The Lord of the Rings: The Voice of Saruman (Part Five and Last)

 

The Tale

They leave the steps of Orthanc and the Riders hail Theoden and salute Gandalf for his actions. Saruman’s spell is broken; they have seen him humiliated and dismissed. Gandalf says he must now report to Treebeard how things went with the disgraced wizard. Merry asks were they likely to have gone any other way.

‘Not likely,’ answered Gandalf. ‘though they came to the balance of a hair.’ There were reasons to offer Saruman a chance to repent. He still could have done the West much good. But he tried to deal with his foes one at a time, and his treachery was exposed to all. But now he will not serve but only command. Whatever happens he is in trouble. They cannot breach Orthanc from without, but who knows what Sauron can do?

Pippin asks what Gandalf will do with him if Sauron does not conquer? Nothing, replies Gandalf. He himself does not desire mastery. He cannot guess what will become of Saruman. But ‘I grieve that so much that was good now festers in the tower.’

But perhaps things have not gone so completely badly. ‘Often does hatred hurt itself!’ Gandalf thinks that there are few treasures in the tower more precious than that which Wormtongue hurled down at them. There is a sudden high shriek from Orthanc. Apparently, Saruman thinks so too.

The company returns to the ruin of the gate. Treebeard and a dozen or so Ents come out from the shadows where they have been hiding. Gandalf introduces the old Ent to Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas, who had missed the feast held for Theoden and his Riders. The three gaze at the Ents in wonder.

Treebeard is especially pleased to see the elf; it has been long since any Elves have been seen near Fangorn forest, and the Ents will always be grateful for the Elves ‘awakening’ them in the first place. The two exchange compliments about their homes. Mirkwood was a mighty great forest, says Treebeard, but not so big that they’re never glad to see new trees, answers Legolas. When all is over, he would love to return with a friend to explore the wonders of Fangorn. Treebeard says he and any Elf he chooses to bring will be most welcome.

But Legolas does not mean another Elf, but Gimli, son of Gloin. Gimli bows, but unfortunately his axe comes clattering down from his belt. Treebeard is taken aback and looks at the dwarf darkly. ‘This is a strange friendship!’ But Legolas hastens to assure him that the axe is not for trees but for Orc necks; Gimli slew forty-two in the recent battle.

‘That is a better story!’ But they will have to see what the future brings when it comes. Right now, the day is drawing to a close, and they say the King and his company have to ride back to Edoras. Gandalf says he must take his gatekeepers, Merry and Pippin, with him, but he thinks the old Ent will manage things well enough without them.

Maybe, but Treebeard will miss them. They have become friends in so short a time, and they are the first new thing he has seen for so long a time, he feels positively youthful, and almost ‘hasty’. He has put Hobbits in a place in the old Long List, right next to Ents; he will not forget them. He asks Merry and Pippin if they ever hear about any Entwives back in their homeland they will tell him, and come themselves if they can. The Hobbits say they will and turn away hastily; the parting is too emotional for them to prolong.

Treebeard gazes after them thoughtfully, then turns to Gandalf. So, Saruman wouldn’t leave, eh? He can kind of understand that. If all his forests were destroyed, he wouldn’t come out while he had one hole to hide in. But he hasn’t plotted to cover the world with trees and choke the life from all other things, Gandalf points out. The evil wizard must be kept locked up, to weave such plots as he can in his prison. Gandalf asks that they flood the bowl around the tower again, to prevent his escape from any tunnel he may have underground.

Treebeard agrees and assures Gandalf that the Ents will guard and make sure he does not get out. They will search every pebble in the valley until any secret way is discovered and blocked. Old, wild trees will be coming to make Isengard green again. They will call it the Watchwood. ‘Leave it to the Ents! Until seven times the years in which he tormented us have passed, we shall not tire of watching him!’

 

Bits and Bobs

Yavanna

According to Tolkien’s later ‘exploratory invention’, the tension between Dwarves and the Ents goes right back to the beginning. The Vala Yavanna, mistress of all trees and growing things, foresaw the depredations that her husband Aule’s creation, the Dwarves, would have on her trees, so she prayed that Eru create the Ents, to guard the forests. Matters weren’t helped when an army of Dwarves (not Durin’s Folk) ransacked the forest kingdom of Doriath, and, trying to escape through the woods, were destroyed by Ents. It is possible (though never stated) that, given his great age, Treebeard himself might have been there.

As it turns out later, Saruman’s imprisonment does not last quite as long as Treebeard promised. But at least he is removed from the chessboard and out of Gandalf’s hair for the rest of the action against Sauron.