The Running River

The Running River is the principal watercourse that issues from the great cliff at the southern side of the Lonely Mountain, emerging directly from the Front Gate. It flows southward through the valley where the town of Dale once stood, and continues its course until it empties into the Long Lake. The river is a constant presence in the landscape of the later stages of the adventure, marking the boundary between the desolation of the dragon and the inhabited lands beyond.

Course and Geography

The river's source is the great cliff at the South of the Mountain, where it rushes out of the Front Gate. From there it winds a wide loop over the valley of Dale, turning from the Mountain on its road to the Lake. Its bank is bare and rocky, tall and steep above the stream, and the water flows swift and noisily, foaming and splashing among many boulders. The river's course defines the geography of the region, separating the mountain from the plains and providing a natural route for travel.

Role in the Quest

After the dwarves and Bilbo emerge from the secret passage and explore the mountain's surroundings, they follow the river's course. Thorin sends a scouting expedition to spy out the land to the South where the Front Gate stands, and they march under the grey and silent cliffs to the feet of Ravenhill, where the river winds its loop. From this vantage point, they can see the grey ruins of ancient houses, towers, and walls in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain's arms. The river also serves as a landmark for the dwarves' movements after the dragon's death, as they fortify the Front Gate and prepare for the siege.

The River in the Dragon's Attack

When Smaug, enraged by the theft of the cup, issues from the Front Gate, the waters of the Running River rise in fierce whistling steam as he passes. Later, after Smaug's death, the river becomes a site of battle and pursuit. The goblin army, in the Battle of Five Armies, is driven into the Running River, and many of the last fugitives perish there. The river thus witnesses both the dragon's fury and the final defeat of the goblin host.

Narrative Significance

The Running River is more than a geographical feature; it is a thread that connects the key locations of the latter part of the story: the Mountain, Dale, and the Long Lake. It is the route by which the dwarves and Bilbo approach the Mountain, the scene of their reconnaissance, and the site of the final rout of the goblins. Its constant presence underscores the desolation of the land and the isolation of the mountain, while its flow toward the lake symbolizes the connection between the wild and the civilized, a link that becomes crucial in the aftermath of the dragon's fall.