Answer
Balin, Dwalin, and their other ten companions were hired by the wizard Gandalf to help the hobbit Bilbo Baggins reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. The company of dwarves consisted of Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, Fili, Kili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur.