[Dain]

I think the reason Thorin and co. are so indecisive is to make Bilbo the real hero of the book, which is rather more a children's tale than the LotR, of course. So I never read that much into it, because though it came out as being in the same world, it isn't as true and well-planned as the three later books. That said, any plans the Dwarves had got ruined mighty quick--they lost all their gear in the mountains, and got captured by trolls, goblins, spiders and then Elves. I think they are a bit more bumbling than they probable would really be, but they are definitely brave--with the right motivation.

Gandalf probably knew something lucky would happen to Smaug, and so probably persuaded Thorin that he didn't need to worry much about a real plan--Thorin was so dead-set on going that it probably didn't take too much convincing. Burglary was definitely the makeshift plan they came up with, but how that was ever going to satiate the dwarves...

Nobody would be foolish enough to try to attack Smaug "in his sleep"--he almost roasts Bilbo, even with the ring!

Balin was the second oldest, then Dwalin, closely followed by Oin, then Gloin. I assume they are all older than any of the others, since they seem to be so. They are the only dwarves with dates, as far as I know... Fili and Kili are definitely the youngest "by 50 years" and that leaves about 30 years between Gloin and Fili for the rest to fill in, maybe? Anyway, that's off topic, but it's my favorite subject...

[ February 15, 2003: Message edited by: Dain ]