 | |
| Troll-hole | |
| Trolls' lair | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Location | Western Trollshaws, near the Troll Ridge[1] |
| Type | Troll-hole |
| Description | A messy, smelly cave on a hill |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | The three Trolls |
The Trolls' lair[2] was a troll-hole[3] that was made by three trolls - Tom, Bert and William - who captured Bilbo and the dwarves as described in The Hobbit. Made from a cave, the lair served as the three trolls hideout from the Sun, their treasury and storeroom.
Description
The cave floor had bones and an untidy litter of plunder, from brass button to pots of gold. On shelves was a good deal of food, along with a barrel of ale. Clothing of victims hung on the walls as well as several swords. There was also a horrible smell in the air.[4]
History
One may guess that your trolls had plundered, other plunderers, or come on the remnants of old robberies in some hole in the mountains of old. I have heard that there are still forgotten treasures to be found in the deserted caverns of the mines of Moria, since the dwarf and goblin war.
After Gandalf had rescued Thorin and his party from the trolls during the Quest for Erebor in T.A. 2941[5], he reminded them that the trolls must have a cave or hole to hide in from the sun. Searching about, they followed the marks of stony boots uphill to a big stone door hidden by bushes. Pushing and incantations by Gandalf did not open it. Then Bilbo asked if the key he had found would help. It did.[4]
The party took much of the food, the barrel of ale, and the gold. Gandalf and Thorin took two swords with beautiful scabbards and jewelled hilts, and Bilbo took a knife in a leather sheath (which for a hobbit was as good as a short sword). Outside the cave the party ate and rested, and then buried the pots of gold near the river with many spells put over them.[4]
Later, in Rivendell, Elrond read the runes on the swords of Gandalf and Thorin. He revealed that they were very old and had been made by the High Elves of the West, in Gondolin. Thus from the Trolls' lair Thorin obtained Orcrist (meaning Goblin-cleaver in Sindarin) and Gandalf got Glamdring (meaning Foe-hammer in Sindarin).[6] Much later Bilbo would name his short sword from the Trolls' lair "Sting".[7]
During the War of the Ring on October 18 T.A. 3018[8][9] Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck Peregrin Took and Aragorn passed by the Trolls' lair by accident and saw the three trolls that had been turned to stone outside.[10]
Other versions of the legendarium
In the manuscript for The Hobbit, the Company found something else in the Trolls' lair besides the three swords - they also found the key to the Back Door of the Lonely Mountain, although they did not know it at the time.[11] Gandalf took charge of the key in the cave and gave it to Thorin just before he departed from the Company at the gates of Mirkwood.[12] On Durin's Day it was Bilbo who recalled the troll-key and they found that it was the right one to open the door.[13]
Portrayal in adaptations
1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):
- The Trolls' lair features in this adaptation without any difference from book.
1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):
- In this film, the Trolls' lair does not have a locked door as in the book.
1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):
- The Trolls' lair appears in this adaptation with the same role as in the book.
2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):
- In the game, the Trolls' lair is explored by Bilbo, and it is implied that it was built by Witch-king.
2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- The Trolls' lair, along with the Stone Trolls' Glade, is located in the Trollshaws region. The cave is inaccessible.
2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:
- The Trolls' lair appears in the first film of The Hobbit film series as an open tunnel with no locked door blocking it. Gandalf finds Sting inside the cave and gives it to Bilbo.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, p. 38
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Over Hill and Under Hill"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford", p. 205
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Roast Mutton"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2941, p. 1089
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Short Rest"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3018, October 18, p. 1092
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 188
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford", pp. 204-5
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Trolls", p. 97
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Medwed", p. 244
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, The Second Phase, "The Lonely Mountain", p. 476
| Route of Thorin and Company |
|---|
| Bag End · Green Dragon · The Shire · Lone-lands · Last Bridge · Trollshaws · Trolls' lair · Rivendell · High Pass · Front Porch · Goblin-town · Goblin-gate · Eagle's Eyrie · Carrock · Beorn's Hall · Wilderland · Forest Gate · Elf-path · Mirkwood · Elvenking's Halls · Forest River · Lake-town · Long Lake · River Running · Desolation of the Dragon · Ravenhill · Back Door · Lonely Mountain · Great Hall of Thráin |