"Thorin, I'm so glad you're alright."
The calls of his dwarf brothers brought Thorin back to his senses. Balin and Kili quickly untied Thorin from his daze.
"Bahrain, Chili, thank you!" Thorin said, looking very downcast.
"It's good that you're alright. Thorin, what do we do next?" Balin asked. He told Thorin that the army of elves and orcs was heading towards Lonely Mountain, as told by the mercenary Dura, and that the Ironfoot Army of Dain was on its way to provide support.
"..." After a long silence, Thorin finally said firmly, "I intend to stay and defend Lonely Mountain. I left before because I was afraid of the dragon, but this time I don't plan to leave. Everyone, the treasure here is yours. If you want to leave, take as much as you can!"
"I don't plan to leave either."
"Thorin, I'm not leaving either."
"Yes, we will stand with you and hold the fort on Lonely Mountain."
"Thorin, if I were afraid of death, I wouldn't have come to Lonely Mountain with you in the first place."
"Me too, Thorin."
Upon hearing this, the other dwarves all spoke up loudly.
“I’ll stay too!” Baggins said.
“Barkins, you…” Thorin and the dwarves looked at Barkins. In fact, none of them wanted Barkins to stay, not because this was their Lonely Mountain, but because they felt that Barkins was not a dwarf and should not stay to die with them.
“We’ve been through thick and thin together since we set out, and one-fourteenth of the treasure here belongs to me,” Baggins said with a smile.
Baggins felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He actually wanted to leave, but if he left, none of the people of the Shard would survive. Those ruthless mercenaries would slaughter everyone in the Shard.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
