Beorn's Arrival

Beorn's arrival at the Battle of Five Armies is the decisive turning point of the conflict, a moment of raw, overwhelming force that shatters the goblin assault and secures victory for the allied forces of Elves, Men, and Dwarves. Appearing from nowhere, the skin-changer in his bear shape and seemingly grown to giant-size in his wrath, he single-handedly breaks the goblin ring, rescues the fallen Thorin Oakenshield, and crushes the goblin leader Bolg, turning the tide of a battle that had seemed lost.

Appearance and Context

The battle had reached its darkest hour. The goblins, under the command of Bolg, had driven the allies back, and the dwarves were making a stand about their lords upon a low rounded hill. Thorin Oakenshield had fallen, pierced with spears. The Eagles of the Misty Mountains had already arrived and dislodged the goblins from the mountain-slopes, but even with their help the allies were still outnumbered. It was at this moment that Beorn himself appeared, no one knew how or from where. He came alone, and in bear's shape; and he seemed to have grown almost to giant-size in his wrath.

Actions in Battle

Beorn's impact was immediate and devastating. The roar of his voice was like drums and guns; and he tossed wolves and goblins from his path like straws and feathers. He fell upon their rear, and broke like a clap of thunder through the ring. First, he stooped and lifted Thorin, who had fallen pierced with spears, and bore him out of the fray. Then, swiftly returning with his wrath redoubled, nothing could withstand him, and no weapon seemed to bite upon him. He scattered the bodyguard of Bolg, and pulled down Bolg himself and crushed him.

Consequences

With Bolg's death, dismay fell on the Goblins and they fled in all directions. Weariness left their enemies with the coming of new hope, and they pursued them closely, preventing most of them from escaping. The allies drove many of them into the Running River, and such as fled south or west they hunted into the marshes about the Forest River, where the greater part of the last fugitives perished. Songs have said that three parts of the goblin warriors of the North perished on that day, and the mountains had peace for many a year.

Aftermath and Significance

After the battle, Beorn traveled with Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins as far as the borders of Mirkwood, then continued on his own way. He became a great chief afterwards in those regions and ruled a wide land between the mountains and the wood. It is said that for many generations the men of his line had the power of taking bear's shape, and some were grim men and bad, but most were in heart like Beorn, if less in size and strength. In their day the last goblins were hunted from the Misty Mountains and a new peace came over the edge of the Wild. Beorn's arrival thus not only decided the battle but also inaugurated a new era of security in the northern lands.