At around nightfall, many of the Dwarves were fast asleep while some were wide awake and stood on guard duty around Erebor. Bilbo Baggins, who kept the Arkenstone hidden at Bálin's request, planned to make an escape and travel to Dale. Appearing quietly at the blocked off entrance of the gate, Bilbo saw Dwálin, Glóin, and twelve dwarves that were on guard duty.
"Come on, let's get those blades sharpened." Dwálin said to Glóin and the twelve dwarves.
"Aye, blasted elves." Glóin sighed in slight growl.
"You swinging axe?" Dwálin asked him.
"No, brother." Glóin replied.
Bilbo quietly ran behind the pillar and watched Dwálin, Glóin, and twelve dwarves move away. He carries a rope and checks that the coast was clear. Seeing that no one was around, Bilbo began to tie the rope very tight. That was when Bofur came by from the other side of the broken gate and saw Bilbo.
"You should be inside." Bofur said to him.
"Oh!" Bilbo startled and hid the rope behind his back.
"Out of the wind." Bofur said, giving the hobbit a suspicious look.
"No, I, uh... needed some air." Bilbo said, making up a story. "Place still stinks of dragon."
Bofur nodded his head a bit, and could tell what Bilbo was up to. However, he did not seem to care on what Bilbo was planning on doing and spoke. "The elves have been moving their archers into position." He stated. "Also, my old friend Chieftain Razanur Tûk leads an army of your own kind against Erebor. Razanur and his people live far south in the region. They have suffered greatly over the years ever since..." He took time to answer, but decided not to. "Well, you know what I mean."
"Ah yes, I... know what you mean indeed." Bilbo replied and cleared his throat.
"The battle will be over by tomorrow's eve... though I doubt we will live to see it." Bofur said, not looking a bit happy on what is about to come.
"These are... dark days." Bilbo said.
"Dark days indeed." Bofur understood what he meant as he turned to look at him, but Bilbo turned his face away and nods a bit. "No one could blame a soul for wishing themselves elsewhere." He walks over to Bilbo, and then he stops to look up and around. "Must be near midnight. "Bombur's got the next watch. It'll take a bit to wake him." He turns away to leave and walk down the steps.
"Bofur..." Bilbo spoke, forcing Bofur to turn around and look at him with a smile. Bilbo smiles back and said. "... I will see you in the morning."
"Goodbye, Bilbo." Bofur smiled and walks down the steps.
As Bofur walks down to wake Bombur up, Bilbo now had his chance to continue his escape and throws the rope over the edge. Bilbo clambers hand-over-hand down the rope, slipping along the way. He manages to climb across the moat using some of the rubble. He begins running toward Dale.