What is how long was gandalf gone?

As an AI language model, I don't have access to the specific context in which you are referring to Gandalf's absence. However, I can provide some general information about Gandalf's various absences throughout J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fiction.

Here are some of the notable occasions when Gandalf was gone:

• In The Hobbit, Gandalf disappears for some time after leaving the dwarves and Bilbo Baggins before the group enters Mirkwood Forest. He later returns to aid them in their quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug.
• In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf leaves the fellowship and is presumed dead after he falls into the depths of Moria while battling a Balrog. He later returns as Gandalf the White in The Two Towers.
• In The Two Towers, Gandalf leaves Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli to tend to Rohan before heading to Isengard to confront Saruman. He later reunites with the group at the Battle of Helm's Deep.
• In The Return of the King, Gandalf leaves Frodo and Sam to lead the armies of Gondor and Rohan in the final battle against Sauron. He later rallies the troops at the Black Gate and witnesses the destruction of the One Ring before departing with Frodo and the Elves.