In the description of this meeting Saruman says "For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ringmaker, Saruman of Many Colours!"

Mmmmm. Saruman Ringmaker.

It also says that Gandalf saw a ring on Saruman's finger, just a little earlier. Now we all know that Saruman studied the art of ring making closely and that was probably why the White Council looked to him for advice on the subject. Therefore the ring on his finger was no doubt a ring of power which HE had made.

This bring sup some rather interesing questions.

1) Where did his pick up his knowledge of ring making?
2) Was this ring subject to the power of the One Ring?
3) Did Saruman's ring survive the destruction of the One Ring?
4) Was this ring taken off him by Treebeard when Saruman left Orthanc?
5) How powerful was Saruman's ring?

Now Treebeard makes no mention of having taken a ring from Saruman, only the keys, therefore I believe we have to assume Saruman still had his ring. Whether or not his ring was still operational, or whether the ring lost its power after the One was destroyed is the key question.

Saruman conducted his own personal research into the rings of power. I believe I am right in saying that he came to his conclusions of ring making independant of any other influence. Therefore would it not be true to say that his ring would have been free of any connection to Sauron and also free of any influence, but giving much the same power to Saruman (i.e. an enhancement of his own personal power) as the other rings of power gave to their owners.

As far as the power of Saruman's ring goes, who knows? It was obviously not too powerful. Gandalf overwhelmed the power of Saruman in their confrontation in The Two Towers and this must have been a Saruman with both his staff AND his ring. But then I would believe that one of Gandalf's specfic tasks when he was sent back would have been to deal with Saruman and therefore gandalf was enhanced to the level which would mean he could take out Saruman, despite his staff and ring.

Saruman's ring was no doubt a lesser version of the One Ring. For this ring was made by Saruman, was his alone and was altogether ?evil?. Well Elrond said that about the One Ring and Sauron and it seems locgial to apply the same words to Sarumans ring.

Now if this ring was separate from the others (which I believe it must have been) then what the hell happened to it. Saruman surely would not have just thrown it away. But it was not recovered when Saruman was killed in The Shire.

Any thoughts out there?

Padster