Fingon shivered and pulled his cloak more tightly around him. He was so cold. At least the cold was a welcome distraction, though. If he focused on his misery, he did not have to think about Feanor and his sons. He did not have to think about the betrayal. They had burned the ships and left the rest of them to find their own way. Already some had died. Fingon was exhausted, and others were far worse than he. He could see elves stumbling all around him. The ice beneath them moved in patterns that were not discernable. It was difficult for them to forge a clear path through such treacherous surroundings.
Yet even in the midst of his pain, Fingon refused to believe that Maedhros had been part of his father’s acts. Maedhros would not have helped burn the ships. Fingon knew it in his heart. Perhaps it was naiveté, or perhaps it was the love he still held deep inside, but perhaps it was something else. Perhaps it was hope: hope in the midst of suffering and hardship. Hope was all Fingon had left, and he clung it to himself like a blanket. Hope would keep him warm.
Donna Noble looked out of her window at the falling snow. Inside was warm, yet she longed for the cold winds and flakes of cold snow. Something about the weather made her heart beat faster, just for a moment. It was as if she had forgotten something very important. What was it? Why did winter always make her long for something? She never knew what, only that the past few years every time it snowed, she felt as if there was something missing. It was always just out of her reach. Perhaps it was just a trick her mind was playing on her, a sense of déjà vu. That was all it was. There was nothing more, nothing missing in her life. Yet why did she still feel so empty?
“Ada, look,” little Caranthir cried as he stumbled through the doors. He tracked mud and snow as he walked, making a clear path on the clean floors. The storm was picking up speed outside, snow blowing into the still open door. Feanor quickly closed it. He was not overly fond of the cold.
“Slow down,” Feanor chided gently, but he smiled indulgently. His sons were of high spirits, just as he was. He never stopped being pleased when he saw bits of himself in his progeny.
“But Ada, look at this little rabbit,” Caranthir said. “I found it alone. There were no other babies, and no mother. It is crying so. We must help it. We must.”
Feanor was not surprised. Caranthir had something of his mother’s tender heart and had never met a creature he did not instantly love and want to bring home. Many wild things had found their way into this house at one time or another. They were lucky it was only a rabbit this time.
“Let us go find your mother,” Feanor said. “And we will make it a warm box from the fire. She will know what to feed it. If she says you can keep it, then I will allow it.”
With that, Caranthir took off running. He did not wait a moment for his father, so Feanor had to walk quickly to catch up. He took his son’s other hand, the one not holding the tiny little creature. How he loved each and every one of his sons. Each of them was unique and special. The oldest were already fine men, and the little ones would soon grow to match. His family was perfect. He hoped that at least one of them would some day wish to learn the forge crafts at his side, but whatever happened they would be the best at everything they did. They were the sons of Feanor. They could be no less.