Timeline Event
Orcs besiege the Dwarves of Moria
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 3rd Age - The Stewards
Dates: November 10, 2994 ~ December 1, 2994
Description:
An event in the Recolonization of Moria; see that entry for an overview:
'I fear [Ori] had ill tidings to record in a fair hand,' said Gandalf.... 'an orc shot [Balin] from behind a stone. we slew the orc, but many more... up from east up the Silverlode. The remainder of the page is so blurred that I can hardly make anything out, but I think I can read we have barred the gates, and then can hold them long if, and then perhaps horrible and suffer.... I wonder what happened afterwards; but there is no time to puzzle out the last few pages. Here is the last page of all.' He paused and sighed.
'It is grim reading,' he said.... 'Listen! We cannot get out. We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Frár and Lóni and Náli fell there. Then there are four lines smeared so that I can only read went 5 days ago. The last lines run the pool is up to the wall at Westgate. The Watcher in the Water took Óin. We cannot get out.'
The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 5, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm
Notes
The start date is canon, based on Balin's death date, but the end date is an estimate. Appendix B indicates that the colony is destroyed the same year as Balin's death.
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 7Oct05, 11Dec12