The White Council

Re: Aragorn and Saruman

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: : Aragorn himself states that he'd never been to Isengard. Now we know that he was a great wanderer and explorer, and was in the neighborhood in his Thorongil days, probably other times. So here's a mystery: : : 1.) Did he, for some reason, have no curiosity about Isengard, a great work of his people, and, on journeys from Eriador to Rohan, prefer to camp out rather than seek shelter with a (purported) ally? : : 2.) Did he go to Isengard only to be turned away at the gates, and then express no curiosity as to why Saruman was so unfriendly (I'd think Saruman would welcome him, sweep his 1/2 Orcs under the carpet, and pump him for all possible info.) : : 3.) Have an attack of the same sub-conscious caution that Gandalf and others exhibited, and not want to associate too closely with this ally?

: Yes, it's one of those pesky little mysteries, but did Aragorn ever have a reason to go to Isengard, other than curiosity. He says that he has never been to Isengard. I've never been "to" the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, but I have seen it from a distance while traveling. There were times when I thought about going out of my way and having a closer look, but didn't have the time. It may have been the same, for Aragorn.

: If I had to pick,I would chose No.1 on your list, for Aragorn's early wanderings. ~Aelmer

This is my guess. Saruman *couldn`t* hide all that he`d done to Isengard from anyone that went inside: the orcs, the wolves howling in their dens, the furnace, the ruffianly men, many with orc-blood, the pillars and chains, the pollution, removal of all greenery from within the circle. I think this is the reason why *nobody* had been allowed to enter it for quite some time, except for his servants, and a few such as Wormtongue who were in his pay, and "told no one of what they saw."

I don`t think it was easy to get into Nan Curunir unseen, except through Fangorn. It`s possible that Aragorn might have spied out the land from the outside, but while Saruman was an ally he had little reason to, and while I doubt he`d have liked what Saruman had done to the valley, I don`t think anyone could have been able to tell that Saruman had become evil without actually going into Isengard; and as for that, why should Saruman admit him, unless he was able to prove his lineage, or arrived with Gandalf for an introduction? The heirs of Isildur had survived at least in part by being unobtrusive, and until the time was right, Aragorn did not want to draw attention to his claim.

I quite like your argument number three: Aragorn`s trust in Gandalf was total, and I believe he *would* have picked up on and listened to any reservation, however unconscious, that Gandalf showed towards Saruman. Also, while Aragorn had been a good deal further than Isengard on his travels, far into the east, and far enough south into the Harad for the stars to be strange, Isengard wasn`t on his direct route anywhere, even to Gondor. It was out of his way, even if he went by the fords of Isen.