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The fellowship parted from Strider, King Elessar, at Orthanc 6 days ago. They are coming up on the Misty Mountains when they overtake two ragged beggars. One is wearing tattered grey or dirty white robes trailed by a sniveling shell of a man crawling along behind him. The company has overtaken Saruman and Grima who is more of a worm than ever.

Saruman has come a long ways in his long travels from Arda. Once Saruman was the White, now he is no color at all. Once he was a powerful Maia, preferred of many now he is merely a bitter shell of himself. He is offered mercy but he is unable to be humble enough to accept it. So bitter is he that he alters his direction to avoid following after the company.

As he is leaving he steals the last of Merry's pipeweed and his pouch and he warns the company that they may not find the Southfarthing to their liking when they finally get there. He kicks Grima along who mutters about the cruelty but he is still to firghtend to accept Gandalf's challenge to leave Saruman. But this grumbling is a portend of things to come.

I have always wondered if Saruman had planned to go to the Shire and do his evil work or, if it was a plan that formulated in his head as a result of this encounter.