It’s worth taking a moment every now and again to appreciate just how freakin’ iconic much of this book is. The Doors of Durin, the journey through Moria, and the confrontation at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm is without question one of the most legendary passages in all of fantasy.
Tolkien really took a very practical approach to writing this book. This book starts with a discussion of “Well, now what?” since their attempt to cross the Redhorn Gate failed. There aren’t any other passes further south; trying to cross more northerly passes would mean going all the way back to Rivendell, and Gandalf is certain they wouldn’t be able to set out again (not to mention the more northern passes are also likely blocked by snow); the Gap of Rohan isn’t safe because of Saruman; going south around the White Mountains would be far too long of a journey. So the only way left is Moria, though none of them are happy about it except Gimli.
It was something Gandalf thought they should always try, but Aragorn (the only other one of the Fellowship besides Gandalf to ever venture into Moria) was dead set against it. He’s still not at all happy about it, but he’s willing to follow Gandalf’s lead after Gandalf followed his over Caradhras. Boromir is not willing - but that doesn’t really matter, because they’re attacked by Wargs and if they don’t reach safety soon (with Moria being the only very-dubious “safety” for weeks in any direction) they’re dead anyway. So we’re off to the Mines!
And poor Sam. We get yet another reason to love him, when he’s heartbroken to learn that Bill the pony won’t be able to follow them into the Mines. Gandalf gives him his blessing to help him stay safe, but still, there’s Wargs around. I just want to give Sam a hug. Again. Seems to be something of a recurring theme.
I don’t actually have much to say about the Doors of Durin and “Speak friend and enter,” which surprises me. But I really just can’t think of much to comment on. The scene is so well known that it feels a bit above that sort of thing.
So the Watcher in the Water. What is it? No clue. Later on Gandalf will make mention of “nameless things” far beneath the surface of Arda: “Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he.” (And boy does that statement cause headaches, given that Sauron literally participated in the creation of the world.) The best guess that we have is what is sometimes known as the “stray notes” theory, which more or less proposes that there were random bits of melody during the Song of the Ainur that don’t really fit with the other themes. This is also a possible explanation for Tom Bombadil and Ungoliant.
And then there is Pippin, that Fool of a Took. They are setting up camp for the “night” in a room with a well, and Pippin has a random impulse to drop a rock down it. It’s the kind of impulse everyone has, but it was particularly ill-advised here. Movie wise, I loved the way Billy Boyd just kept wincing with every bang on the way down. The hammer tapping sound that follows is never explained, and I’ve no idea what to make of it, but there’s no doubt that the Fellowship’s presence has been noticed.
At the end of the next day (which passed with hard travel, but without incident) they are camping for the night and Gimli opens up a bit. The song of Durin that he sings is one of my favorite things in the entire trilogy - I’ve had the whole thing memorized for years. I’m going to take a moment here and plug Clamavi De Profundis, a male choral group that does a lot of Tolkien stuff. Their rendition of the Song of Durin can be heard here, and there’s plenty more awesome Tolkien stuff on their YouTube channel.
And then in the morning, they find Balin’s tomb. The chapter ends on that cheerful note.
Monday we’ll cross the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and have the inevitable discussion of “Fly you fools” (which obviously means they should tame the Balrog and fly on it, since it has wings and all).