Thráin II

Thráin II is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is first mentioned in "The Hobbit", and more of his history is given in "Unfinished Tales".

A Dwarven king, Thráin is the son of Thrór and father of Thorin Oakenshield. A Longbeard and direct descendant of Durin, he became heir of the lost King under the Mountain and King of Durin's Folk in exile as "Thráin II" after his father was killed at Moria. [http://www.glyphweb.com/ARDA/k/kingofdurinsfolk.html]

Thráin and his kin fled when the dragon Smaug descended on Erebor, and took the kingdom. Thráin took with him a map which showed a secret entrance to Erebor.

Shortly afterwards, Thrór left his only remaining treasure, his Ring of Power, to Thráin and went to Moria. Upon hearing of his father's death at the hands of the Orc chieftain Azog, Thráin sent messages to houses of the six other founding fathers. They obliged, as Azog had desecrated Thrór's body -- a great insult to the eldest line. The Dwarves were victorious in the ensuing War of the Dwarves and Orcs, but their losses were heavy, especially in the Battle of Azanulbizar, where Azog was beheaded. After the victory, a lamed Thráin attempted to enter Moria, but Dáin II Ironfoot stopped him, prophesizing that some other power must come before Durin's folk could return to Moria.

Afterwards, Thráin and Thorin established themselves in the Ered Luin, where they settled in the old dwarven mines and prospered, after a fashion. He still had one of the Seven Rings, passed down through the line of Durin, but it could not make them wealthy again quickly given their low state.

As Thráin grew older, he was driven by the malice of his ring and the desire for gold gnawed at his heart. He left Thorin for the Wilderlands, but was captured and imprisoned in Dol Guldur in southern Mirkwood. There, the last of the Dwarven Rings of Power was taken from him and he was left in the dungeon to die.

Gandalf the Grey found Thráin while on a mission to Dol Guldur to discover the identity of "The Necromancer", a mysterious Dark Lord who was later revealed to be Sauron. Moments away from death, Thráin gave him the old map. Gandalf promised to deliver it to Thráin's son, but Thráin, who was delirious with pain, had forgotten his name, so Gandalf did not expect to be able to fulfil this promise. Thráin died soon afterwards.

Later, Gandalf met with Thorin near Bree, and realized that he was the son of the captured dwarf in Dol Guldor. He promised to help Thorin with the The Quest of Erebor, and invited a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins along to take the role of thief.