Dwarves of the Iron Hills
The Dwarves of the Iron Hills are a grim and powerful clan of dwarves dwelling in the far northeast of Wilderland, beyond the Lonely Mountain. Led by Dain, a kinsman of Thorin Oakenshield, they are renowned for their martial prowess, their secret craft of flexible steel mesh armor, and their readiness to answer the call of their kin. Their sudden appearance in the narrative marks a decisive turning point, transforming a tense standoff into a full-scale war and ultimately securing the victory against the goblin horde.
Identity and Armament
The Dwarves of the Iron Hills are distinguished by their formidable war-gear. Each warrior is clad in a hauberk of steel mail that hangs to his knees, and his legs are protected by hose of a fine and flexible metal mesh, the secret of whose making is possessed by Dain's people alone. In battle they wield heavy two-handed mattocks, but each also carries a short broad sword at his side and a round shield slung at his back. Their beards are forked and plaited and thrust into their belts; their caps are of iron, and they are shod with iron. Their faces are grim, and they are exceedingly strong, even for dwarves. This description, given when they first appear, marks them as a people hardened by the harsh life of the Iron Hills and prepared for war.
March to the Mountain
Thorin Oakenshield, besieged in the Lonely Mountain by the combined forces of the Lake-men and the Wood-elves, sends a desperate plea for aid to his cousin Dain in the Iron Hills. The raven Roäc carries the message, and Dain responds with speed. He and more than five hundred dwarves, hurrying from the Iron Hills, are within about two days' march of Dale, coming from the North-East. They march with great haste, carrying huge packs of supplies on their backs in addition to their weapons, enabling them to withstand a long siege. Their arrival is first heralded by a cry in the camp of the besiegers, as runners report that a host of dwarves has appeared round the eastern spur of the Mountain and is hastening to Dale.
Role in the Battle of Five Armies
The arrival of the Dwarves of the Iron Hills does not immediately lead to battle with the Lake-men and Elves, for a greater threat emerges. Just as the two sides are about to clash, a vast goblin army, led by Bolg, descends from the North. At Gandalf's command, the old quarrels are forgotten, and the Dwarves of the Iron Hills join the Elves and Men as allies. When the goblins are dense in the valley, the dwarves of the Iron Hills plunge in from the other side, wielding their mattocks and crying "Moria!" and "Dain, Dain!" Their charge, combined with a renewed elven assault, causes panic among the goblins. Later, when Thorin Oakenshield makes his desperate sortie from the Gate, all the dwarves of Dain rush to his help, heedless of order. They fight in a great ring, hemmed about with goblins and wolves, until the Eagles and Beorn turn the tide. Dain himself survives the battle and, after Thorin's death, becomes King under the Mountain.
Aftermath and Significance
After the battle, Dain son of Nain takes up his abode in the Lonely Mountain and becomes King under the Mountain. In time, many other dwarves gather to his throne in the ancient halls. He deals the treasure well, honoring the agreement of the dead by giving a fourteenth share of all the silver and gold to Bard. He also restores to Bard the emeralds of Girion, which the Elvenking most loved. The Dwarves of the Iron Hills thus become the new guardians of the ancient dwarf-kingdom, ensuring its restoration and prosperity. Their arrival not only saves Thorin's company from starvation and defeat but also provides the crucial military force that, alongside the Elves and Men, defeats the goblin army and brings peace to the North for many years.
