A Warm Welcome

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David T. Wenzel - Thorin at Laketown.jpg
A Warm Welcome
Chapter of The Hobbit
Number10
Synopsis
EventThorin and Company arrive to Lake-town and spend 2 weeks
Date22 September—c. 6 October T.A. 2941
LocationForest River, Esgaroth
Navigation
<  Barrels Out of Bond
On the Doorstep  >

A Warm Welcome is the 10th chapter of The Hobbit.

Following the escape of the dwarves from the wood-elves, Bilbo listens to the talk of the raft-elves. He realizes they were very fortunate to have escaped the way they did. He sees that the path that Beorn had told them to follow came to a "doubtful and little used end at the eastern edge of the forest."

J.R.R. Tolkien - Lake Town (Colored by H.E. Riddett)

After a while they come to the Long Lake, and Bilbo marvels at its size. They come to Lake-town; a small collection of huts and buildings built on stilts over the water. The ruins of a bigger town could be seen rotting away along the shores.

The first Dwarf to be unloaded was Thorin, who was barely alive, and Bilbo instructs him to "slap your arms and rub your legs." When Bilbo knocks on the barrels, only six dwarves are able to answer: Dwalin and Balin were the worst off; Bifur and Bofur were better off, but would not help; Fíli and Kíli had a better time of it, and had only a few bruises (Fili says he hopes he never smells apples again, as his barrels was full of the smell); Bombur was asleep or unconsious; and Dori, Nori, Ori, Óin, and Glóin were barely alive.

In Lake-town Thorin requests to see the Master of Lake-town. He was feasting at the time and all the Dwarves join him (they are famished with hunger since they had not eaten for several days). They get a warm welcoming, and Thorin, the grandson of Thror, the king under the mountain, is treated as a hero. The Dwarves feelings for Bilbo improved and they praised. But unfortunately Bilbo had such a bad cold that his speeches at the banquet are limited to "Thag you very buch."

After two weeks at Lake-town, Thorin and Company decide to leave for the Lonely Mountain.