AN: I don't know what it is about Saturday nights, but that seems to be when I generally end up writing. Well, I now have the prophecy completed, so I'm going to try to update once a week. I'm a bit busy, but I can do it! Go me! Yeah, besides, I don't have the excuse of being unsure what's supposed to happen anymore.

Ryoki: Galadriel isn't too thrilled about telling Elrond what's up, so she's trying to postpone his wrath until the last moment.

padawan_jinx: Glad you like the prophecy idea, I hope it works out as well as I hope it will.

WeasleyTwinsLover1112: I'm trying to update soon. I'm not very good at it though, am I?

Disclaimer: Yadda, yadda, yadda. You know, not mine.

Enjoy...

"English talking"
'thinking'
~Galadriel mind-speaking~
*Elvish talking*

And so the days passed. Verdi would wake up each morning and go chop veggies, then she would eat her own breakfast and go out into the city. Her time was mainly spent talking and playing with the elflings and practicing with the elf musicians. She mostly played their songs on her violin and taught them her songs, but once and awhile she would try out a tune on their funny stringed instrument. She was given pants and shirts (still no shorts) to wear after another argument and life began to proceed smoothly. She rarely thought about her life back home, but sometimes she would lie awake at night and wonder what was happening back in Illinois.

It was one of these nights, when Verdi was sitting in her room playing a soft lullaby to the shadows of the trees and thinking of Caroline, that her fingers suddenly began to pluck a strange tune. She set her bow down and tried to pluck out the notes tingling in her mind. Yet soon Verdi found herself playing an eery song, one unlike any other she had ever heard. It's notes forced her to use the full range of the violin and to pull the bow so slowly or so quickly that she soon tired from the exertion. And still the music wanted to be played.

Haldir happened to be walking by during the middle of the song and wondered at Verdi's tune. Enchanted by it, he made his way to Galadriel, and urged her to hear it for herself. Curious and apprehensive, Galadriel walked towards Verdi's talan and what she heard there made her realize that somethings needed to be done.

The next morning, Verdi woke to find her fingers bleeding. Even the tough calluses she had formed from years of playing, couldn't endure the night's performance. 'Where are band-aids when you need them?' Rolling out of bed, trying not to get blood anywhere, she found some clean cloth to wrap around her hand. That finished, she proceeded to dress herself and then she made her way to the kitchens.

Verdi sat down at a table and looked at her attempt at making toast. The fire had burned it somewhat, but it slightly resembled the breakfast she used to have at home. 'If only I had some peanut butter.' Deep in the contemplations of peanut butter, Verdi didn't notice when Haldir sat down next to her.

*Good morning,* Haldir's voice sounded her her ears and Verdi almost spilled her breakfast.

*Shitaki Mushrooms! Warn a girl when you approach, why don't you?! Don't you elves have any manners!?* Verdi took a deep breath, "Good morning, Haldir."

*What happened to your hand?* Haldir ignored her little outburst, concerned about the untidy, vegetable speckled bandage around Verdi's left hand.

*Oh, I got a little too carried away last night. It's nothing.* Verdi bit into her bread and smiled. 'So close.'

*You should have someone look at it.* Verdi held her hand out to Haldir, while continuing to eat with the other. Haldir looked at it and raised an eyebrow.

*Well, aren't you going to look at it?* Verdi asked, exasperated. Haldir carefully undid the cloth and examined the tips of her fingers. The bleeding had stopped but her fingers were covered in drying blood.

*You need to clean it atleast.*

*After breakfast,* Verdi was oddly hungry this morning. She enjoyed eating as much as the next person, food always being a good reason to do anything and never one to turn down a free meal, but such large quantities was a bit unusual. Unconcerned, Verdi plowed through her pile of toast as Haldir watched, marveling that such a small body could hold so much food. Not the Verdi was particularly tiny, but compared to the Marchwarden, she was rather small.

Verdi looked over at Haldir as she took a bite, chewed and swallowed. *So, what's up? Or did you just want to enjoy my wonderful company?*

*As much as I enjoy your companionship, I do have a reason for finding you this morning. Lady Galadriel would like you to begin learning the Common Speech.*

*The what? And what are you, Galadriel's message boy? I thought you were the infamous Marchwarden of Lórien. Can't Galadriel tell me herself, or is she still mad about my clothing choices?*

*Galadriel desires me to teach you, so she thought it fit that I should tell you. As to her other feelings, I know not.* Verdi choked on her food.

*She want's you to teach me? Why? I thought you'd be too high and mighty to teach a mere female mortal. Besides, why should I learn this Common Speech?*

Haldir looked at her, annoyed. What she said was true, why should he have to teach her? It could be worse, she wasn't generally that horrible to be around, but he had better uses for his time. *Again, I know not the Lady's thoughts. But the Common Tongue is useful, it will enable you to communicate with your own species. As of yet, the only language of this land that you know is elvish, and should you go beyond elven lands, it will not help you.*

*Why would I ever leave? I thought it was made pretty clear I was doomed should I venture beyond your borders.*

*There might come a time when you will leave, if only to travel to another elven realm. Regardless, I will teach you the Common Tongue, as well as some history and geography of Middle Earth. We will begin once you are finished eating.*

*Oh joy, since I have that to look forward to, will you please go get me some more water?* Verdi handed him her bowl and resumed eating her toast. Haldir sighed and refilled her glass, wondering what the Lady was indeed thinking.

And so, Verdi began to learn Westron, as well as various facts about Middle Earth. It wasn't quite as boring as her German or Social Studies classes back home, for Haldir could be amusing at times, but it was close. Once her friends heard of what she was forced to do every morning, some of them joined in the lessons. This provided more entertainment and as Haldir began to relax around the elflings and Verdi, it was almost enjoyable. 'Atleast there isn't any homework or a test on each unit. I don't even have to take notes, I just listen and talk!'

The new language even proved useful in Mácorne games. Since not all the players knew it, those the could speak Common tried to be on the same team and could tell each other what they were going to do and the others wouldn't understand. Unfortunately, the others soon learned the words for things like pass, catch, right and left.

Verdi didn't have anymore weird song inspirations, but occasionally she felt a tune tickle the back of her mind. It was if some song was there, just wanting to be played, but it was hiding because the time wasn't quite right.