Reader: The Hobbit. Chapter 18 “The Return Journey”

Summary Points

• Bilbo awoke, by himself, still on Ravenhill.
• He was found by a searcher, a Man, and apparently hadn’t been found earlier because he had his Ring on.
  • Gandalf certainly trusted in his ability to survive. He had been counted among the dead and the Man was on one last search for him.
  • The Man was clearly a strong healthy guy, he carried Bilbo, at speed, back down to the camp.

Reader: The Hobbit. Chapter 16 “A Thief In The Night”

Summary Points

• Thorin was getting OCD with Arkenstone possession.
  • The Arkenstone was worth A LOT.
• Bilbo was getting the quavers with his Arkenstone possession.
• Days passed, and finally ravens brought news that Dain was two days’ march away.

Reader: The Hobbit. Chapter 15 “The Gathering of the Clouds”

Summary Points

• The Company had company, in the form of birds, and especially the old thrush.
• Ravens were different from crows. and the Dwarves were acquainted with the ones who used to live in Erebor. Ravens are long-lived and could converse in the speech of men.

Reader: The Hobbit. Chapter 13 “Not At Home”

Summary Points

• The Company sat in darkness for days waiting for Smaug to return.
• Again, Bilbo’s spirits were strangely more uplifted just as the Dwarves’ sank low.
• They tried, Bilbo’s third and at his suggestion, for the treasure room where he was sure there was an exit.

Reader: The Hobbit. Chapter 12 “Inside Information”

Summary Points

• Finally the Company stood within the walls of the Erebor.
• Thorin immediately called upon Bilbo to do his burglary duties
  • Balin was the only one to volunteer to accompany Bilbo as he was fond of the Hobbit. but even for him, the line was drawn at “come inside at least
    and perhaps a bit of the way too, ready to call for help if necessary.”

Reader: The Hobbit. Chapter 11 “On The Doorstep”

Summary Points

• It took the Company 2 days by water and at least 1 more by land to get to the Desolation.
• Thorin still remembered what the place was like, pre-Smaug. So did Balin who was with him.
• The hidden door was on one of the western spurs of the Mountain. The Dwarves proceeded carefully here.

Reader: The Hobbit. Chapter 10 “A Warm Welcome”

Summary Points

• Bilbo’s first glimpse of the Lonely Mountain, rounding a bend riding the barrels and he wasn’t feeling happy vibes. He had also caught a cold.
• It took all day to traverse the Forest River to reach Lake-town on the Long Lake, even travelling on the water. There were “clifflike gates” where the River met the Lake. In the southern end of the Lake, the waters fell over high falls.

Reader: The Hobbit. Chapter 8 “Flies And Spiders”

Summary Points (an eventful chapter indeed!)

• Mirkwood was truly a scary, forbidding, creepy, gloomy place with huge trees and super dense foliage needing serious trimming above, while strange unknown critters nosed about in the undergrowth and thick leave piles. There were black squirrels abound too. Cobwebs seemed copious and super-strength industrial grade. Air quality was nothing to shout about either depressing even the Dwarves with its stuffy stillness.