Another Balrog thread...

[Feanaro]

Fear not, I do not intend to discuss whether or not Balrog's have or have not wings. This topic deals with the relationship of Balrogs and the dwarven rings.

As I posted a link to the "Of the Rings of Power" thread, I started thinking. One quote in that thread caught my particular attention:

"the Dwarves:their inherent greed.These Rings inflamed their desire of wealth,and they used them only to gain it."

The dwarven rings had more of Sauron's taint than some of the other's, such as the three for example. It was theorized in the aforementioned thread that the dwarven rings were made more powerful to ensnare the hearty nature of the dwarves. They were not transformed into wraiths, per se, but perhaps a more dire consequence was inflicted upon them.

I found out from Sharku that the Balrog in Moria (Durin's Bane) was awakened during the mid Third Age, when the dwarven lords were in possession of their rings, or had started to lose them. As the quote I provided states, the natural greed of the dwarves was inflamed by the rings, adding to their already ravenous goldlust. It is also said that the balrog was awakened due to the dwarves of Moria "delving too deep," obviously in the acquisition of more wealth.

My question therefore is this, is there any chance that the rings given to the dwarves had something to do with the reawakening of the Balrog? Not that Sauron had intended this from the start, but that perhaps the corrupt nature of the rings sought out the dark spirit of the Balrog, maybe as the Ruling Ring sought out Sauron? I'm not certain whether there is a definate answer to this question, but if anyone wishes to add their opinion, please do so, and sate my curiosity.

[ August 03, 2002: Message edited by: Feanaro ]