Was the Balrog drawn by the ring?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Belegorn

I think the Balrog must have been very cautious after his peers were manhandled in the War of Wrath. I have no idea why he suddenly decided to show himself. Being a resident of Thangorodrim I do not think Dwarves working with metals would bother him much.

This put me in mind of a rather obscure line from ROTK, Appendix A III Durin's Folk. There it is noted that in the Third age the Dwarves of Moria were mining under Caradhras for mithril, and

Thus they roused from sleep a thing of terror that, flying from Thangorodrim, had lain hidden at the foundations of the earth since the coming of the Host of the West: a Balrog of Morgoth.

After 'roused from sleep' there is a footnote:

Or released it from prison; it may well be that it had already been awakened by the malice of Sauron.

Since the One contained part of Sauron's will and spirit, and it is elsewhere noted that it 'calls' to evil creatures, I do not think it is by any means a stretch to assume that the Ring was a factor in the Balrog's attack on the Fellowship.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Since the One contained part of Sauron's will and spirit, and it is elsewhere noted that it 'calls' to evil creatures, I do not think it is by any means a stretch to assume that the Ring was a factor in the Balrog's attack on the Fellowship.

This is an excellent observation. Another thing to emphasise for the sake of clarity, in my opinion, is that we must remember that just because Sauron's Ring called to other evil beings, or that Sauron's malice may have awoken them (in the possible case of the Balrog) that does not mean that they were under the direct influence or control of Sauron himself.

Part of the fissiparous nature of evil was that there were many evil things, but they were not all controlled by the same evil will.

[tom the eldest]

aside from being aware of the rings power,what other motives vould the balorg have?

[Leaf]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Another thing to emphasise for the sake of clarity, in my opinion, is that we must remember that just because Sauron's Ring called to other evil beings, or that Sauron's malice may have awoken them (in the possible case of the Balrog) that does not mean that they were under the direct influence or control of Sauron himself.

You're right. Being called by the ring, or noticing it's presence, doesn't necessarily mean that the subject acts like a marionette.

Originally Posted by tom the eldest

aside from being aware of the rings power,what other motives vould the balorg have?

Motives for what?

[Belegorn]

I'd assume he meant what other motives could the Balrog have for showing himself.

[Leaf]

Well, there's the obvious “I want those loud and annoying intruders out of my home“. As I discussed before this motive seems plausible at first but it raises many questions regarding it's behaviour at the time of Balin's colony. Then there's the possibility that Durin's Bane noticed, and was provoked by, Gandalf's presence which didn't happend the first time Gandalf went through Moria. Theoretically speaking, the Balrog may have been in the service of Sauron and alarmed by him about a certain party which may try to travel through it's realm. I guess those are the most likely motives for the Balrog to confront the fellowship, aside from the discussed “Ring“-explanation.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Leaf

Theoretically speaking, the Balrog may have been in the service of Sauron and alarmed by him about a certain party which may try to travel through it's realm. I guess those are the most likely motives for the Balrog to confront the fellowship, aside from the discussed “Ring“-explanation.

I think the idea of the Balrog serving Sauron can be discounted. If it had been taking orders, why would it have been hanging about in a deserted Dwarf-city? Just to harass the occasional trespasser? Surely the Orcs alone were sufficient to keep Moria in Sauron's hands. I think in any case that Sauron didn't really care about Moria: he just wanted to keep the Dwarves from returning (and maybe get some mithril in the bargain).

If the Balrog had an interest in helping Sauron, one can see better tasks for it, such as leading an assault on Rivendell or Lórien.