[Mänwe]

goldfinger my reply to yours.

1. The Northern and Southern Ered Luin.

“…but Dwarves dwelt, and still dwell, in the east side of the Blue Mountains, especially in those parts south of the Gulf of Lune, where they have mines that are still in use.” - (Appendix A, Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isuldur)

I am in complete agreement with you; the Blue Mountains were home to a number of dwarves, no doubt remnants of those who formerly dwelt in Belegost and Nogrod. Dealing with your reply in chronological order leads me onto your point;

Originally posted by goldfinger

“Although after the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age many moved to Khazad-dûm,…”

This too is evident from the following text,

“After the end of the First Age the power and wealth of Khazad-dûm was much increased; for it was enriched by many people and much lore and craft when the ancient cities of Nogrod and Belegost in the Blue Mountains were ruined at the breaking of Thangorodrim.” – (Appendix A, III Durin’s Folk)

We know that the breaking of Thangorodrim being the destruction of Angband in your said point, War of Wrath, after which we see the flooding of Beleriand and the consequent creation of the Gulf of Lhûn which separates the Ered Luin and consequently the destruction of Nogrod and Belegost.

In conclusion most transfer to Khazad-dûm, however some remain in the Blue Mountains, and south of the Lhûn.

Originally posted by goldfinger

“I believe that after the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, Thrain and Thorin moved to the Northern chain as it says in appendix A…”

That is exactly what I said, my reference to the Note has nothing to do with events after the war with the Orcs. It concerns the mustering of the Orcs pre-war time. By now there has been a general migration of Dwarves east, having fled from Nogrod, Belegost and Khazad-dûm when the Balrog awakes. They end up in the Misty Mountains.

“But Thorin I his son removed and went into the far North to the Grey Mountains, where most of Durin's folk were now gathering; for those mountains were rich and little explored.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

However we see that again most of the Dwarves that arrived in the Grey Mountains (Ered Mithrin) flee because of the drakes that resided there. Surprise, surprise, they move further East.

“Not long after most of Durin's Folk abandoned the Grey Mountains. Grór, Dáin's son, went away with many followers to the Iron Hills; but Thrór, Dáin's heir, with Borin his father's brother and the remainder of the people returned to Erebor. To the Great Hall of Thráin, Thrór brought back the Arkenstone, and he and his folk prospered and became rich, and they had the friendship of all Men that dwelt near.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

After the war with the Orcs I said they remove to the mountains of the Ered Luin.

“So Thráin and Thorin with what remained of their following (among whom were Balin and Glóin) returned to Dunland, and soon afterwards they removed and wandered in Eriador, until at last they made a home in exile in the east of the Ered Luin beyond the Lune.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

I think we are in agreement.

2. Iron Hills.

Yes, I agree with you, the Iron Hills remains a steadfast stronghold through many years, and does become the greatest and most important stronghold for the dwarves in the Third Age, especially during the War of the Ring, blocking Sauron’s progress north.

3. Erebor.

“There now Dáin son of Náin took up his abode, and he became King under the Mountain, and in time many other dwarves gathered to his throne in the ancient halls.” - (The Hobbit, Chapter 18, The Return Journey.)

I was suggesting that perhaps after the Battle of the Five Armies, Erebor eclipsed even the Iron Hills; we know that Dáin Ironfoot ruled well and re-established trade routes with the men of Dale. Certainly it was far more important than the Iron Hills before Smaug entered too? We know of the wealth that was gathered for it spurns the entire story of ‘The Hobbit’.

4. Grey Mountains.

Originally posted by goldfinger

“And I also found that in the Hobbit Thorin sent messengers to the Ered Luin "the mountains in the North". So I'm lead to believe as a Dwarf scholar that their were still at least one or two small colonies of Dwarves living in the Ered Mithrin.”

It was you I thought was slightly confused, lol. I don’t think your sentence makes sense. The Ered Luin and the Ered Mithrin I am sure you know are two completely different Ranges. So when you say;

Originally posted by goldfinger

“Ered Luin "the mountains in the North".

You seem to associate the words in ( “ “ ) as the Ered Luin, then go onto say that you are lead to believe on light of you “quotation” there were colonies in the Ered Mithrin. However I spoke about Durin’s being there because I thought that it would help with an oversight of the many populations of the dwarves throughout Middle Earth, and was therefore actually supporting your idea that there indeed Dwarves there. Perhaps with hindsight I did not make that terribly clear.

~~~

I take it you are referring to the following quote when you say Durin awoke in Gundabad?

“…the second had been Mount Gundabad (in origin a Khuzdul name), which was there- fore revered by the Dwarves,””- (Relations of the Longbeard Dwarves and Men, Peoples of Middle Earth.)

A final point,

Originally quoted by goldfinger

“The appendices are not the end all be all of facts.”

Mhm, I would say they were, being a part of the trilogy themselves and thus ‘true’ beliefs of the Master. Though I know that his ideas of the history were forever changing, I would still say that whatever is written in the trilogy is the ‘truth’ above all the other books that was not solely done by him.