The entrance to Moria is nearly blocked by a noxious lake, but the group manages to reach the doors. Gandalf's spells fail to open the doors, until a question from Merry suggests the password. As the group enters, a long tentacle comes up from the water and grabs Frodo by the ankle. He manages to get free, but twenty more tentacles pull the doors down, trapping the party within. Troubled that Frodo was attacked first but otherwise unperturbed, Gandalf takes the lead. When they pause at a crossway, Pippin drops a stone down a well. The sound echoes, and is answered by the noise of hammers. Frodo hears quiet footfalls behind them, and glowing eyes appear watching them when they rest. Still, nothing approaches the party directly before they reach the other side. A shaft of light leads them to the tomb of Balin, one of Gimli's kin who recently sought to reclaim Moria. A record-book found in the tomb reveals that the dwarves were attacked by orcs and slain. As the group prepares to leave, orcs attack the chamber of the tomb. Although they manage to fight them off, a huge orc-chieftain spears Frodo. To everyone's surprise and relief, Bilbo's mailshirt saves his life.
The Fellowship flees to the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm, a narrow span across an abyss and the last obstacle before the main gate. As the party runs across, Gandalf turns to face a new terror that approaches: a Balrog. It is a dreadful spirit of shadow and flame, Durin's Bane, the evil that caused the downfall of Moria. Gandalf holds off the Balrog, and then collapses the bridge to hurl it into the depths. Just as he turns away, the Balrog's flaming whip uncurls and pulls Gandalf down, as well. Weeping, the remainder of the Fellowship flees, escaping from the mines into the light of early afternoon.
