Arrival at Lake-town
The arrival of Thorin and Company at Lake-town (Esgaroth) marks a pivotal turning point in their quest, transforming them from fugitives into celebrated heroes and setting the stage for the final confrontation with Smaug. The event is defined by Thorin's dramatic self-proclamation as the returning King under the Mountain, the enthusiastic but politically charged welcome from the townspeople, and the strategic preparations that follow, all while the shadow of the dragon looms over the proceedings.
The Journey to Lake-town and First Sight of the Mountain
After their escape from the Elvenking's Halls in barrels, the company floated down the Forest River, which soon joined the main waters and swept them into the Long Lake. As they emerged from the forest, the lands opened wide about them, filled with the waters of the river which broke up into a hundred winding courses, halted in marshes and pools dotted with isles on every side. Far away, its dark head in a torn cloud, there loomed the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo Baggins had come far and through many adventures to see it, and now he did not like the look of it in the least. The raft of barrels was drawn out of the current and towed round the high shoulder of rock into the little bay of Lake-town, where it was moored not far from the shoreward head of the great bridge. The town itself was not built on the shore, but right out on the surface of the lake, protected from the swirl of the entering river by a promontory of rock which formed a calm bay. A great bridge made of wood ran out to where, on huge piles made of forest trees, was built a busy wooden town of Men, who still dared to dwell here under the shadow of the distant dragon-mountain.
Thorin's Proclamation and the Town's Reaction
After the dwarves were unpacked from their barrels—a process that left them sore, bruised, and famished—Thorin, Fili, Kili, and Bilbo went along the shore to the great bridge. The guards at the head of the bridge were drinking and laughing by a fire in their hut, and did not hear the footsteps of the four scouts. Their astonishment was enormous when Thorin Oakenshield stepped in through the door. Thorin announced himself in a loud voice: "Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror King under the Mountain!" The gold gleamed on his neck and waist; his eyes were dark and deep. "I have come back. I wish to see the Master of your town!" There was tremendous excitement. Some of the more foolish ran out of the hut as if they expected the Mountain to go golden in the night and all the waters of the lake turn yellow right away. The captain of the guard came forward, and after a brief exchange, Thorin and his companions were led over the bridge through the gates and into the market-place of the town. From one great hall shone many lights and there came the sound of many voices. Thorin cried out from the door, before the captain could say anything: "I am Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror King under the Mountain! I return!" All leaped to their feet. The Master of the town sprang from his great chair. But none rose in greater surprise than the raft-men of the elves who were sitting at the lower end of the hall, who cried out that these were prisoners of their king that had escaped. The Master hesitated, looking from one to the other, for the Elvenking was very powerful in those parts and the Master wished for no enmity with him, nor did he think much of old songs, giving his mind to trade and tolls. However, the news spread like fire through all the town. People began to sing snatches of old songs concerning the return of the King under the Mountain; that it was Thror's grandson not Thror himself that had come back did not bother them at all. Others took up the song and it rolled loud and high over the lake. The song proclaimed: "The King beneath the mountains, / The King of carven stone, / The lord of silver fountains / Shall come into his own!" The Wood-elves themselves began to wonder greatly and even to be afraid. The Master saw there was nothing else for it but to obey the general clamour, for the moment at any rate, and to pretend to believe that Thorin was what he said. So he gave up to him his own great chair and set Fili and Kili beside him in places of honour. Even Bilbo was given a seat at the high table.
Hospitality, Recovery, and Political Undercurrents
Soon afterwards the other dwarves were brought into the town amid scenes of astonishing enthusiasm. They were all doctored, fed, housed, and pampered in the most delightful and satisfactory fashion. A large house was given up to Thorin and his company; boats and rowers were put at their service; and crowds sat outside and sang songs all day, or cheered if any dwarf showed so much as his nose. Some of the songs were old ones, but some were quite new and spoke confidently of the sudden death of the dragon and of cargoes of rich presents coming down the river to Lake-town. These were inspired largely by the Master and they did not particularly please the dwarves, but in the meantime they were well contented and they quickly grew fat and strong again. Within a week they were quite recovered, fitted out in fine cloth of their proper colours, with beards combed and trimmed, and proud steps. Thorin looked and walked as if his kingdom was already regained and Smaug chopped up into little pieces. The dwarves' good feeling towards the little hobbit grew stronger every day. They drank his health, patted him on the back, and made a great fuss of him; which was just as well, for he was not feeling particularly cheerful. He had not forgotten the look of the Mountain, nor the thought of the dragon, and he had besides a shocking cold. For three days he sneezed and coughed, and could not go out, and even after that his speeches at banquets were limited to "Thag you very buch."
The Elvenking's Reaction and Thorin's Departure
Meanwhile, the Wood-elves had gone back up the Forest River with their cargoes, and there was great excitement in the king's palace. The king knew now the dwarves' errand, or thought he did, and said to himself: "Very well! We'll see! No treasure will come back through Mirkwood without my having something to say in the matter. But I expect they will all come to a bad end, and serve them right!" He sent out his spies about the shores of the lake and as far northward towards the Mountain as they would go, and waited. At the end of a fortnight, Thorin began to think of departure. He spoke to the Master and his councillors and said that soon he and his company must go on towards the Mountain. For the first time the Master was surprised and a little frightened; he had never thought that the dwarves would actually dare to approach Smaug, but believed they were frauds. He was not sorry at all to let them go, thinking: "Let them go and bother Smaug, and see how he welcomes them!" So one day, although autumn was now getting far on, and winds were cold, and leaves were falling fast, three large boats left Lake-town, laden with rowers, dwarves, Mr. Baggins, and many provisions. Horses and ponies had been sent round by circuitous paths to meet them at their appointed landing-place. The Master and his councillors bade them farewell from the great steps of the town-hall that went down to the lake. People sang on the quays and out of windows. The white oars dipped and splashed, and off they went north up the lake on the last stage of their long journey. The only person thoroughly unhappy was Bilbo.
