The Gathering of the Clouds

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Alan Lee - The Gathering of the Clouds.jpg
The Gathering of the Clouds
Chapter of The Hobbit
Number15
Synopsis
EventBard confronts Thorin at the Front Gate.
LocationDale, Erebor, Front Gate
Navigation
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The Gathering of the Clouds is the 15th chapter of The Hobbit.

Summary

When morning came, Thorin and Company noticed a large gathering of birds in the sky; Bilbo espied the thrush from the mountain-side destroyed earlier by Smaug. Balin told Bilbo of the great friendship that used to exist between the ravens and the people of Thror, and that ravens would often bring secret news in exchange for rewards. From Balin, Bilbo learned that a pair of wise ravens, old Carc and his wife, used to live nearby. Upon hearing this, the thrush flew away and returned with a very old raven of great size -- Roäc, son of Carc. Roäc spoke to Thorin and Balin in the common tongue, telling of tidings from the south speaking of the death of Smaug at the hands of the men of Esgaroth. When they heard this, the dwarves were overjoyed. But Roäc cautioned Thorin that while the treasure may be his for the moment, the tales of the death of Smaug, and the riches of Thror in the Lonely Mountain had travelled far. Elves, men, and carrion birds were approaching the mountain, hoping for a share in the spoils. Roäc counselled Thorin to trust not the master of Lake-town, but instead to trust Bard, the slayer of the dragon, and that to see peace would cost him a large share of gold. But Thorin was prideful, saying that no thieves would share in the gold. He asked Roäc to send messages to his kin led by Dain in the Iron Hills to come to their aid. As Roäc left, the dwarves returned to the mountain, where, over the next few days, they worked to fortify the only remaining entrance to the mountain: the Front Gate. During this time, they learned from the ravens that the Elves had joined the men at Lake-town.

One morning, the dwarves saw a company of elves and men approaching the mountain from the south. From behind the stone walls the dwarves had reared in front of the entrance, Thorin spoke, asking who they were, arriving as if for war. But the newcomers said nothing, and returned to their camp. Soon the Company heard the pleasant sounds of Elven harps, and Bilbo longed to escape the cavernous halls under the mountain and join the Elven pleasantries. In response, the dwarves took up their instruments and began to sing songs pleasing to Thorin. But Bilbo was dismayed, for he perceived talk and songs to be too like to war-mongering.

The next morning another company of elves and men approached the fortified Front Gate. Bard, the slayer of Smaug, strode forth speaking of his joy at finding the dwarves alive, but was puzzled at Thorin fencing himself inside the mountain. He explained that much of the wealth of his forebear, Girion of Dale, was mingled in the dragon-hoard, and that the people of Esgaroth were living in sorrow and ruin following the attack of Smaug. However, long hours in the dragon hoard had created a lust for gold in Thorin, who replied that "the treasure was not his that his evil deeds should be ammended with a share of it". Then banner-bearers for the men of the Lake cried forth, issuing an ultimatum to Thorin that he give at least a twelfth of the share of the treasure to Bard to restore Esgaroth. In his rage, Thorin shot an arrow at the speaker which struck his shield. Thus, the mountain was besieged by elves and men. A darkness had overcome Thorin in his greed for gold which most of the others shared, save Bombur, Fili, and Kili, and Bilbo most of all.