On the Istari - By Berendir son of Deren - Books - http://maxpages.com/berendir/On_the

The Istari were wizards whose goal was to stop Sauron from complete domination of Middle Earth. They numbered five, however only three of the Istari are known. These are Olorin, Curunir, and Radagast. Olorin maybe better known as Gandalf, or as my folk call him, Tharkun. Curunir is Elvish for Saruman, who was the head of the white council. The Istari were Maiar, servants of the Valar, and very powerful themselves. Though the quest of the Istari was a selfless one, only one of them ever stayed completely true to its course. The other Istari either went about their own business, and paid little heed to the goings on of the war of the ring, or the power that they had, got the better of them.

Tharkun originated from Valinor, as did all the Istari. His name in Valinor was Olorin, and he was the wisest of the Maiar, but was never one to settle down in any one place, or attempt to gather power for himself. Saruman was a great scholar, and very wise, though he shared many differences with Tharkun. Saruman, unlike Tharkun, stayed in one area. He made his fortress in Isenguard, where he later built a vast army of orcs, and dunlandings. Perhaps Saruman got some of his reputation of being wise, from the decision to live in Orthanc. Orthanc was an impenetrable tower, built by Gondor, in the age of their greatest strength. Radagast was a master of herb lore, but did not play a large part in the war of the ring. He was in a way responsible for both the imprisonment, and rescue of Tharkun from Orthanc, but he did not realize either of these things. The other two of the Istari disappeared into the east, and remained nameless, playing no significant part in the war of the ring.

The white council was formed, and it included the Istari, and certain important elves, like Elrond, and Galadriel. Many of the members wished for Tharkun to be head of the council, but he refused, not wanting to be tied down to any one place. Saruman became head of the council, as Saruman the white, Tharkun was the gray, and Radagast the brown. Saruman took up a search for the one ring for himself, yet he did not include the others of the white council in his endeavor. Saruman delayed the white council in their actions, giving Sauron more time to prepare. Though at this time Saruman was not working on behalf of Sauron, he did not want Sauron destroyed. He believed that as long as Sauron stayed in Middle earth, the one ring would show itself eventually. Saruman gave into temptation, and desired to have the one ring, and wield it, to take the place of Sauron.

It was Tharkun that discovered who the Necromancer in Dol Guldor was. Indeed it was Sauron who was there, but it was too late, he had planned for this for some time. When he fled from Dol Guldor, he went immediately to Mordor, where he had governed it from afar. It was not discovered that Saruman was a traitor for many years after. It was revealed to Tharkun when he received a summons from Radagast to visit Saruman. While visiting Orthanc, Tharkun was given a chance to help Saruman in his quest for power and the ring, or to become his prisoner, and await the doom of Sauron. Before Tharkun left Radagast, he asked him to make the animals and birds aware of what was happening, and scout the lands, and because of that he was rescued. Gwaihir, lord of the eagles, rescued Tharkun from the tower of Orthanc, and bore him to Rohan, where Tharkun first rode upon Shadowfax.

During the next few years the war of the ring came to a climax. Sauron’s army grew, while Middle earth grew in fear of the power of Mordor. Tharkun did many deeds to help turn the tide for the west, especially having faith in hobbits. Theoden, King of Rohan, had become a old feeble man, due to the whispering’s of Grima Wormtounge, servant of Saruman. If it was not for Tharkun, Rohan would have given little to no aid to Gondor, in the war of the ring. Tharkun cured Theoden of the lies of Wormtounge, and showed Theoden the truth, that was hidden from him for so long. Though Saruman was at first more powerful then Tharkun, Saruman abandoned his color, and so lost some of his power. He later lost all his power save his voice, when Tharkun broke his staff, and humbled him. Tharkun became the white, after his great battle with the Balrog.

Tharkun was not recognized for all that he did till after the war of the ring, when he was revealed by King Elessar, as the one who set all things in motion for the west. Tharkun then returned to the gray havens a few years later, where he returned to the Undying Lands of Valinor. Saruman received a dagger in his back, from Grima, for his part in the war of the ring. A fitting end to Saruman, who was overwhelmed by temptation and turned to evil. Ironically, because of his thirst for power, he lost most of his even before his death. Radagast most likely stayed behind in Mirkwood, or Greenwood as it was renamed after.

At the end of the third age, Tharkun left Middle earth forever, along with the ring bearers, and several elves. Tharkun was the only member of the Istari, to stay true to his course, and so he was the only one to return home and live out the rest of time in Valinor.
The ring was offered to Tharkun, as well as Galadriel, but they both did not accept it. If the ring had been offered to Saruman, it would have been taken within a moment, and that was his folly. Only the strongest of wills could keep themselves from claiming the ring for their own, and even those would be broken over time.

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Page Updated Mon May 10, 1999 7:16pm EDT