Bard

**Bard** is one of the main protagonists in *The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug* and its sequel, *The Battle of the Five Armies.*

## Character overview

**Bard** was a man of Lake-town and Dale. He was also the father of Bain, Sigrid, and Tilda. Bard met a band of thirteen Dwarves and one hobbit and later snuck them into Lake-town. However, Bard figured out who the  company's leader was, and was determined to stop him, but Thorin refused to listen to a "naysayer". After openly opposing the Master, Bard was imprisoned, but eventually escaped. He took his arrow with his son's assistance and destroyed Smaug, leading the survivors of Lake-town.  and later the first king of the New Dale.

## Background

### Early Life (TA 2898-TA 2930)

Bard was born in Lake-town to unnamed parents in TA 2898, but his early life is vaguely known. Around the early 2920S of the third age, he married an unnamed woman. They had three children together, Bain in 2925, Sigrid in TA 2926 and Tilda in TA 2930. The mother died in childbirth and Sigrid was lefto be the maternal figure for both her brother and her sister.

### Quest of Erebor

#### Smuggling Thorin and Company

One day while doing his job, encounters a group of fourteen characters from the east. He takes his bow and uses it against them. One of them approaches him asking if the barge is available for Hire by any chance. Bard at first refuses to help Thorin's Company, until the dwarf Balin convinces him by paying him double. During the event, Bard meets Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit of the Shire who he becomes fond of after some time. He later tells them to hide int he barrels after he is paid from them like promised.

Bard makes it towards the gate and Percy stamps his ticket inside. Then, a despicable man named Alfrid Lickspittle stops him. Fearing the company will be revealed, Bard comes up with excuses that theh people need it, but Alfrid claims it is not his problem. Then when Bard says it will be his problems when the people revolt, Alfrid withdraws his guard and Bard slips into town with Thorin's company in tow. He leads the company to his home until Bain tells his father their house is being watched.

Bard goes back home and his daughters greet him. Both girls are surprised with the Dwarves and the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins come in through the room.

### Uncovering the Prophecy

When Bard realizes that Thorin is actually Thorin Oakenshield of the line of Durin, he goes out to a shop to find a tapestry of the line of Durin before reciting a prophecy of the Mountain King's return. He returned to his house to find that the Dwarves had left to raid the armory and thus left to find them.

### Warning of Danger

By the time he did, the Dwarves had been caught and Thorin revealed his identity to the Master of Lake-town. Bard vocalized his opposition to letting the Dwarves enter the Lonely Mountain, fearing that they would awaken Smaug, who would destroy Lake-Town in retaliation, but by appealing to their hopes for the return of prosperity, Thorin is able to persuade the Master and the townspeople to support him.

Kili becomes gravely ill from a poisoned arrow which had hit him previously during an orc attack, and is left behind as Thorin and the others head to the Lonely Mountain. Fili, Bofur, and Óin stay to tend him, taking refuge in Bard's home. Óin asks Bard if there is any Kingsfoil, and Bard says it's a weed they use to feed the pigs, so Bofur sets off to get some. Then, Bolg and his orc troops, searching for Thorin, attack the Dwarves and Bard's family. Fortunately, Legolas and Tauriel arrive in time to rescue them. When Smaug is finally awakened, Bard takes out the Black Arrow and prepares to use it, but as he and Bain attempt to get to the Dwarvish wind lance to mount the Black Arrow, the town guard began searching for Bard at the orders of the Master. Passing Bain the Black Arrow and instructing him to hide it, Bard attempts to lead the guards away and is soon captured and imprisoned as Smaug flies towards the Lake-town.

#### Destruction of Lake-town

Bard escapes prison by wrapping a rope around the Master of Lake-town's neck. Which when his boat goes forward the door to the prison breaks. Bard then steals a quiver of arrows and a longbow, climbs to the top of a large tower and proceeds to shoot Smaug, who is currently burning Lake-town. Bard eventually runs out of arrows and his son, Bain comes up with the Black Arrow. Bard's bow has now been broken, so he ties the bow string to the posts on the tower and rests the Black Arrow on Bain's shoulder. Bard nocks the arrow, pulls it back and fires; the arrow hitting Smaug right where his scale is missing. Smaug's corpse then falls in the lake and on the Master's boat, killing him, Braga, and two other guards.

### Seeking Refuge

Bard led the surviving people of Lake-town to Dale, not knowing that the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain have already taken control of the Lonely Mountain. The refugees from Lake-town stay in Dale for the night. The next morning Thranduil and the Elves of Mirkwood arrive and give the people of Lake-Town food. Bard and Thranduil form an alliance to take back their rightful treasure in Erebor. Thranduil explains to Bard that he came here to claim something of his, white gems. Bard explains to Thranduil that he want to speak to Thorin first, possibly to prevent conflict. Bard first speaks with Thorin, but returns with the news that Thorin will give them nothing. Thranduil thinks little of it and declares war on the Dwarves.

That night Bilbo sneaks out of the mountain for a meeting with Bard and Thranduil, and much to Bilbo's surprise Gandalf is present. He gives them the Arkenstone in hope it will make peace with the Dwarves. The next morning the elves and men march up to the Lonely Mountain where Bard offers Thorin the Arkenstone. Thorin refuses and almost kills Bilbo after he finds out from Bilbo what happened. However, just before Thorin can harm Bilbo Gandalf then arrives. Gandalf demands Thorin not to harm his "burglar" and demands Thorin to return Bilbo to him at once. Afterward Bard asks, "Are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?" Thorin gives Bard one glance then looks to the Northwest seeing no sign of the crow that was sent to Dáin Ironfoot. Bard then says "Give us your answer. Will you have peace, or war?" Then the raven returns and marching is heard, Dáin Ironfoot and the army of Dwarves march down proudly to Thorin's aid, Thorin replies to Bard's question, "I will have war." When the elves go to attack the Dwarves from the Iron Hills, Dáin Ironfoot arrives on the scene Gandalf tries to reason with Dáin that orcs are coming and he should stand down but Dáin refuses. After Dáin and King Thranduril have a bitter exchange of words, Dáin declares war.

### The Siege of Dale

However, before the Dwarves and Elves can even attack each other, the orcs being led by Azog arrive, and The Battle of Five Armies begins. Gandalf realizing Azog's plan knows the Lake-town, Mirkwood, and Iron Hills Armies all can't fight on two fronts. Bard leads his Men back to the city of Dale to defend the city for the remainder of the battle.

Bard laid the Arkenstone upon Thorin's breast when he was buried under the mountain, and Dáin agreed to pay the one-fourteenth share of the treasure as promised. Bard gave the emeralds of Girion to Thranduil and Bilbo agreed to take a small chest of gold and one of silver. Bard also contributed gold for the aid of Lake-town, and although the Master of Lake-town absconded with much of it, Lake-town was rebuilt and its people became prosperous.

Bard went to his ancestral home of Dale at the foot of the Lonely Mountain. He rebuilt the ruined town and in TA 2944, he became King of Dale. Bard maintained good relations with the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain and trade flowed freely up and down the River Running. People came to settle in Dale from miles around and the land that had been withered by Smaug became bountiful once more.