December 20, 2002

The Balrog at Mazarbul
Brett C.

Lughaidh, I agree that it was the Balrog in the chamber. Other clues; the fact that something 'dark as a cloud' was blocking all the light when the door burst, but just before whatever it was entered, Gandalf heard the orcs mutter 'Ghash', their word for fire. Fire and Shadow = Balrog. As for the burial, he states that perhaps something else was buried with Balin the fall of the roof, but he could not be sure. Apparently the collapse only delayed the demon long enough to prevent it catching up with the Fellowship until they had reached the Bridge.