The Echo of a Stone: Pippin's Mistake in The Hobbit and its Warnings to Orcs

When Pippin dropped a stone into a well in Moria, it set off a chain of events that alerted the Orcs to the presence of the Fellowship. This action, though seemingly innocent, had profound implications, leading to a tense situation. This article explores the reasons behind this seemingly innocuous mistake and its impact on the story, concluding with an analysis of Gandalf's reaction and the broader implications for the members of the Fellowship.

Understanding Pippin's Mistake: Echoes in the Decaying City

The stone Pippin dropped from a level not used by the orcs created an echo that could be heard by the guards in Moria. This is evidenced by the sound of drums that the Fellowship heard, which were likely a signal for the Orcs to take notice. Here are three key elements that point to this:

1. The Sound of Drums

According to the Fellowship, the drums they heard after Pippin dropped the stone into the deep well were not incidental. Ori and the dwarves had heard similar drums before their own attack in the Chamber of Mazarbul, indicating that the Orcs communicated with each other using this method. When the Fellowship discovered that the drums were being heard by another group, it established that the Orcs indeed knew the stone came from somewhere and was not dropped by accident.

2. The Fellowship's Route in Moria

The route the Fellowship took in Moria was not typically used by the Orcs. However, this route was under constant surveillance. This was due to the fact that Orcs had already been attacked by Dwarves from the same side of Moria. Given this, any sound from that part of the mine would alert the watching Orks.

3. Tracking and Listening

Throughout the story, characters like Gimli noted the significance of sounds. For example, Gimli could tell that the drum noises were being made by a hammer. An orc could also recognize that a stone falling wasn't an accident. These observations suggest that the stone's fall was detected as an unlikely event, prompting further investigation.

Depth of the Well and Depth of the Veil of Suspicion

The depth of the well in Moria was significant. Since Ori mentioned that they could hear drums from deep below, it's possible that there were Orcs on that level who were also on high alert. However, the sound of the stone could have been heard by the guards as a distinct clue, indicating that something was amiss and setting them on edge.

It’s important to note that while the sound of the pebble falling may have seemed unusual, it was indeed significant. Gandalf, a keen observer, had already been put on alert by the racket at the Hollin Gate. The stone then served as confirmation that something was indeed going on in the mines. This echoed sound might have provided the Orcs with a rough indication of the Fellowship's location, thus intensifying their watchfulness.

Gandalf's Reaction and the Fellowship's Perspective

Gandalf, as expected, took Pippin’s action as a reminder of the childish behavior he often had to endure. His reaction was clearly one of annoyance, as he scolded Pippin. However, Gandalf’s concern was not merely for Pippin’s behavior but for the safety of the entire Fellowship. Given Pippin's irritable temperament, a scolding from Gandalf was a natural reaction.

Despite the quick succession of events, the Fellowship as a whole did not view Pippin's stone as a significant error. They did not hint at any culpability on Pippin's part for the eventual fall of Gandalf. There was an understanding that they were bound to face challenges in Moria, regardless of Pippin’s actions. As a result, no blame was assigned to Pippin, and he did not feel guilty about the incident.

Post-facto, the well incident was seen as relatively insignificant. The Fellowship had already been made aware of the dangers through other means, and Pippin's mistake did not significantly impact their overall mission. The Fellowship remained resolute in their quest and continued to move forward without assigning blame.