[ he catches the weight, and though he's not surprised by it - the scraps he has heard rise to the forefront of his mind once again - it does trip a sort of unexpected, low-level anxiousness. anything that can put such a visible sign of weight onto a person like Thorin must be heavy indeed. ]

I did hear - from several people, you know - that it was a terrible business all round. And what few details I have heard makes me rather glad that you all made it back safely.

[ as much as the historian (and the Took) in him can't help feeling like it was an opportunity missed, his sense is firmly glad he opted for staying behind. history, he imagines, is far different when you see it playing out in front of you. ]