CHAPTER XIV: FIRE AND WATER

As Smaug departs the Mountain in fury, the people of Lake-town first mistake distant lights for the return of the King under the Mountain. Alarm rises when Smaug appears, and on a grim-voiced warning the bridge is cut and the town arms. Smaug’s first assault is blunted by water and distance, but his fire soon sets the wooden town ablaze.

Bard, a stern archer of the line of Girion, rallies a diminishing band amid the flames as ordinary arrows fail. A thrush alights on Bard’s shoulder and, understood by him, reveals the hollow in Smaug’s left breast. As the moon rises, Bard looses his treasured Black Arrow into the exposed spot. Smaug screams, falls upon the town, and dies; Esgaroth is shattered and steaming in the lake.

Survivors gather on the western shore, mourning their losses and praising Bard, whom they think dead. Bard returns alive and is hailed as king by many, but the Master defends his position and shifts blame to Thorin’s company for provoking the dragon. The crowd’s anger turns toward the dwarves, while Bard restrains them and begins organizing relief.

Bard leads in the Master’s name, ordering shelters and care, as talk spreads of the unguarded treasure in the Mountain. He dispatches messengers to the Elvenking for aid. The Elvenking, already moving upon hearing the tidings borne by birds and scouts, diverts to the lake with supplies and a host of bowmen and spearmen.

With women, children, and craftsmen left to rebuild under the Master and the helpful elves, the remainder—able men of Esgaroth and most of the Elvenking’s host—prepare to march on the Mountain. Eleven days after the town’s ruin, their vanguard enters the desolation, aiming to claim recompense and secure the treasure.