"I could drop you off there if you'd like, actually, but it would be really bad if the Enemy knew I was hopping around, especially if he got the idea that there were other universes, and I can't guarantee no minor Maiar of Valinor are talking to any that report to him. Speaking of Maiar, Lúthien, can you do the instantaneous communication thing?"

"With my mom but it's hard and I don't have it with anyone else."

"Damn, I wanted to try another likely friendly Maia, see if he wanted to help out, but going through your mom's probably not wise. And I can't ask him in person because I don't know where he is."

Shrug. "It sounds like a good cause. Maybe the Valar would help you."

"It's well thought of but I do not think it is likely and also entering Valinor could be dangerous for uninvited non-Elves."

"I don't think so, not if you had a good reason like a prospect of ending the war safely."

"I also think they'll take longer to decide what to do than the situation will take to resolve itself one way or another."

"They might do that."

"And they might do something that makes things worse, if they did act quickly; they are not at their best when trying to act quickly. I'd like a chance to ask Olórin but I'm not going to try the Valar."

"Okay." Sigh.

"But I thought I'd try you, since a couple of times yous from other Ardas have done cool stuff. One of you who goes by the disambiguating nickname Joy helped save a planet."

"How'd she do that."

"It had a magical ecology that was being managed evilly as an energy source and ran on emotions. She had a magic song for happiness - this was one where songs were magic - and it was an infinite energy hack."

"That's pretty cool."

"It was! Now she co-rules an empire."

"Which one?"

"A new one, it's called Mîr."

"Huh."

"Once my people find me Joy might visit if you'd like that."

"That'd be really nice."

"I'll bear in mind to tell her once I can."

"You should maybe go, everyone's nervous. I'm glad you came, though."

"Sorry for scaring people. I'll swing by when it's almost go time, thanks for hearing me out."

She nods.

And Loki puts herself and Shuri back in Wakanda.