Warning: This article contains spoilers for Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
This week’s episode of The Rings of Power“Halls of Stone” begins in the crumbling realm of Khazad-dûm.
As the mountaintops merge with the Ring of Thrór, it is clear that the story is entering a new chapter: the rise (and eventual fall) of the Dwarves, thanks to the newly crafted Seven Dwarf Rings.
It’s a storyline that Dwarf fans are very much looking forward to, and an episode that many JRR Tolkien fans loved.
“I think episode 5 is the best episode so far [Season 2]and it could be the best episode of the entire show from start to finish,” said William Smith, host of the Green Lanterns podcast and moderator of the subreddit r/LOTR_on_Prime, told Yahoo Entertainment.
From the powerful Seven Dwarf Rings to the menacing shadow of the Balrog demons, here’s everything you need to know about the proud, mountain-dwelling dwarves of Middle-earth and their importance to the plot of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
The Seven Dwarf Rings
The Seven Rings were forged by Sauron/Annatar and Celebrimbor and were created during the split of the dwarf clans—Durin’s Folk, Firebeards, Broadbeams, Ironfists, Stiffbeards, Blacklocks, and Stonefoots—with each leader receiving a ring.
These rings did not turn the dwarves into ghouls as the Rings of Power did men, but they did increase their greed and desire for wealth. This led to the gathering of the Seven Treasures and the stirring up of evil, which ultimately benefited Sauron.
In episode 5 of The Rings of PowerThe Seven Dwarf Rings were designed to fit the aesthetic of the Dwarves. However, Tolkien’s books make no mention of the seven being designed or created specifically for the Dwarves.
King Durin III
The first bearer of the most powerful of the Dwarven Rings, the Ring of Thrór, is King Durin III. He was one of the King of Durin’s People who ruled Khazad-dûm at the time of Sauron’s attack on Eregion.
During his reign, a rare friendship is forged with the Elves of Eregion. This union leads to the Doors of Durin (more on that later)—and to the Dwarven army that marches in defense of Celebrimbor during Sauron’s final attack.
In episode 5 of The Rings of Powerwe see Durin III use his new ring to heal the mountain and bring light back to the underground kingdom.
But this power comes at a price, as the king is almost immediately corrupted by the ring, lifting restrictions on gold mining, imposing a ‘ring tax’, and becoming increasingly possessive of the ring and distrustful of his court.
The Doors of Durin
The Doors of Durin are an iconic symbol not only of the craftsmanship and ancient magic of the Dwarves, but also of the historical bond between the Elves and the Dwarves.
In Tolkien’s works, these doors were made by Durin I (also known as Durin the Deathless), the founder of Khazad-dûm, and they bear the famous inscription “Speak, friend, and enter.”
The doors form the western entrance to the Dwarven city, facilitating contact and cooperation with the Elven kingdom of Hollin, as well as unbridled trade. They will eventually close during the War of the Elves and Sauron after Hollin falls to Sauron’s forces.
In “Halls of Stone,” we see dwarven craftsman Narvi and Celebrimbor joking around together and unveiling the Doors of Durin—a moment Smith loved.
“I can’t wait until [the doors] to really shine on the show!” Smith told Yahoo Entertainment.
EXCL: We’ll see the creation of the Doors of Durin during ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2!
Celebrimbor x Narvi photo.twitter.com/XHBMv6MLSY
— Fellowship of Fans 💍 (@FellowshipFans) August 6, 2023
Prince Durin IV and Princess Disa
Although Durin IV doesn’t appear much in Tolkien’s writings—and Disa doesn’t exist at all—the two characters are crucial to understanding the changing dynamics within dwarven society.
As Prince Durin grapples with his father’s legacy and the crumbling state of Khazad-dûm, he struggles to balance duty with personal desires. This theme is also evident in the wider conflicts unfolding in Middle-earth.
Princess Disa, who can communicate with the mountains through song, plays a crucial role in restoring the relationship between the dwarves and the elves, fostering the couple’s friendship with the half-elf Elrond.
Together they warn King Durin III – and later Celebrimbor – of the dangers of using the rings.
“It’s a highlight of the episodes for me that Durin IV and Disa continue to be the voices of reason with Celebrimbor and with Durin III,” Smith said. “I’ve grown so attached to these two. I hope they make it through the full five seasons!”
The Balrog or the Guardian in the Water
In episode 5, Princess Disa buys a tuning crystal, but it accidentally rolls into a strange cave near the market.
After Disa uses her mountain singing talent to find the crystal, a terrifying roar is heard from the depths of the cave, causing the surface of the water to dance ominously.
Some fans suspect this could be a sign of the Balrog awakening from its slumber in the depths of the mountains.
Balrogs are a species of ancient, demonic creatures that shroud themselves in fire, darkness, and shadow. They are armed with fiery whips and occasionally long swords. In Middle-earth, only dragons can rival their ferocity and destructiveness.
However, other fans, like Smith, suspect that the intriguing creature could be the Watcher in the Water, a tentacled beast that lurks beneath the western walls of Moria.
If The Rings of Power As Sauron continues to weave the intricate tapestry of Middle-earth, the Dwarves and their lore play a crucial role in Sauron’s rise to power.
With each episode, the series paints a more vivid picture of the mountain dwellers and the epic struggle that awaits them.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video.
