Allow me to digress away from pure Tolkiana for a moment to make a point that will hopefully steer (or drag) this thread back on-topic.
Many years ago in my ill-spent youth, I was acquainted with several friends who were avid Dungeons & Dragons players, though I myself never found the time to become proficient at it. One friend in particular had over time built up a mighty warrior character – strong, skilled, equipped with high-powered weaponry and armor, an extremely able fighter who was darn near invincible. The player was naturally proud and somewhat cocky about his avatar. Which goaded his fellow-players into trying to figure out a way of bringing his character down.
For one game a fellow-player generated a pair of very small characters, probably hobbits or something like, endowing almost their entire allotment of skill-points into speed and dexterity – minimal strength, minimal intelligence, and all of 1 hit-point – meaning a single touch from an opponent would kill them. At the appropriate moment, the fellow-player loosed these nearly-disposable characters upon Mr. High-and-mighty. To all appearances the fight looked to be over before it had begun.
What happened next nearly brings tears of laughter to my eyes even now. The little annoyance characters positioned themselves on opposite sides of the warrior. Their speed and dexterity was such that they made every evasion dice-roll whenever the warrior tried to slice one of them, but their positions made it impossible for him to try to attack them both at once. One would dodge, the other would attack. While the warrior was facing one of the hobbits, the other would use his speed and agility to come in and strike the warrior from behind. They only inflicted a tiny bit of damage with each hit, but they hit nearly every time they tried. The cocky player went from amused, to concerned, to frustrated, to livid as the throwaway hobbits slowly, gradually weakened and ultimately felled the mighty warrior in clean battle. And absolutely priceless was the look on his face as he stormed away from the table muttering “I can’t believe it! I just can’t believe it!”
I guess what I’m trying to point out here is that there is much more to sizing up a battle than the obvious accoutrements of size, strength and “spiritual power”. There are intangibles that are not always obvious to an outside observer. As has been said, it ain’t the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. I think the Wise at the Council of Elrond realized that it was outwardly folly to send a pint-sized pastoral peasant into the enemy’s home court with a veritable homing-beacon hung around his neck, but we all know who won in the end. They realized that there were factors working on their side that didn't even enter into the mind of their enemy, and worked those factors to their advantage.
As far as Gandalf-vs-Witch-King is concerned, I think even Gandalf was unsure.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by FotR, Many Meetings
'There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming. The Morgul-lord and his Black Riders have come forth. War is preparing!'
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It seems to me here that Gandalf is specifically saying that he knows the Morgul Lord is powerful, but does not yet know how he will measure up in a direct confrontation.
To say that Gandalf does not flinch when the confrontation finally occurs says more to me about Gandalf's resolve, not so much his confidence in victory. Gandalf knows he is where he needs to be, doing what he is required to do, and is calm in that knowledge, whatever the outcome. Personally, I would have loved to see a bit of a scrap between them before the horns of Rohan call him away, but alas, such was not to be. As Treebeard said to Gandalf at the end,
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Treebeard
‘Well, come now!’ he said. ‘You have proved mightiest, and all your labours have gone well.'
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But he could not say this until Gandalf had been tried and found victorious.
Just my two cents worth.