Vanyel reaches them less than a minute later. Stretches out his Thoughtsensing. :Maitimo, Stef isn't here - he's the one I had a bad feeling about– oh, I...think he's this way?: He's not sure how he knows, he still can't exactly feel Stef with Thoughtsensing, but he breaks into a run again.

And triggers his shield-talisman to its emergency level, just in case Stef ran into some kind of trouble, even if it's only wild animals – gods please let him be all right–

He is super confused but he can keep up with Vanyel.

And then they're stopped, at the border, by a Quendi with a knife - state your business -

- I'm sorry, Maitimo says, I'm Prince Nelyafinwë of the Noldor, this is the Herald Vanyel who killed Melkor, we're looking for somebody -

Now is not the time to interject that technically Olórin and an ancient weapon killed Melkor. Vanyel flashes an image of Stef to both of them. :Have you seen this young man. He was with the Valdemaran party who are visiting the Laiquendi but they do not know his current location: 

He came here, the man says after a moment's hesitation. He tried to use some kind of magic song on us.

Vanyel tenses. :Stef is Bardic Gifted: he sends privately to Maitimo, :it's - the only way he would see to defend himself if he stumbled in here and they came at him with a knife - but this seems delicate, can you...?: He wants to go sprinting past in the direction he's pretty sure Stef is but causing an even bigger diplomatic incident in his haste would be...less than ideal. 

The child was travelling with us on a diplomatic visit to Denethor and his people; we'd be delighted to return him home.

Child?

He's sixteen. Humans grow up quicker than us but that's still a child even for them. Is he all right? We have magical Velgarth healing, if not, so we'd want to see him as quickly as possible.

He says something to the people behind him.

:Maitimo: Vanyel sends. :He’s nearby, I can feel him, but - not with Thoughtsensing: He’s not sure which of his many Othersenses are picking up on Stef, though; maybe Empathy but it’s more blurred than usual and also louder. :I don’t think he’s all right:

And he reaches back to Savil. :I need Shavri where is she:

Well unless he's dying we should let them hand him back over, I think they're going to. 

Talktalktalktalk. We can return the trespasser, the guard announces.

Vanyel is fairly sure that Stef isn’t dying but waiting is still agony. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. Taps his fingers against his thigh.

:I’m coming - Van, what’s wrong?:

:Stef. Don’t know yet:

A Quendi, carrying Stef, approaches. Stef is not conscious, though he's breathing fine.

Vanyel is furious. He tries very hard to hide it. :Maitimo, what are they saying they did to him-:

They said they hit him to make him stop singing. Van, a Maia runs Doriath. We'll walk away and get him Healing.

Vanyel nods, tensely. Holds out his arms to take Stef the instant it looks like this is what they’re offering.

They hand Stef over.

Vanyel holds him gently and heads back the way they came at the fastest walk he can manage without jostling Stef.

And Shavri meets them halfway, Dara on her heels. “What’s going on - is he injured...” She stops Vanyel midstep with a hand on his shoulder, then reaches for Stef’s forehead and closes her eyes, checking with Healing-Sight. “How long has he been unconscious-”

“How would I know?”

"It has been eight minutes since Van told me something was wrong."

“How did he... Nevermind. He’s not dying but that’s kind of worrying, they must’ve hit him pretty hard - I hope Quendi don’t have tougher skulls than us and that threw them off...”

“I think I should Gate him to Lorien. I don’t want to take any chances.”