The Fellowship of the Ring explored many different locales and regions within Middle-Earth. One of the greatest places, though it might not have seemed like it at the time, was Moria. Orcs, Goblins, and Cave Trolls pillaged this once great home of Dwarves and left in darkness by the time the Fellowship arrived. As audiences and readers saw, it was also inhabited by a mighty Balrog that proved difficult to get by. However, once Gandalf killed the Balrog, what was stopping the Dwarves from reclaiming the mines?
Even the most hardcore fans ofTolkien’s workmight not know what became of the great Dwarven home under the Misty Mountains. After all, thousands of Orcs resided in its halls even after the Balrog fell. Did Gimli ever return? Well, something did become of the Mines of Moria that should bring a smile to one’s face.
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What are the Mines of Moria?
Deep within the Misty Mountains, a range that separated western Middle-Earth from the east, lay the greatest Dwarven city ever known. Khazad-dûm, as it was first known, thrived for thousands of years. A Dwarf named Durin founded the realm during the Years of the Trees when peace reigned over Middle-Earth and theValar still walked the lands.
The Second Age saw a mass exodus of Dwarves from the Blue Mountains to Khazad-dûm, bringing their skills and talents with them. This ushered in a kind of renaissance for large halls. Rumors of the wonderous Dwarven mansion and its expansive halls eventually made their way to the Elves. The two ancient races of Middle-Earth forged afriendship with the Lord of Eregion, Celebrimbor, constructing the magical western Doors of Dorin with Narvi, a great Dwarven craftsman. This door remained open during these times of peace, allowing for unfettered trade and passage to the other end of the mountains.
Unfortunately, when Sauron overran the country of the Elves with his Orcs, the Dwarves sealed all gates that led into Khazad-dûm. This ended the friendship between Elves and Dwarves while also sealing Durin’s people away from the rest of Middle-Earth. Eventually, the Orcs found their way into the mountains and waged war against the Dwarves. Khazad-dûm saw some rather exciting times during the Third Age.
Long before Durin ever established a Dwarven presence in the Misty Mountains, a minion of the dark lord Morgoth made its home deep under the ground; deeper than anything had dug before. Unfortunately, the greatest resource in Khazad-dûm was its Mithril deposits that reached deep into its darkest depths. As centuries went on, the Dwarves mined deeper and deeper until they inevitablystirred the sleeping Balrog. Upon unleashing this great spirit from the depths, it killed King Durin VI and became known as Durin’s Bane thereafter.
The remaining Dwarves fled their ancestral home, leaving the great halls barren and in utter darkness. This earned the once-great Dwarven city the name Moria, meaning the Black Pit. There was an attempt to reclaim the mines by the Dwarf Balin and a colony of Dwarves from Erebor. They were briefly successful, residing in the Eastern Halls. Unfortunately, the Orcs overpowered and defeated them five years after their entry into the mines. It wasn’t until the end of the Third Age, whenGandalf the Greydefeated Durin’s Bane, that the conditions to reclaim the Mines of Moria were ripe.
What Happened to the Mines of Moria After the Events of LOTR?
After Middle-Earth defeated Sauronand his armies, there was a lot of rebuilding to do. Since this ushered in the age of Man, humans were the busiest during this time of reconstruction. However, right behind them were the Dwarves who helped rebuild much of Middle-Earth. The quality of their craftsmanship made them vital during these efforts. They went all around the continent to help where they could, reforging their alliance with the race of Men. Not only that, they constructed new kingdoms and attempted to reclaim that which they lost. That included the Mines of Moria.
No, Gimli didn’t return to Moria or take part in its reclamation. Instead, he went on to form a newDwarven kingdom out of Helm’s Deep. There’s not a lot of information out there on the details of how the Dwarves reclaimed Khazad-dûm, but it undoubtedly required a lot of Orc-slaying. Without the Balrog, Durin’s Bane, Durin VII the Last returned to the Mines of Moria and restored it to the once great kingdom that it was. Beyond that, Tolkien’sUnfinished Talessimply says, “The world grew old and the days of Durin’s race ended.” This implies that the Dwarves remained in Moria until their entire race went extinct.
Every race within Middle-Earth eventually fades away, leaving the world for humans to rule. It’s obviously fiction, but Tolkien wrote letters to publishers, confirming that the events ofThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Ringsdo take place during the ancient times of Earth’s history. All of the mythical races such as Elves, Dwarves, and even Ents eventually fade away without leaving any trace of their existence. The Ents become mere trees,the Elves sail awayto a faraway land, but they look human enough that their remains would pass as human, and the Dwarves get absorbed into the very rocks they mine.
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