[Ophelia]

Oah , dear , the grief ! I've lost my RotK book ! I simply should stop loosing things this easily . Especially I pitty the loss of this book at this very moment for I won't be able to answer the question entered as the thread title correctly as I had a thought that needed to be confirmed . So you'll have to forgive me if something is not right .

The scourging of the Shire was first predicted (not to mention Elronds suspicion) in the waters of the mirror of Galadriel to which , to comfort shocked and angry Sam , the Queen of Lorien said that what was seen in the mirror (predicted as in already supposed to happen) can be changed if you keep on the path of preventing the bad things to happen . And with that thought the hobbits returned to the Shire .

Whilest being a white Wizard , Saruman had powers of foreseeing things to come . I doubt not that he had the vision of the Shire aswell , moreover , it was his destiny . And Saruman , as we all know , was corrupted and had a very clear vision of the victory of Sauron , of which he tried to convince Gandalf aswell . As is mentioned in the books , his mind was set only on destroying and fulfilling his plans towards Middle-Earth as he was convinced that Sauron is behind all his deeds . The confidence satys even after Treebeard and Gandalf drives him out of Isengard for he is convinced that even though one tower has been neutralised , the other will not be defeated . And he was quite certain that Sauron will share his power with him . So after loosing his staff and most of his powers he went on to the Shire for it was destined for him and , in my opinion , because that was one place where he wouldn't need to prove his no more existing power to take controle , it was enough only with his persone there to become an authority . But then comes the big strike - Sauron is defeated , which means Saruman is left without a coverage : his powers were lost and the only one to give him any was gone .

In my opinion after the darkness of Sauron was lifted and the end of all bad things was near , Saruman felt it and fell in some sort of depressive state . All was lost . I don't know if I can do that , but I can say that this depression is seen in the last days of many big tyrans (I better not name them but I dearly hope you do understand of which I speak) , for as it was mentioned in the book (if it wasn't than please point that out) when Frodo and his company came to Shire they found Saruman looking rather pittyful and nought of his former power and glory . And it is very likely to make a final attempt on the edge of end .

So after all the long explaining I must conclude that I believe Saruman simply made this last attempt . Saruman stoped turning events in his own benefits for there was no more reason , nor chance . For now Saruman was destroyed which means that the great evil was gone now for good which means that Saruman had no more actual power for after he was driven from Isengard , he lost any powers he had possesesd and the only power he had now was the one given to him by Sauron and his voice and authority . But Saruman was not a fool and knew these things fade and soon people would understand he is noght but an old man playing a mighty lord . So when Frodo and his company came back to Shire , Saruman had only two choices - to beg to be released (and knowing the nature of hobbits I dare say he would have gotten his release) , which would mean a further life of misery and nothingness for he had no more power and he was old , or to resist and die . So now he shows his intention to die for he chooses to try to resist . He knows he can't deal with all of the hobbits so he decides to to kill one but someone meaningful to all of the hobbits to leave the biggest damage as traces of him in the history . But killing someone as important as Frodo would mean a certain death . And now this speaks in favour of the theory of Saruman being willing to meet his doom . And I am quite certain that it indeed was his intention or if not so , nought more than an act of desperation . But I dare believe he knew all the possible consequences oah too well .

Ophelia