Arkenstone Incident

The Arkenstone Incident is the pivotal moral crisis of The Hobbit, in which Bilbo Baggins secretly takes the Arkenstone of Thrain—the treasure most prized by Thorin Oakenshield—and delivers it to the besieging forces of Bard and the Elvenking, hoping to avert a war over the dragon-hoard. This act of independent judgment shatters the unity of Thorin's Company, exposes the corrosive power of gold-lust, and forces the story toward its violent climax and eventual reconciliation.

Background and the Growing Siege

After the death of Smaug, Thorin and his twelve companions took possession of the vast treasure of Thror in the Lonely Mountain. But the Lake-men, whose town had been destroyed by the dragon, and the Wood-elves, who had aided them, marched to the Mountain and demanded compensation. Bard, the dragon-slayer and heir of Girion of Dale, asked for a twelfth portion of the treasure, and the Elvenking supported his claim. Thorin, however, refused to parley with an armed host at his gate and shot an arrow at Bard's messenger, declaring the Mountain besieged. The dwarves fortified the Front Gate with a wall of squared stones, and the two armies—men and elves—encamped in Dale, waiting. Days passed wearily. The dwarves spent their time piling and ordering the treasure, and Thorin spoke obsessively of the Arkenstone of Thrain, the great white gem that was the Heart of the Mountain, worth more than a river of gold. He bade them eagerly to look for it in every corner, and declared that he would be avenged on anyone who found it and withheld it. Bilbo heard these words and grew afraid, for the Arkenstone was already in his keeping—wrapped in an old bundle of tattered oddments that he used as a pillow. He did not speak of it, but as the weariness of the siege grew heavier, the beginnings of a plan came into his little head.

Bilbo's Secret Journey to the Enemy Camp

The ravens brought news that Dain, Thorin's cousin, was marching from the Iron Hills with more than five hundred dwarves, now within about two days' march of Dale. Thorin was not moved by Roäc's counsel that winter and snow would bite both men and elves, and that the treasure was likely to be his death. That night, Bilbo made up his mind. The sky was black and moonless. As soon as it was full dark, he went to a corner of an inner chamber just within the gate and drew from his bundle a rope, and also the Arkenstone wrapped in a rag. He climbed to the top of the wall, where only Bombur was on watch. Bilbo offered to take Bombur's turn, saying he had no sleep in him, and the grateful dwarf went to lie in the inner chamber. As soon as Bombur had gone, Bilbo put on his ring, fastened his rope, slipped down over the wall, and was gone. He had about five hours before him. The road was strange to him in the dark, and when he came to the bend where he had to cross the water, he missed his footing on a round stone and fell into the cold stream with a splash. He scrambled out on the far bank, shivering and spluttering, and was immediately discovered by elves with bright lanterns. He slipped off his ring and popped from behind a rock, announcing himself as Mr. Bilbo Baggins, companion of Thorin, and demanding to be taken to Bard. The elves seized him but, impressed by his boldness, led him to a warm fire in front of a large tent, where both the Elvenking and Bard sat gazing curiously at him. Bilbo, in his best business manner, explained that things were impossible, that he was tired of the whole affair, and that he had a one-fourteenth share in the profits according to a letter he had kept—Thorin's letter that had been put under the clock on his mantelpiece in May. He warned them that Dain was less than two days' march off with at least five hundred grim dwarves, and that when they arrived there might be serious trouble. Then he drew forth the Arkenstone and threw away the wrapping. The Elvenking stood up in amazement; even Bard gazed marvelling at it in silence. It was as if a globe had been filled with moonlight and hung before them in a net woven of the glint of frosty stars. Bilbo said, "This is the Arkenstone of Thrain, the Heart of the Mountain; and it is also the heart of Thorin. He values it above a river of gold. I give it to you. It will aid you in your bargaining." He handed the marvellous stone to Bard, who held it as though dazed. When Bard asked how it was his to give, Bilbo replied uncomfortably that it wasn't exactly his, but he was willing to let it stand against all his claim. "I may be a burglar—or so they say: personally I never really felt like one—but I am an honest one, I hope, more or less." The Elvenking looked at Bilbo with new wonder and declared him more worthy to wear the armour of elf-princes than many that had looked more comely in it, and advised him to remain with them. But Bilbo refused, saying he did not think he ought to leave his friends like this, after all they had gone through together, and that he had promised to wake old Bombur at midnight. As he was escorted through the camp, an old man wrapped in a dark cloak rose from a tent door and clapped him on the back. It was Gandalf, who said, "Well done! Mr. Baggins! There is always more about you than anyone expects!" and told him that things were drawing towards the end now. Puzzled but cheered, Bilbo hurried back to the Gate, climbed up his rope, untied it and hid it, and sat on the wall wondering anxiously what would happen next. At midnight he woke Bombur, then rolled himself up in his corner and was soon fast asleep, dreaming of eggs and bacon.

Thorin's Rage and the Breaking of the Company

The next day, a company of twenty approached the Gate, bearing the banners of the Forest and the Lake. Among them were Bard and the Elvenking, and before them an old man wrapped in cloak and hood bore a strong casket of iron-bound wood. Bard hailed Thorin and asked if there was nothing for which he would yield any of his gold. When Thorin answered that there was nothing, Bard said, "What of the Arkenstone of Thrain?" and the old man opened the casket and held aloft the jewel. The light leapt from his hand, bright and white in the morning. Thorin was stricken dumb with amazement and confusion. When he at last broke the silence, his voice was thick with wrath. He demanded how they came by the heirloom of his house. Bard answered that they were not thieves, and that his own they would give back in return for their own. Thorin shouted again, and Bilbo, peering over the wall in a dreadful fright, squeaked, "I gave it to them!" Thorin turned upon him, grasping him with both hands, and cried, "You miserable hobbit! You undersized—burglar!" He shook poor Bilbo like a rabbit and lifted him in his arms, threatening to throw him to the rocks. At that moment Gandalf threw aside his hood and cloak and commanded Thorin to put Bilbo down and listen first to what he had to say. Thorin dropped Bilbo on the top of the wall and declared he would never again have dealings with any wizard or his friends. Bilbo, in a shaky voice, reminded Thorin that he had been told he might choose his own fourteenth share, and that he had taken it literally. "Take it that I have disposed of my share as I wished, and let it go at that!" Thorin grimly agreed, and said he would let Bilbo go at that—and may they never meet again. He then spoke over the wall, offering one fourteenth share of the hoard in silver and gold, setting aside the gems, for the return of the Arkenstone, and declared that this should be accounted the promised share of this traitor. "Take him, if you wish him to live; and no friendship of mine goes with him." Bilbo was swung down from the wall, and departed with nothing for all his trouble, except the armour Thorin had given him already. More than one of the dwarves in their hearts felt shame and pity at his going. Bilbo cried farewell, saying they might meet again as friends, but Thorin ordered him to be off, threatening to sting his miserable feet if he did not hasten.

Consequences and the Approach of Battle

Bard gave Thorin until noon the next day to bring from the hoard the portion that was to be set against the stone, promising that if it was done without deceit, they would depart and the elf-host would go back to the Forest. But Thorin sent messengers by Roäc telling Dain of what had passed and bidding him come with wary speed. The next day, before the deadline, Dain's host of more than five hundred dwarves appeared round the eastern spur of the Mountain and hastened toward Dale. Bard refused to let them pass until the gold and silver had been brought out in exchange for the Arkenstone. The dwarf-messengers retired muttering in their beards, and when Bard sent messengers to the Gate, arrows came forth as soon as they were within shot. The camp stirred as if for battle, and the dwarves of Dain advanced along the eastern bank. Just as battle was about to be joined, a black cloud hurried over the sky, and Gandalf appeared, crying that the Goblins were upon them—Bolg of the North was coming with a vast host. The Battle of the Five Armies began, and all other quarrels were forgotten. In the battle, Thorin was mortally wounded. As he lay dying, he spoke to Bilbo, saying, "Farewell, good thief. I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate." Bilbo knelt beside him, filled with sorrow, and Thorin said, "There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." After Thorin's death, the Arkenstone was laid upon his breast by Bard, and there it was left to lie till the Mountain falls. The incident thus became the catalyst for Thorin's final redemption and for the lasting peace among dwarves, men, and elves that followed the war.