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closely； and prevented most of them from escaping where they could。 They drove many of them into the Running River； and such as fled south or west they hunted into the marshes about the Forest River； and there the greater part of the last fugitives perished； while those that came hardly to the Wood…elves' realm were there slain； or drawn in to die in the trackless dark of Mirkwood。 Songs have said that three parts of the goblin warriors of the North perished on that day； and the mountains had peace for many a year。
Victory had been assured before the fall of night； but the pursuit was still on foot； when Bilbo returned to the camp； and not many were in the valley save the more grievously wounded。
〃Where are the Eagles？〃 he asked Gandalf that evening； as he lay wrapped in many warm blankets。
〃Some are in the hunt；〃 said the wizard； 〃but most have gone back to their eyries。 They would not stay here； and departed with the first light of morning。 Dain has crowned their chief with gold； and sworn friendship with them for ever。〃
〃I am sorry。 I mean； I should have liked to see them again；〃 said Bilbo sleepily； 〃perhaps I shall see them on the way home。 I suppose I shall be going home soon？〃
〃As soon as you like；〃 said the wizard。
Actually it was some days before Bilbo really set out。 They buried Thorin deep beneath the Mountain； and Bard laid the Arkenstone upon his breast。
〃There let it lie till the Mountain falls！〃 he said。 〃May it bring good fortune to all his folk that dwell here after！〃 Upon his tomb the Elvenking then laid Orcrist； the elvish sword that had been taken from Thorin in captivity。 It is said in songs that it gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached； and the fortress of the dwarves could not be taken by surprise。 There now Dain son of Nain took up his abode； and he became King under the Mountain； and in time many other dwarves gathered to his throne in the ancient halls。 Of the twelve panions of Thorin； ten remained。 Fili and Kili had fallen defending him 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。 〃Good…bye 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 wele 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！〃
〃I beg of you；〃 said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot； 〃to accept this gift！〃 and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting。
〃In what way have I earned such a gift； O hobbit？〃 said the king。 〃Well； er； I thought； don't you know；〃 said Bilbo rather confused； 〃that； er； some little return should be made for your； er； hospitality。 I mean even a burglar has his feelings。 I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread。〃
〃I will take your gift； O Bilbo the Magnificent！〃 said the king gravely。 〃And I name you elf…friend and blessed。 May your shadow never grow less （or stealing would be too easy）！ Farewell！〃
Then the elves turned towards the Forest； and Bilbo started on his long road home。
He had many hardships and adventures before he got back。 The Wild was still the Wild； and there were many other things in it in those days besides goblins； but he was well guided and well guarded…the wizard was with him； and Beorn for much of the way…and he was never in great danger again。 Anyway by mid…winter Gandalf and Bilbo had e all the way back； along both edges of the Forest； to the doors of Beorn's house； and there for a while they both stayed。 Yule…tide was warm and merry there； and men came from far and wide to feast at Beorn's bidding。 The goblins of the Misty Mountains were now few and terrified； and hidden in the deepest holes they could find； and the Wargs had vanished f