That's also a secret but they used for-our-purposes-might-as-well-be-magic that the Enemy destroyed when he sacked Valinor.

It might matter if it's really magic or not. I've been assuming I got a dumb Silmaril for mind reasons not magic reasons.

I'll ask my father.

Nod.

"Decided how you're introducing us in Brithombar?"

"I'm unpracticed at formal introductions, do you have a preference?"

"Finwe's grandsons, coming home. If I'm reading them right from your transcript."

"If you want the audio I've got that."

"I would love it."

So Cam plays it.

"Yep. I don't think they'll appreciate rescuers - particularly rescuers who can't even give them much of a tech bump - we do have stuff a lot more advanced than a machine gun but not really a lot more lethal - and I think they'll appreciate feeling vindicated about the Valar so we'll go for the 'wayward children coming to defend the homeland we missed out on' angle while I get a feel for why they won't evacuate and how to change that."

"Okay, can do."

"Thank you. Let me know when you have an orc."

Brithombar?

Brithombar. Landing outside the city and leading people Presidentward. Handing out chocolates on the way.

Maitimo watches him with quiet amusement, and watches Brithombar with great interest. The Elves make quite a procession. 

And is the President available?

He will in fact come out to greet them all in front of his palace-or-whatever-it-is. People are snapping pictures with giant bulky cameras.

Cam is not sure if they have smiling-for-the-camera here and it would not be very tonally appropriate, so he tries to look photogenic and serious. "Hello, Mister President," says Cam, "brought you some visitors. Finwë's grandsons."

"How's he?" says the President.

"The Enemy killed him," Maitimo says. "About a Year ago he sacked Valinor, put out the suns, murdered my grandfather, and then fled - we assumed for here. The Valar are still debating whether to do anything about any of this. I hope you'll forgive us our impatience. We want to serve in your war; how may we do that?"

"My condolences. Why don't you come inside."

"I'm going to go orc-catching," Cam says, "unless you want me to sit in for this. Where should I bring caught orcs?"

"Anywhere you can contain them," the President says. "And while you needn't sit in, the question of how they can aid us is rather tied to the question of whether you intend to."

"They're familiar with the state of my thoughts on that," Cam says, "I think?" He glances at Maitimo. "Do you feel able to represent me there?"

"I do," he says. 

"All right. Thank you," the President says.

And then a siren blares and the crowd, pressing in, starts to scatter. "Air raid?" Maitimo says.

"Yes. I can show you where to go."

"You have good shelters?" Cam asks hollowly.

"They've sufficed so far. You coming with us?"