Chapter 15: The Gathering of the Clouds
Now we will return to Bilbo and the
dwarves all night one of them had
watched but when morning came they had
not heard or seen any sign of danger but
ever more thickly the birds were
gathering their companies came flying
from the south and the crows that still
lived about the mountain were whirling
and crying unceasingly above something
strange was happily said telling the
time is gone for the autumn wanderings
and these are birds that dwell always in
the land there are starlings and flocks
of finches and far off there are many
carrion verses of a battle war foot
suddenly Bilbo pointed again he cried he
seems to have escaped when Smaug slashed
him hurted sight but I don't suppose the
snails have sure enough the old thrush
was there and as bill burr pointed he
flew towards them and perched on a stone
nearby then he fluttered his wings and
sang then he cocked his head on one side
as if to listen and to get he sang and
again he listened I believe he is trying
to tell us something
said Balin but I cannot follow the
speech of such parts it is very quick
and difficult can you make it our bodies
very well said builder as a matter of
fact he could make nothing over to
toggle but the old fella seems very
excited
I only wish he was a raven well I
thought you did not like them he seemed
very shy of them when we came this way
before not those were crows and nasty
suspicious-looking creatures at bat and
rude as well you must have heard the
ugly names they were calling after us
but the Ravens are different there used
to be great friendship between them and
the people of thrall and they often
brought a secret news and were rewarded
with such bright things as they coveted
to hide in their dwellings they live
many a year and their memories are long
and they hand on their wisdom to their
children I knew many among the Ravens of
the rocks when I was at war flood less
very height was once named Raven helm
because there was a wise and famous pair
old Kerrigan's wife that lived here
above the garage chamber but I don't
suppose that any of that ancient breed
linger here now no sooner had he
finished speaking when the old thrush
gave a loud call and immediately flew
away now we may not understand him but
that old parrot understands us I am sure
said Berlin Keep Watch now and see what
happens before long there was a
fluttering of wings and back came the
thrush and with him came a most decrepit
old bird
he was getting blind and could hardly
fly and the top of his head was bored
he was an aged Raven of great size he
alighted stiffly on the ground before
them slowly flapped his wings and bobbed
towards Thorin Oh
Thorin son of Thrain and Balin son of
fundin he croaked and Bilbo could
understand what he said for he used
ordinary language and not bird speech I
am growing son of cock cock is dead but
he was well known to you once it is a
hundred years and three and fifty since
I came out of the egg but I do not
forget to what my father told me
now I am the chief of the great Ravens
of the mountain we are few but we
remember still the king that was of old
most of my people are abroad for there
are great tidings in the south
some are tidings of joy to you and some
you will not think so good
behold the birds are gathering back
again to the mountain and to tale from
south and east and west forward has gone
out that Smaug is dead dad shouted the
dwarves dead they all sprang up and
began to keep her about Sugoi
yes dead Cedric the thrush may espheni's
never fall saw him die and we may trust
his words he saw him fall in battery
with of men of oscura the third night
at the rising of the Moon
it was some time before Thoren could
bring the dwarves to be silent and
listen to the Ravens news at length when
he had told all the tale of the battle
he went on so much for joy Thorin
Oakenshield you may go back to your
holes in safety all the treasure is
yours for the moment but many are
gathering hither beside the birds the
news of the death of the Guardian has
already gone far and wide and the legend
of the wealth of thrall has not lost in
the telling during many years many are
eager for a share of the spoil already a
host of the elves is on the way and
carrion birds are with them hoping for
battle and slaughter by the lake men
murmur that their sorrows are due to the
dwarves for they are homeless and many
have died and Smaug has destroyed their
town they too think to find amends from
your treasure whether you are alive or
dead your own wisdom must decide your
course but 13 a small remnant of the
great folk of durin that once dwelt here
and now are scattered far if you will
listen to my counsel
you will not trust the master of the
Lakeland but rather him that shot the
dragon with his bone Bart is he of the
race of Dale of the line of Geary honor
he is a grim man but true we would see
peace once more among wolves and men and
elves after the long desolation but it
may cost you dear in gold
I have spoken
then Thoren burst forth in anger
our thanks Rock Coxon you and your
people shall not be forgotten
but none of our gold shall thieves check
all the phyla to carry off while we're
alive if you would earn our thanks still
more bring us news of any that draw near
also I would beg of you if any of you
are still young and strong of wake but
you would send messengers to our kin in
the mountains of the north
both west from here and east and tell
them of our plight but go specially to
my cousin Dane in the iron hills for he
as many people want at Wells nearest to
this place bitter Mason I will not say
if this council be good or bad croaked
heroic but I will do what can be done
then off he slowly flew
but flotilla Mel Turner cried thering we
have little time to lose
and little food to use cried Bilbo
always practical on such points in any
case he felt that the adventure was
properly speaking over with the death of
the dragon in which he was much mistaken
and he would have given most of his
share of the profits for the peaceful
winding up of these affairs cried the
dwarfs as if they had not heard him
so back he had to go with them as you
have heard some of the events already
you will see that the dwarf still had
some days before them they explored the
caverns once more and found as they
expected that only the front gates
remained open all the other gates except
of course the small secret door had long
ago been broken and blocked by Smaug and
no sign of them remained so now they
began to labor hard and fortified the
main entrance and at making a new path
that led from it tools were to be found
in plenty that the miners and quarry as'
and builders of old had used and at such
work
the dwarfs was still very skilled as
they worked the Ravens brought them
constant tidings in this way they
learned that the elven King had turned a
site to the lake and they still had a
breathing space better still they heard
that three of their ponies had escaped
and were wandering wild far down the
banks of the running River not far from
where the rest of their stores had been
left so while the others went on with
their work
fili and Kili was sent guided by a raven
to find the ponies
they could they were four days gone and
by that time the knew that the joint
armies of the Lakeman and the elves were
hurrying toward the bounty but now their
hopes were higher for they had food for
some weeks with care chiefly crammed of
course and they were very tired of it
but crime is much better than nothing
and already the gate was blocked with a
wall of squared stones laid dry but very
thick and high across the opening there
were holes in the wall through which
they could see or shoot but no entrance
they climbed in or out with laddus and
hauled stuff up with ropes for the
issuing of the stream
they had contrived a small low arch
under the new wall but near the entrance
they had so altered the narrow bed that
a wide pool stretched from the mountain
wall to the head of the fall over which
the stream went towards Dale approach to
the gate was now only possible without
swimming along a narrow ledge of the
cliff to the right as one looked
outwards from the wall the ponies they
had brought only to the head of the
steps above the old bridge and unloading
them there had bidden them returned to
their masters and sent them back
riderless to the south
there came a night when suddenly there
were many lights as a fire and torches
away South in Dale before them they have
camera said ballin and their camp is
very great they must have come into the
valley under the cover of - along both
banks of the river that night the
dwarves slept a little the morning was
still pale when they saw a company
approaching from behind their wall they
watched them come up to the valleys
header and climbed slowly up before long
they could see that both men of the lake
armed as if for war and elvish bowmen
were among them at length the foremost
of these climbed the tumbled rocks and
appeared at the top of the Falls and
very greater was there surprised to see
the pool before them and the gates
blocked with a wall of new hewn stone as
they stood pointing and speaking to one
another Thorin hailed them who are you
he called in a very loud voice but comas
often wore to the gates of Thorin son of
Thrain king under the mountain and what
do you desire but they answered nothing
some turned swiftly back and the others
after gazing for a while at the gate and
its defenses soon followed them that day
the camp was moved to the east of the
river right between the arms of the
mountain the rocks echoed then with
voices and with song as they had not
done for many a day there was the sound
- of elven harps and a sweet music and
as it echoed up towards them it seemed
that the chill of the air was warmed and
they caught faintly the fragrance of
woodland flowers blossoming in spring
then Bilbo longed to escape from the
dark fortress and to go down and join in
the mirth and feasting by the fires some
of the younger dwarves were moved in
their hearts to and they muttered that
they wished things had fallen out
otherwise and that they might welcome
such folk as friends but Curran scowled
then the dwarves themselves brought
forth harps and instruments regained
from the Horde and made music to soften
his mood but their song was not as
elvish song and it was much like the
song they had sung long before in
Bilbo's little hobbit home
unto his whole as forest at the bottom
of trash
and Eversole has four shall for the
sword is Shah
the spirit is Lord the RO swear
the gate is strong the hottest boo but
look so cool
Oh Joseph
all
made mighty spells while
like raining
most bad place SD
but I think
and although
days of
on survive
who says they straw
light of sashed
on Thursday
a dragonfly
from first
lordy
all thought stay
the mountain throw once more is free
the sub Ozzy
heystop
across the way
okay go Fred
and can I see the
while amount of cold
come come
here like the game
by
it sounds our prayer
where the germs ankle
guests are unto his
dumb dog and the one one fled and slayed
undead
and I never shall
this song appeared to please Thorin and
he smiled again and grew merry and he
began reckoning the distance to the iron
hills and how long it would be before
Dame could reach the Lonely Mountain if
he had set out as soon as the message
reached him but Bilbo's hearts fell both
at the song and the talk they sounded
much too warlike the next morning early
a company of spearmen was seen crossing
the river and marching up the valley
they bore with them the green banner of
the elven King and the blue banner of
the lake and they advanced until they
stood right before the wall at the gate
again Thorin hailed them in a loud voice
who are you I come armed for war to the
gates of Thorin son of Thrain came down
to the mountain this time he was
answered a tall man stood forward dark
of hair and grim a face and he cried
why do you fence yourself like a robber
in his hold we are not yet foes and we
rejoice that you are a life beyond our
hope we came expecting to find none
living here yet now that we are met
there is a matter for a parley and a
counsel who are you and if watts would
you parlay
I am bard and by my hand was the Dragon
slain and your treasure to Leavitt is
that not a matter that concerns you
moreover I am pyrite descent the heir of
Tyrion of Dale and in your horde is
mingled much of the wealth of his halls
and towns which old Smaug stole is not
that a matter of which we may speak
further in his last battle Smaug
destroyed the dwellings of the men of
escort and I am yet the servant of their
master I would speak for him and asked
whether you have no thought for the
sorrow and misery of his people they
aided you in your distress and then
recompense you have thus far brought
ruin only though doubtless undesigned
now these were fair words and true if
proudly and grimly spoken and Bilbo
thought that Thorin would at once admit
what justice was in them he did not of
course expect that anyone would remember
that it was he who discovered all by
himself the Dragons weak spots and that
was just as well for no one ever did but
also he did not reckon with the power
that God has upon which a dragon has
long brooded law with twelve hearts long
hours in the past days Thorin had spent
in the Treasury and the lust of it was
heavy on him
though he had hunted chiefly for the
Arkenstone yet he had an eye for many
another wonderful thing that was lying
there about which were wound old
memories of the Labour's and thesaurus
of his race you put your worst course
lost and in the chief place Thorin
answered to the treasure of my people no
man has a claim because Smaug who stole
it from us also robbed him of life or
home the treasure was not his that his
evil deeds should be amended with a
share of it the price of the goods and
the assistance that we received of the
Lakeland we will fairly pay in to time
but nothing will we give not even our
loafs worth under threat of force while
an armed host lies before our doors we
look upon you as foes and thieves it is
in my mind to ask what share of their
inheritance you would have paid to our
kindred had you found the hoard
unguarded and thus slain I just
questioned replied bad but you are not
dead and we are not robbers moreover the
wealthy may have pity beyond right on
the needy that befriended them when they
wouldn't want and still my other claims
remain unanswered
I will not parlay as I have said with
armed men at my gates loss all with the
people of the alvin king who i remember
with small kindness in this debate they
have no place be gone now ere our arrows
fly and if you would speak with me again
first dismiss the elvish hosts to the
woods were it belongs and that return
laying down your arms before you
approach the threshold
the elven King is my friend and he has
occurred the people of the lake in their
need though they had no claim but
friendship on him answered Bart we will
give you time to repent your words
gather your wisdom ere we return then he
departed and went back to the camp ere
many hours were passed the banner
bearers returned and trumpeters stood
forth and blew up last the forest one
cried Thorin Oakenshield calling himself
the king under the mountain and we bid
him could set a world the claims that
have been urged will be declared our foe
at the least he shall deliver one
swathed portion of the treasure unto
bard as the Dragon Slayer and as the air
of Garry omen from that portion bard
wolf himself contribute to the aid of s
keroth but if Thorin would have the
friendship and honour of the lands about
as his size had evolved then he will
give also somewhat of his own for the
comfort of the men of the lake then
Thorin seized a bow of thawed and shot
an arrow at the speaker it smoked into a
shield and stop that quivering since
such as your answer
he called in return I declare the bount
and besieged you shall not depart from
it until you call on your side for a
truce and a parlay we will bear no
weapons against you but we will leave
you to your gold you may eat that if you
will with that the messengers departed
swiftly and the dwarves were left to
consider their case so grim had Thorin
become that even if they had wished the
others would not have dared to find
fault with him
but indeed most of them seem to share
his mind except perhaps old fat Bombur
and fili and Kili Bilbo of course
disapproved of the whole turn of affairs
he had by now had more than enough of
the mountain and being besieged inside
it was not a tour to his taste the whole
place still stinks of Dragon he grumbled
to himself and it makes me sick and
cramp is beginning simply to stick in my
throat
you
