Smaug, part one

At the foot of the secret door Thorin now proclaimed it was time for the esteemed Bilbo Baggins to earn his reward. Bilbo, feeling glum, retorted that he had already earned some reward for getting them out of several tight situations. There was nothing to it though: now was the time for which he had been brought along in the first place. The hobbit asked if any would go with him and only old Balin, who by now was very fond of Bilbo, volunteered to go in a ways. It wasn't that the dwarves put all the dangerous tasks to Bilbo it's just what made sense given the situation; besides they intended to pay the hobbit well and would have jumped into action if he got into trouble.

Down the secret hall they crept until the door was but a faint outline. Balin wished Bilbo good luck and he proceeded onward alone. He could hear the dwarves whispering and knew he must be very quiet. The further he went echoes carried in the halls. After a while he felt the passage grow warmer and eventually saw what he thought to be a red glow. "It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwords were nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait" (p. 226-227, The Hobbit). I love that passage. How often are the hardest struggles and battles waged internally? I've often thought if I could only get out of my own way how much easier some things may be. What a beautiful picture of courage here.

With his Ring slipped on Bilbo made his way into the great Dwarven hall full of treasure unlike anything he had ever seen. And there also was Smaug. "There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; a thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber" (p. 227, The Hobbit). Bilbo stared and forced himself to move from the passage into the hall. He grasped a golden cup and ran for fear of his life through the passage but Smaug, still asleep, turned ever so slightly in his shifting dreams. Balin was ecstatic to see Bilbo alive and the other dwarves were deeply encouraged at the cup he bore talking about treasures and regaining their kingdom.

It was then that Smaug awoke and gave a dreadful cry. "Dragons may not have much real use for all their wealth, but they know it to an ounce as a rule, especially after long possession; and Smaug was no exception" (p. 229, The Hobbit). All confidence by the fellowship was shattered when they heard the great Dragon. Smaug had been dreaming about a warrior, albeit a very small one, with great courage--it had woken him and then he missed his cup. "Thieves! Fire! Murder! Such a thing had not happened since first he came to the Mountain!" (p. 229, The Hobbit). Smaug roared through the passage Bilbo had come and bounded out the Front Gate to search the whole mountain for whoever dared to enter his hall.

The dwarves were overwhelmed but once again Biblo spurred them to action calling them into the secret tunnel for safety. It was then that they had realized that Bofur and Bombur were at the camp down below with the ponies. There followed some tense moments with Smaug roaring and issuing flames. They were able to bring up Bofur and then Bombur by rope. They also retrieved some tools and food when the Dragon came. He flew around that side of the Mountain covering it with flames but they had all made it safe inside the tunnel. The same could not be said for their ponies.

Smaug figured by the look of the ponies that it was the men of Lake-town who had come and long he searched for their entrance into the Mountain but the secret door proved just that and Smaug was unable to find it. He eventually issued back through the Front Gate to rest and wait. The next day the dwarves were discussing what should be done. They couldn't escape now, they weren't sure how to kill Smaug (always the weak link in their plan), and they were not pleased with Bilbo for stirring the great beast's wrath. Of course Bilbo reminded them that they had all been excited by the cup a few hours before and that killing dragons was not in his job description; even still he offered to visit Smaug's lair again.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 2941 (winter)
Today's reading comes from: The Hobbit, 224-233