+ + Gandalf
As SpM points out, Gandalf is really tricksey, precious.
And there is an ethical question which Smeagol the
Half-Wise, granted with perhaps an ax (get it- dwarves!
)
to grind is going to point out in a future Oprah
interview telling the "real story" of The Ring:
Gandalf unethically dragged an inoffensive hobbit into
a frighteningly dangerous quest against the hobbit's
wishes. And who's to say Bilbo couldn't have handled
three strong (but remarkably dim) stone trolls?
Not only that, it was undoubtedly sly Gandalf who
convinced Bilbo to rewrite the tale of getting the
Ring away from poor Smeagol, who actually apologized
to Bilbo and showed him the way out of the caves!
Perhaps some wise maia, oh, say, Saruman, could lead
the defense against The Necromancer.