White Deer

[elven maiden Earwen]

In the Hobbit when the dwarves were crossing the river. A dark deer jumped out. Seconds later a white one appeared. The dwarves shot at it but they either missed or the arrows had no effect on the deer. Who was the second deer? I always thought the deer was:

1) A spirit of good. I always thought that the black deer might have been bad. The white deer was the good that came to drive the darkness from the forest.


2) Or it was a symbol. Much like the above the white dwarf was a symbol of good, and the black was a symbol evil. It showed how both groups were strong but it was like a prophecy foretelling the fact that good would one day prevail over evil and none can stop it.

What do you think? Am I just in too way too much?