Why do you think we have to decied between the two? I think it is possible that they did work for the second age in the east and when Saruman arrived they meet him at Mithlond and the three went into the east were they took up their work and stay for a long time loyal to thier original task. But in the end before the 3 age found its final conflict in the west they failed as is told in the Unfinished Tales.
Respectfully
Findegil
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