[ The books often leave out such less spectacular details. More often the heroic death is glorified in tales, but such stories strike a different chord when they are not distant figures in a far off land. Thorin was there when Erebor fell. He saw his grandfather's descent into madness. He could not count how many lives were lost, some in the mere blink of an eye. He has rallied his people in such times, when hope was all but lost. He would not, could not, sacrifice honor, loyalty, or the lives of his kin for the sake of his own safety.

That is why he led the charge out of the gate. That is why he sought out Azog when it would have been safer to let his forces eventually wear themselves thin on the ranks of dwarves from the Iron Hills. He could not allow that wretch to slink back into the mountains to recover yet again. There was more than his pride at stake.

He watches Bilbo work silently for several moments, eyeing him with a certain wry look in his eyes that's not betrayed by a change in expression. Thorin can keep a straight face through almost anything. ]

This from the hobbit that once charged an entire pack of wargs and orcs, alone, armed only with sword and armored with naught but determination.