Balin son of Fundin, brother of Dwalin, was one of Thorin's company, and, as Bilbo found, rather fond of the hobbit. He was the company's look-out, and was much put out when Bilbo, wearing the ring he had just found, slipped past him unseen after the escape from the goblins.1,2
When Bilbo went down the secret tunnel into the Lonely Mountain to face Smaug, Balin was the only Dwarf who walked part of the way with him.3
Years after the Quest, Balin came to Bag End with Gandalf one autumn evening, his beard grown longer and his waistcoat finer, and told Bilbo how Dale and the Mountain had prospered.4
In 2989 of the Third Age Balin left Erebor with Óri, Óin and a company of Dwarves to retake Moria, the old kingdom of Durin's folk. For five years he was lord of Moria. Then, going alone to look into the Mirrormere, he was shot by an Orc from behind a stone, and the colony was overrun soon after.5,6,7
The Fellowship found his tomb in the Chamber of Mazarbul, a slab carved with runes naming him Lord of Moria, and beside it the torn book that told the colony's end.8,7
Sources
Citations name the chapter rather than the page, so they work in any edition. The colour of each note shows what kind of source it is.
- Published story The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as Tolkien published them.
- Appendices Tolkien's own appendices to The Lord of the Rings.
- Published story The Hobbit, ch. 2, “Roast Mutton”
- Published story The Hobbit, ch. 6, “Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire”
- Published story The Hobbit, ch. 12, “Inside Information”
- Published story The Hobbit, ch. 19, “The Last Stage”
- Appendices The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, III, “Durin's Folk”
- Appendices The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, “The Third Age”
- Published story The Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, ch. 5, “The Bridge of Khazad-dûm”
- Published story The Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, ch. 4, “A Journey in the Dark”