Aragorn in Moria?

[Knight of Gondor]

Like many here, I reread the trilogy somewhat frequently. I'm rereading Fellowship now, as it has been longer than usual since I've gone back through the books. And like most things you reread, you find/learn something new, or are struck by something you didn't notice before.

In this case, I just finished The Ring Goes South, where the company is defeated by Caradhras. Gandalf is suggesting (even advising; contrary to the film, but let's not go there) taking the road through Moria.

Aragorn's gift of foresight tells him that this could rob the Fellowship of their wisest counselor, and states that he has been in Moria once before.

In my readings of the Histories and so forth, I haven't come across any explanation for why Aragorn would have entered Moria. Is there any other work which would explain this?

(Man, it's been a while since I've posted a new thread!)

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Afraid not. The logical time would be during his 'great journeys' prior to the War of the Ring, but nothing specific is ever said. Why? Who knows. Perhaps he also was looking for Thrain- but then it would be odd that he and Gandalf went separately.

I would rule out the search for Gollum- G. doesn't appear to have made it as far as Moria before Aragorn caught him, and T. writes that when G did enter Moria after his escape from Thranduil he got lost and trapped.

[The Might]

A good question...
But I doubt that I can give you a good answer for this...
I think it was only maybe curiosity that came with the age and the need to improve his survival and skills.
I don't think he was there on an errand or had something in mind, as he only started serving others in 2957 as far as we know, sometime after this moment.

[Morwen]

I think it unlikely that mere curiosity made him enter Moria. After Elrond declares that he "shall be betrothed to no man's child as yet", Aragorn takes leave of him and "for nearly thirty years he laboured in the cause against Sauron", undertaking many perilous journeys, some with Gandalf but as time went on more often by himself [Appendix A (v) ].

After Elrond puts forward his requirement that Arwen "should not be the bride of any Man less that the King of both Gondor and Anor" Aragorn "went forth again to danger and toil". (Appendix A (v) )

Short point - I don't see Aragorn given his 'man on a mission' schedule having the time to walk through Moria simply to find out what's there. Two possible reasons he may have passed through Moria:

1. He, like the Fellowship, was forced to take that route, possibly to avoid pursuit of some kind. In pitching the idea of the Moria route to the Fellowship Gandalf notes that taking it would allow them to "vanish from sight for a while, and cover our trail". (FotR-A Journey in the Dark)

2. He, Aragorn, was in pursuit of someone/something and the trail led him through Moria.

As to what he (1)wished to avoid or (2) might have been pursuing Aragorn never says (well at least not in LotR, I don't know if the matter is addressed elsewhere).

[Knight of Gondor]

Originally Posted by Morwen

I think it unlikely that mere curiosity made him enter Moria.

I agree.

Originally Posted by Morwen

1. He, like the Fellowship, was forced to take that route, possibly to avoid pursuit of some kind. In pitching the idea of the Moria route to the Fellowship Gandalf notes that taking it would allow them to "vanish from sight for a while, and cover our trail". (FotR-A Journey in the Dark)

Maybe we can at least theorize. Do you think the road had gotten so dangerous that he needed to disappear? What did he do for light and food? He likely had prior knowledge of Khadzad Dum because of his lore from Rivendell.

2. He, Aragorn, was in pursuit of someone/something and the trail led him through Moria.

This raises some questions, though. As far as I recall, there are only two entrances/exits into Moria (not counting the Endless Stair). Am I off on that? The West Gate and the East Gate. (The Fellowship would have entered through the West Gate.) So which entrance did he use?

The other question I have is, WHEN did Aragorn venture through? Neither Gandalf nor Aragorn were familiar with the change in the terrain (IE, the lake instead of the waterfall and stream) nor were they quickly able to find the doors. It must have been before Balin's attempt began, but what about the orc infestation?

I am assuming that A) the changes to Moria's West Gate happened in the recent past (relative to FotR) and B) that Aragorn first entered Moria from the East Gate. (Although, now that I think about it, did Aragorn say that he actually ventured THROUGH Moria, or did he say he ventured IN?)

I propose a third option; that Aragorn needed a very speedy way over the mountain. Perhaps he was hastening back to Rivendell at great need, and could not take the mountain pass, nor venture south to the Gap of Rohan. On foot, perhaps Moria would be his quickest path for speed, although I question what errand would require speed at the price of his safety.

Just thinking out loud, hopefully stimulating some corrective or contemplative response from my fellow BDers.

[Kuruharan]

As far as I recall, there are only two entrances/exits into Moria (not counting the Endless Stair). Am I off on that? The West Gate and the East Gate.

I would phrase it that "we know of two entrances." If I remember correctly, Gandalf said "a door" when referring to the West Gate not "the door" which implies there were more gates on that side of the mountains.

However, if these were the two most known entrances, it is probable that Aragorn would have used one of them...and since Aragorn clearly didn't know how to enter from the west, he must have entered from the east.

I actually like how the movie presents Gandalf as advising against the entry into Moria. I don't understand how Aragorn would know not to enter, while Gandalf was unsuspecting to the danger that was within. Perhaps Gandalf knew he was supposed to fall there. I don't know. But from a logical standpoint, it makes more sense to me that Gandalf knew the evils of Moria in the film, rather than in the book where he seemed clueless.

I disagree with this. I think Gandalf knew something of the dangers (remember that, in spite of what the movie said, nobody knew what Durin's Bane was) but he thought that it was a risk worth taking. Also remember that when the Wargs attacked, everybody suddenly agreed with him, including Aragorn.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Knight of Gondor

Like many here, I reread the trilogy somewhat frequently. I'm rereading Fellowship now, as it has been longer than usual since I've gone back through the books. And like most things you reread, you find/learn something new, or are struck by something you didn't notice before.

In this case, I just finished The Ring Goes South, where the company is defeated by Caradhras. Gandalf is suggesting (even advising; contrary to the film, but let's not go there) taking the road through Moria.

I know what you mean, as I am also re-reading The Lord of the Rings, you always catch something new, or delve deeper into certain details that you hadn't before. Although I don't know the answer to your question, I must say one thing- I actually like how the movie presents Gandalf as advising against the entry into Moria. I don't understand how Aragorn would know not to enter, while Gandalf was unsuspecting to the danger that was within. Perhaps Gandalf knew he was supposed to fall there. I don't know. But from a logical standpoint, it makes more sense to me that Gandalf knew the evils of Moria in the film, rather than in the book where he seemed clueless.