'Some here will remember that many years ago I myself dared to pass the doors of the Necromancer in
Dol Guldur, and secretly explored his ways, and found thus that our fears were true: he was none other than
Sauron, our Enemy of old, at length taking shape and power again. Some, too, will remember also that
Saruman dissuaded us from open deeds against him, and for long we watched him only. Yet at last, as his shadow grew, Saruman yielded,and the Council put forth its strength and drove the
evil out of Mirkwood and that was in the very year of the finding of this Ring: a strange chance,
if chance it was.
`But we were too late, as Elrond foresaw. Sauron also had watched us,
and had long prepared against our stroke, governing
Mordor from afar through
Minas Morgul, where his Nine servants dwelt, until all was ready. Then hegave way before us, but only feigned to flee, and soon after came to the
Dark Tower and openly declared himself