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WATCHER IN THE WATER
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Back to CREATURES OF MORIA
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Water-dwelling creature outside Moria. The Watcher in the Water had tentacles that were pale green and luminous and had gripping fingers at the ends. The Watcher's nature and origin are uncertain. Gandalf suggested that it may have come from the waters under the Misty Mountains. The Watcher lived outside the West-gate of Moria in a lake that had been formed by the damming of Sirannon, the Gate-stream.
In 2994, the fifth year of the colony established by Balin in Moria, the Watcher in the Water killed Oin, who had been one of Bilbo Baggins' companions on the quest to the Lonely Mountain.
The Fellowship arrived at the West-gate of Moria on January 13, 3019, and discovered the lake that had been formed from the Sirannon. Frodo shuddered with disgust when his foot touched the water, and ripples began to form on the surface of the lake. Boromir threw a stone into the water and more ripples appeared, reaching the shore where the Fellowship stood.
"Why did you do that, Boromir?" said Frodo. "I hate this place, too, and I am afraid. I don't know of what: not of wolves, or the dark behind the doors, but of something else. I am afraid of the pool. Don't disturb it!"
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Journey in the Dark," p. 321
Just as the Fellowship was entering the gate, the Watcher grabbed Frodo's foot with one of its tentacles. Sam slashed at the tentacle with his sword and Frodo escaped, but 20 more tentacles came out of the water. The Fellowship fled into Moria and the Watcher slammed the doors shut behind them and blocked the gate from the outside. Bill the Pony was able to escape the Watcher and made his way back to Bree.
It is not known whether the Watcher acted independently in attacking the Fellowship or whether it was under some external influence, but Gandalf found it disturbing that the Watcher singled out the Ring-bearer.
The ultimate fate of the Watcher in the Water is unknown.
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