~Do You Believe~

Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel, and Gandalf were out by the next day searching for the young human.

"Ada," whispered Elrohir as they came upon the dead pony. Elrond sucked in a sharp breath and closed his eyes against the sight.

"Tell me my son isn't near that animal."

"No, your son seems to have run, his tracks, while hard to read are indeed seeable in the mud."

"He's in more danger on foot than on the pony," whispered Elrond as he gazed upon the poor dead animal.

"Poor thing, least she is no longer in pain," whispered Elladan as he gazed down at the once beautiful light brown pony.

"Some how, I doubt our puppy will be able to help Estel recover from this," murmured Elrohir. Elrond had given Estel Tindómë almost two years ago, and Estel had fallen instantly for the pony. He rode her every chance he got and when he was told he was allowed.

"We should keep moving Elrond, we are not but a day behind your son," explained Glorfindel

"Any sign of injury?" Elrond asked.

"Nay, my guess is Estel hit the mud, and while it may cause bruises he will be just fine."

"Then let us continue," Elrond said urging his horse forward as the others followed him.

"Ada, what do we do if........."

"Don't say it Elladan, I will not hear such a thing from your lips," stated Elrond as he pushed his horse into a faster gait.

"'Dan, do you think we'll really find Estel, safe and alive?" Elrohir asked riding beside his brother.

"Part of me says yes, but.........you know this country as well as I do El, and you also know it's very dangerous for us, much less a seven year old boy. Estel doesn't know how to survive alone in the wilderness. There's more than just wolves, there's wargs and Orcs, our brother is in quite a predicament," Elladan answered truthfully.

"I.........I .........I wish we had taken him," muttered Elrohir suddenly as he sped his horse up to match their fathers. Elladan looked down to the ground slightly.

"So do I," he muttered as he continued to hang back a little.

~*~

The rains had made the ground slippery, and dangerous, as Estel tried desperately to continue walking. He didn't realize how close he was coming to a nearby cliff, a decent drop. He was tired, his entire body ached from being thrown from his horse. His mind was still reeling from the words Gandalf had spoken of his father.

He didn't even realize it until he felt himself begin to shiver, that snow had begun falling, and that he was quickly being surrounded by the white cold substance. Lakes and rivers had frozen over weeks ago, but the snow pointed out that Winter Solstice was on its way.

Thoughts of winter past came to mind, they had always been a pleasant time in the Elven Lord's realm. Estel couldn't remember a Solstice when he wasn't happy. This would be a first. For he would be all alone this solstice. He groaned as he felt his body going numb, pain, exhaustion and hunger were quickly over taking him.

As the snow began to rise he began to despair, he was so tired, and so cold. Finally he collapsed into the cold, wet snow and felt tears begin to escape his eyes.

"Ada, where now?" He whimpered sadly as he looked around. He needed to get up, he knew that much, if he didn't get up he would die.

"Ada, I wish I had never ran away," he murmured as he tried to rise his wet body from the cold snow.

"Rise child, you must keep walking," came the strange voice. Looking around at the gray sky and open land Estel saw no one who could have spoken such words. "You must get up child, you must keep walking, you will be all right, but do not stop moving!" came the urgent voice.

"I can't go one anymore," he stated loudly, but no voice responded. So gathering all his strength left he slowly stood up, and began to walk forward. Hoping by some chance to Valar he would find somewhere warm to remain.

With all the heavy snow and his weakness Estel never saw the edge of the cliff growing closer with each step. It wasn't until he felt the ground from under him disappear that he realized how much trouble he was truly in.

~*~

"Ada, we can't keep on like this, we're going to freeze to death!" Called Elladan, he didn't want to give up, but he was freezing. They're elfish cloaks were doing nothing to defeat the biting wind that was hitting him square in the face.

"We will find your brother!" Bit Elrond.

"Ada, if Estel has a brain in his head he has sought refuge!" Stated Elladan with frustration.

"You would do well to hold your tongue about your brother in that tone. As to shelter, where do you think to find some ion nin? 'Tis barren land, nothing more!"

"Ada, We've been riding straight for almost an entire day, the horses are cold, we're cold, we're hungry, and we're scared. No one is in a good state of mind right now," Elrohir agreed.

"I will not leave my son to such weather alone! It is my fault he is gone, I will find him!"

"Ada, you cannot blame this on yourself, you had no idea of knowing........." Elladan stopped, he realized he was blaming himself as much as Elrond probably was, "I'm sorry Ada, I do not mean to second guess you. I worry for my little brother, and I feel that had he come with us, he would not be missing right now," whispered Elladan softly.

"El, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, I guess," responded Elladan silently as the two rode together fifteen minutes later.

"Well, we're brothers right, you, me and Estel? So if we're like most siblings, and friends, we have a bond formed that most others don't have. Does it feel like he's gone?" Elrohir finally managed to get out what he was feeling. Elladan looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not sure I understand," Elladan said.

"Well I mean, don't you think we'd feel something if Estel was dead? Right now we're we're just fearing the words. I mean the weather is bad, Estel doesn't know enough about the wilderness, so how could he be alive......... Look into your soul, El, deep inside and tell me does it feel like he's died? Do you feel empty inside? Like you've lost something deep inside that you shared with Estel, or something you share with me or Ada? Is there a hollowness there that you've never felt before?" Elladan was about to answer, then realized Elrohir wanted an honest answer, Elladan thought for a second, letting the snow fall around them. He closed his eyes and trying to imagine how he really felt deep inside right now.

"No," was the only word he said. Elrohir smiled gently.

"Neither do I," with that the two rode in silence.