20 Idiotic Decisions Made By Characters In The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy

16. Gandalf Knows About The Balrog, Does Not Tell Gimli - The Fellowship Of The Ring

Gandalf may be wise, but he is too easily ruled by fear. He hesitates to enter Moria because of tales he heard about the Balrog of Morgoth that the dwarves awoke with their mining. Saruman is well aware of this, and their appears to be quite well documented evidence of the Balrog's existence, or at least substantial enough rumor to strike fear into the hearts of wizards. With that in mind, Gandalf tells the fellowship that he would not go to the mines of Moria unless their was no other choice, which makes one wonder: What did Gimli think of this? Gimli spends a good portion of their road trip talking about how wonderfully hospitable Balin and the other Dwarves of Moria would be if they visited, but never once questions Gandalf's fear of the mines. Perhaps he wrote it off as intense claustrophobia... At any rate, Gandalf never told Gimli that the realm his cousin lived in was also home to one of the most dangerous demons alive in Middle Earth. While Gimli wouldn't have listened, perhaps it may have prepared him for the heartbreak he experienced when he found that Moria was essentially a mass grave for his kin.

15. Pippin Awakens All The Dangerous Creatures In Moria - The Fellowship Of The Ring

A key part of Peregrin Took's character arc is his progression from an innocent fool to one of the most openhearted and wise people in this story. Because of this, it is undeniable that towards the beginning he makes some quite idiotic decisions that cost the Fellowship dearly in both time and injury. The most obvious of these is in Moria, when Pippin inadvertently awakens not one, but two slumbering evils that are larger and more dangerous than the nine companions (who are trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible). The first of these creatures is outside the doors of Moria, where Pippin idly throws rocks in the lake while Gandalf puzzles through the riddle on the door. Little do they know that a giant tentacled beast lived under the water, and the stones Pippin throws wakes it up. Because of this, Pippin's actions essentially force them to take the route through Moria even after they discover the massacre within. That is not the first time Pippin risks his friends' lives in the mines however, as he accidentally pushes a dwarf skeleton into a well, alerting every Goblin in Moria of their presence. If this episode in Moria is anything to go by, trying to keep a low profile with a Took in your group can be quite a challenge.