Far away, in a great black tower stabbing high into the night, an old man stood gazing into a crystal globe on a high pedastle.
"So they are not yet dead," he murmured in a low voice. "But their horses are, and without them, they are no match for Storwolos and his band."
"I do not trust these Dunlenders!" said Grima Wormtongue.
"They will serve my purposes," the old man replied. "Or do you think you know better than Saruman of Many Colours!" His voice rose as he turned upon his servant, and Grima cringed before the wizard.
"No Master!" cried Grima. "You should have let me recover the relic. They will surely steal it!"
"So you wish to recover the relic?" the old man scoffed. "Fool! Neither the Dunlenders nor the Rohirrim will live to tell the tale! Do you think I sent those savages to find me a treasure?" Saruman began to laugh, a deep sinister laugh that ended in a cackle of wicked glee.
"I'll tell you what I sent them for," cried the wizard. "And then you can tell me if you would rather I had sent you! When the savages find the hammer, they will find something else that they will not expect."
He gestured at the Palantir. Dark images of shadow and flickering fires could be seen at an impossible depth within the crystal orb.
"And when they find what they seek, something else will find them, and I will be watching," said the wizard. "When Sauron waged war upon the Elves of ancient Hollin, many creatures were unleashed that were conceived in an earlier day of great tumult and darkness. Much evil was brought against them, but there was great arrogance and pride that was brought against themselves, for Sauron was subtle and worked long amongst them ere they learned of his Ruling Ring. Do you know who, or should I say what, lies buried in the elvish ruins of Ost-in-Edhil? Of course you don't! But soon, the savages will. And if the barbarians from Rohan are persistent enough, they will also learn!"
And with that, the wizard's peals of evil laughter rang throughout the tower and Wormtongue was indeed glad that he had not been sent to the ruins.
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