View source for Quest of Erebor

{{disambig-two|the actual quest|chapter in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]''|[[The Quest of Erebor]]}}

[[Image:J.R.R. Tolkien - Thrór's Map.jpg|thumb|Sketch of [[Thrór's Map]]]]

The '''Quest of Erebor''' was the quest taken by [[Thorin and Company]], accompanied by [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Gandalf]], to reclaim the [[Dwarves of Erebor|Dwarven]] [[Kingdom under the Mountain|kingdom]] of Erebor in the [[Lonely Mountain]] from the [[Dragons|Dragon]] [[Smaug]] in {{TA|2941}}. It makes up the central story of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', and also inadvertently led to the [[War of the Ring]].

==History==
Plans for the quest were first conceived when the [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] lord [[Thorin]] [[Oakenshield]], heading westward to the [[Blue Mountains]], had a chance encounter with [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] at [[the Prancing Pony]] in the village of [[Bree]] on the [[15 March]] {{TA|2941}}. Gandalf had long been concerned about the weak state of the North; ever since [[Smaug]] the [[Dragons|Dragon]] had [[Sack of Erebor|destroyed]] both the [[Kingdom under the Mountain]] and the neighboring city of [[Dale]] in {{TA|2770}}, he feared that [[Sauron]] might use the [[Desolation of the Dragon|desolation]] around the [[Lonely Mountain]] to regain the northern passes in the mountains and the old lands of [[Angmar]]. He feared that Sauron may gain the allegiance of Smaug and use him to terrible effect. Gandalf had also become aware of Thorin's desire to mount a battle against the [[Fire-drakes|fire-drake]] Smaug, but knew it would not be enough. Thorin wanted advice, and Gandalf in turn wanted to discuss the Dragon with the Dwarf. Ultimately, the [[Wizards|Wizard]] concocted a plan wherein Thorin could destroy Smaug and recover his family fortune, albeit with a "burglar" of Gandalf's own choosing. Gandalf had a feeling that a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] should be involved, and he remembered [[Bilbo Baggins]] from his past visits to [[the Shire]].<ref name="Erebor">{{UT|Erebor}}</ref>

When Gandalf first approached Bilbo regarding this proposition on [[26 April]] {{TA|2941}}, the Hobbit wanted nothing to do with such sort of "adventure". However, Gandalf left a mark on the door of [[Bag End]] to direct the rest of the [[Thorin and Company|Dwarves]] willing to embark on the quest for meeting there the following day. It soon becomes clear that Gandalf has volunteered Bilbo to be a "burglar" for the Dwarves on their adventure. The Hobbit protested, and the Dwarves grumbled that the soft little Hobbit does not seem suited to their adventure. [[Glóin]] remarked that he looked "more like a grocer than a burglar". Gandalf, however, was certain that Bilbo was useful, and insisted that there was more to Bilbo than met the eye. Despite his strong objections to going on the journey, Gandalf coerced Bilbo out the door the next morning as the Company begins their quest.<ref>{{H|1}}</ref>

The party traveled through the [[Lone-lands]] and was saved by Gandalf from three [[Trolls]] (in a place known as [[Trollshaws]]) before stopping for a two-week respite in [[Rivendell]]. On their journey eastward through the [[Misty Mountains]], the Company inadvertently ended up in [[Goblin-town]] and escaped after Gandalf killed the [[Great Goblin]]; Bilbo, having been separated from the Dwarves, ended up finding [[The One Ring|a magic ring]] by [[Gollum's lake]]. After staying with [[Beorn]] for a couple of days, the Company continues through the [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]] and into [[Mirkwood]] (at which point Gandalf leaves them to participate in the [[Attack on Dol Guldur]]), where they were captured by [[Elves]] of the [[Woodland Realm]] after escaping from [[spiders]]. Bilbo smuggled the Company into [[Lake-town]] via barrels where the [[Lake-men]] ultimately agreed to give them supplies for the last stage of their quest.<ref>{{H|2}}; {{H|3}}; {{H|4}}; {{H|5}}; {{H|6}}; {{H|7}}; {{H|8}}; {{H|9}}; {{H|10}}</ref>

When the Company finally reached the Lonely Mountain, they entered through the secret [[Back Door]] once the last light of [[Durin's Day]] revealed its keyhole. Having been designated the "burglar" for the group, Bilbo was assigned to go inside and "burgle" something for the Dwarves. The Hobbit came across the great Dragon lying atop the Dwarves' great treasure hoard, and stole a golden cup from the hoard. Having wrongly surmised during their conversation that Bilbo was affiliated with the Lake-men, Smaug flew off in a rage to lay waste Lake-town as revenge for Bilbo's intrusion. The fire-drake almost completely destroyed the town, but was slain with a [[Black Arrow]] by one of its residents, whose name was [[Bard]]. With the Dragon now dead, the Dwarves could once again regain domain over the Mountain and their quest was complete.<ref>{{H|11}}; {{H|12}}; {{H|14}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
Once the death of Smaug had reached lands beyond the immediate region, Bard, who had been anointed leader of the Lake-men, came to the Lonely Mountain to demand compensation in [[gold]] from Thorin in order for his people to rebuild their lives. [[Thranduil]], king of the Woodland Realm, also came seeking a share of the treasure. When Thorin refused to part with any of the hoard, it led to the [[Battle of Five Armies]], which was not only further complicated by the arrival of both a [[Orcs#Goblins and Orcs|Goblin]] and [[Wargs|Warg]] army seeking revenge for the death of the Great Goblin at the Company's hands, but also cost Thorin his own life (as well as his nephews and most immediate heirs to the throne, [[Fíli]] and [[Kíli]]). In their place, [[Dáin Ironfoot]] became the new [[King under the Mountain]].

Years later, it would be revealed that the ring Bilbo had taken from [[Gollum]] in the Misty Mountains would in fact turn out to be the One Ring which had once belonged to Sauron, for which he now had his [[Nazgûl|servants]] scouring all over [[Middle-earth]]. It would lead to not only the [[Quest of the Ring]] but also the [[War of the Ring]] and, ultimately, the end of the [[Third Age]].

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''[[2012]]-[[2014]]: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' film series]]:'''

:In the prologue of the second ''Hobbit'' film, it is said that the entire Quest was to retrieve the [[Arkenstone]], as possessing it would give Thorin the authority to unite all the Dwarven clans to march on the Erebor, and reclaim it from the Dragon Smaug.

{{References}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Fell Winter (Third Age)|Fell Winter]]
| list=Major events of [[Middle-earth]]
| dates={{TA|2941}}
| next=[[War of the Ring]]
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{companyroute}}
[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:The Hobbit]]