AN: This chapter was written in record time, about 45 minutes! It's short, but I like it. Oh, and I saw Pirates of the Caribbean on Thursday! It was good! Though despite my love for Legolas, I like Captain Sparrow much better than Will Turner. But then, I liked Legolas before the movies were ever made, anyway.

just2spooky: Your welcome!

breeNbloom: Your welcome!

Disclaimer: I don't own the song, it was written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne (thanks to breeNbloom!). Anything else you recognize doesn't belong to me either.

Enjoy...

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

...
But we've got some corn for popping
And the lights are turned way down low
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

When we finally kiss goodnight
How I hate going out in the storm
But as long as you hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm

Well the fire is slowly dying
But my dear we're still goodbye - ing
And as long as you

*I've never heard you sing that song before. What is it?* Verdi stopped singing abruptly as Haldir stepped out of the woods in front of her.

*That's cause I'd much rather fiddle than sing. It's just a song people sing in the winter, back home. Now, what have I told you about sneaking up on people?* Verdi had long since stopped jumping and shrieking when one of the elves suddenly appeared, but it annoyed her nonetheless.

*I didn't sneak up on you. What's that?* Haldir pointed to the case she was carrying. Verdi shrugged.

*It's a secret. Now, what have I told you about secrets?* The elves didn't seem to understand that if you told people a secret, it wasn't a secret anymore. They were much too curious and liked to talk even more, so that secrets among them were rare. Of course, when it came to those of other races, they rarely revealed anything. Go figure.

*What is it?*

*It is a secret.* Haldir grimaced, remembering Verdi's last secret. She had found an injured baby raccoon and had snuck it into the city. She, Enelya, Elu and Gildur had nursed it back to health, telling any who heard strange noises, and asked what was going on, that their operation was a secret. Once the little thing was well, it promptly escaped Verdi's room and left chaos in its wake. Fondly named Mereth ("feast"), for her love of food, the raccoon was soon called Amarth (doom) by the old, wise and more mature elves. Needless to say, Mereth was released back into the wild by the four, teary elves and girl that saved her. As far as Verdi knew, there hadn't been any harmful, lasting effects on neither the raccoon nor the elves.

*Took you long enough to find me, I was worried you had decided to let the orcs rid you of me.* She swung an arm around Haldir, who looked a little awkward. *I missed ya, pal.* She tweaked his nose and scampered away before he could retaliate. *Lead the way, oh immortal one.*

Smirking but rubbing his nose, Haldir decided to take the long way back to the city and set off at a brisk pace.

----------

*Are we there yet?*

*No.*

*How many more minutes?*

*That depends on how many more times you are going to ask me stupid questions.*

*What do you mean?* Verdi glanced suspiciously at the Marchwarden, who simply smiled and continued on his way.

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After finally reaching the city, Verdi made her way up to her room, sat on her bed and opened the case. Gently, she took out the violin and looked at it from every angle. It was beautiful and very well made, even without hearing it she knew the sound would be pure. Sure enough, she plucked the G string to hear a slightly out of tune, but very clear note. Carefully she tuned the instrument, wondering as she did so why there was no bow and how old it was. 'This has got to be a thousand years old!'

~Older than that, my dear. It was made before the First Age.~ Verdi looked up to see Galadriel in her doorway. The Lady walked in and sat on a chair, facing Verdi. *Well, aren't you going to play something?*

Verdi swallowed and hesitantly took out her own bow. She lifted up the ancient violin and pulled the bow across the strings. The sound was heavenly. She played a scale and then began one of her favorite Bach pieces. As she began, she knew she would never find a better violin. As she finished, she knew that she could never keep this fine violin.

*Here,* Verdi handed the violin to Galadriel, not wanting to hold it any longer, for fear she would never be able to let go. But Galadriel didn't take it. *You must take it, it is to good for me. It belongs to the elves, that is obvious. You recognized it, even.*

*I have never seen it before, I merely know a little history and the styles of the times. Though it was made by an elf, it is more yours than mine, or any other elf. Indeed it was made for you.*

*What?* Wordlessly, Galadriel took the violin and pulled the bow across the strings, like Verdi had done. No sound came from the violin. Curious, Verdi took it back and tried to play a scale, getting a perfect sound.

*No one but you will ever be able to play that instrument, until your time has passed.* Galadriel said, *Come, Lord Elrond is here and it is time you learned what the future holds.*