Sif had battled five others dwarves and had easily overpowered them knocking there wooden swords from their hands. Two of her opponents had been sent home, the rest had been told to stay and to learn from her. Sif had another fight just about to begin so she watched as the other dwarves continued on, as the ranks dwindled down more scrutiny was placed upon the fighters. Dwalin walked over and sat down right next to Sif, she abruptly averted her face seemingly watching another fight going on.
"You're good with a sword, good speed and technique. What's your name lad"
Sif tried to make her voice as deep as possible "Me sir, uh, Sofin… son of Sala"
"Sofin, I know that name he was a guardsman?"
"Yes sir, my father named me after him" Sif winced hoping her lie held and Dwalin didn't press any further.
"Well Sofin, we're coming down the end here if you beat this next lad you'll be in the championship." He clapped her hard on the back and walked over to the ring.
Everyone was watching her now as Sif made her way into the middle of the training area she swung her wooden sword around a few times and took her stance, suddenly a large dwarf, and obviously a few years older than the rest sidled into the middle. Sif could see the muscles straining in his arms, and his knuckles were white from where he gripped the hilt of his wooden axe. Sif knew she was good, but she was still small and it was going to take no small amount of luck to beat this brute. Dwalin called out for the fight to begin and the brute ran straight at Sif his axe high above his head, Sif rolled to the side and made a quick stand to slash at the back of the brute. The earned her one point, she stood again and this time parried forward as the brute turned around she stuck him right in the middle, another point, but he made a quick slash with his axe knocking Sif off balance and sending her sprawling into the sand. She tried to make no noise, but her arm felt on fire where he'd hit and she was having trouble gripping her sword. Sif knew she had to end this quick, so as the brute made another charge at her she held her ground til the last second, when his axe fell she side stepped and using the brutes arms as a springboard leaped over his shoulder spun and push kicked him in the back, with his momentum already forward he face planted into the sand and Sif quickly put her blade at the back of his neck, claiming a kill. Dwalin called the fight over and walked over to Sif who was swaying unsteadily on her feet.
"Goodness lad that was tremendous, I hope you have enough strength in you for one more fight, if you don't we'll still happily keep you on"
Sif was exalted at the fact that she had made it in and made an impression, she thought about just taking the offer and bowing out but her pride wouldn't let her. "I can keep going sir, I'm ready for the next bout"
With that Dwalin whistled for the remaining fighter, Sif's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw it was Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror; he was royalty. Was this a trick it was illegal to strike royalty. Sif began to feel like she was being set up "Dwalin sir, am I allowed to hit him, I mean he's royalty"
"It's alright lad he knows what he's gotten himself into, I wouldn't worry to much about it, the prince is a fierce and well trained fighter already and hasn't been hit yet. No offense I doubt you'll get a hit in, but if you do it will be forgiven."
Thorin stepped into the middle of the ring with Sif, he didn't even look phased. He took no stance, didn't prepare to block; he just stood there with his sword at his side waiting. Sif bristled at his nonchalance; she took a deep breath and knew that if she was going to solidify her spot in guard training she would have to hit the royal prince. She picked up her sword and prepared, Dwalin stood just on the outside of the arena and called for the fight to start. Suddenly Thorin held his sword in front of him, his whole body coiled and ready. The two combatants circled each other; Sif got impatient first and made a quick lunge at the Prince, who easily knocked her sword to the side. Thorin came in with an overhead blow which Sif blocked. On and on it went with both fighters exchanging blows but neither getting through. Sif was beginning to wear down. She wasn't sure how much longer she could hold Thorin off, for he was much stronger and a better fighter. While she was contemplating her strategy, Thorin swung his sword hard from below, kicking up some sand and spraying it into Sif's eyes, she quickly retreated away and tried to rub as much out of her eyes as she could looking to Dwalin to see if they were going to call an end because of the move, but none of the older dwarf trainers made a move. Sif began to see red, fine if they were going to let him get away with that because he was the prince Sif to could use tricks to her advantage. She struggled to deflect the blows from Thorin but finally made a move to put some distance between them, she looked up and noticed to two large lanterns above being used to light the arena. She blocked a few more blows from the Prince before rolling away and scooping up two stones from the ring around the field, she rapidly threw these at the two lanterns hitting both and swinging them to and fro. It did enough to knock out most of the candles inside pitching the ground into darkness, what little light was left was dancing wildly around the ring. Sif only had a small opportunity skirting between the shadows to throw a kick, knocking Thorin off his feet and kicking his blade aside.
Finally when the trainers had grabbed some more lanterns and held them alof, Dwalin could see into the middle of the ring where his prince lay on his back in the sand while the other dwarf Sofin held the sword point to his throat. He noticed the chests of both rising and falling rapidly, but neither moving to let the other up. He could have sworn he saw Sofin push the blade a little deeper as if by some miracle he could cut the Princes throat with a wooden blade.
Thorin was shocked and outraged, he had never been beaten before, much less unarmed and sent to the ground. He stared into the eyes of his opponent who was dangerously close to pushing the wooden blade through his throat. He noticed the eyes were fierce and held fire in them, but they were soft around the edges, he began to take note of the face which was smooth and the beard which seemed to be coming off at the edges, maybe it was the wound he had sustained when the back of his head hit the ground, but he swore that he noticed glue around the dwarfs lips and cheeks. He heard Dwalin shout that the match was over; the other dwarf relaxed just a fraction enough for Thorin to grab him by the shoulders and the beard and to roll them over so that the dwarf's blade was up against his throat. Except that it wasn't a him as Thorin noticed the clump of wool he held in his other hand that had come off the face of the young dwarf… maiden! Thorin jumped back as if he had just crawled on top of a fire.
Sif stood as Dwalin ran over shouting and putting himself between the prince and herself. She knew her ruse was up and was even more furious at Thorin for ruining it; she started pulling the little bits of wool left from her chin. Dwalin finally noticed that Sofin was in fact Sif, the girl who'd come to him begging that he let her train.
"What is the meaning of this?! I told you, you could not train for the guards. You're a girl and have no place here"
"I beat everyone! I deserve a place here. I'm just as good as anyone, I bested our Prince!"
Thorin charged at Sif and was only held back by Dwalin. "How dare you! First off you cheated by entering here, then you cheated with the lights, then you nearly tore my head off."
"Cheated?! What about you throwing sand in my eyes, how dare you accuse me of cheating. It's a battle dear prince, do you think an orc will live by a code of honor?"
"I should have you thrown into the dungeons, you're a stupid girl and you have no place among men"
"ENOUGH!"
Every eye in the arena hall turned to the upper landing where the voice had come from, there standing at the top of the stairs was Thror and Thrain who had come by to watch the proceedings. Thror walked down the steps and into the middle of the trio, he walked around Sif who gave a low bow, then he went and stood in front of Thorin.
Sif was very much regretting her plans now, she hadn't counted on this. The line of Durin was strong and they held together so now Sif was going to be banished to the dungeons and her dreams of working for the guard would never come true. Thror after having looked at his grandson came over to Sif, she bowed her head and waited for the blows to come.
"Look at me girl"
Sif raised her head, and was shocked to see Thror, king under the mountain, smiling down at her.
