Thorin in the Blue Mountains

[LadyBrooke]

After a search that found this,

Originally Posted by UT, in the Tale of G&C

Many Dwarves leaving their old cities in Ered Luin go to Moria and swell its numbers.

which would support Ered Luin being diminished...and the quote of Gandalf's about Thorin being in exile:

For just as I was nearing Bree I was overtake by Thorin Oakenshield, who lived then in exile beyond the the northwestern borders of the Shire.

Which leads me to suspect that Thorin was more like one of the government's in exile during the World Wars, who didn't try to establish new kingdoms or countries.

I still have not managed to find the quote you're talking about, Mith...of course, that's likely because I've never studied the dwarves in the detail I have the elves. That's also why I have no real thoughts on this...