There's a pause, and then El comes out.

"Lion. Did you promise we were going to make them bombs?"

"Nnnnnnnnnnnot exactly? I said bombs are possible?"

Sigh.

She notices Ellisaria. "Who's this?"

"One of the guests at the Council, an emissary from the dragons - she had reports from Mordor and Gondor and all. Said she wanted to meet us."

"More precisely, I wished to speak with you. We have already met."

" - We have?"

"On the road to Khazad-dum. You were traveling with an orc."

"-You're a dragon?"

" - How do you turn from a dragon shape into a human? Where does the mass go???"

"As well ask why an empty suit of armor can walk and talk."

"...Okay but I understand the answer to that question and can explain why what's going on works and apply it to other situations. I can't do that for shapeshifting yet."

"It is a natural ability of my kind." She shrugs. "Perhaps if a Blue were here, they could explain in a way you would understand."

"Wouldn't mind that."

"Unfortunately, there are none of the Blue Flight in this world. Just as I suspect the two of you are the only ones from your world here."

She glances at El.

"What makes you say that?"

"Some of the technology you have 'invented' is familiar to me. Some is not. But all of it is foreign to the natives of this world. Add to that your arm, the animate armor, and the way you came here, as well as my own experiences, and the conclusion is not so hard to reach."

"Your own experiences?"

"I am not native to this world either, of course."

Pause, and - "We don't have dragons, where we're from."

"A pity."

"Dragons are kinda really cool."

"I suppose we are."

"What did you want to talk to us about?"

"Your participation in the war against Mordor."