She waves a hand up at the sun.  <That.  That is what I'm talking about.>

<I hadn't heard of the idea of destroying the Silmarils to restore the Trees, as far as I recall, but I certainly don't think it would've been a good idea either.  A Silmaril is easier to play keep-away with.>

<...And, dammit, now I'm off thinking of whether and how I could possibly attempt to grow new Trees, albeit I don't...

<...Well, no, there is precedent for some very enormous trees arising from my homeworld's magics, and if that Light and my Light match...

<...And with enough druids to bolster a seedling...  Which I think is basically the right analogue for the Elvish ways, even as they're not the same thing in practice -

<...I don't want to overpromise.>

<I really don't want to overpromise.  I am not remotely capable of living up to the scale of - actions of Eru Illuvatar.

<But I see no theoretical impossibility here beyond the question of what the Light of the Trees is.  Just a lot of practical questions.  ...I wasn't even thinking about the Trees!  There are enough problems on my plate with Sauron's entire existence!  But now I kind of have to, because if I could and I didn't I would be being kind of horrible!  And the fucking... mostly-inevitable tragic decline of the universe, here, really frustrates me anyway!  So I guess I'm going to have to see if I can make a seedling of a Tree!  Out of fucking spite!  This shouldn't be the sort of thing one does out of spite!>

<...The - [CLASSIFIED] - is a more pressing problem, though.>

<But, ah - is this the right kind of Light?>

She takes a deep breath, centering herself in herself, and pulls the smallest fraction of the indivisible eternity that is how her homeworld's Light works to the tip of a finger, welling up and shining.

It is going to be hard to pull herself away from its promises, when she has her answer.  But she has a duty.  She may even have two.

He looks, and looks again.

His memories of the Trees are faint, dimmed not by the passage of time - as they would for Men - but by taking on this body and mission.  He's never fully explained this to anyone, though some - like Galadriel and Glorfindel and Gildor - clearly know.

It's not exactly Treelight, but he thinks it's closer to Treelight than the Sun is.  It might be the basis of a fair attempt.

<I... cannot say for sure.  There are Elves here who have seen the Trees and can show you a better picture than I can, or perhaps you can look at the Star of Earendil tonight.  Though as you say, there are more pressing matters.>

<Then, when there is time...  I will ask.>

<In the meantime...  What was this experiment with swords trying to determine?  And do you have further plans?  I believe Elrond was planning to hold a Council soon; if you would speak with us there or beforehand about the Foresight you read, it would be much appreciated.>

(She feels a vague embarrassment at only recalling now that the Sun and Moon were in fact derived from Tree fruits, if she recalls correctly, and thusly not aiming her dramatic gesture at anywhere near the right thing, but clearly it went fine and therefore doesn't matter, anxiety.)

<Whether Elvish works and their sequelae - such as this enchanted sword - have their expected effect on myself, though given that [CLASSIFIED] did try to do the thing it usually does to those it does not know suspect it, it wasn't necessarily - though, now that I think about that it's hardly a good example considering that there was not a single piece of Elvish craft in its construction - anyway, we found out that Songs will probably work and that I really don't know how to longsword.  And, yes, of course.  If nothing else maybe being there will jog my memory a bit.  Human recollection is often - context-dependent, in my experience, and I am, unfortunately, human.>  Probably, she doesn't think very loudly.

<As far as plans - In the time before Elrond's guest list arrives I rather intend to see if I can work a ward for Frodo akin to the one I resorted to, and either concurrently or sequentially arm myself for balrog.>

<Though, speaking of the Foretelling, there is a question I would speak to you privately upon, if you've the time.>

Lindir nods at the description of the experiment, and then solemnly again at her being unfortunately human.

"The most fascinating human I have seen in many Long-Years," he adds with a shallow bow to her.  "I would be interested to see you work that ward."

For her, with that context, he'll absolutely have time.

<Certainly.  Privately, not with Elrond?>

Lindir, she is flattered.

<It's a matter pertaining to you, specifically, Mithrandir.  If you wish Elrond to know it, that is your choice, but I would suggest that you make that decision with full context.>

He nods gravely, and after brief farewells to Lindir and the Rangers, leads Alicia around the stable to a couch grown among the roots of a grove of trees on a hillside.  They see several Elves as they go; Gandalf raises his hand in greetings but nothing else.

<This should be privy enough since we are using osanwe>, Gandalf says once they're seated in the smooth branches of the couch.  

<I have shared much with Elrond, but... there are things I have not>

- such as some of what he did in Valinor, and how much he has forgotten about it -

<and things it might be wise not to share considering what might happen.>

- such as, preserving some shreds of secrecy in case Sauron regains the One Ring.

Alicia hums contemplatively at his opening comment, and wraps a purple shimmer around them that fades into invisibility in moments, a simple refinement of the osanwë-barrier.  <I mislike trusting 'should', when it comes to secrets like yours, Olorin.>

<Am I correct in my assumption that you are currently - in the guise of, as an approximation of whatever really happens - Gandalf the Grey?>

He shrugs at the extra shield - though he would've nodded anywhere other than Rivendell and maybe Lorien - and nods at the "Grey."

<Perhaps better 'form', though any concept known among humans or Elves is but an approximation.>

<In the events that occur for lack of my interruption, you are - presumably somewhat inconveniently discorporated, holding off the balrog from the Fellowship of the Ring,> she cannot stop the image of YOU SHALL NOT PASS! from transmitting, <and return, later, as Gandalf the White.  I don't, rightly, have half a clue what that means in practice - but it was important enough to be of narrative relevance.>

He pauses, trying to think what might have driven him to that image.  It goes against the strategies he has followed - with good reason - for Long Years.  And his death(!) only accentuates that risk.

<Things must have been desperate indeed, for me to try my strength against the Balrog like that.  And... how long was it until I returned?  A year?  Longer?  Was the Quest somehow not yet complete?>

<That, I do not know.  I don't think it was after the One Ring met its end in Mount Doom, but nor do I have reason to believe it took you a year, beyond that you are presently expecting it to?  But neither do I have reason to believe it did not.  Mordor is not a very easy-to-traverse place, and it was the hobbits alone - and the being who had prior held the Ring for who knows how long, actually, one Gollum/Smëagol(?) - who did.  ...I didn't read this book, I must regrettably remind you.  I only read the book that contained Bilbo's tale, and such ancillary information as that you put on the best fireworks the Shire knows.>

<My fireworks made it into the book?>

<And I do not see how it could take less than a year, and I would expect longer; I am very invested in this body...  Even if I had help, I cannot think of any Vala or Maia who would be both able and willing to help enough for it to take less than a year...>

<They did, yes.  As did your leaving (and later obliterating) a thief's mark on poor bewildered Bilbo's door, and a myriad other things.>

<And then there was the time you used them to scare off some wargs, on-'screen', as-was...  But we digress, I daresay.>

<...Hold on.  The Valar and Maiar who could help, wouldn't help you return to a fight against one of Morgoth's most dangerously clever lieutenants?!  Have they learned nothing since Ungoliant ate the Trees?!>

<...I can but hope otherwise, and that there is something I do not know, that helps you.>

<They have learned much.  And among the things they have learned is to be cautious interacting with Middle-Earth.  That was why they sent me and my cousins, to live here and know it as one knows their home.

<I think they might help me return, but - I would not assume it would happen quickly.  And even if they did, I do not believe they are practiced in helping others assume bodies swiftly after a body they have been long invested in is disincorporated.>

He's already telling her more than he's told anyone except Galadriel and Elrond and a few others, but she's asking questions few others have asked him.

<...Well, that's fair.  Honestly, for all I know, it's an intervention of Eru that does it.>

<...Still, I am - relatively sure that it is not as if Frodo and Sam are wandering in Mordor for years - they would have run out of food, surely, even as talented as Sam is - and I am pretty confident, similarly, that you return before they succeed in destroying the One Ring, because that sort of dramatic name change isn't epilogue material.  So the question is, with the situation thus - whether you believe it worth it to keep that part of the Foretelling on its rails, or whether we risk diverting it, especially knowing that there must have been things you were involved with afterwards that I don't know.>

<Indeed; indeed.  There is little room to wander in Mordor, even if one will eat such food as orcs eat - unlike dear Sam and Frodo.

<An intervention of Eru?  Perhaps; that would certainly be sufficient, but I would not dare assume!  He has not intervened so directly in Arda since, I believe, the Change of the World!

<And I came back as the White, you said, taking Saruman's place...  That would be significant, though I must ponder how.  But fortunately, we can avoid that balrog by simply not traveling through Moria should we choose not to.  And we need not make that decision today.>

<Nor would I, in truth.  It's merely possible.>

<...I am not sure what routes might permit our travel - ideally beneath Sauron's notice at the critical portion where the hobbits must split off for Mount Doom - we're aware of the Eye of Sauron, right? - to accomplish the needful things of this adventure, though you would surely know better than anything I might.  Since - one does not simply walk into Mordor, as the saying goes when - I believe you coined it.  ...I am also fairly sure that we should not just leave the balrog for a party less able to handle it, in the fullness of time when someone goes to reclaim Moria.  We're wizards.  We can handle a balrog, I should hope, where I daresay much of Middle-Earth could hardly contemplate the feat.  Even if that rather strikes a vein of hubris that I know got tacked on to the title of 'wizard' long after you had it.>

<But really, I do like our chances.  It's just - a big fiery thing, even if it's primordial.  I've seen worse, around here.  It's not a continent-sized dragon, you know?>

Why yes, she does remember Ancalagon the Black, thank you for asking.