunnel glad to be alive
well behind them outside they heard the
war
of swells fury
breaking rocks to pieces smashing the
wall and cliff with the Russians of his
huge tail to
camping-ground the scorched grass with
Russia stone stale covered walls
a jumble of smithereens
of splintered stones
over the cliff into the valley
smoke had left his lair in silent
stealth quietly soared into the air and
then floated heavy and slow in the dark
like a monstrous crow down the wind
towards the west of the mountain in the
hopes of catching unawares something or
somebody there and of spying the outlet
the passage which the thief had used him
this was the outburst of his wrath when
he could find nobody and see nothing
even where he guessed the outlet must
actually be
elephants rage in this way
in his heart that he would not be
troubled again from that direction in
the meanwhile he had further vengeance
to take
barrel-rider he snorted your face came
from the waterside adopt the water you
came without a doubt
I don't know he'll smell but if you are
not one of those men often like you had
help
heroes in fire and went away south
towards still running river
