hobbit

with shield and body, for he was their mother's elder brother. The others remained with
Dain; for Dain dealt his treasure well.
There was, of course, no longer any question of dividing the hoard in such shares as
had been planned, to Balin and Dwalin, and Dori and Nori and Ori, and Oin and Gloin,
and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur-or to Bilbo. Yet a fourteenth share of all the silver and
gold, wrought and unwrought, was given up to Bard; for Dain said: "We will honour the
agreement of the dead, and he has now the Arkenstone in his keeping."
Even a fourteenth share was wealth exceedingly great, greater than that of many mortal
kings. From that treasure Bard sent much gold to the Master of Lake-town; and he
rewarded his followers and friends freely. To the Elvenking he gave the emeralds of
Girion, such jewels as he most loved, which Dain had restored to him. To Bilbo he said:
"This treasure is as much yours as it is mine; though old agreements cannot stand, since
so many have a claim in its winning and defence. Yet even though you were willing to
lay aside all your claim, I should wish that the words of Thorin, of which he repented,
should not prove true: that we should give you little. I would reward you most richly of
all."
"Very kind of you," said Bilbo. "But really it is a relief to me. How on earth should I have
got all that treasure home without war and murder all along the way, I don't know. And I
don't know what I should have done with it when I got home. I am sure it is better in your
hands."
In the end he would only take two small chests, one filled with silver, and the other with
gold, such as one strong pony could carry. "That will be quite as much as I can
manage," said he.
At last the time came for him to say good-bye to his friends. "Farewell, Balin!" he said;
"and farewell, Dwalin; and farewell Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur!
May your beards never grow thin!" And turning towards the Mountain he added:
"Farewell Thorin Oakenshield! And Fili and Kili! May your memory never fade!"
Then the dwarves bowed low before their Gate, but words stuck in their throats. "Goodbye
and good luck, wherever you fare!" said Balin at last. "If ever you visit us again,
when our halls are made fair once more, then the feast shall indeed be splendid!"
"If ever you are passing my way," said Bilbo, "don't wait to knock! Tea is at four; but any
of you are welcome at any time!"
Then he turned away.
The elf-host was on the march;. and if it was sadly lessened, yet many were glad, for
now the northern world would be merrier for many a long day.
The dragon was dead, and the goblins overthrown, and their hearts looked forward after
winter to a spring of joy. Gandalf and Bilbo rode behind the Elvenking, and beside them
strode Beorn, once again in man's shape, and he laughed and sang in a loud voice upon
the road. So they went on until they drew near to the borders of Mirkwood, to the north of
the place where the Forest River ran out.
Then they halted, for the wizard and Bilbo would not enter the wood, even though the
king bade them stay a while in his halls. They intended to go along the edge of the
forest, and round its northern end in the waste that lay between it and the beginning of
the Grey Mountains. It was a long and cheerless road, but now that the goblins were
crushed, it seemed safer to them than the dreadful pathways under the trees. Moreover
Beorn was going that way too.
"Farewell! O Elvenking!" said Gandalf. "Merry be the greenwood, while the world is yet
young! And merry be all your folk!"
"Farewell! O Gandalf!" said the king. "May you ever appear where you are most needed
and least expected! The oftener you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased!"