Yup, here's chapter number 3!!! Now I've noticed that you all seem convinced that there's gonna be angst in this... I wonder why?! *looks at pretty much EVERY SINGLE fanfic she's written before* Oh. That's why... =S

Terreis; 'Course you can borrow it!!! ^_^ Gee, nobody's ever asked to borrow something from me before... ooh!!! ^.^ I suddenly feel so proud!!! Yeah, Estel grows out of it; and let's face it, he's 14. Teenage Human Males are not things you want to p*** off... Jeez, he sounds like one of them Teenage Mutant Hero Ninja Turtle things... there we go; Estel; The Teenage Mutant Mini-Hero Ranger Human... ^_^

Mellaithwen-AngelMaiden; Hmm... Do I detect just the slightest hint of sarcasm in there Amy? He he he... =) Your wish is my command mellonamin...

elfstar54321; Yes, I've noticed that if you put cliffies on most chapters, people will inevitably come back wondering what happened... it's a sure-fire crowd puller!!! ^_~

Joee1; Don't worry!!! ^_^ Ah, let's just say the situation will be dramatic... naturally... =)

Lainfaer; Lol, thanks a lot!!! ^_^

Deana; ^_^ Thanks!

Manders1953; *ahem* I am a Dude-ette, dude... lol! I'm kidding!!!

Coolio02; Ah, funny you should say that... =) Read on to find out more...

Yavie Aelinel; Tee hee... I admit, me being 14 as well, I know exactly how Estel feels... ^_^ The things I've put my mother through when I get in a mood like this...

leggylover03; ^_^ Keep reading and you might see!

elfmage; Genius?! Brilliant?! -^.^- Ooh I wouldn't go that far... but actually, now you mention it... lol, I'm joking! ^_^ My head ain't that big!

Astievia; You live in a rainforest?!?!?!?! WOW!!! That is so cool!!! Thanks for the review! What's it like in the rainforest then?

jambaby1963; I know that long chapters are nice, and I try to write them, I really do, but sometimes it's SO HARD!!! *glares at chapter length plot bunny* Why must you torment me so?!?!?!

Anarya; Thanks for the muffin! Yeah, I have a lot to moan about being a teen. Actually, my fanfics are shaped by the mood I'm in. I write my most angsty stuff when I'm either really upset or angry... or if I've watched a really violent film. I guess it's pretty obvious that I watch a lot of violent films... speaking of them, I read something in the paper about top 20 men and women's films. I only liked 2 off the girls list but I love 8 off the boys list... one of which was the LOTR Trilogy!!! Lol! My mum always said I was a tomboy... oh, so you do have an account? Well I hope you have a great story one day because I'd love to read your stuff! ^_^ Yeah... this reply especially!!! =S I'll have to do something about that!!! ^_^ Thanks!

grumpy; Plus the fact he's about he's as good with his sword as Tony Blair is running my country... ooh, my first political dig!!! =) My dad'll be so proud! You don't like snow? I only like it when I can either chuck it down my bro's neck or get a day off school thanks to it; hate walking in it! =( Nasty cold stuff...

Estel Elven Enchantress; GO GO BRITISH WEATHER!!! =) Oh, not all teenage boys are bad... I can't actually think of one at the moment, but I'm sure there has to be one!!! =)

So, on with Woes of the World...

.: Chapter Three :.

Lord Elrond of Imladris watched the snow falling with a smile. There was something about it that he loved. Perhaps it was the way it made the valley look perfectly picturesque, or maybe it brought back happy memories of him and Elros throwing great snowballs at each other, trying to make the other screech first...

It suddenly came to the Elf Lord that there were no such noises at all outside. This puzzled him; true the Twins were out hunting (and that was a blessing of peace in itself) but Estel and Legolas surely would be enjoying the weather...

Elrond suddenly rolled his eyes. His youngest was out in the cold without his scarf again...

He made his way out into the gardens, intending to find the young human and tell him to nip inside quickly and fetch it before coming out to play again.

He was surprised to find absolutely no sign of either the boy or the Elfling anywhere. Elrond wandered around, the white snow showing no footprints underneath him; such was the magic of the Elves.

And suddenly he was reminded of the last time the pair went missing... they had been gone all night, and in a series of situations that only they could manage they crossed paths with a highly dangerous witch. Legolas had returned with his memories erased, which took him a full year to recover from, dragging behind him, Estel, unconscious and under a dark spell. He didn't want anything happening like that again.

"Estel?! Legolas?!"

His cry echoed throughout the valley, and some of the inhabitants of Rivendell stopped their daily activities, turning their heads to the cry...

~*~*~*~

Elladan heard the yell as he and his twin rode through the gates of Rivendell. He shut his eyes, sighing, defeated. The snow was becoming wilder now; most of the citizens in the Elven haven had disappeared into their homes.

"You know what that means, don't you?" he groaned to Elrohir. The younger twin nodded.

"That Estel's as bull-headed as ever and he's dragged Legolas off with him as well," he replied. Elladan nodded.

"Spot on..."

~*~*~*~

Estel trudged through the snow, blowing on his frozen fingers. His breath rose in a pale mist in front of him, blowing away with the wind until it disappeared.

His boots were completely sodden, weighing down his feet. Inside his toes were offered no warmth; the icy wetness curled like fingers around them and turned them numb. The wind had become so strong that he was forced to hold his cloak around his small body, and stoop forward like an old man walking.

His teeth chattering uncontrollably, Estel looked up. The sun was beginning to set, turning the clouds a light purple, and he still hadn't caught anything. He had to if he wanted to prove himself to the others...

Suddenly a small brown rabbit hopped out from the bushes on the path in front of him. Estel ducked quickly behind some bushes, concealing himself behind bare branches and thickening layers of snow.

Withdrawing his sword from its sheath with an almost silent hiss, Estel slowly began to crawl towards his prey. The sooner he caught it, the sooner he could go home...

As he stepped forward, a twig hidden beneath the thick white snow cracked under his foot, and the rabbit fled, darting between trees.

"No!" cried the boy. Estel jumped up from the floor and began to run wildly after the rabbit...

~*~*~*~

Legolas held up his arm, trying to block out the flurrying snow and icy wind that was whipping his hair around wildly and stinging his bright blue eyes.

"Estel?!" he shouted, praying for an answer. None came. "Estel?!"

And so he trudged on, missing the tracks left by his friend as the near blizzard covered the trail...

~*~*~*~

All of a sudden, just as he was in arm's reach of the stubborn little creature, it darted off to the left. Estel cursed loudly as he lost sight of the rabbit... but now that was the least of his worries.

He saw it in front of him, just glimpsing it through the blinding snow, but he was helpless to stop himself.

The youngster skidded on some slippery ice as he tried to stop from going over the edge, but his momentum carried him over. Estel screamed as he rolled down the hill, snow and dirt attaching itself to his clothes and body and snagging anything it could as he fell...

And next chapter is where the REAL drama comes into play... =) And yes, I know that the review replies are coming our longer than the chapters, but its quality, not quantity that counts...

Right?

Or is the quality sliding down the hill faster than Estel at the moment? =S Tell me in a nice long review, pwetty pwease!!!