May 27, 2003

Re: Saruman Speculation
Niphredil

G, I agree with you, that it is very likely that Wormtongue will kill Saruman. As for Wormtongue’s fate, I think it would be a little cold-blooded for one or more of the hobbits to take him out, and I can’t think of a reason/circumstance why they would want to if there is no Scouring of the Shire.

I have a theory that both Saruman and Wormtongue will die at the beginning of the film. Based on nothing in particular, just my own gut feeling so to speak, I think that there may be a struggle on the balcony of Orthanc and they both go tumbling over. This would seem dramatic enough for the film and would see the baddies get their just deserts. It would also leave no loose ends for PJ to tie up later in the film, he already has enough other stuff to deal with. Perhaps Wormtongue intends to throw the Palantir and Saruman tries to stop him and they both end up over the balcony. When they hit the ground the Palantir could tumble away to where Pipping picks it up unobserved because everyone is in shock at the double death.

I believe it was Lilly who found a rumour that said Pippin finds it and hides it for himself and that no-one knows about it until the night he tries to look into it. I find it hard to believe that Gandalf would miss it unless he was very greatly distracted, like by the death of Saruman. But who really knows. We’ll just have to wait until December. It is fun to speculate though.