ANs: As said in the that's just a little fic with my version about what really happened in LOTR...

(Based on the book only.)

If you are the sort of LotR fan that can't bear no-respect of Tolkiens wonderful work, you may not like this (I wrote this warning before realising how many of the fics around here are humor and parody...).

For these who haven't red "Silmarillon" (I haven't either, at least not totally, but whatever. At least I think these things are not in LotR.):

-Gandalf and Saruman are both "istari", some powerful creatures nobody knows where they come from. Only Galadriel and Elrond were told.

-Gandalf was given one of the three elven rings by the elf who got it first, Cirdan.

And, finally, I'm not a native English speaker, so I apologise in forward for mistakes and poor vocabulary.

Let's start.

The Three Conspirators.

It was a wonderful, warm evening in Rivendell. The wind was blowing fresh smells of water from the falls of the valley, with that of thousand of trees and flowers...

The room itself was dark, but it was a comforting, likeable darkness, like the refreshing shadow of a large tree on a very hot summer day.

And even if I had not been so, the two people who were sitting in the room, motionless but relaxed, would not have complained about the dark: one of them seemed to be an elf and could see perfectly even with the slightest light; and the other one had his pointy wizard's hat drawn over his eyes, and it would be dark for him anyway.

They were still sitting there silently (the elf was, at least; the other one was murmuring something into his beard), lost in their thoughts, when another person entered the room: it was a beautiful elven woman, with long, golden hair, dressed completely in white. Galadriel, Morning Star, Lady of the golden forest of Lothlórien.

Before the elf could stand up and great her, the man with the pointy hat had raised his head, and, glaring angrily at her, said:

"You're late."

"I know. I'm really sorry."

Her voice was soft. She smiled, and sat down on the third chair beside the table.

"What's the use? I know a few hours are nothing for an eternal creature like you, but there are some people who have actually something to do with their time!"

Galadriel looked at him, a bit lost:

"I said I was sorry Gandalf..."

She turned to Elrond, who hadn't said a word yet.

"What's the matter with him?"

"Saruman made him clean the latrines again."

He – discreetly – rolled his eyes.

"Oh."

Galadriel tried very hard to remain completely calm and unmoved, and not to grin.

But Gandalf didn't notice anyway, because after hearing Saruman's name, he was to busy repeating for himself:

"I hate Saruman, hate him, hate him, hate him!"

The other two sighed.

"Yes, Gandalf, we know you hate him," Galadriel said in a very kind, very patient voice. "We hate him too. But it would be nice if we could start the meeting, now that I am here..."

"Stop talking to me as if I was a little child!"

"Then stop acting as if you were one, Gandalf the Grey!"

"I don't!..."

"Yes, you do," Elrond interrupted them.

"Well, I'd like to see you having an arrogant, egocentrically bastard as boss!"

"Thank you for the kind thought."

"I don't mean it like that. It's not that I want you to... Look, you must understand it is not very pleasant. But one day I'm going to be the head of the conclave, and I will be Gandalf the White, and Orthanc will be mine. And then I'll push him out of the order, and steal his magic staff! And then we'll see..."

"Yes, Gandalf," Galadriel said in the same tone as before.

"I told you to stop talking to me like that!"

Galadriel glared at him:

"It's your own fault! I said, take Gandalf as head of head of our assembly, but you had to play the noble, disinterested one to impress Elbereth knows who, and now we are stuck with Saruman... Fine, we will kill him and get you Orthanc, but maybe should do something if we want to achieve anything!"

There was a moment of silence, and Gandalf finally took his hat off (it had not been very polite to keep it when with a lady present), and sighed.

"I'm sorry. But Saruman... Could I have something to drink?"

"Of course."

Elrond stood up, and came back with some wine for him and Gandalf, and pure water for Galadriel.

"I don't trust any servants," he explained, as the elven queen cast him a surprised look.

After he had drunk three glasses without tasting anything, Gandalf continued, now a bit calmer:

"... but Saruman goes on my nerves. And I'm sure he keeps spying on me."

"Are you sure he doesn't know you're here?" Galadriel asked, worried

Elrond shrugged at that question, showing he didn't think at would matter if Saruman knew.

Gandalf finished his glass before answering:

"He's busy with some girls right now... Charming voice, you know?"

He rolled his eyes, but the others two other could sense the anger behind the now indifferent tone.

"Don't worry," Galadriel said, in a serious, comforting tone this time. "We'll destroy him."

"Well," Elrond broke the following silence. "We have more urgent matters to discuss now. Saurons power increases again."

That was new for none of them. Galadriel sighted deeply.

"When I think we could have defeated him for good years ago...!"

"It was all Isildur's fault," Elrond complained. "He could have destroyed the ring easily, and the three of us would now hold the three most powerful rings... I told him, throw into the volcano, but nooo, he had to keep it for himself!"

"Well," Gandalf remarked a bit underhand, "you have to admit, somehow it's understandable. If someone who has one of the powerful rings told me to destroy my own, I'm not sure I'd do it..."

"You certainly know all about that... We don't want to know, Gandalf, how you got your ring..."

The magician blushed a bit.

"It was a present!"

"Sure."

"Cirdan gave it to me! He said that he doesn't want it anymore and I might need it in my long and difficult quest and am worthy of having it..."

"Sure. And that's why you don't tell anyone you have it?"

"If at least Isidur had actually kept it!" Galdriel added to Elrond's earlier remark, ignoring the argument about Gandalf's ring. "We could have arranged it all. But he lost it! How can you lose the One like that! Humans are so stupid!"

"Ahem!" Elrond said.

"-Oh... I'm sorry Elrond... I forgot... You're an elf for me!"

"It's alright."

"At least," Gandalf said, "we've found the ring before of Sauron. Well, Bilbo the hobbit found it, but I'm protecting it."

"A hobbit!"

Galadriel shook her head.

"I guess we should be grateful, but I don't understand why it's always the most stupid people who just trip over these things!"

"I like Bilbo," Elrond protested. "He's one of the few non-elves I know who are able to appreciate elvish poetry and music. And he's very interested in the history of Rivendell"

"Oh, Elrond," the elven queen sighed, "you're taken by the most simplistic diplomatic tricks. He learned a few verses of a poem before he came to recite them in front of you, and you're immediately impressed."

"He didn't! It really interests him."

"That's not the question now," Gandalf interrupted. "I'm glad you like Bilbo, Elrond, because he's probably going to visit you when he leaves home. But now, we must find a way to get ride of Sauron."

"Maybe," Galadriel said slowly. "Maybe, Saurons rise isn't such bad news..."

"What do you mean?" Elrond asked, watching her with sharp eyes.

"I mean, if they are in danger, they – all the people, the humans of Middleearth – will turn to us for protection... Or, to be more specific, to Gandalf. To Mithrandir, to..."

"I'm not sure about that," the magician admitted, and put down his glass, because he felt he was going to be drunk if he continued, which was not a very good idea. "The humans are very suspicious. It's not easy to control them, especially if you cannot be there all the time to influence them directly. And they don't like someone who shows up each time there is a danger... They start to accuse I like to turn up when they are in trouble... Theodor becomes more and more unfriendly. And I'm not sure if a new danger will not make it worse."

"If you wouldn't have stolen his best horse last time you saw him," Elrond remarked. "Maybe Theodor would be at least a bit less hostile."

"I didn't steal it," Gandalf protested. "He said I could take whichever I want!"

"Look Gandalf, it is exactly like when somebody shows you a plate with two cake pieces, a small one and a big one, and tells you to take the one you want... Of course he says so, but it's still very rude not to take the small one, understand?"

"At least, I now have Shadowfax!"

"But you..."

"Come on guys!"

They both turned round, a bit surprised, because none of them was used to be called "guy", even by Galadriel.

"Stop this! It's late now, and I don't think Théoden is angry only because of this horse. So far for Rohan..."

"Maybe," Elrond dared, "we could talk to Saruman... we don't have to tell him everything, of course," he continued quickly when he got an angry stare from Gandalf, but he could certainly control Theodor."

"Are you mad? Saruman?"

"After all he is our ally, concerning the fight against Sauron."

"I agree with Gandalf," Galadriel said. "Saruman works for himself. It would be dangerous."

"And have you ever noticed how alike their names are?"

Elrond sighed, not convinced, but he knew he could not change the other two's mind: both were too irritated much about Saruman's power to agree.

"Fine, let's forget this. What about Gondor? It is even more important than Rohan."

"You know Denethor," was all Gandalf answered.

They were silent.

"Or, maybe you don't, at least not as good as I do, but I can assure you, it will be extremely difficult to control him! Even if he stands disarmed in front of Sauron himself and I offer to save him, I'm not sure he would accept."

"Out of pride?"

"Also. But, more than that, out of suspicion. No help is for free..."

"Smart man," Galadriel commented. "We should get rid of him."

"Him," Elrond added, frowning, "and the eldest son... what was his name again?"

It was, of course, Gandalf who answered, being the best informed about the "world outside":

"Boromir. Not any better than the father. That would make the second son, Faramir, steward."

"Faramir," Galadriel repeated, pensive.

She had seen all these people in her magical mirror, but had trouble to remember who was who...

"It could work," Gandalf continued, smiling at Elrond. "But you know..." He was silent for moment, thinking. "It would be even better if we could find Gondor's rightful king again. Isidurs heir."

"What do you mean?" Galadriel stared at him, then at Elrond. "Everyone here knows there is no heir of Isidur."

"Yes..." Gandalf smiled, a frightening smile. "We know. But Denethos doesn't..."

"What do you mean, Gandalf?"

She was now leaning forward a bit, unwilling to lose a single word of what the magician was going to say. Elrond didn't move, but his look was concentrated, and maybe a bit worried. Music was coming from outside, beautiful elven voices, but they ignored it.

"I mean, if we find someone who could pretend to be the rightful king of Gondor... and who would be on our side, depend of us..."

"That will never work," Galadriel interrupted.

"Let him finish."

"Thank you Elrond. With all due respect, Galadriel, you say so because for you it is not so long ago that the kings of Gondor disappeared. You know what happened since that time. But for the mortals, it is many generations ago..."

Elrond absently tipped against his wine glass with his nails, making a ringing sound.

"After all," he finally said, "what do we have to lose? If it doesn't work, we can always say we didn't know it's not true..."

"It will work," Gandalf answered, in a convinced tone. "You know the people of Gondor... They're still dreaming of the "glorious old times". They want a king back... Or what do you think why Denethor didn't proclaim himself king already? He knows it wouldn't work."

"But," Galadriel stopped him. "We have to must find someone who could play the role."

"That's not the problem," Elrond said. "We can take any good actor who'd like to be king of Gondor."

He rolled his eyes.

"Well," Galadriel finally said, and leaned back on her chair again. "I wonder why we didn't think of that earlier."

They were silent for a moment.

Elrond closed his eyes, maybe listening to the music. Galadriel sat motionless as a statue, and Gandalf played with his ring, thinking.

"That human guy you took care of," he suddenly said.

"What?"

Both of the others jumped. If he hadn't been so focused on what he had just thought of, Gandalf would have found that amusing

"Elrond, there's that human who lived here for a while... What was his name again?"

He snipped his fingers. Galadriel looked from one to the other expectantly.

"Ah," Elrond said, after a while. "I know who you mean... you should know, you travelled with him a few times... He's friends with my sons. And, of course, he's in love with Arwen," Elrond finished, proudly.

"Estel!" Gandalf said! "His name is Estel!"

"Right," Elrond said, but it was obvious he wasn't too sure.

After all, he had more important things to do than care about than same orphans, and there were many humans in Bruchtal, for the elves where usually busy with singing, dancing and eating, and needed someone to do the work. At least he had welcomed the child here, and let him live in Rivendell as long as he was too young to be on his own, that was already a lot.

Well, in fact he had received his pregnant, and very beautiful mother, but that was the same wasn't it?

"Yes, I'm sure. But of course, we'll have to find him a better, significant name."

"What about 'Aragorn'?"

"'Royal Tree'? Sounds good."

"Who is this Estel?"

Galadriel was very curious.

"He's perfect!" was Gandalf's answer. "He's a personal friend of mine, he's a warrior he's... – well, he isn't too distinguished, of course, since he wasn't a prince until... now... But we'll fix that – intelligent..."

"Intelligent?" Galadriel repeated, worried.

"-At least, he can think a bit by his own... We need that, Galadriel." And since the elven queen still seemed unconvinced, he added: "Don't worry, he won't betray us. He's in love with Arwen, remember?"

Elrond smiled.

"By the way... you could marry them, Elrond..."

"What?"

The half-elf jumped on his feet.

"I'm not going to marry my daughter to some adventurer!"

"She would be queen of Gondor," Galadriel remarked timidly.

"I don't care! I..."

"Come on, Elrond," the magician said quietly. "We'll need someone who takes care of everything here for us, when we leave middleearth for a while... It would be much safer this way..."

"For us? Oh no, as soon as this is over and Sauron is defeated, everyone goes their own separate way again!"

Galdriel smiled at him.

"It's your – and her – choice. Just think about it once more time. Please sit down again."

Elrond glared at them one last time for good measure, and seeing they were not going to rob him of his beloved daughter, did as Galadriel said.

"Fine, so we have a plan," Gandalf said, rubbing his hands. "I will talk to Estel, if you agree? Yes? Good. We also need a little family history, and maybe some documents, some proofs."

"I will take care of that," Elrond promised.

"Good. Doesn't have to be completely believable, just impressive and complicated."

"It still would help if at least Boromir could disappear..." Galadriel remarked.

"We'll see about that later."

Gandalf sighed and stood up.

"I guess I'll have to leave now..."

Galadriel stood up as well.

Both disappeared, unseen.

And here it ends. No dramatic end, it's just an innocent discussion between friends.

I've to admit there may be an error about the chronology of the events... Does Gandalf steal (oh, come on!) the horse only after Saruman trapped him in his tower? And yes, Saruman never seems to be Gandalf's boss, but he is the head of the order, so what?

And I mean, come on, did you never think people like Saruman, or Denethor might be right with what they say about Gandalf or Galadriel? Or that all these people who are very powerful themselves, but of course, fight with total disinterest against these totally evil enemies (sure! Who wrote the book? Bilbo! Is Bilbo objective or is he one of Gandalf and Erlond's best friends?) are somehow a bit suspect? Oh, whatever...

Please review! If you feel like it. Don't have to. But it still would be nice. Yes, I shut up now.