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In the ancient halls of the House of Durin, a longing for the fabled wealth of the Lonely Mountain burned bright in the hearts of the dwarves. And so, with determination in their eyes and axes in their hands, a company of thirteen set out on a journey to reclaim the treasure of their forefathers.
It was said that the path to the Lonely Mountain was guarded by a great dragon, Smaug, and many doubted the dwarves' ability to overcome such a fearsome foe. Yet, guided by the wisdom of Gandalf the Grey, the dwarves pressed on.
Gandalf, who had long delved into the history of the dwarves and their ancient halls, remembered a prophecy that spoke of a "burglar" who would aid in the downfall of the dragon. And so, he set out to find this "burglar", a hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins.
Bilbo, a timid and unadventurous hobbit, was initially reluctant to join the dwarves on their quest. But, with persuasion from Gandalf and the lure of adventure, he agreed to accompany them.
And so, with Bilbo as their burglar, the dwarves set out on their journey. Many trials and tribulations they faced, from the treacherous Misty Mountains to the halls of the Elvenking. But through it all, they persevered, driven by the promise of treasure and the knowledge that their quest was tied to the fate of Middle-earth itself, for it was said that the recovery of the Lonely Mountain's treasure would play a crucial role in the War of the Ring.
Thus, the quest of the dwarves to the Lonely Mountain was not just a tale of greed and treasure, but one of bravery, determination and fate.
This is the first ‘complete’ telling of how the dwarves’ quest to the Lonely Mountain came to be. The fragmented accounts in The Unfinished Tales have been pieced together to make one continuous story. From the House of Durin to Gandalf's memory, concerning the finding of the Burglar and his significance for the War of the Ring.
Some background from Durin’s Folk (LOTR Appendices) has been included for context, as both texts are closely linked.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s words have been preserved wherever possible. To see the original writings, please explore The Lord of the Rings Appendices and The Unfinished Tales.
One new section was written to bridge a gap in the narrative on the War of the Ring. It references only canonical sources which simply introduce and conclude the story.
We hope this form helps bring this story to a wider audience, and you enjoy this ‘finished’ tale.
Written by J.R.R. Tolkien
Edited by Christopher Tolkien
Soundtrack composed by Howard Shore.
Audiobook narrated, produced, and edited by Bluefax.
Art by Jian Guo.