69 From Afar.
The orb glowed brightly as the Istari stood, still as stone, stooped over, his unblinking gaze transfixed by the colours swirling across its surface. For years now he had been an eager visitor to its room high in Orthanc's tower, never once allowing his gaze to falter once caught. Initial caution having fled before the certainty of control, he ardently consumed all it had to give.
Sauron's lips curled in parody of a smile as he deliberately fed the orb before him. Unable to portray a lie, the stone sucked in the carefully selected images intended to ensure that the proud, yet foolish wizard avidly drinking them in from his own orb far away drew false conclusions.
The glow faded as Saruman stepped back his unwitting corruption complete…
A/N
Many thanks to everyone still working through these little snippets with me. Special thanks to those who have left me a review. They do help keep me motivated.
I would also like to say thanks to Dream Plane who, as a guest, I am unable to reply to personally. Hopefully you will read this one too. :)