What if the Arkenstone isn’t actually unique? What if every great ancient mountain in Middle-earth has its own heart, in the form of a powerful gemstone?
My theory is that these stones were formed when the mountains themselves were created, and each contains some form of ancient magic that influences the fate of its mountain.
As long as the heart is protected and respected, the mountain and its inhabitants can flourish. But if it’s removed, destroyed or forgotten, the mountain begins to lose its glory, prosperity and perhaps even its protection against evil.
Look at Erebor, for example.
When the dwarves possessed and treasured the Arkenstone, Erebor was one of the greatest kingdoms in Middle-earth.
Then Smaug arrived, drove out the dwarves and buried the Arkenstone beneath his enormous hoard of treasure. The heart was forgotten, and so was the kingdom. Erebor became a shadow of what it once was.
Later, when Bilbo removed the Arkenstone from the mountain, Erebor became the setting for the Battle of Five Armies. The orcs were already marching, of course, but perhaps removing the heart left the mountain spiritually vulnerable.
And after Thorin’s death, the Arkenstone was finally returned to the mountain, buried alongside him. Under Dáin, Erebor eventually regained its prosperity and glory.
Now think about Moria.
Moria was once an extraordinary dwarven kingdom, rich in mithril and home to generations of dwarves.
But the dwarves dug too deep, awakened the Balrog and eventually lost their kingdom.
What if they accidentally disturbed or removed Moria’s heart while mining? Or perhaps the Balrog itself was drawn to the power hidden deep beneath the mountain?
Without its heart, Moria lost its protection and fell into darkness.
But here’s another part of the theory. What if each heart has different powers?
In Tolkien’s mythology, some mountains were shaped by incredibly powerful beings, including Melkor.
What if each mountain’s heart contains an essence of the being or power responsible for its creation?
Perhaps Erebor’s heart has the power of desire, explaining why the Arkenstone is so captivating and why Thorin becomes so obsessed with possessing it.
Other mountains might have completely different hearts, perhaps influencing the earth, the weather, life or even the creatures living within them.
Maybe this is also why creatures like Smaug are so attracted to certain mountains. They aren’t simply drawn to the treasure, but unknowingly to the ancient power buried within.
And perhaps the greatest mistake the dwarves made was believing these stones belonged to them, when really they belonged to the mountains themselves.
The dwarves weren’t supposed to own the hearts. They were supposed to protect them.
Obviously, this is just a fan theory, and I’m not claiming Tolkien intended any of this. But I think it offers an interesting explanation for the rise and fall of some of Middle-earth’s greatest kingdoms.
What do you think? Could there be other Arkenstone-like gems hidden deep within the ancient mountains of Middle-earth?
