Posted: May 23, 2000 at 00:57:27: by Aelmer
: Interesting discussion, though it strayed from Saruman rather quickly. Saruman can serve as a stand in or model (in the scientific sense) since we don't get to observe Sauron as directly as we do Saruman): both were Maia, one-time followers or studnets of Aule.
: The Wise point out that evil is likely to dismiss the weak with contempt, not take them into account. Saruman knew about Hobbits and Ents, but convinced himself they were weak, useful only as sources of supply (pipe weed and wood) and as safe targets for his malice. If he knew of the Dunedain of Arnor, he'd long ago dismissed them as weak, has beens, not worth attention.
: But, my point was also that, even prior to his unmasking, the Wise kept things from him. Aragorn, in all of his wanderings, never got to Isengard, not even in disguise.
: Saruman was very isolated there in Isengard: you'd think the Rohirrim might pay him an occassional neighborly visit (didn't real world kings ride the bounds of their realms, make a point of getting acquainted with their neighbors?) Surely Grima wasn't the only of the Rohirrim to visit Isengard.
Saruman probably knew of Aragorn. He may have known that Aragorn was the true heir to the crown, and that Aragorn went on scouting/spying missions for the Council. However, it would be just as easy for him to dismiss the importance of Aragorn, as it was dismiss the importance of hobbits and the Dunedain of Arnor .
After all, Aragorn was just another member of the scattered and weak Dunedain. So what if he was the heir, he had not asserted his claim, and since he did not have the power to back up his claim, there was little likelyhood he would do so in the foreseeable future. What little importance given to Aragorn would be for the information he brought to the White Council. I suspect that the Rohirrim visited Saruman in Isengard during the early years, and vice versa. I belive, that once Saruman began to turn away from his mission, he probably didn't encourge or welcome visiters. If Aragorn had made it to Isengard, he may have been turned away because of standing orders.
~Aelmer
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