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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Miln" data-source="post: 2294985" data-attributes="member: 26541">I have recently been reading through, "The Letters of JRR Tolkien" and he (Tolkien) writes a fascinating letter that covers much of this ground (detailing exactly what Gandalf was). I don't have the book in front of me but, of interest to me was what he relates about the struggle between Gandalf and the Balrog.-First, as has been stated above, they really do kill each other, no ifs, ands, or buts.-Second, it was outside the domain of power for the Valar to do anything about his death. They didn't have control over the fates decided for the different types of beings (immortality and reincarnation for elves, a mysterious death for mortals, and something else for the Mia).-Third, Gandalf was directly "remade" by Ilúvatar (God). This was one of the few times that He actually intervened in history.So, while agree it is difficult if not impossible to stat up Gandalf the Grey, it seems like it would be really impossible to stat up Gandalf the White as he ceased to be "like" anything else. He, in a sense, became the instrument of God.I wish I had the whole letter in front of me to quote from, but oh well. Maybe later.</blockquote>