Battle of the Second Hall

2012-12-18T20:26:07Z

90.10.132.127:

{{Battle
|image=
|name=Battle of the Second Hall
|conflict=Incursion of the Orcs on Balin's Colony
|date=November {{TA|2994}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref><ref name="Bridge">{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>
|place=[[Second Hall]], [[Moria]]
|result=Loss of the Second Hall, and retreat of the remaining Dwarves to the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]]
|side1=Balin's Colony [[Dwarves of Erebor|from Erebor]]
|side2=[[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]]
|commanders1=[[Óin son of Gróin|Óin]], [[Ori]], [[Frár]] †<b/r>, [[Náli]] †<b/r>, [[Lóni]] †<b/r>
|commanders2=Unknown
|forces1=Few
|forces2=Many<ref name="Bridge">{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>
|casual1=Possibly just three <ref name="Bridge">{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>
|casual2=Unknown
}}

The “'Battle of the Second Hall"' was a battle that took place after November 10, TA 2994 between incurring [[Orcs]] against the defending [[Longbeards]] of Balin’s Colony in the Second Hall of Khazad-dûm.

==Prelude==
For the past five years [[Balin]] and other Dwarves from Erebor had been exploring Moria after retaking and colonizing it. However on November 10th, 2994 Orcs surprise attacked the colonists in the [[Dimrill Dale]]; killing Lord Balin as he was looking into the [[Mirrormere]], and despite being barred shut eventually took the [[East-gate]], and [[First Hall]] from the Dwarves. <ref name="Bridge">{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>

==Opposing Forces==
The Dwarves' numbers are unknown other than they were not as many as the Orcs. There were at least a little over nine in number as Óin, Ori, Náli, Frár, Lóni and at least a little over four others were present.<ref name="Bridge">{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>
The Orcs were many though precise numbers are not given. It could have been as few as a hundred or many times that.

==The Battle==
Little is known as to how battle unfolded. However we can surmise that with the fall of the First Hall, all that stood before the Orcs was the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]: the last difficult defensive structure in their path. On the other side the Dwarves mounted a final well positioned defense. The Orcs likely suffered heavy casualties trying to cross the bridge, as it was designed for enemies to have to march single file and totally exposed to the other side.
Despite this the Orcs eventually took the bridge and joined battle with the Dwarves in the hall. If taken literally it may have been that only three Dwarves (Lóni, Náli, and Frár) were killed in the ensuing brawl since Ori said in his account that they died bravely while the rest of them escaped to the [[Seventh Level]]. No matter the casualties numbers, the Dwarves retreated and the Orcs reclaimed the Hall. Initiating the beginning of the end of the Colony. <ref name="Bridge">{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
Sometime after the battle, Óin was sent with over four others to see if survivors could escape out of the [[Doors of Durin]]. He was killed by the [[Watcher in the Water]], and only four returned to the Chamber of Mazarbul after five days. It was their that the colonists made a [[Last Stand of Balin’s Colony|last stand]]. Surrounded, extremely few, and with no hope of escape they perished.<ref name="Bridge">{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>

{{references}}

[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]

Doors of Durin

2012-12-18T16:34:23Z

90.10.132.127:

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Password Into Moria.jpg|thumb|''Password Into Moria'' by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]{{qtlisten|Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen.|Gate of the Elves, open now for me|[[Gandalf]]|Gandalf - Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen.ogg}}

The '''Doors of Durin''', also known as the '''West-gate''' or '''West-door of Moria''', were built into the [[Walls of Moria]] in the dark cliffs of the [[Celebdil|Silvertine]], and formed the western entrance to the great [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] city of [[Khazad-dûm]].

==History==
The entrance to [[Khazad-dûm]] was the [[Great Gates]] in [[Dimrill Dale]], east of the [[Misty Mountains]]. During the [[Second Age]], it was decided to open a way to the west side of the Silvetine, which would facilitate contact and cooperation with the [[Elves|Elven]] Kingdom of [[Hollin]].<ref name="Dark"/>

The Doors were constructed in cooperation of Dwarves and Elves, sometime between {{SA|750}} and {{SA|1500|n}}.<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref> It was the two greatest craftsmen of the [[Second Age]], the [[Noldor|Elf]]-lord [[Celebrimbor]] and the [[Dwarves|dwarf]] [[Narvi]], built the Doors.<ref name="Dark">{{FR|II4}}</ref>

These were the days before [[Sauron]]'s dominion in [[Middle-earth]], and the friendship between Elven and Dwarven kingdoms was a rare and special event. During this peaceful time the Doors stood open, allowing unfettered trade. But during the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] (in {{SA|1697}}) the Doors were sealed shut.<ref name="SA"/>

When Khazad-dûm was abandoned in {{TA|1981}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> the way of opening the Doors was forgotten.

At some point between {{TA|2845|n}} and {{TA|2950|n}} the Wizard [[Gandalf]] entered the city looking for King [[Thráin II]] who had disappeared on journey to Erebor. After his search the Wizard exited through the Doors; however this experience did not help him know how to open the doors from the outside.<ref name=journey>{{FR|Journey}}</ref>

In {{TA|2994}}, [[Balin's Colony]] was attacked by an onslaught of [[orcs]]. [[Óin]] led a group west, hoping to escape through the Doors of Durin, but the [[Watcher in the Water]] killed him. The Dwarves were locked in until wiped out.

[[Gollum]] took refuge in Moria; but when he had at last discovered the way to the Doors he could not get out.

The [[Company of the Ring]] entered Moria through the Doors, but Gandalf could not find out the password to open them. [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry Brandybuck]] unknowingly gave Gandalf the answer by asking, "What does it mean by ''speak, friend, and enter''?" When Gandalf realized that "''[[Mellon]]''", which means "friend" in [[Sindarin]], would open the door he sprang up, laughed, and spoke the word. Shortly thereafter, the [[Watcher in the Water]] attacked the Fellowship and shut the Doors behind them.<ref name="Dark"/>

==Appearance==
[[Image:J.R.R._Tolkien_-_Doors_of_Durin.jpg|left|thumb|150px|''The Doors of Durin'' by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] (as printed in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Book II, Ch. 4 - [[A Journey in the Dark]]).]]

They were fashioned as flush doors, the jambs invisible to the eye, and matched so perfectly with the mountain rock that when closed the Doors could not be seen. The slabs were made by Narvi out of a grey material stronger than stone, and inlaid by Celebrimbor with ''[[ithildin]]'', which could only be seen in starlight and moonlight.

When visible, the fine silver-like inlay showed a hammer and anvil (the emblems of [[Durin]]), a crown and [[Seven Stars]] (probably [[Durin's Crown]]), two trees surmounted by crescent moons, and a single star (the emblem of the [[House of Feanor]]). On the top left and right corners there were the [[tengwar]] ''[[Calma]]'' (C) and ''[[Óre]]'' (N) standing for Celebrimbor and Narvi.

The inscription on the [[Wikipedia:Archivolt|archivolt]] read:
<blockquote>''"Ennyn Durin Aran Moria. Pedo Mellon a Minno. Im Narvi hain echant. Celebrimbor o Eregion teithant i thiw hin."''</blockquote>

<blockquote>"The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs."</blockquote>

The inscription was stating the password that would cause the Doors to swing open.

==An Inconsistency==
The name ''[[Moria]]'' means "Black Chasm" and was a derogatory description of the place which the Dwarves did not like, and was given ''after'' [[Durin's Bane]] took over the city in the [[Third Age]]. It is therefore a mystery why that name appears on an inscription made in the Second Age, and made in consent with the Dwarves.
{{references}}
[[Category:Moria]]
[[Category:Doors and gates]]

[[de:Türen von Durin]]

Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Battle of the Second Hall

Doors of Durin