This is my first Lord of the Rings fanfic...just so you know.

Summary: Young Estel finds an injured rabbit while playing in the snow near his home. He soon finds out that bad things happen when you wander out into the woods.

Rated: T, for some violence and angst.

Disclamer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor its characters. (Sniff) I do not own the Mellon Chronicals either. I do however base my writtings off of what Cassia and Siobhan wrote.

Background: Aragorn's parents died when he was about two. Elrond took him in and raised him becoming Aragorn's foster father. Elladan and Elrohir love him and consider the human boy to be their brother. Aragorn was given the name Estel, Hope, by Elrond.

Elves can also walk on the snow.

Translations:

Ada in elvish means father or daddy.

Ion-nin means my son.

On to the story:

"Ada! Ada!" The young six year old ran into his adopted father's study with a huge smile on his face.

"What is it Ion-nin?" Elrond looked up from the stack of papers on his desk and studied his son as he ran up to his chair.

"It's snowing Ada!"

"Oh?" Elrond picked the little boy up and walked to the window.

"See!" Estel pointed out the window at the softly falling snowflakes.

Elrond chuckled softly at his son's eagerness. "Yes Estel, I see."

"Can I go play, please?" Elrond looked once more out the window.

"Why don't you wait until it stops snowing?" Estel's face fell and he started to protest but Elrond cut him off. "Then there will be more snow to play with." Estel was quiet for a moment then his eyes sparkled and he started wiggling in his fathers grasp, causing Elrond to put him down. He started to run out of the room but was stopped by Elrond's hand on his shoulder. "Where are you going Estel?" Estel looked up at his father and grinned.

"I am going to put on my cloak." He stated, as if it was the obvious thing to do.

"Alright Estel, I will come get you when it's time to play. Don't leave your room until I tell you."

"Yes Ada."

"And Estel, don't forget your gloves."

Estel's grin widened. "Yes Ada!" Elrond released him and the excited little boy raced out of his father's study and down the hall. Elrond smiled and went back to the papers on his desk. He would get some work done then go take Estel outside.

Later

Estel sat on the bed in his room. He stared at the door, waiting for his Ada to come and get him. His winter cloak and gloves were lying on the bed next to him. Estel sighed. It had stopped snowing several minutes ago and yet he was still inside.

If his brothers were home they would let him play now, but they weren't home. They had left two weeks ago to hunt the remaining game and to fill up the cellars. It wasn't fair. They got to play whenever they wanted to and didn't have to wait for their Ada. Estel jumped off the bed and went to go get his Ada.

Entering the study the little boy saw Elrond sitting at the desk once more going through the papers. The pile however was a lot smaller than it had been earlier. Elrond looked up and smiled at the boy knowing why he was there. "We can go play in a little while Ion-nin. I am almost done with my work for the day."

Estel frowned at the papers on his Ada's desk. "Can't you do it later? Please Ada!"

"I will be done soon Estel. Go get a snack from the kitchen. I think the head chief is making some pie." Estel pouted and went slowly out of the room. He was hungry though and pie sounded nice so Estel made his way to the kitchen.

After eating a piece of pie Estel wandered back into his room and sat once more on his bed. He look out the window and sighed. If his Ada didn't hurry up he wouldn't get to play at all. There was only an hour or so left of light.

Determined to get some playing done, Estel hopped down from the bed and put his cloak on. He grabbed his gloves and walked carefully out of his room. He passed several elves on his way to the door but they were used to seeing the child running around. They assumed Elrond was not far behind him and went on their way. Celboril, however, found it suspicious that the child was obviously going outside, judging by the way he was dressed, without his father.

"Estel." He called out to the boy. "Where are you going?"

Estel turned around to look at his father's friend. "I'm going to go play."

"Outside?" Estel nodded and tried to look innocent. "Where is your Ada?"

"He's coming." Estel felt bad but it wasn't really a lie, he told himself. His Ada was coming, just not now.

There was a crash and shouting down the hall and it was Celboril's duty to keep order in the house. "Stay close to the house." Estel nodded once more and Celboril practically ran down the hall. Estel followed Celboril with his eyes to make sure he was not coming back at the time. He smiled and went out the main doors into the yard.