Dragons of Middle Earth | Silmarillion Fantasy ASMR Folklore | Hobbit Bedtime Stories

Hello friends it's Fox welcome back to another evening of shared stories and Adventures I'm sure many of you like myself are longing for more episodes of House of the Dragon after that fantastic finale so I thought we might soothe those Cravings with a journey into the ancient lands of Middle Earth tonight we're diving into the Legends and lore of the dragons that haunt the darkest corners of tolkin universe with the rings of power series returning soon there's no better time to immerse ourselves in the Mythos of these Majestic fire breathing creatures from the mighty smow

to the long forgotten dragons of the first age Journey with me to a world where the line between Legend and reality is deliciously thin so let settle in for an evening of dragon lore where every tale brings us closer to the heart of Middle Earth and if you'd like a way to support the channel consider tossing a coin to your Witcher and check out my patreon for some extra benefits I hope you've found your way to a cozy Nook just the right place for tals as Timeless as the mountains of Middle Earth and as deep

as the dark for forests of fangorn as you settle in perhaps with a warm cup of tea or something stronger let's take a gentle stroll into the world of dragons and legends Middle Earth is a vast and storied land where the ancient past and the present weave together in Epic Proportions it's a place where dragons Slumber beneath Mountain mountains of gold where the Echoes of Forgotten battles still whisper Through the Ages and where the very Earth is steeped in Tales of old I've always had a special fondness for the dragons in tolkin world not just

because of their immense power but because of their intelligence and their ability to speak that brings a whole new level of intrigue to their characters there's something mesmerizing about the way they wield their words casting trances over those who dare to engage them smow with his cunning mind and silver tongue is a perfect example able to ens snare even the most stalwart adventurers with his Sly words and dangerous charm it's that combination of raw power and sharp intellect that makes these dragons so Unforgettable and so very dangerous and so we're not only exploring the Legends

themselves but also the rich themes and characters that breathe life into them we'll meet the cunning smow who hoarded his treasure in the heart of the Lonely Mountain and will uncover the ancient dragons of the First Age whose power was unmatched we'll delve into the mysteries of the Dark Lord's creations and the ancient battles that shaped the fate of Middle Earth but before we embark on this journey take a moment to breathe in deeply and slowly let the worries of the day slip away like the last Light of the sun setting behind the Misty Mountains

picture yourself in a quiet dimly lit study the fire crackling softly in the Hearth a map of Middle Earth spread out before you waiting to be explored now if you're not familiar with tolkin world no worries we're on this journey together step by step uncovering the secrets and stories that have captivated readers for generations and if you are familiar well I hope to bring a fresh perspective a new insight or perhaps just a comfortable familiar walk down memory lane some of my Fondest Memories are around watching the Tolen films with my father and brother and

reading the books after my classes so allow yourself to drift to sink deeper into your worn and cozy armchair to let the soft glow and warmth of the fire lull you into a state of relaxation outside the night is calm and the stars are beginning to twinkle in the Velvet Sky it's the perfect setting to lose ourselves in Middle Earth close your eyes if you like and let my voice guide you we're in no hurry here this is your time to unwind to let go and to let the stories carry you away now that we're

settled in and our minds are beginning to drift into the world of Middle Earth let's take a closer look at where it all began you see the story of dragons like many things in tolkin world starts with the grand tapestry his of creation and the first notes of Discord that crept into it in the beginning before the world was shaped there was iru iluvatar he is known as the one the Supreme creator of all existing Beyond time and space and the source from which all existence flows eru uvat is a figure of immense mystery and

power the ultimate architect of the universe whose thoughts gave birth to everything that was is and will be from his thought came the inor the holy ones who were the first beings created by eru the inor were spirits of immense power and wisdom each of them embodying a particular aspect of U's thought and purpose sound familiar they are akin to Angels or demigods existing in a realm beyond the physical world in the Timeless Halls the inor were given the task of shaping the world according to aru's Grand Design bringing his vision into reality through their

Collective will and creativity each Inu singular of inor had their own unique gifts and qualities and they were divided into two groups the greater inor known as the valah who would take on the most significant roles in shaping and governing the world and the Lesser inor known as the Maya who served the Val and aided in the execution of aru's grand plan among these ior one stood out for his immense power Brilliance and ambition melor it's here that our tale takes a darker turn you see melor was the mightiest of the inor blessed with power

that surpassed his peers but with great power often comes great desire and melkor's heart was filled with a yearning to create to dominate and to bend the world to his own will he wasn't content to Simply follow the designs of iluvatar no melor wanted to craft his own so as the inor sang the world into being it was melor who introduced the first notes of Discord a disharmony that would would eventually manifest in the very fabric of the world itself this Discord swed the seeds of Evil and set the stage for all the dark things

that would follow after the world was shaped melor descended into it taking on physical form and setting himself up as a dark lord he sought to dominate all of ardor the world and to make it his own it's important to note here that in those early days there was no Sauron no Orcs And no dragons there was only melor the first dark lord and his insatiable hunger for power now melor wasn't alone in his Endeavors he had a following a group of lesser inor who were drawn to his strength and vision among these followers was

a Maya named myON who you might know better as Sauron he was perhaps the mightiest of them and was corrupted into the dark service but we'll get to him in due time for now let's focus on melor and the first of his fearsome Creations to truly understand the dragons we must first understand understand what drove melor to create such creatures his ambition wasn't just a rule it was to corrupt to twist the beautiful things of the world into forms that served his purposes he sought to mock The Works of the Valar Who as a reminder

are the higher order ior that remained faithful to iluvatar by creating Twisted imitations of their creation where the Valor created light life and Beauty melor brought forth Darkness destruction and fear it was from this dark desire that the dragons were born they were not simply beasts of fire and fury they were manifestations of melkor's will imbued with his malice and hunger for Destruction but creating such creatures was no small feat it required time power and the right conditions the first of these Mighty beasts the progenitor of all dragons in Middle Earth was glarum known as

the father of dragons but before we dive into his tale let's take a moment to appreciate what melor had wrought in him garung wasn't just a the dragon he was a weapon a tool of domination and a symbol of melor enduring influence over the world and so it was with glong that the age of dragons began a time of fire and fear of Cities laid to ruin and of Heroes tested in The Crucible of battle but even in this Darkness there were glimmers of Hope moments of defiance that would shape the destiny of Middle Earth

for ages to come let's turn our attention now to the first age of Middle Earth a time when the world was young and the shadow of melor lay Heavy Across the lands the first age was an era of great Heroes an epic conflict where the forces of light and darkness battled for dominion over the world it was a time when the elves first came into their full power and Beauty establishing great kingdoms and when men awoke and began to play their part in the unfolding drama of Middle Earth bararan a vast and fabled region in

in the northwest of Middle Earth was once the heartland of powerful Elven kingdoms these Realms were ruled by Mighty Elven Lords this age was marked by the long and bitter struggle against melor who had by then taken the name morgoth meaning black foe of the world a name given to him in hatred by fenor the great of the Elven Craftsmen morgoth sought to dominate all of Middle Earth twisting it to his will and spreading his malice far and wide his stronghold was the Mighty Fortress of angband from which he Unleashed his dark Legions upon the

free peoples of the world garang wasn't like the dragons you might be familiar with from other stories he didn't have wings nor could he fly instead he was a massive Serpentine Beast covered in Scales as hard as iron with a belly full of fire and a mind as sharp as any sword but what truly set garung apart was his intelligence he wasn't just a beast he was a creature of malice and craft capable of Deceit and manipulation just as much as he was capable of Destruction garung first emerged from angband The Fortress of morgoth in

the year 260 of the first age at this time the elves of beleriand were still holding their own against morgoth's forces but the appearance of glar began to shift the balance of power the Great Dragon led a host of Orcs in an assault on the Elven strongholds and his presence on the battlefield was like nothing the world had ever seen imagine if you will the terror of facing such a creature he and his kind were unlike anything Middle Earth had come across a monster born from nightmares his breath carried the stench of death his scales

were an unyielding armor and his gaze alone could paralyze even the bravest of Warriors the elves Valiant as they were stood little chance against garung in the open field of battles and the shadow of Doom began to creep over band but as with all good Tales there was a twist for glarum for all his might was still young and perhaps a bit too eager to prove his strength his attack was premature and the elves under the leadership of fingon managed to drive him back to angband for a time he was contained and the elves were

given a brief respite from the terror he had Unleashed this early encounter with the Beast though was just a taste of what was to come over the years as the war against morgoth dragged on Glon grew in power and cunning he became a key weapon in morgoth's Arsenal not just for his strength in battle but for his ability to corrupt and manipulate those he encountered counted perhaps even more fearsome than their physical might were dragon's ability to wield a form of dark magic known as Dragon spells and trances some dragons possessed an almost hypnotic power

that allowed them to cast spells over their victims in snaring their minds and bending their Wills to the Dragon's malevolent purposes garung in particular was Infamous for using his powers of deception and mind control to manipulate others leading them to acts of Despair and Madness his gaze alone could place individuals under a trance leaving them paralyzed and helpless as he wo his dark magic around them one of the most tragic Tales involed in garung is that of Turin turar a man cursed by morgoth and driven to a life of sorrow and despair Chin's story is

a long and complex one filled with twists of fate and moments of profound tragedy but it is garung who plays a pivotal role in his ultimate Doom he used his dark magic and his malevolent intelligence to torment chin leading him to commit terrible acts without fully understanding the consequences his method was Insidious he manipulated Chin's perception of reality clouding his judgment and sewing seeds of doubt and mistrust through subtle lies and twisted truths the dragon convinced Turin that those closest to him his friends his his allies even his own family were his enemies in one

of his most heinous acts glong deceived Turin into abandoning his beloved sister nenor whom the dragon had previously ens snared in his spell of forgetfulness erasing her memory and leaving her vulnerable and alone through this manipulation he turned churin against those he loved isolating him and driving him deeper into despair the dragon's deception was so complete that churin in his confusion and anguish committed acts that would haunt him forever in the end it was Chin's own hand that ended his life but it was garung who had set him on that path laughing all the while

at the misery he had caused and yet for all his power the wicked Beast was not Invincible garung met his end at the hands of Turin who driven by a mix of Courage desperation and the overwhelming desire for vengeance confronted the dragon in a final Fateful Encounter With A Heart heavy from the grief and torment garang had inflicted upon him and his loved ones Turin sought to put an end to the creature's malevolent influence in a moment of fierce resolve Turin took up his black sword girang and with a precise and Powerful strike he plunged

it into the dragon's belly finding the one vulnerable spot in garon's otherwise impenetrable hide as the dragon's life ebbed away he Unleashed his final Act of Cruelty revealing to Turin the full extent of his manipulations how he had Twisted the lives of those chin held dear the Revelation was a crushing blow leaving Turin to Grapple with the unbearable horror of what he had unwittingly done under gl's dark influence the weight of the dragon's manipulations and the resulting devastation was a burden he could not bear driving him to his tragic end garon's death marked the end

of an era but it was not the end of the Dragons far from it morgoth ever the cunning dark lord had learned from his mistakes as the fires of angband smoldered and the world moved ever [Music] forward so too did the evolution of dragons morgoth wasn't content with garon despite the terror he wrought no he saw greater potential a future where his dragons would not just crawl upon the Earth but dominate the skies as well and thus the wing dragons were born imagine the dark pits of angband deep beneath the Earth where the fires burn

hottest and the Shadows are deepest it's here that morgo labored crafting these new creatures with even greater malice and destructive power these dragons were not only larger and more fearsome than garung but they too possessed the ability to breathe fire a fire so intense that it could melt Stone and incinerate entire armies the first and greatest of these winged dragons was ancalagon the black if garung was the father of dragons then ancalagon was the embodiment of their ultimate power for he was not just a dragon he was a force of nature a living weapon designed

to bring about the end of morgoth's enemies his wings spanned the sky casting a shadow so vast it could blot out the Sun and his breath was a torrent of flame that could turn the bravest of Warriors to Ash an culligan's most famous appearance came during the war of Wrath the final great battle of the first age by this time morath's forces were on the brink of defeat with the Valor and their allies pushing ever closer to angband in a desperate bid to turn the tide of the war morgoth Unleashed his most terrible weapon analagan

and the other winged dragons the appearance of analagan the black on the battlefield was nothing short of apocalyptic it was as if the Gates of Hell itself had been thrown open he led a host of winged dragons a nightmarish Legion that swept across the sky like a storm of death Dragonfire scorched their path the Earth trembled beneath the might of his wings and entire armies were scattered before him it seemed that even the combined might of the Val would would be no match for this Onslaught but here is where the story takes a turn for

it was not just the combined might of the Valor that stood against ancalagon no it was a single mortal a man of courage and Destiny Who Bore the weight of the world's hopes on his shoulders this man was arendel a mariner and a hero of Middle Earth blessed with the light of a saril the most precious of all jewels crafted by fenor and coveted by morgoth himself this saril a radiant fragment of pure Starlight was a source of Hope a symbol of all that was good and uncorrupted in the world arendel was no ordinary man

he was of both Elven and human descent and he had long been fated for greatness when the forces of morgoth Unleashed ancalagon upon the world it was arendel who answered the call taking to the skies in his ship vingilot a vessel made of pure light and driven by the power of the saril this ship glimmering like a star itself soared into the heavens to confront the Great Dragon the battle that ensued was one of the most epic and or inspiring confrontations in all of tolkin legendarium picture the scene the night sky once Serene and dotted

with stars now Ablaze with the Furious light of dragon's fire anigan loomed above like a horrific storm his wings blotting out the Stars the sheer scale of the battle was unimaginable and calagon was so vast that his presence alone could shatter the will of armies yet here he was facing a single ship a single man arendel maneuvered vingilot with unmatch skill dodging the Searing blasts of fire that erupted from an cigan [Music] more the light of the saril Shone brightly spearing through the darkness and blinding the Great Dragon who had never before encountered such Purity

for hours they fought the night sky a canvas of fire and light until at last arendel saw his moment with a courage that defied all fear he drove his Ship Direct directly at his foe the Sill's light piercing the dragon's black heart the Mighty ancalagon the most fearsome of all morgoth's creations roared in agony as the light of the saril seared his very essence and then with a final Earth shattering blow arendel struck down the Great Dragon defeated and mortally wounded he fell from the sky his colossal body plummeted toward the Earth the impact so

great that it shattered the very mountains of thangorodrim the Peaks that had long been the seat of morgoth's power the ground qud the skies roared and the shadow of ancalagon was lifted from the world his death marked the end of moro's hope for victory in the war of Wrath with their greatest weapon defeated the forces of angband crumbled and morgath himself was finally captured and cast into the void never to return but the legacy of the winged dragons and of ancalagon in particular would live on in the aftermath of the war of Wrath the world

was changed bararan was no more sunk beneath the waves and the surviving Dragons Were scattered their numbers greatly diminished some fled to the Far Corners of the world lurking in the Deep places of the earth waiting for a time when they might rise again the second age of Middle Earth was a time of rebild building of new kingdoms rising and Old Wounds slowly beginning to heal it was also a time of dorcy for the dragons those fearsome creatures who had wrought such Devastation in the first age but dorcy does not mean Extinction and though the

dragons were not as active their presence still lingered during the second age the world was dominated by the rise of numor the great Island Kingdom of men and by The Growing Power of Sauron the leftenant of morgoth who had taken up his master's mantle after the war of Wrath Sauron understood the power of dragons but he did not seek to control them in the same way morgoth had instead he focused on other means of domination most notably the creation of the one ring but let's not get ahead of ourselves while Sauron was busy with his

own dark designs the dragons of the world were biding their time lurking in the remote corners of Middle Earth far from the eyes of men and elves it was during this age that the dragons began to evolve further adapting to the changing world around them one of the most important events during this time was the emergence of cold Drakes these Dragons Were a different breed from their fire breathing kin they were larger more resilient to the elements and possessed a different kind of malevolence while they did not have the destructive breath of their fiery cousins

they were just as dangerous if not more so these dragons were also more reclusive preferring to remain hidden in their icy layers rather than venture out into the wider World these creatures made their homes in the northern wastes of Middle Earth in the cold and desolate regions far from the more populated areas of the world they were rarely seen by the inhabitants of Middle Earth but their existence was known whispered in hushed tones by those who had the misfortune of encountering them one such tale speaks of a cold Drake that made its lair in the

northward reaches of the Misty Mountains this Dragon whose name has been lost to time was said to have terrorized the dwarves of that region causing them to abandon their minds and seek Refuge elsewhere the Dragon's Lair was never found and the creature itself was never slain leading many to believe that it still Slumbers deep within the mountains waiting for the day when it will rise again during this time sauron's Focus was on the domination of the free peoples and the eventual downfall of numor a task that required all his cunning and Malice with his attention

turned to these Grand schemes the dragons had little reason to stir from their layers sensing that their time had not yet come the great conflicts of the age the seduction of the numenorians the wars with the Elves and the rise of sauron's dark Empire played out largely without the involvement of dragons and now we arrive at the third age a time when the world was once again thrust into conflict and when the most famous of all tolkin dragons made his mark on History smow the golden the Magnificent the chiefest and greatest of calamities his name

alone sends shivers down the spine of any who know his story and his tale is one that has been told and retold immortalized in the pages of The Hobbit smal was not just a dragon he was the dragon the culmination of all the dark power and Malice that had been brewing since the the days of morgoth he was absolutely massive covered in scales that glistened like gold and jewels with eyes that burned with an inner fire but what truly set smug apart was his cunning he was a creature of intelligence of wit and of a

terrifying awareness of his own power sm's story be begins long before Bilbo bagin ever set foot in the Shire it begins with the kingdom of arabor the Lonely Mountain Home to the dwarves of Duran's line arabor was a place of great wealth a Kingdom built on the riches of the Earth where the dwarves mined gold and jewels in such abundance that their Halls Shone with the light of countless Treasures but as we know where there is great wealth there is also great Danger The Riches of arabor did not go unnoticed and it wasn't long before

The Whispers of their wealth reached the ears of smow the Dragon drawn to treasure decided that arabor would make a fine home for himself and so he set out to claim it the fall of arabor was Swift and merciless smal descended upon the Lonely Mountain with the fury of a storm the dwarves for all their strength and bravery were no match for the dragon they were driven from their home forced to flee as SM laid waste to their Kingdom and claimed the vast horde of treasure for himself self for many years smow ruled over arabor

a blight upon the land the town of Dale once a thriving Community was reduced to ruins and the people of the surrounding lands lived in constant fear of the dragon's wrath smow in his arrogance believed himself Invincible the master of all he surveyed but behind the scenes there were those who recognized the greater threats SM posed particularly the wise wizard Gandalf Gandalf knew that if smow were to remain unchallenged he could become a powerful Ally for Sauron who was already beginning to stir in the shadows of Middle Earth the thought of the dark lord gaining

control over such a terrible force was too greater risk and so Gandalf sought a way to neutralize this threat and here we come to the story of The Hobbit a tale that begins in a quiet corner of the world in the Shire with a certain Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins it was Bilbo's involvement in the quest of arabor that would ultimately lead to sm's downfall though neither he nor the dragon could have predicted it Bilbo along with a company of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield set out to reclaim arabor and the treasure within the journey was

a pretty long one filled with dangers both expected and unforeseen but it was the confrontation with smow that was the most daunting of all when Bilbo first entered sm's Lair the sight that greeted him was one of awe and Terror there amidst the mountains of gold and jewels lay smow his body coiled around his horde his eyes glowing like Embers in the dark the dragon sensing the presence of the Intruder began to speak and it was then that Bilbo realized he was not dealing with a brutish beast but with a being of deadly intelligence the

conversation between Bilbo and smow is one of the most famous in tolk's Works a battle of wits as much as anything else smow with his Grandeur tried to intimidate Bilbo while Bilbo with his quick thinking and clever words managed to hold his own but it was in this conversation that smow made a fatal mistake in his arrogance he revealed a weakness a small patch on his underbelly where the scales were missing exposing his flesh this information would prove to be smugs [Music] undoing when the dragon enraged by the intrusion left Lair to exact his revenge

on the region of lak town it was a man named Bard who took up the challenge of Defending his home armed with the knowledge of sm's weakness Bard fired an arrow The Black Arrow into the dragon's vulnerable spot killing him and ending his reign of terror sm's death heralded the end of another era but it also set in motion a chain of events that would have deep consequences for the world of Middle Earth the treasure horde of arabor now unguarded became the focal point of a conflict that Drew in men elves and dwarves alike culminating

in the Battle of Five Armies but more than that sm's death signaled the beginning of the end for sauron's plans the dragon's presence had kept the northern regions of Middle Earth destabilized preventing any meaningful opposition to sauron's Growing Power in the South with SM gone the free peoples of Middle Earth were able to begin uniting against the threat of the dark lord and the looming War of the Ring it's fascinating to consider how the actions of one creature even as powerful as smug could have such far-reaching effect but that's the nature of dragons in tolken

world they're not just isolated beings they are catalysts for change for good or ill in the grand tapestry of middle Earth's history it is said that other dragons lesser in might than smal or ancalagon still dwell in the far reaches of the world in the cold wastes of the North in the Deep caves of the mountains and in the unexplored corners of Middle Earth these creatures slumbered as a reminder of the ancient evils that had once plagued the world the dwarves in particular were ever wary of these creatures knowing all too well the devastation a

dragon could bring there are hints in the lore of encounters with these dragons of skirmishes fought in the shadows and of hordes of treasure still guarded by these ancient beasts and yet for all the fear they inspired there was also a certain fascination with Dragons they were creatures of extreme power and Majesty beings that represented the untamed and the unknowable to encounter one was to stand before something ancient and Primal something that connected the present to the distant past and now that we've explored the rich lore of dragons let's gently close the book and place

it back on the Shelf with that knowledge in hand we're ready to dive into tonight's stories starting with one of the most notorious dragons of them all SM the golden chiefest and greatest of calamities smug the Magnificent the unassessably wealthy and the King under the mountain and the unlikely hero who dared to face him Bilbo Baggins so get cozy and let's begin our journey as Bilbo Ventures deep into the heart of the Lonely Mountain where the treasure horde of smow awaits for a long time the dwarves stood in the dark before the door and debated

until at last Thoren spoke now is the time for our esteemed Mr Baggins who has proved himself a good companion on our long road and a Hobbit full of courage and resource far exceeding his size and if I may say so possessed of good luck far exceeding the usual allowance now is the time for him to perform the service for which he was included in our company now is the time for him to earn his reward you are familiar with thoren's style on important occasions so I will not give you any more of it though

he went on a good deal longer than this it certainly was an important occasion but Bilbo felt impatient by now he was quite familiar with Thorin too and he knew what he was driving at if you mean you think it is my job to go into the secret passage first o Thoren thin son Oaken Shield may your beard grow ever longer he said crossly say so at once and have done I might refuse I have got you out of two messes already which were hardly in the original bargain so that I am I think already

owed some reward but third time pays for all as my father used to say and somehow I don't think I shall refuse perhaps I have begun to trust my luck more than I used to in the old days he meant last spring before he left his own house but it seemed centuries ago but anyway I think I will go and have a peep at once and get it over now who is coming with me he did not expect a chorus of volunteers so he was not disappointed fely and key looked uncomfortable and stood on one

leg but the others made no pretense of offering except old bin the lookout man who was rather fond of The Hobbit he said he would come inside at least and perhaps a bit of the way too ready to call for help if necessary the most that can be said for the dwarves is this they intended to pay billbo really handsomely for for his Services they had brought him to do a nasty job for them and they did not mind the poor little fellow doing it if he would but they would all have done their best

to get him out of trouble if he got into it as they did in the case of the trolls at the beginning of their Adventures before they had any particular reasons for being grateful to him there it is dwarves are not Heroes but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad Lots some are not but are decent enough people like Thoren and Company if you don't expect too much the stars were coming out behind him in a pale Sky barred with black when The Hobbit

crept through the enchanted door and stole into the mountain it was far easier going than he expected this was no Goblin entrance or rough wood elves cave it was a passage made by dwarves at the height of their wealth and skill straight as a ruler smooth floored and smooth sided going with a gentle never varying slope direct to some distant end in the Blackness below after a while bin bad Bilbo good luck and stopped where he could still see the faint outline of the door and by a trick of The Echoes of the tunnel hear

the rustle of the whispering voices of the others just outside then The Hobbit slipped on his ring and warned by The Echoes to take more than Hobbit's care to make no sound he crept noiselessly down down down into the dark he was trembling with fear but his little face was set and Grim already he was a very different Hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket handkerchief from Bag End long ago he had not had a pocket handkerchief for ages he loosened his dagger in its sheath tightened his belt and went on

now you are in for it at last Bilbo Baggins he said to himself you went and put your foot right in it that night of the party and now you have got to pull it out and pay for it dear me what a fool I was and am said the least tukish part of him I have absolutely no use for Dragon guard treasures and the whole lot could stay here forever if only I could wake up and find this beastly tunnel was my own front hall at [Music] home he did not wake up of course

but went still on and on till all sign of the door behind had faded away he was altogether alone soon he thought it was beginning to feel warm is that a kind of a glow I seem to see coming right ahead down there he thought it was as he went forward it grew and grew till there was no doubt about it it was a red light steadily getting redder and redder also it was now undoubtedly hot in the tunnel wisps of vapor floated up and past him and he began to sweat a sound too began

to throb in his ears a sort of bubbling like the noise of a large pot Galloping on the fire mixed with a rumble as of a gigantic tom cat purring this grew to the unmistakable gurgling noise of some vast animal snoring in its sleep down there in the red glow in front of him it was at this point that Bilbo stopped going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did the tremendous things that happened afterwards were as nothing compared to it he fought the real battle in the tunnel alone before he ever saw

the vast danger that lay in wait at any rate after a short halt go on he did and you can picture him coming to the end of the tunnel an opening of much the same size and shape as the door above through it peeps the hobbit's little head before him lies the great bottommost Cellar or dungeon Hall of the ancient dwarves right at the Mountain's route it is almost dark so that its vastness can only be dimly guessed but rising from the near side of the rocky floor there is a great glow the glow of

smow there he lay a vast red Golden Dragon fast asleep a thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils and wisps of smoke but his fires were low in Slumber beneath him under all his Limbs and his huge coiled tail and about him on all sides stretching away across the Unseen floors lay countless piles of precious things Gold rought and unwrought Gems and jewels and silver red stained in the Ruddy light SM lay with wings folded like an immeasurable bat turned partly on one side so that the Hobbit could see his underparts and his long pale

belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his costly bed behind him where the walls were nearest could dimly be seen coats of mail Helms and axes swords and Spears hanging and there in rows stood great jars and vessels filled with a wealth that could not be guessed to say that Bilbo's breath was taken away is no description at all there are no words left to express his stagger since men changed the language that they learned of elves in the days when all the world was wonderful Bilbo had heard tell

and sing of dragon hordes before but the Splendor the lust the glory of such treasure had never yet come home to him his heart was filled and pierced with enchantment and with the desire of dwarves and he gazed motionless almost forgetting the frightful Guardian at the Gold Beyond price and count he gazed for what seemed an age before drawn almost against his will he stole from the shadow of the doorway across the floor to the nearest edge of the Mounds of treasure above him the sleeping Dragon lay a dire Menace even in his sleep he

grasped a great two-handled cup as heavy as he could carry and cast one fearful eye upwards smow stirred a wing opened a claw the rumble of his snoring changed its note then Bilbo fled but the dragon did not wake not yet but shifted into other dreams of greed and violence lying there in his stolen Hall while the little hobbit toiled back up the long tunnel his heart was beating and a more fevered shaking was in his legs than when he was going down but still he clutched the cup and his chief thought was I've done

it this will show them more like a grosser than a burglar indeed well we'll hear no more of that nor did he barlin was overjoyed to see The Hobbit again and as delighted as he was surprised he picked Bilbo up and carried him out into the open air it was midnight and clouds had covered the Stars but Bilbo lay with his eyes shut gasping and taking pleasure in the feel of the fresh air again and hardly noticing the excitement of the dwarves or how they praised him and patted him on the back and put themselves

and all their families for generations to come at his service the dwarves were still passing the cup from hand to hand and talking delightedly of the recovery of their their treasure when suddenly a vast rumbling woke in the mountain underneath as if it was an old volcano that had made up its mind to start eruptions once again the door behind them was pulled nearly two and blocked from closing with a stone but up the long tunnel came the Dreadful Echoes from far down in the depths of a bellowing and a [ __ ] Ling that

made the ground beneath them tremble then the dwarves forgot their joy and their confident boasts of a moment before and cowered down in Fright smow was still to be reckoned with it does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations if you live near him dragons may not have much real use for all their wealth but they know it to an ounce as a [Music] rule especially after long possession and smug was no exception he had passed from an uneasy dream in which a warrior all together insignificant in size but provided with

a bitter sword and great courage figured most unpleasantly to a doze and from a doze to wide waking there was a breath of strange air in his cave could there be a draft from that little hole he had never felt quite happy about it though it was so small and now he glared at it in suspicion and wondered why he had never blocked it up of late he had half fancied he had caught the dim Echoes of a knocking sound from far above that came down through it to his lair he St sred and stretched

forth his neck to sniff then he missed the cup thieves fire murder such a thing had not happened since first he came to the mountain his rage passes description the sort of Rage that is only seen when Rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before used or wanted his fire belched forth the hall smoked he shook the mountain Roots he thrust his head in vain at the little hole and then coiling his length together roaring like Thunder Underground he sped from his deep

Lair through its great door out into the huge passages of the mountain Palace and up towards the front gate to hunt the whole mountain till he had caught the thief and had torn and trampled him was his one thought he issued from the gate the waters Rose in Fierce whistling steam an upy sword blazing into the air and settled on the Mountaintop in a spout of green and Scarlet Flame the dwarves heard the awful rumor of his flight and they crouched against the walls of the grassy Terrace cringing under Boulders hoping somehow to escape the

frightful eyes of the hunting Dragon there they would have all been killed if it had not been for Bilbo once again quick quick he gasped the door the tunnel it's no good here roused by these words they were just about to creep inside the tunnel when Baer gave a cry my cousins bomber and bofur we have forgotten them they are down in the valley they will be slain and all our ponies too and all our stores lost moaned the others we can do nothing nonsense said Thoren recovering his dignity we cannot leave them get inside

Mr Baggins and Bin and you two fely and key the dragons Shan have all of us now you others where are the ropes be quick those were perhaps the worst moments they had been through yet the horrible sounds of sm's anger were echoing in the Stony Hollows far above at any moment he might come blazing down or fly whirling round and find them there near the perilous Cliff's Edge hauling madly on the ropes up came bofer and still all was safe up came bomber puffing and blowing while the ropes creaked and still all was safe

up came some tools and bundles of stores and then danger was upon them a woring noise was heard a red light touched the points of standing rocks the dragon came they had barely time to fly back to the tunnel pulling and dragging in their bundles when smow came hurtling from the north licking the mountain sides with flame beating his great wings with a noise like a roaring wind his hot breath shriveled the grass before the door and drove in through the crack they had left and scorched them as they lay hid flickering fires leaped up

and black rock Shadows danced then Darkness fell as he passed again the ponies screamed with Terror burst their ropes and galloped wildly off the dragon swooped and turned to pursue them and was gone that will be the end of our poor beasts said Thorin nothing can escape smow once he sees it here we are and here we we shall have to stay unless anyone fancies tramping the long open miles back to the river with smow on the watch it was not a pleasant thought they crept further down the tunnel and there they lay and shivered

though it was warm and Stuffy until dawn came pale through the crack of the door every now and again through the night they could hear the Roar of the Flying Dragon grow and then pass and fade as he hunted round and round the mountain sides he guessed from the ponies and from the traces of the camps he had discovered that men had come up from the river and the lake and had scaled the mountain side from the valley where the ponies had been standing but the door withstood his searching eye and the little high-walled Bay

had kept out his fiercest flames long he had hunted in vain till the dawn chilled his wrath and he went back to his golden couch to sleep and to gather new Strength he would not forget or forgive the theft not if a thousand years turned him to smoldering Stone but he could afford to wait slow and Silent he crept back to his lair and half closed his eyes when morning came the terror of the dwarves grew less they realized that dangers of this kind were inevitable in dealing with such a guardian and that it was

no good giving up their Quest yet nor could they get away just now as Thorin had pointed out their Ponies were lost or killed and they would have to wait some time before smow relaxed his watch sufficiently for them to DARE the long way on foot luckily they had saved enough of their stores to last them still for some time they debated long on what was to be done but they could think of no way of getting rid of smow which had always been a weak point in their plans as Bilbo felt inclined to point

out then as is the nature of folk that are thoroughly perplexed they began to Grumble at The Hobbit blaming him for what had at first so pleased them for bringing away a cup and stirring up sm's wroth so soon what else do you suppose a burglar is to do asked Bilbo angrily I was not engaged to kill dragons that is Warriors work but to steal treasure I made the best beginning I could did you expect me to Trop back with the whole horde of thraw on my back if there is any grumbling to be done

I think I might have a say you ought to have brought 500 burglars not one I am sure it reflects great credit on your grandfather but you cannot pretend that you ever made the vast extent of his wealth clear to me I should want hundreds of years to bring it all up if I was 50 times as big and smow as tame as a rabbit after that of course the dwarves begged his pardon what then do you propose we should do Mr Baggins asked Thoren politely I have no idea at the moment if you mean

a about removing the treasure that obviously depends entirely on some new turn of luck and the getting rid of smow getting rid of dragons is not at all in my line but I will do my best to think about it personally I have no hopes at all and wish I was safe back at home never mind that for the moment what are we to do now today well if you really want my advice I should say we can do nothing but stay where we are by day we can no doubt creep out safely enough to

take the air perhaps before long one or two could be chosen to go back to the store by the river and replenish our supplies but in the meanwhile everyone ought to be well inside the tunnel by night now I will make you an offer I have got my ring and will creep down this very noon then if ever smow ought to be napping and see what he is up to perhaps something will turn up every worm has his weak spot as my father used to say though I'm sure it was not from personal experience naturally

the dwarves accepted the offer eagerly already they had come to respect little Bilbo now he had become the real leader in their Adventure he had begun to have ideas and plans of his own when midday came he got ready for another Journey down into the mountain he did not like it of course but it was not so bad now he knew more or less what was in front of him had he known more about dragons and their Wy ways he might have been more frightened and less hopeful of catching this one napping the Sun was

shining when he started but it was as dark as night in the tunnel the light from the door almost closed soon faded as he went down so silent was his going that Smoke On A Gentle Wind could hard have surpassed it and he was inclined to feel a bit proud of himself as he drew near the lower door there was only the very faintest glow to be seen old smow is weary and asleep he thought he can't see me and he won't hear me cheer up Bilbo he had forgotten or had never heard about dragon's

sense of smell it is also awkward fact that they can keep half an eye open watching while they sleep if they are suspicious smow certainly looked fast asleep almost dead and dark with scarcely a snore more than a whiff of unseen steam when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance he was just about to step out onto the floor when he caught a sudden thin and piercing Ray of red from under the drooping lid of sm's left eye he was only pretending to sleep he was watching the tunnel entrance hurriedly Bilbo stepped back and blessed

the luck of his ring then smow spoke well Thief I smell you and I feel your air I hear your breath come along help yourself again there is plenty and Des spare but billbo was not quite so unlearned in Dragon lore as all that and if smow hoped to get him to come nearer so easily he was disappointed no thank you oh smow the tremendous he replied I did not come for presence I only wish to have a look at you and see if you were truly as great as Tales say I did not believe

them do you now said the dragon somewhat flattered even though he did not believe a word of it truly songs and tales fall utterly short of the reality oh smog the chiefest and greatest of calamities replied Bilbo you have nice manners for a thief and a liar said the dragon you seem familiar with my name but I don't seem to remember smelling you before who are you and where do you come from may I ask you may indeed I come from under the hill and Under The Hills And Over The Hills my paths LED and

through the air that walks unseen so I can well believe said smow but that is hardly your usual name I am the clue finder the web cutter the stinging fly I was chosen for the lucky number lovely titles sneered the dragon but lucky numbers don't always come off I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water I came from the end of a bag but no bag went over me these don't sound so creditable scoffed smow I am the friend of Bears and the guest of

eagles I am ring winner and luck wearer and I am Barrel Rider went on Bilbo beginning to be pleased with his riddling that's better said smow but don't let your imagination run away with you this of course is the way to talk to dragons if you don't want to reveal your proper name which is wise and don't want to infuriate them by a flat refusal which is also very wise no dragon can resist the fascination of riddling talk and of wasting time trying to understand it there was a lot here which smow did not understand

at all though I expect you do since you know all about Bilbo's Adventures to which he was referring but he thought he understood enough and he chuckled in his Wicked inside I thought so last night he smiled to himself Laken some nasty scheme of those Miser able tub trading lak men or I'm a lizard I haven't been down that way for an age in an age but I will soon alter that very well o Barrel Rider he said aloud maybe Barrel was your Pony's name and maybe not though it was fat enough you may walk

unseen but you did not walk all the way let me tell you I ate six ponies last night and I shall catch and eat all the others before long in return for the excellent meal I will give you one piece of advice for your good don't have more to do with dwarves than you can help dwarves said Bilbo in pretended surprise don't talk to me said smow I I know the smell and taste of dwarf no one better don't tell me that I can eat a dwarf ridden Pony and not know it you'll come to

a bad end if you go with such friends Thief Barrel Rider I don't mind if you go back and tell them so from me but he did not tell Bilbo that there was one smell he could not make out at all Hobbit smell it was quite outside his experience and puzzled him mightily I suppose you got a fair price for that Cup last night he went on come now did you nothing at all well that's just like them and I suppose they are skullking outside and your job is to do all the dangerous work and

get what you can when I'm not looking for them and you you will get a fair share don't you believe it if you get off alive you will be lucky Bilbo was now beginning to feel really uncomfortable whenever sm's roving eye seeking for him in the shadows flashed across him he trembled and an unaccountable desire seized hold of him to rush out and reveal himself and tell all the truth to smow in fact he was in Grievous danger of coming under the dragon spell but plucking up courage he spoke again you don't know everything oh

smug the mighty said he not gold alone brought us hither ha you admit the US laughed smow why not say us 14 and be done with it Mr lucky number I am pleased to hear that you had other business in these parts besides my gold in that case you may perhaps not altogether waste your time I don't know if it has occurred to you that even if you could steal the gold bit by bit a matter of a hundred years or so you could not get it very far not much use on the mountain side

not much use in in the forest bless me had you never thought of the catch a 14th share I suppose or something like it those were the terms eh but what about delivery what about Cartage what about armed guards and tolls and smow laughed aloud he had a wicked and a Wy heart and he knew his guesses were not far out though he suspected that the Laken were at the back of the plans and that most of the plunder was meant to stop there in the town by the shore that in his young days had

been called esgaroth you will hardly believe it but poor Bilbo was really very taken aback so far all his thoughts and energies had been concentrated on getting to the mountain and finding the entrance he had never bothered to wonder how the treasure was to be removed certainly never how any part of it that might fall to his share was to be brought back all the way to Bag End under hill now a nasty suspicion began to grow in his mind had the dwarves forgotten this important Point too or were they laughing in their sleeves at

him all the time time that is the effect that Dragon talk has on the inexperienced Bilbo of course ought to have been on his guard but smow had rather an overwhelming personality I tell you he said in an effort to remain loyal to his friends and to keep his end up that gold was only an afterthought with us we came over Hill and under Hill by wave and wind for Revenge surely oh smow the unassessably wealthy you must realize that your success has made you some bitter enemies then smow really did laugh a devastating sound

which shook Bilbo to the floor while far up in the tunnel the dwarves huddled together and imagined that The Hobbit had come to a sudden and a nasty end Revenge he snorted and the light of his eyes lit the hall from floor to ceiling like Scarlet lightning Revenge the king under the mountain is dead and where are his kin that dare seek revenge giran Lord of Dale is dead and I have eaten his people like a Wolf Among sheep and where are his son's sons that dare approach me I kill where I wish and none

dare resist I laid low the Warriors of old and their like is not in the world today then I was but young and tender now I am old and strong strong strong thief in the shadows he gloated my armor is like tenfold Shield s my teeth are swords my claws Spears the shock of my tail a thunderbolt my wings a hurricane and my breath death I have always understood said Bilbo in a frightened squeak that Dragons Were softer underneath especially in the region of the uh chest but doubtless one so fortified has thought of that

the dragon stopped short in his boasting your information is Antiquated he snapped I am armored above and below with iron scales and hard gems no blade can Pierce me I might have guessed it said Bilbo truly there can nowhere be found the equal of Lord smow the impenetrable what magnificent to possess a waste coat of fine diamonds yes it is rare and wonderful indeed said SM absurdly pleased he did not know that the Hobbit had already caught a glimpse of his peculiar undercovering on his previous visit and was itching for a closer view for reasons

of his own the dragon rolled over look he said what do you say to that dazzlingly marvelous perfect Flawless staggering exclaimed Bilbo aloud but what he thought inside was old fool why there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell after he had seen that Mr baggins's one idea was to get away well I really must not detain your magnificence any longer he said or keep you from much needed rest ponies take some catching I believe after a long start and so do burglar

he added as a parting shot as he darted back and fled up the tunnel it was an unfortunate remark for the dragons spouted terrific Flames after him and fast though he sped up the slope he had not gone nearly far enough to be comfortable before the ghastly head of smow was thrust against the opening behind luckily the whole head and Jaws could not squeeze in but the nostrils sent forth fire and Vapor to pursue him and he was nearly overcome and stumbled blindly on in great pain and fear he had been feeling rather pleased with

the cleverness of his conversation with smow but his stake at the end shook him into better sense never laugh at live dragons Bilbo you fool he said to himself and it became a favorite saying of his later and passed into a proverb you aren't nearly through this adventure yet he added and that was pretty true as well the afternoon was turning into evening when he came out again and stumbled and fell in a faint on the doorstep the dwarves revived him and doctored his scorches as well as they could but it was a long time

before the hair on the back of his head and his heels grew properly again it had all been singed and frizzled right down to the skin in the meanwhile his friends did their best to cheer him up and they were eager for his story especially wanting to know why the dragon had made such an awful noise and how Bilbo had escaped but The Hobbit was worried and uncomfortable and they had difficulty in getting anything out of him on thinking things over he was now regretting some of the things he had said to the dragon and

was not eager to repeat them the old thrush was sitting on a rock nearby with his head cocked on one side listening to all that was said it shows what an ill temper Bilbo was in he picked up a stone and threw it at the thrush which merely fluttered aside and came back drat the bird said Bilbo crossly I believe he is listening and I don't like the look of him leave leave him alone said Thorin the thrushes are good and friendly this is a very old bird indeed and is maybe the last left of

the ancient breed that used to live about here tamed to the hands of my father and grandfather they were a long lived and magical race and this might even be one of those that were alive then a couple of hundreds of of years or more ago the men of Dale used to have the trick of understanding their language and used them for Messengers to fly to the men of the lake and elsewhere well he'll have news to take to Lake Town all right if that is what he is after said Bilbo though I don't suppose

there are any people left there that trouble with thrush language why what has happened cried the dwarves do get on with your tale so Bilbo told them all he could remember and he confessed that he had a nasty feeling that the dragon guessed too much from his riddles added to the camps and the ponies I am sure he knows we came from Lake town and had help from there and I have a horrible feeling that his next move may be in that direction I wish to goodness I had never said that about Barrel Rider it

would make even a blind rabbit in these parts think of the lak men well well it cannot be helped and it is difficult not to slip in talking to a dragon or so I've always heard said barin anxious to comfort him I think you did very well if you ask me you found out one very useful thing at any rate and got home alive and that is more than most can say who have had words with the likes of smal it may be a mercy and a blessing yet to know of the bare patch in

the old worm's Diamond waste coat that turned the conversation and they all began discussing Dragon slayings historical dubious and mythical and the various sorts of stabs and Jabs and undercuts and the different Arts devices and strategems by which they had been accomplished the general opinion was that catching a dragon napping was not as easy as it sounded and the attempt to stick one or prod one asleep was more likely to end in disaster than a bold frontal attack all the while they talked the thrush listened till at last when the stars began to peep forth

it silently spread its wings and flew away and all the while they talked and the Shadows lengthened Bilbo became more and more unhappy and his for boing grew at last he interrupted them I am sure we are very unsafe here he said and I don't see the point of sitting here the dragon has withered all the pleasant green and anyway the night night has come and it is cold but I feel it in my bones that this place will be attacked again smow knows now how I came down to his Hall and you can trust

him to guess where the other end of the tunnel is he will break all this side of the mountain to bits if necessary to stop up our entrance and if we are smashed with it the better he will like it you are very gloomy Mr Baggins said Thoren why has not smow block the lower end then if he is so eager to keep us out he has not or we should have heard him I don't know I don't know because at first he wanted to try and lure me in again I suppose and now perhaps

because he is waiting till after tonight hunt or because he does not want to damage his bedroom if he can help it but I wish you would not argue smow will be coming out at any minute now and our only hope is to get well in the tunnel and shut the door he seemed so much in Earnest that the dwarves at last did as he said though they delayed shutting the door it seemed a desperate plan for no one knew whether or how they could get it open again from the inside and the thought of

being shut in a place from which the only way out LED through the Dragon's Lair was not one they liked also everything seemed quite quiet both outside and down the tunnel so for a longish while they sat inside not far down from the half openen door and went on talking the talk turned to the Dragon's Wicked words about the dwarves Bilbo wished he had never heard them or at least that he could feel quite certain that the dwarves now were absolutely honest when they declared that they had never thought at all about what would happen

after the treasure had been won we knew it would be a desperate Venture said Thorin and we know that still and I still think that when we have won it will be time enough to think what to do about it as for your share Mr Baggins I assure you we are more than grateful and you shall choose your own 14th as soon as we have anything to divide I'm sorry if you are worried about transport and I admit the difficulties are great the lands have not become less wild with the passing of time rather the

reverse but we will do whatever we can for you and take our share of the cost when the time comes believe me or not as you like from that the talk turned to the great horde itself and to the things that Thoren and Balin remembered they wondered if they were still lying there unharmed in the hall below the spears that were made for the armies of the great king blad long since dead each had a Thrice forged head and their shafts were inlaid with cunning gold but they were never delivered or paid for Shields made

for warriors long dead the great golden cup of thraw two-handed hammered and carven with birds and flowers whose eyes and petals were of jewels coats of male gilded and silvered and impenetrable the necklace of giran Lord of Dale made of 500 emeralds green as grass which he gave for the arming of his eldest son in a coat of dwarf linked Rings the like of which had never been made before for it was rought of pure silver to the power and strength of triple Steel but fairest of all was the great white gem which the dwarves

had found beneath the roots of the mountain the heart of the mountain the arkan Stone of thin the arken stone the arkan Stone murmured Thorin in the dark half dreaming with his chin upon his knees it was like a globe with a thousand facets it Shone like silver in the fire light like water in the sun like snow under the stars like rain upon the moon but the enchanted desire of The Horde had fallen from Bilbo all through their talk he was only half listening to them he sat nearest to the door with one ear

cocked for any beginnings of a sound without his other was alert for Echoes beyond the murmurs of the dwarves for any Whisper of a movement from Far Below Darkness grew deeper and he grew ever more uneasy shut the door he begged them I fear that dragon in my marrow I like this silence far less than the Uproar of last night shut the door before it is too late something in his voice gave the dwarves an uncomfortable feeling slowly Thorin shook off his dreams and getting up he kicked away the stone that wedged the door then

they thrust upon it and it closed with a snap and a clang no trace of a keyhole was there left on the inside they were shut in the mountain and not a moment too soon they had hardly gone any distance down the tunnel when 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 The Walls cracked and Stones fell from the roof on their heads what would have happened if the door had still been open I don't like to think they

fled further down the tunnel glad to be still alive while behind them outside they heard the Roar and Rumble of sm's Fury he was breaking rocks to Pieces smashing wall and cliff with the lashings of his huge tail till their little lofty camping ground the scorched grass the thrush's stone the snail covered walls the narrow ledge and all disappeared in a jumble of Smither and an avalanche of splintered Stones fell over the cliff into the valley below smal had left his lair in silent stealth quietly s sword into the air and then floated heavy and

slow in the dark like a monstrous Crow down the wind towards the west of the mountain in the hopes of catching unawares something or somebody there and of spying the outlet to the passage which the thief had used this was the Outburst of his wrath when he could find nobody and see nothing even where he guessed the outlet must actually be after he had let off his rage in this way he felt better and he thought in his heart that he would not be troubled again from that direction in the meanwhile he had further Vengeance

to take Barrel Rider he snorted your feet came from the water side and up the water you came without a doubt I don't know your smell but if you are not one of those men of the lake you had their help they shall see me and remember who is the real King Under the Mountain he rose in Fire and went away South towards the running River and so my dear friends we close the book on tonight's Tales I hope you've enjoyed this journey into the heart of Middle Earth where dragons rule the skies and ancient

legends breathe fire into our imaginations as we part for the night know that the world of Middle Earth with all its wonders and dangers will always be there waiting for you to return whenever you need a reminder that even in the face of the greatest of challenges there is always hope until next time may your nights be filled with the Quiet rustle of old stories and may your sleep and dreams be as peaceful as a moonlit walk through the Shire farewell for now for for for for for for for for that for for for for

in for for for for for for for all for for for for for for for for for for for for for for for that for for e for for for for for for for that's for for e for for for for for for e for for for for for is for for for for for for in for for for