Summary
Chapter 9
The other dwarves get captured and questioned by the King of Elvenking. He tries to force the dwarves to reveal where are they going but the dwarves refuse. The elf king later sends the dwarves to the dungeon with Thorin. Meanwhile, Bilbo is still wearing his ring allowing him to become invisible and he follows the captured dwarves to the dungeon where they are plotting an escape. Bilbo manages to steal a sleeping guard's keys and free the dwarves by hiding them in barrels and pushes them into the river. Bilbo also hops into a barrel and escapes the elf castle with the dwarves to Lake Town.
Chapter 10
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Bilbo and the dwarves are in the barrels floating away to Lake Town. Lake Town (Esgaroth) is a human city built on Long Lake in the southern side of the Lonely Mountains. Thorin proudly declares himself a descendant of the King under the Lonely Mountains and the villagers cheered because they heard story of gold flowing down the river when the dwarves ruled the mountains. Thorin and the dwarves then quickly return to the Lonely Mountains and face the dragon Smaug with extra supplies they picked up from Lake Town.
Review
The introduction of the elf king is really fascinating. However, I keep wondering what would happen if the dwarves reveal to the king where they were heading. What would the king do? Will he prevent the dwarves or aid them? My best guess is that the elf king most likely will say something like it is unwise to reclaim their homeland that is guarded by the same dragon who drove them out. Then the dwarves will ignore the king's idea and escape to Lake Town because they are too stubborn.
Based on what I read, I believe that the only person who can get pass Smaug without the dragon knowing is Bilbo. Bilbo wears the One Ring that grants him invisibility. This advantage will allow Bilbo to sneak pass the dragon and maybe do something that gives the dwarves an advantage. The other dwarves will either stay behind and wait for Bilbo to come back so Bilbo can tell them where Smaug is or they will barge in and fight the dragon. I believe that their attack on the dragon will fail and they will be force to retreat and have help from the villagers of Esgaroth.
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| Smaug the Dragon |
Let's face it, a group of dwarves and a hobbit by themselves will be vaporized by a full sized dragon. That's like fighting trying to fight Darth Vader with a wooden stick. The dwarves will need help if they want to defeat Smaug and reclaim their homeland. I read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. One of Tzu's advices of battle is:
"It your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is tempermental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."
"It your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is tempermental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."
– Sun Tzu, The Art of War
This means that it is smarter to fight an enemy with strategy than to rush into their territory. Overall, I believe that the company will eventually find a way to reclaim their homeland and overthrow Smaug.
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