"The flying metal thing was able to deploy immense amounts of physical force through no discernible physical or magical mechanism. Anything caught in its weapon's line of effect was crushed. Some of the Balrogs were crushed to death. I have no explanation for how this was possible or how the Noldor in particular were able to do it. If it was in fact the Noldor and not some previously-unknown allied interest. Preliminary reports did suggest that the new light in the sky landed near the Noldor and was well on its way to making friends. 'Unknown, immensely powerful sky beings' is not a satisfying explanation, however."

"I should say.

Where did Melkor get his abomination beyond the Void that he used to help wreck Valinor?"

"From beyond the Void, one presumes. He didn't see fit to explain her to me in detail. She took the form of an enormous spider, that much I do know."

"So maybe the other side got something from beyond the Void too."

"Perhaps they did. That would certainly be interesting."

"I wish there were a way to learn other than waiting."

"I could go and ask. But that would be reckless."

"They might not kill you. You might incite the Enemy to attack them, I guess."

"Yes. And the Enemy might capture me, which would be inconvenient."

"So probably better to stay here. I'll ask my father about sending an emissary."

Shirask smiles.

"I think I have enough evidence to conclude that you are a good sister," she says.

"You're the best sister ever!"

She starts laughing rather helplessly.

Well, that's something that's not unspeakable agony.

In a manner of speaking, yes.

(She can't imagine how she got ahead of all the sisters both real and hypothetical who have never committed any atrocities, who are capable of feeling love, who were not created to bring ruin to their families... at least Lúthien evidently hasn't yet figured out that Shirask's sense of humour is irredeemably awful.)

Eventually, she manages, "Thank you."

"You're welcome!"

"I am bewildered by your reasoning, but endeared by your conclusions."

"As long as I'm right, what does it matter?"

"I like to understand why people think the way they do. I usually don't, but I like to."

"Okay. I'm happy to help explain why I think the way I do. You're my sister, so obviously you have the tremendous advantage over all possible sisters of existing. And that you're good and tragic and funny just helps."

"There is a logic there," she acknowledges. "An odd one but not a wrong one. Thank you for explaining."

"Sure. Is that everything we should know?"

"I think so. If something else that you should know occurs to me, I'll tell you."

"It'd be useful to know things like how many the Enemy's forces are, what his goals are, how directly he commands the orcs, why he doesn't leave Angband himself..."

"Approximately one million orcs. Formerly forty Balrogs, now twenty-eight. One Sauron. Five assorted Maiar who don't consider themselves allied with Melkor but are willing to trade favours. The orcs are all made to swear service to Melkor as children, and he often issues direct commands but rarely micromanages. Melkor's goals are the destruction of the Valar and ultimately of Eru, and in the meantime he is pleased to do miscellaneous evil as it comes to mind. He also wants to thwart Fate but was unmoved by my argument that if we wanted to thwart Fate above all else the only logical course of action would be to destroy ourselves and our faction so thoroughly that no one could reconstruct a threat of similar magnitude from the remains. He prefers to stay in Angband because he is investing his power very strongly there and excursions might draw unwanted attention from the Valar."