Shortly after Gandalf departed from Orthanc, his journey took him to Lothlórien.
Gentle golden radiance enveloped the entire forest, bathing even the air in liquid gold. Every leaf seemed to capture and hold the light, making the whole realm glow with ethereal beauty.
"Gandalf."
Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel emerged from the great hall to meet him, their presence commanding yet welcoming.
"Greetings to you both."
Gandalf bowed with deep respect.
Lady Galadriel's voice was soft as silk yet carried perfect clarity. "What news do you bring from the outside world?"
"The White Council."
Gandalf relayed news of the meeting's convening, explaining the time and purpose.
Finally, he asked with measured curiosity, "By the way, my lady, do you know anything of Saruman's recent affairs?"
Galadriel and Celeborn exchanged glances, both seeing genuine confusion reflected in the other's eyes.
"I have heard no new tidings recently," Galadriel replied thoughtfully.
"Oh, then I was overstepping. Please forgive my prying. I merely came from Orthanc and noticed his right cheek appeared somewhat red and swollen. Naturally I felt concerned for a fellow wizard..."
The three conversed on this curious topic at some length.
Months later, the same scene played out in Lindon by the Grey Havens.
"I do not know," Círdan also shook his head when Gandalf posed the same question, his ancient face betraying nothing.
After asking around in this manner for nearly a year, Gandalf finally came to Roadside Keep.
"Yes, I hit him. He deserved it," Levi stated matter-of-factly.
Levi stood before the enchanting table, methodically enchanting Roadside Keep's standard weapons one by one while responding to Gandalf's unspoken question. Purple light flickered and danced around each blade as magic settled into the steel.
"What happened exactly?"
"He found the Star of Elendil and privately hid it in his tower for thousands of years, never telling a soul."
"I originally planned to negotiate with him normally to exchange for that gem in fair trade, but he grew too greedy. I had no choice but to have what I'd call a friendly conversation with him."
"Friendly... well, relatively speaking, it was quite friendly."
If it hadn't been friendly, his bones would be ash by now, Levi thought but did not say.
However...
"So the Star of Elendil was actually recovered after all this time? What about the other item lost alongside it?"
Both knew precisely what this other item was—the One Ring itself.
"Not with him."
Levi made this assertion with complete certainty.
"Very well then."
Gandalf sighed deeply, a weight lifting from his shoulders.
Perhaps also sighing with relief that the Ring remained lost.
He asked again, changing subjects, "Wise ones from all corners are gathering at Rivendell for the council. What say you?"
Levi paused his enchanting work, setting down the glowing blade.
"Elrond has already spoken to me about this matter. I will attend."
Gandalf nodded with satisfaction. "The time is about right. We can depart together if you wish."
"Then let us go."
After enchanting one final sword with practiced efficiency, Levi hung it carefully on the weapon rack, called to Gandalf, and they departed immediately without further delay.
This year, Middle-earth remained relatively peaceful across most realms.
Both Rohan and Gondor had welcomed their new rulers into power.
The twenty-fifth Ruling Steward Ecthelion held authority in Gondor, while the sixteenth King of Rohan, Thengel, took up his father's crown.
Two wise rulers would usher in what many hoped would be a new golden age.
Sensing this shift, or perhaps driven by growing unease, the wise ones again proposed convening the White Council, and so they all made their way to Rivendell.
Spring 2953: The White Council convened once more in Elrond's halls.
This meeting was still nominally led by Saruman occupying the leadership position. Main participants included Gandalf, Lady Galadriel, Lord Elrond, Círdan the Shipwright, and Levi.
Of course, the White Council's full membership was not limited to these individuals alone—they were merely the primary, most active members. Besides them, various other lords and powerful beings were also nominally White Council members, though most did not directly participate in discussions. They treated the meeting's conclusions merely as worthy advice to consider rather than binding commands.
After all, even if White Council members were all figures of immense power and wisdom, it remained ultimately just an irregularly convened loose organization without true binding authority. Various free peoples and realms had no obligation to heed the White Council's calls or recommendations.
Though this time might prove different—that new member could summon vast armies with a single wave of his hand.
In a certain sense, his practical influence even surpassed that of the Second Age High Kings of old.
When council members gathered in Rivendell's elegant halls, everyone present unanimously glanced at Saruman's right cheek with barely concealed curiosity.
After so many months, the bruising had long since healed completely, but this collective scrutiny greatly offended Saruman's pride.
He glanced sharply at Levi, but Levi was not looking at him—merely turning his head to observe distant sky clouds drifting past the valley.
These clouds look remarkably like... clouds, Levi thought absently.
Looking again at Gandalf, the Grey Wizard was also apparently sky-gazing, seemingly spacing out and lost in thought.
Elrond noticed the odd tension and could not help imagining what Saruman's face must have looked like immediately after the incident—black, blue, and thoroughly humiliated.
All three had their own carefully guarded thoughts and swiftly averted their gazes when Saruman looked their way.
Only Lady Galadriel and Círdan possessed sufficient ancient composure, appearing no different from usual, their ageless faces revealing absolutely nothing of their inner thoughts or amusement.
But with Gandalf's notoriously loose tongue...
Saruman held no hope whatsoever that this would remain private.
He kept his face rigidly straight, though his beard trembled with suppressed emotion and his mouth threatened to twist into an undignified grimace.
However, since no one mentioned the incident directly, he could not raise the topic either. After all, privately hoarding the Star of Elendil for millennia was indeed morally indefensible. Even if people discussed him behind his back for years to come, he could only endure it with what grace he could muster.
Once all members were confirmed present and accounted for, the meeting formally began.
This council's central theme was brutally clear: the whereabouts of the One Ring.
Everyone present had their own theories and views, debating intensely around this singular, vital topic.
Gandalf spoke first, his voice grave. "I encountered a Nazgûl wearing a ring upon his hand. That should be one of the Nine Rings given to Men in ancient days."
"That same Nazgûl attempted to capture the Angle shipyard but was repelled by our defenses."
"The whereabouts of other rings have no particular significance whatsoever," Saruman interrupted dismissively, waving his hand.
"We all know perfectly well that to control the other Rings of Power, the Enemy must possess the One Ring in his hand."
"But the Nazgûl are exceptions to this rule. They have been so completely corrupted over millennia that even without the One Ring's direct influence, the Enemy can control them absolutely. Your mention of their activities is therefore meaningless to our purpose."
"As for the One Ring itself, it has been lost for ages, without surfacing for thousands of years."
"I maintain my firmly held opinion: according to extensive investigation results I have personally conducted, the Ring was long ago swept into the sea by the Anduin's powerful currents, rendered utterly unfindable by any living being."
"There is no need to worry at all about its return."
"You cite your investigation results?" Levi spoke up pointedly.
"I fear they may not be entirely reliable, given recent revelations."
Saruman's face immediately darkened, his jaw clenching.
"After all, you never once mentioned that the Star of Elendil rested in your possession for a thousand years. You clearly found Isildur's remains at some point but privately took precious items from his body and concealed them for your own purposes."
Hearing this damning accusation stated so plainly, all council members turned their penetrating gazes directly toward Saruman. The White Wizard's carefully maintained composure finally cracked like thin ice.
"It is not with me any longer but rather in a bandit's violent hands," he shot back defensively.
"Did I not provide you fair compensation in trade?" Levi countered.
Levi left the stone pillar he had been casually leaning against, stepping forward deliberately to stare directly at Saruman's fully recovered right cheek, and said coldly:
"It was a certain someone who went back on our agreement, forcing me to communicate with him through means I would prefer not to discuss in polite company."
"What going back? I merely wished to negotiate further with you on fair terms, but you demonstrated no patience whatsoever. Your head is apparently full of muscles, knowing only combat, combat, endless combat..."
"Silence, you shameless old manipulator! You clearly broke your sworn word first, and now you dare slander my character and intentions!"
"You, you insolent—"
"Enough!" Elrond's commanding voice cut through the rising argument.
Seeing the meeting rapidly drifting off topic into personal grievances, Elrond as host lord was forced to step forward as peacemaker.
"Levi has already returned the Star of Elendil to its rightful owners among the Dúnedain. This particular matter can now end all discussion permanently."
One firm sentence stopped Saruman's mouth cold.
Seeing that continued argument would definitely disadvantage him further before the council, Saruman grudgingly swallowed his remaining words like bitter poison.
Gandalf barely suppressed a knowing smile. Saruman caught the expression and glared at him, forcing the Grey Wizard to return to appropriate seriousness.
"The One Ring has indeed had no verified sightings for ages beyond counting," Gandalf began, stating his carefully considered opinion.
"For over a millennium, not merely Saruman—I myself have also investigated the Anduin valley many dozens of times over the years, yet there has been absolutely no credible news of that Ring's location. Perhaps it truly no longer rests anywhere upon Middle-earth's continental lands."
"But constant vigilance remains essential, because even if the One Ring was swept out to sea by currents, it will certainly find cunning ways to return and seek out its true master."
"We must never forget—not only intelligent beings of will can be tempted and ensnared by the Ring's seductive power. Fish, great sea beasts, various animals of land and water could all potentially be lured by its call, then unwittingly carry it back swimming or walking to shore."
"Perhaps one day it will be caught by some innocent fisherman casting nets or an angler seeking his supper, and then cause some fresh tragedy to unfold."
"Gandalf speaks true wisdom," Lady Galadriel agreed, her luminous eyes distant. "The Enemy's power continues accumulating in Mordor's depths. He has never abandoned his ultimate designs, not for a single day."
Saruman nodded reluctant agreement, seeing the council's consensus forming.
The meeting's tone and direction seemed satisfactorily settled. Though Saruman's pride could not quite recover, and everyone's opinion of him had again plummeted considerably, ultimately the strategic result favored his preferred conclusion.
Everyone present now believed the One Ring had likely been swept out to sea and lost. Even with continued vigilance, attention would mainly target other developing threats.
In this council session, the only member who remained mostly silent throughout was Círdan. Though one of the primary members and an ancient friend of Rivendell, he simply came to fulfill his role, bearing witness to Middle-earth's unfolding major events.
Once official matters concluded, he would continue his patient vigil in Lindon by the grey sea.
When the meeting finally ended after hours of debate, Saruman also released a heavy sigh of relief. He stood with deliberate dignity, preparing to depart with whatever remained of his tattered reputation.
But upon reaching the marble steps leading from the council chamber, his heart suddenly palpitated with inexplicable dread.
He stopped abruptly and turned around, compelled by instinct.
There stood Levi, also turning his head at precisely the same moment, smiling at Saruman with deep, knowing meaning that promised this matter was far from forgotten.