| With his bushy beard, eyebrows, and hair, his shabby gray robe (hence the name "Gandalf the Grey"), a pointy hat, and a long wooden stick, Gandalf the Grey might not look like much, but he is a very powerful wizard. Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) has been Bilbo's friend for many years ever since he paid Bilbo a visit to talk about the Dragon Smaug and encouraging him to join the quest to find the Dragon's treasure. Gandalf discovers that the ring Bilbo found in Gollum's cave is the One Ring, and tells Frodo to take it outside the Shire where the Nazgul are looking for him, to someplace safe. He finds out that Saruman, the Head of the Wizards' Order, has betrayed the Free People and has gone over to Sauron's side. When he finally gets to Rivendell, he first joins Frodo in the quest to destroy the Ring, but falls into Shadow in the Mines of Moria. Don't worry, he's not dead.. he comes back as Gandalf the White in The Two Towers. |
