"Valar did something useful and put the Sun and Moon up. Moon first, it glowed on its own back then - don't ask -"

"Don't ask you or don't ask anyone because I am actually curious about that."

"I mean, the answer is just really unsatisfying. They weren't the Moon and the Sun, they were fruits of the dying trees carried on chariots through the sky. ...cosmology got normal later, but it's not a happy story -"

"Okay."

"So we settle in, there's a battle, we besiege Angband, and they finally get somewhere on the deeply unethical human experiments. Well, orc experiments - humans had also made their appearance by then, but well away from the main fight - and the first set of orders we try is kill all the prisoners in Angband as quickly as possible - Enemy was being horrible to them - and it works.

So then it's just a question of what set of orders to give. You know of Lúthien, right? I think half the population's descended from her at this point..."

"I'm pretty sure I'm in the other half, but yeah."

"She's not better than me at music. She is better at specific kinds of magic music but only because she has an outrageous advantage. 

She got a sleep song that could take down a Vala working. We worked with the Dwarves and got record players working. And then Alcallah got more sets of orders for orcs. Play the song, was one set. 'grab Morgoth's crown and run when you get the chance' was the other one. We attacked Angband at the same time as activating that, the orcs didn't manage to get the Silmarils out the gates but we managed to batter them down -

And then we had the Silmarils and Father at his leisure, only not really because does he ever even take breaks, figured out how to use them to kill a Vala. And then we were all very patient while he additionally figured out how to do it while slowing down the crumbling of the continent we'd landed on, enough that everyone could get off. And then we won."

"I'm glad you won. I'm glad she showed up."

"Yeah."

She hugs him again.

I--I'm not going to spend my time wishing I hadn't died. It sucks in a lot of ways but I can't change it and I have parents I love. I did miss you, though, I'm glad I don't have to do that anymore. I love you.

Love you too. Honestly I was expecting some yelling-at-us.

It's been thousands of years. What would even be the point?

If it made you feel better...

Knowing you're real makes me feel better. Knowing I'm going to see everyone again soon makes me feel better. Knowing Findekano forgave Maitimo makes me feel better. Being able to move on with my life makes me feel better. Rubbing salt in the wounds when you've spent thousands of years missing us wouldn't make me feel better.

Maitimo didn't know about the ships. Father hadn't told him. They nearly came to blows over it - I - intervened, I did not want to watch my father draw a weapon on his son - and then he refused to participate in it.

Doesn't surprise me that your dad decided to pull something without telling Maitimo about it first again, after the time he pulled a sword on Nolofinwe.

We didn't think anyone'd crossed the Ice, we didn't know they were in danger until - Tyelcormo woke up -

Idaia was so scared that her death would literally kill him.

Don't think it could, at first. The oath.

When she knew it was real the first thing she said was, "Oh, god, I really did that to him."

Well, not on purpose.

Doesn't change the fact that everyone knows him as the Grieving Prince.

We have forever. He'll be okay.

Yeah. But it's going to take her a little time to get over how much suffering she caused him, however not-her-fault.

Is it going to take her longer than him?