Treebeard and 🧙Gandalf....but not Radagast

[Eriol]

hmm... I think Gandalf was quite humble himself, and he does not seem to pay a visit to Saruman with any frequency. I think the "Head of the Order" title is more a honorific title. Just as "Head of the White Council", by the way. Meaning, he has no authority other than that given to him by his lore and power.

I also don't think there was any open enmity between Galadriel and Saruman. Saruman was very "cagey" -- he may have appeared to be proud and wilful, but not ill-disposed towards Galadriel. After all he was trusted implicitly by Gandalf (who was always full of suspicions)! All of the "suspicions" toawrds Saruman only appeared on hindsight -- before Gandalf's imprisonment he was "a good citizen", if perhaps too proud.

Finally, I don't think the orcs were there by the time of the last meeting of the Council, which, if I recall correctly, was the one that decided to attack Dol Guldur. We should check the Tale of Years for that, but I think Saruman only began to actively breed orcs after this.

 

[YayGollum]

That Radagast guy was in on the White Council thing? I had no idea. Anyways, it seemed to me to be that he wasn't the biggest fan of travelling all over the place. Probably didn't hang out in one place for very long. Always wanting to get back home. He's cool. No time for Fangorn.

 

[Malbeth]

hmm... I think Gandalf was quite humble himself, and he does not seem to pay a visit to Saruman with any frequency.

Yes, but remember that according to UT Radagast is directly subordinate to Saruman, while Gandalf is not. I mean, even though Saruman is the head of the order, Radagast and Saruman were sent as a pair, while Gandalf was sent alone.

 

[Eledhwen]

Ah! I've found it

UT "The Hunt for the Ring" It was at the great Council held in 2851 that the 'Halflings' Leaf' was first spoken of, and the matter was noted with amusement at the time, though it was afterwards remembered in a different light. The Council met in Rivendell...

This was the White Council at which Saruman spoke against Gandalf and urged that Dol Guldur should not yet be molested.

Radagast was, of course, forced on Saruman as his 'partner' by Yavanna, who insisted that someone with her heart for ME should accompany Saruman, who was Aule's choice.

 

[Eriol]

Good catch Eledhwen! I think it is clear then that Radagast's route to the Council did not go near Fangorn.

The only question that remains is whether he visited Saruman with any frequency. I don't have any opinions on that.