Arkenstone claim

The Arkenstone of Thrain, the Heart of the Mountain, was a gem of unparalleled beauty and significance to the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. Thorin Oakenshield, as the heir of Thrain and Thror, considered it his by right, a symbol of his kingship and the centerpiece of the treasure his family had been driven from. His claim was absolute and uncompromising, and it became the focal point of the conflict that followed Smaug's death.

Thorin's Declaration and the Search

Even before the siege began, Thorin's obsession with the Arkenstone was evident. While the other dwarves busied themselves with the general treasure, Thorin spoke of the Arkenstone with a fervor that bordered on mania. He declared it "worth more than a river of gold in itself, and to me it is beyond price," and he commanded his companions to search for it in every corner of the hoard, vowing to be avenged on anyone who found it and withheld it. This declaration placed the stone at the center of all subsequent negotiations and conflicts.

The Claim Tested by Bargaining

When Bard and the Elvenking laid siege to the Mountain, demanding a share of the treasure as recompense for the destruction of Lake-town and as the rightful inheritance of the heir of Girion, Thorin refused to parley. The turning point came when Bard produced the Arkenstone, which Bilbo had secretly taken and given to the besiegers as a bargaining chip. Thorin was stricken dumb with amazement and confusion, but his rage quickly overcame him. He denounced Bilbo as a traitor and a thief, but the stone's power over him was so great that he was willing to negotiate for its return. He offered to give a fourteenth share of the hoard in silver and gold, setting aside the gems, in exchange for the Arkenstone, declaring that this share would be accounted as Bilbo's promised reward. This offer, however, was made with the secret intention of later recapturing the stone by force with the help of Dain's approaching army.

The Claim's Tragic Resolution

Thorin's claim on the Arkenstone, and the greed it represented, ultimately led to the Battle of Five Armies. The arrival of the goblins and Wargs forced a temporary alliance between the dwarves, men, and elves, but the underlying dispute over the treasure was never resolved. Thorin was mortally wounded in the battle. On his deathbed, he repented of his harsh words and deeds, and he parted in friendship from Bilbo. After his death, Bard laid the Arkenstone upon Thorin's breast in his tomb beneath the Mountain, saying, "There let it lie till the Mountain falls! May it bring good fortune to all his folk that dwell here after!" Thus, the claim that had caused so much strife was finally laid to rest, the stone becoming a funerary offering rather than a prize of war.