Welcome back to my series of posts exploring how J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel The Lord of the Rings differs from its film adaptations. This time we’ll be examining what happened to Gandalf the Grey after his fall from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.
The White Rider
After having seen Saruman the previous night in the forest of Fangorn, the Three Hunters mistook the resurrected Gandalf the White for the traitor on the very spot where Merry and Pippin had earlier met Treebeard. Legolas recognized the wizard, and Aragorn reminded him of his name.
‘I have passed through fire and deep water, since we parted. I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off, but many things that are close at hand I cannot see.’
Gandalf the White, The Lord of the Rings (Book Ⅲ, Chapter Ⅴ)
Frodo at Amon Hen
We learn here that when Frodo sat upon the seat of Amon Hen, nearly revealing himself to the Eye in the process, it was Gandalf’s voice—not Frodo’s own thoughts—that he heard telling him to take off the Ring.
He heard himself crying out: Never, never! Or was it: Verily I come, I come to you? He could not tell. Then as a flash from some other point of power there came to his mind another thought: Take it off! Take it off! Fool, take it off! Take off the Ring!
The Lord of the Rings (Book Ⅱ, Chapter Ⅹ)
Here’s how Gandalf described the part he played in this:
‘Very nearly it was revealed to the Enemy, but it escaped. I had some part in that: for I sat in a high place, and I strove with the Dark Tower; and the Shadow passed. Then I was weary, very weary; and I walked long in dark thought.’
Gandalf the White, The Lord of the Rings (Book Ⅲ, Chapter Ⅴ)
Legolas told Gandalf that Sam went with Frodo on the road to Mordor, which lightened Gandalf’s heart. Yet the wizard grieved at the news of Boromir’s death, which he’d not seen. Gandalf explained both Sauron’s strategy and his own, as well as Saruman’s attempt to betray Sauron and take his place.
Gandalf told Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli of Merry and Pippin’s meeting with Treebeard. He also explained that they must go to Edoras to free Théoden from Saruman’s influence. Before they set out, Legolas and Gimli insisted Gandalf tell them what happened to him after he fell in Moria.
Through Fire and Deep Water
After the wizard fell from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, he was burned by the fire of Durin’s Bane. After a long fall, they both plunged into an underground lake, which turned the Balrog to slime and nearly froze the wizard’s heart.
They continued fighting underwater, but eventually the Balrog fled into tunnels that were “gnawed by nameless things” unknown even to Sauron, and which Gandalf refused to speak of. Gandalf followed Durin’s Bane through the tunnels, knowing it was the only way to reach the surface.
The Battle of the Peak
After a total of eight days of fighting, the two enemies came to the Endless Stair, which the dwarves believed was only a legend. The Endless Stair led them up Durin’s tower, carved from the stone of a mountain called Zirakzigil by the dwarves and Celebdil by the elves.
As the Balrog exited the tower, its fire reignited, and the days-long Battle of the Peak began. The battle ended with Gandalf killing Durin’s Bane, and the Balrog fell. The mountainside and the tower were both destroyed as Durin’s Bane hit the ground. Exhausted from the ten-day battle, Gandalf died on what remained of the mountain.
Sent Back
Because Gandalf was the only wizard to stay true to his mission, the supreme deity Eru Ilúvatar sent him back to Middle-earth for a short while—this time with permission to use more of his powers as one of the Maiar. Gandalf the White lay naked for three days atop the mountain near what remained of Durin’s Tower.
Fortunately, Galadriel had asked the eagle Gwaihir the Windlord to search for Gandalf. Eventually Gwaihir found him and brought the wizard to Lothlórien to be healed. The Windlord then flew out to learn what had happened to the Fellowship, at Gandalf’s request.
‘“Ever am I fated to be your burden, friend at need,” I said.
“‘A Burden you have been,” he answered, “but not so now. Light as a swan’s feather in my claw you are. The Sun shines through you. Indeed I do not think you need me any more: were I to let you fall, you would float upon the wind.”
‘“Do not let me fall!” I gasped, for I felt life in me again. “Bear me to Lothlórien!”
‘“That indeed is the command of the Lady Galadriel who sent me to look for you,” he answered.’
Gandalf the White, The Lord of the Rings (Book Ⅲ, Chapter Ⅴ)
Who Is the Lord of the Eagles?
Many readers (myself included) have assumed that Gwaihir the Windlord and the Lord of the Eagles are one and the same. However, this is never stated explicitly, and there’s some evidence that they’re actually different individuals.
For one thing, Gwaihir isn’t described as wearing a crown, which the Eagle-lord does following the Battle of Five Armies.
More importantly, there’s a big deal made of how Gwaihir bears Gandalf on his back thrice in total—all during the events of The Lord of the Rings. Of course, the Lord of the Eagles carried Gandalf following the Eagles’ rescue of Thorin’s Company in The Hobbit.
On the other hand, Gwaihir and his brother Landroval are both descendants of Thorondor, the King of Eagles during the First Age, and it seems doubtful that the Lord of the Eagles himself wouldn’t also be of Thorondor’s line. Gwaihir is also described as “the greatest of the Eagles,” again suggesting some connection between them.
Since the Great Eagles seem to be immortal, with a pair of brothers named Gwaihir and Landroval mentioned as King Thorondor’s vassals during the First Age, it’s impossible to estimate how many generations might have passed between Thorondor and his named descendants.
Considering all this, it seems likely to me that the Lord of the Eagles during the Third Age was either Thorondor’s son or grandson. As for Gwaihir and Landroval, my best guess is that they’re quite closely related to the Eagle-lord—probably either his sons or the sons of one of his siblings.
Galadriel’s Riddles
While recovering in Lothlórien, Gandalf agreed to bring prophetic messages from Galadriel to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. To Aragorn, Galadriel sent this poem:
Where now are the Dúnedain, Elessar, Elessar? Why do thy kinsfolk wander afar? Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth, And the Grey Company ride from the North. But dark is the path appointed for thee: The Dead watch the road that leads to the see.
To Legolas:
Legolas Greenleaf long under tree In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea! If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.
And to Gimli:
To Gimli son of Glóin, give his Lady’s greeting. Lockbearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!
As for how these riddles come true, we’ll look at that in due time. But next time, I’ll be talking about two characters who serve as foils of one another. See you then.
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