[sindohte]

Discussion on the chapter - A Warm Welcome will officially begin on Thursday 11/18.

Artanisoflorien will begin the discussion of this chapter.

Anyone wandering by this thread should feel free to raise questions or make comments.

Please try to keep the comments on this thread strictly related to discussion of the Hobbit.

[artanisoflorien]

This chapter begins with the dwarves and Bilbo floating along in the current. Tolkien includes a striking description of the landscape as the lands widen and the waters of the river wander off in a multitude of directions. Here, Bilbo gets his first glimpse of the Lonely Mountain. He does not care for this sight.

Though the hobbit and dwarves are not enjoying this portion of their journey, things are not as bad as they might think. It seems that Bilbo has, quite by accident, led himself and the dwarves along the only feasible path available. And Gandalf is aware of this fact. He is concerned for them, and is concluding his business in an effort to return to their aid.

The barrels continue on, and they flow to where the waters gather once again and they move along quickly in the rapid current. At sunset, they reach Long Lake. Here, Bilbo first sees Lake-town. Tolkien describes it as an entirely wooden construction, built on pylons over the water. There is a brief mention on a legendary town, greater than this one, and of large ships and bustling commerce.

The barrels are towed into the little Bay of Lake-town, and the raft-steerers head into town for a bit of rest. Bilbo waits until the coast is clear and frees the first of the dwarves, Thorin. Thorin is less than grateful due to the unpleasant journey he has endured, and it takes some time before he can even be polite to Bilbo. Despite that, he assists the hobbit in freeing more of the dwarves. Fili and Kili are the only dwarves who are in decent shape after their trip, and the four of them manage to free the remaining dwarves.

Then, Bilbo, Thorin, Fili, and Kili head into Lake-town and make themselves known to the rather inattentive guards. Thorin declares he is the son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain returned to take his rightful place. This announcement causes a considerable stir. They are taken to the Master of the Town who is with the raftmen of the elves. The elves declare that the dwarves are the prisoners of their king and are very surprised to see them. Before the Master of the Town can decide what his attitude toward these guests should be, the people of Lake-town make his decision for him. They take up the old songs telling the tale of the return of the King Under the Mountain, and begin to sing and shout with great excitement.

The dwarves and Bilbo are pampered and catered to for a week. The people of Lake-town feed, clothe, and house them, and provide them with boats at their disposal. The singing of the old songs continues, but new songs are heard, heralding the quick defeat of the dragon and of treasure flowing down the river to Lake-town. In fact, these songs were inspired largely by the Master of the Town. The dwarves are quite happy during this time, and their gratitude toward Bilbo finally returns. But the hobbit is anxious, mindful of the dark mountain and the dragon. Additionally, he has a nasty cold.

The elves return to Mirkwood, and from their accounts, Thranduil is able to piece together what likely transpired to allow the dwarves to escape. He also learns the truth of the dwarves' errand, and he sits back to wait, planning to have his share of any treasure brought back through Mirkwood.

Thorin realizes the timing is right to take advantage of the good nature of Lake-town. He approaches the Master of the Town and indicates that they will be leaving for the mountain. The Master of the Town is surprised to hear of Thorin's plans. All along, he has assumed that they are frauds who would never dare approach Smaug. Of course, he is wrong, and Thorin is who he claims to be. Tolkien says, "There is no knowing what a dwarf will not dare and do for revenge or the recovery of his own."

The Master of the Town is glad to see them go. They've been expensive to keep and disruptive to the town's business. He agrees to help them. The dwarves and Bilbo depart in the autumn with boats loaded with provisions, while horses are sent around to meet them. They embark on the last stage of their journey. The dwarves are glad to be nearing their destination and the Master of the Town is glad to be rid of them.

The chapter concludes with a concise explanation of Bilbo's outlook. "The only person thoroughly unhappy was Bilbo."

[Texasgirl]

[SpaceWeavil]

[NancyBrooke]

I think that's mentioned later, maybe when he and Bilbo are talking over the fire after the battle?

AHA! It's actually after they return to Rivendell: Bilbo hears Gandalf and Elrond talking about it.

[Texasgirl]

wait...i though dol guldor (sp?) was a combined effor of mirkwood and lorien...so how could it be the same time as the battle of the 5 armies..or, in general, during that time?

confused?

TG

[SpaceWeavil]

[NancyBrooke]

Supplement to what SW wrote above:

Dol Guldur was a fortress in S. Mirkwood built and used by Sauron.

An unidentified evil presence takes up residence there before TA (3rd age) 1100; its presence causes corruption in the forest. The Wizards at first suspect it is a Nazgul.

Then, in 2360, 10 years after the Witch King of Angmar (chief of the Nazgul) kills the last King of Gondor, the Evil starts to grow and the Wise began to suspect it is Sauron himself. In 2063 Gandalf goes to investigate only to find the Evil has fled.

The Evil, now known as the Necromancer, comes back stronger in 2460; three years later the White Council (the Wizards, Elrond, Cirdan, Galadriel and other Eldar) is formed at the suggestion of Galadriel to make a plan against Sauron. In 2845, Thrain is imprisoned in Dol Guldur and the last of the Seven is taken from him. Five years after that, Gandalf goes back to Dol Guldur, finds Thrain (gets the map and key later given to Thorin) and discovers the Necromancer is really Sauron working to gather all the rings and find the One. He reports to the White Council, but Saruman councils that they not openly confront Sauron, meanwhile starting his own search for the Ring. Finally, in 2941 (the year of the Battle of The Five Armies), the White Council gets together and drives Sauron out. But Sauron abandons Dol Guldur, escapes damage, and returns to Mordor.

Toward the end of the War of the Ring Lorien is attacked three times out of Dol Guldur (presumably lead by lesser Nazgul). When Sauron is defeated, Celeborn leads an army over the Anduin and takes Dol Guldur; Galadriel casts down its walls, opens up its pits, and "cleanses" the forest.

So, Dol Guldur is a thorn in the side of the good guys for almost 2000 years, and in the end it takes an attack by the White Council, and then an army of Lorien to completely pull it out, as it were.

The Mirkwood elves don't seem to play a part - Sorry.

[SpaceWeavil]

I've found the reference I was thinking of (sorry, just cleaned the whole flat and am a bit knackered, brain not working too fast). Thranduil's lot and the Mirkwood elves were involved in clearing out the orcs and stuff coming out of Dol Guldur and the remnants of Sauron's forces in the forest, and Thranduil's lot were attacked as was Dale, but they won. Found it in the appendices eventually. That's why I was thinking they had attacked Dol Guldur, but only Celeborn's army went to the fortress itself. The others just mopped up what was left of Sauron's nasties.

[Texasgirl]

alright! thank you, guys! i've been wondering about that for a long time!