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The relationship between Gandalf and the Balrog is pivotal. In the detailed recounting, it was noted that Gandalf narrowly escaped a devastating defeat against this powerful entity. In the books, unlike the films where Gandalf quickly escapes, he found himself grappling with the Balrog in Moria longer, facing almost certain doom. The tension of this encounter is palpable as he struggles to hold the door against the monstrous creature.
Should Gandalf have succumbed to the Balrog, the Fellowship would have faced immediate annihilation, resulting in the Balrog’s potential acquisition of the One Ring, altering the course of the quest permanently.