Skirmish in Balin's Tomb

""We cannot get out. Drums. Drums in the deep." They are coming..."

- Gandalf

The Fight in Balin's Tomb was a battle between the Fellowship of the Ring and the goblins of Moria. The goblins had discovered the presense of the Fellowships, and while Gandalf was reading the harrowing tale of the fall of Balin and his dwarves, 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 rout. As the doors were being barricaded, the orcs attacked. Charging down the passage from the 21st hall, they pushed and pounded the door. 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 finish the job with battering rams and charge in. The Fellowship hold them off, but Frodo is attacks and stabbed. Fortunately Frodo's mithril shirt protects him. The Fellowship kill the rest of the orcs, then retreat through the eastern door to the 2nd hall to the Bridge of Khazad-dum.

The Film
In film, there are an endless number of goblins who pour through the door and attack the Fellowship. Boromir soon realizes they have a cave-troll with them. They continue fighting the orcs until the troll smashes down the door and enters the tomb. The troll's club is eventually smashed and it begins to use the chain around its neck as a whip. Legolas dodges the whip and shoots several arrows at the creature. The troll soon turns its attention to Frodo, who loses his weapon. Aragorn comes to Frodo's 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 before more dangers arrive.