The Stewards

[ArcusCalion]

This is the first draft of the chapter The Stewards.

This chapter uses a thoroughly mixed bag of sources, so I mark every addition made to the text.

The markings are:
FY-HL-xx for all the headlines for the Fading Years.
TS-SL-xx for all expansions and changes to the narrative.

Some conventions of my writing:

Bold Text = source information, comments and remarks
{example} = text that should be deleted
[example] = normalized text, normally only used for general changes, as well as changes which are a part of replacement that is not grammatical.
Underlined Text = text changed for grammatical reasons in the process of combining and inserting and removing.
<source example> = additions with source information
...... = This section of the paragraph is unchanged from the source.

FY-HL-15 <THE STEWARDS>

TS-SL-01 <Appendix A When Belecthor II, the twenty-first Steward, died, .... for no seedling could be found.
In the days of Túrin II the enemies of Gondor .... high upon the shore of the river, and the enemies of Gondor feared to pass it.> TS-SL-02 <Appendix A Túrin II of Gondor sent to Folcwine a rich weregild of gold.>

TS-AA-01 <Making of Appendix A {In the latter days of the last age [>} Ere the Elder Days were ended{]}, before the War of the Ring, there was a man named Dírhael {[> Dirhoel]}, and his wife was {Evorwen [>} Ivorwen{]} daughter of Gilbarad, and they dwelt in a hidden fastness in the wilds of Eriador; for they were of the ancient people of the Dúnedain, that of old were kings of men, but were now fallen on darkened days. Dírhael {[> Dirhoel]} and his wife were of high lineage, being of the blood of Isildur though not of the right line of the Heirs. They were both foresighted in many things. Their daughter was {Gilrain}[Gilraen], a fair maid, fearless and strong as were all the women of that kin.>
TS-AA-02 <Appendix A Arador was the grandfather of the King. His son Arathorn sought in marriage Gilraen the Fair, TS-AA-03 {daughter of Dírhael,} who was {himself}[herself] a descendant of Aranarth. TS-AA-04 <Making of Appendix A Arathorn was a stern man of full years; for the Heirs of Isildur, being men of long life (even to eight score years and more) who journeyed much and went often into great perils, were not accustomed to wed until they had labored long in the world.> To this marriage Dírhael was opposed; for Gilraen was young and had not reached the age at which the women of the Dúnedain wen accustomed to marry.
‘Moreover,’ he said, ‘Arathorn is a stern man of full age, and will be chieftain sooner than men looked for; yet my heart forebodes mat he will be shortlived.’
But Ivorwen, his wife, who was also foresighted, answered: ‘The more need of haste! The days are darkening before the storm, and great things are to come. If these two wed now, hope may be born for our people; but if they delay, it will not come while this age lasts.’
TS-AA-05 <Making of Appendix A[/b] Therefore {Gilrain}[Gilraen] consented and was wedded to Arathorn; and> {And} it happened that when Arathorn and Gilraen .... being but sixty years old when befell.
Then Aragorn, being now the Heir of Isildur, .... Heir of Isildur, if any remained upon earth.>

TS-SL-03 <Appendix A {But at}At last there came about by chance a meeting between Gandalf and Thorin .... He was weary, and thought to rest there for a while.
Among many cares he was troubled in mind ..... How then could the end of Smaug be achieved?
It was even as Gandalf sat and pondered ..... if I had known where to find you.'
Gandalf looked at him with wonder. 'That .... my mind that is the way also to your halls.'
'Call them so, if you will,' .... would be glad of your counsel.'
'I will come,' said Gandalf; ..... he will be forgotten by the grandson of Thrór.'
The story is told elsewhere of what came ...... and the Dwarves prospered and grew strong again in his day.>
TS-SL-04 <ORP But ever the shadow in Mirkwood grew deeper, .... but Mithrandir spoke to the Council, saying:
‘It is not needed that the Ring should be found, .... Seven he has recovered three. We must strike.’
To this Curunír now assented, desiring that Sauron ..... for a brief while was made wholesome again.
But their stroke was too late. For the Dark Lord .... and took counsel with none save himself.
Orcs were mustering, and far to the east and the south ..... Mithrandir had in all their counsels given thought to them.>

TS-SL-05 <Appendix A Turgon followed Túrin TS-SL-06 [in the line of the Stewards], but of his time it is chiefly remembered ..... Saruman took Isengard for his own, and fortified it.>
TS-SL-07 <Appendix A Fengel {He} was the third son and fourth child of Folcwine of Rohan. He is not remembered .... and won honor in the service of Turgon.>
TS-SL-08 <Appendix A Thengel {He} took no wife until late, but .... the child of his age. Her brother loved her dearly.
It was soon after Thengel's return ..... on its borders and supporting its enemies.>
TS-SL-09 <Appendix A Théoden {He} is called Théoden Ednew ..... Then a new line was begun.>
TS-SL-10 <Appendix A In 2989 Théodwyn married Éomund of Eastfold, ..... surprised by a strong force that lay in wait in the rocks.
Not long after Théodwyn took sick and died ..... and Théoden did not wed again.>
TS-SL-11 <Appendix A Éomer and Éowyn grew up at Edoras and saw the dark .... whom the Rohirrim had called Steelsheen.> TS-SL-12 <Appendix A When still young {he}Éomer became a Marshal of the Mark (3017) and was given his father's charge in the east marches.>

TS-AA-06 <Appendix A {But when Estel}When Aragorn was only twenty years of age, it chanced that he returned to Rivendell .... and he delivered to him the heirlooms of his house.
‘Here is the ring of Barahir,’ he said, ..... for you have yet to earn it.’
The next day at the hour of sunset .... before the eyes of those that listen.
For Aragorn had been singing a part ..... were bound with gems like stars.
For a moment Aragorn gazed in silence, ..... in the Elder Days long ago.
Then the maiden turned to him and smiled, .... why do you call the by that name?’
And he answered: ‘Because I believed .... then you walk in her likeness.’
‘So many have said,’ she answered ..... But who are you?’
‘Estel I was called,’ he said; ‘but I am .... compared to her dignity and loveliness.
But she laughed merrily and said: .... and am named also Undómiel.’
‘Often is it seen,’ said Aragorn, .... father has not kept you locked in his hoard?’
‘No,’ she said, and looked up ..... years since I walked in Imladris.’
Then Aragorn wondered, for she had ..... Elrond have the life of the Eldar.’
Then Aragorn was abashed, for ..... Arwen Undómiel daughter of Elrond.
In the days that followed .... meeting in the twilight of the trees.
‘My son,’ said Gilraen, ‘your .... should wed with the Elf-kin.’
‘Yet we have some part in that ..... forefathers is true that I have learned.’
‘It is true,’ said Gilraen, ‘but that ..... good will of Elrond in this matter.’
‘Then bitter will my days be ..... wild alone,’ said Aragorn.
‘That will indeed be your fate,’ .... of what her son had told her.
But Elrond saw many things .... you are found worthy of it.’
Then Aragorn was troubled, .... mother has spoken of this?’
‘No indeed,’ said Elrond. .... of the doom that is laid on us.’
‘What is that doom?’ said Aragorn.
‘That so long as I abide here, .... with me, if she so chooses.’
‘I see,’ said Aragorn, ‘that .... you or with Middle-earth.’
‘Truly,’ said Elrond. ‘Soon, .... and much evil is to come.’
Then Aragorn took leave lovingly ..... devices of the servants of Sauron.
Thus he became at last the most hardy ..... times like a spring from the rock.>

TS-SL-13 <Appendix A Ecthelion II, son of Turgon, was a man of wisdom. With what power was left to him .... before the days of Ecthelion were ended.
Thorongil often counselled Ecthelion that the strength ..... he would not return to Minas Tirith, where great honor awaited him.
He sent a message of farewell to Ecthelion, .... towards the Mountains of Shadow.
There was dismay in the City at the departure ..... four years he succeeded on the death of his father.
Denethor II was a proud man, tall, valiant, and more kingly ..... and suspected that he and Mithrandir designed to supplant him.>

TS-AA-07 <Appendix A It came to pass that when Aragorn was nine ..... hidden land by the Lady Galadriel.
He did not know it, but Arwen .... and her doom appointed.
Then for a season they .... their troth and were glad.
And Arwen said: ‘Dark .... valor will destroy it.’
But Aragorn answered: .... you must also renounce.’
And she stood then .... She loved her father dearly.

When Elrond learned .... him to him, and he said:
‘My son, years come ..... may seem hard at the ending.’
So it stood afterwards ..... and the inheritance of Elendil.
After a few years Gilraen ..... before he went:
‘This is our last parting, ..... I shall leave it soon.’
Aragorn tried to comfort her, ..... you see it and be glad.’
But she answered only with this linnod:

Ónen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim, [Footnote: I gave hope to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself.]

and Aragorn went away heavy of heart. Gilraen died before the next spring.>

TS-SL-14 <Appendix A When Denethor became Steward (2984) he proved ..... and she turned her eyes ever south to the sea that she missed.
After her death Denethor became more grim and silent ..... most close in accord with the one that Sauron possessed.
In this way Denethor gained his great knowledge ..... who resisted Sauron, unless they served himself alone.
So time drew on to the War of the Ring, ..... many other matters he displeased his father.
Yet between the brothers there was great love, ..... these three in the War of the Ring much is said elsewhere.>

FY-HL-15: While I wait for Fin to give his comments on Concerning Gandalf, Saruman, and the Shire, I figured I would post the next chapter, since that one is quite simple and easy, whereas this one is much more dense. Originally I had attched this chapter to the previous one, but after Fin suggested (rightly) that The Legend of Amroth and Nimrodel be split into two chapters, I think that this should happen here as well. The second half of Amroth and Nimrodel and this chapter would both fit the title of The Stewards, and so I am torn as to what to do. For the new chapter after Amroth the title The Watchful Peace could work well, since that is discussed there. I am inclined to do that, since this chapter has no such easy title. The only one I can think of is The End of the Third Age which is the title CT gives for the first part of Sauron Defeated. However, this is not strictly true, as the end of the Third Age actually happens in the next chapter, The War of the Ring. Therefore I think it is best to call this chapter The Stewards and the earlier chapter The Watchful Peace. If anyone has any other suggestions I am open to them.

TS-SL-01: We start off with the part of The Stewards narrative in Appendix A where we left off. This carries us through to the events of the Hobbit.

TS-SL-02: This is the only detail given in the Rohan version of the story that is missing from the Stewards account.

TS-AA-01: Here is where the origin of Aragorn's parents belongs chronologically. I use the longer version from the earlier draft of the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, while keeping the names true to the final versions.

TS-AA-02: Here we switch to the final version from Appendix A

TS-AA-03: This was removed to avoid redundancy with the new first paragraph.

TS-AA-04: This detail from the draft is missing from the final version.

TS-AA-05: This detail from the draft is missing from the final version.

TS-SL-03: Here we have the leadup to The Hobbit given in the Dwarven section of Appendix A. This details the struggle of the Dwarves to gain back Erebor.

TS-SL-04: Here we give the Of the Rings of Power section dealing with the events of The Hobbit, but the ones that deal with Sauron and the ring. I place this after the Dwarven perspective, even though they happen at the same time, simply for ease of readership. I think this works out fine, even if it is slightly misleading about the timeline, but I think it is fine. In this we describe the finding of the Ring by Bilbo.

TS-SL-05: Here we return to the Stewards and mention the arising of Sauron in Mordor once again.

TS-SL-06: Since we broke the narrative, I think we should remind the reader who we are discussing, so I added this.

TS-SL-07: Here we switch back to the kings of Rohan portion of Appendix A. This is Fengel's piece.

TS-SL-08: We follow that with Thengel's.

TS-SL-09: We follow that with Theoden's.

TS-SL-10: Here we discuss Theodwyn, the daughter of Thengel, and her children, Eowyn and Eomer.

TS-SL-11: Here we discuss the childhood of Eowyn and Eomer.

TS-SL-12: This detail is relevant here. I took it from Eomer's description in the kings of rohan section.

TS-AA-06: Here we give the bit about Aragorn coming of age and learning his identity. This takes place chronologically before some of the events in the previous Rohan discussion, but I think it is important to keep those together, so I place it here before the discussion of Ecthelion and Denethor. I changed his name from Estel since in the breaking up of the narrative we may not remember that Estel is an alternate name for Aragorn. This way seems more straightforward and less confusing.

TS-SL-13: Here we switch back to the Sewards narrative and describe Ecthelion, Denethor, and Thorongil.

TS-AA-07: Here we have the troth of Aragorn and Arwen and the beginning of Aragorn's travels, which explains the ending of the Thorongil narrative that preceded.

TS-SL-14: We return to the Stewards narrative to discuss Denethor and his sons, and bring the narrative right up to the time of LotR.

[ArcusCalion]

Actually, upon further reflection, I think I can edit the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen into the narrative of the main story. I think this will help add substance and characters to the end of the Third Age in the narrative. The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen begins in this chapter according to chronology, and so I will post my edits shortly with the editing marker TS-AA-xx for Aragorn and Arwen.

[ArcusCalion]

I have updated the first post with the new version. Apologies for the confusion.

[ArcusCalion]

Sorry for the multiple posts, but now that the majority of the Aragorn and Arwen story is added to this chapter, perhaps that could be the new title for the chapter: Of Aragorn and Arwen?

[Findegil]

Some comments on the changes, not considering the recasting discussed in the Outline thread:
TS-AA-02: The reference to Aragorn as king seems out of place. We change it thus:

TS-AA-02b<Appendix A Arador{ was the grandfather of the King. His}’s son Arathorn sought in marriage Gilraen the Fair, …

Or we might use another fact about Arador:

TS-AA-02b<Appendix A Arador was the {grandfather of the King}[u]fourteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain[/b]. His son Arathorn sought in marriage Gilraen the Fair, …

TS-SL-03: I will coment much on this, since it is were I would put much more text into the main narrative. But following the approach to put these texts into Appendices the integration of that part in the narrative is good.

TS-SL-04: I agree that it might be the best way to tell the interwoven events in this placing. If we take in Of the Finding of the Ring we must of course skip most of the last paragraph.

TS-SL-05: There is to much redudance in this paragraph, I would reduce it thus:

TS-SL-05b<Appendix A Turgon followed Túrin TS-SL-06 in the line of the Stewards, but of his time it is chiefly remembered that two years ere his death, Sauron arose again, and declared himself openly;{ and he re-entered Mordor long prepared for him. Then the Barad-dûr was raised once more,} and Mount Doom burst into flame, and the last of the folk of Ithilien fled far away. When Turgon died Saruman took Isengard for his own, and fortified it.>

TS-SL-07: I think TS-SL-05 and TS-SL-07 should be switched. This is not only nearer to the chronology but reads as well more fluent, since now we start in Rohan then journey with Thengel to Gondor and come back with him to Rohan.

TS-SL-08: This is okay for me even so the last sentence feels a bit redundant.

TS-SL-09: Neither the name Ednew nor the story behind do fit here. If told here they would be pretelling of events to come. I think we should avoid that. And simply leave this addition out. It should be included in the next chapter.

TS-SL-10: Having removed Théoden we have to add his name here:

…
Not long after Théodwyn took sick and died to the great grief of {the king}here brother King Théoden. Her children he took into his house, …

The rest of the chapter is nicely done and I fully agree to it.

Respectfully
Findegil

[ArcusCalion]

TS-AA-02b: I agree, and I prefer the second option, with the Chieftain of the Dunedain info.

TS-SL-03/04: In the next post I will give my restructured form of this chapter, where these changes will be made. After that we can discuss the Quest for Erebor and how it could fit in.

TS-SL-05b/07b: Agreed.

TS-SL-09: Agreed. I have found a place for it in the final chapter.

TS-SL-10: Agreed.

Having incorporated these changes, I will make a new post in the same style as the first post, where I will lay out the new structure. I will only explain the changes which were not in the first draft or in this post.

[ArcusCalion]

This is the first draft of the chapter Of the Finding of the Ring.

This chapter uses a thoroughly mixed bag of sources, so I mark every addition made to the text.

The markings are:
FY-HL-xx for all the headlines for the Fading Years.
TS-SL-xx for all expansions and changes to the narrative.
TS-FR-xx for all expansions and changes relating to the new Finding of the Ring material.

Some conventions of my writing:

Bold Text = source information, comments and remarks
{example} = text that should be deleted
[example] = normalized text, normally only used for general changes, as well as changes which are a part of replacement that is not grammatical.
Underlined Text = text changed for grammatical reasons in the process of combining and inserting and removing.
<source example> = additions with source information
...... = This section of the paragraph is unchanged from the source.

FY-HL-15 <OF THE FINDING OF THE RING>

TS-SL-01 <Appendix A When Belecthor II, the twenty-first Steward, died, .... for no seedling could be found.
In the days of Túrin II the enemies of Gondor .... high upon the shore of the river, and the enemies of Gondor feared to pass it.> TS-SL-02 <Appendix A Túrin II of Gondor sent to Folcwine a rich weregild of gold.>

TS-SL-03 <Appendix A {But at}At last there came about by chance a meeting between Gandalf and Thorin .... He was weary, and thought to rest there for a while.
Among many cares he was troubled in mind ..... How then could the end of Smaug be achieved?
It was even as Gandalf sat and pondered ..... if I had known where to find you.'
Gandalf looked at him with wonder. 'That .... my mind that is the way also to your halls.'
'Call them so, if you will,' .... would be glad of your counsel.'
'I will come,' said Gandalf; ..... he will be forgotten by the grandson of Thrór.'>
TS-FR-01 <Prologue As is told in The Hobbit, there came one day to Bilbo's door the great Wizard, ...... It seemed then like mere luck.
Trying to find his way out, Bilbo ..... spying on the orcs of the mines.
Maybe he would have attacked Bilbo .... him to a way out of the tunnels.
Since he was lost in the dark without hope, .... though he demanded three guesses.
The Authorities, it is true, differ .... would not fear any weapon at all.
But the ring was not on the island; ..... escape from the orcs and from Gollum.
At length they came to a halt before an unseen .... and despair: Thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it forever!
Now it is a curious fact that .... written by the old hobbit himself.
Gandalf, however, disbelieved Bilbo's first story, .... but he did not discover the truth in this point for many more years TS-FR-02 {, as will be seen in this book}.
Of Bilbo's later adventures little more ..... but he kept it secret from them as long as he could.>
The story is told elsewhere of what came {of that meeting}during these adventures: of the strange plan that Gandalf made for the help of Thorin, ..... and the Dwarves prospered and grew strong again in his day.>
TS-FR-03 <Prologue After {his}Bilbo’s return to his home he ..... account of his Journey that he was writing.
His sword, Sting, Bilbo hung over his fireplace, .... secured by a fine chain, remained in his pocket.>
TS-SL-04 <ORP But ever the shadow in Mirkwood grew deeper, .... but Mithrandir spoke to the Council, saying:
‘It is not needed that the Ring should be found, .... Seven he has recovered three. We must strike.’
To this Curunír now assented, desiring that Sauron ..... for a brief while was made wholesome again.
But their stroke was too late. For the Dark Lord .... and took counsel with none save himself.
Orcs were mustering, and far to the east and the south the wild peoples were arming. Then in the midst of gathering fear and the rumor of war the foreboding of Elrond was proved true, and the One Ring was indeed found again, by a chance more strange than even Mithrandir had foreseen; and it was hidden from Curunír and from Sauron TS-SL-04.5 {. For it had been taken from Anduin long ere they sought for it, being found by one of the small fisherfolk that dwelt by the River, ere the Kings failed in Gondor; and by its finder it was brought beyond search into dark hiding under the roots of the mountains. There it dwelt, until even in the year of the assault upon Dol Guldur it was found again, by a wayfarer, fleeing into the depths of the earth from the pursuit of the Orcs, and passed into a far distant country, even to}in the land of the Periannath, the Little People, the Halflings, who dwelt in the west of Eriador. And ere that day they had been held of small account by Elves and by Men, and neither Sauron nor any of the Wise save Mithrandir had in all their counsels given thought to them.>

TS-SL-07b <Appendix A Fengel {He} was the third son and fourth child of Folcwine of Rohan. He is not remembered .... and won honor in the service of Turgon.>
TS-SL-05b <Appendix A Turgon followed Túrin TS-SL-06 in the line of the Stewards, but of his time it is chiefly remembered that two years ere his death, Sauron arose again, and declared himself openly; {and he re-entered Mordor long prepared for him. Then the Barad-dûr was raised once more,} and Mount Doom burst into flame, and the last of the folk of Ithilien fled far away. When Turgon died Saruman took Isengard for his own, and fortified it.>
TS-SL-08 <Appendix A Thengel {He} took no wife until late, but .... the child of his age. Her brother loved her dearly.
It was soon after Thengel's return ..... on its borders and supporting its enemies.>
TS-SL-10 <Appendix A In 2989 Théodwyn married Éomund of Eastfold, ..... surprised by a strong force that lay in wait in the rocks.
Not long after Théodwyn took sick and died to the great grief of {the king}her brother, King Théoden. Her children ..... and Théoden did not wed again.>
TS-SL-11 <Appendix A Éomer and Éowyn grew up at Edoras and saw the dark .... whom the Rohirrim had called Steelsheen.> TS-SL-12 <Appendix A When still young {he}Éomer became a Marshal of the Mark (3017) and was given his father's charge in the east marches.>

TS-SL-03: I removed the part of the Tale of Aragorn from before this bit, as I placed that in the next chapter. I know that isnt strictly the most chronologically accurate, but I think it fits better thematically.

TS-FR-01: Here we switch to the text Of the Finding of the Ring. I made very few alterations to this.

TS-FR-02: I removed a bit discussing LotR as the book following this text. Upon returning to the narrative of Durin's Folk, I made a small change to allow the text to flow better.

TS-FR-03: I return to the text Of the Finding of the Ring for the remainder of Bilbo's story.

TS-SL-04.5: Most of this paragraph has to go for the sake of redundancy, so I tried to do so. I think I have made it work.

Everything else is the same as the revised form we discussed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next is the first draft of the chapter The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen.

This chapter uses a thoroughly mixed bag of sources, so I mark every addition made to the text.

The markings are:
FY-HL-xx for all the headlines for the Fading Years.
TS-SL-xx for all expansions and changes to the narrative.
TS-AA-xx for all expansions and changes relating to the Aragorn and Arwen material.

FY-HL-16 <THE TALE OF ARAGORN AND ARWEN>

TS-AA-01 <Making of Appendix A {In the latter days of the last age [>} Ere the Elder Days were ended{]}, before the War of the Ring, there was a man named Dírhael {[> Dirhoel]}, and his wife was {Evorwen [>} Ivorwen{]} daughter of Gilbarad, and they dwelt in a hidden fastness in the wilds of Eriador; for they were of the ancient people of the Dúnedain, that of old were kings of men, but were now fallen on darkened days. Dírhael {[> Dirhoel]} and his wife were of high lineage, being of the blood of Isildur though not of the right line of the Heirs. They were both foresighted in many things. Their daughter was {Gilrain}[Gilraen], a fair maid, fearless and strong as were all the women of that kin.>
TS-AA-02 <Appendix A Arador was the {grandfather of the King}fourteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain. His son Arathorn sought in marriage Gilraen the Fair, TS-AA-03 {daughter of Dírhael,} who was {himself}[herself] a descendant of Aranarth. TS-AA-04 <Making of Appendix A Arathorn was a stern man of full years; for the Heirs of Isildur, being men of long life (even to eight score years and more) who journeyed much and went often into great perils, were not accustomed to wed until they had labored long in the world.> To this marriage Dírhael was opposed; for Gilraen was young and had not reached the age at which the women of the Dúnedain wen accustomed to marry.
‘Moreover,’ he said, ‘Arathorn is a stern man of full age, and will be chieftain sooner than men looked for; yet my heart forebodes mat he will be shortlived.’
But Ivorwen, his wife, who was also foresighted, answered: ‘The more need of haste! The days are darkening before the storm, and great things are to come. If these two wed now, hope may be born for our people; but if they delay, it will not come while this age lasts.’
TS-AA-05 <Making of Appendix A[/b] Therefore {Gilrain}[Gilraen] consented and was wedded to Arathorn; and> {And} it happened that when Arathorn and Gilraen .... being but sixty years old when befell.
Then Aragorn, being now the Heir of Isildur, .... Heir of Isildur, if any remained upon earth.
But when Estel was only twenty years of age, .... and he delivered to him the heirlooms of his house.
‘Here is the ring of Barahir,’ he said, ..... for you have yet to earn it.’
The next day at the hour of sunset .... before the eyes of those that listen.
For Aragorn had been singing a part ..... were bound with gems like stars.
For a moment Aragorn gazed in silence, ..... in the Elder Days long ago.
Then the maiden turned to him and smiled, .... why do you call the by that name?’
And he answered: ‘Because I believed .... then you walk in her likeness.’
‘So many have said,’ she answered ..... But who are you?’
‘Estel I was called,’ he said; ‘but I am .... compared to her dignity and loveliness.
But she laughed merrily and said: .... and am named also Undómiel.’
‘Often is it seen,’ said Aragorn, .... father has not kept you locked in his hoard?’
‘No,’ she said, and looked up ..... years since I walked in Imladris.’
Then Aragorn wondered, for she had ..... Elrond have the life of the Eldar.’
Then Aragorn was abashed, for ..... Arwen Undómiel daughter of Elrond.
In the days that followed .... meeting in the twilight of the trees.
‘My son,’ said Gilraen, ‘your .... should wed with the Elf-kin.’
‘Yet we have some part in that ..... forefathers is true that I have learned.’
‘It is true,’ said Gilraen, ‘but that ..... good will of Elrond in this matter.’
‘Then bitter will my days be ..... wild alone,’ said Aragorn.
‘That will indeed be your fate,’ .... of what her son had told her.
But Elrond saw many things .... you are found worthy of it.’
Then Aragorn was troubled, .... mother has spoken of this?’
‘No indeed,’ said Elrond. .... of the doom that is laid on us.’
‘What is that doom?’ said Aragorn.
‘That so long as I abide here, .... with me, if she so chooses.’
‘I see,’ said Aragorn, ‘that .... you or with Middle-earth.’
‘Truly,’ said Elrond. ‘Soon, .... and much evil is to come.’
Then Aragorn took leave lovingly ..... devices of the servants of Sauron.
Thus he became at last the most hardy ..... times like a spring from the rock.>

TS-SL-13 <Appendix A Ecthelion II, son of Turgon, was a man of wisdom. With what power was left to him .... before the days of Ecthelion were ended.
Thorongil often counselled Ecthelion that the strength ..... he would not return to Minas Tirith, where great honor awaited him.
He sent a message of farewell to Ecthelion, .... towards the Mountains of Shadow.
There was dismay in the City at the departure ..... four years he succeeded on the death of his father.
Denethor II was a proud man, tall, valiant, and more kingly ..... and suspected that he and Mithrandir designed to supplant him.>

TS-AA-07 <Appendix A It came to pass that when Aragorn was nine ..... hidden land by the Lady Galadriel.
He did not know it, but Arwen .... and her doom appointed.
Then for a season they .... their troth and were glad.
And Arwen said: ‘Dark .... valor will destroy it.’
But Aragorn answered: .... you must also renounce.’
And she stood then .... She loved her father dearly.

When Elrond learned .... him to him, and he said:
‘My son, years come ..... may seem hard at the ending.’
So it stood afterwards ..... and the inheritance of Elendil.
After a few years Gilraen ..... before he went:
‘This is our last parting, ..... I shall leave it soon.’
Aragorn tried to comfort her, ..... you see it and be glad.’
But she answered only with this linnod:

Ónen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim, [Footnote: I gave hope to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself.]

and Aragorn went away heavy of heart. Gilraen died before the next spring.>

TS-SL-14 <Appendix A When Denethor became Steward (2984) he proved ..... and she turned her eyes ever south to the sea that she missed.
After her death Denethor became more grim and silent ..... most close in accord with the one that Sauron possessed.
In this way Denethor gained his great knowledge ..... who resisted Sauron, unless they served himself alone.
So time drew on to the War of the Ring, ..... many other matters he displeased his father.
Yet between the brothers there was great love, ..... these three in the War of the Ring much is said elsewhere.>

I removed TS-AA-06, since after the separation of the Hobbit material, there is no more divide, and no change to the narrative is necessary.

This completes the restructuring proposal. From here, Fin can comment on the changes, and then we can discuss adding in the Quest for Erebor material.

[Findegil]

Okay, I agree to the changes so far. The chapter The Tale of Agarorn and Arwen looks fine for me. What follows is my draft for the inclusion of the The Quest to Erebor material. I will give it in full even so TS-SL-01 & TS-SL-02 are unchanged, but I would like to change the structure a bit as well. I think we should puch TS-SL-01 & TS-SL-02 into the chapter Concerning Gandalf, Saruman, and the Shire, It does not fit their well, but better than in a chapter named The Quest of Erebor as this one should benamed know. As I would like to use that title here I would suggest to rename the earlier chapter Sauron Defeated to The Last Alliance.

FY-HL-14<
Concerning Gandalf, Saruman, and the Shire
>…
…
…
… and deeming that this was but part of the watch upon the Enemy.>
TS-SL-01b<Appendix A When Belecthor II, the twenty-first Steward, … for no seedling could be found.
In the days of Túrin II … high upon the shore of the river, and the enemies of Gondor feared to pass it.>TS-SL-02b<Appendix A Túrin II of Gondor sent to Folcwine a rich weregild of gold.>FY-HL-14.2<
The Quest of Erebor
>FY-HL-14.4<
A Well-Planned Party
>TS-QE-01<Quest of Erebor; Appendix Gandalf had not yet played any part in the fortunes of Durin's House. … and rested for the night at Bree.>TS-QE-02<The Quest of Erebor {I cannot remember all the tale now, but we gathered that to begin with }Gandalf was thinking only of the defence of the West against the Shadow. TS-QE-03{
}"I {was}am very troubled{ at that time}," he {said}thought, "for Saruman {was}is hindering all my plans. I knew that Sauron had arisen again and {would}will soon declare himself, and I knew that he was preparing for a great war. How {would}will he begin? {would}Will he try first to re-occupy Mordor, or {would}will he first attack the chief strongholds of his enemies? I {thought then, and I am sure now,}think that to attack Lórien and Rivendell, as soon as he {was}is strong enough {was}is his original plan. It {would have been}will be a much better plan for him, and much worse for us.
{"}You may think that Rivendell {was}is out of his reach, but I {did not}don’t think so. The state of things in the North {was}is very bad. The Kingdom under the Mountain and the strong Men of Dale {were}are no more. To resist any force that Sauron might send to regain the northern passes in the mountains and the old lands of Angmar there {were}are only the Dwarves of the Iron Hills, and behind them {lay}lies a desolation and a Dragon. The Dragon Sauron might use with terrible effect. {Often I said to myself: '}I must find some means of dealing with Smaug. But a direct stroke against Dol Guldur is needed still more. We must disturb Sauron's plans. I must make the Council see that.{'}"
{"Those were my dark thoughts as I jogged along the road. I}Gandalf was tired, and {I}he was going to the Shire for a short rest, after being away from it for more than twenty years.> TS-QE-04<Quest of Erebor; Appendix And then there was the Shire-folk. {I}He began to have a warm place in {my}his heart for them in the Long Winter TS-QE-05{, which none of you can remember}. They were very hard put to it then … they survived. {I}Gandalf wanted them still to survive. But {I}he saw that the Westlands … To come through that {I}he thought they would need something more than they now had. It is not easy to say what. {Well,}Proberbly they would want to know a bit more, … and where they stood.
{"}They had begun to forget … with some one person. {I dare}Gandalf dared to say, that {he}Bilbo was 'chosen' and {I}that he was only chosen to choose him; {but I}so he I picked out Bilbo.>
TS-QE-06<The Quest of Erebor{I}Gandalf thought that if {I}he put {them}his dark thoughts out of {my}his mind for a while {I}he might perhaps find some way of dealing with these troubles. And so {I did}it happened indeed, though {I}he was not allowed to put them out of my mind.
{"}For just as {I}he was nearing Bree {I}he was overtaken by Thorin Oakenshield, who lived then in exile beyond the north-western borders of the Shire. To {my}Gandalf’s surprise he spoke to {me}him; and it was at that moment that the tide began to turn.
{"He}Thorin was troubled too, so troubled that he actually asked for {my}Gandalf’s advice{.}>: TS-SL-03b<Appendix A 'Master Gandalf, I know you only by sight, …
…
…
…
… and I do not think that he will be forgotten by the grandson of Thrór.'>
TS-QE-07<Quest of Erebor So {I}Gandalf went with {him}Thorin to his halls in the Blue Mountains>. TS-QE-08<Quest of Erebor; Appendix {we}They actually passed through the Shire, though Thorin would not stop long enough for that to be useful. Indeed {I think }it was annoyance with his haughty disregard of the Hobbits that first put into {my}Gandalf’s head the idea of entangling {him}Thorin with them. As far as {he}Thorin was concerned they were just food-growers who happened to work the fields on either side of the Dwarves' ancestral road to the Mountains.>
TS-QE-09<The Quest of Erebor {So I went with him to his halls in the Blue Mountains, and I}Gandalf listened to {his}Thorin’s long tale{.}>: TS-QE-10 The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party ‘Many years ago, in my great-grandfather’s days, our family was driven out of the far North. Some went to the Iron Hills. But Thror my grandfather returned with most of our kin to {this Mountain on the map}Erebor, where Thrain the old his ancestor had lived for a while, once upon a time. …
…
…
… Dragons{, as no doubt a treasure-hunter will know,} steal gold and jewels from elves and dwarves and men, …
…
…
…
… One day he flew up in the air and came south> TS-QE-11 The Hobbit . The first we heard of it was a noise like a hurricane coming from the North, … but I don't suppose anyone lives nearer to the Mountain than the far edge of the Long Lake now-a-days.
"The few of us that were well outside … that one day in the proper time I should know. After that TS-QE-12 The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party , when we had set our curse on the dragon,> we went away, and we have had to earn our livings as best we could up and down the lands, often enough sinking as low as blacksmith-work or even coalmining TS-QE-13 The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party , or even road-mending>. But we have never forgotten our stolen treasure. And even now, when I will allow we have a good bit laid by and are not so badly off" – here Thorin stroked the gold chain round his neck – " TS-QE-14{we still mean to get it back, and to bring our curses home to Smaug – if we can}The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party I still mean to get it back, and to bring my curse home to Smaug – if I can>."
>TS-QE-15<The Quest of Erebor{I}Gandalf soon understood that {his}Thorin’s heart was hot with brooding on his wrongs, and the loss of the treasure of his forefathers, and burdened too with the duty of revenge upon Smaug that he had inherited. Dwarves take such duties very seriously.> TS-QE-16<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix {I}Gandalf heard all his tale, and {I}he thought: 'Well, here is an enemy of Smaug at any rate! And one worthy of help. I must do what I can. I should have thought of Dwarves before.'>
TS-QE-17<The Quest of Erebor{"I}He promised to help {him}Thorin if {I}he could. {I}He was as eager as {he was}Thorin to see the end of Smaug, but Thorin was all for plans of battle and war, as if he were really King Thorin the Second, and {I}Gandalf could see no hope in that. So {I}he left him and went off to the Shire, and picked up the threads of news. It was a strange business. {I}He did no more than follow the lead of 'chance,' and made many mistakes on the way.>
TS-QE-18<The Quest of Erebor; Appendix "How would you select any one Hobbit for such a purpose?" {said }Gandalf thought. {"I}He had not time to sort them all out; but {I}he knew the Shire very well by that time, although when {I}he met Thorin {I}he had been away for more than twenty years on less pleasant business. So naturally thinking over the Hobbits that {I}he knew, {I}he said to {myself}himself: 'I want a dash of the Took{' (but not too much. Master Peregrin) '}and I want a good foundation of the solider sort, a Baggins perhaps.' That pointed at once to Bilbo.> TS-QE-19<The Quest of Erebor Somehow {I}Gandalf had been attracted by Bilbo long before, as a child, and a young hobbit: he had not quite come of age when {I}Gandalf had last seen him. He had stayed in {my}Gandalf’s mind ever since, with his eagerness and his bright eyes, and his love of tales, and his questions about the wide world outside the Shire. As soon as {I}Gandalf entered the Shire {I}he heard news of {him}Bilbo. He was getting talked about, it seemed. Both his parents had died early for Shire-folk, at about eighty; and he had never married.> TS-QE-20<The Quest of Erebor; Appendix {I}Gandalf thought that odd though {I}he guessed why it was; and the reason that {I}he guessed was not that most of the Hobbits gave {me}him: that {he}Bilbo had early been left very well off and his own master. No, {I}Gandalf guessed that {he}Bilbo wanted to remain 'unattached' for some reason deep down which he did not understand himself – or would not acknowledge, for it alarmed him. He wanted, all the same, to be free to go when the chance came, or he had made up his courage. {I}Gandalf remembered how {he}Bilbo used to pester {me}him with questions when {he}Bilbo was a youngster about the Hobbits that had occasionally 'gone off,' as they said in the Shire. There were at least two of his uncles on the Took side that had done so.[Footnote to the text: These uncles were Hildifons Took, who "went off on a journey and never returned," and Isengar Took (the youngest of the Old Took's twelve children), who was "said to have 'gone off to sea' in his youth".]> TS-QE-21<The Quest of Erebor {He}Bilbo was already growing a bit queer, they said, and went off for days by himself. He could be seen talking to strangers, even Dwarves.
{"}'Even Dwarves!' Suddenly in {my}Gandalf’s mind these three things came together: the great Dragon with his lust, and his keen hearing and scent; the sturdy heavy-booted Dwarves with their old burning grudge; and the quick, soft-footed Hobbit, sick at heart ({I}he guessed) for a sight of the wide world. {I}Gandalf laughed at {myself}himself; but {I}he went off at once to have a look at Bilbo, to see what twenty years bad done to him, and whether he was as promising as gossip seemed to make out. But he was not at home. They shook their heads in Hobbiton when {I}Gandalf asked after him. 'Off again,' said one Hobbit. It was Holman, the gardener{, I believe}[Footnote to the text: Holman the gardener: Holman Greenhand, to whom Hamfast Gamgee (Sam's father, the Gaffer) was apprenticed{: The Fellowship of the Ring, and Appendix C}.]. 'Off again. He'll go right off one of these days, if he isn't careful. Why, I asked him where he was going, and when he would be back, and I don't know he says; and then he looks at me queerly. It depends if I meet any, Holman, he says. It's the Elves New Year tomorrow![Footnote to the text: The Elvish solar year (loa) began with the day called yestarë, which was the day before the first day of tuilë (Spring); and in the Calendar of Imladris yestarë "corresponded more or less with Shire April 6."] A pity, and him so kind a body. You wouldn't find a better from the Downs to the River.'
'Better and better!' {I}Gandalf thought. 'I think I shall risk it.' Time was getting short. {I}He had to be with the White Council in August at the latest, … unless he had something else to deal with.>
TS-QE-22<Quest of Erebor; Appendix At last {I}Gandalf made up {my}his mind, and {I went back to Thorin.} TS-QE-23<The Quest of Erebor{"So I} rode off back to Thorin in haste, … than to find it actually in danger of coming true!> {I}Gandalf found {him}Thorin in conclave with some of his kinsfolk. Balin and Glóin were there, and several others.
{"}'Well, what have you got to say?' Thorin asked {me }as soon as {I}Gandalf came in.
{"}'This first,' {I}Gandalf answered. 'Your own ideas are those of a king, … They will help one another. TS-QE-24{' And they certainly would have done so, if I had not attacked Dol Guldur at the same time. '}Open war would be quite useless; … indeed something desperate.'
{"}'You are both vague and disquieting,' said Thorin. 'Speak more plainly!'
{"}'Well, for one thing,' {I}Gandalf said, 'you will have to go on this quest yourself, … something unexpected.'
{"}'Name it!' said Thorin.
{"}'One moment!' {I}Gandalf said. 'You hope to deal with a Dragon; … and his sense of smell.'
{"}'Naturally,' said Thorin. 'Dwarves have had more dealings with Dragons than most, and you are not instructing the ignorant.'
{"}'Very good,' {I}Gandalf answered; 'but your own plans did not seem to me to consider this point. My plan is one of stealth. Stealth. TS-QE-25<Added back from Manuscript A Also a scent that cannot be placed, at least not by Smaug, the enemy of Dwarves.> Smaug does not lie on his costly bed … prick-eared for the sound of – Dwarf-feet.'
{"}'You make your stealth … Impossibly difficult!'
{"}'Yes, it is difficult,' {I}Gandalf answered. … he has certainly never smelt them.'
{"}'What!' cried Glóin. … the nakedest dragonet new from the shell!'
{"}'Now, now!' {I}Gandalf said, 'that is quite unfair. … before you find out what is in them.'
{"}'The test cannot be made … to avoid tight places.'
{"}'Quite true,' {I}Gandalf said. 'They are a very sensible people. … an adventure.'
{"}'Not at my expense … even if he could be persuaded to start.'
{"}'Fail to see! You would fail to hear it, more likely,' {I}Gandalf answered. … I meant it: professional stealth.'
{"}'Professional stealth?' cried Balin, taking up {my}Gandalf’s words rather differently than {I}he had meant them. 'Do you mean a trained treasure-seeker? Can they still be found?'
{"I}Gandalf hesitated. This was a new turn, and {I}he was not sure how to take it. 'I think so,' {I}he said at last. … and get what you desire.'
{"}Thorin's eyes glistened … and they cannot tell a gem from a bead of glass.'
{"}'I wish you would not always speak so confidently without knowledge,' {I}Gandalf said sharply. … and drinks wine out of shapely crystal.'
{"}'Ah! I see your drift at last,' said Balin. 'He is a thief, then? That is why you recommend him?'
{"}At that {I fear I}Gandalf lost {my}his temper and {my}his caution. … was more than {I}he could stand at that moment. 'A thief?' {I}he said, laughing. … Then being angry {I}he got up, and {I}he said with a warmth that surprised {myself}himself: 'You must look for that door, Thorin Oakenshield! I am serious.' And suddenly {I}Gandalf felt that {I}he was indeed in hot earnest. This queer notion of {mine}him was not a joke, … The Dwarves must bend their stiff necks.
{"}'Listen to me, Durin's Folk!' {I}he cried. … until the Shadow falls on you!'
{"}Thorin turned and looked at {me}Gandalf in astonishment, … if you are not merely crazed.'
{"}'Good!' {I}Gandalf said. … but you must not let him.'
{"}'Haggling will not help him, … and no more.'
{"}It was not what {I}Gandalf meant, but it seemed to him useless to say so. 'There is one other thing,' {I}he went on; … east of your quest.'
{"}'He sounds a very strange creature, this thief of yours,' said a young Dwarf called Fíli (Thorin's nephew{, as I afterwards learned}). 'What is his name, or the one that he uses?'
{"}'Hobbits use their real names,' {I}Gandalf said. 'The only one that he has is Bilbo Baggins.'
{"}'What a name!' said Fíli, and laughed.
{"}'He thinks it very respectable,' {I}Gandalf said. … At least you will be well entertained.'
{"}'That is enough,' said Thorin. … and my heart is hot within me.'
{"I}Gandalf took no notice of this. 'Look now, Thorin,' {I}he said, … Then we will all visit him together on the following day.'
{"}And with that {I}Gandalf took {my}his leave, … The rest of the story is well known TS-QE-26{to you }– from Bilbo's point of view. {If I had written the account, it would have sounded rather different. }He did not know all that went on: the care, for instance, that {I}Gandalf took … should not come to his ears too soon.
{"}It was on the morning of Tuesday, April the 25th, 2941, that {I}Gandalf called to see Bilbo; and though {I}he knew more or less what to expect {I must say that my}his confidence was shaken. {I}He saw that things would be far more difficult than {I}he had thought. But {I}he persevered. Next day, Wednesday, April the 26th, {I}he brought Thorin and his companions to Bag End; … went extremely badly for {me}Gandalf from the beginning; … only made matters worse. {I}Gandalf was thankful that {I}he had told Thorin {we should}they would all stay the night at Bag End, since {we should}they would need time to discuss ways and means. It gave {me}Gandalf a last chance. If Thorin had left Bag End before {I}he could see him alone, {my}Gandalf’s plan would have been ruined.> TS-QE-27<The Quest of Erebor{" So I rode off back to Thorin in haste, to tackle the difficult task of persuading him to put aside his lofty designs and go secretly – and take Bilbo with him. Without seeing Bilbo first. It was a mistake, and nearly proved disastrous. For Bilbo had changed, of course. At least, he was getting rather greedy and fat, and his old desires had dwindled down to a sort of private dream. Nothing could have been more dismaying than to find it actually in danger of coming true! He}Bilbo was altogether bewildered, … which {I }will be mention in a moment.
{"But you know how things went}The story of Thorin’s meeting with Bilbo is told elsewhere, at any rate as Bilbo saw {them}it. The story would sound rather different, if {I}Gandalf had written it. For one thing {he}Bilbo did not realize at all how fatuous the Dwarves thought him, nor how angry they were with {me}Gandalf. Thorin was much more indignant and contemptuous than {he}Bilbo perceived. He was indeed contemptuous from the beginning, and thought then that {I}Gandalf had planned … It was only the map and the key that saved the situation.
{"}But {I}Gandalf had not thought of them for years. It was not until {I}he got to the Shire and had time to reflect on Thorin's tale that {I}he suddenly remembered the strange chance that had put them in {my}his hands; and it began now to look less like chance. {I}He remembered a dangerous journey of {mine}his, ninety-one years before, when {I}he had entered Dol Guldur in disguise, and had found there an unhappy Dwarf dying in the pits. {I}Gandalf had no idea who he was. … he had possessed a great Ring.
{"}Nearly all his ravings were of that. … But he gave the map and the key to {me}Gandalf. 'For my son,' he said; and then he died, and soon after {I}Gandalf escaped {myself}himself. {I}He stowed the things away, and by some warning of {my}his heart {I}he kept them always with {me}him, safe, but soon almost forgotten. {I}Gandalf had other business in Dol Guldur more important and perilous than all the treasure of Erebor.
{"}Now {I}Gandalf remembered it all again, and it seemed clear that {I}he had heard the last words of Thráin the Second,[Footnote to the text: Thráin the Second: Thráin the First, Thorin's distant ancestor, escaped from Moria in the year 1981 and became the first King under the Mountain.] though he did not name himself … the last of the Seven Rings.{'}> TS-QE-28<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix It was nine years after Thrain had left his people that {I}Gandalf found him, and he had then been in the pits of Dol Guldur for five years at least. {I do}Gandalf did not know how {he}Thrain endured so long, nor how he had kept these things hidden through all his torments. {I think that the}The Dark Power had probably desired nothing from him … Small oversights often do.> TS-QE-29<The Quest of Erebor{I}Gandalf had the plan … And {I}he had kept them, though without any design of {my}his own, until the moment when they would prove most useful.
{"}Fortunately, {I}Gandalf did not make any mistake in {my}his use of them. {I}He kept them up {my}his sleeve, as {you say}it is said in the Shire, until things looked quite hopeless. As soon as Thorin saw them he really made up his mind to follow {my}Gandalf’s plan, … to ease his heart's longings.
{"}But that was not enough for {me}Gandalf. {I}Gandalf knew in {my}his heart that Bilbo must go with {him}Thorin, or the whole quest would be a failure – or, as {I}we should say now, the far more important events by the way would not come to pass. So {I}Gandalf had still to persuade Thorin to take him. There were many difficulties on the road afterwards, but for {me}Gandalf this was the most difficult part of the whole affair. Though {I}he argued with {him}Thorin far into the night after Bilbo had retired, it was not finally settled until early the next morning.
{"}Thorin was contemptuous … other purposes than helping me.'
{"}'You are quite right,' {I}Gandalf said. … not less.' {I}He spoke at last with great heat. 'Listen to me, Thorin Oakenshield!' {I}he said. … and I am warning you.'
{"}'I know your fame,' Thorin answered. … may have disordered your wits.'
{"}'They have certainly been enough to do so,' {I}Gandalf said. … though your hands be full of gold.'
{"He}Thorin blenched … as in all that concerns me.'
{"}'Do so then!' {I}Gandalf said. … my friendship to the end of your days.'
{"I}Gandalf said that without hope of persuading {him}Thorin; but {I}he could have said nothing better. … you must come too and look after your darling.'
{"}'Good!' {I}Gandalf answered. … but at the time {I}Gandalf was troubled, for {I}he had the urgent matter of the White Council on {my}his hands.
{"}So it was that the Quest of Erebor set out. {I do}Gandalf did not suppose that when it started Thorin had any real hope of destroying Smaug. There was no hope.> FY-HL-14.6<
The Broken Bridge
>TS-QE-30<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring As is told in The Hobbit, … beneath Erebor in Dale, far off in the East.>
TS-QE-31<The History of the Hobbit; The Broken Bridge{They} At first they were still in the Shire, of course, and went at a leisurely pace, spending nights in good inns. TS-QE-32<The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary /The night of April 28th they/{Spend night} at the All-welcome Inn, … (southern part, in Harlindon). {None of this is mentioned in the text, but The All-welcome Inn should be marked on the needed Shire-map in any new edition of The Hobbit. }It has to be remembered that … in its inns ({It}it would also appear that they were sometimes employed as roadmenders and bridge-repairers), … never haggled, and gave what was asked.>{; not} Not until the Saturday afternoon did {they}Thorin and his companions cross the great bridge … At last he felt that his Adventure had begun.
But beyond the Bridge … but gave them no more than a grin and a nod.
In a day or two … they came to the Last Inn, TS-QE-33{they found it deserted.} <The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary but are depressed at finding it deserted and go no further.> They camped in its ruins, … but it was grey now and rather sad.
Bilbo’s spirit fell, … (so Bilbo thought to himself). TS-QE-34<The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary {by}By the evening of May 10th {have}they had only reached Weathertop (80 miles from the Last Inn). They {camp}camped on its east side.>After a time the flat lands began to rise before them; … as if men of evil days had built them.
It was at about this time … It was not the last time that he wished that.
The track climbed to the top of a ridge, … and the road faded from sight under the shadows at their feet.
‘Ha!’ said Gandalf, … Elrond must be told’.
They did not know what he meant. … but the arch was broken in the middle.
‘Well, what’s to be done?’ … nor in a storm of rain!’
‘Just so’ said Gandalf. … and see the worst!’
They came to the bridge-end, … were tumbled in the midst of its cold grey stream.
‘It might be worse’, said Gandalf. … Except, of course, by the Mines of Moria’.
The dwarves stared at him sullenly, … ‘What is your advice now?’
‘I also said that not roads are now safe’ … Rohald, his horse, answered his commands, … and turned back, and neighed.
The ponies snorted. … Neither were the dwarves.
‘Now or never!’ … even the pack-ponies.
Thorin mopped his face, … There’s no shelter here’.
‘Don’t you want the hobbit any more?’ said Gandalf. ‘I think you may need him’.
They had quite forgotten poor Bilbo! … than he had yet been in his life.
‘Confound your hobbit!’ said Thorin, ‘When will he learn to look after himself?’
‘In time’, said Gandalf. … I will come and help’.
Then the wizard went back over the stream, … and your own land is not so far ahead!’

At last they had all crossed: … as if something there alarmed them.> TS-QE-35<The History of the Hobbit; The Broken Bridge Gandalf spoke in the ear of his white horse, … There all the company mounted again.> TS-QE-36<HoMe 6;From Weathertop to the Ford The Road looped away southward, towards the river> TS-QE-37<HoMe 6;From Weathertop to the Ford {‘That is} Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell. {,’ answered Strider. ‘}The Road {runs}run along it for many leagues to the Ford.{’}>
TS-QE-38<Appendix A The story is told elsewhere of what came {of that meeting: of the strange plan that Gandalf made for the help of Thorin}after, and how Thorin and his companions set out from {the Shire}Rivendell on the quest of the Lonely Mountain that came to great ends unforeseen.>FY-HL-15b<
Of the Finding of the Ring
>TS-FR-01b<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring The party was assailed by Orcs …
…
…
…
… but he did not discover the truth in this point for many more yearsTS-QE-39{, as will be seen in this book}.>FY-HL-15.5<
Sauron Defeated
>TS-FR-01.5<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring Of Bilbo's later adventures little more need be said here. … but he kept it secret from them as long as he could.> TS-QE-40<Appendix A Here only those things are recalled that directly concern Durin’s Folk.>
TS-QE-41<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix {That is why, to jump forward, I}Gandalf went off as soon as the expedition against Smaug was well started, {and persuaded}[u]to persuad[/b] the Council to attack Dol Guldur first, before he attacked Lórien.> TS-QE-42<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring The quest was successful, and the Dragon that guarded the hoard was destroyed.> TS-QE-43<Appendix A The Dragon was slain by Bard of Esgaroth, … and the Dwarves prospered and grew strong again in his day.>
TS-FR-03<Prologue After {his}Bilbo’s return to his home he never spoke of {it}the ring again to anyone, … that he was writing.
His sword, Sting, Bilbo hung over his fireplace, … remained in his pocket.>
TS-SL-04<ORP But ever the shadow in Mirkwood {grew}had grown deeper, … but Mithrandir spoke to the Council, saying:
‘It is not needed that the Ring should be found, … We must strike.’
To this Curunír now assented, … and Mirkwood for a brief while was made wholesome again.
But their stroke was too late. … and reared once again the dark towers of Barad-dûr. TS-QE-44<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix And yet that was not his original plan; and it was in the end a mistake. Resistance still had somewhere where it could take counsel free from the Shadow.> And in that year the White Council met for the last time, … and took counsel with none save himself.
Orcs were mustering, … and it was hidden from Curunír and from Sauron TS-SL-04.5{. For it had been taken from Anduin long ere they sought for it, being found by one of the small fisherfolk that dwelt by the River, ere the Kings failed in Gondor; and by its finder it was brought beyond search into dark hiding under the roots of the mountains. There it dwelt, until even in the year of the assault upon Dol Guldur it was found again, by a wayfarer, fleeing into the depths of the earth from the pursuit of the Orcs, and passed into a far distant country, even to} in the land of the Periannath, … in all their counsels given thought to them.
>
TS-SL-07b<Appendix A Fengel {He} was the third son and fourth child of Folcwine of Rohan. He is not remembered … and won honor in the service of Turgon.>
TS-SL-05b<Appendix A Turgon followed Túrin TS-SL-06 in the line of the Stewards, but of his time it is chiefly remembered … and declared himself openly;{ and he re-entered Mordor long prepared for him. Then the Barad-dûr was raised once more,} and Mount Doom burst into flame, … and fortified it.>
TS-SL-08<[b]Appendix A Thengel {He }took no wife until late, … Her brother loved her dearly.
It was soon after Thengel's return … and supporting its enemies.>
TS-SL-10<Appendix A In 2989 Théodwyn married Éomund of Eastfold, … and was there surprised by a strong force that lay in wait in the rocks.
Not long after Théodwyn took sick and died to the great grief of {the king}here brother, King Théoden. Her children he took into his house, … and Théoden did not wed again.>
TS-SL-11<Appendix A Éomer and Éowyn grew up at Edoras … whom the Rohirrim had called Steelsheen.> TS-SL-12<Appendix A When still young {he}Éomer became a Marshal of the Mark (3017) and was given his father's charge in the east marches.>

Some Comments on my editing:
FY-HL-14.2: I took this a chaptertitle since it is the best summary of what follows.

FY-HL-14.4: This first Sub-chapter title might be left out, but it fit well and if we decised to keep TS-SL-01 & TS-SL-02 in this chapter the sub-heading is usefull.

TS-QE-01: I replaced part of the text from LotR, Appendix A with this passage as it seems the fuller account to me.

TS-QE-02: Here we begin with the real text of The Quest of Erebor. As we shift here from Frodo reporting Gandalf’s telling of the story to a straight forward reporting, we have to remove a lot ‘I’ and ‘he’ and so on. Bisde that in this fist part telling about Gandalf’s thought at the time we have to change the time. I will not farther comment on these changes which are all marked as grammatical.

TS-QE-03: I removed this paragraph change to make clearer that what follows is Gandalf’s thought.

TS-QE-04: I added this part of the Appendix here where I think it fits best.

TS-QE-05: This direct address of Gandalf to the hobbits as his audience has to go.

TS-QE-06: We take up the text of the The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-04.

TS-SL-03b: That passage is what I preserved of the original editing of ArcusCalion. The direct talk of Gandalf and Thorin at this occasion is not given eleswhere.

TS-QE-07: We take up the text of the The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-SL-03b.

TS-QE-08: This comes from a later part of the Appendix of The Quest of Erebor. But in our retelling it fits best here.

TS-QE-09: Again we take up the text of The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-08.

TS-QE-10: Thorin’s long tale is not given in The Quest of Erebor, but I think it is need in our work to make the allusion to the Map and the Key of Erebor that will follow understandable. Beside the version in The Hobbit that is unusable for us and LotR, Appendix A that we have already used, we have this version from the 1960 revision of The Hobbit.

TS-QE-11: Here the text of the 1960 Hobbit ends and we have to take it from the original.

TS-QE-12: And addition given in the 1960 Hobbit.

TS-QE-13: And addition given in the 1960 Hobbit.

TS-QE-14: The 1960 Hobbit has here Thorin speak of him self and not all his people.

TS-QE-15: Again we take up the text of The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-10.

TS-QE-16: I think this direct thought of Gandalf is worth including.

TS-QE-17: Again we take up the text of The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-16.

TS-QE-18: This comes form an earlier point in the Appendix of The Quest of Erebor as an answer to Pippins question. But if we want to include it, here seems the best palce. Of course the direct address to Pippin has to be removed.

TS-QE-19: Again we take up the text of The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-18.

TS-QE-20: Gandalf’s reasoning about Bilbo not being married seems worth the iteruption. I reformed the commentary of Christopher Tolkien into a footnote. But if that is not aoky we can leave it out.

TS-QE-21: Again we take up the text of The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-20.

TS-QE-22: Here we change over to the long account of the discussion in Thorins Hall.

TS-QE-23: Again we take up the text of The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-22, but only for very short insert, giving Gandalf’s assumption that it was a mistake not to see Bilbo first.

TS-QE-24: This allusion to the attack on Dol Guldur has to go. Gandalf does at this point not know that he would be succsefull in persuading the council to the attack.

TS-QE-25: As Christopher Tolkien tells us he thinks that this was left out untentianal, so we should restore it.

TS-QE-26: Again direct address by Gandalf to his audience.

TS-QE-27: I took up the text of The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-22, marking what was left out or used in TS-QE-23 as deleted.

TS-QE-28: The account of how long Thrain had been in prison and the guessing of how he could keep Map and Key are not found elsewhere.

TS-QE-29: Again we take up the text of The Quest of Erebor where we left it when inserting TS-QE-28.

FY-HL-14.6: If we take up this story we should as well take the sub-chapter heading. Now to the story itself: It is in a way contray to The Hobbit. But on the other hand it expands a few paragraphs into on full chapter. And the contradiction is only to one sentence that was added in to the second addition and created the biggest unconsitence between Hobbit and LotR. Before the Last Bridge over Mitheithel was introduce into the text of The Hobbit the episode of the pony jumping into the river and all the adventure with the Trolls were placed near to Bruinen some way lower than the ford. When JRR Tolkien added the Bridge he did it in a way that switched the secne of the Troll adventure to a point observeable from near to the Bridge. In itself that did not creat a problem, but with Aragorn, a Ranger in great haste to reach Rivendell, needing days to find that spot the account as given in The Hobbit is impossible. Beside that the journey of Thorin and Co. on Ponies is much to slow compared to Frodo & Co. on foot. The expanded story helps to explain that. Thus I think we should take the opportunity given with in our chapter The Quest of Erebor to give this far more detailed alternative account of the journey up to the point of crossing the Mitheithel. See farther TS-QE-35 to TS-QE-38.

TS-QE-30: We start with a kind of summary of the events at Bag-end, to make clear that they realy set out.

TS-QE-31: Here we take up the text form the 1960 Hobbit.

TS-QE-32: The detail about the All-welcome Inn and the roads used by stangers is new and given nowhere else.

TS-QE-33: I thought it worth mentioning that they did not expect to find the last Inn deserted. As Gandalf and Thorin had been at Bree only in March, the desertion of the Inn must have been rather recently.

TS-QE-34: Even so JRR Tolkien did not mention it, I think Weathertop should be included as landmark of the journey.

TS-QE-35: Here I skipt the episode of the pony jumping into Mitheithel. If included we would creat the same problem as mentione under FY-HL-14.6.

TS-QE-36 & TS-QE-37: Giving here the farther course of the road allows as to make the mind of the reader work out the rest of the correction I attemped to do: If Thorin & Co. followed the raod the Bruinen, then that is where the Pony jumps into and where they are near to the Troll lair.

TS-QE-38: The transition might be a bit forced, but that the break would be hard at the end of this additions from The Quest of Erebor and the 1960 Hobbit was clear from the outset.

FY-HL-15b: I called this editing 15b because it is set in a quite different palce and position.

TS-FR-01b: As I used part of this text before, the point were I took up that text is changed.

TS-QE-39: This is an allusion to LotR, so we should remove it.

FY-HL-15.5: I desiered a sub-chapter brake here and this title seemed the only one fitting the following at all. If someone has a better idea, I am open for discussions.

TS-FR-01.5: This is only to mark that we follow the text of the Prologue. In the effect I inserted the headline into it.

TS-QE-40: As we start out by saying we would not tell any thing about the rest of Bilbos adventure we have to qualify this here I think.

TS-QE-41: Gandalf absents from the longer part of the Quest and the reason for it seems important enough to be mentioned.

TS-QE-42: We take up the text of the Prologue where we left it inserting TS-QE-41.

TS-QE-43: Here we switch finaly back to LotR, Appendix A. The slight redundance seems okay to me, since Appendix A adds the detail of Bard as the slayer of Smaug.

TS-FR-03 & TS-SL-04: These are unchanged.

TS-QE-44: Here I added a detail about Saurons orgininal plans and the effect of disturbing him.

TS-SL-04.5 to TS-SL-12. These are again unchanged.

A long post and a lot of text added. I hope at least a part of it makes it to the final version.

Respectfully
Findegil

[ArcusCalion]

As this post is very very long, I think I will first make some general responses:

1) First thing first: WOW! This is an incredibly skillful and labor-intensive draft, and I must congratulate you, Fin, on executing it as well as you did! Your draft has convinced me that we can and should include The Quest for Erebor into this chapter.

2) To your point about shifting the short description of the events of Turin and Folcwine's sons to the previous chapter I agree.

3) In terms of Chapter headings and subheadings: I think that we do not need more than The Quest for Erebor (as the chapter name) and Of the Finding of the Ring as a subheading. I know they must both contain a LOT of information, but I think that is ok. The first subheading you suggested, A Well-Planned Party is not needed once we shift the first few paragraphs to the previous chapter, and (as I will argue below) The Broken Bridge belongs to a segment of the draft which I think should be removed entirely. Finally, Sauron Defeated, while it would be nice to have a subheading here, I think it is innacurate. He is not defeated in this case, as is made very plain by the text. He simply retreats before them, which was his plan in the end anyway, so he is in no way defeated. In addition, I think we should avoid creating chapter names from no source (like The Last Alliance) and so [i]Sauron Defeated would be better served there. To combat the length of the chapter, we can discuss making Of the Finding of the Ring into its own chapter dealing with the actual adventure of Bilbo, as opposed to The Quest for Erebor which would deal with the lead-up to the adventure.

4) The Inclusion of the 1960 Hobbit revisions: To begin, I will lay out what is used: 1) the bit about the sorrows of the Dwarves as told by Thorin, and 2) the first few chapters of the adventure from setting out from Bagend to the Trolls. First of all, I think to use the texts of these revisions is very risky. In many places they are extremely similar to the text of the Hobbit itself. As including The Hobbit in the story lies outside the scope of the project, I think to include a retelling in the exact same scope and narrative style and level of detail also goes against the project's scope. However, the two pieces used are not the same. The discussion of Thorin about the sorrows of his house (1) is (I think) different, simply because of the reason you included it: we know it happened at that point of the story, so to assume it was the same account is not unreasonable, and using the draft version is different enough from the published for it to work. However, for (2) I see no benefit to giving a highly detailed description of their adventure up to right before Rivendell, and then summarizing the entire 2/3 of the remaining narrative in one or two paragraphs. If the entire adventure must be summarized, then we should simply summarize it, instead of giving some of it in full and then reverting to summary. In addition, I worry that revising the speech of the characters in the Hobbit is tantamount to contradiction of the published work. For all of these reasons, I am fundamentally opposed to include the revised text describing their adventures (TS-QE-31 to 37).

Aside from these things mentioned, overall the composition of the draft was incredibly good, and any more detailed concerns I lay out will be restricted to differences of opinion about tense changes, or how to present Gandalf's thoughts. In terms of the structure of the additions and changes, it was phenomenally done. In the following post I will lay out my specific comments, and I'll try to have that post up at least by sometime tomorrow. I would still love to be able to see a full draft posted in the private forum, as opposed to simply selections, as it makes the commenting and editing process much easier.

[ArcusCalion]

Everything to which I do not respond (and everything not mentioned in the previous post) I agree to.

TS-QE-03: I agree to this addition here, but I would edit it differently, as your version does not flow naturally.

TS-QE-03{
"I}He was very troubled at that time, {’ he said, ‘} for Saruman was hindering all {my}his plans. {I}He knew that Sauron had arisen again and would soon declare himself, and {I}Gandalf knew that he was preparing for a great war. How would he begin? Would he try first to re-occupy Mordor, or would he first attack the chief strongholds of his enemies? {I}Gandalf thought {then, and I am sure now,} that to attack Lórien and Rivendell, as soon as he was strong enough was his original plan. It would have been a much better plan for him, and much worse for {us}the Free Peoples.
{‘You may think}It may be thought that Rivendell was out of his reach, but {I}Gandalf did not think so. The state of things in the North was very bad. The Kingdom under the Mountain and the strong Men of Dale were no more. To resist any force that Sauron might send to regain the northern passes in the mountains and the old lands of Angmar there were only the Dwarves of the Iron Hills, and behind them lay a desolation and a Dragon. The Dragon Sauron might use with terrible effect. Often {I}Gandalf said to {myself}himself: ‘I must find some means of dealing with Smaug. But a direct stroke against Dol Guldur is needed still more. We must disturb Sauron's plans. I must make the Council see that.'

This makes the editing much less drastic, and keeps the flow going smoothly.

TS-QE-05: This is fine, but at the end of the addition, there are some sentences about picking Bilbo specifically, which I think are out of place. They should be moved down to TS-QE-18, or removed entirely.

TS-QE-31 to 37: As I said in my last post, I think these should be removed, and it can flow as it did in my own draft, starting with TS-QE-30 after the subheading Of the Finding of the Ring, or perhaps it can be a new chapter.

The rest seems fine. As can be seen, I have relatively few changes, as this was a masterful draft. There may be more things for me to comment on when I see the full text, especially spelling and grammatical errors, but in terms of structure these are my only concerns.

[Findegil]

1) Thank you for the flowers, I am not sure they are warranted.

2) Okay.

3) Oaky we leave A Well-Planned Party out and if we are done with the discussion about the corresponding content we can decised about The Broken Bridge. I can see your reason and agree to use Sauron defeated at its original place. But nonetheless I think we need and replacement for it here in this chapter. As we have no good title I would add an editorial * * *.
I have no problem with the length of the chapter and therefore would keep Of the Finding of the Ring as sub heading.

4) Interisting, I thought that focus of the discussion would be exactly oposit, as the fist addition from the 1960 Hobbit I actually had to use part of the book in print to get a full text. Anyhow I am happy with that talk of Thorin about the Dwarves of Erebor finding acceptance.
Nonetheless I will break a lance for the inclusion of The Broken Bridge: I think we have done something very similar with material from The Quest of Erebor: First we have the description of the meeting and Discussion of Gandalf and Thorin and Gandalf’s visit to the shire and in the Blue Moutains for a second time, after that we have a short summary of Gandalf’s visit to Bilbo and the events at the afternoon. Then we get a broad retelling of the discussion between Gandalf and Thorin during the night, when Bilbo has gone to sleep. So we have detailed telling of events left out from The Hobbit mingled with short summary of events reported in that book.
The same would be true if we include The Broken Bridge. The corosponding passage to all that I added for this sub-chapter from The Hobbit reads:

At first they had passed through hobbit-lands, a wild respectable country inhabited by decent folk, with good roads, an inn or two, and now and then a dwarf or a farmer ambling by on business. Then they came to lands where people spoke strangely, and sang songs Bilbo had never heard before. Now they had gone on far into the Lone-lands, where there were no people left, no inns, and the roads grew steadily worse. Not far ahead were dreary hills, rising higher and higher, dark with trees. On some of them were old castles with an evil look, as if they had been built by wicked people. Everything seemed gloomy, for the weather that day had taken a nasty turn. Mostly it had been as good as May can be, even in merry tales, but now it was cold and wet. In the Lone-lands they had to camp when they could, but at least it had been dry. "To think it will soon be June," grumbled Bilbo as he splashed along behind the others in a very muddy track. It was after tea-time; it was pouring with rain, and had been all day; his hood was dripping into his eyes, his cloak was full of water; the pony was tired and stumbled on stones; the others were too grumpy to talk. "And I'm sure the rain has got into the dry clothes and into the food-bags," thought Bilbo. "Bother burgling and everything to do with it! I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!" It was not the last time that he wished that!

I can imagian that it could help to remove the personal view point of the story, so that it become less similar to the text of the book in print:

… cross the great bridge over the Brandywine River and entered what Bilbo called the Outlands, where outlandish things might be expected at any turn.{ At last he felt that his Adventure had begun.}
But beyond the Bridge the road was still good ...
...
... well-known to the hobbits of the east side of the Shire.{ Bree was as far as Bilbo’s knowledge reached, even by hearsay.} Beyond {it}Bree the lands had been desolate for many long years. ... but it was grey now and rather sad.
{Bilbo’s spirit fell, and he said very, little, thinking always of the next stop for food, though meals came much more seldom (and more scanty) than he would have liked. }So they went on for many days, and each day they became more silent and wary; for there was a stillness all round them – as if the land was listening{ (so Bilbo thought to himself)}. TS-QE-34<The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary {by}By the evening of May 10th ...
It was at about this time that things took a bad turn. One morning cold wind from the east met them with a breath of far mountains, bringing low clouds and driving rain. {Bilbo shivered. ‘Not what I call June!’ he grumbled as he splashed along behind all the others in a deep muddy track that was fast becoming a stream. Poor hobbit, he was quite out of his reckoning; it was the nineteenth of May, but the three weeks on the road began to seem endless. ‘Bother adventures and everything to do with them!’ he thought. ‘I whish I was at home by the fire with the kettle just beginning to sing!’ It was not the last time that he wished that.
}The track climbed to the top of a ridge, …

With these passages removed we could consider that what we replace of The Hobbit is only.

At first they had passed through hobbit-lands, a wild respectable country inhabited by decent folk, with good roads, an inn or two, and now and then a dwarf or a farmer ambling by on business. Then they came to lands where people spoke strangely, and sang songs Bilbo had never heard before. Now they had gone on far into the Lone-lands, where there were no people left, no inns, and the roads grew steadily worse.

At least it shold be clear from this comparision, that this addition would be in line with the overall aim of the project, and the corallary to our rules:

A corallary is that we may not disregard any text or note, old idea or projected change, by JRRT unless it is invalidated by one of the above principles, explicitly or implicitly; that is, we must have a REASON for rejecting something.

At least as I interpret them.

TS-QE-03: Agreed, so I would avoid the following us of ‘he’ because the reverence is not fully clear:

TS-QE-03{
"I} He was very troubled at that time,{" he said, "}for Saruman was hindering all {my}his plans. {I}Gandalf knew that Sauron had arisen again …

TS-QE-05: Agreed, we remove them entirely.

Respectfully
Findegil

[ArcusCalion]

3) I agree to the use of the '*****' as an editorial distinction, as I think it is enough. I as well agree with keeping Of the Finding of the Ring as a subheading. As to The Broken Bridge see below.

4) Hmm actually seeing it all laid out is indeed very different. I hadn't realized just how short this portion of the adventure was.... Very well, I will agree to the inclusion of these changes, albeit somewhat reluctantly. I do not deny that it is something I had wanted to be able to do somehow when I learned about the 1960 revisions, perhaps to include in the project a 'revised' Hobbit, but I see now that this way is better. Very well Fin, you have won me over . I do not think Aiwendil will be that easy to convince, however, if he ever gets to this draft. I will also keep The Broken Bridge as a sub-heading.

TS-QE-03: Agreed.

I must say, after all that whirlwind of confusion, that turned out to be remarkably simple. Well done Fin! Your flowers are most absolutely deserved.

[Findegil]

Sorry for not providing these changes at once with my draft, but I was hesitating about them until I had posted the draft:

…and went at a leisurely pace, spending nights in good inns. TS-QE-32b<The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary /The night of April 28th they spend/{Spend night} at the All-welcome Inn, at junction of the Northway and the East Road (on Hobbiton side of Frogmorton). So-called because much used by travelers through the Shire, especially by dwarves on the way to Thorin’s home in exile, which was in the west-side of the Blue mountains (southern part, in Harlindon). {None of this is mentioned in the text, but The All-welcome Inn should be marked on the needed Shire-map in any new edition of The Hobbit. }It has to be remembered that the East Road though it ran through the Shire was not the property of the hobbits: it was an ancient ‘royal road’, and they maintained the traditional duty of keeping it in repair and providing hospitality for travelers. This was of course profitable. It also provided their chief source of ‘outside news’. Dwarves were therefore not a rare sight on the East Road or in its inns ({It}it would also appear that they were sometimes employed as roadmenders and bridge-repairers), but they seldom turned off it, and their appearance in a company in Bywater and Hobbiton must have caused a lot of talk. They cared very little about hobbits, and had little to do with them, except as a source of food in exchange for metal, or sometimes forged articles (knives, ploughshares, arrowheads, axe-heads and the like). The poorer sort (or Thorin’s folk in their earlier time of poverty) might accept employment, as masons and roadmakers for example. But they had the notion that hobbits were a slow stupid folk, with few artefacts, and simpleminded – because the hobbits were generous, never haggled, and gave what was asked.
{2. April 29. Night}/The next night Thorin and his companions were/ at Whitfurrows.>{; not} Not until the Saturday afternoon did they cross the great bridge over the Brandywine River ...
...
...
...
In a day or two they came to Bree on the Hill. There they spent their last comfortable night for many a day to come, in the great inn of Bree, the Prancing Pony, well-known to the hobbits of the east side of the Shire. TS-QE-33.7<The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary {They reach Bree (another 20miles).} There they {stay the night, and purchase}also purchased a good many supplies (including pipe-weed).>{ Bree was as far as Bilbo’s knowledge reached, even by hearsay.} Beyond {it}Bree the lands had been desolate for many long years. ...
...
...
...
‘Ha!’ said Gandalf, peering through the rain. ‘The bridge! The bridge is broken!’ He turned away snapping his fingers and muttering to himself: ‘there is mischief here! Elrond must be told TS-QE-34.7<The History of the Hobbit; Note at the end of Fifth Phase{Ch. III should make clear Elrond’s} He has the care for the roads {etc.}[/u]and bridges[/b] from Greyflood to the {<}Mountains{>}>’.
They did not know what he meant. ...
…
…
…
... ‘Steady now’, he said to the horse. ‘Over once more, and your own land is not so far ahead!’ TS-QE-34.9<The History of the Hobbit; Note at the end of Fifth Phase{Also insert the} The white horse Róhald belonged to Rivendell, {&}and had been lent by Elrond to Gandalf.>

At last they had all crossed: ...

Respectfully
Findegil

[ArcusCalion]

nice, looks good, some good tidbits!

[gandalf85]

An impressive amount of work went into this chapter, and it shows. "The Broken Bridge" is a very intimate and detailed telling of the story of the Hobbit up to a certain point, but I think it definitely fits within the scope of the project and I think it works pretty well. It is very Gandalf-focused and feels in sync with the parts from the Quest for Erebor. My comments and additions are fairly minor:

1)

TS-QE-02 <The Quest of Erebor {I cannot remember all the tale now, but we gathered that to begin with} Gandalf was thinking only of the defense of the West against the Shadow.

I think we should keep "To begin with":

TS-QE-02 <The Quest of Erebor {I cannot remember all the tale now, but we gathered that to} To begin with Gandalf was thinking only of the defense of the West against the Shadow.

2)

...I must make the Council see that.'
{"Those were my dark thoughts as I jogged along the road. I}Gandalf was tired, and {I}he was going to the Shire for a short rest, after being away from it for more than twenty years.> TS-QE-04<Quest of Erebor; Appendix And then there was the Shire-folk...

I think the transition from Gandalf's thoughts to him traveling and then back to his thoughts again is awkward. I propose a slight restructuring:

{"You may think}It may be thought that Rivendell was out of his reach...We must disturb Sauron's plans. I must make the Council see that.'
TS-QE-04 <Quest of Erebor; Appendix And then there was the Shire-folk. {I}He began to have a warm place in {my}his heart for them in the Long Winter TS-QE-05{, which none of you can remember}. They were very hard put to it then...they survived. {I}Gandalf wanted them still to survive. TE-QE-05.1<Making of Appendix A He wished the Shire-folk to be ‘educated’ before evil days came{, and chose Bilbo (un-attached) as an instrument}.> But {I}he saw that the Westlands were in for another very bad time again...understand a bit clearer what it was all about, and where they stood.
{"}They had begun to forget...And anyway you must begin at some point, with some one person.>
TE-QE-05.2{Those}These were {my}his dark thoughts as {I}he jogged along the road. {I}Gandalf was tired, and {I}he was going to the Shire for a short rest, after being away from it for more than twenty years.>
TS-QE-06b <The Quest of Erebor {I}He thought that if {I}he put {them}his dark thoughts out of {my}his mind for a while {I}he might perhaps find some way of dealing with these troubles. And so {I did}it happened indeed, though {I}he was not allowed to put them out of {my}his mind.

I think this flows better. TE-QE-05.1 is an extra detail from HoME 12. I don't see why TE-QE-05.2 was removed, I think it sets the mood well. I changed the beginning of TS-QE-06 from "Gandalf" to "he".

3) Not a suggestion, but I think TS-QE-10 is a very clever use of the 1960s Hobbit.

4)

...we went away, and we have had to earn our livings as best we could up and down the lands, often enough sinking as low as blacksmith-work or even coalmining TS-QE-13 <The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party , or even road-mending>

Having "even" twice sounds awkward. I propose we remove the first "even":

...we went away, and we have had to earn our livings as best we could up and down the lands, often enough sinking as low as blacksmith-work or {even} coalmining TS-QE-13 <The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party , or even road-mending>

5) Some slight changes to Gandalf meeting Thrain in Dol Guldur:

{"}But {I}Gandalf had not thought of them for years...{I}He remembered a dangerous journey of {mine}his, ninety-one years before, when {I}he had entered Dol Guldur in disguise, and had found there an unhappy Dwarf dying in the pits. TS-QE-27.1 {{I}Gandalf had no idea who he was.} He had a map that had belonged to Durin's folk in Moria and a key that seemed to go with it, though he was too far gone to explain it. And he said that he had possessed a great Ring.
{"}Nearly all his ravings were of that...{I}He stowed the things away, and by some warning of {my}his heart {I}he kept them always with {me}him, safe, but soon almost forgotten. TS-QE-27.2 <The Making of Appendix A He was {probably} unaware who the dwarf was {in Dol Guldur}, since the 7th ring {would be} was no clue (Dwarves kept the possession of rings very secret), and {Thráin} the dwarf did not know his own name {(Hobbit p. 35)}.>{I}Gandalf had other business in Dol Guldur more important and perilous than all the treasure of Erebor.

The change in TS-QE-27.1 seemed necessary with the inclusion of TS-QE-27.2. I think the extra detail about dwarves keeping the possession of rings secret is important, and I couldn't find it in the "Durin's Folk" chapter.

6)

Dwarves were therefore not a rare sight on the East Road or in its inns ({It}it would also appear that they were sometimes employed as road-menders and bridge-repairers)

It's stated definitively that they were employed as road-menders. I propose:

Dwarves were therefore not a rare sight on the East Road or in its inns (TS-QE-32.5 {It would also appear that} they were sometimes employed as road-menders and bridge-repairers)

7)

I moved a sentence about Gandalf's horse that felt out of place:

As Bilbo had already noticed Gandalf used no stirrups, and seldom held the reins: Róhald, his horse, answered his commands, spoken softly in a strange tongue. TS-QE-34.9 <The History of the Hobbit; Note at the end of Fifth Phase {Also insert the} The white horse {Róhald} belonged to Rivendell, {&}and had been lent by Elrond to Gandalf.> The {white} horse tried the water and then walked on, slowly but without fear.

9) The end of "The Broken Bridge" feels like an awkward way to set up the next section. It says "the story is told elsewhere" and then continues the story. Therefore I propose this introduction to the "Of the Finding of the Ring" section:

TS-FR-01c <ORP {the} The matter would scarcely have concerned later history, or earned more than a note in the long annals of the Third Age, but for an ‘accident’ by the way.>
<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring The party was assailed by Orcs in a high pass of the Misty Mountains as they went towards Wilderland

10) I moved TS-QE-41b to in my opinion a more appropriate spot:

TS-SL-04 <ORP But ever the shadow in Mirkwood {grew}had grown deeper, and to Dol Guldur evil things repaired out of all the dark places of the world; and they were united again under one will, and their malice was directed against the Elves and the survivors of Númenor. TS-QE-41b <The Quest of Erebor, Appendix That is why{, to jump forward, I}Gandalf went off as soon as the expedition against Smaug was well started, {and persuaded}to persuade the Council to attack Dol Guldur first, before he attacked Lórien.> Therefore at last the Council was again summoned and the lore of the Rings was much debated; but Mithrandir spoke to the Council, saying...

11) I added some bits to TS-QE-44

TS-QE-44c <The Quest of Erebor, Appendix And yet that was not his original plan; and it was in the end a mistake. <The Quest of Erebor, Appendix {They will}Sauron and Smaug would have helped one another{.” And they certainly would have done so,} if {I}the Council had not attacked Dol Guldur at the same time.> Resistance still had somewhere where it could take counsel free from the Shadow. How could the Ringbearer have escaped, if there had been no Lórien or Rivendell? And those places might have fallen{, I think,} if Sauron had thrown all his power against them first, and not spent more than half of it in the assault on Gondor. > And in that year the White Council met for the last time, and Curunír withdrew to Isengard, and took counsel with none save himself.

12)

[Footnote: The normal span of hobbits is represented as being roughly in the proportion of 100 to our 80.]

"represented as being" sounds like Tolkien talking about how he represented the lifespan of the hobbits. I propose we change it to:

[Footnote: The normal span of hobbits is RSO-SL-02.5 {represented as being} roughly in the proportion of 100 to our 80.]

13) Typos:

and they made deeper halls nd greater workshops

"nd" should be "and"

Bilbo already growing a bit queer

This should be: "Bilbo was..."

Smaug does not lie on his costly bed without dreams. Thorin Oakenshield.

This should have a comma: "without dreams, Thorin Oakenshield."

He is neat-banded and clever...

neat-handed

). So-called because much used by travelers...

I think this was a result of Tolkien writing rapidly. It should be "So-called because it was much used..."

They camped in its ruins, and next day they passed...

This feels more natural: "They camped in its ruins, and the next day they passed..."

‘I also said that not roads are now safe’ answered the wizard.

"no roads"

Trying to find his way out. Bilbo went on...

"Trying to find his way out, Bilbo..."

For he kept it hidden safe in a hole on his island, except when he was hunting or spying on the ores of the mines.

"ores" should be "orcs"

...yet my heart forebodes mat he will be shortlived.

"that"

His face was sad and stem...

"stern"

Arwen Undómiel shall not diminish her life's grace lot less cause.

"for less cause"

[ArcusCalion]

Thank you for your diligence gandalf!

1) This is fine for me.

2) I like this better as well. Agreed.

3) Yes, Fin did a wonderful job.

4) Agreed

5) Is this canon? That Gandalf did not know it was Thrain? I felt that it said he did somewhere.

6) Agreed

7) I like this placing much better.

8) no 8? lol

9) Agreed, nice transition. I would not make that sentence its own paragraph tho, and I would call that addition TS-FR-00.5 and keep the other as is.

10) I like this better, Agreed.

11) Nice find! Agreed.

12) Good catch! Agreed.

13) Thank you!

[gandalf85]

5) I believe it's canon. In both the Quest of Erebor and the Making of Appendix A, it states he did not know who Thrain was. I will be on the look-out to see if I find this contradicted somewhere.

8) I have a minor in math but apparently cannot count.

11) I was wondering why you guys removed the last bit about the ringbearer, and I think I know why: it's basically a spoiler the way we have it structured. This text was intended to be a "looking back" conversation between Gandalf and the hobbits and Gimli after the War of the Ring. I think it's probably best to remove the last bits about the Ringbearer, but keep the part about Sauron and Smaug helping one another:

TS-QE-44c <The Quest of Erebor, Appendix And yet that was not his original plan; and it was in the end a mistake. <The Quest of Erebor, Appendix {They will}Sauron and Smaug would have helped one another{.” And they certainly would have done so,} if {I}the Council had not attacked Dol Guldur at the same time.> Resistance still had somewhere where it could take counsel free from the Shadow.> And in that year the White Council met for the last time, and Curunír withdrew to Isengard, and took counsel with none save himself.

[ArcusCalion]

5) I guess this is one of those times that an assumption becomes so ingrained in our heads we think it's canon! I agree to the change, pending any discovery of contradictory canon info.

11) Ah I missed that. I think it is the right choice to remove it, as Fin had done, so I agree to this change.

[Findegil]

1) & 2) Agreed.

3) Nice that both of you like it.

4) Agreed.

5) Yes, it clearly is cannon that Gandalf did not know from whom he got the key and the map.

6) It is true that the dwarves were employed as road menders, but here the perspective is different: If we would make this change we would state that the Hobbits employed the dwarves as road menders. Do we konw that for sure? I don’t think so.

7) & 8) Agreed.

9) Okay, I see that I did not reach what I wanted. I think this will make my goal clearer:

… There all the company mounted again.> TS-QE-36<HoMe 6;From Weathertop to the Ford The Road looped away southward, towards the river> TS-QE-37<HoMe 6;From Weathertop to the Ford {‘That is} Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell. {,’ answered Strider. ‘}The Road {runs}run along it for many leagues to the Ford.{’}>
TS-QE-38<Appendix A The story is told elsewhere of what came {of that meeting: of the strange plan that Gandalf made for the help of Thorin}after TS-QE-38.1<Hobbit one of the ponies took fright at nothing and bolted{. He} and got into {the}that river before they could catch him>, and how Thorin and his companions set out from {the Shire}Rivendell on the quest of the Lonely Mountain that came to great ends unforeseen.>FY-HL-15b<
Of the Finding of the Ring
>TS-FR-00.5<ORP {the}The matter would scarcely have concerned later history, or earned more than a note in the long annals of the Third Age, but for an ‘accident’ by the way.>TS-FR-01b<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring The party was assailed by Orcs in a high pass of the Misty Mountains as they went towards Wilderland; …

10) Agreed.

11) A good addition. And I think we should keep more of it. What about this:

… and reared once again the dark towers of Barad-dûr. TS-QE-44<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix And yet that was not his original plan; and it was in the end a mistake. <The Quest of Erebor, Appendix {They will}Sauron and Smaug would have helped one another{.” And they certainly would have done so,} if {I}the Council had not attacked Dol Guldur at the same time.> Resistance still had somewhere where it could take counsel free from the Shadow.{ How could the Ringbearer have escaped, if there had been no Lórien or Rivendell?} And those places might have fallen{, I think,} if Sauron had thrown all his power against them first, and not spent more than half of it in the assault on Gondor.> And in that year the White Council met for the last time, …

12) Realy a good catch. Agreed.

13) It is so good for the quality of our text to have reader who gives feed back.

Respectfully
Findegil

[ArcusCalion]

Fin:

9) Agreed

11) agreed

[gandalf85]

6) Yes, you're right, we're not completely sure that dwarves were employed as road-menders specifically on the East Road. So let's keep "it would also appear that".

11) Agreed.

13) I agree with keeping more of it, but I am unsure about one part.

Resistance still had somewhere where it could take counsel free from the Shadow.{ How could the Ringbearer have escaped, if there had been no Lórien or Rivendell?} And those places might have fallen{, I think,} if Sauron had thrown all his power against them first, and not spent more than half of it in the assault on Gondor.> And in that year the White Council met for the last time, …

It seems to me that the "assault on Gondor" referred to here is specifically talking about the siege of Minas Tirith and the Battle of Pelennor Fields, both of which haven't happened in our narrative yet. It is true that Mordor has been at war with Gondor for quite a while, so maybe this is talking about previous assaults (like the taking of Minis Ithil) but I'm not sure. This statement is immediately following one about the Ringbearer, so I'm assuming it's referring to an event which happens at the same time. What do you guys think?

[ArcusCalion]

That sort of very limited spoiler is, I think, fine. It reveals very little about the nature of the further narrative, so I think it is ok to leave it. We have similar vague call-forwards in previous chapters.

[gandalf85]

Yeah, you're right, it is a pretty vague "call-forward". OK, I agree to keep it.

[gandalf85]

There is a footnote mentioning Balin in the "Hunt for the Ring" chapter, and I figured we should include Balin's expedition to Moria in the main text. The Tale of Years only contains for the entry 2989: "Balin leaves Erebor and enters Moria." However, Return of the Shadow contains a lengthier description which is not in the final published FotR. I propose we place it in "Of the Finding of the Ring" before TS-SL-07b. TS-FR-03 describes Bilbo returning home, so it has to come after that. Here is the text:

Orcs were mustering ... given thought to them.>
TS-FR-05 <Return of the Shadow; In the House of Elrond {'}Balin took to travelling again{,' he answered. 'You may have heard that h}. He visited Bilbo in Hobbiton {many years ago: well,}, and not very long after that he went away for two or three years. Then he returned to the Mountain with a great number of dwarves that he discovered wandering masterless in the South and East. He wanted Dain to go back to Moria - or at least to allow him to found a colony there and reopen the great mines. {As you probably know, }Moria was the ancestral home of the dwarves of the race of Durin, and the forefathers of Thorin and Dain dwelt there, until they were driven by the goblin invasions far into the North. Now Balin reported that Moria was again wholly deserted, since the great defeat of the goblins, but the mines were still rich, especially in silver. Dain was not willing to leave the Mountain and the tomb of Thorin, but he allowed Balin to go, and he took with him many of the folk of the Mountain as well as his own following; and Ori and Oin went with him. For many years things went well, and the colony throve; there was traffic once more between Moria and the Mountain, and many gifts of silver were sent to Dain. Then fortune changed. {Our messengers}The messengers of the Dwarves of the Mountain were attacked and robbed by cruel Men, well-armed. No messengers came from Moria; but rumour reached {us}the Mountain that the mines and dwarf-city were again deserted. For long {we}they could not learn what had become of Balin and his people - but {now we have}then they had news, and it {is}was evil. {It is to tell these tidings and to ask for the counsel of - of those that dwell in Rivendell that I have come. But to-night let us speak of merrier things!}>

TS-SL-07b <Appendix A Fengel {He} was ...

I'm unsure if we should keep the bit at the end about the news being evil. It doesn't explicitly say that the "evil news" is the death of Balin, which Gimli is obviously surprised about in FotR. I think this works here as ambiguous foreshadowing.

I think we should also include the fate of Balin later on, possibly in the "Treason of Isengard" chapter when the company arrives at Moria. I will look for something to add when I post my comments on that chapter.

[ArcusCalion]

I like this very much! Have we mentioned Balin at all before this? If not we may need to.

[gandalf85]

"Of Durin's Folk" has two mentions of Balin, and Balin is there when Gandalf has a discussion with Thorin about the Quest for Erebor (he even has a few speaking lines in our text).

[ArcusCalion]

Perfect!

[Findegil]

TS-FR-05: Very nice find! I would only edit t in one place a bit differently:

... Then fortune changed. {Our}The messengers of the Dwarves of the Mountain were attacked and robbed by cruel Men, well-armed. No messengers came from Moria; but rumour reached {us}the Mountain that the mines and dwarf-city were again deserted. For long {we}the Dwarves could not learn what had become of Balin and his people - but {now we have}then they had news, and it {is}was evil. ...

I exchanged one ‘they’ for the more general ‘the Dwarves’ to avoid to mauch ‘they’s.
I am as well a bit unsure about the evil news at the end. In the original context it would be made clear in the next chapter that this evil news did not come form Moria, but from Mordor. But in our case it is just an evil forshadowing. For the time being I would let it stand.

Respectfully
Findegil

[gandalf85]

That change looks good to me, Fin.

[Findegil]

Okay I found somethings by pure chance that I missed when we were doing this chapter. I was reading Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth for the next post in the Maps and Pictures thread, when I came to a facsimily of Plot Note A for The Hobbit. Since Tolkiens handwriting is not easy I couldn’t read it fully, but then I thought, that as we have Mr Baggins and Return to Bag-End we must have these Plotnotes in transcription. And so it is, there are not only Plot Note A but a series from a First Outline over Plot Note A up to Plot Note F. With these we can handle story of Bilbo & Co. in much more similar way as that of Frodo & Co.. My approach to do that follows here.
Since this will become a very long message, I will split it into three postings. As always I will start with text with all our editing marks, but striped of source text as far as possible. But the possibility of stripping is small due to the necessary load of editing. This will be followed in the second post by some comments and then in the third post by the new part of the chapter in plain text.
As a matter of fact you find in both versions as well the new placement of the pictures that up to now have been collected together to kind of picture story. I will not here comment on these. The next on my agenda is a posting in the ‘Drawings, Pictures and Maps?’ thread with this and other information found in the process of reading mentioned above.
The markings are:
FY-HL-xx for all the headlines for the Fading Years.
TS-SL-xx for all expansions and changes to the narrative.
TS-FR-xx for all expansions and changes relating to the new Finding of the Ring material.
TS-BB-xx for all expansions and changes relating to the material from The History of the Hobbit

Some conventions of my writing:
Bold Text = source information, comments and remarks
{example} = text that should be deleted
[example] = normalized text, normally only used for general changes, as well as changes which are a part of replacement that is not grammatical.
Underlined Text = text changed for grammatical reasons in the process of combining and inserting and removing.
/example/ = text used to expaned an outline or plot notes
<source example> = additions with source information
...... = This section of the paragraph is unchanged from the source.

FY-HL-14.2<
The Quest of Erebor
>TS-FR-03.5b<ORP Orcs were mustering, and far to the east and the south the wild peoples were arming. ... There it dwelt, until TS-SL-04.5b{even in the year of the assault upon Dol Guldur}as is told herafter it was found again, by a wayfarer, fleeing into the depths of the earth from the pursuit of the Orcs, and passed into a far distant country, even to the land of the Periannath, ... nor any of the Wise save Mithrandir had in all their counsels given thought to them.
>
TS-QE-01<Quest of Erebor; Appendix Gandalf had not yet played any part in the fortunes of Durin's House. ... and rested for the night at Bree.>TS-QE-02b<The Quest of Erebor {I cannot remember all the tale now, but we gathered that to}To begin with Gandalf was thinking only of the defence of the West against the Shadow. TS-QE-03{
"I} He was very troubled at that time,{" he said, "}for Saruman was hindering all {my}his plans. {I}Gandalf knew that Sauron had arisen again and would soon declare himself, and {I}Gandalf knew that he was preparing for a great war. ... {I}Gandalf thought{ then, and I am sure now,} that to attack Lórien and Rivendell, ... and much worse for {us}the free Peoples.

{"You may think}It may be thought that Rivendell was out of his reach, but {I}Gandalf did not think so. ... The Dragon Sauron might use with terrible effect. Often {I}Gandalf said to {myself}himself: 'I must find some means ... I must make the Council see that.'
TS-QE-04b<Quest of Erebor; Appendix And then there was the Shire-folk. {I}He began to have a warm place in {my}his heart for them in the Long Winter TS-QE-05{, which none of you can remember}. They were very hard put to it then: ... that they survived. {I}Gandalf wanted them still to survive. TE-QE-05.1<Making of Appendix A He wished the Shire-folk to be ‘educated’ before evil days came{, and chose Bilbo (un-attached) as an instrument}.> But {I}he saw that the Westlands were ... To come through that {I}he thought they would need ... It is not easy to say what. {Well,}Probably they would want ... and where they stood.
{"}They had begun to forget: ... with some one person.>
TE-QE-05.2{"Those}These were {my}his dark thoughts as {I}he jogged along the road. {I}Gandalf was tired, and {I}he was going ... for more than twenty years.>
TS-QE-06b<The Quest of Erebor{I}He thought that if {I}he put {them}his dark thoughts out of {my}his mind for a while {I}he might perhaps find some way of dealing with these troubles. And so {I did}it happened indeed, though {I}he was not allowed to put them out of {my}his mind.
{"}For just as {I}he was nearing Bree {I}he was overtaken ... To {my}Gandalf’s surprise he spoke to {me}him; and it was at that moment that the tide began to turn.
{"He}Thorin was troubled too, so troubled that he actually asked for {my}Gandalf’s advice{.}>: TS-SL-03b<Appendix A 'Master Gandalf, I know you only by sight, ... if I had known where to find you.'
Gandalf looked at him ... that is the way also to your halls.'
'Call them so, ... and would be glad of your counsel.'
'I will come,' ... by the grandson of Thrór.'>
TS-QE-07<Quest of Erebor So {I}Gandalf went with {him}Thorin to his halls in the Blue Mountains>. TS-QE-08<Quest of Erebor; Appendix {we}They actually passed through the Shire, ... Indeed {I think }it was annoyance with his haughty disregard of the Hobbits that first put into {my}Gandalf’s head the idea of entangling {him}Thorin with them. As far as {he}Thorin was concerned ... ancestral road to the Mountains.>
TS-QE-09<The Quest of Erebor {So I went with him to his halls in the Blue Mountains, and I}Gandalf listened to {his}Thorin’s long tale{.}>: TS-QE-10 The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party ‘Many years ago, in my great-grandfather’s days, our family was driven out of the far North. Some went to the Iron Hills. But {Thror}[Thrór] my grandfather returned with most of our kin to {this Mountain on the map}Erebor, where {Thrain}[Thráin] the old his ancestor ... and {Thror}[Thrór] became King under the Mountain, ... The land was fat and fruitful {in those days [> }then{]}. Those were good years for us, ... So the halls of {Thror}[Thrór] were filled ... Dale was one of the wonders of the North.
Alas! that brought the dragon upon us! Greed has long ears. Dragons{, as no doubt a treasure-hunter will know,} steal gold and jewels ... Curse them!
There were still many dragons ... and came south> TS-QE-11b <Mr. Baggins; The Adventure Continues . The first we heard of it was a noise like a hurricane coming from the North, and the pine trees on the mountain-sides creaking and cracking in the wind. Some of the dwarves who happened to be outside (I was one, a fine lad in those days I was, always wandering about, and it saved my life that day) – well, from a good way off we saw in the middle of the wind the dragon settle on the mountain in a spout of flame. He came down the slopes, and when he reached the woods they all went up in fire. By that time all the bells were ringing in Dale, and the warriors were arming. The dwarves rushed out of their great gate, but there was the dragon waiting for them. None escaped that way. The River rushed up in steam, and a fog fell on Dale, and in the fog the dragon came and {[destroyed it >]}destroyed most of the warriors. Then he went back and crept in through the Front Gate and routed out all the halls, and lanes, and tunnels, alleys, cellars, mansions and passages. There were no dwarves left, and all their wealth he took for himself. Probably, for that is the dragons' way, he has piled it all up in {[}a{]} great heap in some hall far inside, and sleeps on it for a bed.
Out of the great gate he used to creep and come by night to Dale, and carry off people, especially maidens, to eat, until Dale was ruined, and all the people gone. What goes on now, I don't know, but I don't suppose anyone lives nearer to the mountain than the Long Lake nowadays.

Smaug in flight
The few of us that were well outside sat and wept in hiding and cursed Smaug; and there we were unexpectedly joined by my father and my grandfather with singed beards. They looked very grim, but they said very little. When I asked how they had got away, they told me to hold my tongue, and one day, in the proper time, I should know. After that TS-QE-12 The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party , when we had set our curse on the dragon,> we went away, and we have had to earn our livings as best we could up and down the lands, often enough sinking as low as blacksmith-work or TS-QE-13b{even }coalmining The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party , or even road-mending>. But we have never forgotten ... – here Thorin stroked the gold chain round his neck – " TS-QE-14{we still mean to get it back, and to bring our curses home to Smaug – if we can}The History of the Hobbit; A Well-Planned Party I still mean to get it back, and to bring my curse home to Smaug – if I can>."
>TS-QE-15<The Quest of Erebor{I}Gandalf soon understood that {his}Thorin’s heart was hot ... Dwarves take such duties very seriously.> TS-QE-16<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix {I}Gandalf heard all his tale, and {I}he thought: ... of Dwarves before.'>
TS-QE-17<The Quest of Erebor{"I}He promised to help {him}Thorin if {I}he could. {I}He was as eager as {he was}Thorin to see the end of Smaug, ... and {I}Gandalf could see no hope in that. So {I}he left him and went off ... It was a strange business. {I}He did no more than follow the lead of 'chance,' and made many mistakes on the way.>
TS-QE-18<The Quest of Erebor; Appendix "How would you select any one Hobbit for such a purpose?" {said }Gandalf thought. {"I}He had not time to sort them all out; but {I}he knew the Shire very well by that time, although when {I}he met Thorin {I}he had been away for more than twenty years ... the Hobbits that {I}he knew, {I}he said to {myself}himself: 'I want a dash of the Took{' (but not too much. Master Peregrin) '}and I want a good foundation of the solider sort, a Baggins perhaps.' That pointed at once to Bilbo.> TS-QE-19<The Quest of Erebor Somehow {I}Gandalf had been attracted by Bilbo ... when {I}Gandalf had last seen him. He had stayed in {my}Gandalf’s mind ... As soon as {I}Gandalf entered the Shire {I}he heard news of {him}Bilbo. He was getting talked about, ... and he had never married.> TS-QE-20<The Quest of Erebor; Appendix {I}Gandalf thought that odd though {I}he guessed why it was; and the reason that {I}he guessed was not that most of the Hobbits gave {me}him: that {he}Bilbo had early been left very well off and his own master. No, {I}Gandalf guessed that {he}Bilbo wanted ... or he had made up his courage. {I}Gandalf remembered how {he}Bilbo used to pester {me}him with questions when {he}Bilbo was a youngster ... uncles on the Took side that had done so.[Footnote to the text: These uncles were Hildifons Took, who "went off on a journey and never returned," and Isengar Took (the youngest of the Old Took's twelve children), who was "said to have 'gone off to sea' in his youth".]> TS-QE-21<The Quest of Erebor {He}Bilbo was already growing a bit queer, ... even Dwarves.
{"}'Even Dwarves!' Suddenly in {my}Gandalf’s mind these three things came together: ... sick at heart ({I}he guessed) for a sight of the wide world. {I}Gandalf laughed at {myself}himself; but {I}he went off at once ... when {I}Gandalf asked after him. 'Off again,' said one Hobbit. It was Holman, the gardener{, I believe}[Footnote to the text: Holman the gardener: Holman Greenhand, to whom Hamfast Gamgee (Sam's father, the Gaffer) was apprenticed{: The Fellowship of the Ring, and Appendix C}.]. 'Off again. He'll go right off one of these days, if he isn't careful. Why, I asked him where he was going, and when he would be back, and I don't know he says; and then he looks at me queerly. It depends if I meet any, Holman, he says. It's the Elves New Year tomorrow![Footnote to the text: The Elvish solar year (loa) began with the day called yestarë, which was the day before the first day of tuilë (Spring); and in the Calendar of Imladris yestarë "corresponded more or less with Shire April 6."] A pity, and him so kind a body. You wouldn't find a better from the Downs to the River.'
'Better and better!' {I}Gandalf thought. 'I think I shall risk it.' Time was getting short. {I}He had to be with the White Council in August ... unless he had something else to deal with.>
TS-QE-22<Quest of Erebor; Appendix At last {I}Gandalf made up {my}his mind, and {I went back to Thorin.} TS-QE-23<The Quest of Erebor{"So I} rode off back to Thorin in haste, ... in danger of coming true!> {I}Gandalf found {him}Thorin in conclave with some of his kinsfolk. Balin and Glóin were there, and several others.
{"}'Well, what have you got to say?' Thorin asked {me }as soon as {I}Gandalf came in.
{"}'This first,' {I}Gandalf answered. ... They will help one another. TS-QE-24{' And they certainly would have done so, if I had not attacked Dol Guldur at the same time. '}Open war would be quite useless; ... indeed something desperate.'
{"}'You are both vague and disquieting,' said Thorin. 'Speak more plainly!'
{"}'Well, for one thing,' {I}Gandalf said, 'you will have to go on this quest yourself, and you will have to go secretly. No messengers, ... something unexpected.'
{"}'Name it!' said Thorin.
{"}'One moment!' {I}Gandalf said. ... and his sense of smell.'
{"}'Naturally,' said Thorin. ... and you are not instructing the ignorant.'
{"}'Very good,' {I}Gandalf answered; 'but your own plans did not seem to me to consider this point. My plan is one of stealth. Stealth. TS-QE-25<Added back from Manuscript A Also a scent that cannot be placed, at least not by Smaug, the enemy of Dwarves.> Smaug does not ... prick-eared for the sound of – Dwarf-feet.'
{"}'You make your stealth sound as difficult and hopeless as any open attack,' said Balin. 'Impossibly difficult!'
{"}'Yes, it is difficult,' {I}Gandalf answered. 'But not impossibly difficult, or I would not waste my time here. I would say absurdly difficult. ... and he has certainly never smelt them.'
{"}'What!' cried Glóin. ... dragonet new from the shell!'
{"}'Now, now!' {I}Gandalf said, 'that is quite unfair. ... before you find out what is in them.'
{"}'The test cannot be made,' Thorin answered. ... to avoid tight places.'
{"}'Quite true,' {I}Gandalf said. ... an adventure.'
{"}'Not at my expense!' said Thorin, ... even if he could be persuaded to start.'
{"}'Fail to see! You would fail to hear it, more likely,' {I}Gandalf answered. ... professional stealth.'
{"}'Professional stealth?' cried Balin, taking up {my}Gandalf’s words rather differently ... Can they still be found?'
{"I}Gandalf hesitated. This was a new turn, and {I}he was not sure how to take it. 'I think so,' {I}he said at last. ... and get what you desire.'
{"}Thorin's eyes glistened ... they cannot tell a gem from a bead of glass.'
{"}'I wish you would not always speak so confidently without knowledge,' {I}Gandalf said sharply. ... and drinks wine out of shapely crystal.'
{"}'Ah! I see your drift at last,' said Balin. 'He is a thief, then? That is why you recommend him?'
{"}At that {I fear I}Gandalf lost {my}his temper and {my}his caution. ... was more than {I}he could stand at that moment. 'A thief?' {I}he said, laughing. ... Then being angry {I}he got up, and {I}he said with a warmth that surprised {myself}himself: 'You must look for that door, Thorin Oakenshield! I am serious.' And suddenly {I}Gandalf felt that {I}he was indeed in hot earnest. This queer notion of {mine}him was not a joke, it was right. It was desperately important that it should be carried out. The Dwarves must bend their stiff necks.
{"}'Listen to me, Durin's Folk!' {I}he cried. ... until the Shadow falls on you!'
{"}Thorin turned and looked at {me}Gandalf in astonishment, ... if you are not merely crazed.'
{"}'Good!' {I}Gandalf said. ... but you must not let him.'
{"}'Haggling will not help him, ... and no more.'
{"}It was not what {I}Gandalf meant, but it seemed to him useless to say so. 'There is one other thing,' {I}he went on; ... east of your quest.'
{"}'He sounds a very strange creature, this thief of yours,' said a young Dwarf called Fíli (Thorin's nephew{, as I afterwards learned}). 'What is his name, or the one that he uses?'
{"}'Hobbits use their real names,' {I}Gandalf said. 'The only one that he has is Bilbo Baggins.'
{"}'What a name!' said Fíli, and laughed.
{"}'He thinks it very respectable,' {I}Gandalf said. ... At least you will be well entertained.'
{"}'That is enough,' said Thorin. ... and my heart is hot within me.'
{"I}Gandalf took no notice of this. 'Look now, Thorin,' {I}he said, 'April is passing ... on the following day.'
{"}And with that {I}Gandalf took {my}his leave, ... The rest of the story is well known TS-QE-26{to you }– from Bilbo's point of view. {If I had written the account, it would have sounded rather different. }He did not know all that went on: ... should not come to his ears too soon.

Map of the Shire
{"}It was on the morning of Tuesday, April the 25th, 2941, that {I}Gandalf called to see Bilbo; and though {I}he knew more or less what to expect {I must say that my}his confidence was shaken. {I}He saw that things would be far more difficult than {I}he had thought. But {I}he persevered. Next day, Wednesday, April the 26th, {I}he brought Thorin ... badly for {me}Gandalf from the beginning; ... only made matters worse. {I}Gandalf was thankful that {I}he had told Thorin {we should}they would all stay the night at Bag End, since {we should}they would need time to discuss ways and means. It gave {me}Gandalf a last chance. If Thorin had left Bag End before {I}he could see him alone, {my}Gandalf’s plan would have been ruined.> TS-QE-27<The Quest of Erebor{" So I rode off back to Thorin in haste, to tackle the difficult task of persuading him to put aside his lofty designs and go secretly – and take Bilbo with him. Without seeing Bilbo first. It was a mistake, and nearly proved disastrous. For Bilbo had changed, of course. At least, he was getting rather greedy and fat, and his old desires had dwindled down to a sort of private dream. Nothing could have been more dismaying than to find it actually in danger of coming true! He}Bilbo was altogether bewildered, and made a complete fool of himself. Thorin would have left in a rage, but for another strange chance, which {I }will be mention in a moment.

One morning early in the Quiet of the World
{"But you know how things went}The story of Thorin’s meeting with Bilbo is told elsewhere, at any rate as Bilbo saw {them}it. The story would sound rather different, if {I}Gandalf had written it. For one thing {he}Bilbo did not realize at all how fatuous the Dwarves thought him, nor how angry they were with {me}Gandalf. Thorin was much more indignant and contemptuous than {he}Bilbo perceived. He was indeed contemptuous from the beginning, and thought then that {I}Gandalf had planned the whole affair simply so as to make a mock of him. It was only the map and the key that saved the situation.
{"}But {I}Gandalf had not thought of them for years. It was not until {I}he got to the Shire and had time to reflect on Thorin's tale that {I}he suddenly remembered the strange chance that had put them in {my}his hands; and it began now to look less like chance. {I}He remembered a dangerous journey of {mine}his, ninety-one years before, when {I}he had entered Dol Guldur in disguise, and had found there an unhappy Dwarf dying in the pits. TS-QE-27.1{I had no idea who he was. }He had a map that had belonged to Durin's folk ... he had possessed a great Ring.
{"}Nearly all his ravings were of that. The last of the Seven he said over and over again. ... But he gave the map and the key to {me}Gandalf. 'For my son,' he said; and then he died, and soon after {I}Gandalf escaped {myself}himself. {I}He stowed the things away, and by some warning of {my}his heart {I}he kept them always with {me}him, safe, but soon almost forgotten. TS-QE-27.2<The Making of Appendix A He was{ probably} unaware who the dwarf was{ in Dol Guldur}, since the 7th ring {would be}was no clue (Dwarves kept the possession of rings very secret), and {Thráin}the dwarf did not know his own name{ (Hobbit p. 35)}. >{I}Gandalf had other business in Dol Guldur more important and perilous than all the treasure of Erebor.
{"}Now {I}Gandalf remembered it all again, and it seemed clear that {I}he had heard the last words of Thráin the Second,[Footnote to the text: Thráin the Second: Thráin the First, Thorin's distant ancestor, escaped from Moria in the year 1981 and became the first King under the Mountain.] though he did not name himself or his son; and Thorin, of course, did not know what had become of his father, nor did he even mention the last of the Seven Rings.{'}> TS-QE-28<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix It was nine years after {Thrain}[Thráin] had left his people that {I}Gandalf found him, and he had then been in the pits of Dol Guldur for five years at least. {I do}Gandalf did not know how {he}Thráin endured so long, nor how he had kept these things hidden through all his torments. {I think that the}The Dark Power had probably desired nothing from him except the Ring only, ... Small oversights often do.> TS-QE-29<The Quest of Erebor{I}Gandalf had the plan ... And {I}he had kept them, though without any design of {my}his own, until the moment when they would prove most useful.
{"}Fortunately, {I}Gandalf did not make any mistake in {my}his use of them. {I}He kept them up {my}his sleeve, as {you say}it is said in the Shire, ... to follow {my}Gandalf’s plan, as far as ... to ease his heart's longings.
{"}But that was not enough for {me}Gandalf. {I}Gandalf knew in {my}his heart that Bilbo must go with {him}Thorin, or the whole quest would be a failure – or, as {I}we should say now, ... So {I}Gandalf had still to persuade Thorin ... but for {me}Gandalf this was the most difficult part of the whole affair. Though {I}he argued with {him}Thorin far into the night ... early the next morning.
{"}Thorin was contemptuous and suspicious. ... other purposes than helping me.'
{"}'You are quite right,' {I}Gandalf said. ... not less.' {I}He spoke at last with great heat. 'Listen to me, Thorin Oakenshield!' {I}he said. ... I am warning you.'
{"}'I know your fame,' Thorin answered. ... have disordered your wits.'
{"}'They have certainly been enough to do so,' {I}Gandalf said. ... though your hands be full of gold.'
{"He}Thorin blenched a little at that; ... as in all that concerns me.'
{"}'Do so then!' {I}Gandalf said. ... to the end of your days.'
{"I}Gandalf said that without hope of persuading {him}Thorin; but {I}he could have said nothing better. ... look after your darling.'
{"}'Good!' {I}Gandalf answered. ... but at the time {I}Gandalf was troubled, for {I}he had the urgent matter of the White Council on {my}his hands.
{"}So it was that the Quest of Erebor set out. {I do}Gandalf did not suppose that when it started Thorin had any real hope of destroying Smaug. There was no hope.> FY-HL-14.6<
The Broken Bridge
>TS-QE-30<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring As is told in The Hobbit, ... far off in the East.>

Thorin’s letter to Bilbo
TS-QE-31<The History of the Hobbit; The Broken Bridge{They} At first they were still in the Shire, of course, and went at a leisurely pace, spending nights in good inns. TS-QE-32b<The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary /The night of April the twenty-eighth they spend/{Spend night} at the All-welcome Inn, at junction of the Northway and the East Road (on Hobbiton side of Frogmorton). So-called because it was much used by travellers through the Shire, especially by dwarves on the way to Thorin’s home in exile, which was in the west-side of the Blue mountains (southern part, in Harlindon). {None of this is mentioned in the text, but The All-welcome Inn should be marked on the needed Shire-map in any new edition of The Hobbit. }It has to be remembered that the East Road ... in its inns ({It}it would also appear that they were sometimes employed as roadmenders and bridge-repairers), but they seldom turned off it,... and gave what was asked.
{2. April 29. Night}/The next night Thorin and his companions were/ at Whitfurrows.>{; not} Not until the Saturday afternoon ... where outlandish things might be expected at any turn. TS-QE-32.5{ At last he felt that his Adventure had begun.}
But beyond the Bridge the road was still good, ..., but gave them no more than a grin and a nod.
In a day or two they came to Bree on the Hill. ... well-known to the hobbits of the east side of the Shire. TS-QE-33.7<The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary {They reach Bree (another 20miles).} There they {stay the night, and purchase}also purchased a good many supplies (including pipe-weed).>{ Bree was as far as Bilbo’s knowledge reached, even by hearsay.} Beyond {it}Bree the lands had been desolate for many long years. When in a day’s journey more they came to the Last Inn, TS-QE-33{they found it deserted.} <The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary but {are}they were depressed at finding it deserted and {go}went no further.> They camped in its ruins, and the next day they passed ... but it was grey now and rather sad.
TS-QE-33.5{Bilbo’s spirit fell, and he said very, little, thinking always of the next stop for food, though meals came much more seldom (and more scanty) than he would have liked. }So they went on for many days, ... as if the land was listening{ (so Bilbo thought to himself)}. TS-QE-34<The History of the Hobbit; Itinerary {by}By the evening of May the tenth {have}they had only reached Weathertop (80 miles from the Last Inn). They {camp}camped on its east side. >After a time the flat lands began to rise before them; ... as if men of evil days had built them.
It was at about this time that things took a bad turn. ... bringing low clouds and driving rain. TS-QE-34.5{Bilbo shivered. ‘Not what I call June!’ he grumbled as he splashed along behind all the others in a deep muddy track that was fast becoming a stream. Poor hobbit, he was quite out of his reckoning; it was the nineteenth of May, but the three weeks on the road began to seem endless. ‘Bother adventures and everything to do with them!’ he thought. ‘I whish I was at home by the fire with the kettle just beginning to sing!’ It was not the last time that he wished that.
}The track climbed to the top of a ridge, ... and the road faded from sight under the shadows at their feet.
‘Ha!’ said Gandalf, peering through the rain. ... Elrond must be told TS-QE-34.7<The History of the Hobbit; Note at the end of Fifth Phase{Ch. III should make clear Elrond’s} He has the care for the roads {etc.}[/u]and bridges[/b] from Greyflood to the {<}Mountains{>}>’.
They did not know what he meant. ... but the arch was broken in the middle.
‘Well, what’s to be done?’ said Gandalf. ‘None are better at bridge-building than dwarves’.
‘Maybe’, said Thorin. ‘But not in the wilds, without the tools or the tackle, nor in a storm of rain!’
‘Just so’ said Gandalf. ... and see the worst!’
They came to the bridge-end, ... cold grey stream.
‘It might be worse’, said Gandalf. ... by the Mines of Moria’.
The dwarves stared at him sullenly, ... ‘What is your advice now?’
‘I also said that no roads are now safe’ answered the wizard. ... Róhald, his horse, answered his commands, spoken softly in a strange tongue. TS-QE-34.9b<The History of the Hobbit; Note at the end of Fifth Phase{Also insert the} The white horse{ Róhald} belonged to Rivendell, {&}and had been lent by Elrond to Gandalf.> The{ white} horse tried the water and then walked on, ... and neighed.
The ponies snorted. ... Neither were the dwarves.
‘Now or never!’ Gandalf called ... to follow. {Fili}[Fíli] und {Kili}[Kíli] at once obyed, ... even the pack-ponies.
Thorin mopped his face, ... There’s no shelter here’.
‘Don’t you want the hobbit any more?’ said Gandalf. ‘I think you may need him’.
They had quite forgotten poor Bilbo! There he was still on the other side, sitting and shivering, more frightened than he had yet been in his life.
‘Confound your hobbit!’ said Thorin, ‘When will he learn to look after himself?’
‘In time’, said Gandalf. ... I will come and help’.
Then the wizard went back over the stream, ... and your own land is not so far ahead!’

At last they had all crossed: ... as if something there alarmed them.> TS-QE-35<The History of the Hobbit; The Broken Bridge Gandalf spoke in the ear of his white horse, ... There all the company mounted again.> TS-QE-36<HoMe 6;From Weathertop to the Ford The Road looped away southward, towards the river> TS-QE-37<HoMe 6; From Weathertop to the Ford {‘That is} Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell. {,’ answered Strider. ‘}The Road {runs}ran along it for many leagues to the Ford.{’}>
TS-QE-38<Appendix A The story is told elsewhere of what came {of that meeting: of the strange plan that Gandalf made for the help of Thorin}after TS-QE-38.1b<Mr. Baggins; Trolls one of the ponies took fright at nothing and bolted{. He} and got into {the}that river before they could catch him>, and how Thorin and his companions set out from {the Shire}Rivendell on the quest of the Lonely Mountain that came to great ends unforeseen.>

Troll’s Hill

The Three Trolls are turned to Stone
FY-HL-15b<
Of the Finding of the Ring
>TS-FR-00.5<ORP {the}The matter would scarcely have concerned later history, or earned more than a note in the long annals of the Third Age, but for an ‘accident’ by the way.>TS-FR-01b<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring The party was assailed by Orcs in a high pass of the Misty Mountains ... It seemed then like mere luck.

Wilderland
Trying to find his way out, ... spying on the orcs of the mines.
Maybe he would have attacked Bilbo at once, ... a way out of the tunnels.
Since he was lost in the dark without hope, ... the ring he had picked up and forgotten: What have I got in my pocket? This Gollum failed to answer, though he demanded three guesses.
The Authorities, it is true, ... he would not fear any weapon at all.
But the ring was not on the island; ... too late. What has it got in its pocketses? he cried. ... escape from the orcs and from Gollum.
At length they came to a halt before an unseen opening ... pursued by his enemy's cries of hate and despair: Thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it for ever!
Now it is a curious fact that ... give him a present, if he won the game; ... written by the old hobbit himself.
Gandalf, however, disbelieved Bilbo's first story, ... but he did not discover the truth in this point for many more yearsTS-QE-39{, as will be seen in this book}.
><LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring Of Bilbo's later adventures … but he kept it secret from them as long as he could.> TS-BB-01<Mr. Baggins; Medwed As {a matter of fact in old days he had known the very}they passed through that part of the mountains {Bladorthin was now describing, and he nodded, and groweld, when he heard of the hobbit’s reappearance, of their}they scramble {[added: }down the mountain side{]} and {of the}found a wolf-ring {[added: }in the woods{]}. {When he heard of their}They climbing their trees and the wolves were all underneath, {he got up and strode about muttering ‚I wish I had been there; I would have given}while Gandalf gave them {more than}some fire works{!’
’Well’ said Bladorthin very relieved to see that his story was making a good impression ’there we}. There they were with the wolves gone mad under {us}them, and the forest beginning to blaze in places, when the goblins came down from the mountains, {&}/and/ discovered {us}them. They yelled with delight and sang songs making fun of {us}them:
“fifteen birds in five fir trees“>
TS-BB-02<Mr. Baggins; Medwed When the wizard had {finished the story, and told of}/prepared for his last stroke/ the eagles/ came to their rescue,/ and/ little Bilbo remembered/ of their flight to the Carrock>. TS-BB-03<Mr. Baggins; Medwed; First Outline{Medwed the bear.}/At last they came to the house of Beorn./> TS-BB-04<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes A They {tell}told Beorn of their quest.

Eagles’ Eyrie
Darkness {falls. They are}fell, and they were given beds in the hall. Moon {shines}shone in through the louver. Beorn {stands up and bids}stood up and bid them goodnight, but {warns}warned them /that/ they must not stray outside the hall till dawn on their peril. He {goes out. They go}went out, and they went to sleep.
Bilbo {wakes}woke up to hear growling outside, {&}/and/ scraping {&}/and/ snuffling at the doors. Next morning/ they could find/ no sign of Beorn; but they {find}found breakfast laid on the veranda. The sheep, horses and dogs {wait}waited on them. Night {comes}came again{. More}/, and Bilbo hared more/ growling. Next morning Beorn {is}was there. He {is}was very pleasant to them. They {find}found out/ that/ he {has}had been right away back to the mountains {&}/and/ found out their story was true. He {has}had caught a warg and a goblin{. He is} and was delighted to think of the death of the chief goblin. So they {tell}told him of their quest {&}/and/ {ask}asked his help. He {lends}lent them ponies and food. They {are}were to ride these as far as the edge of the great forest, then to send them home; but to treat them well and not ride them fast.

They {start}started of{ – [or so it >]} and {ride}rode till dark. Bilbo {thinks}thought he {sees}saw a big bear sneaking in the trees at their side. ‘Sh!,’ {says}said Gandalf{ (=Blad) - }, ‘take no notice.’
They {camp}camped at edge of the great forest; and send back the ponies. In the moon they {see}saw them trotting back with a big bear trotting after them.
In the morning it {is}was as dark in the forest almost as night.
‘Do we have to go through?’ {says}said Bilbo.
‘Yes,’ {says}said {Bladorthin}[Gandalf]{ – we shd}, ‘you would have to go a hundred miles either way to get round it – and /in /the North {we should}you would be back at the Misty Mountains again and {[added: }at the{]} south end the Necromancer lives. At this point there is a track … you won’t find the path again {&}/and/ I don’t know … There is a path across the Marches.’ ‘We know, we know,’ said {Gandalf}[Thorin]{ – }, ‘that is on the borders of our own land, {&}/and/ we have not forgotten … but {<}hurrying{>} straight on we shall come to the {<}west{>} of the Mountain and the Secret Entrance.’

‘All right, then,’ said {Blad}[Gandalf]. ‘Now of you go. Take care of yourselves {&}/and/ goodbye.’
He wouldn’t stay. ‘No,’ he said. ‘This is your affair. I have come … that can wait no longer.’ And off he went back towards {Medwed}[Beorn].>FY-HL-15.5b<Mr. Baggins; Second Phase; chapter VII
Mirkwood
>TS-SL-04b<ORP {But ever}Ever the shadow in Mirkwood {grew}had grown deeper, … the Elves and the survivors of Númenor. TS-QE-41c<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix
{That is why, to jump forward, I}Gandalf went off as soon as the expedition against Smaug was well started, {and persuaded}to persuade the Council to attack Dol Guldur first, before he attacked Lórien.
>Therefore at last the Council was … saying:
‘It is not needed … We must strike.’
To this Curunír now assented, … was made wholesome again. TS-FR-03.5a<ORP And {in}at that {year}occasion the White Council met for the last time, … with none save himself.> TS-QE-41d<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix
But their stroke was too late. … the dark towers of Barad-dûr. TS-QE-44a<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix And yet that was not his original plan; … free from the Shadow.{ How could the Ringbearer have escaped, if there had been no Lórien or Rivendell?} And those places might have fallen{, I think,} if Sauron had … in the assault on Gondor.>

<editorial addition Barad-dûr>
TS-BB-06<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes A
The dwarves {&}/and/ Bilbo {plung}plunged into the forest. Very dark and silent/ it was/. {Black}Black squirrels {peep}peeped at them; and all kinds of queer {<}sneaky{>} creatures in the undergrowth. They {see}saw a sort of track like a rabbit track {&}/and/ {stick}stuck to it – in a long line. They {go}went on till their food {is}was getting short{ (- strech}, so they streched it out with beechnuts {&}/and/ acorns{)}. Bilbo {climbs}climbed a tree and {<sees>}saw Purple Emperors only they are black, but the forest {seems}seemed still to stretch on far ahead. Night {comes. They see}came, and they saw a light not far from/ the/ track. {peering}Peering through the trees they {see}saw people sitting in a clearing having a feast. They {are}were so hungry that they {disobey}disobeyed the warning and {creep}creped off towards the light to beg food. {when}When they {get}got there the lights {go}went out and they {are}were in pitch dark. They {can’t}couldn’t even see one another{. Fall}, and fell over in dark trying to find one another. They {cannot}could not find /the /track again. {See}Later they saw a light again. It {goes}went out again as they {creep}creped up. This {goes}went on till they {are}were quit bewildered. At last they {[get into spider’s >] lose [track >]}lost one another. {Vocies}Bilbo hared voices all over/ the/ wood answering and calling{. Die away.}, but they died away until Bilbo was alone. {Finds}He found himself in a huge spiders web.

This spider {come}came at him. He {kills}killed her{ – takes her thread and in dim light of day has marvellous luck to come across the track. Ties thread to a tree; puts}, put the ring on and {goes}went off{. back} towards spiderwebs{ – which he finds by thread}.
He {calls}called for Dori, Nori, [Ori], {Oinn & Gloinn}Óin and Glóin, Balin, Dwalin, {Bivur}[Bifur], {[Bovur]}[Bofur] {&}/and/ {Bombr}[Bombur], {Fili}[Fíli], {Kili}[Kíli], {Gandalf}[Thorin]. {Faint}But no answer {comes}came. {, and he finds them all hung up, in webs twined round – like spider-meat. All except Gandalf who with orcrist had killed a spider & escaped. He cuts down Dori and with his help is releasing others when the spiders come back swinging from the branches of the trees.
Battle with spiders. When the spiders cannot overcome them they go off and spin black webs all round so that the dwarves are shut in – and hundereds more come up: poisonous spiders.

}The spiders {are}were sitting up in the branches spinning black webs – and guarding their prisoners. Bilbo {hears}hared them talking about the nice {<}pretty{>} meat. TS-BB-07<moved from above {he finds}He found them all hung up, in webs twined round – like spider-meat. All except {Gandalf}[Thorin]>. Luckily {he has}Bilbo had his ring. He {picks}picked up a stone and {<strikes>}struck a spider down. Great {<}commotion{>. They} went up about the spiders, and they all {come}came towards him. He {slips}slipped off in another direction {&}/and/ {knocks}knocked down another spider.
Then when they {have}had all swung down on the ground he {sings}sang a song.
Old fat spider spinning in a tree
{ “ “ “ }/Old fat spider/ can’t spy me
Attercop! Attercop!
Won’t you Stopp,
Stop your spinning and seek for me?
Old Tom-noddy all big body
Old Tom noddy can’t spy me
Attercop! Attercop
Down you drop,
You never will catch me in your tree.
Then he threw another stone. Only {<}a few{>} spiders came down, others ran along the branches and swung from tree to tree. They wove webs all round the clearing.
He went to a different place and sang.
Lazy lob and crazy Cob
Are weaving webs to wind me.
{Then he <illegible>
<}See the{>} tender meat is hanging sweet
but still they can not find me.
Here {[}am{]} I naughty little fly
{[I go by and laughing fly >]} You are fat and lazy
{[Th I go by >]} and {[}I{]} laughing fly as I go by
Through your cobwebs crazy
Then he slashed one of their webs to pieces.
They all came in that direction and so he led them far away {&}/and/ then crept back and loosed the dwarves.
{The}But the spiders found out before he {<}finished{>} - and the dwarves found out /about /his ring, but they did not lose their respect because of his brave deed.
They had a dreadful time following Bilbo{’s thread. Spiders} with the spiders after them{. Spiders} and others in front weaving thick webs to stop them. But the dwarves beat them off with branches at the rear while Bilbo cut the webs ahead.
At last the spiders got tired of following. So they got {back to the track}/free/.
Where was {Gandalf}[Thorin]?{

}Caught by {wood elves}[Wood-elves]. {Took}They took him to the caves of their king. They had had a battle with dwarves long ago and did not like them so he shut {Gandalf}[Thorin] up and sent people to look for the {<}others{>}.

The dwarves were all captured by the {woodelves}[Wood-elves] but Bilbo popped on his ring and followed them into the caves.> TS-BB-08<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes A{[added in top margin:]
In spring <he>
All shut up in it} Bilbo{ can’t find his way out [> get} got out the magic gates{]. lives}, but mostly lived by stealing food. {Finds}/By luck he found/ {Dori}[Thorin]’s cell. {<Must>}/He thought that he must/ get a message to {Bladorthin}[Gandalf]{ (Dwarves made to work). Winter comes & Bilbo must go}.>TS-BB-09<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 1 He {goes}went from cell to cell and {manages}managed to speak to the dwarves; and he {tells}told them he {has}had found {Gandalf}[Thorin] in a very deep dungeon. {Gandalf}[Thorin] {will}would not tell the king his errand, because he {will not}was not willing to share his treasure with the {wood-elves}[Wood-elves].
The river {flows}flowed under part of the caves {&}/and/ {issues}issued by a secret water gate. That way the {wood-elves}[Wood-elves] {get}got many of their supplies, … to the Long Lake.
{<All/}At{>} {<}times{>} Bilbo {<illegible>}/kept/ {<}on{>} lurking in the king’s passages, … he had a desperate idea.
{Steal}He stole the jailers keys and {lets}let out a dwarf at a time. {Hides}He hid them in barrels. In this way they are all were {<?}thrown{>} {[}in{]} the water.
{<}Indeed{>} Bilbo {escape}escaped only by sitting outside one. {Difficulty of getting through Watergate. the}The barrels were assembled{. Grumbles}, even so grumbles about the barrels not being empty arose of /the /elves.

Bilbo comes to the Huts of the Raft-elves
{Raft. Floating}Made up as a raft, the barrels were floated past the marshes. {Raftsmen tell}The raft-elves told tales of the disappearance of the {<}rafts{>} and the loss of men {&}/and/ beasts in these places.

<editorial additionMap of the Long Lake>
{Reach}They reached Long Lake and a town of men. The dwarves {leap}at night stole out of their {Barrels}barrels and {gallop off with the wagons. [But only go off towards Mountain far with >] To}went to the town.

Esgaroth
{Argument of}Arguments arose about the imprisonment by the elves between {Gandalf}[Thorin] and the Mayor. They {buy}got food, and wagons on credit{(but <how> to get the stuff back <large> quest!)} and {go}went off. The elves {go}went back to the king who {makes}made a plan.> FY-HL-15.7<Mr. Baggins; Second Phase; chapter VII
The Lonely Mountain
>TS-BB-10<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 2{All}/Coming near the mountain all/ the land {desert}was deserted.

The Lonely Mountain
The dwarves camped in a hollow near the skirts of the mountain. Form here some went {<}taking{>} Bilbo up the river from/ the Long/ Lake, the Running river. They {look}looked on the Ruins of Dale. Smoke {comes}came out of the Front Door.
‘Then Smaug is still alive?’ asked Bilbo. ‘Doesn’t {<}tell{>}. Inside of {M.}/the Mountain/ is probably pretty hot!’ answered Balin.

Plan of the Lonely Mountain
A whole {year}[summer] had now gone by since they stayed with Elrond. It was {summer. But}autumn now, but exceptional bleak and lonely. They crept {near<er>}/nearer/ the mountain by stages but only saw crows{ and ravens}, and were afraid of them as spices. The {summer}[autumn] waned. After endless search … a kind of bay. {<}Strangely{>} flat … make any of it stir.

The Back Door
Bilbo was wandering disconsolately. The dwarves were silent {<}fierce{>} and unfriendly, and he {wd.}/would/ hear them muttering that the burglar – {esp}/especially/ with his ring – ought to go in by {F.G.}/the Front Gate/ if necessary. He had {<}clombered{>} up the hill and {<}on{>} to the little flat terrace platform where the flat rock-face stood. Looking back he could see the trees in the distance going brown towards /late /autumn. Suddenly he saw … snails upon the stone.
Crack crack.

View from the Back Door
Bilbo {<yells on>}yelled on the hill{. <Fetches>}, and fetched the dwarves. They {watch}watched excitedly as sun {sinks}sank lower and lower. It {goes}went behind a cloud to their despair. But suddenly just before it {touches}touched the rim of the forest a red ray {shoots}shot through a rent in the sky and {falls}fell on the rock-slab. There {is}was a crack{. There is}, and there was a hole in the wall as if {<illegible> }by the sun a flake of rock {falls}had fallen of.
The TS-BB-11{troll-key}<Hobbit; On the Doorstep key that went with the map> {fits}fitted/ and/ the door {swings}swung in. Darkness {falls}fell suddenly and the moon {goes}went quickly after the sun.
>TS-BB-12<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes C; [new page] 3 {Bilbo earns his reward: - the}The dwarves {say}said now {he}[Bilbo] must go in, if he {is}were to fulfil his contract. They {won’t}wouldn’t go with him, only Balin Yellow-beard {comes}came part of the way, in case he {calls}called for help.
/The /Hobbit {creeps}creped into /the /dark mountain. {Easier}It was easier than he thought. {Absol.}/There was an absolutely/ straight tunnel going gently down for a great way. {Begins}Bilbo began to see a light at /the /end, getting redder and redder. {A}He hared a bubbling snoring sound. It {gets v.}got very warm{. Vapours}, and vapours started to float up.
{B. peeps}Bilbo peeped into the great bottommost dungeon at Mountain’s root/ which was/ nearly dark, save for/ the/ glow from Smaug. The great red dragon {is}was fast asleep upon a vast pile of precious things. He {is}was partly on one side: {B. can}Bilbo could see that he {is}was crusted underneath with gems.
{B. steals}Bilbo stole a cup to show he {has}had been there. {[ Describe some of the things dimly seen especially swords and spears]}/He saw dimly shields and swords and spears./
{Dwarves pat}The dwarves patted him on the back. TS-BB-13{Wrath of Dragon, who comes out}<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 3 {Warth}But he had aroused the wrath of the Dragon. He {comes}came out – {<}of course{>} he {cannot}could not get up /the /tunnel - to hunt the thief, and {settles}settled flaming on the {Mount}/Mountain/. Then {flies}he flew all round it roaring.
{Terror of}In great terror the dwarves{, hiding} hideTS-BB-14{under rocks. They dig holes.}<Return to Bag-End; Conversation with Smaug{They had barely time to get back to} in the tunnel, pulling and dragging in their bundles when Smaug came whirling from the North, licking the mountain wall with flames, beating his great wings with a noise like a roaring wind.>

/Later /Bilbo {goes}went back again. The {D. is}Dragon was only pretending to be asleep. Bilbo {catches}caught a glint in his eye and {stays}stayed at /the /mouth of /the /tunnel{. [added: slips} and slipped on his ring. {D. asks}The dragon asked where he {has}had gone to.{] [added in margin: B. does} Bilbo did not say who he {is}was but {says}said he came over the water TS-BB-15{in}<on> a barrel, {D}/the dragon/ thinks he is one of Long{Lake men}[Lake-men]{] (Riddling?)}. {D. tries they}The dragon tried to poison his mind with half-truths {ag.}/against/ the dwarves. {Says}He said that they don’t worry about him or paying him. Supposing they could get treasure how {cd.}/could/ they carry it off? he asked, and that they {They <}didn’t{>tell you} told him that {<}shares won’t{>} work.
{B. says}[b]Bilbo said[/u] they have not only come for treasure but revenge.
{D. laughs}[b]The dragon laughed[/u].
{B. flatters}[b]Bilbo flattered[/u] him, {says}saying that he {cert.}/certainly/ never imagined Smaug was so tremendous.
{D says}The dragon said no warrior could kill him now{. He}, since he is armoured with gems underneath. {B. asks}[b]Bilbo asked[/u] him to show – and {sees}saw a /bare/ patch. Then he {escapes}escaped but {D. sends}the dragon send fiery spurts after him TS-bb-16<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 4 , and poor {B. is}Bilbo was burned badly.>
TS-BB-17{B goes back and talks to dwarves. Warns them dragon knows of exit. <Asks> them about plans.}<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 4 He {goes}went back to the dwarves filled with misgivings and {asks}asked them about their future plans.> They {are}were a bit flummoxed. They {tell}told him of the {Jem}[Gem] of Girion king of Dale, which he had paid for his sons’ arming in gold {&}/and/ silver made like steel/ and the Arkenstone/.> TS-BB-18<moved from above {B goes back and talks}Bilbo talked to /the /dwarves{.}TS-BB-19<Return to Bag-End; Conversation with Smaug about the bare patch in the old Smaug's diamond waistcoat{ may come in useful yet.}> TS-BB-20<Return to Bag-End; Conversation with Smaug , and all the while the thrush listened, and at last as the sun sank towards the forest he flew away.> {Warns them}Bilbo warned the dwarves /that the /dragon {knows}knew of /the /exit.> TS-BB-21<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 3 Greater wrath of/ the/ Dragon:>TS-BB-22<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 3 He {comes}came out {– <of course> he cannot get up tunnel -}and {sniffs}sniffed all round the mountain, {fly}flying fiercely round and round to find the thief. {Terror of}In terror the dwarves>TS-BB-23<Return to Bag-End; Conversation with Smaug {He pushed the door and} kicked {[added: }away{]} the stone that blocked the door. Then {he}they thrust upon it and it closed with a snap and a clang. {[They were shut >] No trace of a key hole was there left. They were shut in the Mountian. }And not a moment too soon. A blow smote the side of the Mountain like the crash of battering rams{ made of forest oaks and swung by giants. The rock boomed; stones fell on their heads}. They fled far down the tunnel glad to be {[added: }still{]} alive, pursued by the roar without where Smaug was breaking rocks to pieces smashing wall and cliff with his great tail, till their little lofty camping ground{, the thrush's stone the scorched grass the narrow ledge and} all disappeared in a jumble of smashed boulders, and an avalanche of splintered stones fell over the cliff into the valley underneath.>
TS-BB-24<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 3 {Dragons thinks}The dragon thought that it {is}were men from {Long lake}[Long Lake]{. Goes}, and went off in dreadfull rage to destroy their town. The people {see}saw him coming {[and fly. But he dare not come down >] }and cut down the bridge to their lake-dwelling.> TS-BB-25<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes C; [new page] 4 {D flies}The dragon flew over them and set houses alight, but {dare}dared not settle right in /the /lake. They TS-BB-26<editorial addition tried to >quench fire with water and {shoot}shot darts at him. Glint of gems in dragon’s belly in light of fire/ were seen/.> TS-BB-27<editorial addition based on Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 3 At last most people {fly}flew on boats. The Dragon {plans}planed to>TS-BB-28<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes C; [new page] 4 {He settles}settle at the side of /the /lake and{ tries} starve them out.> TS-QE-43b<Appendix A The Dragon was slain by Bard of Esgaroth>TS-BB-29<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes F {Send}, who received a message send by/ the/ Thrush to Lake Town – it {arrives}arrived too late but {reaches}reached Bard before his last shot.{

Bring} It brought him {<?}word{>} in /the /last {<}moment{>}/ of the bare patch/.>TS-BB-30<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes D; [newer page] 4 & 5 {What happened [<?when> >] at}/When the Dragon fell he crushed/ {Esgaron}[Esgaroth] {(}(Lake-town){).}/ and sunk into the lake so that/TS-BB-31<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 3 fast clouds of steams {go}went up.> {<How>}But Bard escaped. The anguish of the Lake-men {&}/and/ {<}wrath{>} of the Master/ was great/. They now {hate}hated the dwarves as source of the {<}trouble{>}: some even {suggest}suggested that the {<?}driving forth{>} of the dragon against them was deliberate.

Death of Smaug
{<}Messengers{> go} went to /the /{wood-elves}[Wood-elves]; and the king’s spies {bring}brought him news. He {leads}led forth the soldiers and they {join}joined with the {lake men}[Lake-men] {<}under{>} Bard. They {go}went north to capture {<}the{>} dwarves and the gold.
>
TS-BB-32<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes D; [newer page] 4 & 5 The Dwarves and Bilbo {sit}set and {<?quake>}quaked. {Unable}They were unable to tell passage of time. The silence {goes}went on and on. {and}And still they {dare}dared note move. They {doze}doused and {wake}woke and still the silence was unbroken. The next day and next night and no sign of the dragon they could find. They {try}tried to open/ the/ door – no good of course.
‘We are trapped,’ they said and {grumble}grumbled at Bilbo.
{[Only > }In desperation they {go}went down the tunnel.
Bilbo {slips}slipped on his ring. {Absolute}It was absolute dark in the hall. No sign or {<}sound{>} of Smaug was to be found. The stillness {is}was uncanny.
{<Illegible> he gets [Oin to light >]}He got {Gloin}[Glóin] to light him a little torch. He {climbs}climbed the mound of gold – the dwarves {see}saw him from afar like a little spark. They {see}saw him stoop but {don’t}didn’t know why. TS-BB-33<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes C; [new page] 4 {He steals}Bilbo stole a bright gem which {fascinates}fascinated him> – {The}the TS-BB-34{gem of Girion & its fascination for him}[Arkenstone]. TS-BB-35<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 4 {He}Bilbo thought that he must earn it.>
He {explores}explored all the hall{. Peeps}, and peeped through its door into the vast passages above. The Dwarves {prepare}prepared to creep through the old halls.
Thorin {is}was their guide.
Dreading at every step to hear Smaug’s return thy {climb}climbed the long stairs and passages {<}through{>} dark deserted halls {<illegible>}/following his torch/.
At last {<?}they{> reach} reached the outer gate. {<}A whirl{>} of bats flew out. {A}The gate was a smooth and slimy passage worn by the dragon by the river-side. They {stand}stood in the blessed light of day and {see}saw it {is}was early morning in the east.
Crows {are fly[ing]}were flying South in flocks.>

The Front Door
{<Thorin> <?interprets> their speech. There is great feasting <?&> a <slaughter> <?there>
[They <wonder> if <Smaug> <had> <?truly> has been <?destroy[ed]> >]
}And armies {are}were on the march{.} North.
In the evening {[the crows >] }a raven {brings}brought word. {Bows}It bowed to Thorin (now /that /Smaug {is}was dead) and they {learn}learned of the Battle {&}/and/ Smaug’s {<}overthrow{>. The <illegible>}, and that the armies of the {Lake men}[Lake-men] {&}/and/ {wood elves}[Wood-elves] {are}were coming to take the gold.>
TS-BB-36<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes E; ‘Little Bird’ Raven {tells}told of {2}two or {3}three ponies still alive{. Offers} and offered also to {<}assemble{>} {<}their{>} folk and bring {food from far and wide}/messages to Thorins relatives./
{Fili}[Fíli] and {Kili}[Kíli] {go}went off too catch ponies. {Others go}The others went into /the /Mountain. Great {<}labours{>} they began day and night at the great door. Bilbo {keeps}kept watch on Ravenhill.
The birds {bring}brought news of /the /approach of the men of lake and the Elvenking and the {<joining> of the host with that of <?men> }host of the Elves.{ Fili and Kili have not come back they are pursued by warriors.}
The dwarves {gather}gathered weapons and store of arrows to the {G.D.}/Front gate/ which now {is}was blocked with stones {<}with crevices{>} for shouting from.{ The opening on Ravenhill is guarded by Dori & Nori.}
Three days later /Fíli and /{Kili}[Kíli] {[rides up >] comes}came to the {G.D. & begs}Front gate and begged for admittance. {Their horses were shot under them but they have laid}They had recovered all the stores they could carry /from /near the foot of the great spur{, but as they climbed the hillside Fili was wounded & captured}. The host {is}was already at the foot of the mountain.{
Each of the ravens fly bringing meat and bread. But} And that night the{ dwarves steal out and recover the <bags>. The} camp fires {start}started up in the {<}ruins{>} of Dale.
{The}Next day it came to the parley at the Gates. Thorin’s scornful words{. He will}, he would give nothing to demand. What got they out of the last {K.u.M}/King under the Mountain/? The Elvenking on behalf of the {lake men}[Lake-men] {demands}demanded payment {<}for{/from>} {<illegible>}/the killing/ of Smaug, the destruction of the town, all /the /{<}slain{>}. Thorin {says }said, ‘first remove your menace from my {<?}palace{>}.’ But stores{ Stores} run low{ for the elves shoot at the ravens}.>
TS-BB-37<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes D; [newer page] 5 continued The siege of the mountain is set by Elves and Men.
Bilbo {<sneaks>}sneaked forth at night and {comes}came to the camps. He {calls}called {<}for{>} Bard and {sits}sat {<}amid{>} the counsellors. He {says}said the {Gem of Girion}[Arkenstone] {is}was his own since he {<is> <illegible> <illegible>}was entitled to choose his share. If it were all – and the dwarves prize it more dearly than all else – he would give it to Bard the heir of Girion to let his friends go in peace. The {woodelves}[Wood-elves] and other counsellors {speak ag[ainst]}spoke against him.
An old man {rises}rose from the floor. It {is}was Gandalf!
He {speaks}spoke to Bard. ‘Prophecies often come true in {diff.}/different/ {<}guise{>. },’ he said. ‘Be not a greater fool than the fools who {<illegilbe>}drove the dragon {<}from{>} his wealth. Believe not prophecies less because you yourself have {<}aided{>} in their fulfilment. The gold is not yours. Prosperity shall reign if the real King under the {M.}Mountain comes back. Be not outdone in generosity by {<}plain{>} Mr. Baggins who has {<?}bargained{>} all his reward for his friends. {[Girion >] }Dale {&}/and/ Lake Town are to be rebuilt.’
‘Who are you?’ says the king of the {wood elves}[Wood-elves].
‘I am Gandalf!’
Then he believed at last that Thorin is indeed Thorin son of {Thrain}[Thráin] son of {Thror}[Thrór]. {why}‘Why did he not say so?’ {[A >] }‘Your own acts {<?}condemn{>} you{.} – because dwarves understood better than all others the {<}power{>} of the greed of gold{.} and fear therefore more {<}certainly{>} to {<?}extend{>} it. You owe {<}them{>} aid not {<?}enmity{>}.’
Thus came the peace and pact of the Ruined {<}City{>}.>
TS-BB-38<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes D; [newer page] 5; left margin {<}Thorin{>} {<?grieves>}grieved at first when he {learns}learned of Bilbo’s dealing with the {Gem of Girion}[Arkenstone]>.
TS-QE-43.5b<LotR; Of the Finding of the Ring Yet, though before all was won the Battle of Five Armies was fought>TS-QE-43c<Appendix A in Dale. For the Orcs came down upon Erebor as soon as they heard of the return of the Dwarves; and they were led by Bolg, son of that Azog whom Dáin slew in his youth. TS-BB-39<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 5 {B. puts}Bilbo put on {[the > }a suit of silver mail made for {an elf-king’s}a son[ of Girion], and {goes}went with the {wood-elves}[Wood-elves] to battle.> TS-QE-43d<Appendix A In that first Battle of Dale, Thorin Oakenshield was mortally wounded{; and he died and was laid in a tomb under the Mountain with the Arkenstone upon his breast}. There fell also Fíli and Kíli, his sister-sons>. TS-BB-40<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 5 Beorn {Medwed is}was there {with a troop of bears}/as a great bear and carried Thorin out of the fray/>TS-BB-41<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 5 and the goblins of the Misty Mountains {&}/and/ wargs {are}were defeated{[}.{]}>

Coming of the Eagles
TS-BB-42<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes D; [newer page] 5; left margin {but after a while he says}/But before Thorin died he said to Bilbo:/ ‘There is indeed more {<}in{>} you than you know yourself. We {<}have{> <illegible>} as seemed unlikely to be thankful to Gandalf. And yet perhaps you have more to thank him for than all – even though you went hence empty-handed.’>TS-QE-43e<Appendix A Thorin was laid in a tomb under the Mountain with the Arkenstone upon his breast> and the TS-BB-43<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes F Wood-elf king {gives}gave back orcrist /which was laid on his tomb./>
TS-QE-43f<Appendix A But Dáin Ironfoot, {his}Thorin’s cousin, who came from the Iron Hills to his aid and was also his rightful heir, became then King Dáin II, and the Kingdom under the Mountain was restored, even as Gandalf had desired.> TS-QE-41c<The Quest of Erebor, Appendix {They will}Sauron and Smaug would have helped one another{.” And they certainly would have done so,} if {I}the Council had not attacked Dol Guldur at the same time.
>TS-QE-43g<Appendix A Dáin proved a great and wise king, and the Dwarves prospered and grew strong again in his day.> TS-BB-44<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes D; [newer page] 5 continued /The /{Woodelves}[Wood-elves] got rich presents.
{<}Huge{>} {<?}sums{>} of {<}money{>} were given for rebuilding of {Esgaron}[Esgaroth].>
TS-BB-45<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes F They {bid}bad Bilbo take his share over {&}/and/ above the gem. He says he {is}was sick of the sight of gold – yet in the end he {accepts <illegible>}accepted a bag filled with treasure by the {<}dwarves{>} a set of golden dinner service and {a silver kettle.} TS-BB-46<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 5 the Gem of Girion>. TS-BB-47<Return to Bag-End; Plot Notes F With these he {sets}set out home with Gandalf. An escort of {wood-elves}[Wood-elves] {is}was found {<through>}/until/ Mirkwood.> TS-BB-48<Return to Bag-End; And Back Again {‘I beg you’ said Bilbo stammering ‘to accept a gift,’ he brought out a silver necklace [> necklace of silver and pearls].}[The Gem of Girion Bilbo gave as a gift to the Elvenking at their parting.]>
TS-BB-49<Mr. Baggins; Plot Notes B; [page] 5 After the battle the way {is}was clear over the mountains.{ Bilbo with only a little treasure – a nice set of golden dinner service – and the Gem of Girion – goes home. The wizard won’t have <any more>.} They {uncover}uncovered the trolls’ gold {&}/and/ {leave}shared it.
{Breif stay}Briefly they stayed at Elrond’s. But in/ the/ end {B.}/Bilbo/ {<thinks>}thought he will go home to his own hole. Took {is}was getting tired.
{Arrival}Arriving at own home{.} Bilbo found that he was ‘Presumed dead’{[}.{] In} He came in the middle of an auction.{ Puts Gem in a safe but looks at it every day.} Otherwise he became {<}just{ becomes>} a hobbit again – but very different. {Takes}He took to writing poetry and {is}was regarded a bit queer.{
Long after when he is very old he returns the Gem.}
His ring he used/ only/ when unwelcome callers came.>
TS-FR-03b<Prologue After {his}Bilbo’s return to his home he never spoke of it ... that he was writing.
His sword, Sting, ... remained in his pocket.>
TS-FR-05<Return of the Shadow; In the House of Elrond{'}Balin took to travelling again{,' he answered. 'You may have heard that he}. He visited Bilbo in Hobbiton {many years ago: well}, and not very long after that ... discovered wandering masterless in the South and East. He wanted {Dain}[Dáin] to go back to Moria - or at least to allow him to found a colony there and reopen the great mines. {As you probably know, }Moria was the ancestral home of the dwarves of the race of Durin, and the forefathers of Thorin and {Dain}[Dáin] dwelt there, ... especially in silver. {Dain}[Dáin] was not willing ... and many gifts of silver were sent to {Dain}[Dáin]. Then fortune changed. {Our}The messengers of the Dwarves of the Mountain were attacked and robbed by cruel Men, well-armed. No messengers came from Moria; but rumour reached {us}the Mountain that the mines and dwarf-city were again deserted. For long {we}the Dwarves could not learn what had become of Balin and his people - but {now we have}then they had news, and it {is}was evil.{ It is to tell these tidings and to ask for the counsel of - of those that dwell in Rivendell that I have come. But to-night let us speak of merrier things!}> FY-HL-15.8<editorial addition
* * *
>TS-SL-07b<Appendix A Fengel {He} was the third son and fourth child of Folcwine of Rohan. He is not remembered with praise. ... won honour in the service of Turgon.>
TS-SL-05b<Appendix A Turgon followed Túrin TS-SL-06 in the line of the Stewards, but of his time it is chiefly remembered that two years ere his death, Sauron arose again, and declared himself openly;{ and he re-entered Mordor long prepared for him. Then the Barad-dûr was raised once more,} and Mount Doom burst into flame, and the last of the folk of Ithilien fled far away. When Turgon died Saruman took Isengard for his own, and fortified it.>
TS-SL-08<[b]Appendix A Thengel {He }took no wife until late, ... Her brother loved her dearly.
It was soon after Thengel's return ... supporting its enemies.>
TS-SL-10<Appendix A In 2989 Théodwyn married Éomund of Eastfold, ... lay in wait in the rocks.
Not long after Théodwyn took sick and died to the great grief of {the king}here brother, King Théoden. Her children he took into his house, ... and Théoden did not wed again.>
TS-SL-11<Appendix A Éomer and Éowyn grew up at Edoras ... whom the Rohirrim had called Steelsheen.> TS-SL-12<Appendix A When still young {he}Éomer became a Marshal of the Mark (3017) and was given his father's charge in the east marches.>

Respectfuly
Findegil

[Findegil]

Remarks about the new editings:
FY-HL-14.2: Unchanged
TS-FR-03.5b: I put that passage here in front of the chapter because it is more of a description of the generall situation in the world and it fits well to the end of the last chapter and as an intro into this new one.
TS-SL-04.5b: I took up much more of these passage so it is a kind of pretelling. But that does serve well here as an intor. But as we have not yet spoken aboute the assult upon Dol Guldur, the reference to it must go.
TS-QE-01: Unchanged
TS-QE-02b: Unchanged
TS-QE-03: Unchanged
TS-QE-04b: Unchanged
TS-QE-05: Unchanged
TE-QE-05.1: Unchanged
TE-QE-05.2: Unchanged
TS-QE-06b: Unchanged
TS-SL-03b: Unchanged
TS-QE-07 to TS-QE-10: Unchanged
TS-QE-11b: I found a better source, more removed from the final text.
TS-QE-12: Unchanged
TS-QE-13b: Unchanged
TS-QE-14 to TS-QE-27: Unchanged
TS-QE-27.1: Unchanged
TS-QE-27.2: Unchanged
TS-QE-28 & TS-QE-29: Unchanged
FY-HL-14.6: Unchanged
TS-QE-30 to TS-QE-32: Unchanged
TS-QE-32.5: Unchanged
TS-QE-33.7: Unchanged
TS-QE-33: Unchanged
TS-QE-33.5: Unchanged
TS-QE-34: Unchanged
TS-QE-34.5: Unchanged
TS-QE-34.7: Unchanged
TS-QE-34.9: Unchanged
TS-QE-35 & TS-QE-36: Unchanged
TS-QE-38: Unchanged
TS-QE-38.1: Even so the text is the same, I changed the source.
FY-HL-15b: Unchanged
TS-FR-00.5: Unchanged
TS-FR-01b: Unchanged
TS-QE-39: Unchanged
TS-BB-01 & TS-BB-02: Here the new editing realy begins. As there is a gap between the place we have reached with The Finding of the Ring and the beginning of the First Outline I have filled that gap by {Thorin}[Gandalf] telling the story of their journey to {Medwed}[Beorn]. Of course I had to remove the arrival of all the dwarves, therefore this is spilted in to parts.
TS-BB-03: Here First Outline starts with a blank statement we have to expand to a sentence.
TS-BB-04: Polt Notes A is a much fuller text and therefore preferred as sun as it starts.
FY-HL-15.5b: I took up this chapter title because it serves as a binder for two far separated items combined.
TS-SL-04b: I found it better fitting to tell of Gandalfs reason to leave Thorin & Co. in the moment he does leave. But how ever this first sentence with its description of the darkening of Mirkwood would fit here anyhow.
TS-QE-41c: This did nearly not move at all, but it is now embedded into a quite new context.
TS-FR-03.5a: This is not only moved but as well a bit changed, to have a smoother integration.
TS-QE-41d: The next part that I moved to this place.
TS-QE-44a: And with this we end the telling of the attack on Dol Guldur.
TS-BB-06: We stay in Mirkwood but go back to Thorin & Co.
TS-BB-07: The outline is a bit thinking with the pen, so we have to sort it a bit here.
TS-BB-08: I think this addition from the top margin has to go in here.
TS-BB-09: We change here to Plot Notes B since they do fit the tale as it was written in the end more closely.
FY-HL-15.7: I took this sub-chapter heading again from Mr. Baggins.
TS-BB-10: We continue with Plot Notes B.
TS-BB-11: That the key from the Troll-purse fited the door was only eliminated in the final writing so we have no chance as to insert a few words from The Hobbit.
TS-BB-12: Here we change to the new Plot Notes C.
TS-BB-13: To compile a text coherent in itself and fiting the later final version I used here part of Plot Notes B even so it was replaced by Plot Notes C.
TS-BB-14: In the outlines the dwarves hide in holes and under rocks. So again we have to take a sentence from a more finished text.
TS-BB-15: A small change, but important to make the story fit to what is said in The Hobbit.
TS-BB-16 & TS-BB-17: That Bilbo was burned and that he was suspicious against the dwarves are information found in Plot Notes B and not mentioned in the later ones, but taken up in the final text.
TS-BB-18: I move this bit to get a chance to add the thrush here, which seems a necessary information seeing the later story.
TS-BB-19 & TS-BB-20: The later story in the Plot Notes make it clear that the thrush overhearing Bilbo telling the dwarves about Smaug’s week spot was a part of the story, but to bring that into our text I had again to us are more finished version.
TS-BB-21 & TS-BB-22: Again I constructed my text from Plot Notes B since they are a bit fuller text then the later Plot Notes.
TS-BB-23: The closing of the door and Smaug’s fury I had agin to take from a more final text.
TS-BB-24: Again a part of Plot Notes B serving to builf a coherent text.
TS-BB-25: At least a bit of Plot Notes C useable.
TS-BB-26: In the Notes it reads as if the Lake-men were succseful in quenching the fires, but we know from the final text that they were not.
TS-BB-27 & TS-BB-28: This part is difficult to bring into accordance with the final text. Thefore it is a wild mixture.
TS-QE-43b: We used Appendix A more widly in our last draft. I incopperated parts of it were this was helpful.
TS-BB-29: In contrast to Plot Notes A to Plot Notes D Plot Notes E and Plot Notes F are really only separated notes. Therefore I took them spearingly and had to edit them greatly to be usefull.
TS-BB-30: Here we reach the start of Plot Notes D which is the last integrated into Tolkiens pre-writing in short hand narrative form.
TS-BB-31: A small detail added from Plot Notes B because it is only found there and in the final text.
TS-BB-32: I reorganiced the sequence a bit, because I think it makes a better flow of the text.
TS-BB-33: This is not mention in Plot Notes D.
TS-BB-34: In the Plote Notes the place of the Arkenstone was taken by the Gem of Girion. I left the Gem in the earlier mention and added the Arkenstone, but here and later on we have to change it.
TS-BB-35: That is the best I could find to make clear that Bilbo did know that it was not right to take the stone.
TS-BB-36: A passage from Plot Notes E taken up here.
TS-BB-37: Back to Plot Note D.
TS-BB-38: That addon from the left margin seems to be long here.
TS-QE-43.5b & TS-QE-43c: The Battle of the Five Armies is not told in the Plot Notes. Therefore we must use as we did in the last draft other sources. But I reorganized them to fit with the material found in the Plot Notes.
TS-BB-39: The last page of the Plot Notes Tolkien left unchanged, therefore we are back at Plot Notes B here.
TS-QE-43d: The next slice from the Appendix A needed because the Battle was not described in the Plot Notes.
TS-BB-40 & TS-BB-41: Okay, these are from a Battle in the upper vale of Anduin but it was the best I found to construct our text and they fit more or less well.
TS-BB-42: When this was written it was not planed for the death scene of Thorin, but it is for sure the first hint of the reconciliation of Thorin and Bilbo after the enstarngement following Bilbo giving the Arkenstone to Bard.
TS-QE-43e: Back to Appendix A.
TS-BB-43: The extension of this draft passage is based on the final text.
TS-QE-43f, TS-QE-41c & TS-QE-43g: The next bits of our last draft arranged here.
TS-BB-44: The dealing out of the treasure by Dain can here not be told as in the hobbit, but this passage does summarize it good enough.
TS-BB-45 & TS-BB-46: The same here with Bilbo’s reward.
TS-BB-47: Plot Notes F is a difficult source due to its nature as working notes, but it is the only source to build up part of the backward journey.
TS-BB-48: I wanted to tell the story line of the Gem of Girion to its end. Even so I had to catch that text from a more final text, it is still fare from the version in The Hobbit.
TS-BB-49: The Backward journey was only given in Plot Notes B.
TS-FR-03b: This is only slightly changed due to its new circumstance.
TS-FR-05: Unchanged.
FY-HL-15.8: Does someone have a good idea for a headline here? Otherwise the stars must do to separate what follows from Bilbos adventure.
TS-SL-07b: Unchanged.
TS-SL-05b: Unchanged.
TS-SL-06 to TS-SL-12: Unchanged.

Respectfuly
Findegil

[Findegil]

Okay now at last a part of the new chapter in plain text:

Of the Finding of the Ring
The matter would scarcely have concerned later history, or earned more than a note in the long annals of the Third Age, but for an ‘accident’ by the way. The party was assailed by Orcs in a high pass of the Misty Mountains as they went towards Wilderland; and so it happened that Bilbo was lost for a while in the black orc-mines deep under the mountains, and there, as he groped in vain in the dark, he put his hand on a ring, lying on the floor of a tunnel. He put it in his pocket. It seemed then like mere luck.

Wilderland
Trying to find his way out, Bilbo went on down to the roots of the mountains, until he could go no further. At the bottom of the tunnel lay a cold lake far from the light, and on an island of rock in the water lived Gollum. He was a loathsome little creature: he paddled a small boat with his large flat feet, peering with pale luminous eyes and catching blind fish with his long fingers, and eating them raw. He ate any living thing, even orc, if he could catch it and strangle it without a struggle. He possessed a secret treasure that had come to him long ages ago, when he still lived in the light: a ring of gold that made its wearer invisible. It was the one thing he loved, his 'precious', and he talked to it, even when it was not with him. For he kept it hidden safe in a hole on his island, except when he was hunting or spying on the orcs of the mines.
Maybe he would have attacked Bilbo at once, if the ring had been on him when they met; but it was not, and the hobbit held in his hand an Elvish knife, which served him as a sword. So to gain time Gollum challenged Bilbo to the Riddle-game, saying that if he asked a riddle which Bilbo could not guess, then he would kill him and eat him; but if Bilbo defeated him, then he would do as Bilbo wished: he would lead him to a way out of the tunnels.
Since he was lost in the dark without hope, and could neither go on nor back. Bilbo accepted the challenge; and they asked one another many riddles. In the end Bilbo won the game, more by luck (as it seemed) than by wits; for he was stumped at last for a riddle to ask, and cried out, as his hand came upon the ring he had picked up and forgotten: What have I got in my pocket? This Gollum failed to answer, though he demanded three guesses.
The Authorities, it is true, differ whether this last question was a mere 'question' and not a 'riddle' according to the strict rules of the Game; but all agree that, after accepting it and trying to guess the answer, Gollum was bound by his promise. And Bilbo pressed him to keep his word; for the thought came to him that this slimy creature might prove false, even though such promises were held sacred, and of old all but the wickedest things feared to break them. But after ages alone in the dark Gollum’s heart was black, and treachery was in it. He slipped away, and returned to the island, of which Bilbo knew nothing, not far off in the dark water. There, he thought, lay his ring. He was hungry now, and angry, and once his 'precious' was with him he would not fear any weapon at all.
But the ring was not on the island; he had lost it, it was gone. His screech sent a shiver down Bilbo's back, though he did not yet understand what had happened. But Gollum had at last leaped to a guess, too late. What has it got in its pocketses? he cried. The light in his eyes was like a green flame as he sped back to murder the hobbit and recover his 'precious'. Just in time Bilbo saw his peril, and he fled blindly up the passage away from the water; and once more he was saved by his luck. For just as he ran he put his hand in his pocket, and the ring slipped quietly on to his finger. So it was that Gollum passed him without seeing him, and went to guard the way out, lest the ‘thief’ should escape. Warily Bilbo followed him, as he went along, cursing, and talking to himself about his 'precious'; from which talk at last even Bilbo guessed the truth, and hope came to him in the darkness: he himself had found the marvellous ring and a chance of escape from the orcs and from Gollum.
At length they came to a halt before an unseen opening that led to the lower gates of the mines, on the eastward side of the mountains. There Gollum crouched at bay, smelling and listening; and Bilbo was tempted to slay him with his sword. But pity stayed him, and though he kept the ring, in which his only hope lay, he would not use it to help him kill the wretched creature at a disadvantage. In the end, gathering his courage, he leaped over Gollum in the dark, and fled away down the passage, pursued by his enemy's cries of hate and despair: Thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it for ever!
Now it is a curious fact that this is not the story as Bilbo first told it to his companions. To them his account was that Gollum had promised to give him a present, if he won the game; but when Gollum went to fetch it from his island he found the treasure was gone: a magic ring, which had been given to him long ago on his birthday. Bilbo guessed that this was the very ring that he had found, and as he had won the game, it was already his by right. But being in a tight place, he said nothing about it, and made Gollum show him the way out, as a reward instead of a present. This account Bilbo set down in his memoirs, and he seems never to have altered it himself, not even after the Council of Elrond. Evidently it still appeared in the original Red Book, as it did in several of the copies and abstracts. But many copies contain the true account (as an alternative), derived no doubt from notes by Frodo or Samwise, both of whom learned the truth, though they seem to have been unwilling to delete anything actually written by the old hobbit himself.
Gandalf, however, disbelieved Bilbo's first story, as soon as he heard it, and he continued to be very curious about the ring. Eventually he got the true tale out of Bilbo after much questioning, which for a while strained their friendship; but the wizard seemed to think the truth important. Though he did not say so to Bilbo, he also thought it important, and disturbing, to find that the good hobbit had not told the truth from the first: quite contrary to his habit. The idea of a 'present' was not mere hobbitlike invention, all the same. It was suggested to Bilbo, as he confessed, by Gollum's talk that he overheard; for Gollum did, in fact, call the ring his 'birthday present', many times. That also Gandalf thought strange and suspicious; but he did not discover the truth in this point for many more years.
Of Bilbo's later adventures little more need be said here. With the help of the ring he escaped from the orc-guards at the gate and rejoined his companions. He used the ring many times on his quest, chiefly for the help of his friends; but he kept it secret from them as long as he could. As they passed through that part of the mountains they scramble down the mountain side and found a wolf-ring in the woods. They climbing their trees and the wolves were all underneath, while Gandalf gave them some fire works. There they were with the wolves gone mad under them, and the forest beginning to blaze in places, when the goblins came down from the mountains, and discovered them. They yelled with delight and sang songs making fun of them:
“fifteen birds in five fir trees“
When the wizard had prepared for his last stroke the eagles came to their rescue, and little Bilbo remembered of their flight to the Carrock. At last they came to the house of Beorn. They told Beorn of their quest.

Eagles’ Eyrie
Darkness fell, and they were given beds in the hall. Moon shone in through the louver. Beorn stood up and bid them goodnight, but warned them that they must not stray outside the hall till dawn on their peril. He went out, and they went to sleep.
Bilbo woke up to hear growling outside, and scraping and snuffling at the doors. Next morning they could find no sign of Beorn; but they found breakfast laid on the veranda. The sheep, horses and dogs waited on them. Night came again, and Bilbo hared more growling. Next morning Beorn was there. He was very pleasant to them. They found out that he had been right away back to the mountains and found out their story was true. He had caught a warg and a goblin and was delighted to think of the death of the chief goblin. So they told him of their quest and asked his help. He lent them ponies and food. They were to ride these as far as the edge of the great forest, then to send them home; but to treat them well and not ride them fast.

They started of and rode till dark. Bilbo thought he saw a big bear sneaking in the trees at their side. ‘Sh!,’ said Gandalf, ‘take no notice.’
They camped at edge of the great forest; and send back the ponies. In the moon they saw them trotting back with a big bear trotting after them.
In the morning it was as dark in the forest almost as night.
‘Do we have to go through?’ said Bilbo.
‘Yes,’ said Gandalf, ‘you would have to go a hundred miles either way to get round it – and in the North you would be back at the Misty Mountains again and at the south end the Necromancer lives. At this point there is a track through. But it is a narrow one. Don’t stray off it – if you do you won’t find the path again and I don’t know what will happen. When you get to the other side you will come to the long marshes but you will already see far and faint the Lonely Mountain in the East. There is a path across the Marches.’ ‘We know, we know,’ said Thorin, ‘that is on the borders of our own land, and we have not forgotten – beyond the marches are the wide fields and then at last we come if we turn half south to Long Lake, but hurrying straight on we shall come to the west of the Mountain and the Secret Entrance.’

‘All right, then,’ said Gandalf. ‘Now of you go. Take care of yourselves and goodbye.’
He wouldn’t stay. ‘No,’ he said. ‘This is your affair. I have come much farther than I meant. I have other business on hand now that can wait no longer.’ And off he went back towards Beorn.
Mirkwood
Ever the shadow in Mirkwood had grown deeper, and to Dol Guldur evil things repaired out of all the dark places of the world; and they were united again under one will, and their malice was directed against the Elves and the survivors of Númenor. Gandalf went off as soon as the expedition against Smaug was well started, to persuade the Council to attack Dol Guldur first, before he attacked Lórien.
Therefore at last the Council was again summoned and the lore of the Rings was much debated; but Mithrandir spoke to the Council, saying:
‘It is not needed that the Ring should be found, for while it abides on earth and is not unmade, still the power that it holds will live, and Sauron will grow and have hope. The might of the Elves and the Elf-friends is less now than of old. Soon he will be too strong for you, even without the Great Ring; for he rules the Nine, and of the Seven he has recovered three. We must strike.’
To this Curunír now assented, desiring that Sauron should be thrust from Dol Guldur, which was nigh to the River, and should have leisure to search there no longer. Therefore, for the last time, he aided the Council, and they put forth their strength; and they assailed Dol Guldur, and drove Sauron from his hold, and Mirkwood for a brief while was made wholesome again. And at that occasion the White Council met for the last time, and Curunír withdrew to Isengard, and took counsel with none save himself.
But their stroke was too late. For the Dark Lord had foreseen it, and he had long prepared all his movements; and the Úlairi, his Nine Servants, had gone before him to make ready for his coming. Therefore his flight was but a feint, and he soon returned, and ere the Wise could prevent him he re-entered his kingdom in Mordor and reared once again the dark towers of Barad-dûr. And yet that was not his original plan; and it was in the end a mistake. Resistance still had somewhere where it could take counsel free from the Shadow. And those places might have fallen if Sauron had thrown all his power against them first, and not spent more than half of it in the assault on Gondor.

<editorial addition Barad-dûr>

The dwarves and Bilbo plunged into the forest. Very dark and silent it was. Black squirrels peeped at them; and all kinds of queer sneaky creatures in the undergrowth. They saw a sort of track like a rabbit track and stuck to it – in a long line. They went on till their food was getting short, so they stretched it out with beechnuts and acorns. Bilbo climbed a tree and saw Purple Emperors only they are black, but the forest seemed still to stretch on far ahead. Night came, and they saw a light not far from the track. Peering through the trees they saw people sitting in a clearing having a feast. They were so hungry that they disobeyed the warning and creped off towards the light to beg food. When they got there the lights went out and they were in pitch dark. They couldn’t even see one another, and fell over in dark trying to find one another. They could not find the track again. Later they saw a light again. It went out again as they creped up. This went on till they were quit bewildered. At last they lost one another. Bilbo hared voices all over the wood answering and calling, but they died away until Bilbo was alone. He found himself in a huge spiders web.

This spider came at him. He killed her, put the ring on and went off towards spiderwebs.
He called for Dori, Nori, Ori, Óin and Glóin, Balin, Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur, Fíli, Kíli, Thorin. But no answer came. The spiders were sitting up in the branches spinning black webs – and guarding their prisoners. Bilbo hared them talking about the nice pretty meat. He found them all hung up, in webs twined round – like spider-meat. All except Thorin. Luckily Bilbo had his ring. He picked up a stone and struck a spider down. Great commotion went up about the spiders, and they all came towards him. He slipped off in another direction and knocked down another spider.
Then when they had all swung down on the ground he sang a song.
Old fat spider spinning in a tree
Old fat spider can’t spy me
Attercop! Attercop!
Won’t you Stopp,
Stop your spinning and seek for me?
Old Tom-noddy all big body
Old Tom noddy can’t spy me
Attercop! Attercop
Down you drop,
You never will catch me in your tree.
Then he threw another stone. Only a few spiders came down, others ran along the branches and swung from tree to tree. They wove webs all round the clearing.
He went to a different place and sang.
Lazy lob and crazy Cob
Are weaving webs to wind me.
See the tender meat is hanging sweet
but still they can not find me.
Here am I naughty little fly
You are fat and lazy
and I laughing fly as I go by
Through your cobwebs crazy
Then he slashed one of their webs to pieces.
They all came in that direction and so he led them far away and then crept back and loosed the dwarves.
But the spiders found out before he finished - and the dwarves found out about his ring, but they did not lose their respect because of his brave deed.
They had a dreadful time following Bilbo with the spiders after them and others in front weaving thick webs to stop them. But the dwarves beat them off with branches at the rear while Bilbo cut the webs ahead.
At last the spiders got tired of following. So they got free.
Where was Thorin? Caught by Wood-elves. They took him to the caves of their king. They had had a battle with dwarves long ago and did not like them so he shut Thorin up and sent people to look for the others.

The dwarves were all captured by the Wood-elves but Bilbo popped on his ring and followed them into the caves. Bilbo got out the magic gates, but mostly lived by stealing food. By luck he found Thorin’s cell. He thought that he must get a message to Gandalf. He went from cell to cell and managed to speak to the dwarves; and he told them he had found Thorin in a very deep dungeon. Thorin would not tell the king his errand, because he was not willing to share his treasure with the Wood-elves.
The river flowed under part of the caves and issued by a secret water gate. That way the Wood-elves got many of their supplies, especially of wine. When the barrels were empty they dropped them into the river, and they floated out through the watergate until the current brought them to a place on the bank not far from the edge of the forest. There they were linked together and floated like a raft down past the marshes and the reedy places to the Long Lake.
At times Bilbo kept on lurking in the king’s passages, living on scraps of food. ‘Living like a burglar that can’t get out again’ he thought. But in the end he had a desperate idea.
He stole the jailers keys and let out a dwarf at a time. He hid them in barrels. In this way they are all were thrown in the water.
Indeed Bilbo escaped only by sitting outside one. The barrels were assembled, even so grumbles about the barrels not being empty arose of the elves.

Bilbo comes to the Huts of the Raft-elves
Made up as a raft, the barrels were floated past the marshes. The raft-elves told tales of the disappearance of the rafts and the loss of men and beasts in these places.

<editorial additionMap of the Long Lake>
They reached Long Lake and a town of men. The dwarves at night stole out of their barrels and went to the town.

Esgaroth
Arguments arose about the imprisonment by the elves between Thorin and the Mayor. They got food, and wagons on credit and went off. The elves went back to the king who made a plan.
The Lonely Mountain
Coming near the mountain all the land was deserted.

The Lonely Mountain
The dwarves camped in a hollow near the skirts of the mountain. Form here some went taking Bilbo up the river from the Long Lake, the Running river. They looked on the Ruins of Dale. Smoke came out of the Front Door.
‘Then Smaug is still alive?’ asked Bilbo. ‘Doesn’t tell. Inside of the Mountain is probably pretty hot!’ answered Balin.

Plan of the Lonely Mountain
A whole summer had now gone by since they stayed with Elrond. It was autumn now, but exceptional bleak and lonely. They crept nearer the mountain by stages but only saw crows, and were afraid of them as spices. The autumn waned. After endless search on the west side of the mountain guided by the map they found a wall of rock standing in a kind of bay. Strangely flat with grass up on its feet. It was the door. But it had no key and nowhere could any crack or chink be seen. Nothing they could do would make any of it stir.

The Back Door
Bilbo was wandering disconsolately. The dwarves were silent fierce and unfriendly, and he would hear them muttering that the burglar – especially with his ring – ought to go in by the Front Gate if necessary. He had clombered up the hill and on to the little flat terrace platform where the flat rock-face stood. Looking back he could see the trees in the distance going brown towards late autumn. Suddenly he saw the orange sun setting and saw the new moon pale and sharp in the Western sky as well. At the very moment he heard a sharp crack. There on a gray stone was a huge and ancient thrush, coal black with white heart and black freckles. It was cracking snails upon the stone.
Crack crack.

View from the Back Door
Bilbo yelled on the hill, and fetched the dwarves. They watched excitedly as sun sank lower and lower. It went behind a cloud to their despair. But suddenly just before it touched the rim of the forest a red ray shot through a rent in the sky and fell on the rock-slab. There was a crack, and there was a hole in the wall as if by the sun a flake of rock had fallen of.
The key that went with the map fitted and the door swung in. Darkness fell suddenly and the moon went quickly after the sun.
The dwarves said now Bilbo must go in, if he were to fulfil his contract. They wouldn’t go with him, only Balin Yellow-beard came part of the way, in case he called for help.
The Hobbit creped into the dark mountain. It was easier than he thought. There was an absolutely straight tunnel going gently down for a great way. Bilbo began to see a light at the end, getting redder and redder. He hared a bubbling snoring sound. It got very warm, and vapours started to float up.
Bilbo peeped into the great bottommost dungeon at Mountain’s root which was nearly dark, save for the glow from Smaug. The great red dragon was fast asleep upon a vast pile of precious things. He was partly on one side: Bilbo could see that he was crusted underneath with gems.
Bilbo stole a cup to show he had been there. He saw dimly shields and swords and spears.
The dwarves patted him on the back. But he had aroused the wrath of the Dragon. He came out – of course he could not get up the tunnel - to hunt the thief, and settled flaming on the Mountain. Then he flew all round it roaring.
In great terror the dwarves hide in the tunnel, pulling and dragging in their bundles when Smaug came whirling from the North, licking the mountain wall with flames, beating his great wings with a noise like a roaring wind.

Later Bilbo went back again. The Dragon was only pretending to be asleep. Bilbo caught a glint in his eye and stayed at the mouth of the tunnel and slipped on his ring. The dragon asked where he had gone to. Bilbo did not say who he was but said he came over the water on a barrel, the dragon thinks he is one of Long Lake men. The dragon tried to poison his mind with half-truths against the dwarves. He said that they don’t worry about him or paying him. Supposing they could get treasure how could they carry it off? he asked, and that they didn’t told him that shares won’t work.
Bilbo said they have not only come for treasure but revenge.
The dragon laughed.
Bilbo flattered him, saying that he certainly never imagined Smaug was so tremendous.
The dragon said no warrior could kill him now, since he is armoured with gems underneath. Bilbo asked him to show – and saw a bare patch. Then he escaped but the dragon send fiery spurts after him, and poor Bilbo was burned badly.
He went back to the dwarves filled with misgivings and asked them about their future plans. They were a bit flummoxed. They told him of the Gem of Girion king of Dale, which he had paid for his sons’ arming in gold and silver made like steel and the Arkenstone. Bilbo talked to the dwarves about the bare patch in the old Smaug's diamond waistcoat, and all the while the thrush listened, and at last as the sun sank towards the forest he flew away. Bilbo warned the dwarves that the dragon knew of the exit. Greater wrath of Dragon: He came out and sniffed all round the mountain, flying fiercely round and round to find the thief. In terror the dwarves kicked away the stone that blocked the door. Then they thrust upon it and it closed with a snap and a clang. And not a moment too soon. A blow smote the side of the Mountain like the crash of battering rams. They fled far down the tunnel glad to be still alive, pursued by the roar without where Smaug was breaking rocks to pieces smashing wall and cliff with his great tail, till their little lofty camping ground all disappeared in a jumble of smashed boulders, and an avalanche of splintered stones fell over the cliff into the valley underneath.
The dragon thought that it were men from Long Lake, and went off in dreadful rage to destroy their town. The people saw him coming and cut down the bridge to their lake-dwelling. The dragon flew over them and set houses alight, but dared not settle right in the lake. They tried to quench fire with water and shot darts at him. Glint of gems in dragon’s belly in light of fire were seen. At last most people flew on boats. The Dragon planed to settle at the side of the lake and starve them out. The Dragon was slain by Bard of Esgaroth, who received a message send by the Thrush to Lake Town – it arrived too late but reached Bard before his last shot. It brought him word in the last moment of the bare patch. When the Dragon fell he crushed Esgaroth (Lake-town) and sunk into the lake so that fast clouds of steams went up. But Bard escaped. The anguish of the Lake-men and wrath of the Master was great. They now hated the dwarves as source of the trouble: some even suggested that the driving forth of the dragon against them was deliberate.

Death of Smaug
Messengers went to the Wood-elves; and the king’s spies brought him news. He led forth the soldiers and they joined with the lake men under Bard. They went north to capture the dwarves and the gold.

The Dwarves and Bilbo set and quaked. They were unable to tell passage of time. The silence went on and on. And still they dared note move. They doused and woke and still the silence was unbroken. The next day and next night and no sign of the dragon they could find. They tried to open the door – no good of course.
‘We are trapped,’ they said and grumbled at Bilbo.
In desperation they went down the tunnel.
Bilbo slipped on his ring. It was absolute dark in the hall. No sign or sound of Smaug was to be found. The stillness was uncanny.
He got Glóin to light him a little torch. He climbed the mound of gold – the dwarves saw him from afar like a little spark. They saw him stoop but didn’t know why. Bilbo stole a bright gem which fascinated him – the Arkenstone. Bilbo thought that he must earn it.
He explored all the hall, and peeped through its door into the vast passages above. The Dwarves prepared to creep through the old halls.
Thorin was their guide.
Dreading at every step to hear Smaug’s return thy climbed the long stairs and passages through dark deserted halls following his torch.
At last they reached the outer gate. A whirl of bats flew out. The gate was a smooth and slimy passage worn by the dragon by the river-side. They stood in the blessed light of day and saw it was early morning in the east.
Crows were flying South in flocks.

The Front Door
And armies were on the march North.
In the evening a raven brought word. It bowed to Thorin (now that Smaug was dead) and they learned of the Battle and Smaug’s overthrow, and that the armies of the Lake-men and Wood-elves were coming to take the gold.
Raven told of two or three ponies still alive and offered also to assemble their folk and bring messages to Thorins relatives.
Fíli and Kíli went off too catch ponies. The others went into the Mountain. Great labours they began day and night at the great door. Bilbo kept watch on Ravenhill.
The birds brought news of the approach of the men of lake and the Elvenking and the host of the Elves.
The dwarves gathered weapons and store of arrows to the Front gate which now was blocked with stones with crevices for shouting from.
Three days later Fíli and Kíli came to the Front Gate and begged for admittance. They had recovered all the stores they could carry from near the foot of the great spur. The host was already at the foot of the mountain. And that night the camp fires started up in the ruins of Dale.
Next day it came to the parley at the Gates. Thorin’s scornful words, he would give nothing to demand. What got they out of the last King under the Mountain? The Elvenking on behalf of the Lake-men demanded payment for the killing of Smaug, the destruction of the town, all the slain. Thorin said, ‘first remove your menace from my palace.’ But stores run low.
The siege of the mountain is set by Elves and Men.
Bilbo sneaked forth at night and came to the camps. He called for Bard and sat amid the counsellors. He said the Arkenstone was his own since he was entitled to choose his share. If it were all – and the dwarves prize it more dearly than all else – he would give it to Bard the heir of Girion to let his friends go in peace. The Wood-elves and other counsellors spoke against him.

<editorial addition Thorin’s letter to Bilbo>
An old man rose from the floor. It was Gandalf!
He spoke to Bard. ‘Prophecies often come true in different guise,’ he said. ‘Be not a greater fool than the fools who drove the dragon from his wealth. Believe not prophecies less because you yourself have aided in their fulfilment. The gold is not yours. Prosperity shall reign if the real King under the Mountain comes back. Be not outdone in generosity by plain Mr. Baggins who has bargained all his reward for his friends. Dale and Lake Town are to be rebuilt.’
‘Who are you?’ says the king of the Wood-elves.
‘I am Gandalf!’
Then he believed at last that Thorin is indeed Thorin son of Thráin son of Thrór. ‘Why did he not say so?’ ‘Your own acts condemn you – because dwarves understood better than all others the power of the greed of gold and fear therefore more certainly to extend it. You owe them aid not enmity.’
Thus came the peace and pact of the Ruined City.
Thorin grieved at first when he learned of Bilbo’s dealing with the Arkenstone.
Yet, though before all was won the Battle of Five Armies was fought in Dale. For the Orcs came down upon Erebor as soon as they heard of the return of the Dwarves; and they were led by Bolg, son of that Azog whom Dáin slew in his youth. Bilbo put on a suit of silver mail made for a son of Girion, and went with the Wood-elves to battle. In that first Battle of Dale, Thorin Oakenshield was mortally wounded. There fell also Fíli and Kíli, his sister-sons. Beorn was there as a great bear and carried Thorin out of the fray and the goblins of the Misty Mountains and wargs were defeated.

Coming of the Eagles
But before Thorin died he said to Bilbo: ‘There is indeed more in you than you know yourself. We have as seemed unlikely to be thankful to Gandalf. And yet perhaps you have more to thank him for than all – even though you went hence empty-handed.’ Thorin was laid in a tomb under the Mountain with the Arkenstone upon his breast and the Wood-elf king gave back Orcrist which was laid on his tomb.
But Dáin Ironfoot, Thorin’s cousin, who came from the Iron Hills to his aid and was also his rightful heir, became then King Dáin II, and the Kingdom under the Mountain was restored, even as Gandalf had desired. Sauron and Smaug would have helped one another if the Council had not attacked Dol Guldur at the same time.
Dáin proved a great and wise king, and the Dwarves prospered and grew strong again in his day. The Wood-elves got rich presents.
Huge sums of money were given for rebuilding of Esgaroth.
They bad Bilbo take his share over and above the gem. He says he was sick of the sight of gold – yet in the end he accepted a bag filled with treasure by the dwarves a set of golden dinner service and the Gem of Girion. With these he set out home with Gandalf. An escort of Wood-elves was found until Mirkwood. The Gem of Girion Bilbo gave as a gift to the Elvenking at their parting.
After the battle the way was clear over the mountains. They uncovered the trolls’ gold and shared it.
Briefly they stayed at Elrond’s. But in the end Bilbo thought he will go home to his own hole. Took was getting tired.
Arriving at own home Bilbo found that he was ‘Presumed dead’. He came in the middle of an auction. Otherwise he became just a hobbit again – but very different. He took to writing poetry and was regarded a bit queer.
His ring he used only when unwelcome callers came.
After Bilbo’s return to his home he never spoke of it again to anyone, save Gandalf and Frodo; and no one else in the Shire knew of its existence, or so he believed. Only to Frodo did he show the account of his Journey that he was writing.
His sword, Sting, Bilbo hung over his fireplace, and his coat of marvellous mail, the gift of the Dwarves from the Dragon-hoard, he lent to a museum, to the Michel Delving Mathom-house in fact. But he kept in a drawer at Bag End the old cloak and hood that he had worn on his travels; and the ring, secured by a fine chain, remained in his pocket.
Balin took to travelling again. He visited Bilbo in Hobbiton, and not very long after that he went away for two or three years. Then he returned to the Mountain with a great number of dwarves that he discovered wandering masterless in the South and East. He wanted Dáin to go back to Moria - or at least to allow him to found a colony there and reopen the great mines. Moria was the ancestral home of the dwarves of the race of Durin, and the forefathers of Thorin and Dáin dwelt there, until they were driven by the goblin invasions far into the North. Now Balin reported that Moria was again wholly deserted, since the great defeat of the goblins, but the mines were still rich, especially in silver. Dáin was not willing to leave the Mountain and the tomb of Thorin, but he allowed Balin to go, and he took with him many of the folk of the Mountain as well as his own following; and Ori and Óin went with him. For many years things went well, and the colony throve; there was traffic once more between Moria and the Mountain, and many gifts of silver were sent to Dáin. Then fortune changed. The messengers of the Dwarves of the Mountain were attacked and robbed by cruel Men, well-armed. No messengers came from Moria; but rumour reached the Mountain that the mines and dwarf-city were again deserted. For long the Dwarves could not learn what had become of Balin and his people - but then they had news, and it was evil.

Respectfully
Findegil

[Arvegil145]

Here might be a good place to suggest an addition from The Nature of Middle-earth, 'Beards', p. 188:

The matter of Denethor and his sons is not so clear. But I explained this by referring to Gandalf’s remarks concerning Denethor: that “by some chance” the Númenórean was nearly “true” in him – meaning that by some event in Denethor’s ancestry which Gandalf had not investigated, he had this mark of ultimately “royal” descent. This “chance”, I said, was to be seen in the fact that Húrin the First Steward (from whom Denethor was directly descended) must have been a kinsman of King Minardil (see L.R. III 319, 332, 333) sc. of ultimately royal descent, though not near enough in kinship for him or his descendants to claim the throne. I did not but could have noted the following points. The Kings of Gondor had no doubt had “stewards” from an early time, but these were only minor officials, charged with supervision of the King’s halls, houses, and lands. But the appointment of Húrin of Emyn Arnen, a man of high Númenórean race, was different. He was evidently the chief officer under the crown, prime counsellor of the King, and at appointment endowed with the right to assume vice-regal status, and assist in determining the choice of heir to the throne, if this became vacant in his time. These functions all of his descendants inherited. It may also be noted that they had Quenya names, which had long been a privilege only of those of proved royal descent.