Good question, Manwë, I'd never thought about that before. I guess the dwarves must have been subject to the same weakening that men (at least their heroes) and elves were between the First and Third Ages.
While the ancient dwarves of Belegost under their leader Azaghâl might have been equal to the task, the dwarves of Khazad-Dûm doubtless were not. They were probably a bit rusty by that stage, too, after not much fighting action for a while.
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But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name'.
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