The Lonely Mountain, home to the dwarven kingdom of Erebor, had long been inhabited by the fearsome dragon Smaug. For decades, Smaug lay sleeping on the vast treasure hoard he had claimed from the dwarves. But one fateful day, something unexpected happened that finally woke the dragon from his long slumber.
The Arrival of Thorin’s Company
It all began when Thorin Oakenshield, heir to the kingdom under the mountain, assembled a company of twelve dwarves along with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins to embark on a quest to reclaim Erebor. Led by the wizard Gandalf, this small band of dwarves dared to enter the abandoned halls of Erebor in hopes of recovering the kingdom’s lost treasures.
Unbeknownst to them, their quiet footsteps and whispered voices were enough to stir the dragon from his sleep. As Smaug arose, molten gold and jewels slid off his glistening body in burning cascades. “Well, thief! I smell you and I feel your air,” the dragon bellowed as the intruders cowered in the shadows. “I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare!”
Thorin’s company had awoken the beast, and now they faced the fiery wrath of Smaug firsthand. Their presence in Erebor was enough to rouse Smaug from his long dormancy, setting off the chain of events that followed.
The Dragon’s Fury
Smaug was furious at being disturbed after so many years of undisturbed slumber. He thrashed about in search of the trespassers, unleashing scorching flames through the cavernous halls. The heat of his fire was enough to make the dwarves’ weapons glow red-hot in their hands. They fled in terror, barely escaping the inferno.
For centuries, Smaug’s desire for gold and jewels had kept him dwelling in the mountain. Now, with his keen senses, the enraged dragon soon located Thorin’s company and realized there were trespassers in his treasured home. This only fueled his rage further.
“Barrel-rider!” Smaug mocked Bilbo when he discovered the hobbit. “You shall see me and know me at last. I will not be made a mockery! Our little game ends here, and you die now.” Smaug was determined to incinerate the miserable intruders who dared sneak into his abode.
The Dragon’s Weakness
Yet during his attack, Bilbo noticed a bare patch on Smaug’s jewel-encrusted underbelly. This gave him an idea. When he conversed with the dragon, he subtly flattered him to learn more about this possible weakness.
This is what Bilbo learned: When Smaug had attacked Erebor decades earlier, he had crushed and burned many dwarves. But some warriors had tried to fight back. The arrows and spears had no effect on Smaug’s armor-like scales. But one warrior had shot an arrow that struck the bare patch on Smaug’s underbelly. It had left the dragon in pain, but did not seriously harm him.
Years later, Smaug had forgotten about the small, exposed area on his belly. After hearing this story, Bilbo realized it was Smaug’s only vulnerability. He secretly passed the information along to Bard, an archer in the nearby Lake-town.
The Dragon’s Demise
Enraged, Smaug took flight and headed straight for Lake-town, intent on destroying the people there. As the fire-breathing behemoth approached, Bard stood ready with his bow. He had armed himself with a special black arrow, told by Bilbo about the bare patch on Smaug’s underbelly.
As the dragon swooped down, Bard let his arrow fly. His aim was true, and the arrow struck Smaug’s weak spot directly. The dragon convulsed mid-flight, his last fireball going awry. Smaug plummeted from the sky and crashed into the lake. The dark waters were stained red as the dread beast finally perished.
In the end, it was a single exposed weak point that brought about the destruction of the once-invincible Smaug. The dragon’s long sleep had caused him to forget about his vulnerable underbelly, and Bilbo’s keen observations played a key role in uncovering this vital information.
Conclusion
Smaug’s awakening by Thorin’s company set in motion a series of fateful events. The proud dragon was unwilling to let any trespassers go unpunished and wrecked his vengeance upon Lake-town. However, the insights Bilbo gained during the encounter with Smaug revealed the cunning beast’s fatal weakness. This knowledge gave Bard the power to finally take down the dreaded dragon once and for all. Smaug met his end because of a seemingly insignificant decision to return to Erebor, proving that even the most fearsome of beasts can succumb to hubris.