Glóin & Óin | Tolkien Explained - Dwarves of Erebor

Owen was born in 2774. His younger brother Glowin, the father of Gimli, was born 9 years later in 2783. It is likely they were born in Dunland, where the dwarves of Durin's line lived in their exile after Smaug invaded Erebor in 2770. We know from the Lord of the Rings appendices that Glowin was present at the Battle of Ezenobelzar in 2799. This is an interesting fact, since Glowin was only 16 years old at the time of the battle. It's a well-known fact that dwarves were considered to be young well after even their 30s. In fact, Gimli isn't allowed to go on the later quest with Thorin's company because he was considered too young at age 62. We can only guess as to the conditions leading to Glowin's involvement in the Battle of Ezenobelzar. Whether it was his fighting prowess, the desperate need of the dwarves in this final battle of the war, or a combination thereof. After the war, the brothers moved with their kin to the arid Luin. They dwelt in the Blue Mountains until 2941. In that year, Gandalf comes to the Blue Mountains to persuade Thorin to take a hobbit with them on their quest. During this meeting, Glowin refers to hobbits as simpletons, and saying that one of them would never dare to come within smelling distance of the nakedest dragonet new from the shell. Later, at the unexpected party, Glowin did not assist in setting the table, nor play a musical instrument later in the night. After Bilbo has his moment of fright, he overhears Glowin say the words given to Thorin in the film version, noting that Bilbo looked more like a grocer than a burglar. On the quest, Glowin and Owen were particularly useful for their ability to start fires. At this point, we'll take a brief moment to look at the film adaptations of these characters. As always, if you'd like to keep to just the book canon, skip to the time on the screen. In the Peter Jackson adaptation, Owen is described as being an apothecary. Given the nature of an adventure such as theirs, it would make sense for the dwarves to have someone to tend the wounded. We see this when Owen voluntarily stays behind with Keeley after he was shot by a poisoned orc arrow. It also explains his admiration for bearing witness to Tauriel's elvish healing. Actor John Callen also describes Owen as a soothsayer, which is why Glowin mentions his brother reading the portents, another term for omen. According to Owen, the portents are that birds are being seen flying back to the mountain. Glowin is described as being a financially-minded dwarf. While he is vigilant when it comes to money, in the end, their homeland and passing things on to his family are most important to him. We see this as he not only chooses to pony up the money to pay Bard when he sees Erebor, but also in the fact that he passes on his axe and helm to his son, Gimli. Now, let's get back to the books. Owen and Glowin fought in and survived the Battle of Five Armies. They were given their share of the treasure by King Dayne Ironfoot and settled in the Here is where the brothers' stories diverge. In 2989, Owen accompanies Balin and his colony of dwarves in an attempt to reclaim Khazad-dûm. As discussed in our Balin and Dwalin video, the colony does well for a time. However, on November 10th, 2994, Balin is killed and the orcs attack. The orcs take the East Gate and the First Hall, followed by the Second Hall after a fierce battle, which Owen likely fought in. Owen travels west through Moria with a party of dwarves in an attempt to find escape through the West Gate. Instead, they find that the water is up to the doors and Owen is killed by the Watcher in the water. Much later, in 3018, Glowin and his son Gimli are sent by Dayne Ironfoot to Rivendell, seeking advice from Elrond regarding the fate of Balin's colony in Moria. When Frodo attends the feast in Rivendell, Glowin sits next to him and gives him news regarding Erebor and the surrounding lands since Bilbo's adventure. Later, at the Council of Elrond, Glowin tells the group of a shadow that has fallen upon his people, and about a sinister messenger from Mordor. Here is what he says. It is now many years ago, said Glowin, that a shadow of disquiet fell upon our people, whence it came we did not first perceive. Words began to be whispered in secret, and it was said that we were hemmed in a narrow place and that greater wealth and splendor would be found in a wider world. Some spoke of Moria, the mighty works of our fathers that are called in our own tongue Khazad-dûm, and they declared that now, at last, we had the powers and numbers to return. Glowin sighed. Moria, Moria, wonder of the northern world. Too deep we delved there, and woke the nameless fear. Long have its vast mansions lain empty since the children of Durin fled, but now we spoke of it again with longing, and yet with dread. For no dwarf has dared to pass the doors of Khazad-dûm for many lives of kings, save Thror only, and he perished. At last, however, Balin listened to the whispers and resolved to go, and though Dain did not give leave willingly, he took him with Ori and Oin and many of our folk, and they went away south. That was nigh on thirty years ago. For a while we had news, and it seemed good. Messages reported that Moria had been entered and a great work begun there. Then there was silence, and no word has ever come from Moria since. Then about a year ago, a messenger came to Dain, but not from Moria, from Mordor, a horseman in the night who called Dain to the gate. The lord Sauron the Great, so he said, wished for our friendship. Rings he would give for it, such as he gave of old. And he asked urgently concerning hobbits, and what they were, and where they dwelt. For Sauron knows, said he, that one of these was known to you on a time. At this we were greatly troubled, and we gave no answer, and then his fell voice was lowered, and he would have sweetened it if he could. As a small token, only of your friendship, Sauron asks this, he said, that you should Such was his word. Refuse, and things will not seem so well. Do you refuse? At that his breath came like a hiss of snakes, and all who stood by shuddered, but Dain said, I say neither yea nor nay. I must consider this message, and what it means under its fair cloak. Consider well, but not too long, said he. The time of my thought is my own to spend, answered Dain. For the present, said he, and rode into the darkness. Heavy have the hearts of our chieftains been since that night. We needed not the fell voice of the messenger to warn us that his words held both menace and deceit. For we knew already that the power that had re-entered Mordor has not changed, and ever it betrayed us of old. Twice the messenger has returned, and has gone unanswered. The third and last time, so he says, is soon to come, before the end of the year, and so I have been sent at last by Dain to warn Bilbo that he is sought by the enemy, and to learn, if may be, why he desires this ring, this least of rings. Also we crave the advice of Elrond, for the shadow grows and draws nearer. We discover that messengers have come also to King Brand and Dale, and he is afraid. We fear that he may yield. Already war is gathering on his eastern borders. If we make no answer, the enemy may move men of his rule to assail King Brand and Dain also. You have done well to come, said Elrond. You will hear today all that you need in order to understand the purposes of the enemy. There is naught that you can do other than to resist, with hope or without it. But you do not stand alone. After his son is made part of the Fellowship of the Ring, Glowin probably returned to Erebor, where it is likely he took part in the Battle of Dale, along with many of the other surviving Dwarves of Thorin's Company. Glowin dies at the age of 253, fifteen years after the destruction of the One Ring. This is plenty long enough for him to have gotten news of his son's deeds during the War of the Ring. Considering that Gimli returned to Erebor after visiting Fangorn and the Glittering Caves with Legolas, we can be optimistic that prior to Glowin's death, he was reunited with his son. Thanks so much for watching! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next video from Nerd of the Rings.