A.N. There might be some slight delays on my uptades . . . .presently I am busy looking for work (so that I would have money to spend on the holidays hehhehe ( ^_^ ) . . . . . hope you all understand . . . pls dont forget to review . . thanks

CHAPTER 22: Saruman


The guardhouse was a large chamber with many doors. It had a hearth and a chimney where a small fire had already been lit. In the middle of the room was a long wooden table and chairs. After Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli were seated at the end of the table, the hobbits disappeared through one of the inner doors. When they came out, they brought dishes, bowls, cups, knives, food and drinks. After the hearty meal, the hobbits handed out the fine pipeweed that they had found floating about in barrels. Then the hobbits began their tale of the events that occurred after Boromir's last fight until the present. As the hobbits were finishing their tale, Lenae appeared before them. Getting up from the seats everyone fell silent.

Bowing to Aragorn, she addressed him ' Aragorn, King of Gondor, I wish to inform you that you can enter Isengard if you want. You might be curious as to what Gandalf has been doing. It would be better if you see it for yourself '

Giving a nod to Lenae, Aragorn indicated that he would like to go. Bowing again to Aragorn, Lenae began to lead the way followed by Gimli, the hobbits and lastly Legolas.

The two hobbits were merrily chatting with each other and puffing their smokes when Legolas tapped Pippen's shoulder.

' Pippen may I ask how you came to know of Lenae? '

' Commander Lenae? ' Pippen asked back

' Who else you fool! ' Merry exclaimed while smacking Pippen's head

' Ahh, yes . . .well you see here lord elf . . . she was introduced to us by Treebeard after the flooding of Isengard. He told us to trust her and to follow her orders; it seems that they have been friends for years he told us. ' said Pippen

' And we trust Treebeard and if he trust her then we also trust her. ' Merry added

Giving a nod to the two hobbits, Legolas looked ahead to Lenae. He longed to talk to her and ask her questions like how long had she known this Treebeard? And how did they meet? But Aragorn was right, this was not the time to be asking those questions. The right time will come and he will be ready when it does.

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Coming out of the ruined tunnel that they had passed, their eyes came upon Orthanc, the tower in which Saruman was presently occupying. Around it were pools of water covered with scum and wreckage. Across the waste they saw Gandalf and Theoden heading their way. Meeting halfway, Gandalf greeted them with a smile.

' I gather you have all rested? Now before we go on with our journey to Gondor, I have but one duty to finish. I must bid Saruman a farewell visit, it will be dangerous . . . and those of you who wish to join me may do so. A Warning to those who will, beware of his voice! '

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Orthanc was ominous when they reached its foot. On its eastern side in between two pillars high above the ground was a great door. Over it was a shuttered window, which opened upon a balcony surrounded by iron bars. The only entrance to the tower was a flight of stairs with twenty-seven broad steps.

After dismounting, Gandalf had voiced out that he and Lenae would go up to see Saruman. Theoden had also expressed his desire to see Saruman but he was to bring along Eomer to make sure his steps will not falter. Because of this Gandalf had decided that he will bring Aragorn along then he asked the others to stay behind. But Gimli and Legolas refused. Gimli cited that since he and Legolas were the lone representatives of their kindred, they had the right to accompany Gandalf. So it was agreed that the seven of them would go up and meet Saruman.

Upon reaching the door, Gandalf beat it with his staff while calling out to Saruman. High above the balcony, they saw an old man come out and look down upon them. He had white hair and beard but strands of black still visible about his lips and ears, he had a high forehead and deep darkening eyes.

' What is it that you want? ' he asked in a low and melodious voice.

' Ah! Gandalf my good friend! Do you wish to seek council again? And you Theoden, Lord of the Mark of Rohan, how I have longed to see you! How may I be of service to you and your people? '

Down below the stairs, the men began murmuring with approval. They were spell bound to Saruman's words.

Frowning with disapproval, Eomer spoke up ' Lord Theoden, hear me! Do not be swayed with his sweet and honeyed words. He only desires to flee from punishment. Do not forget all those who had given their lives in Helm's Deep! '

' I speak of truth Eomer son of Eomund. I do not speak of lies. I am here to help you now just I have given my aid to you before. ' Saruman replied once again in a soft voice

' You are a liar Saruman! A corrupter of men's hearts! I will no longer be deceived by you or by your words! ' Theoden shouted out with anger

Looking at a silent Gandalf, Saruman spoke again with his charmed voice.

' Gandalf, my dear old friend. Would you not like to come in so we could have some tea and talk? '

' I will not be fooled by you once again Saruman! Why don't you come down here so we could talk face to face? '

Anger flashed momentarily on Saruman face then he smiled and spoke

' If you don't wish to have tea with me so be it Gandalf the grey! Good day! '

He then turned and left the balcony.

' And where do you think your going? Gandalf did not give you leave to go! ' came Lenae's cold voice

To everyone's amazement, Saruman was somehow pulled back to the balcony and was roughly turned by some invisible force to face them. Clutching heavily on his black staff, Saruman cried out

' Who are you to do such a thing to me? '

' Who am I? ' Lenae laughed evilly

' How quickly can you forget Saruman! How quickly did you forget those who have had given your powers of darkness. How quickly you forget us . . . the Black elves! ' Lenae spoke, her voice filled with anger and coldness

' Noooooo! ' screamed Saruman, his face turning ghastly white with fright

' The dark elves are gone . . . . they are all dead, every one last of them! '

' Not all were killed Saruman . . . I still live! If you had not betrayed us . . . my race would still be alive and for that . . .I will take what is ours!

Saruman stiffened and then began to shake, a dark aura was then seen coming out slowly from him then it flowed to Lenae.

' You have failed once again Saruman. Behold I am no longer Gandalf the grey but I am now Gandalf the white. You have no color now. I cast you away from the order and from the council, your staff is broken! '

And with a resounding crack, the staff split under Saruman's hand and with a cry he fell to the ground and crawled away. Suddenly a shining round object came hurling down, missing Gandalf by a hair. Crashing into the staircase without breaking, the object rolled down the steps and was then picked up by Pippen who happened to be seated at the bottom. Going up the steps with his heavy load, Pippen gave the object to Gandalf, which he then quickly hid underneath his heavy cloak.

' It is done, let us take our leave ' Gandalf spoke

' Wait! ' Theoden cried

' I wish to know about the black elves for I have no knowledge of their existence and of their connection to Saruman ' he quickly added

' Let us go down and sit, I am sure that Lenae would not mind telling us her tale ' said a smiling Gandalf

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' We are a race of elves long forgotten ' Started Lenae

' We came here with the arrival of the first elves. And the little power we had quickly grew. Because we posses the beauty, grace and intelligence of the white elves . . . we became feared. The white elves thought of us as evil beings, they feared that we might do middle earth harm because our powers came form darkness. But they were wrong! . . .we are good. . . . War among our races was forth coming and we did not want to fight them, so we made it look that we left middle earth. But the truth was that we hid among the dark and cold places of the forest and mountains. We could not leave middle earth for we had felt evil coming . . an evil so great that it will be difficult to defeat by ordinary weapons alone. Long after our supposed leaving, our existence was forgotten. And we were glad for we continued to grow our powers in preparation for the coming. We waited for years and years, until evil had finally arrived. We did not stop the Dark Lord when he first started gaining powers, we wanted to let the people of middle earth learn that they needed unity among themselves for middle earth back them was filled with disputes. We have decided to show ourselves and help fight the Dark Lord in the final battle. But before that could happen, a very young wizard came seeking us out. He wanted our help to gain power to help rid middle earth of the Dark Lords power. We believed in the young wizard . . . we taught him how to harness the power of darkness and then we gave him some of our powers. The young wizard was Saruman . . .and we were wrong to believe in him. . . .He betrayed us all. We did not see that he was lying, he was given by Sauron powers to keep us from seeing his true intentions. He was slowly draining our powers and when he had gathered enough . . . he killed us all. '

Throughout the tale everyone was silent. The coldness of Lenae's voice conveyed her feelings of both bitterness and sadness.

' I was lucky . . . my father had a premonition . . .so he left me at the gates of Valinor, where he knew that I would be safe and taken cared of. I am now the last. And when I awakened, all the memories and powers of my race came to me! '

Pausing once again, she came to look at Gandalf

' It is growing late! We should take our leave! '

' Yes indeed! ' replied Gandalf as he stood.