Esgaroth

Esgaroth, more commonly called Lake-town, is a human settlement of singular construction and strategic importance in the northern reaches of Wilderland. Built not on solid ground but entirely upon huge wooden piles driven into the bed of the Long Lake, it is a busy wooden town connected to the shore by a great bridge. Its people, the Lake-men, thrive on the trade that comes up the great river from the South, goods that are carted past the high waterfalls at the lake's southern end to reach their town. Though diminished from the great days of old, when fleets of boats filled with gold and warriors sailed its waters, Esgaroth remains a vital link between the civilized lands to the south and the wild, dangerous territories to the north, including the shadow of the Lonely Mountain where the dragon Smaug lies on his stolen treasure.

Location and Description

Esgaroth is situated on the Long Lake, a vast body of water so wide that its opposite shores appear small and far, and so long that its northern end, pointing towards the Lonely Mountain, cannot be seen at all. The town is not on the shore itself, but is built out on the surface of the lake, protected from the swirl of the entering Forest River by a promontory of rock that forms a calm bay. A great wooden bridge runs out from the land to the town, which is constructed on huge piles made from forest trees. The town's center is a wide circle of quiet water, the market-place, surrounded by the tall piles on which the greater houses are built, and by long wooden quays with many steps and ladders going down to the lake's surface. The rotting piles of a greater, more ancient town can still be seen along the shores when the waters sink in a drought, a testament to a more prosperous past.

History and Trade

In the great days of old, when the town of Dale in the North was rich and prosperous under the dwarf-kings of the Mountain, Esgaroth was wealthy and powerful. Fleets of boats plied its waters, some filled with gold and others with warriors in armour. Wars and deeds from that era are now only a legend, but the memory of the dwarf-kings Thror and Thrain, and of the coming of the Dragon and the fall of the lords of Dale, persists in old songs. Some sing that Thror and Thrain will return one day, and gold will flow in rivers through the mountain-gates. In the present time of the tale, the town's prosperity depends on the trade that comes up the great river from the South. The roads out of the East towards Mirkwood have vanished or fallen into disuse, making the river the only safe way from the skirts of Mirkwood to the mountain-shadowed plains beyond. The river is guarded by the Wood-elves' king, and there are occasional squabbles between the Lake-men and the Wood-elves about the upkeep of the Forest River and the care of the banks.

The Arrival of Thorin and Company

The arrival of Thorin Oakenshield and his company in Esgaroth causes tremendous excitement. Thorin, announcing himself as the heir of the King under the Mountain, is initially met with suspicion by the Master of the town, who is more concerned with trade and tolls than with old songs. However, the people, stirred by ancient prophecies and songs of the return of the King under the Mountain, quickly embrace the dwarves. They sing songs of the Mountain-king's return, and the enthusiasm is so great that the Master is forced to go along with the general clamour. The dwarves are given a large house, doctored, fed, and pampered. They quickly grow fat and strong, fitted out in fine cloth of their proper colours. The Master, however, secretly hopes the dwarves will go and bother Smaug, seeing their departure as a way to end the costly holiday their presence has caused.

Destruction and Rebuilding

The dragon Smaug, enraged by the theft of a cup from his hoard and suspecting the Lake-men's involvement, attacks Esgaroth. The town is unprepared for such a calamity, but the grim-voiced archer Bard rouses the defenders. Despite their efforts, Smaug's fire destroys the town, and the people are forced to flee in boats. In the midst of the destruction, Bard, guided by a thrush, discovers the dragon's weak spot and slays him with a single black arrow. Smaug's corpse crashes down onto the town, completing its ruin. The survivors gather on the western shores, lamenting their loss. In the aftermath, Bard takes the lead, organizing the people and sending for aid from the Elvenking. The Master, who had tried to flee, is criticized for his cowardice. Plans are made to rebuild a new town, more fair and large than before, but not in the same place, as the people now dread the water where the dragon lies. The new town is built northward, higher up the shore.

Political Significance and Legacy

Esgaroth's political structure is unique, as the town has always elected its masters from among the old and wise, rather than enduring the rule of mere fighting men. This tradition is challenged after the dragon's death, when the people, grateful for Bard's heroism, cry out for him to be their king. The Master, however, shrewdly deflects this by pointing out that the dwarves, not he, are responsible for the disaster, and that Bard's true kingdom is Dale, which has been freed by his valour. This political maneuvering allows the Master to retain his position for the moment, though Bard's popularity and the people's desire for a new leader remain a potent force. The old Master eventually succumbs to dragon-sickness, taking much of the gold given to him by Bard and fleeing, only to die of starvation in the Waste. The new Master is of a wiser kind and becomes very popular, credited with the prosperity that follows. The rebuilding of Esgaroth and the refounding of Dale usher in a new era of peace and friendship between elves, dwarves, and men in the region.