Going out of your way to help them isn't less laudable, even knowing the killings were a mistake.

If weapons weren't a concern, if they were going to be safe no matter what, would you still want to be here?

...pays pretty well, since no one wants to do it. But probably not.

This and Alqualondë are implausibly symmetric. What are the odds someone probably other than us could convince Elwe not to abandon people to the Enemy because of negligent homicide?

I'd suggest Elwe's niece and nephews, but, well, you met Artanis.

I was thinking someone from Doriath, if anyone stands out as trustworthy before Elwe finds out some other way.

I can't scan a crowd and point out people as trustworthy, and we're not inviting the guy who can. Maybe if we hang out here for a while.

Or end up coming back here. There's no hard limit on when he finds out.

Wouldn't count on having too long. But yeah.

Yeah. Or even once getting their help isn't an emergency....

Anyway.

We're worried about the Enemy copying whatever we do. Are there any known cases of him getting technical knowledge from Dwarves?

Sure, we used to trade with orcs, back before he came back.

But not by force or observation when you didn't want him to?

Also, you do try to keep information from him, right?

Now? Of course. He's a bad neighbor. As far as I know he hasn't learned anything by spying, but I'm not sure how I'd know. 

Good. This isn't the most important invention since the wheel but potentially since the forge. It'd be awkward if it fell into the wrong hands.

I'm guessing there isn't a standing list of people interested in handling this kind of thing. There a procedure for picking people?

I can make it known you're offering and people can bid?

Would that work without being less vague about what I'm offering?

You'll earn more if you're more specific, but it should do.

Good. We can worry about getting as much as possible out of it with the next one; it'd be unfortunate if I accidentally said enough that someone figured it out.

Fair enough. I'll go make all of this known.

Thank you.

What's the secret idea?

Steam. I'm almost sure I can come up with at least one design for an engine powered by burning things. Might not sound like much, but it was a big deal when it got started on my world.

Cool.

...you might be able to trade Fëanáro and company tech for concessions, too, if that ever seems like a good idea.

I didn't even think of it until you mentioned offering information just now. Now...aside from the risk of the Enemy finding out, them being more powerful would be a good thing.

I trust them more than I trust Dwarves to be careful about letting things slip to the Enemy. Not that I don't trust Dwarves, just I know my cousins and incompetence isn't high up on the list of their abundant flaws.

Steam power in particular can be pretty obvious, especially when you're using it for transportation, but yeah. If they have the resources to use the information, I think we want them to have it.