Foreshadowing in "The Hobbit"

[Nurvingiel]

What little hints have you discovered in "The Hobbit" that foreshadow future events in the book? Tolkien is very subtle, and I found these are usually discovered after a second or third reading.

What foreshadowing have you noticed that have implications on "The Lord of the Rings"?


To kick it all off, in chapter three "A Short Rest" (p. 43), I wondered how much the Elves really knew about Bilbo, and what this implies about his role in the Quest. (IIRC Gandalf says to Frodo in LOTR, "Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, so you were meant to have it, and that is an encouraging thought." [paraphrase] Anyone have that quote?)

When Gandalf, the Dwarves, and Bilbo first come to Rivendell, the Elves seem to know all about Bilbo even though they have never met.

The elves say shortly after:

"Mind Bilbo doesn't eat all the cakes!" they called. "He is too fat to get through key-holes yet!"

I think this foreshadows finding the entrance to Smaug's lair, as well has his escape from the Goblins. What do you think it implies (if anything) about Bilbo's finding the Ring; I feel it forshadows his escape from the Goblins, and the two events are intertwined.

What do you think about this, and what foreshadowing did you find in 'The Hobbit'?