An Unexpected Party

The "Unexpected Party" vignette depicts the famous party from the first chapter of THE HOBBIT where Gandalf introduces the thirteen Dwarves to Bilbo the Hobbit. The dwarves are exiles from the kingdom under the mountain which has been taken from their people by the great dragon Smaug.

Thorin Oakenshield, their leader, has planned an expedition to re-take their mountain home and to destroy Smaug in the process. The expedition has been encouraged by the wizard Gandalf who wishes to recruit Bilbo Baggins, the Hobbit, to their cause. Bilbo, like most Hobbits is unadventurous and home-loving and seems an unlikely candidate for the role of burglar which Gandalf has in mind for him. The Dwarves also doubt his suitability but Gandalf, a shrewd judge of character, has every confidence in him "There is a lot more in him than you guess" he tells Gloin at one stage during the party "and a deal more than he has any idea of himself"

The party itself is unexpected because Bilbo had invited only Gandalf and the poor Hobbit is increasingly flustered when strange Dwarves begin to arrive at his door in twos and threes. Each time he thinks the company is complete, more Dwarves appear until at last he has thirteen of them eating and drinking in his parlor together with Gandalf who arrives last. The party is a very makeshift affair with Bilbo rushing to the pantry ( fortunately well stocked !) to fetch various food and drink for his hungry guests.

When the feasting is finished the Dwarves ( except Thorin who is too important) lend a hand to clear away the dishes. They "...made tall piles of all the things. Off they went, not waiting for trays, balancing columns of plates, each with a bottle on the top, with one hand, while the Hobbit ran after them almost squeaking with fright.." Bilbo is terrified that all his precious crockery will be broken, but as it turns out the Dwarves break nothing!

Next, the Dwarves provide some entertainment. Each has brought with him a musical instrument and upon Thorin's command "Now for some music", the fiddles, clarinets, viols, pipes and drums are fetched from the hallway. Following the lead of Thorin's harp "the music began all at once, so sudden and sweet that Bilbo forgot everything else". The Dwarves sing their song which tells the story of the coming of Smaug and the destruction of the kingdom under the mountain, and after it is ended fall to discussing their plans for re-taking the mountain realm which the dragon has made his own.

They talk long into the night and Gandalf produces the map of Thror which reveals a possible point of entry into Smaug's lair, namely a small and secret door in the side of the mountain.

It is at this point that Bilbo's role as "Burglar" becomes clear to all, and in the excitement of the moment, carried along by all the romance of the tales of adventure and daring that had pervaded the party, the Hobbit agrees to go with Thorin's expedition, a decision he was to regret many times during their fateful adventure.