Losing A Knut and Finding A Galleon
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing of this story, except the storyline, and any character no-one in the entire universe knows about.
Chapter 7-The Ride To Isenguard.
Shadallion galloped. The pace was something Gandalf was used to. He was returning to his home to find anything on Ithildur. Somehow the name seemed familiar, even though he had not heard it before, but no one seemed to know anything, no one in the council, him, the elves. Suddenly it hit him. Saruman. Although magically powerless, his mind was even more powerful than Gandalf's own, considering he managed to successfully communicate with Sauron in the days of The War. Saruman was a one off Itsari, because even after death, he managed to remain in the void between the Plane of the Living and of the Dead, and so he would as long as he had at least one bit of knowledge that no one else in the World had. And getting one bit out of him was going to require a lot of haggling. The last time Saruman revealed a piece of knowledge, it cost the New Council a rather large chunk of Magic to place another piece of knowledge into a stone, thereby justifying his existence forever, and Saruman had demanded permission to have a servant descended from Wormtounge carry the rock with him so Saruman could get some 'new knowledge'. If he communicated with Sauron, which Gandalf remembered as Ithildur, maybe he can do so again, or at least give Gandalf the means to.
The horse slowed after the long gallop, and Gandalf reined the horse to the side of the cliff to see the splendour of Cormar, the tower that replaced Orthanc. Gandalf smiled at the tower resembling his staff (in the core of the tower) and the 20 rings in concrete form surrounding the core, but it wasn't for show, the concrete actually contained 19 out of the 20 rings of Power, to provide protection, but no longer controlled by the One Ring, but each ring's power is connected to one member of The Wise Council (again, courtesy of Saruman), they also doubled up as balconies for walking and magical rituals. Next to the tower, stood larger-than-life sized statues in honour of the Fellowship, including Boromir, to much controversy and all were to scale, although tall, the Tower dwarfed them. What was special about these towers was that 7 of the fellowship were entombed in their statues (Boromir was left in his resting place, by Faramir's wishes, and Gandalf isn't dead yet, Frodo was brought from the Grey Havens). Stirring from his pride and reminiscence of his friends, Gandalf rode the last few miles, stopping to bow before his friends. He stabled Shaddalion and sought Saruman.
"Saruman! Saruman, you dog! Come, or shall I send you to the Netherworld, you know of our agreement" It was an empty threat, Gandalf didn't have the power to open the Netherworld, never mind send someone through the portal, but it was fun to say it anyway. Saruman materialized in, without the usual show. It satisfied Gandalf to see Saruman with his tail between his legs (if he had any).
"How may I be of service, brother Wizard," he said in falsely enthusiastic voice.
"You are no Wizard, Saruman, even if you had not lost your staff, and I would be ashamed to call you my brother, but the1 way you may be of service to me is you will share knowledge of Ithildur. And here's the bargain. Give me what I want, or I send you to the Netherworld!"
"You know as well as I do, only Ithildur could even attempt to send some one to the Netherworld. I was once Saruman the White you know, I am aware of the extent of the Power. New bargain, I give you what you want, and you tell me why you want it, and you will owe me a deed, Gandalf the Fool."
Gandalf smiled. He may not be able to send a spirit to the Netherworld, but he can inflict minor pain. He held his staff like a shotgun and zapped Saruman.
"Very well, spirit dog, I shall tell you why I want the knowledge I seek. I wish to gain some insight on the prophesy of the Lord of Power also known as the King of White."
"You would regret that if I didn't want the honourable oath of the Itsari kind. Give it to me, now!"
Gandalf sighed. He held his staff in a straight line, and allowed Saruman to touch it (Spirit Magic)
"I Gandalf the White, Lord of the tower of Cormarë, Head of the Wise Council, do solemnly swear on my staff, that my debt to you will be repaid, lest you gain the ability to commandeer my staff for all eternity, and I am forced to forfeit my place in the Blessed Lands to you."
"Good. Of Ithildur, I know little more than the elves do, and I shall only tell you part of what I know" he was cut short by Gandalf
"The oath will not take affect unless you play your full part, Saruman"
"I shall tell you all of what I know of Ithildur, but it is very little, for I only came into existence towards the end of his reign as Ithildur the White, for I was only Saruman the Grey, and I swear he remembers nothing. Ithildur disguised himself as Sauron, threatening to take the World. We, the former Council were obliged to stop him, but even we could not defend the Cities for long, I fell to his sword, and was born the way you remember me-Saruman the White. Ithildur lost power over the Council, and the Elditsar came and defeated him. I distinctly remember his last words: (translated of course) I was only the messenger. Not the prophecy, I was only the Steward, preparing the way for The King of White, I have betrayed you brothers. I am truly sorry and he died, but I took no heed to them, for soon I began to believe I was the King of White, and was proved wrong. Take heed, Gandalf you may be the King of White, for you found the prophecy, and though the wording is the same, even part of the prophecy may have yet to come true, the part will be erased. Anything more, only Bombadil may know." He materialized out, probably to his domain in Wormtounge's pocket.
"Gandalf, King of the White, Lord of Power, may have yet to prove himself" Gandalf tossed these words around his mind; it could yet be a possibility.
A/N: Cormarë is actually legitimate elfish, it means 'Ringday', which celebrates Frodo and Bilbo's Birthday. Loving the reviews. Note to Athenakitty: please stop asking me questions about the story! Appreiciate the Reviews, but I can't tell you. Apologies if they are rhetorical questions
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