Why were 🧙Gandalf and Aragorn so afraid of Moria?

[Thorin]

We know that after the events of The Hobbit, Balin and a company of dwarves took back Moria and most likely it was well known, at least for a time. I'm sure considering that Aragorn hunted all the way south for Gollum, that he must have been aware of it. However, when the Fellowship was attempting to cross Caradhras, Gandalf said, "But there is another way....the dark and secret way that we have spoken of. But let us not speak of it again...until it is plain that there is no other way." Then when they are voting on whether to go take the Moria path, Aragorn says, "I will follow your lead now-if this last warning does not move you: if you pass the doors of Moria: beware!"

So why were they so hesitant to go there when they really didn't know that Balin and company had presihed? Especially when Gimli (who of all people should know about the state of the dwarves there) was so eager to go?

 

[Aldarion]

Because Balin was not the first to encounter the Orcs and the Balrog. That particular Balrog was called "Durin's Bane" because it had killed Durin VI in TA 1980., and Dwarves soon after fled after it. Balrog was the whole reason why Moria was deserted at the time the Fellowship came to Moria (as well as the reason why Moria was called Moria in the first place). Its presence was again confirmed at Battle of Azanulbizar, when Dain Ironfoot had felt its presence despite not actually meeting it.

So while Gandalf and Aragorn may not have known what, exactly, was within Moria, they did know it was something terrible enough to have destroyed an entire kingdom of the dwarves. Also, Aragorn was implied to have mildly prophetic powers, and I think Gandalf had them as well.

 

[Thorin]

Because Balin was not the first to encounter the Orcs and the Balrog. That particular Balrog was called "Durin's Bane" because it had killed Durin VI in TA 1980., and Dwarves soon after fled after it. Balrog was the whole reason why Moria was deserted at the time the Fellowship came to Moria (as well as the reason why Moria was called Moria in the first place). Its presence was again confirmed at Battle of Azanulbizar, when Dain Ironfoot had felt its presence despite not actually meeting it.

So while Gandalf and Aragorn may not have known what, exactly, was within Moria, they did know it was something terrible enough to have destroyed an entire kingdom of the dwarves. Also, Aragorn was implied to have mildly prophetic powers, and I think Gandalf had them as well.

Yes, but that was in the past. If Gandalf et. al truly believed that Balin and company successfully took over and re-inhabited Moria, than at the least, there should have been some sort of 'Well...things seemed to have returned to normal there and trouble hasn't happened for over 60 years. I suppose it will be okay." attitude.

 

[Aldarion]

Yes, but that was in the past. If Gandalf et. al truly believed that Balin and company successfully took over and re-inhabited Moria, than at the least, there should have been some sort of 'Well...things seemed to have returned to normal there and trouble hasn't happened for over 60 years. I suppose it will be okay." attitude.

Did they? I only remember Gandalf mentioning it as a possibility, but not that he was in any way certain Balin had actually done it. All and all, they were going into the unknown.