Skirmish in Balin's Tomb

"We cannot get out. The end comes. Drums, drums in the deep. They are coming..."

- from the Book of Mazarbul, read by Gandalf before they are attacked

The Fight in Balin's Tomb, also known as Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul, was a battle between the Fellowship of the Ring and the goblins of Moria. The goblins had discovered the presence of the Fellowship, and while Gandalf was reading the harrowing tale of the fall of Balin and his dwarves from the Book of Mazarbul, the orcs mobilized.

The Fellowship barred the west door of the tomb to slow the orcs, while leaving the east door open as an escape route. As the doors were being barricaded, the orcs attacked, charging down the passage from the 21st hall. While the Fellowship drew their weapons, Gandalf opened the door to scout the enemy, seeing a large group of orcs with a Cave-troll. The cave-troll began breaking the door, but was stabbed in the foot by Frodo. The goblins finished the job with battering rams and hammers, and charged in. The Fellowship defeated thirteen and the rest fled in terror. However, an orc-chieftain barged in and stabbed Frodo, who fortunately was protected by his Mithril shirt. Sam and Aragorn attacked the chieftain and succeeded in slaying him. The Fellowship then retreated through the eastern door to the second hall and the Bridge of Khazad-dum.

Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring
"Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"

- Gimli

In the film The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), after Gandalf finishes reading the Book of Mazarbul Pippin foolishly knocks a body into a well, causing much racket. Drums sound below. Goblin shrieks follow, the Fellowship bar the door with ancient axes, and Boromir announces the attackers have a cave-troll with them. The goblins hammer and hew at the door, while Legolas and Aragorn attempt to shoot them through the cracks they make. Then the door is destroyed and numerous orcs pour in. The Fellowship battles the goblins until the troll smashes down the door and enters the tomb. The troll immediately destroys part of the sarcophagus after it is shot at multiple times by Legolas, including a shot at the top of its head. The troll soon turns its attention to Frodo, while the rest of the Fellowship is busy with the goblins. Aragorn, seeing the cave-troll about to attack Frodo, comes to his aid and stabs the troll with a large spear. The troll batters Aragorn away and stabs Frodo with the spear. Thinking Frodo is dead, Merry and Pippin leap onto the animal's back. This distraction allows Legolas to score a perfect shot through the roof of the monster's mouth, killing it. Frodo survives the troll attack, thanks to the Mithril vest he was wearing, and Gandalf leads the Fellowship out of Balin's tomb and toward the Bridge of Khazad-dum before more dangers arrive.