I think it meant he had to come in person? Which matters, there's only one of him and if he's close you can probably damage him, once you're at full strength. But - yeah, we shouldn't be relying too much on that. 

Maybe you can make one to sell the Dwarves as a proof of concept?

:I'll do that:

Vanyel wants to do more. Faster. He desperately wants to feel like he's doing literally anything about Leareth's probable captivity. But - becoming able to Gate is the bottleneck, right now. 

He'll practice even harder. 

"Hey, sweetheart. Boss wants to talk to you. If you want to angrily declare you'd rather die you will be in good company because all of your friends said that but, like, I don't necessarily recommend it? All the angry declarations are still on the table once you've heard him out, y'know."

Leareth meets the Maia's eyes levelly.

It's not a good situation that they're in - it's a very very bad situation, he remembers how it all happened too fast to react, the mountain shook and before he could even raise a Gate the air went fuzzy and heavy and magic didn't work. He doesn't remember anything in between that and waking up on the floor in a stone room. Presumably in Angband. None of his magic works – not spells, not Mindspeech, even his Othersenses are gone. It's exactly like not having Gifts would feel. 

He'd still hoped that maybe Vanyel and Maitimo had gotten out. But it was a slim hope all along.

Leareth stays calm. There's no point in panicking, it won't help. "I will speak with him, then." 

"Mmmhmm." And she escorts him there. 

LEARETH. I APOLOGIZE FOR KIDNAPPING YOU, BUT I URGENTLY NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH YOU. IN MY DEFENSE IT SEEMED TO ME THAT YOU WOULD DO THE SAME. YOUR FRIENDS ARE UNHARMED, AND YOU CAN SPEAK TO THEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO; THERE IS A GREAT DEAL I WANT TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER, AND IT SEEMS BETTER IF YOU CAN DISCUSS IT WITH OTHERS.

None of that is what Leareth's been expecting. A reflexive moment of confusion - off-centre, wrongness - but he can't chase it down. Besides, it's pretty obvious that he's been missing something, or none of the recent events could have happened. 

"I wish to confirm this by seeing them," he says. 

VERY WELL. He gestures to the Maia. 

Leareth will follow her. 

He's singing a healing song at Vanyel, who is barely moving, Yfandes kneeling protectively next to him. His father is pacing. 

Leareth rushes to him. No way to speak privately. "Are you all right? Vanyel...?" 

"Yfandes says it's just the Gate, always does that?"

"Yes, that does make sense. Though he ought not be unconscious very long if he merely went through a Gate rather than casting..." Though it's very possible the inter-world Gate is worse. "How long have you been awake? Is he responsive at all?" 

"Ten minutes. He stirs if you poke him." Are we trying to buy time until he can do something - is there something he's going to be able to to -

Leareth nods, not letting his expression change at all in response to the aside. "My magic is blocked," he says flatly. It's not like that's news to Melkor or his Maia servant. And it should answer Maitimo's question. 

"Ah huh. Are you all right - how long have you been awake -"

"Only a few minutes. I am unhurt, they gave me food–" probably not poisoned since he hasn't keeled over yet, "–he wishes to speak with me. I think you ought to hear it as well, whatever it is he has to say." 

(Note of confusion, something feels off – he wants to ask Maitimo again if he's all right, he seems like maybe he isn't, but he doesn't want to ask where they can be heard and there's no private way for him to communicate and really he has to assume that even osanwë isn't private.) 

"Wants to speak with you - sure. We can be there."

"I find it strange also." Suspicious, confusing, but he can't say anything and have it be unheard. "He apologized for kidnapping me. Said that in his defence I would do the same, which is literally true, so." 

"And how does he know that - what's your name," he says to the Maia behind Leareth. 

"Thuringwethil! In the local language. Nothing in Quenya. You can come up with something, if you want."

"Are we free to go with Leareth to this audience with Melkor."

"Sure. Are we dragging the Gate-fried guy, or -"

Leareth is certainly not letting Vanyel out of his sight. "I will carry him." He kneels, picks up Vanyel, who moans and stirs but doesn't open his eyes. 

And they can walk in to face Melkor.