: Well, I don't think Gandalf feared Sauron for his (Gandalf's) own sake (being caught & tortured or whatever) so much as what he would do to Middle Earth. If Sauron won the War of the Ring, then without assistance from the Valar akin to the War of Wrath (in which more destruction would happen during liberation) Sauron's domination of Middle Earth was nowhere in sight.

: : Another thing about Gandalf, what was his relationship with the other Istari, he seemed to be friends with Radagast but it's a little odd that he never even mentions the other two Istari when they could have been helpfull to Sauron's defeat, and if they actually disappeared or went underground and started "magic cults" as Tolkien suggested, why would he not care? It's not as if he did'nt have any time to check up on them so to say.
: : (Cyberlock)

: Remember that Gandalf was the last Istari to arrive. The other two could have already disappeared into the east by the time he got there. He made the west primarily his care and cause. Of course, they equally could have been around for a while in the west & they hung out with 'old Stormcrow' on occasion.

: Which brings a question about the White Council. Who was in it? The only ones I have ever heard mentioned were Elrond, Cirdan (?), Galadriel, Gandalf, and Sauruman. I can't remember if Radagast was included. Why not the other Istari? Why especially no men? I would think the Dunadain chief (Aragorn & his predecessors) should have been included, and possibly someone from Gondor. Also, why not dwarves?

: -Steve S.

: I think that Erestor and Glorfindel were on the council too, I can't remember where I read this but Glorfindel was definetely in the council.
(Cyberlock)