 He is succeeded by his son Bain in 2977, and then by his grandson Brand in 3007.During the drafting of "The Hobbit", Tolkien considered how Smaug should die, and who would kill him.Tolkien's notes for chapter nine show him considering the option of Bilbo killing the dragon in his sleep, piercing his weak point with a lance, similar to the events in Jack the Giant Killer.