The White Council assaults Dol Guldur?

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Considering the shock of discovering a Balrog in Moria, I don't think that was ever considered.

Was everyone surprised at the nature of Durin's Bane? What did Galadriel know?

Some other sorceror of human (or maybe even Elvish, but I find that almost impossible) origin might have been a possibility.

I think they must have assumed Nazgul from the beginning and only thought "Sauron" later on down the road.

But what of Elrond? He knew that Sauron more likely was not destroyed. He was able to glimpse the future. Could he have not considered, even if unlikely, that the Necromancer was possibly his old friend from Mordor?

And why did Tolkien use the word, 'necromancer?' I understand (maybe) why he didn't use wizard or witch, but why the title that speaks of communicating with the dead, that more than Sorcerer?