The Mansions of Aulë, TA 3016
With the two Maiar who brought them here leading the way, they walked the short distance to the house, all four of them wrapped in cloaks with the hoods pulled low over their faces. The path, of gravel and crushed shells crunched beneath their feet. The sun would rise soon and birds were singing, but other than that, there was no sound. The grass and shrubbery were wet with dew. Their shoes and the hems of their cloaks quickly became damp.
From what little Angmar could tell in the pre-dawn light, the house was huge, a country manor house that housed many people run by a large and efficient staff. He was used to the heroic scale of architecture on Númenor, but even he thought this house was large. It was made of stone, with construction and detail work of very high quality.
The house was surrounded by lawns and gardens that stretched off into the distance. They reached the house and mounted broad stone steps leading to the formal front entrance, where a recessed alcove with stone benches build into either side framed a pair of tall wooden doors decorated with ornamental iron work, the finest Angmar had ever seen. The doors bore the same yellow sign as the gate. "This Dwelling is Under Quarantine. You may enter, but you may not leave." Angmar looked at Celebtan questioningly, as if to say, "Is this really a good idea?", but he was more focused on getting the visitors inside and out of sight.
Aiweneär explained about the quarantine signs. "Don't worry about it. It's one of our security measures, a ruse. It's to protect the fugitives visiting here during the Reunion. They all have immunity from arrest, but we aren't taking any chances. People can come here to visit, but they can't leave with the news that fugitives are being harbored here. They won't be allowed to leave until after all the fugitives have left and gotten far enough away to be beyond reach."
Celebtan opened one the heavy door. Again, Angmar was surprised he didn't knock and wait for a servant to open it, but there seemed to be no servants about at this hour. They followed Celebtan into the formal Front Hall.
Angmar looked around while he turned and secured the front door by fastening the lock. It was a grand room, appropriate to the scale of the house and the importance of its owner. The hall was paneled entirely in warm colored wood, carved in patterns of stars, geometric patterns, and leaves and vines.
To one side of the grand staircase was a panel of particular importance. It was ornately bordered and filled with writing. Angmar looked more closely. It was a list of names. At the top, in large letters, was the name Yavanna. In smaller letters, and indented a little, were twelve or fifteen names below hers. Four or five names down, he saw Aiwendil, Radagast's real name. Just below it was Aiweneär. Angmar guessed they were listed either by age or rank.
They walked across the room toward a side door. When they went passed it, Angmar noticed a matching panel on the opposite side of the staircase. In large letters at the top, it said Aulë. Fifteen or so names in smaller letters were listed below Aulë's name. Angmar saw Sauron glance at the panel, and then saw him stagger. Then Sauron looked away, his eyes straight ahead, a muscle in his jaw twitching.
Angmar looked at the panel again. The second name on the list was Curumo, Saruman's real name. The first name had been scratched out. Not just carefully carved away, but hacked and mutilated in anger. Score lines from the chisel went far beyond the original length of the name, which was still legible. Mairon.