:Right: That part, Melody takes with remarkable calm. :I think some humans would consider that more disturbing than the murders. I...don't, not really. He's done things at one remove that disturb me somewhat, but, you know. Not professional to dwell on that. One way or another, he needs help, even bad people deserve that. And - I have a lot of respect for him, in general: 

She tugs at the neck of her gown. (Melody, a fidgety person, has needed to train herself very thoroughly not to fidget with her hair because it turns out her Quendi patients find this VERY DISTRACTING.) 

:There's something I'm struggling with how to say: she sends finally. :He trusts you, very deeply. I don't get the impression that's an easy thing for him to develop, with anyone, and...I think he needs it a lot. But that does mean he is kind of terrifyingly reliant on you for, something like being able to believe that he can be okay? I mean, Vanyel as well, but they've got more of an established dynamic. Anyway. I could imagine that being kind of a lot, for you to take on, and I wanted to check that one, you're aware of it, and two, it's - something you're up for. Not that I know what I'd do if it were, but I could try to plan for it somehow: 

If you had any good plans where he is less reliant on me I would be excited to hear them? I am aware of it. I'm not going to walk away. But - when I went in earlier today, to apologize, he was thinking about - how he'd better smooth things over, how he doesn't have any other options, and ...even if he can rely on me that's got to be unhealthy, right, even assuming he never picks up on -

:Picks up on what?: 

Does he have to say it this is terrible - he will send the memory of Leareth, before they got Vanyel, working on his clumsy braid and cheerful about it, Maitimo glad of his thoughts-protective amulet -

:Oh. I see: Melody's reaction to it, if there even is one, is just as level as everything else. :I mean, I have to assume he would pick up on it someday. Would be better if that happened when he has a larger number of close friends. Especially since I...have picked up on what sorts of hallucinations Melkor sometimes seemed to enjoy giving people about their close friends: 

Yes. I think getting him help with Vanyel is probably the most promising place to start, I don't think he makes friends very easily but they're - already friends.

Nod. :Unfortunately I think all the other Valdemarans have at least some amount of baggage there. Dara the least, but she's also not going to stay long. ...Honestly I'm confused about the conditions under which he ended up friends with you and it took him less than fifteen years. Wondering if we can try to replicate that: 

We might be able to but also I am friends with everybody and was trying very hard because we needed him to win our war. I think you want - ambitious people? Who share his goals, ideally?

:That's not going to be an easy ask. ...How well does he get along with your father? Ambitious I can see. Sharing his goals, I have absolutely no idea at this point: 

They get along! But my father's very busy and I'm not entirely confident he won't just decide this Leareth isn't worth his time. Once there's a permanent Gate between here and Vinyamar maybe they can see more of each other and we can get a better read on that. 

:I could see it going better once Leareth is doing well enough to keep up with him in conversation, or start to help out with research. Which I can imagine happening years before he's sure of himself to do anything bigger than that, and it'd probably do him good. But, agreed, now seems a bit premature: 

Sigh. :I really shouldn't complain. He's making such good progress overall: 

He is. From everything I'd been told I expected much slower progress. I appreciate all your help.

:You're welcome. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about or ask my opinion on, since we're here?: 

That is the only thing that's been weighing on me. - obviously I'm not going to - I want him to be all right, he can figure out what he wants after that. ...unless it's the compulsions and strangers but I don't think it is. 

:I don't think so either: Melody stands up, stretches. :I do hope he someday has a chance to learn what he wants when it's just for his own sake, not - saving up for a future that I sort of doubt he expects to personally reap the fruits of: 

Yeah. 

Thank you.

Melody nods, smiles a bit wearily, heads out. 

The Laiquendi live in trees; they're happy to meet the humans but seem baffled that humans are nervous about treetop platforms with no railings, some of which need leaping between. Humans who don't want to chance this can stay on the ground and wander around.

This human likes leaping between treetop platforms! The Tayledras basically live in trees too, except that it's been years since Starwind was really nimble enough to climb around. Fortunately Lórien did not have any difficulty fixing the remaining damage from a three-year-old head injury and now he's going to climb everything he can. 

Moondance is very nervous about this but probably the best solution there is to also climb the platforms and jump around. 

Well, if they're doing it then she has to have a try to. (Carefully, practicing easier non-leap-requiring walking around and then shorter leaps first.) This is great! 

Yeah how about not. 

This human is also going to pass on the tree platforms. And is very bored. Stef decides to wander off in the direction of some especially pretty singing. 

The pretty singing gets louder. 

And then a Quendi - not one of the Laiquendi, they're dressed differently - drops out of the woods ahead of him and holds a knife to his throat. State your business.

Stef makes a startled squeak. Freezes. 

"...I'm visiting? From another world?" He has no idea if they speak Valdemaran here and he's not a Mindspeaker. "I heard singing...?"