Under Dwarven hammers, mithril was as malleable as copper, yet once forged, it was harder than steel and lighter as well. Once polished, it could retain its luster for a thousand years.
Men called it true silver, Dwarves called it Moria silver, and Elves named this remarkable metal mithril, crafting one exquisite work after another from it.
It was said that Nenya, the Ring of Water among the Three Elven Rings, had been made from mithril.
Even in the days when Moria still blazed with light, mithril had been worth ten times its weight in gold. After Durin's Folk were forced to abandon Moria, its only source was lost, making the metal a priceless treasure in Middle-earth.
Even the Dwarves who had reclaimed the Lonely Mountain had little in reserve. Every bit they used meant one bit less remained.
Thus, even Dáin, a member of Durin's royal line, looked stunned at the racks of mithril ingots filling the stone chamber.
Born in the Iron Hills, he had never seen anything like it. Allen understood that feeling all too well.
When he first saw the Dwarven treasure in Thráin's Hall, Allen had felt the same way. The shock of such wealth was still fresh in his memory.
Óin and Ori, meanwhile, wandered excitedly through the finished-goods section, searching for items that suited them.
Most of the finished pieces were superbly forged mithril armor, all made in Dwarven styles.
Allen guessed that the Balrog's sudden attack had forced the Dwarves to abandon this area at once, leaving the armor behind because they had no other choice.
That was why Óin and Ori now had the chance to take their time choosing.
Helping each other, the two slowly slipped into gleaming, magnificent suits of chainmail.
Then each put on a shining, square-shaped helmet.