Nope, he selected his host for loyalty. Probably even more carefully than I realized he was doing at the time.

I hope that doesn't mean you make them swear to accept you as King. Loyalty oaths are... well, they shouldn't be.

In a situation like this, practitioners might ask for a statement they're here in good faith, that the claimed reasons for wanting to be here are the primary ones, and what their others are. A statement that they aren't planning to act on behalf of Maitimo or anyone else from that faction, but we wouldn't object if they continue liking the Feanorians better. A statement that they expect to be willing to repeat the same things later. And a promise not to poison the water or equivalent, of course. 

No idea if that sounds extreme or lenient with oaths substituted for inability to lie.

In Valinor it'd be unacceptable. Here I think it'd be warranted. Loyalty oaths are dangerous and can be incredibly so, we definitely wouldn't employ that.

I think I have an idea how dangerous they can be. It'd also be ethically sketchy on top of that.

When they come, do you think your host will just let them integrate? It's not like any individual coming here could have saved the ships and didn't, but if they were picked for something that looks a lot like being part of a crowd that is in the aggregate OK with it....

I think it depends a lot on what they do and say, honestly. I can keep people on alert to prevent any violence.

So definitely an issue they'll be facing, even without violence, and it'll be easier for them if they make sure to every once in a while excoriate people they presumably like for some reason?

Probably unavoidable, but they should be warned in advance.

That seems reasonable enough. 

So that gets rephrased more conservatively and sent on to Maitimo.

Any guesses on why he's going through me? He claimed to want me as go-between for appearance of neutrality, or at least for the lack of centuries of sidedness, but that doesn't apply when you're right here in osanwë range.

Probably because there's a bit of a taboo on just talking directly to people at long range without invitation - there'd have to be, since there's no way to block it and I'd have a hundred people in my head at any time. It could also be that he gets more out of your responses than he'd get from mine.

And I'm less likely to mind about the taboo, but if it were just that he could have asked me to ask you. It's probably the second thing.

You must find it baffling that so many people trust and adore and respect him.

Not at all. He is very good at making what he wants be the obviously best thing to get what the other person wants, so he gets to costlessly be a reasonable person and reliable ally. Usually. And lots of people have ulterior motives. The adoration bit's weirder.

Has anyone demonstrated to you the use of osanwe to share memories?

No. Is it the same as sharing senses?

Same idea, requires more effort on the part of the sender to make sure the memory is chronological and closer-than-typical-of-memories to complete.

That makes sense.
Is that a suggestion about sending a memory of Maitimo earning adoration?

If you think being forewarned or better informed will help you in any way, yes.

I wouldn't expect it to matter that much as compared to just saying it, but it can't hurt. If it's not too much more effort, go ahead.

And she's standing in a spectacular, breathtaking ballroom somewhere. Light is streaming in through all the walls so the place seems to glow. There are people dancing; there are tables, with people sitting down to eat; there are children darting between everyone's feet.

And there's Maitimo, holding one such child, who he's just snatched out from underfoot of a particularly fast dance. He looks younger, bright-eyed, guileless; he radiates sincerity. He looks straight at her and beams at her and swings the child up into his arms and walks over, a bit unsteadily, settling the child more comfortably in his arms as he does. "Uncle!" he says to her. "I was hoping you'd come; I have been pressed against the wall, declining dances and quaking in terror, all evening. Someone is assuredly going to ask me what I think of your lovely granddaughter and I shall be unable to cover for the fact I haven't met her yet."

And the scene changes -

Maitimo sitting outside a spectacular fountain, explaining chemistry to small children, the granddaughter in question perched on his knee - 

Maitimo in his office in the palace, speaking earnestly to some slightly-terrified woman who'd come in unsure how the family'd manage without her daughter who'd just scored well enough on examinations to get a prestigious apprenticeship - "she can live at my aunt's," he says, "there's a spare room, and I know someone who's been itching to leave the city and would be endlessly grateful for a chance to work at your home..."

Maitimo bringing three trays of food by - "you mentioned to me once that these were your favorites, and for the sake of the country I am going to insist you'll well-nourished while you hammer out this tax plan -"

- three hundred Years of that, Nolofinwe concludes resignedly.

Well, as ways to get everyone's loyalty go, that's one of the better ones.

Isn't it? It's just such a waste - he didn't need to commit any crimes to have a loyal united Noldor at his back, all he had to do was not swear the damned oath...

Mostly united. Except for one.

And now here we are.

I would have helped him remove his father from power if he'd asked. There might have been a way to pull it off.

He sighs.

And if there aren't further messages from Maitimo or the people he was talking on behalf of, they can continue leading the train past the Feanorians.

Those people will wait until the new host is settled; some talk with their families, but no one talks with Amber. They reach the location they had in mind. It has local inhabitants. The King sends people to talk with them; there's a language barrier, but the tentative agreement is that no one's going to stop them from settling but no one's thrilled by it either.