Dwalin

From Tolkien Gateway
Dwalin
Dwarf
Tony Foti - Dwalin.jpg
"Dwalin" by Tony Foti
Biographical Information
LocationThorin's Halls
Lonely Mountain
AffiliationThorin and Company
LanguageKhuzdul and Westron
BirthT.A. 2772
DeathFo.A. 91 (aged 340)
Notable forThe Quest of Erebor
Family
HouseHouse of Durin
ParentageFundin
SiblingsBalin
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorBlue Beard[1]
Eye colorBright eyes[1]
ClothingDark-green hood and a golden belt
WeaponryAxe(s)
GalleryImages of Dwalin
"It was a dwarf with a blue beard tucked into a golden belt, and very bright eyes under his dark-green hood. As soon a the door was opened, he pushed inside, just as if he had been expected. He hung his hooded cloak on the nearest peg, and "Dwalin at your service!" he said with a low bow."
The Hobbit, An Unexpected Party

Dwalin was a Dwarf of the House of Durin. He was, along with his brother Balin, a member of Thorin's company which took part in the Quest of Erebor to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. Dwalin survived the adventure and lived well into the Fourth Age.

History

Two years before he was born, in T.A. 2770 the dragon Smaug had come to Erebor[2] and destroyed King Thrór's kingdom. Thrór and a small group of kinsmen and followers headed south while other Dwarves of Erebor escaped to the Iron Hills[3], so Dwalin was born in exile, perhaps in Dunland to Fundin, nine years after his brother Balin in T.A. 2772 (him being born in the Lonely Mountain).

Dwalin's father fell in the Battle of Azanulbizar along with several other kinsman, and after victory Thráin II, now King of Durin's Folk, was counselled from Dáin Ironfoot to not enter Moria. Thráin and his son Thoin Oakenshield later settled in the northern Ered Luin[4] and at some point joined by Dwalin and Balin along with others after the War of the Dwarves and Orcs.

King Thráin's expedition

Dwalin, his brother Balin, and a few others accompanied Thráin II in T.A. 2841 when he left the Ered Luin to revisit and reclaim Erebor. The small party was dogged by the emissaries of the dark lord Sauron. In T.A. 2845 Thráin was captured one night when he and his companions sheltered under the eaves of the dark forest Mirkwood from a black rain, in which they were separated. After a fruitless search for their leader the Dwarves gave up and returned to inform Thorin, who became the new King of Durin's Folk, the quest had failed.[3]

The Quest for Erebor

Adlpictures - Dwalin

Dwalin had joined King Thorin's expedition against Smaug, to reclaim Erebor. According to Gandalf's instructions, they were invited to Bag End in the Shire, to form their plan. Dwalin was the first Dwarf to arrive, alone, when the unexpected party began at Bilbo's smial. He was wearing a dark-green hood and walked in as if expected, which greatly surprised Bilbo. Soon Balin arrived and he and Dwalin sat talking while Bilbo kept answering the door for the arrival of more and more Dwarves. Later, when Bilbo griped aloud in his kitchen about the lack of help in setting out refreshments, Dwalin and Balin were the first (followed by Fíli and Kíli) to lend a hand. Later still, when the Dwarves filled Bag End with music, Dwalin played on a viol as big as himself, also bringing in Thorin's harp [1].

At the Green Dragon Inn, when Bilbo told the company that he had forgotten to bring his hat or his pocket-handkerchief, Dwalin gave him his spare dark-green hood and cloak to keep in place of a hat, but told him that he would "have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs, and a good many other things before the journey's end" as they set out on there adventure.

In Eriador, at the Trollsaws, Dwalin along with the entire company were captured by Trolls after Bilbo went to explore a fire and it were three trolls: William, Bert and Tom and he didn't come back. Though Gandalf did manage to save them and afterwards a troll cave was found and subsequently looted.

Later on the company arrived at Rivendell and stayed with the half-elven lord Elrond for about 14 days with food and something for everyone. On one night Elrond disclosed the swords Thorin and Gandalf found as Orcrist and Glamdring and then also read the moon letters of the map of Thror stating: "Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the key-hole."

After escaping Goblin-town, where they were captured after refuging from a storm (sleeping on Goblin-town's front porch and were saved by Gandalf and Bilbo had his encounter with Gollum) the company were chased by Wargs and they rushed into the trees, Dwalin and Balin managed to swarm up a tall slender fir that had few branches for sitting, and they were later then saved by the Eagles of the Great Eagle.[5] The next day, when the company arrived at Beorn's hall after the eagles left them on the Carrock, Dwalin and Balin were the third pair of Dwarves to appear during Gandalf's story, trying to intrigue the skin-changer, and later being served well in dinner and breakfast and was also given a pony to ride until they arrive at the forest of Mirkwood, the same place where Thráin was lost nearly 100 years before.[6]

At the Enchanted River in Mirkwood, Dwalin was in the last boatload to cross with Bombur. He exited the boat just before the deer charged down the path and caused Bombur to fall in the water which put him in an enchanted sleep for six days, and when he woke up, he had forgotten the whole journey. Later, after the Dwarves had been captured by the spiders and rescued by Bilbo, it was Dwalin who first realized that Thorin was missing[7], at that point, though unknown to him Thorin had been captured by the Wood-Elves.

At the opening of the barrels after the escape from the halls of the Elvenking, Dwalin and Balin were two of the most unhappy Dwarves and did nothing to help pull out other Dwarves as they arrived in Lake-town and were greated extremely fondly.[8]Afterwards, though the Master of Lake-town didn't believed that Thorin wasn't the king under the mountain until they left for the mountain. When the last week of autumn arrived it was Dwalin who complained the most about Bilbo's inactivity. He felt that Bilbo, with his "invisible ring", ought to go through the Front Gate of Erebor and spy things out.[9].

After Smaug went to destroy Lake-town, the dwarves entered and Thorin's search for the Arkenstone began. Dwalin later fought in and survived the Battle of Five Armies along with several others from the company (all but Thorin and Fíli and Kíli). Afterwards he received his fourteenth share and chose to live in Erebor under the rule of Thorin's cousin and new king after his death Dáin II.[10]

Later life

Dwalin lived in great wealth in Erebor after the Battle of the Five Armies. In T.A. 2989, his brother Balin set out on a quest to reclaim Moria though Dáin was against it. He set out with others (such as Óin and Ori). For about 5 years messages came from Moria and it seemed good, until suddenly news stopped (though unknown to him, the colony was destroyed by Orcs).

He was one of seven of the ten Dwarves of Thorin's company who were still living in Erebor when Frodo Baggins came to Rivendell, as reported by Glóin before the Council of Elrond[11]. It is possible that he fought in the Battle of Dale against Sauron's forces the Easterlings under King Dáin (though the king was slain). Dwalin lived until Fo.A. 91 passing at the age of 340,[4] later than any other known date of death for the others members of Thorin and Company.

Genealogy

Dwalin was of Durin's line, descending from Nain II, his grear-great grandfather.[4]

 
 
 
 
 
Náin II
2338 - 2585
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dáin I
2440 - 2589
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Borin
2450 - 2711
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thrór
2542 - 2790
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Farin
2560 - 2803
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thráin II
2644 - 2850
 
 
 
Fundin
2662 - 2799
 
 
 
 
 
Gróin
2671 - 2923
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thorin
2746 - 2941
 
Balin
2763 - 2994
 
DWALIN
2772 - Fo.A. 91
 
Óin
2774 - 2994
 
Glóin
2783 - Fo.A. 15
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gimli
2879 - Fo.A. 120+


Etymology

In Norse mythology, Dvalinn is a chief Dwarf.[12] The origin of the name is uncertain; suggested etymologies are "one lying in a trance",[13] "numb" and "dawdler".[14] Both words, dvalen ("to sleep") dvelja ("to delay") derive from the same root.[15]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the early version of The Hobbit it was Dwalin rather than Balin who spotted the Trolls' fire in the woods (and it was stated that Dwalin was always the Dwarves' look-out).[16] This contradicted the fact that Balin was the Dwarf who was looking for Bilbo at the inn at the start of the adventure[17] and Tolkien eventually made Balin the permanent look-out. However, Dwalin remained the first Dwarf to arrive at Bag End[1] (what would be expected of the Company's look-out). Dwalin was also the first to notice that Thorin was missing after the battle with the spiders,[7] a testament to his observational abilities.

Portrayal in adaptations

Dwalin in adaptations

Films

1966: The Hobbit (1966 film):

Dwalin is omitted. Thorin Oakenshield only travels with an unnamed guard and the princess of Dale.[18]

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):

Dwalin does not have a blue beard, but a white one with a long nose and a green hood (looking as Balin, though he wears a red hood and glasses). He speaks only one line on his own (by Paul Frees), when the Dwarves are in front of the Back Door saying" "Well, what now?"; otherwise, he only speaks in unison with the rest of the Company though it is unknown whether he survived the Battle of the Five Armies, as seven dwarves passed away during the battle.

2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):

Dwalin is played by Graham McTavish.[19] A description of Dwalin in The Hobbit films was released by the studio:

Renowned as a great Warrior, Dwalin speaks his mind plainly and is not one to suffer fools lightly. Fiercely loyal, he is Thorin Oakenshield’s staunchest supporter with an unshakeable belief in his friend’s leadership. A powerful and bruising fighter, Dwalin has a natural tendency to distrust anyone who is not a Dwarf and is particularly suspicious of Elves. Proud, brave and one of the tallest of the Dwarves, Dwalin will bow to none but those who have earned his respect.
Warner Bros.[20]

Radio series

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Lockwood West plays the role of Dwalin.

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

Carl Hague is uncredited as the voice of Dwalin.[source?]

Games

1982: The Hobbit (1982 video game):

Dwalin is omitted; Thorin is the only companion of the player, Bilbo Baggins.[21]

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

Dwalin is a blue-bearded Dwarf, who is not seen in the game (other than cut-scenes) until Lake-town.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

In T.A. 3016 Dwalin leads the party of dwarves from the Lonely Mountain to reclaim Thorin's Hall which had fallen under control of Dourhands. After the Dourhands are thrown out, Dwalin becomes the ruler of Thorin's Hall and maintains this position until T.A. 3019. Following the Siege of Erebor, Dwalin travels to Erebor to pay respect to the new king Thorin Stonehelm and, along with the other surviving dwarves of the Company, visits the tomb of Thorin Oakenshield.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk", The Line of the Dwarves of Erebor
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Queer Lodgings"
  7. 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "On the Doorstep"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  12. Snorri Sturlusson, Edda, "Skaldskaparmal"
  13. Ruth S. Noel, The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth, p. 32
  14. Henry A. Bellows (ed.), Völuspá, "Poetic Edda"
  15. Chester Nathan Gould, "Dwarf-Names: A Study in Old Icelandic Religion", published in Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, Vol 44 (1929), issue #4, pp. 939-967
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Trolls", p. 91
  17. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Trolls", p. 89
  18. "The Hobbit.mp4" dated 5 January 2012, YouTube (accessed 10 January 2012)
  19. Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit" dated 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 23 December 2011)
  20. Warner Bros., "Hobbit Movies" dated 7 September 2012, Apple iPhone/iPad App (accessed 19 September 2012)
  21. ZX Computing, 8304 (April/May 1983), p. 76, accessed April 24 2011
Members of Thorin and Company
Thorin · Balin · Dwalin · Fíli · Kíli · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Gandalf · Bilbo Baggins
Route of Thorin and Company
Bag End · Green Dragon · The Shire · Lone-lands · Last Bridge · Trollshaws · Trolls' cave · Rivendell · High Pass · Front Porch · Goblin-town · Goblin-gate · Eagle's Eyrie · Carrock · Beorn's Hall · Wilderland · Forest Gate · Elf-path · Mirkwood · Elvenking's Halls · Forest River · Lake-town · Long Lake · River Running · Desolation of the Dragon · Ravenhill · Back Door · Lonely Mountain · Great Hall of Thráin
The Hobbit film series
Source material: The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
Films An Unexpected Journey (extended editionThe Desolation of Smaug (extended edition) · The Battle of the Five Armies (extended edition)
Music An Unexpected Journey (Special Edition) · The Desolation of Smaug (Special Edition) · The Battle of the Five Armies (Special Edition) · "Song of the Lonely Mountain" · "I See Fire" · "The Last Goodbye"
Tie-in books An Unexpected Journey Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2013 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: Creatures & Characters · The World of Hobbits
The Desolation of Smaug Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2014 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: Cloaks & Daggers · Smaug: Unleashing the Dragon · Activity Book · Sticker Book · Ultimate Sticker Collection
The Battle of the Five Armies Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2015 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: The Art of War · Activity Book
Video games Kingdoms of Middle-earth · Armies of The Third Age · Lego The Hobbit
Characters Bilbo · Thorin · Gandalf · Balin · Fíli · Kíli · Dwalin · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Smaug · Radagast · Elrond · Galadriel · Saruman · Azog · Bolg · Thranduil · Legolas · Tauriel · Bard · Bain · Tilda · Sigrid · Master of Lake-town · Alfrid · Dáin Ironfoot · Necromancer · Bert · William · Tom · Beorn · Thráin · Thrór · Goblin King · Gollum · Frodo