I do not own LotR or anything else in Arda.

AN: This is continuing on the path to a slight AU.

Only a short time later, Taríen led Gandalf into a closet under the stairs and shut the door behind them. "Why are we in a closet?" Gandalf asked. Taríen snapped her fingers, and a small flame danced on her fingertips, illuminating her smirking face. "Because, this closet is actually the entryway to a secret room."

She pressed her hand against one of the stones in the wall. It sunk inwards, and a small keyhole was revealed. She pulled a key from her pocket and inserted it into the lock. It opened with a loud snick, and the door opened.

She led Gandalf into the room. The wall they had entered through was fine stonework, but the other walls were rough-hewn, though each had a solid wooden door in it. A round, stone table stood in the center of the room, surrounded by twenty ramshackle chairs. "Sit anywhere," she instructed with a careless wave of her hand. "No one has any assigned seating."

"How did you come upon this place?" Gandalf asked in amazement. "This house was traditionally, but secretly, used by the spymasters of Gondor. It was designed back when Anárion ruled the city. The spymaster then was Hethudir, and when the city was built, an extremely complex system of tunnels and passageways was built under it. It was all but forgotten about by the time I married Boromir, but Anárion and Hethudir had asked for Eldalmárëa's aid in designing the system, due to her fondness of the secret passages in Númenor," Taríen replied.

"When I was pregnant with Ilva, and gained Denethor's permission to take charge of the practically nonexistent spy network, I put up a great fuss about how the hustle and bustle of the Citadel wasn't good for the baby, and how we needed someplace quieter to live, and I therefore acquired my lovely home, selected by me, and I paid for it quite justly, mind you," she added at Gandalf's disapproving look.

"The spy network was a group of six men who merely had a fondness for eavesdropping and a highly curious nature and wanted to do both things legally, so they reported their findings to Denethor. When I took over, I formally trained them and greatly expanded the network. Now, the original half- dozen are my lieutenants, and each commands about a hundred men each, all tried and true. We don't introduce them to the Network until they are proven so," Taríen explained.

"Only my lieutenants know that I am the spymaster, and they've probably been waiting for my orders, due to my return. One of our most valuable assets is the Ithilien Rangers, who are commanded by Faramir. My lietenant, Vanwalánë, is one of the Ithilien Rangers, and their spymaster. The Rangers, due to the nature of their craft, are all very capable spies. Much of our information on Mordor's troop movements comes from them. However, Vanwalánë is in Ithilien much of the time, so his assistant, Thyndnúr, will probably attend the meeting in his stead."

"Where else do you have spies?" Gandalf asked. "Harad, Umbar, the East. We have at least one in every town in Gondor, Rohan, and Eriador, more in the bigger ones. Each of my lieutenants manages a certain area with a certain number of spies. Cŷrhathel manages Harad and Umbar, Úniss the East, Côlúagar manages Rohan, Vanwalánë manages Ithilien and Mordor, Galgwâth the rest of Gondor, Nauraist is connected with the Dúnedain Rangers and manages Eriador," she stated proudly.

"You don't have anyone spying on the Elves or the Dwarves?" Gandalf asked. She shrugged. "I don't need to spy on the Elves, Elrond tells me basically everything," she said, tapping the circlet on her head twice. "As for the Dwarves…I have a few men in Laketown and Dale. Other than that, no, it's a bit harder to spy on them. They're very suspicious folk." Gandalf could only nod to that.

A moment later, the door silently opened and a man slipped in. He let no hint of surprise cross his face at the sight of the Wizard. "My lady," he said, bowing to Taríen. He inclined his head to Gandalf as well. "Mithrandir." "Lord Denethor is going mad," Taríen stated shortly. "Gandalf is helping me prepare our defenses for an all-out assault on Mordor, so he needs to listen here as well. What news from the East, Úniss?" "I have much information," he stated. "Should I wait for the full council?" Taríen nodded.

A moment later, two more men entered. The last three followed shortly behind them. All greeted Taríen with a bow and Gandalf with a respectful, "Mithrandir." Once all were seated, Taríen clapped her hands. "First, news of my brother. Thyndnúr? What are the Rangers doing?" "They are in Osgiliath," Thyndnúr stated. "They have been fighting for three days now. They lost the east bank last night, and Lord Faramir doesn't think that they'll hold the west for very long. He only has a thousand men, and the orcs have many thousands."

Taríen nodded thoughtfully. "How goes the fight in Ithilien?" "Thousands more enter Mordor every day," he stated. "We've been laying traps, destroying battalions with half as many men. It's not honorable fighting, but honor has nothing to do with survival." "Honor has everything to do with survival," Taríen said sharply. "That is how we are different than Sauron. I do not see what you are doing as dishonorably. Killing women and children is dishonorable. Tricks and traps may not bring glory, but they are just as honorable as outright battle. And it is the former at which the Rangers excel. Continue."

Thyndnúr continued his report, and Úniss took over when he was done, followed by Cŷrhathel, then Côlúagar. Nauraist took over from there, and finished by telling the state of the people of Gondor. "They're not happy with Denethor," he stated. Taríen bit her lower lip, then asked, "How would they react to a coup?" All six spies' eyes widened. "Are you planning to…" Nauraist began. "Maybe," she said. "Denethor is going mad. He is not protecting the country as he should. If I need to, to save Gondor, I will."

"They would support you, my lady," Galgwâth stated. "Especially if you had Lord Faramir and Prince Imrahil's backing. Even the Council would, and they don't particularly like you." "Faramir and I tend to see eye-to-eye, and Imrahil doesn't particularly like Denethor," Taríen said thoughtfully. "And it wouldn't be for very long. We have found the King."

"I'd heard the rumors," Nauraist said delightedly. "It's the Dúnedain Chieftain, Aragorn, isn't it? The one you put me in connection with when I was first assigned to Eriador." She nodded. "He has been my friend of old. He was once known as Thorongil in Gondor. He was Ecthelion's best Captain, better than Denethor, and Denethor, Finduilas, Imrahil, Ivriniel, Nestarie, and the whole lot were once good friends with him."

"Should we gauge the reactions of the people to the rumors of a King?" Côlúagar asked. "You need to spread the rumors first," Taríen chuckled. "That is your new task. Receive messages from your regions, keep an eye out for Sauron's spies, spread rumors of a King, and make sure that conditions are favorable for a coup if need be."

"Specific tasks?" Úniss questioned. "You need to identify Denethor's most loyal servants, the ones who would serve him before me, and discreetly incapacitate them. A highly contagious and convenient strain of the stomach flu would be recommended. Cŷrhathel, identify the Citadel Guards more likely to follow me than Denethor. Nauraist, brush up on your Sindarin. You will be our liaison to the Dúnedain. Côlúagar, you will be the same to the Rohirrim. Thyndnúr, I need you to make sure that the guards at the beacon are not the most attentive. Denethor will not let us light them willingly."

"But we will?" Côlúagar asked. She nodded firmly. "We will. Galgwâth, you get the lucky task of bunking in here for a short time and running messages for me. I am sorry, but I can trust none other who can be discreet enough." He nodded. "I understand, my lady. May I bid farewell to my wife and children?"

"Of course," she said. "Ilvana will check up on you and bring you anything you need. How did she do in my stead?" "Very well, my lady," Nauraist praised. "You have trained her well. Were she a bit taller, she could easily pass for someone twice her age." Taríen smiled. "I am glad. Gandalf, do you have anything to add?" He shook his head and said, "What you are doing here is amazing. I never imagined Gondor had such a talented spy network."

"Well, if Denthor actually read and acted on our reports, it would be slightly more obvious," Taríen said with a roll of her eyes. "Does anyone have anything else to add?" Everyone was silent. "Good. Dismissed. Be prepared for a meeting at any time of the day or night. Galgwâth will inform you of it," Taríen instructed. All six men quickly slipped out the door.

As soon as they were gone, Gandalf asked, "Will you really overthrow Denethor?" "If that is what it takes," she said grimly. "Though I do hate being a traitor again. We should probably go see what it is Denethor sent for Pippin."