Barkrist the Brawny joined the fight against the Easterlings alongside the soldiers of Dale. For the first time in his life he wore armour, a gambeson with leather padding and steel shoulder guards. A dragon embroidered on his chest and his large wood axe in hand. The men of Dale were emboldened by the sight of Barkrist in the armour of their people and they recognised him as one of them.
The horns of Dale sounded and Brand lead his army alongside Daín's into battle. For 10 days Barkrist fought with the strength of his beorning ancestry and the valour of the Men of Dale. His large figure rose from above his fellows and he struck with great fury, much like Beorn had done 68 years ago in that very same valley. He performed great deeds of which the bards will sing for many years.
In the aftermath, Barkrist was offered treasure from Erebor, but he refused as he was not interested in gold or gems, nor in the dwarves themselves. He did pledge himself to King Bard II as a respected huscarl, free to leave and enter the king's service whenever he pleased. With his new title he returned to his home in Wilderland and baked his honey cakes and barley bread, chopped his wood and brewed his mead, churned his butter and made his cheese and lived as he had before. But every so often, when the time to trade wares came near again, he packed his wagon and took the Elven Road through Eryn Lasgalen on his way to Dale.
