Other people are out there dying.

I'm sorry you're stuck.

I'm excited to get to meet more people.

There won't be any shortage of people who want to come here.

If they're all willing to swear to be safe they're all welcome.

That's great news to be able to bring back.

That the lands outside Doriath are better defended is great news you brought here.

Always glad to help with that one.

I hope the Noldor are planning to win their war and then move on?

I don't really know what they're planning next. I've been, intentionally not thinking of much other than the problem. And the ones who think we can win are planning on a schedule I won't be here for, that too.

I suppose that makes sense.

Why are you hoping they'll move on? Since they're outside here either way, and not even all that close.

Beleriand was all ruled from Menegroth, and all populated, when the Enemy came. When he's defeated people are going to want to go back to their homes, and the fact the Enemy briefly claimed the lands doesn't make them up for grabs, and I don't get the sense the Noldor will want to become citizens of this kingdom, and if they want to found their own they should move on to somewhere unclaimed and unpopulated, not just recently depopulated by the Enemy.

I don't know if they know how much of it was populated when. I do know they weren't attached to any specific land coming in. Whether that changes might depend on how long we're talking about.

So, better to tell them up front, probably.

Oh, definitely. Might not affect how long it takes before the answer changes to "no this is our home now," but still. Are there unclaimed lands worth claiming? It'd go over better if it doesn't look like they're getting pushed to the middle of nowhere.

I think east of the mountains there are whole forests and valleys and plains with no one there. Or, Dwarves in their underground cities, but they won't care what Elves are doing aboveground.

These Elves might not stay above ground, actually.

But I'll tell them the mountains are the boundary, and hopefully the Enemy's gone before multiple groups have put down roots in the same place.

Thank you!

Concerts and pleasantries continue, of course. Elves.

Eventually they reach a reasonable stopping point and, after a brief check in case Melian can confer immortality, head back to the Noldor.

Not casually, she says with a frown. If you remained in my domain I could suspend the processes that I expect bring about the result you describe. But I would want you close by in case this had unintended effects, and I in any event would need to be doing it continually.

I don't think I can be spared at the moment, and it's not a threat yet anyway. Thank you for checking.

You are very welcome. Go with my blessing, and Eru's.

They go with one of those two things.

Well. Could have gone worse. What are you going to report to the Feanorians?