Frodo said nothing, but he put his hand under his tunic and touched the rings of his mail-shirt. He felt staggered to think that he had been walking about with the price of the Shire under his jacket. Had Bilbo known? He felt no doubt Bilbo knew quite well. It was indeed a kingly gift. But now his thoughts had been carried away from the dark Mines, to Rivendell, to Bilbo, and to Beg End in the days while Bilbo was still there. He wished with all his heart that he was back there, and in those days, mowing the lawn, pottering among the flowers, and that he had never heard of Moria, or mithril — or the Ring.
A journey in the dark is such a stressful chapter to read. I thought Gandalfs death would be really emotional, but it just kind of happened in a rushed manner. I didn’t feel much emotion. Maybe if I didn’t know what was going to happen I’d feel shocked, but I actually felt more upset at the prospect of poor old Bill getting left outside with the wolves, as Sam cried.
“They found the stone steps without difficulty, and Gimli sprang swiftly up them, followed by Gandalf and Frodo. When they reached the top they saw that they could go no further that way, and the reason for the drying up of the Gate-stream was revealed. Behind them the sinking Sun filled the cool western sky with glimmering gold. Before them stretched a dark still lake. Neither sky nor sunset was reflected on its sullen surface. The Sirannon had been dammed and had filled all the valley. Beyond the ominous water were reared vast cliffs, their stern faces pallid in the fading light: final and impassable. No sign of gate or entrance, not a fissure or crack could Frodo see in the frowning stone. 'There are the Walls of Moria,' said Gandalf, pointing across the water. 'And there the Gate stood once upon a time, the Elven Door at the end of the road from Hollin.”
—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; “A Journey in the Dark”“'But do not YOU know the word, Gandalf?' asked Boromir in surprise. 'No!' said the wizard. The others looked dismayed; only Aragorn, who knew Gandalf well, remained silent and unmoved. 'Then what is the use of bringing us to this accursed spot?' cried Boromir, glancing back with a shudder at the dark water. 'You told us that you had once passed through the Mines. How could that be, if you did not know how to enter?' 'The answer to your first question, Boromir,' said the wizard, 'is that I do not know the word-- yet. But we shall soon see. And,' he added with a glint in his eyes under their bristling brows, 'you may ask what is the use of my deeds when they are proved useless. As for your other question: do you doubt my tale? Or have you no wits left? I did not enter this way. I came from the East.'”
—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; “A Journey in the Dark”“Mithril! All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder then tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of mithril did not tarnish or grow dim. The Elves dearly loved it, and among many uses the made of it ithildin, starmoon, which you saw upon the doors.”
—Gandolf
A Journey in the Dark, Fellowship of the Ring. Book ll
