Part 2/9:
Both Gandalf and Sauron belong to the same race of Maiar, ancient spirits sent to Arda with distinct purposes. Their shared history stretches back to Valinor in the blessed lands, yet their paths diverged drastically. While they shared origins, their memories of Valinor were not clear due to their long separation from it. This lack of clarity about their past experiences, as detailed in The Unfinished Tales, suggests that both figures grappled with understanding their roles in Middle-earth.