Chapter XXXII

Gandalf's Investigation

It was in the pale rays of morning that Saruman found himself wandering the wilder parts of his garden near the ring wall of Isengard. He intended to enjoy the splendor of the Wizard's Vale and breathe the free air for a while before delving back into the forges of Orthanc and setting to work.

As he strolled on near the gate, the guards alerted him to Radagast approaching the fortress. They opened the gate, recognizing him as a Wizard and an ally of their lord. When the gate was closed again, Radagast gave a small, polite bow, and Saruman smiled warmly.

"Would you like to join me for breakfast?" Saruman asked. "A good morning meal and some rest will serve you well."

"No, I'm quite fine," said Radagast. "I've already eaten and rested as I came into the valley. Please, let us walk. Isengard is too pretty a sight for us to sequester ourselves away in the confines of your tower."

And so they walked among the trees, and Radagast delighted the shade of the tall trees and the songs of the birds. Saruman had hoped that his colleague would enjoy the forest, so he appreciated Radagast's approval. He knew that he wasn't one of Yavanna's people, but perhaps he was competent as an amateur gardener.

"Mirkwood is a very long way from here," said Saruman. "Why have you made such a journey?"

The shorter Wizard swung his staff up at the branch of an apple tree to knock down a fresh fruit, which he stowed away in his rugged traveling bag. "Oh, it's not so hard. As long as you're prepared to find shelter and set up a little camp, you'll be alright. Gandalf does it all the time." He blinked, realizing he forgot to answer the question. "Oh yes. Gandalf. I wanted to tell you that he's been traveling extensively, looking for answers to questions that he says have been troubling him."

Saruman raised a dark eyebrow. "What sort of questions?"

"Well, he's been trying to find the creature Gollum. Do you know of him?"

Saruman planted his staff firmly in the soil and leaned against it. "Hmm... I have only passing knowledge of a being by that name. A little Hobbit... or something like one?"

Radagast nodded. "Yes. According to Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins had an encounter with him during the Quest of Erebor, deep in the tunnels of the Misty Mountains."

"Of course he'd be down there... it's probably my own presence that has prevented him from slinking down south from the mountains, just like the orcs."

"That may be," said Radagast. "But he has slunk not south, but east. He followed young Bilbo out of the caves, and so Gandalf has been searching for him in Rhovanion. He's even employed the help of Estel, the ranger from Rivendell."

"And has he found this Gollum?"

Radagast scratched his chin. "I don't know."

"Very well," said Saruman. "Go and find Gandalf. Offer what help you think he might need. Tell him that if he needs my help, he may come to me with his findings. When that is done, return to Rhosgobel, and be watchful over Mirkwood. Darkness has not yet relinquished its grip upon the forest, and I would hate to see Radagast the Brown lose what he seeks to defend."

"And so I shall. Farewell Saruman, and thank you."

Saruman saw Radagast out the gate of Isengard, and saw the Brown Wizard safely out of the valley from his balcony in Orthanc. Once Radagast was beyond his sight, Saruman turned and entered the Palantír chamber. He gazed into the Orthanc stone and looked out to the East.

The orcs of Mordor were growing in number, pouring out of Barad-dûr, now rebuilt. To the North, the Easterlings of Rhûn were sending an army to Mordor to bolster the forces of the orcs, and to the South, the Haradrim were preparing to do the same. Saruman looked upon the armies of his old foe, and he clenched his teeth in anger. Sauron was not better than him, and Saruman would have loved to see all those armies crushed entirely.

Even as Saruman imagined victory, Sauron spoke again.

"How much do you hate?" the Dark Lord asked.

Saruman made to attempt to respond, but within, he was fuming. His anger was not to be taken lightly.

"It is not enough."

Author's note: I couldn't let this go unfinished. I've put in far too much time and effort and thought and love. To my knowledge, this is one of very few stories that features a good Saruman, if not the only one. I've become so attached to this story of Saruman's redemption, and I need to complete it.

Addiotionally, I'm considering going back to all previous chapters and doing a bit of cleaning up. There's some fat that could be trimmed, and it shouldn't be too hard to do.