The Grey Havens - Else: Concerning Wizards

Concerning Wizards

Description

Wizards looks like ordinary men, but they are old and the time didn't seem to have any effect on them. They have great powers in hand and mind, and they mostly carry a staff.

Gandalf (the grey): is the wizard we hear most about in The Lord Of The Rings. Gandalf has many names; Gandalf is mostly used in the North, Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkun among dwarfes, Incanus in the South, and he was called Olórin on the other side of the Great Sea. He keeps one of the Elven rings, the ring of fire. Gandalf knows many languages, and he is very wise. Therefore, he is a good leader and leads the company well, until he falls in the darkness of Moria. The Company meets him again, though, when they travel across Rohan. Rohan is situated in the south of Middle Earth, and the land is under the power of Théoden King. When the Company meets him again, he is called the White rider, and is wholly clad in white because at that time, he had become leader of the White Council. He finds Théoden in a quite miserable state, his minds poisoned by Wormtongue, Sarumans servant. Gandalf gives new hope to Théoden, and they both ride against Saruman, for the final battle. Gandalf is given Théodens best horse, Shadowfax.

Saruman (the white): is the oldest of the wizards, and he was also the leader of the White Council. He looks and acts much like Gandalf, but his evil thoughts reveals him. After he hears about the ruling ring, his main matter is to possess it. Saruman doesn't keep any of the rings, although he keeps one of the palantiri, a magic stone which help him see thing far away. With the help of this palantir, he gets in touch with Sauron, the dark lord, and becomes Saurons rival rather than enemy. They both desire the ruling ring, but Sauron is far stronger than Saruman. Saruman takes refuge in Orthanc, a great tower in the middle of Isengard. Sarumans voice may be dangerous, and he has a way of convincing other people to follow his evil plot. As an example, here comes some sentences he said to Théoden right after Orthanc was defeated:

'But you, Théoden Lord of the Mark of Rohan, are declared by your noble devices, and still more by the fair countenance of the House of Eorl. O worthy som of Thengel the Thrice Renowned! Why have you not come before, as a friend?'

Radagast (the brown): is a master of shapes and changes of hue. He can speaks to and understands beasts and birds. He is a worthy wizard, though he is at last involved in Sarumans plans without knowing it. He persuades Gandalf to go as swiftly as possible to Orthanc, because Saruman wished it. Nonethless, Radagast is reckoned by Gandalf as a faithful Wizard.

The wizards history

When Sauron, the dark lord, came to Mirkwood, Wizards came across the sea from the west. No creatures like these had ever been in the Middle Earth before. Even though Elrond and Galadriel kept this as a secret, the rumour was finally scattered among the Elves. It was said that the Wizards came from the Kings of the West to contest Sauron. The two most important Wizards were Mithrandir and Curunir. They were called Gandalf and Saruman in the North of Middle-Earth. Curunir was the oldest of them, and he later became head of the White Council. The White Council was found in Year 2463 of the Third Age. It was about this time that the Ring was found again. In this Council belonged among others Curunir, Mithrandir, Radagast, Elrond and Galadriel. Every wizard had their own colour in this Council. Saruman had the white colour, which means that he was the leader, while Gandalf had the grey and Radagast had the brown colour.

Saruman's mistake

Gandalf never felt totally secure, since the Ruling Ring wasn't destroyed. He went to Dol Guldur, a tower in Mirkwood, and found out that Sauron had come back. Gandalf's fears were true, and he suspected Sauron for searching after the One ring. Gandalf told about this to Elrond and they were agreed to find the ring and destroy it, before it was too late. They urged an attack at Dol Guldur, but Saruman overrules him. Saruman soon became aware of the power which lay in the Ruling Ring, and wanted to possess it for himself, so he could reign over the world. Obviously, he didn't reveal any of his evil plans for the rest of the White Council. On the contrary, he said to the others that the rings were lost in the great sea for ever. He started to conspire with the orcs, and his great army (Uruk Hai) consisted of the strongest orcs in Middle Earth. Their only quest was to get their hands on the ring.

The end of Orthanc

Fortunately, Gandalf found out about Saruman's plan when he visited him many years later. Saruman tried first to convince Gandalf to go on his side, but when Gandalf refused to cooperate, Saruman kept him prisoner inside Orthanc. Gandalf understood that the Saruman wasn't a good leader of the White Council anymore. However, both Saruman and his army was defeated by Ents, on account of a giant rising. He had taken no care of the trees for many years now,and both the Ents and the Huorns wanted to do something with his misbehaving. Gandalf had become the most powerful wizard, and after Saruman was thrown down, he broke his staff by command.

"Behold, I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death. You have no colour now, and I cast you from the order and from the Council." He raised his hand, and spoke slowly in a clear voice. "Saruman, your staff is broken.! There was a crack, and the staff split asunder in Saruman's hand, and the head of it fell down at Gandalf's feet.

On this page you can read about things that I don't have enough material to make whole section or couldn't decide where to put some texts.