[Mungo of Bracegirdle]

Oh Grima, he is so intresting. First of all, you have to understand that Grima was a double crossing double crosser. He obviously betrayed Theoden and Rohan, but he also betrayed Saruman on several occasions. In fact, on one of these such occasions, Grima gave information to the Nazgul that lead them strait to the Shire. The Nazgul, before then, had no idea where the land of the "Halflings" was and where they could find "Baggins." But I'm getting off topic. Grima's treachery made him a very sad, angry, and just downright pitiful person. He was full of self pity and perhaps even a little remorse. When he threw the palantir out of the window, he wasn't exactly sure who he was aiming for, Gandalf or Saruman. He blaimed both of the wizards for his misery; Saruman for pursuading him to go turncoat on Theoden and Gandalf for getting him thrown out of Rohan and stuck in Orthanc with Saruman, who by this time he absolutly hated. This also might answer, "Why the palantir?" Well, he most likely knew that Saruman treasured it. He might even have known, to a certain extent, what it was used for. So, in order to "get back" at Saruman, he decides to throw it out the window at him (or Gandalf, it didn't really matter to him who he hit). I don't know about you, but I think it's sad.

Cheers

P.S. In connection with your afterthought, this would be hard to tell. The palantir work in a very strange way. They are kind of like small globes in that they have an axis that runs through them. In order for them to work properly, this axis must be lined up perfectly and the stone must face in a certain direction. Grima, just picking up the palantir probobly wasn't holding it in this very specific direction. And when Pippen looked in it, it just happened by "chance" (there isn't much of that in ME) to be lined up properly. So I doubt that Grima ever had any correspondace with Sauron, personally that is.

Cheers

[ November 06, 2003: Message edited by: Mungo of Bracegirdle ]