Fight in Balin's Tomb

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Fight in Balin's Tomb
The Fellowship in Balin's Tomb
Conflict: War of the Ring
Date: TA 3019
Place: Balin's tomb
Outcome: Escape and victory of the Fellowship; death of Gandalf at the bridge of Khazad-Dum
Combatants
Fellowship of the Ring	Goblins
Commanders
Gandalf	goblin Chieftain, cave troll
Strength
9 members; 4 hobbits, 2 men, a dwarf, an elf and a wizard	numerous goblins, cave troll
Casualties
No deaths, though Frodo is wounded by an Orc Chieftain (book)/Cave Troll (Movie)	many goblins, cave troll

War of the Ring
Balin's Tomb – Amon Hen – Fords of Isen – Isengard – Helm's Deep – Osgiliath – Dale – Battle of the Peak – Pelennor Fields – Black Gate – Bywater

"'We cannot get out. Drums. Drums in the deep.' They are coming..."

—Gandalf

"Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"

—Gimli

The Fight in Balin's Tomb was a battle between the Fellowship of the Ring and the goblins of Moria. The goblins had discovered the presence of the Fellowship, and while Gandalf was reading the harrowing tale of the fall of Balin and his dwarves, the orcs mobilized. The Fellowship barred the west door of the tomb to slow the orcs while leaving the east door open as an escape rout. As the doors were being barricaded, the orcs attacked. Charging down the passage from the 21st hall, they pushed and pounded the door. While the Fellowship drew their weapons, Gandalf opened the door to scout the enemy, seeing a large group of orcs with a cave-troll. The cave-troll began breaking the door, but was stabbed in the foot by Frodo. The goblins finish the job with battering rams and charge in. The Fellowship defeats thirteen and the rest flee in terror. However, an orc-chieftain barges in and stabs Frodo, who is fortunately protected by his mithril shirt. Sam and Aragorn attack the chieftain and slay him. The Fellowship then retretas through the eastern door to the 2nd hall to the Bridge of Khazad-dum.

[edit] The Film

In film, after Gandalf finishes reading the Book of Mazarbul and Pippin foolishly knocks a goblin body into a well, drums sound in the deep. Goblin shrieks follow, and the Fellowship bars the door with ancient axes, which is when Boromir realizes they have a cave-troll with them. The goblins hammer and hew at the door, while Legolas and Aragorn attempt to shoot them through the cracks they make. Then, the door is destroyed, and numerous orcs pour in. The Fellowship battles the goblins until the troll smashes down the door and enters the tomb. The troll immediately destroys part of the sarcophagus after it is shot at multiple times by Legolas, including a shot at the top of its head. The troll soon turns its attention to Frodo, while the rest of the Fellowship is busy with the goblins. Aragorn, seeing the cave-troll about to attack Frodo, comes to his aid and stabs the troll with a large spear. The troll batters Aragorn away and stabs Frodo with the spear. Thinking Frodo is dead, Merry and Pippin leap onto the animal's back. This distraction allows Legolas to score a perfect shot through the roof of the monster's mouth, killing it. Frodo survives the troll attack, thanks to the mithril vest he was wearing, and Gandalf leads the Fellowship out of Balin's tomb to the bridge of Khazad-Dum before more dangers arrive.