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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 2292808" data-attributes="member: 4937">I'm really not sure that that was true.  Certainly Gandalf kept his power cloaked most of the time, but there are certainly times when he seems to fully display it - for example during the attack by the phantom wolves before Redhorn gate.  And I very much get the impression that Gandalf often finds himself in 'touch and go' situations on his various adventures.  One thing is for certain, if Gandalf had the power to destroy all the armies of Mordor, then Saruman likely would have also possessed this degree of power and he had no qualms about using it.It was certainly his job, but that doesn't mean that any single Maiar would have had the ability to contest with Sauron certainly or even necessarily his servants directly.  The fact of the matter is that Sauron was very great indeed even among the Maiar, and as a captain of war had few equals.  Even one of the Valar - say even Orome - would I think have been hard pressed to defeat Sauron or his servants in single contest with Sauron on his home ground.  Sauron was after all the chief of the Captains of Morgoth, the Lord of Werewolves, and was presumably superior or at least equal in rank to Gothmog Lord of the Balrogs.I honestly do not think Gandalf was just monkeying around with the Balrog.  The Balrog was after all his peer, albiet a corrupt and evil one - equally the vassal of Morgoth as he himself was the vassal of Varda.  Afterall, the Balrog does kill Gandalf, and kill him dead - requiring the direct intervention of the Valar to heal his spirit and restore his flesh.  I do not think that Gandalf would have chosen to get himself killed at this time if he thought there was anything he could do, and I certainly don't think his intention was to get pulled down into the abyss.By Gandalf's own estimation, and he was wise enough to know, if he had taken the ring he could have destroyed Sauron's armies and defeated Sauron.  Olorin was the chief of the vassals of Varda, the Angel of Wisdom, and is one of the few Maia whose name is mentioned in the Valaquenta.  Sauron as chief of the vassals of Morgoth was certainly more powerful as Morgoth was more powerful than Varda, but Gandalf's no slouch.  I find it odd that you think that Gandalf without the ring could defeat Saurons armies alone, but that with the ring could not manage to defeat Sauron.  I do agree that most mortals that were tempted to face Sauron with the ring were decieved and could not have resisted him, but Gandalf is no mere mortal and is might even among the Maiar.  Gandalf and Sauruman certainly could have defeated Sauron with the ring.  Galadriel likely could have (she was Feanor's sister).  Aragorn could make a valiant if ultimately doomed attempt, and anyone of less power likely would have certainly failed.</blockquote>

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