West-gate

The West-gate was the western entrance to Khazad-dum, beginning at the Doors of Durin. It was built by the great Dwarf mason Narvi, along with his Elf friend Celebrimbor in the Second Age.

History

After the Dwarves had been driven out by Durin's Bane in 1981 of the Third Age, it was not used for hundreds of years, until the colony of Dwarves by Balin, arrived in 2989, which secured the gate from the Goblins that lurked in Moria. Unknown to the Dwarves, a creature called the Watcher in the Water lurked in the lake in front of the gate. It killed Óin, who was one of the thirteen Dwarves who went on the Quest of Erebor. After five years the Dwarf colony was destoyed, and was not used for fifty years when Fellowship of the Ring used it to get to the East side of the Misty Mountains.