Saruman laid his hand firmly upon the table. "Gandalf, it is over for you!"

Gandalf looked at him in shock. "No! You cannot do this to me!" Saruman smiled craftily at the grey wizard. "Oh yes I can. We both agreed, and I have won this battle fairly. Pay to me the promised price, or I shall do something worse than just take it from you."

Gandalf signed resignedly. "Yes, you have won again. Could you not give me one more chance? Could you spare me from the pain that paying the price would bring me? One more chance is all I would need." Saruman laughed humorlessly. "Always it is 'one more chance'. No. It shall not be granted to you this time. This time you must pay."

"Wait. We both agreed that we would give two chances to each other. My first chance is spent. My second I have not used yet. Therefore, the second chance you give to me would only be in fairness." Saruman snorted. "Fine. I shall spare you for a second time. But remember..." he glared at Gandalf. "This is the last time."

The battle rages on for almost half an hour. Gandalf crashed his hand against the table. "Saruman, I have defeated you!" he proclaimed triumphantly. Saruman looked very miserable. "In all fairness you have. Could you not give me one more…" Gandalf interrupted him. "I have spared your from paying the price twice already. Now you must pay. In all fairness the promised price is mine now." Saruman looked rather guiltily at Gandalf.

"Give me a moment, please. I shall return hence shortly." He got up from his chair at the table and went off rather hurriedly into another chamber. He came back carrying a small, slack pouch.

"This is what is left of the promised price. Please, do not be angry with me, for it is all that I had. You can always get more, but I have none left now to pay you with, for I have used it all."

Gandalf pretended to glare at him. Then his eyes danced with mischief as he looked

at Saruman's miserable face.

"Worry not, my friend. For I have brought more." Reaching into the small bundle that he always carried with him, Gandalf drew out a small, bulging pouch of…Old Toby. "Fetch your pipe, Saruman. There's plenty for both of us."