Aragorn in Moria?

[Morwen]

Back to Aragorn. I think Aragorn's words imply that he entered through the eastern gate and then again left through the same gate. He could, as well, have come through and open the Western gate by just pushing it (as Gandalf says), but

a) he says "I passed once the Dimrill Gate", which does not seem like he passed through Moria, but just the gate (might be he even just walked three steps in, then decided that it's not much nice and left),

b) he says "I also came out again", which not only does not say that he must've left through the other gate, but may as well sound like he came out through the same entrance.

And c), mainly, Aragorn does not seem to know at all, how to navigate Moria. Gandalf himself explains gaps in his knowledge by it being long ago since he went there, and that he was going from east to west, not from west to east, like Fellowship now went. But, while Gandalf at least tries to lead the Fellowship, Aragorn doesn't at all. Which would seem like he never was too deep in there, and not taken the whole journey even from East to West.

Whatever the reason for his entering to Moria was, it was surely not nice, and I'd consider it something like a "ranger issue", not concerning Gandalf or the Wise or the Dwarves. That's just my feeling, not based on any evidence. However, it certainly wasn't anything super-important, because it's not mentioned anywhere.

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.

RE c - When discussing possible pathways through Moria, Gandalf consults Gimli, not Aragorn. Aragorn seems content to make no input into their conversations on the matter. However, whatever the state of Aragorn's knowledge of Moria, he could not have lead the Fellowship through it. Gandalf after all was the one with the light.

Boromir muttered under his breath, ... "Who will lead us in this deadly dark?"
"I will" said Gandalf .... "Follow my staff!" As the wizard passed on ahead up the great steps, he held his staff aloft, and from its tip there came a faint radiance"
A Journey in the Dark, FotR

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.

[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...

[Morwen]

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.

I am also not suggesting that Aragorn is a coward. However, you presented a possible scenario in which Aragorn takes 3 steps into Moria and then exited. I didn't agree with that. Even if he spent a short time in Moria, I didn't think it would be that short unless he had an experience similar to Dain who apparently caught a glimpse of Durin's Bane when looking into Moria. If we agree that his reason for entry was not casual and of some importance (if not to the overall story, then some reason that was important at the time he entered), he is unlikely to have simply popped in and then popped back out.

Quote:
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.

Clarification - I wasn't attempting to disagree with you about Aragorn's seeming lack of knowledge Moria and I do state that Aragorn does not involve himself in the discussions concerning pathways. I was only pointing out that in terms of leading, physical leadership, i.e. the guy out in front, that role had to go to Gandalf as he has to light the way.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Morwen

I am also not suggesting that Aragorn is a coward. However, you presented a possible scenario in which Aragorn takes 3 steps into Moria and then exited.

Of course, it was exaggerated - I didn't mean literally three steps. But it could be that he walked in, looked around a little bit, searching for something, and after a few hours left. He didn't even have to be there overnight, the more walking several days to the other end.

Originally Posted by Morwen

Clarification - I wasn't attempting to disagree with you about Aragorn's seeming lack of knowledge Moria and I do state that Aragorn does not involve himself in the discussions concerning pathways. I was only pointing out that in terms of leading, physical leadership, i.e. the guy out in front, that role had to go to Gandalf as he has to light the way.

Yes, that I agree with.

[Morwen]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Of course, it was exaggerated - I didn't mean literally three steps. But it could be that he walked in, looked around a little bit, searching for something, and after a few hours left. He didn't even have to be there overnight, the more walking several days to the other end.

This I agree with.

Of course we have come no closer to saying why Aragorn is in Moria.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Morwen

Of course we have come no closer to saying why Aragorn is in Moria.

Exactly And since I doubt there's any obvious evidence, I think the best we can do now is to try to look what "semi-important" matters could have been unsolved at that time on his life when he was already making his journeys... but from the brief look at it, I don't know. Also, let us not forget that Aragorn's life was all full of adventure, so one adventure in Moria doesn't surprise us so much: as we know, Aragorn went even "to the far lands of Rhun and Harad", and what he did there, is also for a pretty nice speculation...

[CSteefel]

Also, if Aragorn had come through Moria from East to West in the period 2988 to 3017, he would have seen the lake, since the Watcher apparently got Oin (?) a year or so the death of Balin. This implies that the lake was already there.

Aragorn seemed to have no knowledge of the western gate at all, while Gandalf had some. Given that Gandalf is much older, it does seem reasonable to me that Aragorn went and then left again by the eastern gate.

The search for Gollum seems the most likely reason to enter Moria, but this is only speculation.