Kingdom under the Mountain

The Kingdom under the Mountain was the ancient dwarf realm carved into the roots of the Lonely Mountain, far to the east of Mirkwood. It was founded by Thrain the Old, a far ancestor of Thorin Oakenshield, who discovered the mountain and began the mining and tunnelling that created its vast halls and workshops. Under Thorin's grandfather Thror, the kingdom reached its greatest height: the dwarves grew immensely rich and famous, mining gold and jewels, and forging weapons, armour, and marvellous toys. The mortal men of Dale, who lived in the valley below, treated the King under the Mountain with great reverence, and kings from distant lands sent for the dwarves' smiths, rewarding even the least skilled with rich payments, especially in food-supplies. The halls of Thror became full of armour, jewels, carvings, and cups, and the toy market of Dale was the wonder of the North.

The Dragon's Destruction

The kingdom's prosperity attracted the dragon Smaug, a most specially greedy, strong, and wicked worm. One day Smaug flew south from the North, settled on the mountain in a spout of flame, and descended the slopes, setting the woods ablaze. The dwarves rushed out of their great gate, but Smaug was waiting for them, and none escaped that way. He then crept in through the Front Gate and routed out all the halls, lanes, tunnels, alleys, cellars, mansions, and passages, taking all the dwarves' wealth for himself. He piled it all up in a great heap far inside and slept on it for a bed. Later he would crawl out at night to destroy Dale, carrying away people, especially maidens, to eat, until the town was ruined and all its people dead or gone. The few dwarves who survived, including Thorin, his father Thrain, and his grandfather Thror, were forced to earn their livings as best they could up and down the lands, often sinking as low as blacksmith-work or even coalmining. But they never forgot their stolen treasure, and Thorin, as the heir, always meant to get it back and bring their curses home to Smaug.

The Quest and the Restoration

The quest to reclaim the Kingdom under the Mountain is the central purpose of the adventure undertaken by Thorin and Company, with Bilbo Baggins as their burglar. After many perils, including the capture by goblins, the riddles in the dark with Gollum, the escape from the Wood-elves, and the journey through Mirkwood, the company finally reaches the Lonely Mountain. They discover the secret door, and Bilbo enters the dragon's lair, where he sees the vast treasure and steals a cup, awakening Smaug's fury. Smaug, enraged, attacks Lake-town, but is slain by Bard the Bowman, who learns from the old thrush of the dragon's bare patch in his left breast. With Smaug dead, the dwarves take possession of the hoard, but the Elvenking and the men of Lake-town lay claim to a share, leading to a siege of the Mountain. Thorin, hardened by the dragon-sickness, refuses to bargain, but Bilbo secretly gives the Arkenstone to Bard to use as a bargaining chip. The arrival of Dain and his dwarves from the Iron Hills nearly precipitates a battle, but the sudden appearance of a vast goblin army forces the former enemies to unite in the Battle of Five Armies. Thorin is mortally wounded in the battle, and after his death, he is buried deep beneath the Mountain, with the Arkenstone laid upon his breast and the elvish sword Orcrist placed on his tomb. Dain son of Nain then takes up his abode and becomes King under the Mountain, and in time many other dwarves gather to his throne in the ancient halls. The kingdom is restored, and a new peace comes over the lands, with friendship between elves, dwarves, and men.