Balin

2007-11-05T20:33:50Z

204.52.179.199:

{{dwarves infobox
| image=[[Image:Visitbilbo.jpg|300px]]
| name=Balin
| othernames=
| life=[[Third Age 2763|T.A. 2763]] - [[Third Age 2994|T.A. 2994]]
| realm=
| parentage=[[Fundin]]
| lineage=
| robes=
| gender=Male
|}}
'''Balin''' was a [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] leader, the son of [[Fundin]] and elder brother of [[Dwalin]]. Balin was among the [[Dwarves]] that travelled with [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Gandalf the Grey]] in ''[[The Hobbit]]''.

'''Balin''', fought in the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]], before taking part in the [[Quest of Erebor]]. He was with king [[Thrain II]] on his own quest to Erebor, which the king was captured while wandering away from camp by Orcs. And after searching for him, '''Balin''' and the Dwarves that were with Thraín, gave up and headed back to the Ered Luin to Thorin, thinking that the king had gotten lost.

Among the Dwarves in ''The Hobbit'', Balin was the second-eldest Dwarf on the quest (behind [[Thorin Oakenshield|Thorin]]), and so he spoke for the party when they were captured by the [[Thranduil|Elvenking]].

He is described as "always their look-out man": He spots [[Bilbo]] approaching the [[Green Dragon]] Inn at [[Bywater|Bywater]], he spots the trolls' fire, and he's the first to spot the [[Elves]] in [[Mirkwood]].

Conversely he did not notice [[Bilbo]] (hidden by wearing [[One Ring|the magic ring]]) as look-out for the company after escaping the [[Goblins]] in the [[Misty Mountains]]. After this bit of trickery Balin gained respect for [[Bilbo]]'s abilities. He's the only Dwarf that volunteers to accompany [[Bilbo]] down the secret passage to [[Smaug]]. Of all the Dwarves in the quest, he's the only one known to have visited Bilbo afterwards at [[Bag End]].

In [[Third Age]] 2989 Balin left the [[Lonely Mountain]] and entered [[Moria]] with [[Flói]], [[Óin son of Gróin|Óin]], [[Ori]], [[Frár]], [[Lóni]], [[Náli]], and others Dwarves, called [[Dwarves of Moria]], to start a colony. He was slain by an [[Orcs|Orc]] archer in [[Dimrill Dale]] in 2994.

In ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] discovers his [[Balin's Tomb|tomb]] in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]].

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Balin|Images of Balin]]

{{Pronounce|Balin.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Thorin and Company}}

[[Category:Dwarves]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]

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Balin