To Moria

The Fellowship rested for the night after climbing down Caradhras; a council of what to do next was held. The choice was two-fold: move forward or return to Rivendell (at which the hobbits, particularly Pippin, brightened). Frodo wished not to return, for it was to admit defeat altogether. Gandalf agreed: "'If we go back now, then the Ring must remain there: we shall not be able to set out again. Then sooner or later Rivendell will be besieged, and after a brief and bitter time it will be destroyed'" (p. 308, The Fellowship of the Ring). They could go further South through the Gap of Rohan to Gondor or through the Mines of Moria (Khazad-dum). Only Gimli was encouraged by the second option. Aragorn and Boromir were very hesitant to enter the Mines. However, since Saruman's betrayal they knew the Gap of Rohan would watched if not guarded altogether.

Gandalf felt by, literally, going under ground they might throw off the spies of their enemies. Plus, the Wizard assured them he would not lead them into the Mines if there was no hope of making it out. He noted that many of the Orcs of the Misty Mountains had been destroyed in the Battle of Five Armies. For all they knew Balin may have reestablished the Dwarven stronghold there. "'I will tread the path with you, Gandalf!' said Gimli. 'I will go and look on the halls of Durin, whatever may wait there--if you can find the doors that are shut'" (p. 310, The Fellowship of the Ring). Gandalf was thankful that Gimli was eager to go and revealed he had once made the journey through Moria. "'I too once passed the Dimrill Gate,' said Aragorn quietly; 'but though I also came out again, the memory is very evil'" (p. 310, The Fellowship of the Ring).

It was apparent that Sam, Pippin, and Merry were against going through Moria. Boromir refused to go and Legolas also did not wish to enter. Gandalf and Gimli were the only two undaunted. Aragorn reluctantly decided to follow Gandalf: "'You followed my lead almost to disaster in the snow, and have said no word of blame. I will follow your lead now--if this last warning does not move you. It is not of the Ring, nor of us others that I am thinking now, but of you, Gandalf. And I say to you: if you pass through the doors of Moria, beware!'" (p. 310, The Fellowship of the Ring). They waited for the Ring-bearer to weigh in. Frodo wished for a night to rest before all voted one way or another; if nothing else he wanted to get out of the howling wind. That's when Aragorn realized it was more than the wind; warg-howls could be heard all around.

Thus the Fellowship's decision was made for them; as the doors to Moria were the fastest route of escape and since they were being hunted. They decided to set off the next morning and found a hilltop to camp on with a knot of trees and stones that formed a broken circle crowning the top. Fires were built for their scent would give away their location to the wolves just as soon as fire. Boromir noted: "'The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears.' 'True!' said Aragorn, loosening his sword form its sheath. 'But where the warg howls, there also the orc prowls'" (p. 311, The Fellowship of the Ring). Pippin's courage melted away and he thought Elrond was right for not wanting to send him.

As the night wore on the howls came closer. Eyes could be seen in the shadows. One great warg captain came forth into the firelight. "Gandalf stood up and strode forward, holding his staff aloft. 'Listen, Hound of Sauron!' he cried. 'Gandalf is here. Fly, if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snout, if you come within this ring.' The wolf snarled and sprang towards them with a great leap. At that moment there was a sharp twang. Legolas had loosed his bow" (p. 311, The Fellowship of the Ring). The arrow pierced the wolf's throat killing it instantly. The other wolf-eyes disappeared. Gandalf and Aragorn could not find any when they investigated.

The night was old when all of a sudden much howling broke out very near to the camp. Gandalf roused the hobbits calling for more fuel on the fire. "In the leaping light, as the fresh wood blazed up, Frodo saw many grey shapes spring over the ring of stones. More and more followed. Through the throat of one huge leader Aragorn passed his sword with a thrust; with a great sweep Boromir hewed the head off another. Beside them Gimli stood with his stout legs apart, wielding his dwarf-axe. The bow of Legolas was singing" (p. 312, The Fellowship of the Ring). Nice action sequence here; unfortunately cut from the movie. Gandalf stood tall chanting an incantation and before long the trees on the hilltop were alight with blazing hot fire. Legolas' last arrow caught fire too it found its mark in the heart of a wolf chieftain. The wolves relented and fled.

The next morning no bodies were found. Only Legolas' arrows were evidence of a battle. Gandalf noted these were not ordinary wild wolves hunting for food in the wilderness and so they left for Moria as quickly as possible. Gandalf led the way but had trouble locating a stream that should have marked the way. The eager Gimli went ahead and discovered the bed of the stream which was long dry. Now they made haste hoping to see a waterfall next. They found the sheer cliff but no waterfall. Making their way of the stairs they saw that the fall had been dammed and now a great, dirty, and stagnant lake filled the valley to Gandalf's dismay. On the other side of the lake stood the walls of Moria and the gate they sought.

Travelling through the northernmost corner they found a small pathway, maybe 12 yards wide, that ran between the lake and the walls. It was barred by a creek. Gimli plunged ahead finding it only ankle deep and so they crossed. Though Frodo shuddered when his feet touched the water. A distant bubbling noise could be heard in the lake. They travelled along until they came to two great holly trees that marked, as Gandalf told them, the end of Eregion (for holly was the tree of the land) before the gates of Moria. Those were happier days when Elves and Dwarves were friends. "'It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned,' said Gimli. 'I have not heard that it was the fault of the Elves,' Legolas said" (p. 316, The Fellowship of the Ring). Gandalf begged them both to lay aside their differences and help him search for the secret door.

The others made preparations to enter Moria. Taking only what food and necessary supplies they could carry. Sam's pony, Bill, would not be going inside. This made Sam very upset thinking this would be a death sentence for his friend with wolves about. Gandalf laid his hand upon Bill and gave him words of guarding and guidance. "Bill, seeming to understand well what was going on, nuzzled up to him, putting his nose in Sam's ear. Sam burst into tears..." (p. 317, The Fellowship of the Ring). I don't know that a truer friend exists in Tolkien's world; at least not one who wears his affections for his friends so openly as does Sam. As the moon and stars rose up suddenly the secret door was revealed.

Gimli recognized the emblems of Durin while Legolas noted the Trees of the High Elves. Gandalf explained the bright star in the middle of the door was the Star of the House of Feanor. Gandalf translated the ancient Elvish script to the Fellowship: "'The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. And underneath small and faint is written: I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs'" (p. 318, The Fellowship of the Ring). They wondered how they would open the doors and Gandalf explained a password was needed. Boromir was quite dismayed when Gandalf revealed he did not know it. So the Wizard clarified that he did not know it yet. His other journey through Moria had begun in the East not West and no password was needed. Pippin chimed in with a question of what the Wizard would do which prompted Gandalf to become a bit testy: "'Knock on the doors with your head, Peregrin Took,' said Gandalf. 'But if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will seek for the opening words'" (p. 320, The Fellowship of the Ring). Funny stuff.

For a long while Gandalf tried many different tongues, words, and riddles but to no avail. Boromir grew frustrated and tossed a rock into the lake. Again a plop and bubbling was heard in the distance. Frodo was more concerned about the lake then the wolves behind and Mines before. Finally, by a question from Merry, Gandalf found the world: mellon, the Elvish word for friend. As the door opened a long tentacle reached for Frodo and began dragging him into the water, Bill the pony startled and ran away, and the water began seething ferociously. Sam was weeping and cursing at the loss of his pony but ran to his master and slashed the tenticle with his knife. The others in the Fellowship were frozen as if with fear. Gandalf called for all to follow him into Moria and they made it in just in time. The tentacles slammed the doors shut and blocked them from the outside.

Frodo told Gandalf how he'd been afraid of the water since he laid eyes on it. Gandalf noted in his head that out of all the Fellowship the creature only went for Frodo. They only way out now was through Moria. They climbed the opening steps and rested for a bit at the top. Gandalf reckoned it would take four marches as the distance from the West-door to the East-gate was 40 miles; not counting the winding paths of the Mines.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, January 13th
Today's readinc comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 308-324