Do you think they succeeded?

I'm hardly an unbiased voice on the subject, I think them better merely by the fact that they were made by someone other than the Valar. But, hm. He considers. The Trees were grand, gorgeous creations, but the light they bestowed only ever shone upon Valinor. They were the centerpieces of a prison. The jewels are brilliant with no such bindings. I think that even if they don't outshine the Trees, what they are is more sincerely beautiful than anything that comes with a pair of shackles.

A poet. Maybe the Elves'll show up and you can deliver your compliments in person.

Perhaps! If I did, do you think delight or bewilderment would win?

I doubt they'd be in a mood to be too terribly delighted about anything. 

Gee why would that be.

Alas. Bewilderment it is.

Maybe they'll be delighted down the road. Kiss.

Perhaps!

He doubts it, but it could happen. It's more likely than Eru deciding to stop meddling in the lives of his creations, and Sánedel's been joking about that one for years. Which admittedly doesn't say much about how likely it is, but still. Principle of the matter. It could happen.

Let's leave Melkor to his shinies until he's ready to share.

That could be a long while indeed! I want to see if the shinies will bite me or not eventually, not to languish in doubt until the end of all things.

But away he goes, of course.

Elsewhere, someone is singing. That's not all she's doing, she can multitask, but it's the primary thing she's doing, because she has a lovely voice and everyone's freaking out a bit. Singing helps. While she sings she stalks through the dark streets, trying to keep her mental list of people straight. Maitimo would be better at this, but Maitimo is not here. So she'll fill in for him and try to keep things as calm as possible. So far, it's pretty clear that there aren't any casualties, at least not here. Everyone's just confused and scared and worried about loved ones that are too far away for them to reach. This is a solvable problem. So Calassúrë is solving it and trying to prevent as much confusion as possible.

The Valar still haven't answered any questions. They're thinking, and apparently that means they don't even get clarifying blanket statements. Only silence.

Uncle, she sends, when she's in range for osanwë again, I'm back, still no casualties. Just a lot of confusion.

Melkor, Fëanáro answers. Obviously. The idiots, we warned them, the idiots -

Yeah. I'd - I would have thought they'd have - contingencies or better ways to prevent this or. Or something. And instead... she sends the equivalent of a heavy sigh. Here we are. At least no one seems to be hurt.

I did not think they had contingencies. I did not think they were prepared. I thought this would happen and it did and no one was hurt here because he couldn't get this close directly but there're people elsewhere, my children, everyone in Endorë -

Why is it that every time she talks to her uncle she wants to either throttle him or cry? Maybe both, she could probably do both.

He's right, of course, but he could maybe stop rubbing it in.

Yes, she agrees, a little miserably.

And the Valar haven't moved. At all. Not even an inch, they're thinking -

They could be doing something actually useful and just be so busy they can't possibly take the time to explain it to any of us, but. Yes, I'm not filled with warm fuzzy feelings on their ability to handle Melkor, considering.

He doesn't answer.

Sorry. Trying to give them some benefit of the doubt. Do you think if we gave them a ready-made plan we could possibly get them to listen?

Do you have one?

No. I'd need to know more specifics of what Melkor did and how he managed it to have any idea how to counter it properly. And if they were willing to go off of vague 'Can you just follow Melkor and hit him really hard and put him back in prison' then we wouldn't be here.

I'm leaving Valinor.

.... To evacuate Endorë?

Perhaps, if that's what needs doing when we arrive there. And to stop him, if we can, and to build a life on our own terms as our own masters, instead of here sniveling for the protection of beings who cannot offer it and demand an exorbitant price in return.

Fair enough. She thinks of the feeling of helplessness prevalent since the death of the Trees, of silent and negligent gods and the results of their failures. I'm with you.