Saruman

by Anarion-(TV)
March 19, 2000
Maiar > Istari> Saruman > Saruman

    Saruman the Wise, Curunír, eldest and first to be chosen of the Istari. The friend of men, the most clever and subtle with the tongue and the art of craft. It was he who wandered east, and to him Beren the Steward entrusted the keeping of Orthanc and the Ring of Isengard. This is where Saruman settled and began his abode.
    It was when the shadow of Sauron was perceived to be returning that the White Council was created. At its head was Saruman, for his knowledge in the arts of the enemy, although this choice was against the wish of Galadriel, who chose Gandalf.
    Saruman took then a great interest in the Rings of Power and their lore. At the Council where it was discovered that the shadow in Dol Guldur was indeed Sauron, he bade them wait and not make rash decisions. It was his belief, or the impression that he put forth, that the One Ring had been lost forever, and that it had made its way to the sea. It was most likely that Saruman fell at this time, brooding too long in the designs of the enemy and the desire for the Ring, and becoming ensnared by it.
    He made Isengard strong, and gathered a great army of spies of many kinds, unwittingly helped by Radagast. However, another Council was called, and Saruman was forced to give up his search for a while, and debate with the others the matter of the ring, and in this he left out much that he knew.
    It was Gandalf's plan that Sauron should be forced from Mirkwood, and to this Saruman agreed. Saruman had delayed them too long however, for Sauron fled to Mordor, which he had already prepared for himself, and Barad-Dûr became strong again.
    Saruman withdrew to Isengard again, and knew not that the Ring had been found again, and that Gandalf knew of this. However the armies were already gathering, and now in Isengard, as well in Mordor, orcs were once again multiplying.     Saruman now greatly wanted the Ring for himself, and in his haste he tried to convince Gandalf to join him, and in this way revealed his treachery.
    However, Saruman in his anger, struck too soon, and emptied Isengard against Rohan, when a force that Saruman had long forgotten turned against him. It was the Ents, and they had become strong again, and they laid Isengard bare, with Saruman as witness. There Saruman had to sit out the War, until the Ring was destroyed and Sauron vanquished. Saruman only had one power left: the power of his voice. With this he tricked Treebeard into letting him go.
    From greatness he fell, and a beggar he became, wandering the Western Lands of Middle-Earth.
    He was killed at last by his servant, Wormtongue, in the very heart of the Shire.

References:  Silmarillion, Lord of the Rings
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