Was the Witch King of Angmar Really Afraid of Gandalf?

Geoffrey, a skilled SEO at Google, delves into the complex relationship between Gandalf and the Witch King, and explores why the former wasn't always as scared of the latter as one might think.

The Power of Sauron and Maiar

It is widely recognized that Sauron was well-aware of the immense power held by Maiar, such as Gandalf. If a direct power-for-power contest were to take place between Sauron and Gandalf with the staff of powerful magic, even Gandalf would admit that he would likely lose. This is evident in Gandalf's own words, as seen in the quote, "Grown mighty is White but Black is mightier still." Such awareness led to Sauron employing covert tactics to take the Ring away from it, ensuring that Gandalf would not succeed despite his formidable abilities.

Reputation and Fear

Reputation: Considering his powerful nature, the Witch King had a considerable reputation formed over thousands of years of traversing the lands. This didn't necessarily imply fear, but rather awe and respect from his adversaries, including less powerful enemies.

The Witch King's Fear of Gandalf

During the time when the Witch King held an army of millions in Minas Tirith, he was unafraid, as any other mortal might feel in similar circumstances. However, this changes when we consider specific timeframes and significant events.

Defeat at Amon-Sul

Early in their confrontation, Gandalf faced the Witch King and his Nazg?l at Amon-Sul:

I galloped to Weathertop like a gale and I reached it before sundown on my second day from Bree — and they were there before me. They drew away from me for they felt the coming of my anger and they dared not face it while the Sun was in the sky. But they closed round at night and I was besieged on the hill-top in the old ring of Amon-Sul. I was hard put to it indeed: such light and flame cannot have been seen on Weathertop since the war-beacons of old.”

Here, the Nazg?l feared Gandalf during the daytime due to his presence but launched an attack under the cover of darkness. This fear was based on his reputation and power, even without the direct power of Sauron.

Siege of Minas Tirith

By the time of the siege of Minas Tirith, the power dynamics had significantly shifted. Sauron had grown exponentially, providing the Witch King with extra demonic strength. As Lord of Minas Morgul, the Witch King declared his arrogance, saying:

All save one. There waiting silent and still in the space before the Gate sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror unmoving steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dínen.”

Here, we see the Witch King's lack of fear towards Gandalf, at least to the extent that he openly defied him. However, once Rohan's forces arrived, the tables turned, and the Witch King retreated.

Conclusion

Geoffrey concludes that the Witch King of Angmar was indeed more apprehensive of Gandalf at certain times, especially when under the direct power of Sauron. Yet, his fear was not constant, and the balance of power shifted over time.

Key Takeaways:

The power of Sauron and Maiar Reputation and fear in Middle-earth The evolving relationship between Gandalf and the Witch King