Tannelë is definitely still listening!

Remember we can't assume the Enemy can't imitate any form of interworld communications. They did something to imitate Nelyo - to get Vanyel -

Probably they are un-startled now and ready to take notes or something. 

<I do not expect you to answer. I understand you must know little of the conditions in Velgarth except that something went badly wrong with Vanyel's mission, and that it would not be unreasonable to assume I might be captured and corrupted> Especially since exactly that has happened before. <However, I am safe and with my organization in the north and there may be a way I can provide assurances of this. Also. I have important news for Fëanáro when he is willing to speak with me> 

He drops the connection, but keeps the artifact with him. At some point, hopefully, they're going to answer. 

They will certainly fetch Fëanáro and get together to discuss this. 

"I think we should hear what he wants to tell us. We don't have to listen. He can't do mind control from outside the universe."

"Do you want me to try contacting him, then? I've, er, never used the regular spell, but - I can try to get it to work with the artifact, and I did meet Leareth before. In his old body. I don't know if that makes a difference - how easily could you tell it was him...?" 

" - I think it felt like the same person to osanwë but actually it's possible it could've been a different human - I was expecting it to be him -"

"It's not really osanwë, I think, it's - translating it from just magic, he made it work with osanwë on one end because that was more convenient for your people. But it does seem like it's most likely to be him, or maybe someone else at his organization, or maybe Vanyel. Of course, it could be one of Leareth or Vanyel or both doing it for the Enemy, so..." She trails off. "I'll try." 

<Hello?> 

He's pretty sure that's a different person. Familiar but the name isn't coming to him - he's met them, though, he's sure of it, in some - very significant context - the lossiness of memories is very irritating. 

<Yes. This is Telumë. You knew me as Leareth> 

"...It's Leareth, or he claims to be, but he's calling himself Telumë now?" Jisa relays out loud, baffled. 

"I guess lots of us have Thindarinized our names?"

<I apologize for taking so long> Six months, now, since his death on the battlefield. <I had a very difficult time rejoining my organization. Relatedly, I have critical news of matters in Valdemar, and of - Prince Nelyafinwë, and Vanyel. However, if you wish to ask any questions to verify my identity, you may do so first> 

Jisa relays this and gives Fëanáro a helpless look. 

What things about your identity should we expect you to be able to answer questions about?

:I remember - key salient events and relationships of my previous life, most of which took place in Arda, but the chronology is not perfectly lined up and details are hazy. I have trustworthy written records of everything prior to visiting Arda. I have somewhat patchier records of everything that took place in Arda up until six months before my departure, and you have my permission to verify them against my copies that will still be there: 

Do you remember the languages you taught me?

:That is not at the level of detail at which I have true recollections but I can regenerate the list, I think, or at least make good guesses. The northern dialect, perhaps more than one. Valdemaran. Hardornen. Rethwellani. Karsite. Perhaps the regional trade tongue? Likely Ancient Kaled'a'in since my old records are in that language, possibly one of its more recent descendant languages as well. Possibly the language of the Eastern Empire, that one is often relevant. To clarify, I do not right now have fluency in most of them although I have retained a surprising number of words in Quenya despite only learning it recently: 

Hmmm.

I'm interested in what you have to say about Nelyafinwe and Vanyel even though I do not see a route at this time to verifying it.

:First: Vanyel is alive and safe with the Tayledras, albeit still recovering from severe injuries and mostly unable to use magic. Second. You must have gathered that there was a trap involved, when Vanyel came to Velgarth and did not return, but there are many possible models you could have of what happened. The situation is - hmm. Did Nelyafinwë ever speak to you of his speculations that compulsion-magic from Velgarth and Quendi oaths could be combined?: 

- no, he didn't. I wouldn't expect it to - no, it could work but you'd need to have done a lot of things, to pin down all the words -

<Sauron has him. He is - very good at that kind of thing. In any case. Prince Nelyafinwë is working with the Enemy, in a way that suggests almost total alignment with his goals, which to me suggests a very carefully thought out oath, perhaps iterated, Sauron would have been able to do that> 

Huh. 

Mandos can't fix that. 

<I know. But - we can still fix it by killing Sauron, probably. Which is necessary anyway to win this war. And there may be other approaches. I - wish to get him out. I know this will be very hard, but...> 

How can he even justify this, is it justified or just wishful thinking. He misses Maitimo so badly. He spent a while crying on Nayoki's shoulder, which she clearly found baffling, because he's lonely and grieving and missing his now-evil boyfriend, which is apparently not a normal shape of Leareth problem to have.

<He can predict me very well> he settles on. <This gives the Enemy too strong an advantage. I do not think my invasion force can catch them by surprise, at this point, and I am not sure what resources Arda has, but... Consider it, please> 

Is there a substantial tactical difference between getting him out and killing him, which would be easier. Mandos is still there, and can grab him.

Unclear but also aaaaaaaaaaaaa. 

<Would Mandos bring him back? I would assume not, given the oaths, and - I think it would be of considerable value to question him. He must know an incredible amount about the Enemy's plans, to shape them this effectively, and... I do not currently know what Sauron is planning and am very uneasy about it>