Humph

Darlene5: Thank you so much for your nice review.

breeNbloom: Thanks for taking the time for reviewing, despite your busy schedule. I know the feeling, school has been tough lately, and with finals coming up in a few weeks I am going to be super busy.

Disclaimer: All hail Tolkien, lord of ALL. However, the ideas for parts of this came from Mercedes Lackey, another great author. If you recognize something and it doesn't belong to Tolkien, it probably belongs to her.

Enjoy

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

*STOP!* Verdi brought down her blade and stood in front of Haldir, wincing at his scowl. *Have you learned nothing? I have taught elflings much younger than you who could master this simple stroke on their second day of lessons! Where is your mind? I gave you five openings in the last two minutes and you missed every single one! Verdi, are you listening to me?*

*Yes,* Verdi looked briefly into Haldir's eyes before glancing back down at the dirt. The truth was, no matter how hard she tried, she could not focus for more than a few moments. Her self defense/fighting classes had been a disaster ever since they became serious. It was one thing to play around with Haldir, it was another to actually have to learn something.

*You cannot let your mind wander! When you are fighting, you must forget everything but you and your opponent! Look at me!*

Verdi glanced up at him and replied softly, *I can't, I can't do this, Haldir.*

*Yes, you can, now pick up your sword and we will try this again.*

*No,* Verdi spoke louder, *No, I cannot do this!*

*And why not?* Haldir was irritated with her disobedience, her lack of effort, her refusal to believe in herself.

*Because I can't!* She almost wailed, *Do you know what I hear, everytime I try to focus? I hear music in my head! Music I have never heard before, music I have never seen written; music that exists only in my head!*

*Block it out, you have to learn to ignore any and all distractions!*

*But I can't! The harder I try, the louder, more demanding it becomes! I think I am going crazy! It haunts me, Haldir, the music is haunting me!* A dry sob escaped her and she blinked back tears. Verdi didn't know what was getting into her, maybe it was the stress, but she seemed always on the verge of tears.

Haldir's face softened and he pulled her into his embrace; for the first time in weeks Verdi let herself cry. Haldir whispered soothingly and stroked her hair, letting her release all her emotions and get his shoulder wet. *What are we going to do with you, little one?* Verdi almost resented this for a moment, but in truth she was (still) quite small compared to the elves. Much to her dismay, she had hardly grown since her arrival in Middle Earth and stood somewhere around 5'5".

*Wrap me up pretty and give me to the orcs.* Haldir chuckled.

*No, they would not take you, even if we offered you for free.* He offered Verdi a handkerchief and she blew her red nose. *Which we would not, of course, we must have something in return, to pay for all that we have spent on you.*

Verdi stuck her tongue out at him, and he pretended to try and grab it.

*Come, youngling, let us go find something to eat and we will talk more about this problem of yours.* Verdi grimaced, but straightened her clothing determinately. Perhaps Haldir would understand and stop the horrible lessons.

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Haldir and Verdi sat down at a small table in the kitchen, eating some bread and shady-looking broth stuff. Verdi still was not used to all the food in this land. They sat in silence for a while, as they ate, thinking about what could be done.

*Verdi, what would you do if you were attacked by orcs?* Haldir said suddenly.

*Run, of course! I know I wouldn't stand a chance against them,* Verdi was surprised by the question, it almost warranted a 'Duh!' but she refrained.

Haldir smiled smugly, *That is the answer! If I cannot teach you to fight, then I will make you the fastest runner possible! And the fastest rider as well,* he added as an afterthought, *for you are just as likely to encounter orcs on horse as on foot.*

Verdi just stared at him.

*Do not think I am letting you of easy, you will train just as hard as before, but in a different way. I will make you so fast that only an elf will be able to catch you, and even then it will not be easy!* Haldir looked very happy with himself, but part of him was berating himself for not having thought of it sooner. He stood up, *I must go make preparations and talk with Lady Galadriel, you may rest today, but be ready for tomorrow.*

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Verdi soon found that tomorrow came all too soon. If she had any hopes of better lessons, they were soon dismissed. What the lessons lacked in frustration, they more than made up with pure exertion. Haldir forced Verdi to run until she could not feel her feet, and then some. She almost collapsed to the ground beside him, when he finally allowed her to stop, but luckily he caught her.

*Now, my friend, we go to the stables.* Verdi thought she would pass out, either from the terror of having yet more to do, or from the work she had already done. Half supported by the Marchwarden, she limped to the stables.

Verdi had been to the stables on an occasion, but had never had much to do with horses, really. She could somewhat get a horse ready to ride and could mount/dismount on her own, but that was about it. She felt a bit comfortable on a horse, but often found herself wishing for her bike, or, better yet, a car.

*You will learn how to care for your horse in all conditions, with no one around to help you. You will learn to mount with one hand or one leg, blind, in grave pain, amongst the terrors of fire, water and the screams of battle. When I am through with you, there will be nothing you cannot do while on your horse. Your horse will be part of you, and you part of her. Verdi, meet Linta.* A light brown mare put her head over the fence of her ring and sniffed Verdi's hair. Verdi smiled and hesitantly stroked the mare's nose. *Linta is the fastest horse I could find, notice her long legs? They are a bit longer than normal, making her look a bit spindly, but they are strong. On her back, you will be caught by nothing you wish to avoid.*

Verdi fell into bed that night more tired than she had ever been, but very satisfied. There was light at the end of the tunnel.