- "It was a terrible battle. The most dreadful of all Bilbo’s experiences, and the one which at the time he hated most — which is to say it was the one he was most proud of, and most fond of recalling long afterwards, although he was quite unimportant in it. Actually I may say he put on his ring early in the  business, and vanished from sight, if not from all danger. A magic ring of that sort is not a complete protection in a goblin charge, nor does it stop flying arrows and wild spears; but it does help in getting  out of the way, and it prevents your head from being specially chosen for a sweeping stroke by a goblin swordsman." The Hobbit, Chapter 17 ("The Clouds Burst"), pg. 253