Full Name: Balin
Name Meaning: Powerful, strong (Sanskrit)
Aliases: Unknown
Birth Date: TA 2763
Date of Death: TA 2994
Race: Dwarf
Parents: Father, Fundin. Mother, unknown
Siblings: Brother, Dwalin
Spouse: None
Children: None
History:
Balin was one of the Dwarves that were driven into exile after the attack of Smaug on Erebor. As a far relative of Thrór, Thráin and Thorin he accompanies them in their attempt to reclaim Moria. As such the young Dwarf also fought among the Dwarves in the Battle of Azanulbizar in 2799.
In the Company of Thorin Oakenshield Balin is the second-eldest Dwarf. Therefore Thorin sometimes consults him during their journey. As part of the Company that set out to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, Balin is the second Dwarf to arrive at Bag End. He appears old because of his white beard. He wears a scarlet hood. Like his brother Dwalin, he plays the viol.
During the journey to the Lonely Mountain, Balin is the look-out man for the Company. He waits for Bilbo at the inn at the start of their journey, and he is also the first one to come and save Bilbo from the trolls. When Bilbo suddenly appears after the Dwarves have escaped from the goblin troops in Moria, Balin is the most insistent on hearing the story about Gollum over and over again. Bilbo’s little trick gains him a lot of respect from Balin.
Upon reaching the Lonely Mountain it becomes clear that Balin is well informed about the map and surrounding areas of the Lonely Mountain, even though he was only a child when Smaug drove the Dwarves away. Balin is the only Dwarf who offers to walk along with Bilbo when he goes to see Smaug for the first time.
Balin fights along the other Dwarves, Elves and Men in the Battle of the Five Armies. He survives the Battle and lives in Erebor for some time. In 2949 Gandalf and Balin visit Bilbo in the Shire. In 2989 Balin leaves Erebor again with a small group of Dwarves, this time to try to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria. At first the messages send out by Balin’s group sound positive: they find Moria free from Orcs and they steadily make their way through the ancient halls. About five years later the messages suddenly stop, and no-one in Middle Earth knows what has happened to the Dwarf colony. Balin’s fate is discovered by the Fellowship of the Ring, who pass through Moria on their journey to destroy the Ring: He was Lord of Moria for five years, before the colony was overrun and killed by goblins. On Balin’s tomb can be seen that he died in 2994, as Lord of Moria.
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