[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Morwen

RE a - Aragorn describes his memory of the place as "very evil" which , given my impression of him as someone not easily cowed, suggests to me that he must have been in Moria for more than a few minutes, hours or days more likely, for the place to leave that impression on him.

I'm not saying Aragorn would have to be a coward, but surely a place can seem really "very evil" to you even if you are there just a short time. Frodo at the Morgul Valley, for example. Boromir (whom I would hardly describe as coward) was among the ones who faced the Witch-King's terror at Osgiliath, and though he wasn't among those who wanted to flee, he certainly didn't want to repeat that experience.

Originally Posted by Morwen

Re c - When discussing possible pathways through Moria, Gandalf consults Gimli, not Aragorn.

And that is exactly what I meant. Why wouldn't he ask Aragorn rather than Gimli, who hasn't been in Moria at all? Of course, he wants a "dwarf" advice - but why doesn't he, for example, ask Aragorn at the place where the three roads are? Even if he would get a negative response, but Gandalf seemingly does not even come to the idea of consulting Aragorn.

Originally Posted by Morwen

Reason for entry into Moria
Legate, I wouldn't describe it as not "super important". If Moria is not the preferred pathway or destination for anyone, not even Gollum, then whatever prompted Aragorn to enter Moria was a matter of some importance. Also, if "Lord of the Rings" is taken as an account originally written by Frodo, then the fact that we are not told why Aragorn entered Moria may simply indicate that it was a matter outside Frodo's knowledge.

By "super important" I mean "super important" for the story of LotR, or for the fate of Middle-Earth in larger measures. And this also makes sense together with what you said about Frodo's knowledge. We have plenty information about ancient kings of Gondor&Arnor&co. that are not in any way connected with Frodo himself, but they are important for the general history. Of course the quest of Aragorn was probably important, but it was, I think, important just "locally" (be it in time, in place or for a certain person). I would say it's highly probable that he didn't look there for any people of importance, items of importance, and so on - the only that comes to my mind now is that he could have looked there for Elendilmir (but why there? Maybe he thought the Orcs could have took it?) or something similar, or someone just gone missing from Lórien (perhaps some high-ranked elf, maybe also Aragorn's good friend).

Of course, there is also a possibility that he sought for something that indeed could change the world, but didn't find it there. The question remains, what such a thing would be...