#ThereAndBackAgain Readalong
The Hobbit, the WWI Officer and the Power of Freewill
The Hobbit — Ch. 16 A Thief in the Night — Bilbo and all his unorthodox decisions
At the beginning of chapter 16, the situation is dire. It looks like nobody is likely to make a move. Thorin’s stance is firm, and he will keep it that way. The other Dwarves will stand by him, whether they agree with his decision or not. Bard and the Elvenking don’t seem incline to make the first move and unsettle the precarious balance with disastrous consequences.
It’s very hard to imagine that things will end in any way but badly. Bilbo knows it but decides to make a desperate try at turning things for the good.
He sneaks out of the Lonely Mountain (deceiving Bombur, who’s on guard), and enters the ‘enemy’ camp to offer Bard and the Elvenking the Arkenstone. He knows that will give Bard leverage in the parlay with Thorin, and turn things in a positive direction.
The little hobbit acts on a vision that is far larger than everyone else’s. He has all intention to stay true to Thorin and the Dwarves, but he also aims at doing something that will hopefully benefit everyone. In short, he’s trying to do the right thing, regardless of his personal position. And he doesn’t do…
