[Mithadan]

Mithadan settled into a chair and covered himself as best he could with the robe and towel. He pondered all that had been said and listened as Bird voiced her concerns.

"Why, indeed?" he asked. "It strikes me that the Valar were well satisfied with the manner in which events played themselves out. The Hobbrim are settled on Meneltarma, the Hobbits were brought to the Vale of Anduin and both branches of the race settled into the needed obscurity. So why should they intervene now in this minor matter?"

Choosing his words carefully, he looked at Piosenniel as he spoke. "It seems to me that all that is transpiring was brought about by Bilbo's request that Cami...and Maura, be allowed some degree of healing, and indeed that they had earned it. But you will recall all our discussions and concerns about leaving the threads of time intact while we travelled through the Ages on our quest. Maura is...was needed in Tol Fuin and Cami with the Hobbits rescued from Numenor. These threads cannot be disturbed. So why would the Valar intervene now? The only answer is that they wish to visit some small kindness on our friends; as much as they possibly and safely can. And it cannot be said that this is being done without some risk."

Piosenniel listened silently to Mithadan's words without speaking and neither indicated her ageement nor her dissent. Mithadan continued. "Piosenniel, the decision to accept or decline this offer rests with Cami. She is not a child that you can rescue her from this burden. As for Lorien, he is a messenger bringing this offer from the Valar and perhaps effecting the choices of Cami and Maura. And if he has lacked diplomacy, consider who he is. He is one of the Great Ones and is, no doubt, unused to dealing with the concerns of politeness which are part of our everyday life. You should consider forgiving him of this, for he and the Valar have done much which they have no need to do, save out of some sense of compassion, odd as it may seem."