DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THESE FABULOUS CHARACTERS BELONG TO ME. THEY ALL BELONG TO THE GREAT GENIUS TOLKIEN!!!!!!!!!!

Part Four

Pallando stumbled down the slope towards his camp. He didn't think the trip could get any worse. On the second day, he had already betrayed his best friend, and Saruman had caught onto Alatar's secret.

He stumbled into his tent, only to find that it had been ransacked, and all his notes were gone.

Pallando shouted, "What is going on?" He walked around his camp, searching for his notes. They were nowhere to be seen.

He climbed up the hill. He asked Saruman, "Where are my notes?" Saruman sneered, and said, "Your notes are safe with me. I have made sure that everything you have brought with you is safe and sound. Your notes are in my tent. You will not take them back until I let you. All your spare robes will be burned, for you only need one robe."

Pallando felt fear in his heart. Perhaps... perhaps he could get help from Valinor. He would send for Olórin.

He ran down the hill, and grabbed a piece of parchment from his knapsack. He willed the paper to begin writing itself.

"Dear good friend Olórin,

Curumo caela naaie kula ilye sina luume', ar'ro sa nau nwalka ar'oren n'ner. Iluea lletul ar'leitha nossa tuulo'ryi ista? Synthra umikotane!

Tuulo'Pallando"

Pallando shoved the parchment into his pocket. He would have to get it transported to Valinor later on.

Saruman watched in interest as he saw Pallando's letter. He thought, I wonder what he wrote there.

That night, while most of the camp was sleeping peacefully, Saruman stole into Pallando's tent. He snatched the piece of parchment, and read it. He smiled, and said, "I'll let you send your message, ungrateful one, but when you do, you won't be around for an answer!" Saying that, Saruman slunk off.

Alatar did not wake up in the morning. Pallando shook Alatar's head. "Alatar, my friend, it is time to wake up. Alatar?" The Blue Istari didn't move. Pallando shook Alatar harder. "Wake up! Synthra wake up!"

Saruman walked into Pallando screaming at Alatar in Elvish. He smiled sweetly, and said, "He won't wake up." Pallando looked up at Saruman. "What do you mean?"

The White One laughed. "For an Istari, you have to fight for the best seat. You didn't tell me everything that you knew, so I had to... punish you in sorts.

The Blue One laughed harshly. "You will be downgraded severely for this."

Saruman laughed again. "You have no means of communication with the Lords of the West. For now, it's just us, and I plan to make it only one." Pallando stumbled back, his mouth open in horror. Did he just hear Saruman say that? He ran down the hill, towards his camp.

Saruman smiled. One fool down, another one to go.

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Pallando wept in his hands. What had he let go wrong? This trip wasn't a trip for the Valar anymore. This trip was for his best friend. His only friend.

He thought about the first time he had met Alatar. They were both young Maiar, and they were both working under Yavanna.

Pallando was shy and timid. Alatar was bold and stubborn.

"Hi little shy one! Why don't you speak up?" Alatar had asked him.

Pallando had stammered, "My name is Pallando. I am one of Yavanna's Maiar."

Alatar had nodded, and said, "My name is Alatar. I am also one of Yavanna's Maiar. Pleased to meet your acquaintance!"

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Pallando stopped weeping. He thought, Whatever I do, I must not let Saruman get me. If he does, then there will be no more Blue Istari to fight against the will of the White. I have to find some kind of creature!"

Then, a huge black crow cawed, and flew into Pallando's camp. Pallando gazed in amazement as it opened its beak, and cawed.

Pallando fingered his piece of parchment. Perhaps...

He put the parchment through the bird's talons. He whispered, "You must send this piece of parchment to Valinor. You know where to fly. Follow the eagles. Give this to Manwë and Varda's Maiar, Olórin. You must do this. Understood?" The crow nodded.

Pallando said, "Good. Please do not fail me, o Sir Crow!" The crow flew off, along with all of Pallando's hopes.

Saruman watched in amusement as the crow flew off, bearing Pallando's sacred letter. He wondered if he should stop the Blue Istari from getting too hopeful. He shook his head. No. Let his hope fail him. Apparently, Pallando did not know that Olórin had been assigned to wander the North of Arda. Saruman smiled. His plan was going just as it had been put out.