A week. This isn't a negotiation; I picked the best tradeoff between preparing and acting quickly, and that's a week, and waiting longer than that would be worse, so we won't do it. 

A thousand people. No children. Equipped to engage with the locals diplomatically, to ensure we're welcome, to avoid confrontations that might set us back -

Yes. That means they have to be loyal to me, I don't want the factional nonsense imported into the expedition. 

I think it cannot unify the Noldor if it's clearly the actions of one part of them. You can take Findekáno, you can take Findaráto, you can take their companions - Findaráto has cousins he should be seeking, on those shores -

We all do. 

Sigh. A thousand people, chosen so that every part of the Noldor feel represented, all understanding that I've entrusted you with the command for this expedition and that they'll be sent home if the troubles of Tirion spill over into operations there. 

I only have one way to send them home, Fëanáro says pointedly. 

If need be, Fëanáro, you will invent a boat.

A thousand. You and Maitimo can come up with a list but I might take people off it, if I hate them or they're stupid.

All right. And we should send for your brother now so he can be apprised of the plan and make suggestions -

I have no brothers but you can update Nolofinwë if you like. 

Is there a way for me to contact another person while you're shielding us against Melkor's potential interference? the King asks Leareth.

:Not without modification to the spell, which I have not had time to design: Leareth admits. :I - will gamble that Melkor cannot read your private thoughts; it is mainly the discussion between us in osanwë that I wished to happen behind shields. If you simply step outside the area and contact the person you wish for, without revealing why, I think that ought to be safe: 

He looks over at Fëanáro. :I will say now, that I think finalizing a plan, including the timing of it, is premature. I agree that haste is worth it, in expectation, given that we do not know how quickly Melkor can adapt. However, your scout party will have information to input, and so will Nolofinwë, I hope. Fixing a plan in mind too firmly now could make it hard to take those updates into account: 

Glance at the King as well. :And - whatever you choose, I would suggest you not announce it publicly, if it can be avoided. Misinformation can go both ways. My recommendation would be to prepare assuming a week, but to maintain plausible deniability that it might be a year, until the last feasible moment – the fact that I can rapidly Gate people and supplies to a central location means that the final stage might be done in an hour or two. This will minimize the chances we give Melkor to prepare or to interfere. What do you think?: 

I think announcements are premature at this point, at least, though it's hard to imagine organizing thousands of people without advertising when they'll depart. He steps out to call his son. Fëanáro paces.  

Leareth waits, mulling over ways to wrangle the logistics. Announcing some sort of group assembly for discussion? Or maybe several, in different places, if people need to be collected who aren't in Tirion. The trouble is, any scheme where they're pretending one thing and actually planning for another is going to be recognizable as that to a smart adversary. Leareth doesn't know how clever Melkor is, or how well he understands the Quendi; in the interest of planning for the worst, he has to assume the answer to both is 'very'. 

The King comes back. 

Nolofinwë is on his way, he says.

Did you tell him to come alone?

I recommended it. He disagreed, and I did not overrule him on this since this morning his life was threatened in my presence.

He waves his hand dismissively. There was an important point to be made and I'd tried a lot of other ways of getting it across. 

And now he intends to attend with an entourage, says Finwë, tiredly. Have you already told people to prepare for a departure soon?

You'd have to ask Nelyafinwe, I delegated the communications stuff to him.

Why isn't he here -

Didn't want to come. I don't know why.

:You could perhaps step out a moment and tell Nelyafinwë to be discreet in his communications about this: Leareth suggests. He tries to keep any hint of tiredness from his voice, though he's sympathizing heavily with the King right now. :I think he will know what you mean and why, even without further detail: 

He looks around. :I am content to wait for Nolofinwë, but if possible I would prefer to sit down. It has been a long day and the shield is tiring to maintain: 

I can bring a chair in when I talk to Nelyafinwë.