Sorry! I've been too busy and there are too many reviews to respond to! (That's wonderful to say, isn't it?! J) So, just a quick Thank you all! I love you! You guys are so great and sorry I took so long! Keep it up! Toodles!

~*~

Two Left Feet

By: BabeyRachey

Chapter 4

Estel dashed down the wooded pathway, stumbling every so often as he tried to wipe away the tears. He had to get away, it hurt so bad. His Ada didn't love him anymore…

Chocking back a sob, Estel ignored the sting when a branch cut into his cheek.  He was too upset to think, couldn't get things clear. All he could think of was how angry his father how looked, how he had spanked him.

How he didn't seem to care…

Overwhelming tears blurring his vision once again, Estel tripped over a tree root and fell face down into mud. Feeling to worn to move, Estel just flipped onto his back. He felt the mud oozing through his cloak but couldn't rise himself to care.

"Ada…" He whimpered, gazing up into the ever-darkening sky.

A sudden strike of lightning lit up the sky quickly followed by a roll of thunder.  Estel shot up and shivered in fear.

A storm!

Looking around, Estel gulped. 

Where was he?

~*~

Elrond sat consumed by guilt and shock on his youngest son's bed.

Estel was gone… Estel was gone…

That was all he could think about for the next several moments. It almost didn't comprehend. He was startled out of his daze by a soft knock on the door.

"Estel?" He heard Elrohir call out.

Elrond couldn't find himself to answer. Elrohir opened the door and looked about, puzzled.

"Ada, where is Estel? Why are all his things thrown around?" He came over to the elf lord who was staring at it all once again.

"He's gone." He heard himself say.

"What?" Elrohir cried, his eyes widening in shock. "He's gone." Elrond repeated, looking at his son. Elrohir could see the usually well masked eyes full of guilt and worry.

"His pack, boots, and even his practice sword is gone. He's…he's run away."

"But why?" Elrohir demanded.

"I punished him wrongly."

"Is that why? Ada, you know he deserved it. He shouldn't have been-"

"He didn't" Elrond interrupted, distressed,  "It wasn't him, Elrohir. I didn't listen to him when he told me. It was Elandion, the drunken fool.  A maid told me on the way to my study."

The two elves sat silent for a moment, pondering what to do. Elrohir suddenly stood, grabbing his father's attention.

"I'll get Elladan and we'll look for him. We should find him quick enough before things get worse."

A sudden flash of lightning filled the sky quickly followed by a roll of thunder.

The elves faces darkened.

"Oh Elbereth!"

~*~

Estel cowered underneath the eaves of a large tree, trying to avoid the rain as much as possible. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't seem to escape it. The wet drops seems to find their way under his cloak and down the back of his neck.

He jumped as a loud boom of thunder seemed to shake the very earth.

He let out a terrified whimpered as another shot of lightning flashed.

He hated storms. He always had. They would trigger nightmares, and he would wake up screaming. But Ada and the twins had always been there before. Comforting, calming him.

Estel wiped at a stray tear that mixed with the rain.

He was cold, oh so cold. He couldn't feel his fingers, and he couldn't stop shivering for the life of him.

"'Dan, 'Ro, "He called out, even though he knew they wouldn't hear. Were they even looking for him? Why would they?

"Please help me." He whispered, before falling into a tortured sleep.

~*~

Elladan and Elrohir pulled up their hoods a little farther as rain continued to pound. It had been several hours now, the sky was dark except for the occasional lightning, and still no sign of Estel.

"'Ro, over here!" Elladan called, dismounting. Elrohir was immediately by his side.

"What?"

"Look." He said pointing. Elrohir followed his twin's finger, and paled.

There was a clear little boot print, Estel's he was sure, and right next to it was a large, deep print of a wolf.

"By Valar…"

~*~

Estel shot awake with a strangled yell. Breathing hard, he blinked the rain out of his eyes. He was shaking with more than cold now. Fear coursed though his veins from the remains of a nightmare.

Turning as though expecting to be comforted, Estel was only greeted with heavy branches lashing about in the wind.

"Ada?" He yelled, confused, terror creeping back up his spine. "Ada!"

All he could hear was the screaming of the wind and rain. Curling into himself, trying to get warm, Estel pressed himself again the tree trunk.

Looking around the best he could in the dark, Estel tried his best to understand his surroundings.

Nothing, there was nothing he could connect to his memory, to his home. Right now he just wanted to be warm, no matter what his family thought of him. He wanted to play with Glorfy, and the Twins. He wanted to sit on his Ada's lap while he read him a story…

Starting to cry again, Estel didn't notice the looming shadows moving in the distance. He didn't notice them until a feral growl reached his ears.

Looking up, he saw the lurking body of a hungry wolf.

Horrified, Estel did the only thing he could think of.

He screamed.

~*~

Elladan and Elrohir whipped there heads around.

"Did you hear that?"

"Someone screamed."

They met each others eyes in fear.

"Estel."

They took off running as fast as possible, praying they would get there in time.

"Hold on, Estel." Elladan murmured as they ran. "We're coming."

~*~

*muahahaha* Cliffhanger! I know! I'm sorry! I'll try and have the next chapter ready and up sooner! I promise! Thank you all! Please keep reviewing! If this chapter seemed short, I'm sorry. But I really needed it to be out. I'll do better next time! Promise! Hope you like it.

~BabeyRachery

Translations:

Ada/Adar: Daddy/Father.