
I will not now nor have I ever called you a fool for trusting me. I have more respect for my own disguise than that. I lived that lie for centuries, I know it was perfect. You would had to have powers beyond your ken to suss me out. Even your witch cousin did not suspect me, though she refused my offers.
Yes. You were a means to an end– but I desired to include you in that end. We could have ruled together, if I had convinced you to abandon the Valar entirely, to help me regain what I’d lost.
A witless pawn would have been useless to me: I wanted an ally. But I needed more time, I needed more power. The war would not be forgotten in the span of a season. I… rushed the final play. I was concerned that if I waited longer, I would forget my purpose. You had that effect on me. It was powerful. I feared it.
My fear cost me control of the elven kingdoms and my relationship with you, which I… I valued highly.

