Norin

Norin

Norin was a Dwarf of Durin's Folk born TA 2872 in Thorin's Halls in Ered Luin. He later relocated to Erebor the Lonely Mountain after it was reclaimed in TA 2941.

Norin was descended from Orin, a close friend and adviser to King Durin VI (some sources claim they were brothers). The members of the "House of Orin" were often the most trusted servants of the King of Durin's Folk. Indeed, Norin had the privileged of serving and advising four Kings of Durin's Folk; Thorin II Oakenshield (albiet briefly), Dain II Ironfoot, Thorin III Stonehelm, and Thorin III's son (which some sources claim may have been Durin VII).

Sometime after the War of the Ring, Norin married a Dwarf woman named Magnhild the Beardless. Together they had three sons; Thór, Magni, and Odin.

History

Youth in Ered Luin

Norin was born TA 2872 in Thorin's Halls in Ered Luin as the son of Mori, a trusted servant and advisor to King Thorin II Oakenshield. His younger brother Torin was born six years later in TA 2878.

From a young age, Norin worked as a miner. Despite his youth and "humble" occuptation, he nevertheless became a trusted friend of Thorin Oakenshield.

In TA 2841, Thorin instructed Norin to find his father Mori and give him instructions to procure supplies for a "company of thirteen". Norin explained that his father had left for the Iron Hills just this morning and would not be back for a while, to which Thorin told him the task not fell unto him. Though the reason was kept secret from him, Norin nevertheless carried out the King's request. During this time he briefly accompanied the wizard known as Gandalf the Grey. Gandalf explained to Norin that Thorin planned to retake Erebor, Gandalf also spoke to Norin of his plans for Bilbo Baggins as Burglar of Thorin's Company. This exchanged left Norin confused as to why an ancient a wise old wizard would impart these secrets on a young Dwarf who was not even a century old.

Battle of the Five Armies

This would not be the last interaction Norin had with a wizard in that year alone. A few months later Norin was visited by a wizard known as Domnall the Red who sought his father. Norin again explained that his father was visiting the Iron Hills and would not be back for a while. Domnall told Norin that he needed to send a trusted messenger to Lord Dain II of the Iron Hills. Domnall tried and failed to convince Dain to gather an army to march on the Lonely Mountain, claiming that as soon as Smaug was dead, dark powers would soon try to seize the Mountain. Norin agreed to go and arrived in the Iron Hills sometime later.

Lord Dain was initially skeptical of Norin's youth while Mori vouched on his sons behalf and claimed that Dain's cousin Thorin trusted him and so should he. Before Dain could make a decision either way he had recieved a message from Thorin asking him for help, thus validating both Domnall and Norin's claims. Dain gathered up an army of Iron Hills Dwarves to march on Erebor in aid of their kin. Mori and Norin decided to help Thorin as well and joined Dain's army, subsequently coming to participate in the Battle of Five Armies.

Following the Battle; Mori, Norin, and Torin settled in the reclaimed Lonely Mountain. It would not be long before Norin became a trusted advisor to King Dain II Ironfoot.

Dourhand Conspiracy

In TA 3018, Gormr, Master of Thorin's Halls, stopped paying tribute to Erebor. In response, King Dain II sent Dwalin and Norin to investigate. Together with the Sons of Elrond; Dwalin and Norin were able to uncover a plot created by the Dourhands to resurrect Lord Skorgrim. Although Dwalin and Norin were able to depose the traitorous Gormr Doursmith, they were unable to prevent the resurrection of Skorgrim Dourhand. Eventually, the Dwarves of Ered Luin and the Elves of Lindon joined forces to assault Rath Teraig, driving Skorgrim from the Blue Mountains altogether.

While Dwalin remained in Ered Luin as the Master of Thorin's Halls, Norin embarked on a series of adventures throughout Eriador. During these adventures it was discovered that Skorgrim and his Dourhands had hidden within an old Dwarf-Hold in the Misty Mountains. Norin assisted Glóin in attaining the key-stone needed to access a secret entrance to the Dwarf-Hold and alongside Gloin's son Gimli, Norin encountered Skorgrim Dourhand for the final time and best him once and for all.