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Timeline Event

Fellowship discovers the tomb of Balin

Event Type: Military/Strategic

Age: 3rd Age - Ring War

Date: January 15, 3019

Description:

An event in the Battles of the Fellowship at Moria; see that entry for an overview:
[Gandalf:] 'But I do not know yet exactly where we are.... I guess that we are above and to the north of the Great Gates.... The eastern arch will probably prove to be the way that we must take; but before we make up our minds we ought to look about us. Let us go towards that light in the north door. If we could find a window it would help, but I fear that the light comes only down deep shafts.'

Following his lead the Company passed under the northern arch. They found themselves in a wide corridor. As they went along it the glimmer grew stronger, and they saw that it came through a doorway on their right. It was high and flat-topped, and the stone door was still upon its hinges, standing half open. Beyond it was a large square chamber. It was dimly lit, but to their eyes, after so long a time in the dark, it seemed dazzlingly bright, and they blinked as they entered.

Their feet disturbed a deep dust upon the floor, and stumbled among things lying in the doorway whose shapes they could not at first make out. The chamber was lit by a wide shaft high in the further eastern wall; it slanted upwards and, far above, a small square patch of blue sky could be seen. The light of the shaft fell directly on a table in the middle of the room: a single oblong block, about two feet high, upon which was laid a great slab of white stone.

'It looks like a tomb,' muttered Frodo, and bent forwards with a curious sense of foreboding, to look more closely at it. Gandalf came quickly to his side. On the slab runes were deeply graven:

Balin's tomb inscription

'These are Daeron's Runes, such as were used of old in Moria,' said Gandalf. 'Here is written in the tongues of Men and Dwarves:

Translation of Balin's tomb inscription

'He is dead then,' said Frodo. 'I feared it was so.' Gimli cast his hood over his face.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 4, A Journey in the Dark

The Company stood silent beside the tomb of Balin....

At length they stirred and looked up, and began to search for anything that would give them tidings of Balin's fate, or show what had become of his folk.

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 5, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 6Jul04, 6Apr10

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