About a week later, Kíli, Fíli, Thorin, Rhonwen, and several other dwarves stood in a rectangular arena, though in truth, it was only a space in the mountain solely dedicated to the training of weapons and skill needed in battle.

Thorin had granted Rhonwen's request for combat, agreeing with her that it needed not to be mortal. But first, he would have her fight against his nephews, starting with the least skilled, Kíli, (which insulted him greatly) and if he was defeated, it would be Fíli's turn. And if Fíli was beaten, Thorin would take his place. Then whether or not she had beaten him or Fíli, she would fight against Ginar.

So Kíli and Rhonwen faced each other with grim faces. Kíli drew his sword and held it near his face. Rhonwen drew hers more swiftly, creating a grating metalic sound. They watched each other warily, looking for weakness in the other where they might have an advantage. They began to circle each other. Then Kíli swung his sword through the air, but Rhonwen was quicker, blocking the blow with her own blade causing a sharp clink  to sound. He tried again from a different angle, but she blocked it in time. Then they began to fight in earnest, dealing swift and strong blows to each other though always managing to block the other's thrust. Quicker and quicker they fought until at last Rhonwen thrust from a difficult and unexpected angle and the sword fell out of Kíli's grasp. He stared in disbelief at his empty sword hand. He looked up. Rhonwen grinned triumphantly. He shrugged, grabbed his sword, and walked off.

Fíli took his place, beaming with expectancy of her defeat. It was quicker this time and it seemed they matched each other well. Almost too well. Some of the dwarves, Thorin included thought that this duel would go on till dinner. Suddenly, Rhonwen drew her sword into Fíli's tightly-clenched sword hand causing his sword to fly through the air. Fíli's hand went stiff at the prick. "That is against the rules!" Fíli cried, frustrated.

"No, Fíli, it isn't." Thorin said. "Though I wonder where she learned it from..."

"You might say I used my time wisely when I was imprisoned by the Mirkwood Elves," Rhonwen spoke.

Thorin drew out his blade. This duel was to be harder and difficult than the one before. Thorin knew how to fight a duel well. Rhonwen found some difficulty trying to block his thrusts. But then she knew what he was doing. She gave up trying to block his onslaughts and dodged them instead, writhing and turning expertly. But in the end, he played the same trick she had to Fíli and succeeded in disarming her. She laughed and said, "So, the trick's catching on."

Ginar stepped forward. "It's my turn." Rhonwen's face grew serious and stern.
Almost immediately, they started. Blow after blow they struck till the arena rang with the sound of clanging steel. Then Ginar tried to strike the same blow that Thorin did, but Rhonwen was on her guard. She switched her sword to her left hand and fought. Ginar apparently wasn't used to fighting with a left-handed warrior, but he fought well. Ginar struck a quick, unseen blow near the ground, but Rhonwen lept up and his blade slashed through midair. Rhonwen, meanwhile, spinned round behind him and laid her blade against his neck. The duel was over and Rhonwen had won.

"I will release you, Ginar, if you swear by the Arkenstone that you will never again critizise dwarves without beards," she spoke firmly.

He swore the oath in the presence of most of the fighting dwarves in the Blue Mountains.