Editing Lonely Mountain (section)

=== Erebor in ''The Lord of the Rings'' ===

With the restoration of the Kingdom under the Mountain, the area becomes prosperous again. Dale is rebuilt under Bard's leadership, and Dwarves and Men reforge their friendship. Some of the Dwarves, led by [[Balin (Middle-earth)|Balin]], leave Erebor to reclaim the ancient Dwarvish Kingdom of Moria.<ref name="The Council of Elrond" group=T/> They established a colony there but five years later Balin is killed by an Orc, and soon afterwards Moria is overrun by Orcs and the rest of the Dwarves are killed.<ref name="Durin's Folk" group=T/> [[Gimli (Middle-earth)|Gimli]], a dwarf of Erebor and the son of [[Glóin]], one of Thorin's twelve companions, is chosen to represent his people in the [[Fellowship of the Ring (characters)|Fellowship of the Ring]]; he helps [[Aragorn]] regain the throne of [[Gondor]].<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}}, book 2, ch. 3 "The Ring Goes South"</ref>

In the [[War of the Ring]], an emissary from [[Sauron]], the lord of [[Mordor]], twice comes to Erebor and speaks to Dáin. The messenger asks for assistance in finding Bilbo Baggins and retrieving [[The One Ring|a stolen ring]], and in return offers Moria and three of the [[Seven Rings|seven Dwarf rings]] to Dáin, who declines to reply.<ref name="The Council of Elrond" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}}, book 2, ch. 2 "[[The Council of Elrond]]"</ref> Sauron's northern army, including many [[Easterling (Middle-earth)|Easterlings]], then attacks; Dale is overrun, and many Dwarves and Men take refuge in Erebor, which is promptly surrounded. Dáin is killed before the gates of Erebor defending the body of his fallen ally King Brand of Dale. Dáin's son Thorin III Stonehelm and King Bard II withstand the siege and rout Sauron's forces.<ref name="Durin's Folk" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, Appendix A, "Annals of the Kings and Rulers", 3 "Durin's Folk"</ref><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, Appendix B "The Tale of Years"</ref>