Ch. 6: Moria
When morning came, there were no wolf
carcasses. The only evidence of the battle was the charred tree and
Legolas' arrows. One of them was burned, leaving only the head.
The party hurried on toward Moria. Gimli was like a child at Christmas,
so eager was he to reach the mines, but the others were apprehensive.
Listening to the conversation, Worf learned that the land had changed much—and
not for the better. The stream that had been strong was now dry.
They reached the walls of the Mine at sunset, but there was no door visible.
The lake by the door was dank and foul. Worf was hard-pressed to
contain his frustration. They divided up the baggage and sent the
pony off. Gandalf found the location of the door, then had to intervene
as Legolas and Gimli brought up an age-old feud between the Dwarves and
Elves. Worf had heard a little of this, but not yet experienced it.
He wondered what had been the start of it. He was familiar with feuds
that lasted many generations, but this was as intense as any he had seen.
Keeping the peace between them was like mediating between quarreling children.
Gandalf spoke some quiet words, and
a gate appeared. On the door were the words, "Speak, friend, and
enter."¹ Gandalf tried many passwords to try to enter and then became
frustrated. At Frodo's question, Gandalf laughed and spoke the Elvish
word for friend, "Mellon". It was not the complex, but the obvious
that was the answer. As they entered the mines, Frodo was seized
from behind by an enormous, octopus-like creature, but with many, many
more arms. Aragorn and Boromir hacked at the arms with their swords,
and Worf slashed at the tentacle holding Frodo with his bat'leth.
Aragorn caught the Hobbit and ran for the gates. After slicing off
another arm that was trying to pull him under, Worf followed. The
thing threw the gates closed behind them, and a great rockslide closed
them in.
The party paused to catch its breath
and eat a little, and Frodo asked, "What was the thing, Gandalf?"
The wizard's reply chilled Worf to
the bone. "There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep
places of the world."² Judging from the reaction he'd gained, Orcs
seemed bad enough. If there were too many more creatures like that
Watcher, none of them would survive the mines.
As the party began its march, both
Gandalf and Frodo drew the swords. Aragorn explained that the Elvish
blades would glow blue if Orcs were near. Gimli and Gandalf took
the lead, Gandalf lighting the way with light from his staff. Worf
was beginning to realize that this being had a power far beyond his experience
and understanding. Aragorn took the rear, and Worf walked just ahead
of him. Sam prattled on about having no rope and worried about the
pony. Frodo felt as if something were following them, and though
he heard nothing, Worf couldn't entirely shake the feeling, either.
They came to a three-way branch in the tunnel, and Gandalf grew confused;
they rested while he deliberated about the path. Abruptly, he spoke,
"It's that way! The air's fresher that way. When in doubt,
always follow your nose!"³
After some further journey, they came
to a chamber that was itself lit, by light from deep shafts, bringing sunlight
into the Mines. In that chamber, they found the tomb of Balin, son
of Fundin. As Gimli grieved, Gandalf picked up a book laying nearby.
Blowing off some of the dust that covered it, he read words that were little
encouragement: "We cannot get out…The Watcher in the Water took Óin…drums,
drums in the deep…they are coming." 4
As Gandalf was reading, Pippin wandered
over to a well and touched the skeleton sitting on the edge. The
slight movement was enough to send the thing into the well with a crash
that echoed through the Mines. Gandalf grew angrier than Worf had
thought possible. "Fool of a Took! Next time throw yourself
in and rid of your stupidity!"³ The drums grew louder, ominous and
evil.
¹ p. 356, Fellowship of the Ring
² p. 369, Fellowship of the Ring
³ Fellowship of the Ring movie
4 p. 383, Fellowship of the Ring