Eeeeeeee!

The Valar don't take the portals down in a fit of anger. Eventually local Elves ask Ulmo, who says that Mandos doesn't think he should get to keep souls who would rather reside elsewhere though he's not sure why they'd rather that. 

Fëanors all gather to work on interdimensional transit that's not Valar-dependent, and everyone is a bit freer about moving between worlds in the meantime.

Should he be told why they'd rather that.

"Seems likely to fall on deaf ears but I suppose we could try."

She preferred not to be in Mandos because it was boring and lonely and she wants to raise her kid! She explained this while she was there but now having been made alive and reunited with her kid she still definitely likes this better!

The Valar didn't realize that the were reembodying their stolen dead. They are not sure if that's what Eru intended.

...oops?

They still do not close the portals!

"Least they're consistently incompetent." The Amentas are establishing relations now that the portals look persistent. He writes Avalor asking if cleaned red emissaries will be safe or if they should be avoided and re-extending the invitation to come visit.

"I suppose they could bring security. I'm not yet sure of public opinion enough to offer more than a guarantee that attacks would be prosecuted."

He lets Miolee and other interested parties know that. The population of Anitam gets quite enamored with finding their counterparts; the overlap rate turns out to be around 40%, more older people and fewer younger ones.

Shasali finds hers living in Brithombar with nine red-haired children.

"Nine!! Did she reseason to their short years or something -"

"About half of the people on Endorë perma-spring and half don't; she fits Endorë seasons and there were twins."

"I'm so glad she had them."

"She seems delighted. She invited us to visit but obviously that would be somewhat awkward."

" - little bit, yeah. They could get the wizard kind of cleaning, it's quick, but I guess if they've all gotten used to being around people who don't care -"

"And it is reportedly uncomfortable, she probably doesn't want to put the little ones through it."

"I bet the Valar could totally do something adequate and not uncomfortable but - because of the way the Elves reacted to the whole thing - no one'd trust them with it - I don't know if she did it on purpose or if she's just like that but it was useful how Nertel is very rigid and felt strongly about it, because people could believe she was trying to get it right."

Nod nod.

"Her first two kids aren't alts of ours, are they -"

"Not as far as we can tell, she had a girl first and she's a stage manager, I can't really see Imeles falling into that."

"Not really, even without castes. So it must take both parents the same to get the mysterious thing."

"They can't be exact - if nothing else the Elves have had fewer generations than us, at some point some of your ancestors can't have Elf matches."

"Yeah, my grandfather didn't know his parents and neither did his Elf counterpart but the parents don't match."