[Raynor]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

this is not just a wizardly staring match, they are conversing through sanwe and Gandalf was likely trying to get the better of Saruman's mind - or trying to stop Saruman from finding out too much

I beg to differ - mastering another mind is impossible even for the most powerful ainu; it constitutes an unat, something impossible:

Originally Posted by Osanwe-kenta

There is indeed no axan [law, rule, commandment] that the barrier should not be forced, for it is únat, a thing impossible to be or to be done, and the greater the force exerted, the greater the resistance of the unwill. But it is an axan universal that none shall directly by force or indirectly by fraud take from another what he has a right to hold and keep as his own.

Melkor repudiated all axani. He would also abolish (for himself) all únati if he could. Indeed in his beginning and the days of his great might the most ruinous of his violences came from his endeavour so to order Eä that there were no limits or obstacles to his will. But this he could not do. The únati remained, a perpetual reminder of the existence of Eru and His invincibility, a reminder also of the co-existence with himself of other beings (equal in descent if not in power) impregnable by force. From this proceeds his unceasing and unappeasable rage.