The world is in peril. Residents of Lake-town have experienced the same earthquake-like event that the Dwarves have felt under their feet. They are all aware of what has been aroused within the mountain to produce it. They all fear for their lives and the turn their fates will take once that sound escapes the confines of a mountain. And still within that same mountain a lonely Hobbit is conversing with a dragon.

Although Bilbo entered the dragon’s lair as politely as could possibly be, took measures to be stealthy and quiet in his search of the Arkenstone, still the dragon awoke. The enormity of Smaug has caught poor Bilbo by surprise, leaving him in fear and under the protection of the Ring. 

While the Dwarves wait on the plateau outside of the mountain for Bilbo to retrieve the Arkenstone, and Bilbo sneaking quietly ever deeper into Erebor, Gandalf and Thráin take towards the bridge that brought the Wizard there in the first place, so they can finally escape Dol Guldur. 

Dwalin is pounding on the hidden door of Erebor with all his strength, and Nori with all his skills as a thief is listening for hollow spaces. The two cannot work together since Dwalin’s thumping is interfering with Nori’s listening skills. However, with both their strengths there is no chance of opening the door and the light is fading. 

A small seemingly insignificant creature leaps up on top of Gandalf provoking a fight between the two of them that leads Gandalf through the undiscovered hallways through Dol Guldur. Since every wall is decorated with iron spikes, there is no way to hide from danger. When Gandalf finally overcomes the creature, he places his hand on his forehead and recites a Quenyan spell. 

They fought the spiders of Mirkwood, they escaped incarceration in the Woodland Realm, they made their case in front of the people of Lake-town, and now they finally reached their destination, the slopes of Erebor. 

As the Dwarves board the boats, the town musicians play for their send off as well as for their Master who has come to oversee it personally. In the line of musicians beneath the Master’s podium, there are two cameos: one of Alan Lee and one of John Howe, the two concept artists on both trilogies. It was their time to suit up as Lake-town musicians and be part of the world their pencils created. 

The people of Lake-town have heard the prophecy of Durin’s folk. When they saw the Dwarves move through their streets they could see that the prophecy is on its way to fulfillment. From that, they began to hope that their current state of poverty would be changed once the King Under the Mountain had reached his homeland. And now, standing before the Master of Lake-town, Thorin has promised them a share in the treasure of the Lonely Mountain. 

Under the dark cover of night, the Dwarves take their fate into their own hands once more. They break and enter into the armory of Lake-town. Bard offered them weapons he himself had at home, the only weapons that could be found outside of the armory, fashioned from all different fishing and blacksmith tools. 

The sight of the Lonely Mountain in the distance jogs Bard’s dormant memory of the name Thorin. Since it has been decades that the mountain has been unoccupied by Dwarves, and the name of Durin long bereft of importance in these parts, it is no wonder a bargeman could not instantly link the name of the Dwarf in his home with the one of legend. With surprise and fear, and out of breath, Bard rushes into the tapestry shop in the market.