Hello all,
Please accept the usual apologies for my tardiness, RealLife(TM) intrudes once again!
Well, we move on from the sunny shores of Near Harad to the darkened caverns of Khazad-Dum, specifically Balin's attempt to re-conquer Moria.
Quote:
|
We cannot get out, the end comes, drums, drums in the deep, they are coming...
|
Balin was a senior dwarf of the line of Durin and had gained fame, glory and plenty of good hard cash as part of the expedition to Erebor. After rebuilding Erebor, there was a desire amongst many dwarves to re-take Moria, their ancient stronghold. Balin was persuaded to lead this 'party' and eventually got Dain (unwillingly) to authorise an attempt. For Balin's posssible motives (including mithril, the last dwarven ring, good old fashioned adventurousness etc.) see here
Balin 1
Balin 2
Balin took Ori and Oin and 'many folk' from Erebor, including Floi, Frar, Loni and Nali. The number of dwarves is a matter for speculation, I'd guess some hundreds, perhaps 500. I also wonder if any female dwarves came along, after all it would have been difficult to start a colony without them? Their route would probably have taken them down the Old Forest Road, across the Anduin, then skirting Lothlorien into Dimrill Dale and past Kheled-Zaram to the gates of Moria.
There seem to have been two major periods of fighting, though probably interspersed by plenty of minor skirmishes.
The first battle occurred in 2989 when Balin's dwarves assaulted Moria. The book of records states that they drew out the orcs from the Great Gate (still standing at this time) and guardroom and slew many in the bright sunlight in the Dale. I think that some cunning stratagem must have been used to 'draw out' the orcs, perhaps some dwarves went up to the gates as 'bait', antagonised the orcs, who pursued and then were then ambushed by the main body of dwarves. No doubt there's scope for Fanfic here! The orcs were at a great disadvantage in the sunshine and were faced with some extremely hyped-up dwarves - Khazad ai menu indeed! Dwarven casualties included Floi, killed by an arrow.
The number of orcs involved is impossible to say, though Tolkien did note that Moria was fairly sparsely inhabited at this time, also orcish numbers had been reduced by the Battle of the Five Armies, some 48 years previously. I'd guess perhaps some hundreds of orcs were involved, with some hundereds or thousands more lurking within the caverns. Moria orcs are noted as using spears, scimitars and bows and were physically smaller than Mordor orcs. The dwarves used axes, swords and bows, possibly mattocks too, they would likely have been far better armoured in dwarven mail than their opponents.
The next phase would have been to destroy any remaining orcs around Moria. It was a vast and intricate place, so this could have gone on for years, with parties of dwarves tracking down small groups of orcs.
Meanwhile, Balin was set up as Lord of Moria, with the 21st Hall of the North End and the Chamber of Mazarbul as his base. Finding the chamber may have been desirable in order to look for old maps of Moria, which would have been very useful to the dwarves. The good news was sent back to Dain, gold and mithril was found and all seemed well. Intriguingly, Durin's Axe is mentioned. Had they indeed found the axe of their great kings? I'm sure it would have been a very powerful object.
By the fifth year of occupation, Balin felt secure enough to send an expedition under Oin to seek the upper armories of the third deep and to proceed west to Hollin Gate. However, his confidence was misplaced. Balin son of Fundin was killed by an orcish force coming up the Silverlode from the east. This force must surely have come from Dol Guldur, now re-occupied by the servants of Sauron, but may have included orcs from other dens in the Misty Mountains. It must have seriously outnumbered the dwarves.
This 'second battle' in 2994 was more of a siege. The orcish vanguard slew Balin while he was unaware, the dwarves took revenge but soon it was apparent that they must retreat into Moria and bar the Great Gates. Eventually the orcs broke through the gates. Perhaps they had Trolls and battering rams with them or Sauron sent explosive charges. Conceivably they could have been led by one or more of the Nazgul.
By this time it had been learnt that Oin had been killed by the Watcher in the Water and the lake at Hollin gate was impassable.
The orcs (surely including the 'black uruks of Mordor' mentioned in LoTR) eventually took the bridge of Khazad Dum and the second hall. The bridge appears almost impregnable, but maybe the orcs simply lined up enough archers to shoot down any dwarves attempting to defend the bridge, or maybe the dwarves were running low on supplies. By this time Frar, Loni and Nali (presumably dwarven leaders) were dead.
Eventually the last stand, probably led by Ori, was made in the Chamber of Mazarbul, but there was no escape for the dwarves..... we cannot get out.......they are coming!
One major point not mentioned at all in the Book of Records is what Durin's Bane (ie the Balrog) was doing during this time. Could he simply not be bothered by a few pesky dwarves, or perhaps did he appear for the final assault and 'encourage' the orcish invaders? It is interesting that the assault only occurred after mithril had been found. Perhaps the dwarves had 'delved too deeply' once again.
I also find it strange that Dain hadn't bothered to find out what had happened in Moria in the nearly 30 years before the Coucil of Elrond. Was he really that annoyed with Balin, or did messengers simply not return?
[ October 06, 2003: Message edited by: Rumil ]
[ October 06, 2003: Message edited by: Rumil ]