AT length, Thorin and his companions reached the Lonely Mountain, though not before Bilbo and his magic ring had rescued them from giant spiders, and from the dungeons of the Elven King, where Thorin’s pride had landed them.

By now, however, Thorin was perfectly sure that Mr Invisible Baggins would solve even the problem of Smaug.

And in a way he did, for it was his description of the dragon - Bilbo at least could see him - that allowed a gap in the dragon’s armoured skin to be found by an arrow.

But that was only the beginning, for news of the unimaginable wealth in the halls of the Lonely Mountain, now unguarded, travelled fast.

Five armies, including the goblins of the Misty Mountains, did battle for it, and Thorin was killed, though Bilbo and his magic ring returned safely home.

Of course, he was quite unaware that Gollum had crept out of the Misty Mountains, and was looking for the ‘thief’ Baggins —

But that is another tale.