The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies

Chapter 17 and 18

Bard reveals the Arkenstone

The story continues the following morning with Bard and two other men tries to form a peace agreement with Thorin. Thorin refuses to share his treasure so Bard reveals the Arkenstone, a gem that Thorin has been seeking for awhile. Thorin rages on Bilbo who reveals that he founded the Akenstone and never told Thorin. Thorin is about to turn violent on Bilbo until Gandalf reveals himself and stops Thorin.

"“You! You!” cried Thorin, turning upon him and grasping him with both hands. “You miserable hobbit! You undersized—burglar!” he shouted at a loss for words, and he shook poor Bilbo like a rabbit." (page 276; paragraph 9)

Gandalf allows Bilbo to explain himself about the burglar contract which only specify that he could take whatever her wants as payment. This forces Thorin to agree and bitterly give 1/14 of the treasure to the humans and elves. However, Thorin secretly hopes that his dwarf army led by Dain will be able to come and take the stone by force before the arrangement begins.

The dwarf army arrives in large numbers and they threaten the elves and humans. Before both sides could wage a war, a dark force looms toward them and Gandalf announces that Bolg of the North has come. Bolg of the North leads an army of Wargs and goblins hoping to take the treasure in the mountain. The humans, elves, and dwarves joined forces to fight off against the Wargs and goblins.
This battle is called the Battle of Five Armies. Both sides fight fiercely against each other.

The Battle of Five Armies

"It was a terrible battle. The most dreadful of all Bilbo’s experiences, and the one which at the time he hated most...." (page 283; paragraph 3)

The elves and dwarves are able to make the goblins flee, but the Wargs keeps forcing them to fall back. Thorin and his small group of dwarves fight alongside the humans with lots of courage and bravery. The enemy slowly gains land and Bilbo is forced to retreat to the mountain. Believing that they will lose, Bilbo feels terrible for his dwarf friends who will eventually be overwhelmed and slaughtered. However, when all hope was just about to be lost, Bilbo spots the Great Eagles joining the fight. Bilbo keeps on yelling "The Eagles" and later loses consciousness after a stone hit his head.

"“The Eagles! the Eagles!” Bilbo cried, dancing and waving his arms. If the elves could not see him they could hear him. Soon they too took up the cry, and it echoed across the valley..."
(page 287; paragraph 1)


Bilbo regains consciousness and sees that they have won the battle. A man tries to search for Bilbo and Bilbo had to take off his ring to reveal himself that he is still alive. Bilbo returns back to a delighted Gandalf who thought Bilbo's luck had run out. Bilbo is sent to a mortally wounded Thorin. Thorin asks Bilbo to forgive him for his harsh actions and wishes him well as he dies.

"“Farewell, good thief,” he said. “I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate.”"
(page 290; paragraph 1)

Bilbo cries after the loss of his friend and king under the mountain. He later learns the the Great Eagles arrives to help out after the eagles saw suspicious goblin activity in the mountains prior the battle. The great Eagle of Misty Mountain rallies a large number of eagles to aid the humans, dwarves, and elves. However, they were still outnumbered, until Beorn charges in out of nowwhere. Together, they managed to chain the tide of the battle into their favor. Beorn arrives and carries Thorin's body and they buries him deep beneath the mountain.  Bard also places the Arkenstone onto Thorin's chest.

Thorin's deathbed with the Arkenstone

The dwarf, Dain, becomes the new king of the dwarves. Of the twelve dwarves who journey with Thorin, only ten remained.  Bilbo learns that Kili and Fili died by Thorin's side defending him for Thorin is their mother's elder brother. The others were fighting alongside Dain. One fourteenth of the treasure was split towards the elves and the humans. Bard uses the gold to rebuild the destroyed Lake Town. Bilbo was rewarded with two small chests. One is filled with silver and the other is filled with gold. Bilbo then departs and says goodbye to his dwarf friends. The group of friends told each other to visit anytime they want.

"“Farewell, Balin!” he said; “and farewell, Dwalin; and farewell Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur! May your beards never grow thin!” And turning towards the Mountain he added: “Farewell Thorin Oakenshield!And Fili and Kili! May your memory never fade!”....“Goodbye and good luck, wherever you fare!” said Balin at last...." (page 293-294; paragraph 1-2)

Bilbo and Gandalf takes the long way back. They stopped by Beorn's cottage to rest. Eventually, they head back towards Bilbo's homeland.