Bilbo was drawn in by the Dwarven song and his Tookish adventureous side couldn't help but stir. Thorin then began to explain the objective of the quest, danger and all. Bilbo soon couldn't handle the grim talk. "At may never return he began to feel a shriek coming up inside, and very soon it burst out like the whistle of an engine coming out of a tunnel" (p. 25, The Hobbit). He had to be escorted out of the room because he was in such a fright. Gandalf tried to play this embarrassing scream as merely excitement to get the journey under way. But no Hobbit loved adventures not even Bandobras Took. "He charged the ranks of goblins of Mount Gram in the Battle of the Green Fields, and knocked their king Golfimbul's head clean off with a wooden club. It sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit-hole, and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment" (p. 26, The Hobbit). I thought it was brilliant how Peter Jackson incorporated this childish line into his movie.
The Dwarves were not happy with Bilbo's outburst. Thinking him not a brave enough burglar Gloin pointed out such a shriek would alert the Dragon their presence. Hearing this Bilbo decided he would prove them wrong and declared his intent to try and achieve whatever it was they wanted from him; though he didn't understand the burglar bit. Gloin then explained the mark on Bilbo's door declaring that he was a burglar (or treasure-hunter if the Hobbit preferred) looking for work as Gandalf had said. At this Gandalf intervened saying about the mark: "'I put it there myself. For very good reasons'" (p. 27, The Hobbit). At this the Wizard scowled fiercely at Gloin and shut him up and by his look Bilbo knew he should say nothing more as well. Gandalf concluded: "'I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. There's a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea himself. You may (possibly) all live to thank me yet.'" (p. 28, The Hobbit).
At this Gandalf produced a game changer at least that's how he later recalled it. After speaking with Thorin Gandalf reflected on a map and key that he had come across. "I remembered a dangerous journey of mine, ninety-one years before, when I entered Dol Guldur in disguise, and had found there an unhappy Dwarf dying in the pits. He had a map that had belonged to Durin's folk in Moria, and a key that seemed to go with it, though he was too far gone to explain it. And he said he had possessed a great Ring" (p. 324, Unfinished Tales). The Dwarf spoke almost exclusively of the last of the Seven but gave the map to Gandalf to give to his son. For years Gandalf did not know who the map belonged to but after reflecting on Thorin's tale he pieced together that the dying Dwarf was none other than Thrain, Thorin's father. "It was nine years after Thrain had left his people that I found him, and he had been in the pits of Dol Guldur for five years at least. I do not know how he endured so long, nor how he had kept these things hidden through all his torments. I think that the Dark Power had desired nothing from him except the Ring only, and when he had taken that he troubled no further, but just flung the broken prisoner into the pits to rave until he died. A small oversight; but it proved fatal. Small oversights often do" (p. 336, Unfinished Tales).
Gandalf pointed out that it showed a secret door that would gain access into the Lonely Mountain. "As soon as Thorin saw them he really made up his mind to follow my plan, as far as a secret expedition went at any rate" (p. 324, Unfinished Tales). This of course meant taking Bilbo along on the journey. Alas, the game-changer I mentioned. Thorin began thinking through all the routes and possibilities of how to get to Erebor. Gandalf felt that most of Thorin's plans would require a great warrior or hero but none could be found. "'That is why I settled on burglary--especially when I remembered the existence of a Side-door. And here is our little Bilbo Baggins, the burglar, the chosen and selected burglar'" (p. 30, The Hobbit). Bilbo, trying to sound brave like Gandalf said, began working out the details of the journey--namely expenses and rewards. Thorin discussed compensation and retold the tale of Smaug taking Erebor from the Dwarves and how many of them along with the Men of Dale were killed.
Then Thorin inquired of Gandalf how he had come by possession of the map and key. Gandalf told how before his grandfather was killed by Azog he had given the map to Thrain. Years later Thrain tried his luck with the map and Gandalf told how he was captured by the Necromancer in Dol Guldur and there it was given to the Wizard to safeguard for Thorin. All the Dwarves shivered at the mention of Dol Guldur and asked what Gandalf was doing there. "'Never you mind. I was finding things out, as usual; and a nasty dangerous business it was. Even I, Gandalf, only just escaped. I tried to save your father, but it was too late. He was witless and wandering, and had forgotten almost everything except the map and the key'" (p. 34, The Hobbit). At this Thorin wanted to plot revenge on the Necromancer (who is Sauron). Gandalf cried out: "'Don't be absurd! He is an enemy far beyond the powers of all the dwarves put together, if they could all be collected again from the four corners of the world'" (p. 34, The Hobbit). Smaug would be more than enough for Thorin's little company.
At this Bilbo accidently spoke up but covered it up by saying he recommended a little sleep (for it was deep into the night by now) before the journey began in the morning. At this the Dwarves put in their breakfast orders. Thorin: "'I like six eggs with my ham, when starting a journey: fried not poached, and mind you don't break 'em'" (p. 35, The Hobbit) Bilbo drifted off to sleep hearing Thorin singing the song that began earlier in the evening. But Gandalf still had to convince Thorin about the hobbit. "'I knew in my heart that Bilbo must go with him, or the whole quest would be a failure - or, as I should say now, the far more important events by the way would not come to pass. So I had still to persuade Thorin to take him. There were many difficulties on the road afterwards, but for me this was the most difficult part of the whole affair. Though I argued with him far into the night after Bilbo retired, it was not finally settled until early next morning'" (p. 324-325, Unfinished Tales).
Back and forth the two argued. Thorin rightly guessed that Gandalf had other purposes for the journey (he wanted to destruction of Smaug so that Sauron could not use the Great Dragon). Finally what persuaded Thorin was Gandalf's declaration of fondness and friendship for Bilbo and that would be passed onto Thorin if the Dwarf treated the Hobbit well. "Dwarves understand devotion to friends and gratitude to those who help them" (p. 325, Unfinished Tales). Gandalf promised then to help Thorin as long as he could or at least until Bilbo proved his worth. But the wizard knew time was running short as the White Council was due to meet in August. So much good stuff here. I do appreciate Gandalf's wise words about small oversights; that they often prove fatal. Absolutely.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 2941 (April 26th-27th)
Today's reading comes from: The Hobbit, pages 21-35; Unfinished Tales, pages 324-325 & 336
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