[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

A good deal of this debate also can reflect upon the notion of the moral/ethical obligations of a soldier who follows the orders of his superior, no matter how repugnant he may personally feel about them. That is a matter that has been debated for a very, very long time, with no certain "correct" conclusion. Gandalf is not entirely a free agent. He is, as he himself has stated, a steward -- a person who wields some degree of authority, but under the commands of, and answerable to, superior "officers." In saying that it is "no longer his job" to fight for others or solve their problems for them, he might very well be trying to say that he is not allowed to do these things, now that his primary mission is completed. Although this does not seem to be in Gandalf's character, to me, it seems to be in character with the Valar, who fear that "unnecessary" involvement and interference with the lives and free will of the Children will have disastrous ends. It may well be that Gandalf went to visit Tom Bombadil because it was one place so detached from the events happening in the rest of Middle-earth, he might find refuge there from the heartache he surely felt over being commanded to keep out of the doings in the Shire. If he were free to choose, I do think he would have wanted to go to the aid of the Hobbits, but I cannot help but feel that he did not truly have that freedom, at this point.

Well, it's another thought.