â //Heey//
Mairon allowed his carefully decrepit projection to smile through the distance and haze of the palantir, trying to get a better look at who he was speaking to from behind the screen of his illusions.
âHello Curumo,â he said, false voice as enchanting as it had been those long years ago. âThat is still you, is it not?â
// @skillful-istar ; howâs this?
Saruman desesperately tried to hide his joy and relief as he was hearing the Maiaâs voice. For a moment it was like if they had seen each other the day before. Like if nothing had change. He looked to the sunset, through the window of the tower. But everything had change, hadnât it ?
âThis is not what they call me now⊠MaiâŠSauron.â He looked through the Palantir, he had to resist. He couldnât join him: âI think⊠You have some things to tell me, itâs been a long wayâŠâ
âIâm no stranger to name-changes,â he gave a laugh, acknowledging the slip, before adding an air of melancholy. âDo you abhor me as well, Curumo? I had hoped it was not soâŠâ
He thought he could see some of the lands around Orthancâfor it must be Orthancâfor a brief moment. Filing the melancholy away again, he made his voice as teasing as it might once have been in truth, âBut what shall I call you, Clever-One, if you no longer own your old name?â
âThey call me Saruman. I hate it,â replied the Istar shortly. Talking again to Mairon was more difficult than he had thought and he was trying to figure out wether he was abhorring him or not.
âAnd my feelings toward you are of no importance here. What matters is what you have done,â he tried to look stern has he added: âYou cannot just claim that youâre the ruler of those lands, Mairon.â

























