Editing Smaug (section)

==Description==
[[Dragons (Tolkien)|Dragons]] lived in the Withered Heath beyond the Grey Mountains. Smaug was "the greatest of the dragons of his day", already centuries old at the time he was first recorded. He heard rumours of the great wealth of the [[Dwarf (Tolkien)|Dwarf]]-kingdom of [[Erebor]], which had a prosperous trade with the Northmen of [[Dale (Middle-earth)|Dale]]. Smaug "arose and without warning came against King Thrór and descended on the mountain in flames". After driving the Dwarves out of their stronghold, Smaug occupied the interior of the mountain for the next 150 years, guarding a vast hoard of treasure. He destroyed the town of Dale; the [[Men (Middle-earth)|Men]] retreated to the Long Lake, where they built [[Esgaroth|Lake-town]] of houses on stilts, surrounded by water to guard against the dragon.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=Appendix A:III "Durin's Folk"}}</ref>

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 |quote = 'The King under the Mountain is dead and where are his kin that dare seek revenge? Girion Lord of Dale is dead, and I have eaten his people like a wolf among sheep, and where are his sons' sons that dare approach me? I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender. Now I am old and strong, strong, strong, Thief in the Shadows!' he gloated. 'My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!'
 |author = —J. R. R. Tolkien
 |source = ''The Hobbit''{{sfn|Tolkien|1937|loc=Chapter 12: "Inside Information"}}
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[[Gandalf]] realized that Smaug could pose a serious threat if used by [[Sauron]]. He therefore agreed to assist a [[List of The Hobbit characters#Thorin's company|party of Dwarves]], led by Thrór's grandson [[Thorin Oakenshield]], who set out to recapture the mountain and kill the dragon. Assuming that Smaug would not recognize the scent of a [[Hobbit]], Gandalf recruited [[Bilbo Baggins]] to join [[Quests in Middle-earth|the quest]].<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1980|loc=Part III, Chapter 3: The Quest of Erebor}}</ref>

Upon reaching Erebor, the Dwarves sent Bilbo into Smaug's lair, and he was initially successful in stealing a beautiful golden cup as Smaug slept. Knowing the contents of the treasure hoard to the ounce, Smaug quickly realized the cup's absence upon awakening and searched for the thief on the Mountain. Unsuccessful, he returned to his hoard to lie in wait. The Dwarves sent Bilbo down the secret tunnel a second time. Smaug sensed Bilbo's presence immediately, even though Bilbo had rendered himself invisible with the [[One Ring]], and accused the Hobbit (correctly) of trying to steal from him. During his discourse with the dragon, Bilbo noticed a small bare patch on Smaug's jewel-encrusted underbelly, and narrowly escaped. A thrush overheard Bilbo's account of the meeting, and learnt of the bare patch on Smaug's underside.<ref name="Inside Information" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1937|loc=Chapter 12: Inside Information}}</ref>

Still enraged, Smaug flew south to Lake-town and set about destroying it. The townsmen's arrows and spears proved useless against the dragon's armoured body. The thrush told [[Bard the Bowman]] of Smaug's one weak spot, a bare patch on the dragon's belly. With his last arrow, Bard killed Smaug by shooting into this place.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1937|loc=Chapter 14: Fire and Water}}</ref>