Gandalf the Grey
Gandalf the Grey One of the chief Istari or Wizards of Middle-earth, also known as Mithrandir, the 'Grey Wanderer', friend of all Free Peoples. The greatest opponent of the Dark Lord in the Third Age, Gandalf passed through fire, earth, water, and air - and was afterwards reborn - in fulfillment of the destiny long appointed for him: to be the chief architect of Sauron's Downfall.
By the labour and valour of many I have come into my inheritance. In token of this I would have the Ring-bearer bring the crown to me, and let Mithrandir set it upon my head, if he will; for he has been the mover of all that has been accomplished, and this is his victory.
(From the Coronation Speech of King Elessar [Aragorn II]
May 1st, 3019 Third Age)
It was, of course, one of the great ironies of the War of the Ring that few of the inhabitants of Middle-earth - including the worthy folk of Gondor, gathered to hear the words of their new King - could have appreciated the true significance behind Aragorn's tribute to Gandalf the Grey. In fact, very few people realized just who the old Wizard was or whence he had come. To most Western folk, Gandalf was 'just a Wizard' - a vain, fussy old conjuror with a long beard and bushy eyebrows, whose chief asset was his uncommon skill with fireworks. Indeed, many great Men of the South regarded him as little better than a pest, a homeless vagabond, a meddler in the affairs of state and a herald of ill-news.
Yet the five Istari who came to Middle-earth during the early Third Age were, in actuality, messengers sent from Valinor to 'contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him'. And they were themselves of Valinorean race, although they came to mortal lands in the shapes of aged Men; for, while their powers were great, they were forbidden to reveal their true natures or to use their full strength in direct conflict with the Enemy.
But the Mortal Lands of Middle-earth always held great perils for Immortals, whether Elves or Valar: they could be slain and they could be tempted and seduced away from their appointed tasks. As is told in the Red Book, at least one of the Istari fell from grace in such a manner, in circumstances grievous to Gandalf - who, while less proud, was more wise and perceived the nature of the trap, thus avoiding it himself.
Of Gandalf's great labours in Middle-earth, little can be recounted in these pages; for none can have known the full story of the trials of the Wizard undertook on behalf of the Free Peoples, from the time of his arrival at the Grey Havens (c. 1000), to the day of his departure at the very ending of the Third Age. It is known, however, that he took many hideous risks. On two occasions he actually entered the dark stronghold of Dol Guldur in Southern Mirkwood: once, in the year 2063, when he first tried to ascertain the true identity of the Necromancer who ruled there, and again in 2850, when he finally discovered that the 'Necromancer' was indeed Sauron himself (who was already gathering the Rings of Power and seeking for the Ruling Ring). At a meeting of the White Council the following year Gandalf pressed urgently for an outright attack upon Dol Guldur but was overruled by his brother-wizard Saruman the White.
Yet Gandalf, though frustrated by Saruman, had by chance a further card to play. For, on his last entry into Sauron's fortress, he had come across the dying Dwarf Thr�in II, son of Thr�r, who had survived just long enough to give him the key of the secret door into Erebor and the map which accompanied it. And in 2941 the Wizard unexpectedly encountered Thr�in's Heir, Thorin Oakenshield; together, they hatched a scheme for the recovery of the Lonely Mountain and the baulking of any plans Sauron might have for the Dragon Smaug. As is told in The Hobbit, Thorin's expedition (and Gandalf's scheme) succeeded, the Dragon which guarded that Mountain was slain, and a great threat to the lands of the East was removed.
Little more is known of Gandalf's plans and movements until the year 3001 Third Age, when he appeared at Bilbo Baggins' Farewell Party - an account of which opens the first chapter of The Lord of the Rings. The Wizard was already worried about the golden ring which Bilbo had picked up on his travels. Suspicion hardened into fear, and Gandalf later searched urgently for Gollum but was unable to find him, even with the help of Aragorn, Ranger of Eriador. Not until seventeen years later did the Wizard at last learn the truth concerning the ring - and by this time the 'heirloom' was in the possession of a new owner, Frodo Baggins.
The plan which Gandalf and Frodo made for the disposal of the Ring - and the events which later took place - are all carefully detailed in Frodo's own narrative and require no restatement here. The Wizard was the leading force behind the success of Frodo's mission. For although he did not himself enter Mordor, by his unceasing efforts Gandalf rallied the Free Peoples for long enough to give the Ring-bearer his only chance. The heroism was Frodo's (and Samwise's), but the strategy was Gandalf's; and by bringing to bear every last ounce of his will and determination, the Wizard successfully countered every move that the Dark Lord made. In this way Sauron's plans were frustrated and his schemes were brought to nothing.
So it came to pass that on March 25th, 3019 Third Age, the Ring-bearer completed his mission and Sauron of Mordor was overthrown for ever - and Gandalf's long labours in Middle-earth came at last to their conclusion. 'The Third Age was my age', he later told Aragorn; 'I was the Enemy of Sauron; and my work is finished. I shall go soon.' Two years later, on September 22nd, he returned across the Sea to the Undying Lands.
Note: Gandalf is the name by which the Wizard was known to Northern Men. To the Elves (and the D�nedain) he was Mithrandir ('Grey-wanderer'); to the Dwarves, Thark�n; and, in his youth, 'in the West that is forgotten', Olorin.
excerpt from The Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Tyler (p 192-194)
The J.R.R. Tolkien Audio Collection:
Glaurung
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
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