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The White Council

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Walküre:
GANDALF: ''Saruman, there is no intention to spread animosity and ill-spirited emotions in this assembly. But we are not here to see ruin getting closer while we do nothing to hinder this course.

I don't really know how one could remain so adamant in his own convictions, when we need be resolute and strive to reach the goals we have indicated as our imperative mission for the very sake of Middle-earth. The Istari have reached the western shores of this continent with a paramount intent in mind, which is to set a careful watch over all lands of these insecure ways and to avoid the Evil being bold enough to make an attempt of returning in this world. And the fell forces of the World know indeed much and dispose of the most numerous means to grow unnoticed and unbeknownst to the most. It is via deception that Sauron hid in the vast forests of the East, waiting for centuries in a ruined stronghold forgotten by the knowledge of the common man. He took advantage of our weaknesses, which are apparent in this exact moment still. He was given the chance to acquire strength again. He is now to prepare for the war. He is the one who blows the winds of conflict against us.

We are not here to point the finger or to accuse someone in particular. We are not the ones who desire to impose a bellicose nature on our plans. It is the grave situation that has put this council in front of the plain state of things.''

Walküre:
SARUMAN: ''And it is always you, Gandalf the Grey. This plain state of things that you often refer to is nothing more than speculations of yours. In that, as it is manifest to many in Middle-earth, you enjoy wandering around the ways of this world and to go in search of uncanny riddles throughout lands and hills, and peaks and unknown villages of rustic people, whose acquaintance you seem to cherish more than your prime tasks as an Istar of my order. And your quest is in most of the cases a vain one, as you seek for issues to discover and unearth, instead of focusing on solutions with which you may mend what is flawed or defective in some ways. And I honestly suspect that these actions are not lone and solitary; I don't believe in this lonesome casualness of happenings. For it might be that you long for forging situations of mess, if only to show up and appear, presenting yourself as the remedy of the daily troubles of this continent's inhabitants. In a wish and improper attempt to collide with my guidance and to go past the head of all wizards in this world. And it doesn't matter if yours is disruptive dynamism or if Radagast the Brown prefers to stay in his personal idleness. You are both flouting whom you should instead follow and consult. This is the plain state of things: very few in this council deem me a wise leader and my rule is thus questioned. A consequence of many years of scheming in the shadows and working for the weakening of my position.

Gandalf, open your eyes and widen your sight! The guarding of this world cannot be entrusted to heated feelings or hurrying of any sort. It doesn't work this way. Defence is built on the founding premises that the defender boasts all the means to obliterate the foe when the latter wishes to come out of his lair. Hence, what matters is attention and a constant and patient studying of the manners of the enemies, unto the hour of attack and victory. And no possible menace is to pose such a sudden and worrying threat; I may concede that the Dark Lord may have come back from his long exile among the shadows of Middle-earth, but the One Ring is now gone for good. The tale of all the Rings of Power that we previously recalled is a lost one, which I don't wish to make actual again, as you accuse me. You are making it actual, via the continuous blabbering of sham perils and disastrous outcomes. The artefact is instead gone, carried by river to the ending of the mortal soil. Thus the answer: the Dark Lord may still remain wherever he wants to, because time, the sheer passing of time, won't give him back his past prowess.

Whilst the grand reign of Gondor strives to contain the ambitions of old rivals, you would like to divert the general effort of our forces from the real and problematical challenges, towards your own theories which you are much fond of, according to which Sauron is to prepare a general assault on the Free People in short time. It's because you don't have a clear grip of the world, lesser fellow. You just long for unrest to befall, so that what you theorised may be proved right and wise. And about your wisdom I seriously doubt.''

Walküre:
GALADRIEL: ''Studying the manners of the enemies? How long for, White Wizard? How long should one indulge in patient studying and observing? Years, centuries or even millennia? Or the amount of time that is necessary to you to actually become one of the foes yourself?

The line you have elected can only bode very ill for us all. This I tell you in plain openness and sincerity. It is facts that speak for themselves and hand to us the exact representation of what is happening as we are conversing with each other. A leader is entrusted with the duty to guide and to solve issues that might be on his way; this means that preventing troubles from worsening is also very wise in equal terms, because the good guide knows when peril is getting closer and how it is best to combat it for the good. And the decent leader knows well his foes, it is true, but never via unproductive observation or obsession for the arts of whom he is supposed to defeat. He already knows his opponent, as history has shown his real colours and the extent of the threat he could pose for the world. A wise leader also takes time to travel and visit whom he rules over and leads; and, should not be possible due to numerous factors, he at least cares about the existence of the most common of the people, sending envoys to make them aware of himself and gathering news from the very lands of Middle-earth. The good ruler shows the foremost apprehension, when such a revenant foe decides to return and acquire strength for a new war. This the good leader does.

This you should have done, chief of this assembly, instead of locking our fates into your black tower and sending your servants in mission at the ends of my realm.''

Walküre:
ELROND: ''Fellows, authoritative companions of mine, exchanging harsh words won't avail the mission we have been appointed to. I perceive that the tone of our discussing may have got too far, away from our intent and imperative scope. We have not been gathered here to bandy words with one another. I beg you; none of whom we desire to aid would ever like the sight of this sort of contest. Fierce battle ought to be spared and saved for the enemies only. And I'm certain that we all do what we may do, to stick to the path we have set ourselves on. A path difficult to journey through, I concede, yet never should the aleatory case and fate lead us astray. Faltering is a luxury we don't dispose of, at the moment. A grim moment. Times that require unity and a very firm mind. I thus ask that all solutions be forwarded in the clearest of the manners. Then, we are to judge what fits best the needs of this assembly, in hopes that the definitive decision will be fruit of thoughtful debate.

Saruman, I infer and dare say that there are very few doubts regarding the nature of our common enemy. The Enemy, as one should better tell. And I may confirm and state again the words of the Lady and Gandalf, because I was there myself, at the slopes of the Volcano, holding high the banners and flags of the lost might of the Noldor; serving Gil-galad the Great, last of the series of legendary kings. And I beheld the terrible spectacle when the hope of Men was near destruction and when the gallant Elven monarch found atrocious death by the direct act of the Dark Lord. Alas, the Evil was given the disgraceful opportunity to linger still in this world. His phantom fled to the edges of the known territories of this continent, too weak to manifest himself in physical shape. We now have plain evidence of his return. Yes, he came back from the oblivion of his erstwhile demise, for this is the nature of any malicious force, if the illness has not been completely cured and purged. We have also been informed of his movements about the ruined stronghold of Dul Guldur. All may see what has been of the one-time green and luxuriant forests of Mirkwood. I also understand why the Woodland King opted to leave his past residence and move his people to the northernmost borders of the woods; it means that shadow had already been lurking in there. We have not noticed that, unfortunately. We must thus determine the course of our own actions. Although it's true that no menacing threat has been posed against us, allowing Sauron to amass his minions without fighting back could be a blunder we are surely to regret.''

Walküre:
SARUMAN: ''Who in the broad world would ever ignore the approaching flames of war? I know no leader or noble lord that has ever turned his back in front of an evident menace being assembled at his borders. And I won't equally underestimate naught of a certain note, be it related to war or minor troubles in the shires of common lands. Yet, may I tell this to this council which dares question my capability of tackling the issues I was appointed to solve and fix: I see no menace. I see no enemy constructing such terrible armies whilst lurking in the midst of the darkness of a gloomy wood. The extent at which you are considering things has been clouding your judgement. What you depict is nothing more than a facade, if I may name it this way. A facade made of the phantoms and spirits you have conjured in your mind. Because, conceding the return of the Dark Lord, he will never be given another chance to acquire his might. He simply cannot. I studied the lore of the ancient Rings of Power more thoroughly than you might think. The answer to the riddle is simpler than many other mysteries that the world keeps secret from the general knowledge. Sauron's own entity is intertwined deeply with the state of his Ruling Ring. Even if Men faltered in front of the chasm of Mount Doom, and even if the One was given the possibility to pass unspoilt the eras ahead, Sauron will never have the tenure of his artefact once again. The One Ring has fallen in the meanders of the River, carried away from the impetuous waters unto the sea. None may recover it from the abyss of the blue. None may try what is impossible to do. Sauron has no force left in him; or, should he prepare himself for a conflict of any sort, the threat would be washed away and vanquished by our might, being us resolute and stout. Let him choose hiding and deceptive snares; they will be of no avail. My grip is ever-firm and only woes for our side voices of dissension could bring.

The One may not be retrieved, unless Arda is shattered and broken from its very foundations of fire and stone.''

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