Probably a fair bit. That is an argument for telling them right away, I suppose, I can control how they get the word and who gets it - 

And it could be a while before another baby comes through, and it could just actually be one of those humans who likes babies and eases up creche population pressures and fully intends to take the baby home...

Alright. I'll go to Aule. I am very sure that the worst he'll do is close the portals. Which - which side do you want to be on -

He sounds very pained.

I need to talk to Aydanci, I am only ninety percent sure I know what he'll say -

Yeah. Let me know once you do.

Later:

We need time to leave some people instructions on how to make storks and a few other things, but I can do that by courier golem right now.

Thank you. You have as much time as you need.

And this might be for nothing, I don't know that they'll close the portals.

Yeah, instructions are in 'open if you don't hear from me within two months' format.

I love you. Get those written, I'm going to figure out how best to say this.

Love you.

And later:

Letters en route.

He goes to speak with Aule. 

Aule is alarmed. 

He explains what could be going on.

Aule is more alarmed.

Aule calls a council on Taniquetil for all parties who played any role deliberate or inadvertent in the smuggling of human children, witnessed it, or have information of interest to the Valar on it. Aule claps his hands together and says the portals are people-on-a-preapproved-list-only now.

And the Valar go to Melkor's house in Tirion to speak with him, but Melkor is gone.

...well, Kib has two birds and they're on Melkor finding duty now.

Are they going to fly the ocean? Because the Valar think Melkor's on the other side of the ocean.

(Maitimo has his boat brought through the portal).

The hearing is only marginally helpful. Forty-six children, starting half a Year ago, never brought in under the same names.

No, the birds aren't going to fly the ocean. But in case the Valar are wrong.

No signs of Melkor. 

No signs of Melkor for several months.

Tyelcormo comes back with a whole flock of swifts and starlings and seagulls merrily keeping him company, and a baby pterosaur - 'wingspan of eleven meters when he's grown, with a good wind song I'll totally be able to fly him' and four baby Tricerotops - 'they're herd animals, they wouldn't have been happy alone' - for Kib to pet.

Kib pets them - some of them Aydanci does to speed things up - they may as well. There are no babies to track but there's a Melkor to keep an eye out for.

Everyone's nervous. The Valar extend an invitation to the whole of Tirion to come up to Taniquetil for a festival to improve morale.

Bit clumsy of them, Maitimo says wearily, but I suppose they're trying.

That is clumsier than me with my ring off on a tightrope, what the hell.

You coming?

Should I? Aydanci would take some convincing to travel all the fucking way to Taniquetil to have a badly timed party on several counts...

I'd stay home if I could get away with it, honestly. Tell Aydanci you are glad you have him as an excuse to miss the badly timed party.

I will. Love you.

See you in three weeks. Enjoy how quiet Tirion'll be. 

Will do.

And Kib stays home with his Aydanci and the, what, dozen people besides them who didn't go to the festival?

Probably more than a dozen, but less than a hundred. If the Valar say you are invited you're really supposed to attend. It's a peaceful first week. The dinosaurs love the palace gardens.