Who?

[Bawax]

who do you think was most responsible for the quest to win back the lonely mountain and get rid of the dragon turning out good?

[Mirkgirl]

Well Thorin was responsible for the quest to happen at all. But that's not the question.
Eru is responsible for everything, but that's not the point.
Tolkien is another option, but lets not go there ;)

Bilbo did most of the things, even almost everything that matters, but Gandalf was the one to choose him and talk Thorin into taking him. So I think he deserves this honour. Well IMO doing things when you're in a situation is not that hard, not that anyone can do it, but choosing the right person is what really matters. So Gandalf is to blame, so to say.

Another possibility IMO is Bard, but he's just one of all I think. It couldn't have happened without him, but we can't say he's really responsible for this.

[Bawax]

i'd say it was bilbo, obviously with a gentle shove from gandalf. then again gandalf was dragged in by thorin's thought of revenge.

i still say bilbo, i don't like the little bloke but he did well in the hobbit. :)

[Nessa the Dancer]

Well, if we are going with Bard, then I think the raven or what ever bird it was should get a look in. He told Bard where to shoot.

But putting Bard asside (and the bird) asside, I'd say Bilbo as well. Without him the dwarves would never have got further than Mirkwood.

So Bilbo, with a nudge from Gandalf who chose him - with a nudge from Thorin who wanted another companion.

[Mirkgirl]

Well maybe this is a bit like the hen and egg question. Depends from where you look at it.

[Grond]

The option I need isn't offerred. All of the above would be the correct answer. The Dwarves (all inclusive), good old Bilbo, Gandalf, Elrond's wonderful guidance.... let's not forget the Eagles.... what about Gollum (got the Ring and all)... how about Roac....... gosh the list is too long to even contemplate. :)

[Tar-Ancalimë]

well it is.....but out of those options.....I have to agree with Irky :o (im agreeing with her again :elfeek: )

bilbo was well the main reason things went right...but well, Gandalf was responsible for Bilbo coming along. Also, talking of Thorin, it was really Gandalf that made push come to shove, wasn't it?

[Bonos-Girl]

well....if thorin didn't want to head the mission then it would never have happened....i voted bilbo but i really need an 'all of the above' option too.

[Mirkgirl]

Well, IMO every little detail matters, but the question is the most responsible

[Dawnnamira Nerwen]

I think that Gandalf is the most responsible. Please see the section in "The Unfinished Tales" about the Quest for Erebor. That is why I think that Gandalf is the most responsible.

[Yar]

Maybe.. i think that Gandalf.. he likes to start everything

[TheRingBearer]

Bilbo of course, although Gandalf did pretty much save them quite a bit.

[Sindarin]

I vote for Bilbo. Yet Gandalf did a great job as well.

[HobbitFriend]

Everyone had their own part to play. It started with Thorin... then Gandalf gave Bilbo "a little nudge out the door" ;) Gandalf got them out of many situations where they could have been killed, but Bilbo found the Ring which helped them out a lot. He wouldn't have gotten the Ring if it weren't for Gollum (and of course if Gollum hadn't gotten the Ring... etc.) There were also the Eagles...
Then, at the very end, it was Bilbo who found the "weak spot" on Smaug, then the bird who overheard Bilbo, who then told Bard, and then Bard killed the dragon. :dragon:
So... In the end, i think Bilbo was the MOST responsible for at least the death of Smaug because if he hadn't discovered the Dragon's weakness, then... yah. :) that's my opinion anyway

[Hedon]

I'll say they were equally important. Gandalf foresaw that Bilbo would have a part to play, but the quest wouldn't have succeded without all of them contributing.

[Elven Beauty]

bilbo for sure

[Khamul]

I'm going with Gandalf. He knew what he was doing. Dawnnamira Nerwen is right, if you read the Quest for Erebor chapter in Unfinished Tales it will change your thinking about who is the most responsible for getting the 'job' done...

[Elven Beauty]

well I havent read that book yet, I do have it though. I can't seem to pull enough time aside to be able to read UT. With school and whatnot, I am just too busy. As I said, I have not read it, so I will keep my opinoin the same.

[Lasgalen]

I vote Sauron. Half the stuff Bilbo did, he could not have done without the ring. And who do we have to thank for the ring? Why Sauron of course.:grin:

-Lasgalen

p.s my second choice would be Bilbo. He got those Dwarves out of a lot of messes. They would have been done for without Bilbo to help them.

[Alatar]

But the reason for the 'quest' going well, which is the question, is becuase of Gandalf. If he hadn't of saved them from the goblins they wouldn't of even made it over the mountains.

[Trahald]

Eru is responsible for everything, but that's not the point

:thumbs: Well said Mirkgirl!

Though..he's not on the list..nor is :gollum: for without whom, Bilbo would've never gotten the :ring: and been able to sneak into Smaug's lair. ..but I digress. (Loving these emoticons)

I voted for Gandalf, since I suppose he's the catalyst Eru put into place to keep things moving along as Eru planned.

It was Gandalf who dragged Bilbo on this quest, and who seemed to have a wee bit more foresight into things than even he knew.

[Periantari Andruil]

I said Gandalf as well.... and as others have mentioned, reading the Quest of Erebor would probably make you think Gandalf was in charge of the Quest in the first place....
He put faith into a hobbit, was in charge of killing one of the Goblins i believe, and perhaps he had the foresight to know that hobbits will and should take a role/part of Middle Earth...
Gandalf believed in Bilbo and encouraged Thorin to do something about Smaug and in his wisdom in putting forth a hobbit, the Quest was successful....
Remember also, that it was because Bilbo used the Arkenstone to negotiate and did not give it to Thorin, and this judge in character by Gandalf should be acknowledged as well....
so that's why my vote goes to Gandalf... he saw the Quest through the whole time and was the catalyst for it happening in the first place... and by his putting forth a hobbit, it did indeed change the history of ME by having a hobbit keep the Enemy's Ring for such a long time....

[Lasgalen]

Yeah. I have to go with Gandalf. Without him, the party would have become mutton substitute.

[Aravail]

they all did something to help, but i think bilbo b/c he got them out of a lot of trouble and if it werent for him they would've died or something (spiders and elves)

[Lasgalen]

I keep going back and forth between Bilbo and Gandalf. Actually, right now I am leaning toward Bilbo because he saved the Dwarves while Gandalf was off on other business. But Gandalf did his fair share of saving.

[Amithrellas]

:hmppf: Hmm...everyone's got an excellent arguement.
Initially, I was leaning towards Bard. Smaug had to be destroyed, otherwise everyone would have been barbeque. Bard was the man who did it.
Gandalf was the instigator, got the Dwarves their theif, got Bilbo out of his comfortable hole.
But I have to agree with HobbitFriend, Bilbo found the weakness in Smaug's armor and without that, the quest would have failed ;)

[The Silmarillion]

IMO
Bilbo is responsible for all