After smashing the side of the Mountain Smaug, in a rage, flew off toward Lake-town (Esgaroth) knowing the Men there had supplied the thieves. In the distance the watchman saw flames lick the mountain as they had the night before and the foolish among them thought the dwarves were once again forging gold. One man, with a grim voice, thought more wisely saying it was the Dragon on the prowl. On this night the flames grew closer until the lake turned gold (as the old songs had sung) and now many grew excited. "But the grim-voiced fellow ran hotfoot to the Master. 'The dragon is coming or I am a fool!' he cried. 'Cut the bridges! To arms! To arms!'" (p. 259, The Hobbit). And if not for this man Esgaroth would have been completely unprepared.
When Smaug descended he found the bridge from the shore to the town destroyed; the water was too deep and cold for a dragon to cross so the destruction of Lake-town would not be as easy as the great worm hoped. He took to the air and dove at the town spreading flame and toppling buildings. He was quite surprised when arrows were shot at him for no one had dared attack him in many years. Still, his rage was hot and recklessly he continued his assault. Those who didn't fight drew water from the lake in an attempt to douse the flames now rising. Before long men were jumping into the lake. Women and children were gathered into boats for evacuation. The Master of Lake-town quietly slipped out in his boat in the midst of the confusion.
This was exactly what Smaug wanted. Once on shore he could leisurely hunt them down killing them all one by one away from the icy waters. He then would turn his attention to the surrounding areas to burn and create more desolation but not quite yet. "Just now he was enjoying the sport of town-baiting more than he had enjoyed anything for years" (p. 261, The Hobbit). Things looked bad for the folks of Esgorath. But one company of archers remained. They were led by the grim-voiced man: Bard. Bard was courageous, a descendent of Girion the Lord of Dale before Smaug destroyed that town, and he wielded a great yew bow. Still he found himself with one remaining arrow. "The flames were near him. His companions were leaving him. He bent his bow for the last time" (p. 261, The Hobbit). I love that description and have in mind what it will look like on screen.
At that moment hope unlooked for came. (I think this is a meta-them in Tolkien's works: hope unlooked for). The old thrush, whom Bilbo felt was spying, landed on his shoulder. It began to speak (remember the Men of Dale learned their language long ago). Bard stood in wonder as the thrush told him of the happenings at the Mountain and most importantly about the weak link in Smaug's armor. One more time the Dragon turned and began to swoop upon Lake-town. One last time Bard drew his arrow to his ear. "'Arrow! said the bowman. 'Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!'" (p. 262, The Hobbit). Bard let the arrow fly.
The black arrow flew straight and true into the opening of Smaug's diamond waistcoat into his flesh disappearing inside. Smaug shrieked terribly and the full force of his dead weight fell on the town destroying it completely. One by one the boats made it to the shore. The people had their lives but nearly all else was destroyed. Three quarters of the people made it ashore which is remarkably high for a Dragon attack. Their anger turned toward the Master who left while Bard and others had stayed to defend the town and the people. The shouted the praise of Bard and the desire to make him king had he survived. Just then a tall man emerged from the waters, soaked head to toe. It was Bard.
He would not accept kingship of Esgorath but rather declared his intent to be Lord of Dale as his ancestors before. For Dale was now freed from the Dragon's shadow by Bard's act of valor. He said that any that wish to go with him when he left could come. But it would not be an easy path with the desolation of Smaug near the mountain. Still some shouted for Bard to replace the Master. But the Master was quick-witted (their is a reason why one becomes the Master of Lake-town) and he spoke loudly against the dwarves for it was they, not he, that roused the Dragon's wrath. Plus they had not even sent any payment to the people for their trouble and quickly the people forgot their Master's cowardice and turned their anger towards Thorin and company.
Bard quickly sought to displace their wrath saying they had most likely been the first to perish in Smaug's attack. This gave him pause thinking of the great Dwarven treasure laying unguarded in the Mountain's halls. But he recovered and began ordering camps, the salvaging of supplies, the care for the weak and wounded. The Master outwardly pretended to praise Bard but inwardly despised him and he thought much (probably about the Dwarves being dead and the treasure). It was a long, bitter, night in which many fell ill and later died.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 2941 (winter)
Today's reading comes from: The Hobbit, pages 258-265
No comments:
Post a Comment