Hmm..., very interesting question.
1. Gandalf would not have been late, and would have been with Frodo & co. on their way to Rivendell, thus saving much excitement along the way, but not materially changing the story that much.
2. Saruman (perhaps) attends the Council of Elrond, which would have had a catastrophic effect on the Quest. He would have had Ugluk's merry band of fellows pounce on the Fellowship when they were wandering through the lands west of the Misty Mountains, or something.
3. The Fellowship is more willing to go through the Gap of Rohan on their way South and East. Game Over. This event would probably have been worse than Saruman attending the Council of Elrond.
Pretty much, if Saruman had not revealed himself to Gandalf when he did, the chances that he would get the Ring greatly increase.
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...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...
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