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[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - West Gate of Moria.jpg|thumb|left|Crayon drawing of the [[Doors of Durin|West Gate of Moria]] by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].]]{{fotrchapters}}
{{chapter
| image=J.R.R. Tolkien - West Gate of Moria.jpg
| title=A Journey in the Dark
| book=The Fellowship of the Ring
| number=16
| event=The [[Fellowship of the Ring|Company]] enters [[Moria]]; they discover that [[Balin]] is dead.
| date=[[13 January|13]]-[[14 January]] {{TA|3019|n}}
| location=The Mines of [[Moria]]
| perspective=[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]], and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]]
| previous=The Ring goes South
| next=The Bridge of Khazad-dûm
}}
 
'''A Journey in the Dark''' is the fourth chapter of the second book in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.
'''A Journey in the Dark''' is the fourth chapter of the second book in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.


==Summary==
[[Gandalf]] told the [[Fellowship of the Ring|fellowship]] that the only way under the [[Misty Mountains|mountains]] was through the Mines of [[Moria]], underground tunnels in which a group of [[Dwarves]] led by [[Balin]] had disappeared years ago.


===Summary===
When they reached the gates of Moria, the [[Sirannon|gate-stream]] had been dammed and the entrance was flooded. Gandalf let the [[Bill the Pony|pony]] free and sent it back to [[Rivendell]]. Finding the runes on the gate, the Fellowship pondered a riddle: the quote, "''Speak 'friend', and enter.''" [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] alone of the fellowship was on the right track, and he helped Gandalf find the answer. Gandalf used the secret password, "''mellon''", to gain them entrance.  Before they could go in, though, they were attacked by a tentacled water creature, the [[Watcher in the Water]], that particularly targeted [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]. To escape, they all went into the Mines, but the Watcher destroyed the entrance behind them. They had no choice but to go forward through the Mines.
[[Gandalf]] tells the group that the only way under the mountain is through the Mines of [[Moria]], underground tunnels in which a group of [[Dwarves]] led by [[Balin]] disappeared many years ago.
 
When they reach Moria, the river has been dammed and the entrance is flooded. Gandalf sets the pony free and sends it back to [[Rivendell]]. Gandalf uses a secret password to gain them entrance.  Before they can go in, they are attacked by a tentacled water creature, the [[Watcher in the Water]], that particularly targets Frodo. To escape, they all go into the Mines, but the Watcher destroys the entrance behind them. They have no choice but to go forward through the Mines.
 
Fissures and chasms make their path treacherous and at one point they enter a stone door and find a deep well inside it. Pippin throws a stone into it and they hear tapping, as if someone is using a hammer. They walk on for as long as they can, coming to many paths and crossroads, resting little and eating even less. The Mines of Moria are famous for silver (''[[mithril]]'') and it was in search of this that Balin and his Dwarves came to Moria. Gandalf tells them that Bilbo had a coat of mail armor made of ''mithril'' and Frodo marvels when he realizes that Bilbo had gifted him with a suit of armor with a value worth the whole of [[the Shire]].


When they continue on their journey the next day, they come upon a tomb and Gandalf reads what is written on it. They realize that the tomb belongs to Balin and the Dwarves. Frodo is upset as he realizes that Bilbo's good friend is dead.
Fissures and chasms made their path treacherous. [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]] was reminded that he should have carried rope with him. At one point, they entered a stone doorway and found a deep well inside it. [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] threw a stone into it out of impulse, and they began to hear a tapping, as if someone was using a hammer. They walked on for as long as they could, coming to many paths and crossroads, resting little and eating less. The Mines of Moria were famous for silver ''[[mithril]]'' and it was in search of this that Balin and his Dwarves had come to Moria. Gandalf told them that [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] had a coat of mail armour made of ''mithril'' and Frodo marvelled when he realised that Bilbo had gifted him with a suit of armour with a value worth the whole of the [[Shire]].


When they continued on their journey the next day, they came upon a [[Balin's Tomb|tomb]] and Gandalf read what was written on it. They realise that the tomb belonged to Balin son of [[Fundin]]. Frodo was sorry when he realised that Bilbo's good friend and companion was dead.
==Composition==
Tolkien probably composed the chapter in [[1939]], and when the Fellowship found the Tomb, Tolkien stopped writing for a long time, and probably resumed around [[August]] [[1940]].
In [[The Lord of the Rings Foreword]] (written more than 20 years later) Tolkien mistakely recollects this hiatus a year later.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. xxiii</ref><ref>{{RS|Moria}}, p. 461</ref>
{{references}}
[[Category:The Fellowship of the Ring chapters|Journey in the Dark]]
[[Category:The Fellowship of the Ring chapters|Journey in the Dark]]
[[fi:Matka pimeydessä (TSH)]]
[[fi:Matka pimeydessä (TSH)]]

Revision as of 01:58, 27 April 2021

J.R.R. Tolkien - West Gate of Moria.jpg
A Journey in the Dark
Chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring
Number16
Synopsis
EventThe Company enters Moria; they discover that Balin is dead.
Date13-14 January 3019
LocationThe Mines of Moria
PerspectiveFrodo, Samwise, and Pippin
Navigation
<  The Ring goes South
The Bridge of Khazad-dûm  >

A Journey in the Dark is the fourth chapter of the second book in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Summary

Gandalf told the fellowship that the only way under the mountains was through the Mines of Moria, underground tunnels in which a group of Dwarves led by Balin had disappeared years ago.

When they reached the gates of Moria, the gate-stream had been dammed and the entrance was flooded. Gandalf let the pony free and sent it back to Rivendell. Finding the runes on the gate, the Fellowship pondered a riddle: the quote, "Speak 'friend', and enter." Merry alone of the fellowship was on the right track, and he helped Gandalf find the answer. Gandalf used the secret password, "mellon", to gain them entrance. Before they could go in, though, they were attacked by a tentacled water creature, the Watcher in the Water, that particularly targeted Frodo. To escape, they all went into the Mines, but the Watcher destroyed the entrance behind them. They had no choice but to go forward through the Mines.

Fissures and chasms made their path treacherous. Samwise was reminded that he should have carried rope with him. At one point, they entered a stone doorway and found a deep well inside it. Pippin threw a stone into it out of impulse, and they began to hear a tapping, as if someone was using a hammer. They walked on for as long as they could, coming to many paths and crossroads, resting little and eating less. The Mines of Moria were famous for silver mithril and it was in search of this that Balin and his Dwarves had come to Moria. Gandalf told them that Bilbo had a coat of mail armour made of mithril and Frodo marvelled when he realised that Bilbo had gifted him with a suit of armour with a value worth the whole of the Shire.

When they continued on their journey the next day, they came upon a tomb and Gandalf read what was written on it. They realise that the tomb belonged to Balin son of Fundin. Frodo was sorry when he realised that Bilbo's good friend and companion was dead.

Composition

Tolkien probably composed the chapter in 1939, and when the Fellowship found the Tomb, Tolkien stopped writing for a long time, and probably resumed around August 1940. In The Lord of the Rings Foreword (written more than 20 years later) Tolkien mistakely recollects this hiatus a year later.[1][2]

References

  1. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. xxiii
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The Story Continued: XXV. The Mines of Moria", p. 461