Ever since they had killed Azog at Ravenhill, repelled the Half-orcs, and reclaimed the Lonely Mountain through bitter fighting, the Durin Dwarves had remained swept up in the excitement of recovering their homeland.
Buoyed by that joy, the Dwarves enthusiastically repaired their halls while throwing themselves into mining ore and crafting weapons, armor, and jewelry. This was the life they loved most.
When the Durin Dwarves living in the Blue Mountains learned that their lord, Thorin Oakenshield, had reclaimed their homeland and become the great Thorin II, they gathered their friends and returned to the Lonely Mountain in group after group, placing themselves under Thorin's rule once more.
Together with the Dwarves who had relocated from the Iron Hills, they made the Lonely Mountain stronger than ever.
The Easterlings stationed in eastern Rhovanion had affected the Dwarves' lives somewhat over the past few years, but not particularly severely.
Now fully rebuilt, Dale could supply all the basic necessities the Dwarves needed. Their jewelry and fine armor were highly sought after by human nobles, and Dale had also begun producing toys.
Compared with the furs, clothing, furniture, wood carvings, and small quantities of silver ornaments, bows, and musical instruments the Woodland Realm offered, the Lonely Mountain's goods were unquestionably more attractive to these merchants.
Moreover, the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain and the humans of Dale were still rebuilding everything. Most goods held an irresistible appeal for them, and they were buying with wild abandon. The gold and silver produced by the Lonely Mountain could easily support their spending.
As a result, many well-connected merchants preferred to bring all kinds of supplies up the Running River to the Lonely Mountain. They made a fortune there, then took specialties from the mountain and Dale to trade elsewhere in Middle-earth.
After learning that