Gladstone
New Fish
Can we get back on topic please ffs
Where do you stand on the theory that the Arkenstone is one of the Simirils???
Still doesn't get around the fact that a Silmaril would burn the hands of any mortal that touched it, but Bilbo and Bard both do so with no problems.
The real answer to this question (in my opinion) is external to the universe rather than internal. I think Tolkien just borrowed extremely heavily from his wider mythology when he wrote The Hobbit. Rivendell is a watered down Gondolin, Thranduil's halls are a watered down Menegroth, and the Arkenstone is a watered down Silmaril.