Slaying of Smaug and Bard’s Black Arrows
The ‘bowman’ Bard inherited several Black Arrows that were heirlooms that were descended from the bloodline of Girion. The exact origins of the Black Arrows are unknown; however, they are believed to have been forged by the dwarves of Erebor and they were gifted to the lords of Dale.
When Smaug started to destroy Lake Town, Bard would assemble some men and he would also take the Black Arrows to aim Smaug.
In the movie, Smaug would try to humiliate Bard, the descendant of Girion the lord of Dale who ruled when Smaug destroyed Dale but eventually Bard was able to find the weak spot of Smaug that didn’t have a dragon scale.
Bard would aim and hit the spot without dragon scales on Smaug’s chest and eventually Smaug was slayed by Bard. In the novel a thrush who overheard the conversation between Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves whispered the weakness of Smaug to Bard.
Mithril & Thorin’s gift to Bilbo Baggins – Mithril Armor
Mithril was the rarest metal ores of the Legendarium that was only mined in old Numenor, the Aman continent where Valinor lies and the Misty Mountains (especially in the mines of Moria, old Khazad-dum).
The presence of Mithril was the most crucial reason why the dwarves wanted to reclaim Moria as the mines of Khazad-dum was the only source of Mithril.
The dwarves of Khazad-dum formed a powerful alliance with the Noldor elf kingdom Eregion led by Celbrimbor as the Noldor elves could craft master pieces from the Mithril supplies of Khazad-dum.
The most representative masterpieces and crafts made from Mitrhil were Bilbo Baggin’s mithril armor, Door of Durin which was the Gate of Moria, and the Front Gate of Minas Tirith.
Mithril was unusually strong and light so it was the perfect metal for any kind of purpose. The map to the backdoor of Erebor was also engraved with Ithildin which was a substance made from Mithril that shall only shine and show under the Moon light.
After Smaug was dead and the dwarves reclaimed Erebor, Thorin Oakenshield would truly thank Bilbo Baggins for his contribution and gifted a Mithril Armor to him as a token of true friendship. Bilbo Baggins would wear this mithril armor and later on he would pass it on to Frodo Baggins.
White Gems of Lasgalen, Calathiel Mother of Legolas and wife of Thranduil – Movie adaption
Thranduil, even in the novel, was inspired a lot by the first Sindar elf lord Thingol who was once called Elwe. The Woodland Realm and its king Thranduil shares many similarities with the elf lord Thingol of Doriath of the First Ages in both the novels and the movies.
The White Gems of Lasgalen was an adaptation to the movie and an heirloom of Thranduil’s wife Calathiel. Thranduil asked the dwarves to forge the White Gems of Lasgalen so he could remember his wife Calathiel that had passed away in the movie The Hobbit.
This was a similar story of Thingol of Doriath who had conflict with the dwarves over the Nauglamir and the Silmaril where eventually Thignol was murdered by the dwarves. (This is actually why Sindar, Silvan elves and dwarves have a grudge).
In both the novel and the movie, not much is known of Thranduil’s wife Calathiel who was also the mother of Legolas.
Bilbo Baggin’s theft of the Arkenstone and Dispute of Thorin Okaensheild and Bilbo Baggins
As Thorin Oakenshield refused to share the treasures with Bard that represented the humans and declared battle against the elves, Bilbo Baggins, despite the complex feelings he had, stole the Arkenstone for the best of Thorin Oakenshield.
Bilbo Baggins would then hand the Arkenstone over to Bard and Thranduil so they could have a chance to negotiate terms with Thorin Oakenshield.
Thorin Oakenshield was enraged after he found that Thranduil and Bard held the Arkenstone which was an heirloom of the royal family of Erebor.
After Bilbo Baggins confessed that he stole the Arkenstone in hopes that Thorin Oakenshield would redeem himself, Thorin Oakenshield banished him from Erebor. Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield would make up just before Thorin Oakenshield passes away after the Battle of Five Armies
Why did the dwarves, humans and elves fight each other
In the movie, Thranduil eventually wanted the White Gems of Lasgalen at least while Bard wanted the share that Thorin Oakenshield had promised for the reconstruction of Lake Town and the ruins of Dale.
Both the elves and the humans assumed that the dwarves were killed by Smaug but they were surprised to discover that Thorin Oakenshield and his companions were alive.
Also, the movie describes a ‘sickness’ that was in the blood line of Thorin and a sickness caused by the dragon that made Thorin Oakenshield obsessed with the treasure of Erebor.
This sickness described in the movie also explains that it drove Thorin Oakenshield away from his sanity. In the novel, there wasn’t such sickness, however Thorin Oakenshield would oppose the humans of Bard and the elves of Thranduil as they’d led an army in front of Erebor.
Bard and Thranduil assumed that the dwarves were all dead and the elves were aiding and helping the humans of Lake-Town. Thranduil rather wanted to help the humans take their rightful share instead of their own demands of the treasure of Erebor in the novel.
Iron Hills
The Iron Hills was not far away from the Lonely Mountains, the kingdom of Erebor and it was led by Dain Ironfoot, the cousin of Thorin Oakenshield. Thorin Oakenshield after seeing the human and elf alliance would send a raven with a message to the Iron Hills for reinforcements.
The Iron Hills was an old colony of the dwarves of Khazad-dum but it eventually became a larger dwarf settlement after Durin’s Bane took over Khazad-dum.
Technology of Dwarves and Elves
Although the movie depicts the advanced technology of the dwarves of Iron Hills with iron spiked chariots and ballista that could deflect and bombard the elves at once, the elves were still the best craftsman of the Legendarium.
Especially the Noldor elves have forged the most influential and powerful masterpieces such as the Silmarils, rings of power, palantirs, swords etc.
