No one really knows how the parties get to yes

I think you've got that the other way around. Elves using violence to get their way is currently unthinkable. They're worried we're arrogant and will be rude and they'll be second-class citizens, they might be worried we're a trick of the Enemy, they are not worried that if they annoy us we'll drag them into camp and get oaths at swordpoint, because Elves don't do that. Accidentally coercing all the neighbors will be more of a risk once Alqualonde's known.

All of those except the trick of the Enemy part are a lot less bad than they could be.

Are they second-class citizens? I'm sure they aren't by law, but it doesn't take a formal identification to get the results.

They're all illiterate and there's a language barrier. We're trying but it's not going to happen overnight. Dare I ask what horrors human history suggests they ought to be fearing? I promise you won't give me any ideas.

Violence is the big one; better-armed colonizers who want land tend to get it on better terms than otherwise. The site of city I'm from didn't involve any actual forced evictions but did have a lot of questionable agreements. One of the disputes was about whether the land was rented or sold; that debt got paid a few years ago after more than two centuries. The worst-case result is literally forcing people to march out of the good farmland, and not caring how many die on the way.

Well, we're not doing that and they don't know to be afraid of it.

We showed up planning to offer our aid as allies to local leadership, but we didn't get here in time for that.

There just...wasn't any leadership left?

Not here. In the Falas, down south, we were able to do that as we intended. Here, all dead.

Oh.

That does make it more understandable that people would voluntarily join you. For a regrettable reason.

Trust me, had it been remotely in our power to get here sooner we'd have done it.

That I believe. Not for the most flattering of reasons, but still. I guess I can report back that even when people who disliked you when you arrived it wasn't because they thought you were taking their territory. That one's the problem we have; it might take more bribery or at the very least more proof of not being terrible neighbors.

Or your locals might in fact be internally organized enough to regard themselves as a political unit with territory, which was no longer true up here.

Want a copy of our phrasebooks and guide to the local language?

Yes, definitely.

I'm not entirely sure why the language problem would slow down communications, since everyone's telepathic, but it does, so definitely.

We can't swear over osanwe.

That could do it. Should I land and pick up the book?

By all means.

So a moment later she walks up to the gates.

I guess now that I am here I may as well accept the introduction you mentioned, and check on the greenhouses.

He meets her at the gates. He's attired like the locals. Thank you. Phrasebooks, and journal articles on the linguistic evolution of Thindarin - that's the local language - and Quenya from a common ancestor. I glared at everyone who thought that was a good use of their time but I can't exactly ban science. How're you doing?

Very well. The trip across the Ice was much less bad than I expected. I don't think the best trained and equipped humans could ever do that distance in a week on foot, and there weren't any deaths or even serious injuries. It's really gratifying to have been able to get people out of a mess like that. You're entitled to feel the same, probably, for getting Macalaure's help with the song. And for having not put them there in the first place, can go unmentioned.

I am gladdened beyond words, and not merely because there's marginally less of a crime to our names. I'll pass on to Macalaure that his aid made a difference. You'll take some of the harvest spirits back to them, if there are any?

Yes, they might need it even more. Not out of supplies yet, but production hasn't gotten started.

Thank you.

They reach the greenhouses; he holds the door for her. Glances down at her hands. Confident about arrows?

Oh.

I took it off originally because I didn't know if someone might recognize it as Feanorian work. Couldn't admit to having been here. It's in reach in case there are arrows with a few seconds' warning.

I suppose that suffices if you can sense if someone sees you.

That's only when I'm looking. If it weren't for the fact that I'm not being shot at at any given time, it might work out differently.