I'm curious. In Jackson's extended version of TROTK, the Witch-King tosses Gandalf the WHITE from his steed and shatters his staff. Right away, any self-respecting LOTR fan knows that the shattering of an Istari staff is an Istari matter; so Gandalf taught us himself. But more than that - the Witch-king tossed Gandalf? I doubt that would have been possible even if the "old fool" had been 'Grey'. As 'White', never.Wikipedia hath wrote:
On March 14 the Witch-king, infused by Sauron with added demonic force, led massive numbers of Orcs, Haradrim, and Easterlings to besiege Minas Tirith. Before dawn on the 15th, the great battering-ram Grond, likely assisted by the Witch-king's sorcery, was used to break the city's main gate. He was the first ever enemy of Minas Tirith to enter its gate and grounds. Riding on a horse, the Witch-king was prevented from entering the city further only by Gandalf.
"You cannot enter here," said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. "Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!"
"Old fool!" he said. "Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!" And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.
Before the two engaged, the cock crowed, the darkness broke, and the horns of Rohan were heard as around 6,000 of their riders joined the battle. This forced the Witch-king to withdraw and remount, this time on his fell beast.
Regardless of whether or not you have a problem with Jackson's interpretation - what do you think would *really* have happened had the two knocked heads?
I'm of the opinion that Gandalf would have given Sauron himself a good run, and that perhaps Gandalf feared Sauron more for Sauron's desire for dominance and destruction than his actual power. Even allowing that Sauron, with or without his ring, could have mastered Gandalf, I think that the Witch-King, being human (yeah, he's Numenorean, big deal), hasn't a chance, even bearing a ring, against a Maia. So where did the Witch-King get his confidence?
Any thoughts?