Saruman felt his own heart beating faster, but he fought down the wave of alarm and tried to be the voice of reason.

"Now wait just one moment," he said in his most mellow tones. "Evidently some ill-favoured Presence has established itself in Mirkwood. However, it does not necessarily follow that it is Sauron himself returned."

Pallando looked ready to disagree, but Alatar shot him a look and he subsided.

"I can say with certainty that it is he," Alatar said. "Pallando and I are familiar with his habits, and this is typical behaviour."

"Indeed," Saruman said smoothly, "you most certainly do seem to be familiar with him."

Alatar looked back at him in confusion, but Pallando's dark eyes flashed dangerously. "What's that supposed to mean?" he growled.

"I do not mean to accuse." Saruman held up his hands placatingly. "However, for two people who have not been to the West since the Second Age, you appear to be extraordinarily well-informed with regard to the goings-on in Mirkwood - "

"We have no information other than that provided by Radagast," Alatar interrupted. Rude fellow."But we are in a position to predict Sauron's movements, based on our…experiences in the last war - "

"Ah, yes, the last war." Saruman eyed the two blue wizards narrowly. "I have done extensive research, and yet there is no mention of you in any account."

The two Blue Wizards glanced at each other. Saruman noticed with irritation that Pallando had, despite his instructions to the contrary, produced a bottle of that Valar-forsaken coconut liquor.

"These accounts of yours," said Pallando, "where'd you get them? In the archives of Rhun? Or maybe the great Library of Ghaijar?"

"Ah…" Saruman wondered if Pallando was joking. Did the Easterlings actually have libraries? "No," he admitted. "I must confess that I confined my search to the archives of Minas Tirith."

"Minas Tirith, the Capital of Gondor?"

"I am not aware of any other Minas Tirith," said Saruman, holding onto his temper with difficulty.

"Well, as you said yourself, neither of us has been to the West since the Second Age." Pallando chuckled darkly and took a swig directly from the bottle. "Might explain why we're not in the records."

"It might indeed," Saruman murmured. "It would not, however, explain the accounts that describe powerful sorcerers in the battles. Fighting among Sauron's forces."

There was long, heavy silence. Alatar stared at him, appalled, while Pallando just looked darkly amused. Radagast fidgeted uncomfortably, glancing between Saruman and the Blue Wizards.

"That is quite enough," Gandalf put in. "We did not come here to hurl futile accusations amongst ourselves. Our purpose is to discuss the emerging Shadow!"

Once again, Saruman wondered how anyone could possibly be so naïve. "Futile?" he demanded. "Would you permit traitors to hear our Council? What evidence do you have that these two have not betrayed us? We have heard nothing of them for over a thousand years!"

Mithrandir was silent for a moment, his blue eyes serious. "I would be interested to hear an account of their doings," he said at last. "But first I wish to know why they believe that the Presence in the Greenwood is Sauron returned. I believe that we ought to investigate – "

"No!" Alatar said sharply. Saruman narrowed his eyes at him, and even Mithrandir frowned a little.

"Oh, for Mandos' sake!" Pallando looked thoroughly exasperated. "If you could quit jumping to conclusions for one minute and let us explain – "

"Saruman is obviously in a weakened state," Alatar broke in. "He has holed himself up in the forest, instead of attacking the kingdoms of Middle-Earth directly. He has not even the strength to dominate the stronger trees, and he cannot risk a confrontation with one of the Istari."

Mithrandir frowned. "So if we were to venture into his fortress – "

"He would retreat at once."

Saruman raised an eyebrow. "And this is undesirable because…?"

"Because you lot would find an empty fortress, say 'Good enough', and forget all about Sauron for a few centuries till he shows up again," Pallando muttered. Alatar sent him a quelling look.

"We believe that Sauron would flee if approached," Alatar explained, "but an empty fortress may not be enough to convince you that the Shadow is indeed the Dark Lord.

"Perhaps that would not be so bad," said Mithrandir, frowning. "The elves of the Greenwood suffer terribly. They are in need of a respite – even if it is temporary."

"The trees too!" Radagast put in. "I think Saruman and Gandalf are right. We must do something, even just for the time being. We can't just ignore this Shadow."

Alatar looked from one to the other, frowning slightly. "I did not say that we ought to ignore it," he said. "But I would suggest a ruse – instead of marching upon the fortress, we must encourage the presence to come to us. We cannot risk having it leave to poison some other place – "

"Just think about it," Pallando interrupted roughly. "If the Shadow leaves the Greenwood, where's it going to go next?"

"T-to Mordor, perhaps?" said Radagast.

"If it had the strength to build a stronghold in Mordor, it would have done so already," Alatar said. "It will not go to Mordor, nor will it march on the kingdoms of the West. No, it will turn to the East. Those lands will not stand long, for they have barely recovered from the last war – "

"Recovered?" Saruman snorted. "The Eastern lands chose to give themselves over to Evil!"

Alatar's eyes blazed. "They were occupied! Their leaders were tricked and coerced and forced into serving Sauron, and the common people had little say in the matter."

Saruman narrowed his eyes. "I would be more inclined to pity the Easterlings if ten thousand of them had not arrived at Dagorlad under the banners of Sauron!"

Pallando burst out laughing. Alatar rounded on him.

"What is the matter with you?" Alatar demanded. "Do you find this amusing?"

Pallando clapped him on the back. "I told you," he said, wiping his eyes. "You're not drunk enough for this. What, did you actually think they'd help us?"

"Did you not?" Alatar looked at his companion in surprise. "But…they remain our kinsmen, even if we are apart." He turned to look at the other wizards, confusion on his face. "We are the Istari. Are we not?"

"We were the Istari," Saruman said gravely. Mithrandir's face was a mask, and Radagast just looked sad. "I myself am loath to cleave what the Valar have joined. But you have forgotten who you are."

"But – "

"You can no longer be properly called Istari, and you will not be welcome at our councils."

"Saruman," Mithrandir said, "do you not think – "

"Peace, Mithrandir!" Saruman turned to face the Gray Wizard, allowing his power to seep through in his face and voice. "Are you the leader of the Istari, or am I?"

There was a silence. For a moment, it seemed to him that he was looking not at Mithrandir but at a being of power and majesty, and for a moment he felt afraid.

Then it was over, and Mithrandir was a shabby wanderer once more. "You are," he said at last, and Saruman felt a surge of vindication.

He got to his feet and swept towards the doorway of the pavilion, his robes billowing.

Pallando snickered behind him, and he stopped.

"What," he said slowly, "is so amusing?"

"Not sure where you're going in such a hurry," Pallando said, smirking. "We're on an oliphaunt, remember?"

Damn it all. He had forgotten that.

"Just one moment," Alatar said, sounding strangely subdued. "Let me set up the rope ladder."

When the ladder was in place, Saruman followed Gandalf and Radagast down as carefully as he could manage. It was a rather undignified exit – hardly ideal. But then, when it came to the Blue Wizards, very little was.