DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HOBBIT
Dwalin and Balin
If you asked Balin what colour Dwalin was he would say steel. That silvery metallic colour that reflects both the outer and inner qualities of a man so clearly that one cannot hide from it. That colour that stains so easily with other colors that one can forget what colour it originally was until someone comes along that is caring enough to take time to clean off the other colours and see the true colour underneath. That colour that gets tarnished sometimes so badly that it can never return to what it was before, but that does not take away the beauty of that colour of steel; it only makes you respect it more.
If you asked Dwalin what colour Balin was he would say; white. That colour that is made up of all others and carries all others within itself. The colour that one can draw infinite colours from yet still remain itself. The colour that represents all that is right and good in the world. The colour that represents life after grief and pain. That colour that when you look at it you can draw strength from and hope is renewed in your soul. That colour that lingers on before your eyes ever after it is gone and remains a strong memory for the rest of your life.
And if you asked Balin what was his favourite colour; he would laugh and say he cares only for books and the sight of good steel.
And if you asked Dwalin what his favourite colour; he would grow gruff and say he didn't have one; because after all, white was all the colours wasn't it?