[The Saucepan Man]

Like all of the Istari, the purpose of the Blue Wizards in going to Middle-earth was to assist and guide the peoples of Middle-earth in the fight against Sauron. Quite possibly, it was never planned from the outset that they would head off east but perhaps, on arriving in Middle-earth, the Istari saw the power that Sauron held over the peoples in that region and perceived that there was a need for at least one of their number to go east with a view to trying to weaken Sauron's power base there. And Alatar and Pallando, being the inseperable pair that they were, decided to set out together.

The point is often made (originally by Tolkien himself) that Gandalf was the only one who succeeded in the mission undertaken by the Istari. But this does not necessarily mean that the Ithryn Luin did not play some part in the overthrow of Sauron. After all, if you believe (as I do) that Radagast sent Gwaihir to rescue Gandalf from Isengard, then he played a part in Sauron's defeat. Even Saruman (albeit for his own ulterior motives) played a part in ejecting Sauron from Dol Guldor.

Perhaps Alatar and Pallando played their part too. Perhaps their influence in the east denied Sauron of at least some of the Easterling armies that, without their participation, would have been available to him. Perhaps those extra forces, had he had them, would have been deployed to devastating effect. Pure speculation, I know, but I like to think that the Blue Wizards, or at least one of them, did their duty. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]