Not knowing how much power it would take to merge the spell with the enchantments already in place on the Seeing Stone, Saruman waited three days before returning to the workroom. During that time he had restored what reserves he could hold, and stored the extra in another crystal that had been made specifically for this purpose.

Confident that he had all the energy he needed to power the spell, Saruman began casting. A soft golden mist filled the interior of the crystal, glowing briefly before fading. The globe was clear again, a residual hum of power the only sign of the dweomer he had added.

Saruman reached out to activate the Seeing Stone, eager to see the results of his handiwork, and recoiled. It had taken all his power to do this one little spell. He had nothing left to activate the orb, and trying had given him an immediate headache.

Gritting his teeth in frustration and anger at the weakness he was still not accustomed to, the wizard stalked out. He could take some of his temper out on Grima; it was his fault he was in pain anyway, the lackwit. Saruman stopped. Why was he wasting his magic when he could use Wormtongue's?

With an evil little smile, the wizard continued to hunt for the pathetic Rohirrian. Having your magic ripped away and used by another was very painful. He would get what he wanted and punish the little man at the same time. The day was beginning to look up.

"By the All-Seeing Eye, what is this nonsense?" Saruman growled, horrified and amazed by the now-translated text.

Grima lay on the floor, too weak to stand. He lifted his head, pale eyes watery with pain. He felt like he had been thrown on frozen prairie and trampled, his whole body aching. From his prone position the letters were warped by the curve of the crystal, but they could still be made out.

Legoluver69: Legolas is SO hot.

MrsGreenleaf: Tell me about it. drool '

Lego4evah: Yeah, why else do you think he was carrying that silver pitcher around Lothlorien? It was for all the drool

Ohthoseeyes: You guys are nuts. Frodo is the hottest. sigh Those eyes…

Legoluver69: Nuh-uh. Legolas baby, all the way.

Orlifan1: Still the prettiest

Rangerbabe: Ick. Pervy elf and hobbit fanciers. Can I get a wibble?

Anduril: wibble! Aragorn is muy macho. Can you just imagine him nakers? Yumm.

Stewardess: Oh please. Boromir is the manliest. I'd blow the 'Horn of Gondor' any time baby.

Lego4evah: Gross.

MrsGreenleaf: Hairy sweaty stubbly. Yeah, I can imagine it all right. Yuuucccchhh. It is to hurl.

Anduril: Just ignore the little elfy girls. They're not old enough to appreciate a real man.

Legoluver69: Hey, I'm fifteen! Whaddaya mean not old enough?

Anduril: I rest my case. Babies, the lot of them.

Legoluver69: So how old are you?

Anduril: Heh. Old enough not to answer that.

Legoluver69: Ohmigawd, are you over twenty?

Anduril: Maybe

Lego4evah: cough old cough

Anduril: Hey, I'm twenty-two. That's not old.

MrsGreenleaf: Think you're older than all of us.

Stewardess: Uhhh, not quite. I'm older than Anduril is. I think most of the Legomad fangirls are in their early teens. No offense.

Orlifan1: Hard to.

Orlifan1: Take offense that is. We ARE that age.

Rangerbabe: It's ok. You'll grow up and see that elves are cute, but nancing about in green tights isn't all there is to life.

Legoluver69: Oy! Whadda ya mean, nancing? Legolas is NOT gay.

Ohthoseeyes: Oh yeah? There's a whole sh tload of fanfiction out there that says he is.

Lego4evah: You're just mad because everyone thinks Sam an Frodo are a couple

Ohthoseeyes: Are not! Sam marries Rosie and has lots of kids. They're SO not sleeping together. Frodo is mine! My own, my precioussssss…

MrsGreenleaf: LOL

Pippinsscarf: Yeah well, you can have him. Pippin is the cutest hobbit. He's so sweet, and I love his singing.

"This is ridiculous!" Saruman growled as he put his hand over the orb to end the spell. He clearly needed to start over. Something had gone seriously wrong with his casting. As he spoke, words glittered to life inside the ball.

'Saruman has joined LotrhottiesChat'

Saruman: This is ridiculous!

Legoluver69: Whoah! Newbie on board, and it's a troll!

Saruman looked at the text in consternation. He was interacting with… whatever this place was. He decided to speak again.

Saruman: I am not a troll. I am a powerful wizard.

Anduril: Sure you are, 'Saruman'.

Legoluver69: rolleyes

Pippinsscarf: What's the matter, don't think the Maia are getting enough love?

Saruman: Love? Hah. I'd sooner hold a philosophical debate with one of my uruks than fall victim to love.

Rangerbabe: Then what the frell are you doing here? This chat room is for those of us in love or at least in lust with the Fellowship members.

Saruman: I'm not sure how I got in here. I was looking for information on the events occurring in Middle Earth after I was trapped in my tower.

Orlifan1: Riiiightttt…

Lego4evah: Not a troll, a nut job

Stewardess: Nah, he's a troll all right. Bugger off 'Saruman'; nobody's going to fall for that 'I'm really the White Wizard' crap, even if it IS slightly more original than pretending to be Legolas.

Saruman: I will not stand here and be insulted by children. I am going to search elsewhere for answers. Obviously none of you have any.

Saruman has left LotrhottiesChat

"Where did I go wrong?" Saruman glared at the Seeing Stone. This wasn't what he wanted at all. His brows drew together as he stared at the orb. "All that time, wasted. I am no closer to winning free of this accursed exile."

"Your pardon master, but perhaps you are closer than you think." Grima sniveled, knowing that Saruman would take his frustration out on him, and was desperate to shift his attention elsewhere.

"Of what are you speaking, little worm?" Saruman turned his eyes to the man huddled in his black robes.

"Did not one of the maidens speak of future events with complete certainty? I think you have wrought better than you could have dreamed. Treat with them as you did the White Council, and they will tell you everything you need to know."

"Bah, what do they know? They are nearly all adolescents, by their own admission." Saruman scowled. Although…there was some truth in what Grima said. He could gain information, but it would be an inefficient use of his time to winnow the wheat from the amount of chaff circulating in that place. Well, he would give it another try in a few days when his power was restored. Perhaps it was not always thus, and if it was, he could always shift the Seeing Stone's focus.