Balin

Balin, son of Fundin, is a Dwarf lord whose name is etched into the history of Middle-earth not by a triumphant return but by a solemn tomb. A companion of Thorin Oakenshield in the quest recounted in The Hobbit, Balin later led an expedition to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria, a venture that ended in his death and the loss of his entire company. His fate is discovered by the Fellowship of the Ring, transforming their journey through Moria into a passage through a graveyard and casting a shadow of foreboding over their quest.

Identity and Background

Balin is introduced as one of the twelve companions of Thorin Oakenshield, a descendant of kings, who came with Gandalf the Grey to the door of Bilbo Baggins in the year 1341 Shire-reckoning. Together they set out on a quest for the great treasure of the Kings under the Mountain, the dwarf-hoards beneath Erebor in Dale. The quest was successful, and the Dragon guarding the hoard was destroyed, though the Battle of Five Armies was fought before all was won, and Thorin was slain. Balin's role in these events established him as a Dwarf of considerable standing, one who had shared in the perils and glories of that earlier adventure.

The Expedition to Moria

After the events of The Hobbit, Balin undertook a new and more dangerous venture: the reclamation of Moria, the ancient Dwarf kingdom in the Misty Mountains. The evidence of his fate is found by the Fellowship when they enter Moria and discover a tomb bearing runes graven in Daeron's Runes, the script used of old in Moria. The inscription reads in the tongues of Men and Dwarves: "BALIN SON OF FUNDIN LORD OF MORIA." This title, "Lord of Moria," indicates that Balin had indeed achieved his goal of becoming the ruler of the ancient realm, at least for a time. However, the tomb itself is proof that his lordship was short-lived and ended in death.

The Discovery of the Tomb

The discovery of Balin's tomb is a pivotal moment in the Fellowship's journey. When Frodo Baggins reads the inscription, he mutters, "It looks like a tomb," and bends forward with a curious sense of foreboding. Gandalf confirms the meaning of the runes, and Frodo concludes, "He is dead then. I feared it was so." The reaction of Gimli, who casts his hood over his face, reveals the personal grief and loss that Balin's death represents to the Dwarves. The tomb is not merely a historical marker but a reminder of the dangers that lurk within Moria, dangers that the Fellowship will soon face themselves.

Legacy and Significance

Balin's legacy extends beyond his death. His failed expedition and the fate of his company serve as a warning to the Fellowship, who find themselves walking through a realm that was once a great Dwarf kingdom but is now a place of darkness and peril. The discovery of his tomb foreshadows the greater dangers that await, including the encounter with the Balrog that will lead to Gandalf's fall. Balin's story, told through the evidence of his tomb, underscores the themes of loss and the passage of ages that permeate the larger narrative. His name, inscribed in the ancient runes of Moria, stands as a testament to the ambition and tragedy of the Dwarves' attempts to reclaim their lost glory.