The Bridge of Khazad-dum

           TheCompanyoftheRingstoodsilentbesidethetombofBalin.FrodothoughtofBilboandhislongfriendshipwiththedwarf,andofBalin’svisittotheShirelongago.Inthatdustychamberinthemountainsitseemedathousandyearsagoandontheothersideoftheworld.

           Atlengththeystirredandlookedup,andbegantosearchforanythingthatwouldgivethemtidingsofBalin’sfate,orshowwhathadbecomeofhisfolk.Therewasanothersmallerdoorontheothersideofthechamber,undertheshaft.Byboththedoorstheycouldnowseethatmanyboneswerelying,andamongthemwerebrokenswordsandaxe-heads,andclovenshieldsandhelms.Someoftheswordswerecrooked:orc-scimitarswithblackenedblades.

           Thereweremanyrecessescutintherockofthewalls,andinthemwerelargeiron-boundchestsofwood.Allhadbeenbrokenandplundered;butbesidetheshatteredlidofonetherelaytheremainsofabook.Ithadbeenslashedandstabbedandpartlyburned,anditwassostainedwithblackandotherdarkmarkslikeoldbloodthatlittleofitcouldberead.Gandalflifteditcarefully,buttheleavescrackledandbrokeashelaiditontheslab.Heporedoveritforsometimewithoutspeaking.FrodoandGimlistandingathissidecouldsee,ashegingerlyturnedtheleaves,thattheywerewrittenbymanydifferenthands,inrunes,bothofMoriaandofDale,andhereandthereinElvishscript.

           AtlastGandalflookedup."ItseemstobearecordofthefortunesofBalin’sfolk,"hesaid.