Could a Dwarf melee with a Balrog?

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by skytree

This was a Noldor host led by Maedhros and Fingon, powerful 1st age Noldor. Except for the Noldor in Gondolin with Turgon, the rest of the Noldor would have been wiped from Middle Earth in that battle, save for their Dwarves and their hardiness to withstand Glaurung.

Amusingly, you seem to isolate Glaurung as the only peril the Noldor faced in that battle. Let's see, there were Balrogs (Gothmog and a friend ganged up on Fingon), an entire army of Men under Ulfang who betrayed them, countless orcs and hundreds of trolls (if Hurin axed more than 70 trolls, there had to be many more), and then along comes Glaurung as the cherry on top. The passage in the Sil also indicates that if the Easterlings had not betrayed the Noldor, they more than likely would have won the battle. *shrugs*

Interestingly, although the dwarves drove off the immature Glaurung, they never killed any dragon of note. They were driven in large numbers from Erebor by Smaug, and they relied on Fram, a Northman, to kill Scatha. Add to that being crushed in Moria by the Balrog, and their track record against fierce Morgothian opponents is rather spotty.

Very perceptive post, Ibrin, particularly since I agree with you.