Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Dragons

2012-09-12T02:47:33Z

202.49.134.179: /* Characteristics */

{{rewrite}}
{{sources}}
{{race
| image=[[Image:J.R.R. Tolkien - Dragon.jpg|225px]]
| name=Dragons, Drakes, Worms
| dominions=
| languages=Various Mannish and Elvish tongues<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Leila Keene and Pat Kirke 3 August 1943]]" ([[Letters not published in "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien"|letter]]); quoted in {{PM|II}}, "Note on an unpublished letter", pp. 72-73</ref>
| height=
| length=
| skincolor=
| haircolor=
| feathers=
| distinctions=
| lifespan="Long and slow"<ref>{{S|13}}</ref>
| members=[[Glaurung]], [[Ancalagon]], [[Scatha]], [[Smaug]]
}}<center>{{quote|Never laugh at live '''dragons'''.|[[Bilbo Baggins]]<ref> {{H|Inside}}</ref>}}</center>
'''Dragons''' were created by [[Morgoth]] out of fire and sorcery sometime before the [[First Age|First Age of the Sun]], when [[Glaurung]] first appeared.

==History==
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Scouring the Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|''Scouring the Mountain'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
===The origin and early history of dragons===
Seeing the strength of the [[Noldor]] in battle, Melkor realized that [[orcs]] alone were not sufficient to defeat his enemies. He therefore began to breed a new race of monsters: the dragons.<ref>{{GA|115}}</ref>

[...]

At the [[Fall of Gondolin]], Morgoth's foul host included dragons, "''many and terrible''".<ref>{{S|23}}</ref>

===The re-emergence of dragons===
[...]

In the late [[Third Age]] the dragons bred in the Northern Waste and Withered Heath north of the [[Ered Mithrin]], stirred by the [[Necromancer|return of Evil]], and began to make war with the Dwarves around year [[Third Age 2570|2570]] ([[Dáin I]] and [[Frór]] of [[Durin's folk]] were killed by a great cold-drake in [[Third Age 2589|2589]]).<ref>{{App|B2}}</ref><ref name=Durin>{{App|A3}}</ref> It was perhaps in these wars that dragons swallowed four of the [[Seven Dwarf-rings]].<ref name=Shadow>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref>

[...]

Although Smaug was the greatest of the dragons of his day,<ref name=Durin/> he seems not to have been the last of his kind as [[Gandalf]] told [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] that "''there is not now any dragon left on earth in which the old fire is hot enough'' [to melt the Rings of Power]",<ref name=Shadow/> indicating the presence of other, lesser dragons.

==Characteristics==
===Means of locomotion===
Some dragons ([[Glaurung]]) walked on four legs, like a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon Komodo dragon] or some other lizard.
*A second type ([[Ancalagon]], [[Smaug]]) could both walk on four legs and fly using wings. Winged-dragons only first appeared during the [[War of Wrath]], the battle that ended the First Age, so all dragons introduced before the end of the First Age couldn't fly (such as Glaurung), although breeds of wingless dragons did survive into later ages.

===Fire breathing===
*The ''[[Urulóki]]'' (singular ''Urulokë'', Fire-drakes) could breathe fire. It is not entirely clear whether the term "Uruloki" referred only to the first dragons such as Glaurung that could breathe fire but were wingless, or to any dragon that could breathe fire, and thus include Smaug.
*The [[Cold-drakes]] could not.

===Other characteristics===
The dragons also shared a love of treasure (especially gold), subtle intelligence, immense cunning, great physical strength, and a hypnotic power called "dragon-spell". The best way to talk to a dragon under the circumstances of this spell (when it was questioning you) was to not directly give it the information it wanted, as this would compromise you and your friends, but not to flat out deny it an answer, because this would anger it to violence. Therefore, the best way to talk to the dragon is to be vague and speak in riddles- apparently dragons find it hard to resist wasting time with riddles.

Dragon-fire (of the Urulóki) was hot enough to melt [[Rings of Power]]: four of the [[Seven Rings]] of the Dwarves were consumed by Dragon-fire, although it was not powerful enough to destroy the One Ring itself.<ref name=Shadow/>
The look like they are fluffy and have nose hair

== Individual dragons ==
[[Image:John Howe - Smaug.jpg|thumb|''Smaug'' by [[John Howe]].]]
* [[Glaurung]] — Father of Dragons, slain by [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]]. First of the Uruloki, the Fire-drakes of Angband. He had four legs and could breathe fire, but didn't have wings.
* [[Ancalagon]] the Black — first and mightiest of the Winged-dragons, slain by [[Eärendil]] in the [[War of Wrath]].
* [[Scatha]] — Slain by Fram of the [[Éothéod]]. Apparently a cold-drake. Described as a "long-worm", although this imparticular term seems to be more of an expression rather than a separate taxonomic group.
* [[Smaug]] — the last great dragon of [[Middle-earth]], slain by [[Bard]] of [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]]. A winged Urulokë.
* An unnamed dragon appears in [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] verse, said to have had red eyes, black wings and teeth like knives.<ref>{{AB|Hoard}}</ref>

==Names==
The dragons were known by many different names: drakes, [[worms]], [[long-worms]], [[serpents]].
===Other tongues===
Words denoting "dragon" in [[Quenya]] are ''[[lókë]]'' and ''[[angulóke]]''. [[Sindarin]] has ''[[lhûg]]'' and ''[[amlug]]''.
===Etymology===

''Dragon'' is derived from French; ''drake'' is an English word, from [[Old English]] ''draca'' (derived from Latin).<ref>{{HM|LT2}}, "Short Glossary of Obsolete, Archaic, and Rare Words", p. 350</ref>
===Obsolete tongues===
In [[Gnomish]], "dragon" is ''fuithlug'' ("a dragon who guards treasure"), ''lingwir'' or ''ulug'' (plural ''ulûgin''; "she dragon" is ''uluch'', ''uluchnir'' or ''ulugwin'').<ref>{{PE|11}}, pp. 36, 54, 74</ref>
==Other fiction==

A dragon named [[Chrysophylax]] appears in [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s story ''[[Farmer Giles of Ham]]''.

In the story ''[[Roverandom]]'', white dragons are among the creatures living on the moon. A dragon, called the Great White Dragon, attacks Rover and the moon-dog, and is said to be the origin of all white dragons. In Merlin's time, this dragon had been to the earth, and fought with the Red Dragon in Caerdragon. The Great White Dragon has wings and can breath fire.<ref>{{HM|R}}, "[Chapter] 2"</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<center><gallery perrow=4>
File:SBG - Cave Drake.png|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]''
File:Jeff Murchie - Dragon.png|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
</gallery></center>
===Portrayal in games===
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Apart from the type of dragons created by Tolkien, additional races include ''Rain-drakes'', ''Light-drakes'', ''Ash Drakes'' and several others.<ref>{{ICE|2012}}</ref>

'''2001-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]'':'''
:The ''Dragon'', which can have the ability to breathe fire and fly, is a powerful enemy of the Good players.<ref>[http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1080191 Dragon] at [http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/home.jsp Games-Workshop.com] (accessed 23 September 2011)</ref> The game also includes the subterranean ''Cave Drake'', a large but agile monster and natural enemy of the Dwarves.<ref>''[[White Dwarf]]'', issue 371 (November 2010), p. 42</ref>

'''2007-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:''Dragon-kind'' include several type of drakes: ''Cold-'', ''Fire-'' and ''Shadow-drakes'', ''Fire-worms'', ''Rock-worms'', and many more. A related beast is the ''salamander'' or ''eft'', a weaker and simpler breed of dragons.<ref>"[http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Category:Dragon-kind Dragon-kind]" at [http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Lorebook_home Lord of the Rings Online: Lorebook] (accessed 28 October 2010)</ref>

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Dragons|Images of Dragons]]
* [[Fell beasts]]
{{references}}

[[Category:Dragons|*]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[de:Drachen]]
[[fr:encyclo:biologie:faune:dragons]]
[[fi:Lohikäärmeet]]

Tolkien Gateway:Featured quotes/Nominations

2012-08-12T23:11:37Z

202.49.134.179: Deleting content.

== List of nominated quotes ==

In the last two meetings it was decided to draw up a list of 52 or more quotes in order to have fresh quotes for an entire year. So anyone should feel free to add quotes to the following list or comment on them:

* 18 quotes from The Fellowship of the Ring
* 25 quotes from The Two Towers
* 37 quotes from The Return of The King

=== The Fellowship of the Ring ===

{{quote|'Proudfeet!' shouted an elderly hobbit from the back of the pavillion. His name, of course, was Proudfoot, and well merited; his feet were large, exceptionally furry, and both were on the table.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Long-expected Party]]"}}
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{{quote|You'll find his will and all the other documents in there, I think, "said [[Gandalf|the wizard]]. "You are the master of Bag End now. And also, I fancy, you'll find a golden ring."|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Long-expected Party]]"}}
----
{{quote|Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Shadow of the Past]]"}}
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{{quote|He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}
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{{quote|Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}
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{{quote|Seek for the Sword that was broken: In Imladris it dwells; There shall be counsels taken Stronger than Morgul-spells. There shall be shown a token That Doom is near at hand, For Isildur's Bane shall waken, And the Halfling forth shall stand.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}
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{{quote|We must take a hard road, a road unforeseen. There lies our hope, if hope it be. To walk into peril — to Mordor. We must send the Ring to the Fire.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}
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{{quote|Let folly be our cloak, a veil before the eyes of the Enemy! For he is very wise, and weighs all things to a nicety in the scales of his malice. But the only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts. Into his heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it, that having the Ring we may seek to destroy it. If we seek this, we shall put him out of reckoning.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}
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{{quote|I had thought of putting: and he lived happily ever afterwards to the end of his days. It is a good ending, and none the worse for having been used before. Now I shall have to alter that: it does not look like coming true.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}
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{{quote|"I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way."|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}
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{{quote|"You cannot pass," he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]"}}
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{{quote|"Fly you fools!" he cried, and was gone.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]"}}
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{{quote|Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[Lothlórien (chapter)|Lothlórien]]"}}
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{{quote|The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[Lothlórien]]"}}
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{{quote|And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Mirror of Galadriel]]"}}
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{{quote|Memory is not what the heart desires. That is only a mirror, be it clear as Kheled-zâram. Or so says the heart of Gimli the Dwarf. Elves may see things otherwise. Indeed I have heard that for them memory is more like to the waking world than to a dream. Not so for Dwarves.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[Farewell to Lórien]]"}}
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{{quote|For the Elves the world moves, and it moves both very swift and very slow. Swift, because they themselves change little, and all else fleets by: it is a grief to them. Slow, because they do not count the running years, not for themselves.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Great River]]"}}
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{{quote|It is no good trying to escape you. But I'm glad, Sam. I cannot tell you how glad. Come along! It is plain that we were meant to go together. We will go, and may the others find a safe road!|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Breaking of the Fellowship]]"}}

=== The Two Towers ===

{{quote|Gondor! Gondor, between the Mountains and the Sea! West Wind blew there; the light upon the Silver Tree Fell like bright rain in gardens of the Kings of old. O proud walls! White towers! O winged crown and throne of gold! O Gondor, Gondor! Shall Men behold the Silver Tree, Or West Wind blow again between the Mountains and the Sea?|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Riders of Rohan]]"}}
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{{quote|There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Riders of Rohan]]"}}
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{{quote|Out of the shadows the hobbits peeped, gazing back down the slope:little furtive figures that in the dim light looked like elf-children in the deeps of time peering out of the Wild Wood in wonder at their first dawn.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Uruk-hai]]"}}
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{{quote|Do not be hasty, that is my motto.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[Treebeard]]"}}
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{{quote|Learn now the lore of Living Creatures! First name the four, the free peoples: Eldest of all, the elf-children; Dwarf the delver, dark are his houses; Ent the earthborn, old as mountains; Man the mortal, master of horses.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[Treebeard]]"}}
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{{quote|To Isengard! Though Isengard be ringed and barred with doors of stone; Though Isengard be strong and hard, as cold as stone and bare as bone, We go, we go, we go to war, to hew the stone and break the door; For bole and bough are burning now, the furnace roars - we go to war! To land of gloom with tramp of doom, with roll of drum, we come, we come; To Isengard with doom we come! With doom we come, with doom we come!|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[Treebeard]]"}}
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{{quote|"Yes, I am white now," said Gandalf. "Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been."|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The White Rider]]"}}
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{{quote|I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The White Rider]]"}}
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{{quote|The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him. We will go where he leads.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The White Rider]]"}}
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{{quote|Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing? Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing? Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow; The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning, Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The King of the Golden Hall]]"}}
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{{quote|We are all friends here. Or should be; for the laughter of Mordor will be our only reward, if we quarrel.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The King of the Golden Hall]]"}}
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{{quote|Arise now, arise, Riders of Théoden! Dire deeds awake, dark is it eastward. Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded! Forth Eorlingas!|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The King of the Golden Hall]]"}}
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{{quote|To crooked eyes truth may wear a wry face.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The King of the Golden Hall]]"}}
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{{quote|"So that is the King of Rohan," said Pippin in an undertone. "A fine old fellow. Very polite."|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Road to Isengard]]"}}
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{{quote|Often does hatred hurt itself!|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Voice of Saruman]]"}}
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{{quote|Perilous to us all are the devices of an art deeper than we possess ourselves.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Palantir]]"}}
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{{quote|Tall ships and tall kings Three times three, What brought they from the foundered land Over the flowing sea? Seven stars and seven stones And one white tree.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Palantír]]"}}
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{{quote|Shadowfax tossed his head and cried aloud, as if a trumpet had summoned him to battle. Then he sprang forward. Fire flew from his feet; night rushed over him.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Palantír]]"}}
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{{quote|Be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Taming of Sméagol]]"}}
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{{quote|It was Sam's first view of a battle of Men against Men, and he did not like it much. He was glad that he could not see the dead face. He wondered what the man's name was and where he came from; and if he was really evil of heart, or what lies or threats had led him on the long march from his home; and if he would not really rather have stayed there in peace-all in a flash of thought which was quickly driven from his mind.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit]]"}}
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{{quote|"For myself," said Faramir, "I would see the White Tree in flower again in the courts of the kings, and the Silver Crown return, and Minas Tirith in peace: Minas Anor again as of old, full of light, high and fair, beautiful as a queen among other queens."|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Window on the West]]"}}
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{{quote|I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Window on the West]]"}}
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{{quote|Who can now hold the fords when the King of the Nine Riders comes? And other armies will come. I am too late. All is lost. I tarried on the way. All is lost. Even if my errand is performed, no one will ever know. There will be no one I can tell. It will be in vain.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Stairs of Cirith Ungol]]"}}
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{{quote|I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We're in one, or course; but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards. And people will say: "Let's hear about Frodo and the Ring!" And they'll say: "Yes, that's one of my favourite stories. Frodo was very brave. wasn't he, dad?" "Yes, my boy, the famousest of the hobbits, and that's saying a lot."|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Stairs of Cirith Ungol]]"}}
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{{quote|For a fleeting moment, could one of the sleepers have seen him, they would have thought that they beheld an old weary hobbit, shrunken by the years that had carried him far beyond his time, beyond friends and kin, and the fields and streams of youth, an old starved pitiable thing.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Stairs of Cirith Ungol]]"}}

=== The Return of The King ===

{{quote|Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor, and to the Lord and Steward of the realm, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or plenty, in peace or war, in living or dying, from this hour henceforth, until my lord release me, or death take me, or the world end.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Minas Tirith (chapter)|Minas Tirith]]"}}
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{{quote|I will not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is given: fealty with love, valour with honour, oath-breaking with vengeance.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Minas Tirith (chapter)|Minas Tirith]]"}}
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{{quote|The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Minas Tirith (chapter)|Minas Tirith]]"}}
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{{quote|"What do you fear, lady?" he asked. "A cage," she said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire."|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Passing of the Grey Company]]"}}
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{{quote|Such was the dark Dunharrow, the work of long-forgotten men. Their name was lost and no song or legend remembered it. For what purpose they had made this place, as a town or secret temple or a tomb of kings, none in Rohan could say. Here they laboured in the Dark Years; and now they had vanished, and only the old Púkel-men were left, still sitting at the turnings of the road.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Muster of Rohan]]"}}
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{{quote|Let us remember that a traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend. It can be so, sometimes.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Siege of Gondor]]"}}
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{{quote|In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl, under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Siege of Gondor]]"}}
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{{quote|And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the city, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn. And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns horn. In dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Siege of Gondor]]"}}
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{{quote|Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Ride of the Rohirrim]]"}}
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{{quote|Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. "But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him."|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]"}}
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{{quote|Over the field rang his clear voice calling: "Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending!"|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]"}}
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{{quote|So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse. But glad would he have been to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North-kingdom when the Dúnedain were young, and the chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angmar and its sorcerer king. No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]"}}
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{{quote|Few other griefs amid the ill chances of this world have more bitterness and shame for a man's heart than to behold the love of a lady so fair and brave that cannot be returned.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Houses of Healing]]"}}
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{{quote|"Master Meriadoc," said Aragorn, "if you think that I have passed through the mountains and the realm of Gondor with fire and sword to bring herbs to a careless soldier who throws away his gear, you are mistaken. If your pack has not been found, then you must send for the herb-master of this House. And he will tell you that he did not know that the herb you desire had any virtues, but that it is called ''westmansweed'' by the vulgar, and ''galenas'' by the noble, and other names in other tongues more learned, and after adding a few half-forgotten rhymes that he does not understand, he will regretfully inform you that there is none in the House, and he will leave you to reflect on the history of tongues. And so now must I. For I have not slept in such a bed as this, since I rode from Dunharrow, nor eaten since the dark before dawn."|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Houses of Healing]]"}}
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{{quote|It is the way of my people to use light words at such times and say less than they mean. We fear to say too much. It robs us of the right words when a jest is out of place.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Houses of Healing]]"}}
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{{quote|It is best to love first what you are fitted to love, I suppose: you must start somewhere and have some roots, and the soil of the Shire is deep. Still there are things deeper and higher; and not a gaffer could tend his garden in what he calls peace but for them, whether he knows about them or not.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Houses of Healing]]"}}
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{{quote|For upon that road I was put to shame: Gimli Gloin's son, who had deemed himself more tough than Men, and hardier under earth than any Elf. But neither did I prove; and I was held to the road only by the will of Aragorn.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Last Debate]]"}}
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{{quote|It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule."|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Last Debate]]"}}
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{{quote|Dwarf-coat, elf-cloak, blade of the downfallen West, and spy from the little rat-land of the Shire, nay; do not start! We know it well - here are the marks of a conspiracy. Now, maybe he that bore these things was a creature that you would not grieve to lose, and maybe otherwise: one dear to you, perhaps? If so, take swift counsel with what little wit is left to you. For Sauron does not love spies, and what his fate shall be depends now on your choice.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Black Gate Opens]]"}}
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{{quote|Wild fantasies arose in his mind; and he saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword across the darkened land, and armies flocking to his call as he marched to the overthrow of Barad-dûr. And then all the clouds rolled away, and the white sun shone, and at his command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit. He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own, and all this could be.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Tower of Cirith Ungol]]"}}
----
{{quote|In western lands beneath the Sun The flowers may rise in Spring, The trees may bud, the waters run, The merry finches sing. Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night And swaying beeches bear The Elven-stars as jewels white Amid their branching hair.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Tower of Cirith Ungol]]"}}
----
{{quote|There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Land of Shadow]]"}}
----
{{quote|"I have come," he said. "But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine!" And suddenly, as he set it on his finger, he vanished from Sam's sight.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Mount Doom (chapter)|Mount Doom]]"}}
----
{{quote|But do you remember Gandalf's words: Even Gollum may have something yet to do? But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring. The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end. So let us forgive him! For the Quest is achieved and now all is over. I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Mount Doom (chapter)|Mount Doom]]"}}
----
{{quote|"A great Shadow has departed," said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and has he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count. It fell upon his ears like the echo of all the joys he had ever known.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Field of Cormallen]]"}}
----
{{quote|To the Sea, to the Sea! The white gulls are crying, The wind is blowing, and the white foam is flying. West, west away, the round sun is falling. Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling. The voices of my people that have gone before me? I will leave, I will leave the woods that bore me; For our days are ending and our years failing. I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing. Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling, Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling, In Eressëa, in Elvenhome that no man can discover, Where the leaves fall not: land of my people for ever!|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Field of Cormallen]]"}}
----
{{quote|But when Aragorn arose all that beheld him gazed in silence, for it seemed to them that he was revealed to them now for the first time. Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near: ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}
----
{{quote|This is your realm, and the heart of the greater realm that shall be. The Third Age of the world is ended, and the new age is begun; and it is your task to order its beginning and to preserve what may be preserved. For though much has been saved, much must now pass away.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Steward and the King]]"}}
----
{{quote|I am the daughter of Elrond. I shall not go with him now when he departs to the Havens; for mine is the choice of Lúthien, and as she so have I chosen, both the sweet and the bitter.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Many Partings]]"}}
----
{{quote|Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day's rising he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. Hope he rekindled, and in hope ended; over death, over dread, over doom lifted out of loss, out of life, unto long glory.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Many Partings]]"}}
----
{{quote|The Road goes ever on and on Out from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, Let others follow it who can! Let them a journey new begin, But I at last with weary feet Will turn towards the lighted inn, My evening-rest and sleep to meet.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Many Partings]]"}}
----
{{quote|There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Homeward Bound]]"}}
----
{{quote|It is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Scouring of the Shire]]"}}
----
{{quote|You have robbed my revenge of sweetness, and now I must go hence in bitterness, in debt to your mercy. I hate it and you! Well, I go and I will trouble you no more. But do not expect me to wish you health and long life. You will have neither. But that is not my doing. I merely foretell.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Scouring of the Shire]]"}}
----
{{quote|I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them. But you are my heir: all that I had and might have had I leave to you.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Grey Havens]]"}}
----
{{quote|Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Grey Havens]]"}}
----
{{quote|But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. "Well, I'm back," he said.|''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Grey Havens]]"}}

=== The Hobbit ===

{{Quote|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 is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself.|''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[An Unexpected Party]]"}}
----
{{Quote|If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.|''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[The Return Journey]]"}}

=== The Silmarillion ===

{{Quote|There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made. And he spoke to them, propounding to them themes of music; and they sang before him, and he was glad.|{{S|I}}}}
----
{{Quote|Fëanor was the mightiest in skill of word and of hand, more learned than his brothers; his spirit burned as a flame. Fingolfin was the strongest, the most steadfast, and the most valiant. Finarfin was the fairest, and the most wise of heart.|{{S|5}}}}
----
{{Quote|Their Oath shall drive them, and yet betray them, and ever snatch away the very treasures that they have sworn to pursue.|{{S|9}}}}
----
{{Quote|Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried 'Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!' Seventy times he uttered that cry; but they took him at last alive.|{{S|20}}}}
----
{{Quote|The Nazgûl were they; the Ringwraiths, the Enemy's most terribly servants; darkness went with them, and they cried with the voices of death.|{{S|V}}}}

=== Unfinished Tales ===

{{quote|When you think of the great Battle of Pelennor, do not forget the Battle of Dale. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador! There might be no Queen in Gondor. We might now only hope to return from the victory here to ruin and ash. But that has been averted – because I met Thorin Oakenshield one evening on the edge of spring not far from Bree. A chance-meeting, as we say in Middle-earth.|''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The Quest of Erebor]]"}}

=== The Lays of Beleriand ===

''Behold! the hope of Elvenland 
''the fire of Fëanor, Light of Morn'' 
''before the sun and moon were born,'' 
''thus out of bondage came at last,'' 
''from iron to mortal hand it passed.'' ''

[[The History of Middle-earth]], [[The Lays of Beleriand]]

=== Comments ===
I'm not sure where to place this, but I'll put it here. I think the balance of the overall set of quotes is too far in favour of ''[[The Lord of the Rings|TLOTR]]'', as I think we should have more from other publications, especially ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. What does everyone else think? --{{User:Mith/sig}} 14:19, 4 January 2011 (UTC)

:I agree. But it's just because I started with quotes from TLOTR. When I'm finished with that I will look for some from the other books. We certainly shouldn't stop when we have 52 quotes but should keep finding new ones until we have enough from every important book. And if you have more great quotes like our present FQ you could post them. --[[User:Eldarion Telcontar|Eldarion Telcontar]] 00:15, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

== Featured Quote Nominations ==

There have never really been any standards for a '''Featured Quote''', but let us begin. Following the general model of the '''Featured Article''', let's specify a nomination followed by five affirmative votes; state either '''Agree''' or '''Disagree'''. The nominated quote should not exceed a single paragraph.

=== Tolkien's Own ===
{{quote|The Hobbits are just rustic English people, made small in size because it reflects the generally small reach of their imagination --not the small reach of their courage or latent power.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]}}

:'''Disagree'''; though, yes, Tolkien wrote them all, the first and third are in-universe and should thus be attributed to their respective characters. -- {{User:Ederchil/sig}} 07:56, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

::'''Undecided''' -I think if you add "- not the small reach of their courage or latent power" to the end, then I might agree.--{{User:KingAragorn/sig}} 17:00, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

:'''Disagree'''; I think a quote which is more "profound" on the nature of [[Hobbits]] would be better --{{User:Mith/sig}} 14:13, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

Burned Dwarves

2012-05-30T01:50:11Z

202.49.134.179:

In the aftermath of the bloody [[Battle of Azanulbizar]] the surviving [[Dwarves]] were unable to properly dispose of their dead, having neither the time nor the resources to build stone tombs and refusing to bury their fallen comrades in earth, this being against their traditions. Therefore they had no choice but to burn the corpses. Any Dwarf whose relative was killed in the battle would proudly say he was a '''Burned Dwarf''', thus declaring that his or her ancestor fought and fell in that terrible conflict. [[Balin]] and [[Dwalin|Dwalin's]] father [[Fundin]], [[Thorin Oakenshield|Thorin's]] younger brother [[Frerin]] and [[Dain Ironfoot|Dain's]] father [[Náin (son of Grór)|Náin]] were all among the Burned Dwarves of Azanulbizar.<ref>{{App|Durin}}</ref>
{{references}}
[[Category:Dwarven Titles]]
[[fi:Poltetut kääpiöt]]

Battle of Five Armies

2012-05-30T01:42:27Z

202.49.134.179: /* The Battle */

{{Countdown}}
{{disambig-more|Battle of Five Armies|[[Battle of Five Armies (disambiguation)]]}}
{{battle
|image=[[File:Matt Stewart - The Battle Under the Mountain.jpg|300px]]|
name=Battle of Five Armies
|conflict=Battle of Five Armies
|date=[[23 November|November 23]], {{TA|2941}} (speculative)<ref name="KWF99">[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' (second edition), page 99</ref>
|place=the slopes of Erebor, and the Valley and ruins of Dale
|result=Victory for the Elves, Men, and Dwarves
|side1=[[Elves]], [[Men]], [[Dwarves]], and [[Eagles]]
|side2=[[Orcs|Goblins]], [[Wargs]], [[Bats]]
|commanders1=
*[[Gandalf]]
*[[Thranduil]]
*[[Bard|Bard the Bowman]]
*[[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin]]
*[[Thorin|Thorin]] †
*[[Gwaihir]]
|commanders2=
*[[Bolg]] †
|forces1=Over 1,000 Elf spearmen and archers, est. 2-300 Lake-Men, over 500 Dwarves from the Iron Hills,<ref name="Thief">{{H|Thief}}</ref> many Eagles, Thorin's 12 Dwarf companions, and [[Beorn]]
|forces2="innumberable" Goblins and Wargs; possibly 6-15,000 or more
|casual1=Many
|casual2=Annihilated, not one survived
}}
<center>{{quote|Kill the Men! Kill the Elves! Save the gold For ourselves!|Dwarven warriors <ref name="RBH">''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]''</ref>}}</center>

The '''Battle of Five Armies''' was an important battle waged in [[Third Age 2941]].<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> The five warring parties were the [[Orcs|Goblins]] and the [[Wargs]] against [[Men]], [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]] on and near the [[Lonely Mountain]].

==History==
=== Prelude ===

Thorin and Company, including the "master-thief" [[Bilbo Baggins]] trying to
recapture the heirloom of their fathers' (and possibly to kill Smaug, too, and thus to recapture the whole Kingdom) had camped without at [[Erebor]] for some weeks. Bilbo had already done some exploration of the old hallways using the [[Back Door]] and had stolen a golden cup from the treasure. By this deed and by Bilbo's bold speech Smaug's anger was kindled.

Erroneously believing, due to some remarks Bilbo had made during his conversation with Smaug,<ref name="Inside">{{H|Inside}}</ref> that some scheme of the Men of [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]] was the reason for the Dwarves' (and Bilbo's) presence, Smaug flew to Esgaroth to show them who is "the true [[King under the Mountain]]".<ref name="Inside">{{H|Inside}}</ref> Smaug's fires burned down the whole town, but the dragon was killed by [[Bard|Bard the Bowman]]. The [[Elves of Mirkwood]] soon learned that Smaug had been killed and thus set forth to claim the treasure, believing there was no one left, who had a claim on it. Having heard of the disaster that had struck the befriended men, the Elven host turned aside to offer any help that could be provided. Some day after the Elves had arrived at the [[Long Lake]] a united host of Men and Elves set forth towards Erebor, believing that the Dwarves had been among the first casualties of Smaug's wrath. To their surprise they found Thorin and Company quite alive, the gate to the halls beneath Erebor barred by a wall and themselves treated as foes, coming armed towards the gates.<ref name="Fire">{{H|Fire}}</ref>

For several reasons Bard, being heir of [[Girion]], Lord of [[Dale]], claimed one twelfth of the treasure: first, he was the dragonslayer and without him, the Dwarves could never have reclaimed their old home. Second, a great deal of Dale's treasure had been robbed by Smaug and thus belonged rightfully to Bard and not the Dwarves. Third, the men of Esgaroth had helped the Dwarves on their journey and now had suffered severely; their whole city burned to the ground and their stocks being destroyed by Smaug, whose anger in the end was only risen by the Dwarves alone. Therefore they demanded compensation and Bard intended to pay it from the part of the treasure he claimed.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref>

Yet Thorin had become proud and bewitch by the gold and rebuked these claims. He would not fulfill any of the conditions as long as an armoured Elven host camped near Erebor. For the Elves did not have any claims on the treasure and Thorin himself had been imprisoned by the Elves.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref>

As a result of Thorin's refusal to share any of the treasure, [[Thorin and Company|the dwarves]] were trapped in a bloodless siege, with [[Thranduil]] and Bard hoping to wait him out.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref> However, Thorin had sent messages of his plight to his relatives using as messengers talking [[Ravens]] that lived on the Lonely Mountain. These reached [[Dáin II|Dáin II Ironfoot]] of the nearby Iron Hills, and he marched to Erebor with 500 heavily armed Dwarves, most of them skilled veterans of the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]<ref name="Thief">{{H|Thief}}</ref>. When Dain's forces arrived, battle was almost joined between the two sides (now ''three'' armies were on the field) but at the last moment [[Gandalf]] intervened between the two and revealed that while they were bickering amongst themselves, the Orcs of the [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Grey Mountains]] under [[Bolg]] were using the opportunity to march against them. They had been incited by Gandalf's earlier slaying of the Great Goblin, but had now mobilized for a full-scale attack after hearing news of the death of the Dragon and the now relatively unguarded treasure hoard.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

=== The Battle ===

The three commanders agreed that the Goblins were the enemies of all and previous grievances between them were put on hold in face of the greater threat. They arranged their forces on the two spurs of the Mountain that lined the valley leading to the now-sealed off great [[Gate of Erebor]]; the only entrance to the Mountain that remained unblocked (any others had been destroyed by Smaug long before). The 500 Dwarves and 200 or so Lake-men formed up on one spur and over 1000 Elves on the other, while a light rear-guard lined across the mouth of the valley to lure the Goblins between the two spurs of the mountain, and thus destroy them. [[Bilbo Baggins]] tried to sit out the battle on [[Raven Hill]] which was held by the Elves and where also Gandalf had withdrawn to.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

Soon the Goblins and Wargs arrived (and now the ''fourth'' and ''fifth'' army were on the field), and at first the plan worked: they were lured into the chokepoint and took heavy losses. However, due to their superior numbers, the allied Free people's did not hold the advantage long. The second wave was even worse than the first, and due to their sheer number now many Goblins scaled the mountain from the opposite side, and began to attack the arrayed forces from above and behind, as the main wave pressed forward. The battle raged across the Mountain, and then a great noise was heard: Thorin and his 12 Dwarf companions inside the mountain had thrown down a section of the stone wall they had erected across the mouth of the gates, killing many Goblins. Thorin and Company emerged, covered in the best armour and armed with the best weapons in Erebor. Then Thorin cried, "''Rally to me my kinsfolk''," and charged down into the valley to join the battle with many Dwarves and many Men and Elves joining them. Thorin advanced through the Goblins' ranks all the way up to the gigantic Goblins that formed the Bodyguard of Bolg, but could not get past them. Also his battle-line was too short, the flanks unprotected and thus his attack soon crumbled, Thorin and many others were cut off and hard beset by Bolg's bodyguard. The battle degenerated into a chaotic close quarters melee, no quarter asked or given.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

As the battle was turning fully against the Free Folk, a large army of Giant [[Eagles]] of the Misty Mountains arrived, led by [[Gwaihir]] the Windlord. Bilbo was the first to spot their entrance on the scene and began shouting that "the Eagles are coming!", a shout that was then continued among the other troops of the Free Folk. At this point Bilbo was knocked in the head by a large stone thrown by a Goblin from above on the Mountain, and he was knocked out.<ref name="Burst">{{H|Burst}}</ref> With the support of the Giant Eagles, the Goblins that had scaled Erebor were driven off. The tide was eventually turned, when [[Beorn]] himself arrived at the battle, apparently having heard news that a large army of Goblins was on the move. This time he did not appear in his former shape of a giant Man, but in that of a gigantic Bear. Beorn drove through the Goblin lines, but paused to carry the wounded Thorin out of the battle with his paw. Beorn then returned to the battle with even greater wrath and smashed the ranks of the Bodyguard of [[Bolg]], ultimately killing Bolg. The Goblins panicked and scattered, to be picked off by hunting forces from the victors later.<ref name="Return">{{H|Return}}</ref>

=== Aftermath ===

[[Thorin]] had been mortally wounded on the field, and his nephews [[Fíli]] and [[Kíli]] died defending him as he lay on the ground with shield and body. Thorin died soon after the battle, after he had met Bilbo one last time and had taken back the harsh words he had spoken before.

After defeating the Goblins and Wargs, the victors divided the treasure. Bard took [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]]'s fourteenth share of the gold and silver in return for the [[Arkenstone]], whereupon he shared his reward with the [[Master of Lake-town]] and gave the Elvenking [[Thranduil]] the emeralds of [[Girion]]. Bilbo, despite having forfeited his share, was offered a rich reward by [[Dáin Ironfoot]] but refused to take more than two small chests of gold and silver.

It is said that three quarters of the Goblin warriors of the North were killed on that day.<ref name="Return"/>

==Other versions of the Legendarium==
In its first versions, the conflict around Erebor ended after the Siege. While Bard and the Elvenking laid siege, Gandalf would arrive and negotiate a peace treaty. The actual Battle, dubbed by [[John D. Rateliff]] the "Battle of Anduin Vale", would be on the return journey, in what would later be known as the [[Vales of Anduin]]. There, Goblins and Wargs would waylay Bilbo. The Five armies in this incarnation were the Goblins, the Wargs, the Woodelves, the Woodmen, and [[Beorn|Beorn Medwed]] leading a troop of bears.<ref name=TBo5A">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[John D. Rateliff]] (ed.), ''[[The History of The Hobbit|The History of The Hobbit: Return to Bag-End]]'', pages 713-4</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1966: ''[[The Hobbit (1966 film)]]'':'''
:The battle is completely omitted. Bilbo kills the dragon, and returns home.<ref name="Deitch">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UBnVL1Y2src|articlename=The Hobbit.mp4|dated=5 January 2012|website=YouTube|accessed=10 January 2012}}</ref>

'''1977: ''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]'':'''
:The "Five Armies" are the Elves, the Men, the Dwarves, the Orcs (and Wolves) and the Eagles. Bilbo estimates the force of the Men and Elves on 10,000, but this may not be an accurate estimate. The number of dwarves of Thorin and Company to have died is eight, but only Bombur and Thorin are named among the dead. Only Óin and Glóin are shown as having survived the battle.<ref name="RBH"/>

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)]]'':'''
:The battle takes up most of the last chapter. Because Bilbo is the main character, his role in the battle is much expanded. After leaving Thranduil, he has to fight his way to Balin, [[Lianna]], [[Corwin]], Gandalf, Beorn, and ultimately Bolg.

{{references}}

[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[de:Schlacht der Fünf Heere]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:3a:guerres:bataille_des_cinq_armees]]
[[fi:Viiden Armeijan Taistelu]]

Battle of Five Armies

2012-05-30T01:40:48Z

202.49.134.179: /* The Battle */

{{Countdown}}
{{disambig-more|Battle of Five Armies|[[Battle of Five Armies (disambiguation)]]}}
{{battle
|image=[[File:Matt Stewart - The Battle Under the Mountain.jpg|300px]]|
name=Battle of Five Armies
|conflict=Battle of Five Armies
|date=[[23 November|November 23]], {{TA|2941}} (speculative)<ref name="KWF99">[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' (second edition), page 99</ref>
|place=the slopes of Erebor, and the Valley and ruins of Dale
|result=Victory for the Elves, Men, and Dwarves
|side1=[[Elves]], [[Men]], [[Dwarves]], and [[Eagles]]
|side2=[[Orcs|Goblins]], [[Wargs]], [[Bats]]
|commanders1=
*[[Gandalf]]
*[[Thranduil]]
*[[Bard|Bard the Bowman]]
*[[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin]]
*[[Thorin|Thorin]] †
*[[Gwaihir]]
|commanders2=
*[[Bolg]] †
|forces1=Over 1,000 Elf spearmen and archers, est. 2-300 Lake-Men, over 500 Dwarves from the Iron Hills,<ref name="Thief">{{H|Thief}}</ref> many Eagles, Thorin's 12 Dwarf companions, and [[Beorn]]
|forces2="innumberable" Goblins and Wargs; possibly 6-15,000 or more
|casual1=Many
|casual2=Annihilated, not one survived
}}
<center>{{quote|Kill the Men! Kill the Elves! Save the gold For ourselves!|Dwarven warriors <ref name="RBH">''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]''</ref>}}</center>

The '''Battle of Five Armies''' was an important battle waged in [[Third Age 2941]].<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> The five warring parties were the [[Orcs|Goblins]] and the [[Wargs]] against [[Men]], [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]] on and near the [[Lonely Mountain]].

==History==
=== Prelude ===

Thorin and Company, including the "master-thief" [[Bilbo Baggins]] trying to
recapture the heirloom of their fathers' (and possibly to kill Smaug, too, and thus to recapture the whole Kingdom) had camped without at [[Erebor]] for some weeks. Bilbo had already done some exploration of the old hallways using the [[Back Door]] and had stolen a golden cup from the treasure. By this deed and by Bilbo's bold speech Smaug's anger was kindled.

Erroneously believing, due to some remarks Bilbo had made during his conversation with Smaug,<ref name="Inside">{{H|Inside}}</ref> that some scheme of the Men of [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]] was the reason for the Dwarves' (and Bilbo's) presence, Smaug flew to Esgaroth to show them who is "the true [[King under the Mountain]]".<ref name="Inside">{{H|Inside}}</ref> Smaug's fires burned down the whole town, but the dragon was killed by [[Bard|Bard the Bowman]]. The [[Elves of Mirkwood]] soon learned that Smaug had been killed and thus set forth to claim the treasure, believing there was no one left, who had a claim on it. Having heard of the disaster that had struck the befriended men, the Elven host turned aside to offer any help that could be provided. Some day after the Elves had arrived at the [[Long Lake]] a united host of Men and Elves set forth towards Erebor, believing that the Dwarves had been among the first casualties of Smaug's wrath. To their surprise they found Thorin and Company quite alive, the gate to the halls beneath Erebor barred by a wall and themselves treated as foes, coming armed towards the gates.<ref name="Fire">{{H|Fire}}</ref>

For several reasons Bard, being heir of [[Girion]], Lord of [[Dale]], claimed one twelfth of the treasure: first, he was the dragonslayer and without him, the Dwarves could never have reclaimed their old home. Second, a great deal of Dale's treasure had been robbed by Smaug and thus belonged rightfully to Bard and not the Dwarves. Third, the men of Esgaroth had helped the Dwarves on their journey and now had suffered severely; their whole city burned to the ground and their stocks being destroyed by Smaug, whose anger in the end was only risen by the Dwarves alone. Therefore they demanded compensation and Bard intended to pay it from the part of the treasure he claimed.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref>

Yet Thorin had become proud and bewitch by the gold and rebuked these claims. He would not fulfill any of the conditions as long as an armoured Elven host camped near Erebor. For the Elves did not have any claims on the treasure and Thorin himself had been imprisoned by the Elves.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref>

As a result of Thorin's refusal to share any of the treasure, [[Thorin and Company|the dwarves]] were trapped in a bloodless siege, with [[Thranduil]] and Bard hoping to wait him out.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref> However, Thorin had sent messages of his plight to his relatives using as messengers talking [[Ravens]] that lived on the Lonely Mountain. These reached [[Dáin II|Dáin II Ironfoot]] of the nearby Iron Hills, and he marched to Erebor with 500 heavily armed Dwarves, most of them skilled veterans of the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]<ref name="Thief">{{H|Thief}}</ref>. When Dain's forces arrived, battle was almost joined between the two sides (now ''three'' armies were on the field) but at the last moment [[Gandalf]] intervened between the two and revealed that while they were bickering amongst themselves, the Orcs of the [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Grey Mountains]] under [[Bolg]] were using the opportunity to march against them. They had been incited by Gandalf's earlier slaying of the Great Goblin, but had now mobilized for a full-scale attack after hearing news of the death of the Dragon and the now relatively unguarded treasure hoard.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

=== The Battle ===

The three commanders agreed that the Goblins were the enemies of all and previous grievances between them were put on hold in face of the greater threat. They arranged their forces on the two spurs of the Mountain that lined the valley leading to the now-sealed off great [[Gate of Erebor]]; the only entrance to the Mountain that remained unblocked (any others had been destroyed by Smaug long before). The 500 Dwarves and 200 or so Lake-men formed up on one spur and over 1000 Elves on the other, while a light rear-guard lined across the mouth of the valley to lure the Goblins between the two spurs of the mountain, and thus destroy them. [[Bilbo Baggins]] tried to sit out the battle on [[Raven Hill]] which was held by the Elves and where also Gandalf had withdrawn to.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

Soon the Goblins and Wargs arrived (and now the ''fourth'' and ''fifth'' army were on the field), and at first the plan worked: they were lured into the chokepoint and took heavy losses. However, due to their superior numbers, the allied Free people's did not hold the advantage long. The second wave was even worse than the first, and due to their sheer number now many Goblins scaled the mountain from the opposite side, and began to attack the arrayed forces from above and behind, as the main wave pressed forward. The battle raged across the Mountain, and then a great noise was heard: Thorin and his 12 Dwarf companions inside the mountain had thrown down a section of the stone wall they had erected across the mouth of the gates, killing many Goblins. Thorin and Company emerged, covered in the best armour and armed with the best weapons in Erebor. Then Thorin yelled, "''Rally to me my kinsfolk''," and charged down into the valley to join the battle with many Dwarves and many Men and Elves joining them. Thorin advanced through the Goblins' ranks all the way up to the gigantic Goblins that formed the Bodyguard of Bolg, but could not get past them. Also his battle-line was too short, the flanks unprotected and thus his attack soon crumbled, Thorin and many others were cut off and hard beset by Bolg's bodyguard. The battle degenerated into a chaotic close quarters melee, no quarter asked or given.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

As the battle was turning fully against the Free Folk, a large army of Giant [[Eagles]] of the Misty Mountains arrived, led by [[Gwaihir]] the Windlord. Bilbo was the first to spot their entrance on the scene and began shouting that "the Eagles are coming!", a shout that was then continued among the other troops of the Free Folk. At this point Bilbo was knocked in the head by a large stone thrown by a Goblin from above on the Mountain, and he was knocked out.<ref name="Burst">{{H|Burst}}</ref> With the support of the Giant Eagles, the Goblins that had scaled Erebor were driven off. The tide was eventually turned, when [[Beorn]] himself arrived at the battle, apparently having heard news that a large army of Goblins was on the move. This time he did not appear in his former shape of a giant Man, but in that of a gigantic Bear. Beorn drove through the Goblin lines, but paused to carry the wounded Thorin out of the battle with his paw. Beorn then returned to the battle with even greater wrath and smashed the ranks of the Bodyguard of [[Bolg]], ultimately killing Bolg. The Goblins panicked and scattered, to be picked off by hunting forces from the victors later.<ref name="Return">{{H|Return}}</ref>

=== Aftermath ===

[[Thorin]] had been mortally wounded on the field, and his nephews [[Fíli]] and [[Kíli]] died defending him as he lay on the ground with shield and body. Thorin died soon after the battle, after he had met Bilbo one last time and had taken back the harsh words he had spoken before.

After defeating the Goblins and Wargs, the victors divided the treasure. Bard took [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]]'s fourteenth share of the gold and silver in return for the [[Arkenstone]], whereupon he shared his reward with the [[Master of Lake-town]] and gave the Elvenking [[Thranduil]] the emeralds of [[Girion]]. Bilbo, despite having forfeited his share, was offered a rich reward by [[Dáin Ironfoot]] but refused to take more than two small chests of gold and silver.

It is said that three quarters of the Goblin warriors of the North were killed on that day.<ref name="Return"/>

==Other versions of the Legendarium==
In its first versions, the conflict around Erebor ended after the Siege. While Bard and the Elvenking laid siege, Gandalf would arrive and negotiate a peace treaty. The actual Battle, dubbed by [[John D. Rateliff]] the "Battle of Anduin Vale", would be on the return journey, in what would later be known as the [[Vales of Anduin]]. There, Goblins and Wargs would waylay Bilbo. The Five armies in this incarnation were the Goblins, the Wargs, the Woodelves, the Woodmen, and [[Beorn|Beorn Medwed]] leading a troop of bears.<ref name=TBo5A">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[John D. Rateliff]] (ed.), ''[[The History of The Hobbit|The History of The Hobbit: Return to Bag-End]]'', pages 713-4</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1966: ''[[The Hobbit (1966 film)]]'':'''
:The battle is completely omitted. Bilbo kills the dragon, and returns home.<ref name="Deitch">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UBnVL1Y2src|articlename=The Hobbit.mp4|dated=5 January 2012|website=YouTube|accessed=10 January 2012}}</ref>

'''1977: ''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]'':'''
:The "Five Armies" are the Elves, the Men, the Dwarves, the Orcs (and Wolves) and the Eagles. Bilbo estimates the force of the Men and Elves on 10,000, but this may not be an accurate estimate. The number of dwarves of Thorin and Company to have died is eight, but only Bombur and Thorin are named among the dead. Only Óin and Glóin are shown as having survived the battle.<ref name="RBH"/>

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)]]'':'''
:The battle takes up most of the last chapter. Because Bilbo is the main character, his role in the battle is much expanded. After leaving Thranduil, he has to fight his way to Balin, [[Lianna]], [[Corwin]], Gandalf, Beorn, and ultimately Bolg.

{{references}}

[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[de:Schlacht der Fünf Heere]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:3a:guerres:bataille_des_cinq_armees]]
[[fi:Viiden Armeijan Taistelu]]

Tolkien Gateway:Manual of Style

2012-05-22T01:02:01Z

202.49.134.179: /* Italics */

{{Seealso|Help:Contents}}
The '''Manual of Style''' is a style guide for all articles on [[Tolkien Gateway]].

==Article titles, headings, and sections==
*With the exception of names, all article titles, headings, and sections should use [[Wikipedia:Letter case#Usage|sentence case]] and not [[Wikipedia:Letter case#Usage|title case]].
*If the title is a published name, it should be italicised by placing <nowiki>{{DISPLAYTITLE:''{{PAGENAME}}''}}</nowiki> before the list of categories at the end of the page.

==Canon==
{{Main|Canon}}

==Terminology==
* ''The Lord of the Rings'' is not a trilogy, and is arguably (and according to Tolkien himself) not a novel either. Use the words "legendarium" (for the story as a whole), "book", "books" (both for LotR, its volumes and the 6 books — but make clear which you are referring to), "volume", "volumes" (for the three volumes of ''The Lord of the Rings'').
* Abbreviations of names of books, movies, series, people, etc. should not be used in articles or lists (e.g. write out ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', not LotR).
* Take note of correct spellings, including diacritical marks, e.g. [[Éomer|'''É'''omer]], not '''E'''omer. Accents are not optional and if you are unsure of the alt code to insert the character just click the proper character below the editing box. An easy way to verify the correct accents is to type the non-accented version of the word into the search box and you will be redirected to the correct term, which you can then copy and paste.
*Take note of correct singular and plural forms of terms: e.g. an [[Uruk-hai|Uruk]] ''or'' one of the [[Uruk-hai]], ''not'' an Uruk-hai; "Uruk-hai" means "Orc-folk")
*Italicize non-English terms for objects and creatures (e.g. ''[[palantír]]'', ''[[crebain]]''), but not for peoples (e.g. [[Eldar]]). In general, follow the books.
*When referring to adaptations, label them clearly as to avoid confusion with works of the same name (e.g. "''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''" to refer to [[Peter Jackson]]'s movie rather than just "''[[The Two Towers]]''").
* Avoid adaptation-derived terms to describe the ''original versions'' of characters, concepts, etc. Only use those terms to refer to ''their counterparts in adaptations'', and point out that the terms are original to the adaptation (e.g. use "[[Oathbreakers]]" or "[[Dead Men of Dunharrow]]" properly; "Army of the Dead" should only be used in an adaptation context).
* Use capital letters when writing about the races of Middle-earth, but lower-case when writing about individuals or groups of individuals i.e. Elves, Dwarves, Men, Hobbits, Orcs, Istari, Valar, etc. (e.g. "the hobbits walked down the road", "Hobbits have hairy feet", "the hobbit jumped over the fence", "the Elf lord bowed before them", "the orcs were running over the plain").
* Do not use "human" or "humans" when describing a concept inside the [[legendarium]]; instead write "[[Men]]" or "men", "Man"/"man", or "Mannish" (for usage of capital vs. lower-case letters, see above).

==Dates and Years==
*For dates, always used Date Month and not Month Date, i.e. "4 March" and not "March 4".
*Use <nowiki>[[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]</nowiki> when linking to years. There are [[:Category:Year templates|templates]] that automate this: <nowiki>{{TA|3019}}</nowiki> gives {{TA|3019}}, <nowiki>{{TA|3019|n}}</nowiki> gives {{TA|3019|n}}.
*For articles with only a few dates (or only a few differing from the stated standard reckoning for the article) it is easiest to just spell out the reckoning period in full; '[[Fourth Age 6]]'.


==Categories==
* Before creating a category, please check to see if there is a same existing category or subcategory.
* Generally, do not use supercategories (e.g. Since [[:Category:Dúnedain]] is the parent category of [[:Category:Dúnedain of the North]], only the latter should be used in the [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]] article). However, if two or more categories from different sub-branches apply, then it would be proper to use both.

==Italics==
* Always use italics for titles of books, series, movies, games, etc. (e.g. ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', ''The Lord of the Rings'', etc.)
* Use italics for "isolated words and phrases in other languages". In terms of Tolkien-related articles, this would include anything in the [[Languages]](e.g. [[Quenya]], [[Sindarin]], [[Rohirric]], [[Khuzdul]], etc.) as well as [[Old English]] (e.g. "a rope made of ''hithlain''").

==Punctuation==
*For quotations, use "double quotes" and 'single quotes' for nesting quotations; thus "quotations 'within' quotations".
*Write formally. Avoid using contractions such as ''don't, can't, won't, would've, they'd,''.
*Avoid using slashes to join words. Instead, spell it out.

==Tense==
* All articles that cover in-universe material must be in ''past tense''.

==Links==
* Create links ONLY if they are '''relevant to the context.'''
* Generally, there should not be duplicates of the same links. However, if you have made a link in captions or the infobox, it is a good idea to make the same link in the article.
* The following ''should'' be linked: dates, places, people that have a major connection with the subject, technical terms, etc.
*Make sure you link to the intended article rather than the disambiguation page; there are more than one "[[Minas Tirith]]", "[[Aragorn]]" and "[[Faramir]]". See also: [[Tolkien Gateway: Disambiguation]]

===Redlinks===
* A redlink is a link to an article which doesn't exist.
* The numbers of redlinks should be reduced by either removing the link or creating the appropriate article.
* If links remain to an article that has been deleted, these are also redlinks and should be removed. [[Template:Redlink]] can be used for this purpose.

==Article layout==
===Naming===
*Most article titles are plural, e.g. [[Elves]], unless a plural is disputed (e.g. [[Balrogs|Balrog]], [[Mallorn]])
*Avoid overusing parentheses in titles of articles, unless there is [[Tolkien Gateway: Disambiguation|disambiguation]].
*Avoid the definite article ("the") and the indefinite article ("a"/"an") unless addressing the titles of books, series, movies, etc.
*Avoid introducing names poetically, e.g. use just "in [[Minas Anor]]" instead of "in a city known as [[Minas Anor]]"; use just "[[Oromë]]" instead of "the [[Vala]] the [[Elves]] called [[Oromë]]".

===Introduction===
* The first occurrence of the [name of the] subject of the article at first mention must be '''bolded''', preferably in the first sentence in the article.
* The lead section should be about one to three paragraphs long, dependent on the overall size of the article. Often, a single sentence suffices.
*Ideally, the lead section should be a synopsis of the topic's history, role and significance.

===Body===
* The "History" section is to represent a chronological, in-universe history of the subject. ''In-universe'' means that the topic should be treated as actual history/mythology, and not as a subject of literature and fiction. Phrases like "later in the chapter...", "in the second book...", "in one earlier version of the text...", and even the name "Tolkien" should be avoided in the narration.
* The "Etymology" section is written either in or out of universe (or both if needs be), and should be well sourced. Avoid the generic term "[[Elvish]]". If the etymology is not covered in another source, <nowiki>{{or}}</nowiki> must be used.
* In the "Inspiration" section, elements which have or may have influenced Tolkien in the forming of the character or event can be placed. Again, <nowiki>{{or}}</nowiki> must be used when proper.
* For the "Genealogy" section, use the [[:Template:Familytree|familytree]]-template.
* "Other Versions of the Legendarium" is a section for information about differences that appear in Tolkien's drafts, changes made during writing, elements that didn't pass into the published texts, and generally for matters of questionable canonicity.
* "Portrayal in Adaptations" is a section for out-of-universe information about the subject. See [[Tolkien Gateway:Projects/Adaptations]] for a list.
*Some articles may contain a section for "In popular usage" to highlight how a word or inspiration by Tolkien passed into the later fantasy literature. For example the article on [[Hobbits]] mentions the "Halflings" of Role-Playing Games, inspired from Tolkien's Hobbits.
* "See Also" is a section where the reader can be pointed at related articles, or a gallery of images of the subject.

===References===
{{main|Help:References}}
* For all articles, notes and references/sources are combined under the same subsection: References. For this, simply type <nowiki>{{references}}</nowiki> at the bottom.
* Do not cite secondary sources or tertiary sources UNLESS there are valid conclusions drawn based on primary sources; this includes the [http://www.glyphweb.com/ARDA/ ''Encyclopedia of Arda''], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' and ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', among others. Instead, use primary sources (reliable sources) such as published texts by Tolkien or secondary sources of ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'' edited by Christopher Tolkien.

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*The following sites that are '''occasionally acceptable''': professional reviews reviewing books, movies, etc. (e.g. [http://www.imdb.com/ IMDb]), '''ONE very informative fansite''' about the subject of article, web directory full of '''informative fansites'''.
*The following should be '''avoided''' and are generally '''not acceptable''': fanlistings (because they are not generally informative), multiple fansites, web directories (for exceptions, see above).
*The following should '''not''' be linked on articles under any circumstance: sites with unverified original research, any form of advertising (whether it's a site or a product), any social networking sites, etc.

==Images==
{{main|Help:Images}}
* Uploaded images must be related to J.R.R. Tolkien and his works, the one exception being if you want to upload an image for your userpage, usually of yourself, that is acceptable.
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*'''Always tag the image you're uploading with image copyright tags.''' If you are not sure of the copyright, then it is best not to upload it.
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