[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

Yeah good replies akhtene, kalimae, and legolas.

Gandalf helped a lot and he was a life saver. Keep in mind that it was not his journey w/the dwarves and he was just travelling with them for a while, while they were on the same road. When he went off, he had a reason and he was always busy. I think that since tolkien made gandalf the person who shows up in the nick of time, it made him very shady. I don't know if tolkien did this on purpose or not but it made gandalf like a mystery. It made his character more interesting.

When Gandalf shows up, he always turns the table. Tolkien didn't always have gandalf appearing after a dissapearance to help though. Like with the balrog. If gandalf was always saving the day and reappearing, he would be completely predictable. Tolkien made him like he is and it keeps you thinking on your feet. Also, you can tell that if Gandalf stays to help someone, it is his most important errand.

Gandalf was like a crutch. He was there to help you when you needed it but allowed you to help yourself. When you didn't need him, he would leave.

[ November 30, 2002: Message edited by: MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie ]