The Tragic Fate of Balin: Lord of Moria
Balin, a Dwarf of Durin’s line, met his end within the shadowed halls of Moria, also known as Khazad-dûm. After successfully leading a group of Dwarves to reclaim the ancient kingdom, his reign as Lord of Moria was tragically cut short. He was killed by an Orc archer, meeting his demise in Dimrill Dale, the same location where his father had fallen in the past.
Balin’s Expedition and Brief Reign
Balin’s endeavor to re-establish a Dwarven presence in Moria began with hope and ambition. He departed from Erebor with a company of Dwarves including Óin, Ori, Flói, and others, determined to restore the grandeur of their ancestral home. Initially, the colony prospered. They discovered Durin’s Axe, a significant artifact, and began to mine for mithril, the precious metal that had made Moria famous. However, their success was short-lived.
The Downfall of Moria
The Dwarves’ presence in Moria stirred the slumbering evil that had long dwelt within its depths. Orcs, remnants of a much larger force, began to harass the colony. Eventually, these skirmishes escalated into full-blown attacks. After less than five years since he was proclaimed Lord of Moria, Balin was slain by an Orc archer during one of these attacks in Dimrill Dale. His death marked the beginning of the end for the Dwarven colony.
The Discovery of Balin’s Tomb by the Fellowship
Years later, the Fellowship of the Ring stumbled upon the grim fate of Balin and his company. Within the Chamber of Mazarbul, they found Balin’s tomb and the chronicle of the colony’s downfall recorded by Ori. This revelation brought a sense of dread and foreboding to the Fellowship, underscoring the dangers that lay ahead in Moria.
The Wider Significance of Balin’s Death
Balin’s death and the fall of Moria serve as a poignant reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the persistence of evil. The tragic tale highlights the enduring struggle between good and evil in Middle-earth. It also illustrates the importance of communication and awareness, as the outside world remained unaware of Moria’s fate until the Fellowship’s arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Balin
Here are some commonly asked questions to further understand Balin’s story:
1. Why didn’t Gimli know about Balin’s death?
Gimli’s lack of knowledge regarding Balin’s death stemmed from the slow and unreliable communication between Dwarven settlements. Decades had passed since contact with Moria was lost, and the outside world was largely ignorant of the colony’s fate. Additionally, the Dwarves’ perception of time could contribute to their delayed responses.
2. How long was Balin dead when the Fellowship entered Moria?
Approximately 25 years had passed since Balin and his company were wiped out in Moria when the Fellowship entered the mines. This significant time lapse explains why no one outside Moria was aware of the tragedy.
3. Which other Dwarves died with Balin in Moria?
Numerous Dwarves perished alongside Balin in Moria. Notably, Óin was killed by the Watcher in the Water guarding one of the entrances. Ori died in Balin’s Tomb, penning the last entries in the chronicle detailing the colony’s demise. Other Dwarves like Flói, Frár, Lóni, and Náli were also part of the expedition and met their ends within Moria.
4. Was Balin related to Gimli?
Yes, Balin was distantly related to Gimli. He was a descendant of the noble House of Durin, making him part of Gimli’s lineage. While not a close relative, their shared ancestry tied them together within the broader Dwarven community.
5. Did Gandalf know about the Balrog in Moria?
No, Gandalf did not know about the presence of the Balrog in Moria. He was aware that Moria had fallen in the past, but he was unaware of the specific reasons behind Balin’s colony’s failure. The Balrog remained a hidden threat until the Fellowship inadvertently awakened it during their passage through Moria.
6. Why did Balin attempt to retake Moria?
Balin’s motivation for attempting to retake Moria stemmed from a desire to reclaim the lost glory of the Dwarven kingdom. Moria was once the greatest Dwarven city, renowned for its wealth and craftsmanship. Balin hoped to restore it to its former splendor and re-establish a thriving Dwarven presence in the Misty Mountains.
7. Did Balin know Bilbo had the Arkenstone?
During Thorin’s sickness fueled by gold lust, Balin suspected that Bilbo possessed the Arkenstone. However, he kept this knowledge to himself, agreeing with Bilbo to keep the stone hidden from Thorin for the sake of their friend and the potential disruption it could cause.
8. Why didn’t Gandalf remember the specific layout of Moria?
Moria was an immense underground city, and Gandalf had only traversed it once, passing from east to west. Given its vast size and multiple passages, it was understandable that Gandalf was not intimately familiar with every part of Moria’s layout. This explains his disorientation within the mines.
9. What happened to Moria after the Balrog?
After the Balrog, known as Durin’s Bane, was defeated, Moria remained largely abandoned for a time. Eventually, Durin VII the Last returned to Moria and began the process of restoring it to its former glory. This marked the beginning of a new era for the ancient kingdom.
10. Who awoke the Balrog in Moria?
The Balrog was awakened by the Dwarves themselves, who were mining too greedily and deeply for mithril. Their excavations disturbed the ancient demon, leading to the downfall of Moria.
11. What does the story of Balin and Moria teach us?
The story of Balin and Moria imparts several important lessons. It warns against the dangers of greed and unchecked ambition. It highlights the importance of communication and awareness in maintaining a stable and informed society. It also underscores the enduring presence of evil and the need for constant vigilance.
12. Why was the password to Moria in Elvish?
The password to Moria was in Elvish to signify the friendship and alliance between the Dwarves and the Elves. The Dwarves’ own language, Khuzdul, was a closely guarded secret, not shared with outsiders. Using Elvish on the West-gate reflected a level of trust and cooperation between the two races.
13. What role do games play in understanding tales like Balin’s?
Games, especially those based on fantasy worlds like Middle-earth, can provide immersive experiences that enhance understanding and engagement with complex narratives. They offer opportunities to explore characters, settings, and themes in interactive ways. Organizations like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ investigate how games can effectively enhance learning and understanding of such narratives and the complex social and cultural contexts in which they are embedded.
14. What happened to Dwalin after the events of The Hobbit?
Following the Battle of Five Armies, Dwalin chose to remain in Erebor rather than joining Balin’s expedition to Moria. He continued to live in the Lonely Mountain for the rest of his life, witnessing the prosperity and growth of the Dwarven kingdom.
15. How does Balin’s death compare to Thorin’s?
Balin’s death, though tragic, was arguably less impactful on the grand narrative compared to Thorin’s. Thorin’s demise marked a turning point in the story of The Hobbit, leading to the establishment of peace and cooperation among the races of Middle-earth. Balin’s death, while a significant loss for the Dwarves, primarily served as a cautionary tale and a harbinger of doom for the Fellowship.
Balin’s fate remains a somber chapter in the history of Middle-earth, a testament to the enduring allure and perilous dangers of Moria.