Gandalf the Grey (White)15:00 Nov 11 2008
Times Read: 696
Vital Statistics:
Race: Wizards
Arrived in Middle-earth: Around the year 1000
Left Middle-earth: September 29, 3021
Residence: No fixed dwelling
Parents: Not applicable
Siblings: None
Spouse: None
Children: None
Hair color: White
Ring: Narya
Sword: Glamdring
Horse: Shadowfax
Detailed Biography:
Gandalf was one of the Order of Wizards sent to Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. During his 2,000 years in Middle-earth, Gandalf came to understand and love the land and its peoples, particulary Hobbits. Gandalf workd ceaselessly to counter Sauron's plans to dominate middle-earth, and he sent in motion a chain of events that ultimately resulted in the Dark Lord's downfall.
Gandalf was one of the Maiar, spirits who helped and serve the Valar. When he lived in the Undying Lands he was known as Olorin, and he was the wisest of the Maiar. He sometimes walked among the Elves unseen or as one of them and shared wisdom and fair visions with them. For much of the time, Olorin dwelled in Lorien, the gardens of the Vala Irmo for which the woods of Lothlorien in Middle-earth were named.
Olorin also frequently visited Nienna in her home in the far west near the walls of the World. It was said that Olorin learned pity and patience from Nienna. But Olorin seems to have been mostly associated with the Valar Manwe and Varda, and it was they who sent Olorin to Middle-earth around the year 1000 of the Third Age.
The Maiar who were sent by the Valar to Middle-earth were given the bodies of old men and were known as Istari, or Wizards. Their mission was to help the free peoples of Middle-earth oppose Sauron without seeking domination or power for themselves. Olorin was the last of the Five Wizards to arrive at the Grey Havens in northwestern Middle-earth. There Cirdan the Shipwight gave narya, one of the Three Rings of the Elves, saying:
"Take this ring, Master, for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you on the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill. But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, And I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you."
Among Men Olorin became knowm as Gandalf the Grey and the Elves called him Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgrim. He wandered far and wide throughout Middle-earth and had no fixed abode. He had a long white beard and bushy eyebrows and he wore a blue pointed hat, a siver scarf, ans a lond grey cloak.
Around the year 1100, the Wizards and the chief Elves discovered that an evil power had built a stronghold at Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. At the time, they thought it was one of the Nazgul. But the shadow that fell on thr forest grew, and by 2060 the Wise feared it might be the return of Sauron, who had been overthrown at the end of the Second Age. Gandalf went to Dol Guldur in 2063 to investigate, and Sauron fled and went into hiding in the East.
The Watchful Peace lasted until 2460, when Sauron returned with increased strength to Dol Guldur. Three years later the White Council was formed, made up of the chief Wizards and Elves. The leader of the White Council was Saruman, who was the head of the order of Wizards. Galadriel had suggested that Gandalf lead the council, but Gandalf had fefused for he did not want to be beholden to anyone or anything except hit true mission in Middle-earth.
Gandalf returned to Dol Guldur in desguise in 2850 and found Thrain, father of Thorin Oakenshield, in the dungeon. Thrain gave Gandalf a map of the Lonely Mountain and a key to its secret door before he died. Gandalf learned that the evil presence in Dol Guldur was indeed Sauron and he urged the White Council to take action but Saruman overruled him.
Despite the ruling of the head of his order, Gandalf was troubled by the presence of Sauron. He feared that the Dragon Smaug, who had taken the Lonely Mountain from the Dwarves, might be used as a tool by Sauron to wreak havoc in the north and allow Sauron to attack Rivendell and Lothlorian.
By the chance one day in March of 2941, Gandalf met Thain's son Thorin Oakenshield in Bree. Thorin wanted to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug and Gandalf saw an opportunity to rid the north of the threat of the Dragon, so together they devised a plan. Thorin gathered a company of twelve other Dwarves while Gandalf selected a Hobbit to be the fourteenth member of the party. This turned out to be one of the key decisions that led to Sauron's downfall.
Gandalf was unique among the Wise for his interest in Hobbits. It is not known when he first went to the Shire, but he appeared from there time to time and was famous among Hobbits especially for his fireworks. He was also held responsible for causing several Hobbit lad and lasses to embark on adventures. Gandalf came to the aid of the Hobbits during the Long Winter of 2758-59 and was impressed by their courage and pity for one another in the face of dreadful hardships. He also knew Hobbits to be stealthy, a quality he deemed useful for sneaking into a Dragon's lair.
More to come...
COMMENTS
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lestatsbride
19:55 Dec 05 2008
WEll done
I am very into gandoff myself
and studie him alot
Aracon
21:10 Jan 24 2009
Love your writing style, so precise and very informative, thank you dear friend for sharing.
Aracon.