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appendix a 1413
When the dreadful fires were in ashes the allies went away to
their own countries, and Dáin Ironfoot led his father’s people
back to the Iron Hills. Then standing by the great stake, Thráin
said to Thorin Oakenshield: ‘Some would think this head dearly
bought! At least we have given our kingdom for it. Will you
come with me back to the anvil? Or will you beg your bread at
proud doors?’
‘To the anvil,’ answered Thorin. ‘The hammer will at least
keep the arms strong, until they can wield sharper tools again.’
So Thráin and Thorin with what remained of their following
(among whom were Balin and Glóin) returned to Dunland, and
soon afterwards they removed and wandered in Eriador, until at
last they made a home in exile in the east of the Ered Luin
beyond the Lune. Of iron were most of the things that they
forged in those days, but they prospered after a fashion, and
their numbers slowly increased. 1 But, as Thrór had said, the
Ring needed gold to breed gold, and of that or any other precious
metal they had little or none.
Of this Ring something may be said here. It was believed by the
Dwarves of Durin’s Folk to be the first of the Seven that was
forged; and they say that it was given to the King of Khazaddûm,
Durin III, by the Elven-smiths themselves and not by
Sauron, though doubtless his evil power was on it, since he had
aided in the forging of all the Seven. But the possessors of the
Ring did not display it or speak of it, and they seldom surrendered
it until near death, so that others did not know for certain
where it was bestowed. Some thought that it had remained in
Khazad-dûm, in the secret tombs of the kings, if they had not
been discovered and plundered; but among the kindred of
Durin’s Heir it was believed (wrongly) that Thrór had worn it
when he rashly returned there. What then had become of it they
did not know. It was not found on the body of Azog. 2
were honoured in memory, and to this day a Dwarf will say proudly of
one of his sires: ‘he was a burned Dwarf ’, and that is enough.
1 They had very few women-folk. Dís Thráin’s daughter was there.
She was the mother of Fíli and Kíli, who were born in the Ered Luin.
Thorin had no wife.
2 p. 349.