EDIT: 2/12/2014

As some of you may have noticed, I have changed the summary for this story. The reason for that is because this fanfic is rapidly evolving into something greater than I first planned. This was not going to be a long or complicated fanfic, but it would seem the story has other ideas as it refuses to stay within the bounds of the original plot. So, this story of mine is going to be longer and darker. Better? That remains to be seen. But I can say with certainty that the characters will be faced with significantly higher stakes in coming chapters. And yes, Elrond is going to be in trouble.

Chapter One:

It had all started innocently enough, in the form of scarce and tiny snowflakes falling gently down from the grey winter sky. Gradually they grew in number until there was a steady but light snowfall. This had not worried the small patrol of elves much at first, although they did alter their course to take them back to Rivendell sooner than they had planned.

Lord Elrond Half-elven strode cheerful and confident through the wilderness bordering his home, alongside his elven friends and companions. He was unusually light of heart that cold afternoon, and his steps were still lighter as he spontaneously quickened his pace to catch up with Lord Glorfindel, who had been walking alone slightly ahead of the rest of the group.

"Lord Glorfindel," Elrond called, slightly out of breath as he struggled to keep up with the unnecessarily swift Balrog-slayer. "If you wanted me to have fun so badly, you could try slowing down and paying some attention to your poor friend, for a start."

Glorfindel halted where he was and waited for Elrond to reach him before replying.

"Huffing and puffing already, I see? You really do need to get out more," the elf teased, as they resumed their stroll together. "You would be downright plump before long, so it is my responsibility to ensure that you get some much-needed exercise."

"Much-needed exercise, indeed!" Elrond exclaimed. "So you confess at last, and the real reason comes forth! It's not that you wanted to assist me in escaping the confines of my study for a day, or even that you though I needed a break. Far from it, your greatest worry is being stuck with an overweight elven lord!"

"Ah, you see right through me," Glorfindel laughed, before growing more serious. "Though to be truthful, the other reasons you named do concern me. You should heed my advice and join our patrols more often; I think it would be very good for you."

"I have no doubt," Elrond answered, his own mood becoming thoughtful. "But alas, my duties hinder me from doing what I would. Still, I do not regret it."

Being the Lord of Rivendell, while a very mentally and sometimes physically demanding job, was also very rewarding, and Elrond would never have changed a thing. By this point, the two lords had reached the top of a wide hill, and here Glorfindel suddenly halted.

"Very well, Lord Elrond, I now grant you a brief rest, since you are clearly in need of one," the elf said mischievously, unable to resist the jab at his good friend. Ignoring Elrond's indignant protests, Glorfindel took in the view around them and assessed the situation. The snowfall was getting worse, and rapidly. The elf had lived far too long not to recognize the ominous brewing a storm, and Glorfindel frowned as he considered what this new development might mean.

"I've changed my mind," he said, abruptly interrupting Elrond, who was still complaining, mid-sentence. "It looks like we could have a bad snowstorm, or possibly even a blizzard, on our hands, so you'll have to rest later."

Elrond gaped at him for a moment, before quickly getting a hold of himself. "Right, well, what do you suggest we do?" the half-elf enquired.

"We probably wouldn't be able to make it back to Rivendell in time," Glorfindel theorized, "so we should seek shelter while we can. Our best chance is to outwait the storm in a cave nearby."

"Do you know of any?" Elrond asked curiously. Glorfindel had been on many more patrols than Elrond ever had, and was far more familiar with the wilderness.

"There is a small one a little ways south of here. If I remember correctly, it should be ideal for us, as the entrance faces west," Glorfindel replied. The foul East Wind was already assailing them, and Elrond looked grim as he called to the others who were approaching behind them. This gathering storm was strangely sudden, and that it blew from the East did not bode well with him at all. When the few other elves arrived, Elrond hastily explained the situation.

"Hurry!" Glorfindel urged. "I fear we might be running short on time, and we must find the cave before the blizzard gets too thick!" For by then, it was obvious that what they faced would be no mere snowstorm.

"But pick up any kindling or wood you may find along the way!" Elrond ordered, always the one to think ahead. "We'll probably need as much as we can get before this is over."

Appreciating his foresight, they all did so as they ran, led and guided by Lord Glorfindel. Relying on his sharp elven vision like never before, Glorfindel almost frantically scanned the area for any sign of a cave as they passed. The snow was falling harder. The wind howled, and it battered everything in its way mercilessly. The temperature was steadily falling, and the ground was soon covered in rapidly mounting snow. Within minutes, even the elves began to squint against the blinding whiteness.

Besides obscuring their vision and making it difficult to hear, the frigid weather did not seem to bother the elves overly much. They simply ran lightly over the surface of the snow, and they could resist the cold for now. But the patrol knew that even they couldn't withstand a blizzard forever, with no shelter or fire. Their chief concern was finding the cave. At last Glorfindel spotted it- the entrance to a small, almost hidden cave against the side of a slight cliff. He'd nearly missed it altogether in the storm, but now here they were. After shouting to the others in triumph that he'd found the shelter, Glorfindel hurried over to it with the rest gratefully following.

Once they were all huddled inside, Glorfindel allowed himself a slight grin. "See, I found it," he said, as if any of them had ever doubted that he could.

"What if this blizzard lasts for days?" worried a younger and more pessimistic elf. "We might run out of provisions and starve! Or what if we run out of firewood first? We'll freeze! Or what if -"

"We'll deal with that when it comes to it," Glorfindel said sternly, cutting the other elf off. "For now, we should probably get a fire started. Nothing too big though; we want to preserve firewood, wouldn't you agree Lord Elrond?"

But Elrond didn't answer. Looking around in dismay, the elves realized with a sickening jolt that they were missing someone- someone important.

"Oh, Valar," Glorfindel whispered hoarsely. "Where is he?"