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Personally I am tired of the whole affair. I wish I was back in the West in my own home, where
folk are more reasonable. But I have an interest in this matter one fourteenth share, to be
precise, according to a letter, which fortunately I believe I have kept. He drew from a pocket
in his old jacket (which he still wore over his mail), crumpled and much folded, Thorin s letter
that had been put under the clock on his mantelpiece in May!
A share in the profits, mind you, he went on. I am aware of that. Personally I am only
too ready to consider all your claims carefully, and deduct what is right from the total before
putting in my own claim. However you don t know Thorin Oakenshield as well as I do now. I
assure you, he is quite ready to sit on a heap of gold and starve, as long as you sit here.
Well, let him! said Bard. Such a fool deserves to starve.
Quite so, said Bilbo. I see your point of view. At the same time winter is coming on fast.
Before long you will be having snow and what not, and supplies will be difficult even for
elves I imagine. Also there will be other difficulties. You have not heard of Dain and the
dwarves of the Iron Hills?
We have, a long time ago; but what has he got to do with us? asked the king.
I thought as much. I see I have some information you have not got. Dain, I may tell you, is
now less than two days march off, and has at least five hundred grim dwarves with him a
good many of them have had experience in the dreadful dwarf and goblin wars, of which you
have no doubt heard. When they arrive there may be serious trouble.
Why do you tell us this? Are you betraying your friends, or are you threatening us?
asked Bard grimly.
My dear Bard! squeaked Bilbo. Don t be so hasty! I never met such suspicious folk! I am
merely trying to avoid trouble for all concerned. Now I will make you an offer! !
Let us hear it! they said.
You may see it! said he. It is this! and he drew forth the Arkenstone, and threw away
the wrapping.
The Elvenking himself, whose eyes were used to things of wonder and beauty, stood up in
amazement. Even Bard gazed marvelling at it in silence. It was as if a globe had been filled
with moonlight and hung before them in a net woven of the glint of frosty stars.
This is the Arkenstone of Thrain, said Bilbo, the Heart of the Mountain; and it is also the
heart of Thorin. He values it above a river of gold. I give it to you. It will aid you in your bar-
gaining. Then Bilbo, not without a shudder, not without a glance of longing, handed the mar-
vellous stone to Bard, and he held it in his hand, as though dazed.
But how is it yours to give? he asked at last with an effort.
O well! said the hobbit uncomfortably. It isn t exactly; but, well, I am willing to let it stand
against all my claim, don t you know. I may be a burglar or so they say: personally I never
really felt like one but I am an honest one, I hope, more or less. Anyway I am going back
now, and the dwarves can do what they like to me. I hope you will find it useful.
The Elvenking looked at Bilbo with a new wonder. Bilbo Baggins! he said. You are more
worthy to wear the armour of elf-princes than many that have looked more comely in it. But I
wonder if Thorin Oakenshield will see it so. I have more knowledge of dwarves in general
than you have perhaps. I advise you to remain with us, and here you shall be honoured and
thrice welcome.
Thank you very much I am sure, said Bilbo with a bow. But I don t think I ought to leave
my friends like this, after all we have gone through together. And I promised to wake old Bom-
bur at midnight, too! Really I must be going, and quickly.
Nothing they could say would stop him; so an escort was provided for him, and as he went
both the king and Bard saluted him with honour. As they passed through the camp an old
man, wrapped in a dark cloak, rose from a tent door where he was sitting and came towards
them.
Well done! Mr. Baggins! he said, clapping Bilbo on the back. There is always more
about you than anyone expects! It was Gandalf.
For the first time for many a day Bilbo was really delighted. But there was no time for all
the questions that he immediately wished to ask.
All in good time! said Gandalf. Things are drawing towards the end now, unless I am
mistaken. There is an unpleasant time just in front of you; but keep your heart up! You may
come through all right. There is news brewing that even the ravens have not heard. Good
night!
Puzzled but cheered, Bilbo hurried on. He was guided to a safe ford and set across dry,
and then he said farewell to the elves and climbed carefully back towards the Gate. Great
weariness began to come over him; but it was well before midnight when he clambered up the
rope again it was still where he had left it. He untied it and hid it, and then he sat down on
the wall and wondered anxiously what would happen next.
At midnight he woke up Bombur; and then in turn rolled himself up in his corner, without
listening to the old dwarf s thanks (which he felt he had hardly earned). He was soon fast
asleep forgetting all his worries till the morning. As a matter of fact he was dreaming of eggs
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