Estel's vision blurred and his arm throbbed. He felt numb…cold. He tripped and with a sickening snap he fell once more to the ground, landing on his injured arm. Fire flared through his little body and he sobbed with fear and pain. He lay where he fell, face down in the snow, with the little bunny clutched in his other arm. He could hear the animals approach him and he screamed out in terror.

"Help! Help me! Ada! El! Help! Save me…" As he cried out in elvish, he eased himself up into a sitting position against the very tree that caused him to fall, and watched fearfully as the wolves advanced upon him. This was it. He would never see his Ada or brothers again. The large black wolf he had hit with the branch leaped at him, its eyes glowing and captivating. Estel locked on to those eyes, unable to look away as they neared. Suddenly, the connection broke as a shape entered his line of vision and blocked out the wolf.

Elrond sliced the creatures head off, anger radiating from him in waves. The twins appeared on either side of him between their little brother and the monsters that were trying to hurt him. The other wolves tensed but were too hungry to run away from their pray and continued their advance. Elladan nodded at his father signaling that he and Elrohir would take care of the threat and Elrond turned and approached his young son, who had not moved.

Kneeling down on the ground, Elrond called out to Estel. "Estel, Estel look at me."

Estel's gaze moved slowly to focus on his father's worried stare. "Ada." He seemed surprised to see his father in front of him and a little confused. "I'm s-sorry A-ada."

"Shhh Estel. This was not your fault." Elrond wanted desperately to hold his son close but he first had to asses his son's injuries. He reached out and began searching Estel's small body for injuries, his touch light as a feather as he spoke. "Estel, can you tell me what hurts?"

The boy focused for a moment, trying to isolate the pain. "My arm, the wolf bit me and I fell."

"Your arm, is that all?" Though Elrond could tell his son suffered more grievances than just his arm, he wanted to keep him conscious and talking, at least until he found out whether Estel had a concussion or not.

"No…my ankle. I…the tree…fell…cold" The boy's thoughts were starting to mesh together. Elrond carefully reached out and took Estel's arm in his hands. The teeth marks were still bleeding and further up Elrond could see a sliver of something white sticking out of his son's arm. It was then that he noticed the small bundle Estel was carrying. Estel's eyes had started to close but when his father tried to take Lossena from him he opened them wide and cried out. "No! Ada…he's hurt. You must help him. Please Ada, save him. I don't want him to die!"

Elrond looked down fondly at his son. "I will heal him Estel, right after I heal you. All will be well." He continued his inspection of his son and discovered a plethora of cuts and bruises, none too major, and a sprained ankle. Thankfully, Estel did not have any head trauma or back injuries that would have prohibited movement, so Elrond draped both blankets over his son and very carefully gathered him and the rabbit in his arms. "Sleep now Ion-nin. You are safe."

Elrohir disposed of the last wolf with a quick slash to the head before turning to his father. "How is he?" Worry was evident in his voice and eyes as he studied the child in his father's arms. Elladan, wearing a matching look of concern, walked up to his father and brothers, his sword back in its sheath.

Elrond looked down at the small human before answering. "His arm is broken, his ankle is sprained and he has severe minor lacerations. I am concerned about an infection caused by a deep bite on his arm; it has developed into a fever. However, with some care and rest he will be back to normal quickly. It could have been much worse. I could have lost him." The last part was said in a whisper but the two brothers still heard him.

"But you did not. He is strong Ada." Elrohir reassured his father while his twin placed a comforting hand on his father's shoulder.

Elladan smiled and ruffled Estel's hair with his other hand. "Let's take him home." Elrond smiled in return at both his sons and nodded in agreement.

"Though I do wonder what compelled him to go as deep as he did into the woods. Normally he stays near the dwellings." Elrohir mused, as they started walking, his curiosity getting the better of him now that the danger had past.

"I think we shall have to wait until he is feeling better to hear the whole story." Elladan replied with a sigh.

Elrond smiled. "My sons, you will not have to wait to find out." He handed his eldest the bundled up rabbit. "A rabbit?" Elrohir questioned, looking over his brother's shoulder to see what he was handed.

"Estel's newest pet." Elladan stroked the little animal's head and his eyes softened in understanding. It was just like his little brother to care so much about a small animal as to ignore his own safety. He only hoped next time Estel would be with a family member when he runs off to save another helpless creature.