Welcome back to my series of posts exploring how J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel The Lord of the Rings differs from its film adaptations. In the film, we learn very little of why Glóin and his son Gimli were at the Council of Elrond in the first place. This is a shame, because we do in the book, and it’s really interesting.
The Meeting of Frodo and Glóin
After Frodo began to recover from his wound in Rivendell, Elrond ordered a feast prepared. Frodo was given a seat at Elrond’s table, just to Glóin’s left. Glóin clearly profited greatly from the reclaiming of Erebor, given the description of his garments. The dwarf introduced himself, bowing and saying “Glóin at your service,” of course.
Frodo and Glóin exchanged smalltalk and then spent the rest of the feast discussing current affairs, with Frodo mostly listening. Some time ago, we learn, Beorn’s son succeeded him as chieftain of the Beornings. Similarly, the Kingdom of Dale had passed to Bain’s son Brand, grandson of King Bard Ⅰ.
Glóin said that of Thorin’s company, seven still live in Erebor: Bombur, Dwalin, Nori, Bofur, Dori, Bifur, and Glóin himself. The whereabouts of Balin, Óin, and Ori were unknown.
Glóin at the Council of Elrond
Frodo saw Glóin again at the Council of Elrond, where the old dwarf was accompanied by his son Gimli. Glóin’s is the first of the tales we hear told during the Council. As we learn, despite their prosperity under King Dáin, the dwarves of Erebor became restless, and popular sentiment turned in favour of retaking Khazad-dûm.
Under King Durin Ⅵ, the dwarves of Khazad-dûm had mined too deeply into the earth, seeking mithril. This woke a Balrog that had been dormant beneath their city. The Balrog killed most of the dwarves of Khazad-dûm, including the king, and thereafter it was named “Durin’s Bane.”
Returning to Glóin’s story, some thirty years before the Council of Elrond, Balin took it upon himself to retake Moria. Dáin wisely refused to give the quest his blessing, but Balin set out anyway. Initially the news from Moria was good, but after some time, it stopped coming entirely.
A Messenger of Mordor
Around a year before the council, a messenger from Mordor rode up to the gate of Erebor, proclaiming that Sauron sought the friendship of Dáin’s people and would give them rings of power. In return, the messenger asked they tell him about hobbits:
“As a small token only of your friendship Sauron asks this,” he said, “that you should find this thief,” such was his word, “and get from him, willing or no, a little ring, the least of rings, that once he stole. It is but a trifle that Sauron fancies, and an earnest of your good will. Find it, and three rings that the Dwarf-sires possessed of old shall be returned to you, and the realm of Moria shall be yours for ever. Find only news of the thief, whether he still lives and where, and you shall have great reward and lasting friendship from the Lord. Refuse, and things will not seem so well. Do you refuse?”
Glóin’s account, The Lord of the Rings (Book Ⅱ, Chapter Ⅱ)
Glóin’s Errand
Knowing that Sauron would undoubtedly betray the dwarves in the end, King Dáin said he’d consider Sauron’s offer so as to buy time. In secret, however, the King under the Mountain sent Glóin and his son as messengers to Imladris, their mission being to warn Bilbo.
Additionally, Dáin’s messengers were to seek Elrond’s advice concerning the coming war and also to learn why Sauron wanted “the least of rings” if they could. As discussed in a previous post, the dwarves are unaware that the One Ring wasn’t destroyed by Isildur, hence why they didn’t guess.
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