Now the days passed slowly and wearily. Many of the dwarves spent their time
piling and ordering the treasure; and now Thorin spoke of the Arkenstone of
Thrain, and bade them eagerly to look for it in every corner.
"For the Arkenstone of my father," he said, "is worth more than a river of
gold in itself, and to me it is beyond price. That stone of all the treasure I
name unto myself, and I will be avenged on anyone who finds it and withholds
it."
Bilbo heard these words and he grew afraid, wondering what would happen, if
the stone was found--wrapped in an old bundle of tattered oddments that he used
as a pillow. All the same he did not speak of it, for as the weariness of the
days grew heavier, the beginnings of a plan had come into his little head.
Here is another parallel to Fëanor and the Silmarils. Fëanor and his sons vowed
"to pursue with vengeance and hatred to the ends of the World Vala, Demon,
Elf or Man as yet unborn, or any creature, great or small, good or evil, that
time should bring forth unto the end of days, whoso should hold or take or keep
a Silmaril from their possession."
Although less articulate than Fëanor, Thorin, too, has promised vengeance
against anyone who withholds the Arkenstone from him. Pronouncements of this
sort are a very serious business in Tolkien’s world.
1. Does Thorin appreciate the gravity of what he has just said? Can he be
unaware of the history of the Noldorin? Do dwarves take oaths less seriously
than other folk in Middle Earth? If events had gone otherwise in the Battle of
the Five Armies, would Thorin have sought vengeance from Bilbo?
2. Assuming Thorin's promise is to be taken seriously, is he justified in
making it? Fëanor, the greatest artisan in Arda, poured all his creativity into
the Silmarils. Thorin's only claim to the Arkenstone is that his forebears
"found" it under the Mountain, and had it stolen from them by Smaug. Is
anything other than greed operating
here?
*****
Note to the Chronologically Gifted: Get your kids to show you how to use a chat program and join the crones and geezers at #Bag_End (a channel off Barlman's) Sundays at 2pm Pacific Time. Be there and be square.
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I don't hold with wearing ironmongery, whether it wears well or no.
