WWXLV: The Fellowship of Saruman

[Nogrod]

"What first catches my eye in Uglúk is that early on our first Day of travel he made a speech where he discussed generalities and criticised me of speaking lots of nonsense and nothing serious, like not talking about the traitors among us - which I indeed find a bit unfair accusation looking back at how little had been said that far then. But anyway. He then ends his speech with this totally separate sentence:

Originally Posted by Uglúk #21

I also see that Radagast has yet to comment on the traitors among us.

and that was only little after a lengthy speech by Radagast and where he had openly suspected me of not talking about the traitors. Now were they in cahoots together this kind of pointing out would be totally unnecessary and unwanted not the least because Radagast's clear tactics seemed to be not suspecting anyone. And as there had been no major suspicions either it would be reckless indeed.

With the same breath I admit that Radagast tended to speak a lot in favor of him that first Day especially - like he was trying to shelter him from any attacks that would have been hurled towards him because of his race. It was easy for him as he could make an appeal to Saruman's judgement and pretty sneaky if they were traitors together.

When the second Day of talking started he quite justifiedly criticizes myself and Gildor for voting Gandalf even if we knew him well enough - well not taking account that he actually behaved much more weirdly and irresponsaibly we have ever seen him act. But then he catches my eye once again for adding to that:

Originally Posted by Uglúk #95

Halbarad does seem quite the suspicious one, but then again, he's fairly new to this sort of thing and bound to make mistakes. I'm not letting him out of my sight at all, but he's not at the top of my list either.

which is exactly the round about way of discussing a fellow... or then he just got carried away with the way he could spot the styles of some of us in the fellowship?

After starting his obsession on Elrohir's vote and voting for me because my vote on Gandalf he then starts the third Day with a theory of myself and Radagast as mates - where my suspicion of Radagast was a way to signal to him to start behaving less supiciously. It remains to be seen what his reasoning to it was as it was then a few moments before the deadline and basically no one had openly suspectet the wizard who then died in the hands of mighty Eomer. He then continues with his questioning of Elrohir and then says this about Halbarad:

Originally Posted by Uglúk #182

And Halbarad, I'm really not sure I can honestly keep letting you off the hook for this long.

which again looks like a traitor feeling a need to address the case of the other but with reluctance - and after all that promise didn't lead anywhere...

For he then next announces that he doesn't suspect Halbarad anymore and will concentrate on me. But his "cases" keep being as sham as you can see:

Originally Posted by Uglúk #192

Interestingly, Tom Bombadil called Halbarad suspicious for not contributing much to the discussion. This was after the Ranger had already made the point that Tom's singing could be used to confuse discussion. He's been making arguments, so how is he not contributing to the discussion?

which I find faulty indeed as I couldn't consider Halbarad's thought an argument any more than our lady Galadriel speaking in a certain tone that is hers - or the young Eomer speaking the way he does. I sing because I am Bombadil and they speak as they do because of who they are. Anyone can hide behind anything: a role, a habit, a principle... And btw. I think I actually defended Halbarad a few times on the first Days just because he was doing something - unlike some others!

After speculating with Radagast's words, reminded to us by Gildor, he then votes for me once again.

ToDay he has seconded himself in saying that he wouldn't put it past to me to vote for my fellow (Halbarad); seconding because he said the earlier Day that he wouldn't put it past me that I could suspect my fellow (Radagast). So whatever the information, whatever happens he will stick to suspecting me. And I think it a bit too bold - unless we say that sticking to a principle is tactics and pointing it out is an argument. It might well be?

Well, I don't know. Looking back at the Uruk made me a bit more weary of him as I had just thought he was only too bold but the way he spoke about Halbarad and also how Radagast treated him and how fabricated his points on me were kind of raise my alarms once again.

Hard to say."