[Thinhyandoiel]

I agree that it was a chain. Without the Thrush or Bilbo, Bard wouldn't have known where to shoot, but without Bard, the info would've been useless because there would be no black arrow. But as it was Bard that shot Smaug, and if we look only at that, I'd say he was the most responsible as he was the one who actually killed him. All your points are valid though, and got me in a tizzy of confusing thoughts. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]