Not at Home

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.

Not at Home
Chapter of The Hobbit
Number	13
Synopsis
Event	Bilbo finds the Arkenstone Thorin gives a shirt of mithril to Bilbo Thorin and Company escape the Lonely Mountain
Location	Great Hall of Thráin Great Chamber of Thrór Erebor Desolation of the Dragon
Navigation
<  Inside Information
Fire and Water  >

Not at Home is the 13th chapter of The Hobbit.

Summary

The dwarves sat in terror for a time and feared they would be trapped in the mountain. Not knowing if Smaug was waiting at the bottom, Bilbo and Thorin led the Company down the tunnel, but Bilbo fell face first into the dragon hoard. Finding Smaug was not at home, he got up and demanded a light from the dwarves. Taking the light, he climbed the mound of treasure, where he found the Arkenstone, fairest of all dwarven gems. It sparkled of many colours in the light of his torch, and he was awestruck at its beauty. Drawn by it, he lifted it and put it into his pocket, noting that he would happily take only this one jewel as his fourteenth share of the treasure, though he had a feeling that his share was never meant to include it. Indeed, he perceived that trouble would come of it.

Front Gate by Turner Mohan

Bilbo continued moving through the hall, further away from the dwarves and saw glimpses of the dwarven city in the darkness. But he was startled by bats flying past his face, and dropped his torch. In the darkness, he cried out for the dwarves. They moved into the hall and met Bilbo. Seeing the majesty of the treasure before them, they became emboldened, and began playing harps from the hoard and gathering gems. Thorin continued searching for the Arkenstone, but he kept the object of his search secret from the rest of the company. He did, however array himself in dwarven mail, and appeared as a great dwarf-lords of old. Calling Bilbo to him, he gave to him, as his first payment for his job as burglar, a lightweight shirt of silver mail: mithril. He took it gratefully and mused at it, but quickly tired of the rest of the hoard and urged Thorin to exit the mountain. The Company climbed stair after stair until they came to the Great Chamber of Thrór, in a state of decay. Moving through it, they arrived outdoors at last, to the Front Gate, with the River Running beside them, and Dale in front of them.

In the fresh air, Bilbo realised he was cold and hungry. It had been two nights and a day since Smaug smashed the hidden door, though Bilbo could not tell. Realising they were not yet out of peril, for they did not know where the dragon was, they followed an old path known to Balin, until they reached a sheltered dell, where they rested a short while. Here, they had cram and water for breakfast. Then they continued westwards until they came to the top of a ridge, with a wide view south, east, and west, and sheltered by a rock wall to the north. According to Balin, it was an old guardroom, and a place where they could take some proper rest. But Dori remained fearful of Smaug. Some, including Bilbo, threw themselves down to sleep in the guardroom, but others discussed their plans and the potential whereabouts of the dragon. They noticed a large gathering of birds in the west, but did not understand its significance as night fell.