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Character Bios

Thorin Oakenshield's Company

Other Names: Thorin's Company

Race/Species: Other

Type/Kind: N/A

Dates: 2941 - 2942 III

Description:
As is told in The Hobbit, there came one day to Bilbo's door the great Wizard, Gandalf the Grey, and thirteen dwarves with him: none other, indeed, than Thorin Oakenshield, descendant of kings, and his twelve companions in exile. With them he set out, to his own lasting astonishment, on a morning of April, it being then the year 1341 Shire-reckoning, on a quest of great treasure, the dwarf-hoards of the Kings under the Mountain, beneath Erebor in Dale, far off in the East.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Prologue, Of the Finding of the Ring

... [Bilbo] had almost forgotten about Gandalf. ... Just before tea-time there came a tremendous ring on the front-door bell, and then he remembered! He rushed and put on the kettle ... and ran to the door. ...

It was a dwarf with a blue beard tucked into a golden belt, and very bright eyes under his dark-green hood. As soon a the door was opened, he pushed inside, just as if he had been expected.

He hung his hooded cloak on the nearest peg, and 'Dwalin at your service!' he said with a low bow.

'Bilbo Baggins at yours!' said the hobbit, too surprised to ask any questions for the moment. When the silence that followed had become uncomfortable, he added: 'I am just about to take tea; pray come and have some with me.' ...

... there came another even louder ring at the bell. ...

... there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a white beard and a scarlet hood; and he too hopped inside as soon as the door was open, just as if he had been invited. ...

'Balin at your service!' he said with his hand on his breast.

'Thank you!' said Bilbo with a gasp. ... He liked visitors, but he liked to know them before they arrived, and he preferred to ask them himself. ...

When he got back Balin and Dwalin were talking at the table like old friends (as a matter of fact they were brothers). ... another ring. ...

It was two more dwarves, both with blue hoods, silver belts, and yellow beards; and each of them carried a bag of tools and a spade. ...

'Kili at your service!' said the one. 'And Fili!' added the other; and they both swept off their blue hoods and bowed. ...

'Dwalin and Balin here already, I see,' said Kili. 'Let us join the throng!'

'Throng!' thought Mr. Baggins. 'I don't like the sound of that.' ... He had only just had a sip -- in the corner, while the four dwarves sat around the table, and talked about mines and gold and troubles with the goblins, and the depredations of dragons, and lots of other things which he did not understand ... when ... his bell rang again....

... it was FIVE. ... He had hardly turned the knob, before they were all inside, bowing and saying 'at your service' one after another. Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, and Gloin were their names; and very soon two purple hoods, a grey hood, a brown hood, and a white hood were hanging on the pegs, and off they marched with their broad hands stuck in their gold and silver belts to join the others. ...

A big jug of coffee had just been set in the hearth ... when there came -- a loud knock. ...

More dwarves, four more! And there was Gandalf behind ...

'Let me introduce Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, and especially Thorin!'

'At your service!' said Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur standing in a row. Then they hung up two yellow hoods and a pale green one; and also a sky-blue one with a long silver tassel. This last belonged to Thorin, an enormously important dwarf, in fact no other than the great Thorin Oakenshield himself.... Thorin indeed was very haughty, and said nothing about service ...

'Now we are all here!' said Gandalf, looking at the row of thirteen hoods -- the best detachable party hoods -- and his own hat hanging on the pegs.

The Hobbit, Ch 1, An Unexpected Party

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 25Sep05

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