Fellowship of the Ring
Topic: Moria
Pertinent Chapters - Book II
Chapter IV – A Journey in the Dark
Chapter V – The Bridge of Kazad-Dûm
Hullo Friends! – In this section the fellowship, defeated by Caradhras, decides to take the route under the Misty Mountains through the long dark of Moria. Only Gimli looks forward to the journey with any eagerness:
`This is the great realm and city of the Dwarrowdelf. And of old it was not darksome, but full of light and splendour, as is still remembered in our songs.' [Gimli sings a song of Moria in it's glory days which I have not repeated here, but is in the chapter]`I like that! ' said Sam. `I should like to learn it. In Moria, in Khazad-dûm! But it makes the darkness seem heavier, thinking of all those lamps. Are there piles of jewels and gold lying about here still? '
Gimli was silent. Having sung his song he would say no more.
`Piles of jewels? ' said Gandalf. `No. The Orcs have often plundered Moria; there is nothing left in the upper halls. And since the dwarves fled, no one dares to seek the shafts and treasuries down in the deep places: they are drowned in water--or in a shadow of fear.'
`Then what do the dwarves want to come back for? ' asked Sam.
'For mithril,' answered Gandalf. `The wealth of Moria was not in gold and jewels, the toys of the Dwarves; nor in iron, their servant. Such things they found here, it is true, especially iron; but they did not need to delve for them: all things that they desired they could obtain in traffic. For here alone in the world was found Moria-silver, or true-silver as some have called it: mithril is the Elvish name. The Dwarves have a name which they do not tell. Its worth was ten times that of gold, and now it is beyond price; for little is left above ground, and even the Orcs dare not delve here for it. The lodes lead away north towards Caradhras, and down to darkness. The Dwarves tell no tale; but even as mithril was the foundation of their wealth, so also it was their destruction: they delved too greedily and too deep, and disturbed that from which they fled, Durin's Bane…
So Hullo! – Good Morning! A lot happens in Moria… Lets discuss, theorize and get to the really important issues!
Do Balrogs have wings?
Here is a small map that shows where we are:
Also check out Penny's Movie Pictures for a lot of great movie pics from Moria.
And here is a The whole map of Middle-Earth So we don't get lost!
Index to thread… click link to find the start of each prior chapter discussion:
(First Five chapters are re-posts of highlights from the old forum)
Prologue and Chapter One – A Long-Expected Party
Chapter Two - The Shadow of the Past
Chapter Three – Three is Company … And also here – double post! ugh!
Chapter Four – A Shortcut to Mushrooms
Chapter Five – A Conspiracy Unmasked
End of re-posts
Chapter Six – The Old Forest
Chapter Seven – In The House of Tom Bombadil
Chapter Eight – Fog on the Barrow-Downs
Chapter Nine – At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
New "section" format:
Bree (chapters 9-11)
Journey from Bree to the Ford (chapters 11-12)
Rivendell (Book 2 - chapters 1-3)
The Ring goes South (chapters 3-4)
Moria - Current (chapters 4-5)Sections still to come:
Lothlorien (chapters 6-8)
The Breaking of the Fellowship (chapters 9-10)