Disclaimers: See the Author's Notes! Not my song; it belongs to Enya! Elvish is in ' '; Common is in " "; Aragorn and Legolas' thoughts are in .This is an AU! Rated R for major angst, eventual attempted rape, and sexual innuendo. Oops, sorry I misspelled Sylvan. As for a sequel- that's up to all of you.

Amin Ai Olin
(My Little Secret)

Part 6. Nurt- Awr

       (To Hide Pain)      

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And who can say when the day sleeps,
the moon still keeps on moving
If the night keeps all your heart?
Night keeps all your heart...
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Elessar was in shock, as he sat there silently. He'd had one surprise after another this day, and it seemed that he was to have more before dawn rose. The King of Gondor was rarely speechless; this was an exception. He had not expected those words to be flung at him so harshly by his supposed best friend…

'Of course I know which of the Dunadan is Elleelen's sire! I am not a whore, because the only Dunadan I was ever with was you!'

If Elessar had ever regretted anything in his life, it was that he had never revealed to Legolas just how attracted he was to him before the Elf had vanished. He'd always desired his best friend, who had seemingly been oblivious to it. Though now… Now Elessar was not so sure of that.

He'd felt how Legolas trembled at a single touch from him… He'd been able to feel the desire of the beautiful Elf in his hand, and he'd seen in it those striking blue eyes. Such passion and longing in the azure depths, as he deliberately aroused Legolas.

Perhaps it was because of his long hidden regret that Elessar had been so bold, now that he had unexpectedly found Legolas again. But he had not wanted to waste this second chance that he had. Legolas' response to him did please him, although he was currently beginning to be very angry at his best friend.

How could Legolas have hidden this from him? The Elf had never been able to lie to him, so Elessar knew that he was telling the truth.

He, Elessar, was Elleelen's sire, which made the child an heir to Gondor. Elleelen would actually take the throne after him, though it would not be for a very, very long time, for Elessar was an Immortal, after all.

But there would be no argument over Legolas coming to Gondor; he would, or Elessar would simply take the boy, thus forcing Legolas to come as well.

His son… That thought both scared and thrilled him at the same time.

None of Elessar's advisors had been able to come up with a solution to the problem of Kasia not being able to rule; she was a girl and unacceptable, though Elessar had not agreed with that. It was an old-fashioned rule, in his opinion, but it could not be changed. He had tried to change it, but it was set in stone. Kasia could not rule Gondor.

Elessar resented not having been able to be with his son, as he grew older. Kasia had been delightful to raise, and she surely would have enjoyed having a sibling to play with. Life in a palace, especially when you were the only child, was lonely.

He didn't even know what his son's first word had been, when Elleelen had started walking, and all the other things a father should know. Not to mention that he had not been able to choose a name for his son.

The advisors had told him to marry and have a son, though Elessar had been loath to the very idea. Now, however, that was settled; he had a son. The only obstacle he foresaw was Legolas himself.

The Elf simply had no choice; Elessar would make Legolas marry him, to legitimize his son, before proclaiming Elleelen as the Crown Prince. It eased his conscience slightly to know that Legolas was desperately attracted to him. He'd proven that by managing to seduce Legolas into revealing Elleelen's sire.

Elessar also wanted to get to know his son, as well as he knew Kasia. He didn't know the first thing about what Elleelen liked to do, his favorite color, or anything…

As for Legolas… Elessar grimly smiled as he stood. He was going to have words with his 'best friend'.

The King of Gondor headed off towards where he had seen Legolas run- not towards the house, but further away, towards a small cluster of trees.

**********

Elsewhere

**********

Legolas sat in a shaking heap, his arms wrapped around himself. Fool of an Elf, he thought bitterly.

He knew that Elessar would be furious with him, and he knew that his best friend had a right to be. Elessar should not have found out about Elleelen like that.

Once more, Legolas' temper had proven to be his downfall; he had thought of nothing but hurting Elessar, for the humiliation he had suffered at the Man's hands.

Why is it that Elessar makes my body sing so, Legolas wondered painfully. He had loved Elessar for a very long time, though until that night ten years ago- and today, he amended- nothing had ever come out of it.

Shame soared through the Elf, for his blatant response to Elessar. If only he had not given in to his desire… But it was no use thinking about it; what was done was done, and he would now suffer the consequences of the words he had spoken.

Legolas lifted his gaze up when he heard Elessar approaching, still as silently as ever. He tensed and tried to prepare himself for whatever would be said.

Elessar stood before Legolas, gazing down at him reproachfully for a few moments. 'Why didn't you tell me?' he icily asked.

'Would you have believed me?' Legolas retorted, as he slowly stood as well, his gaze never faltering.

'Perhaps not… At least, not at first,' Elessar admitted. 'When did it happen?'

Legolas sighed, a long, drawn-out sound. 'Twas three nights before your wedding to Arwen,' he answered neutrally. 'When we were staying at the inn, with the tavern, on the way back to Gondor. We had been stopping some local bandits…'

Elessar frowned, but nodded for Legolas to continue, as he searched through his hazy memories for that night.

'I got drunk… as did you. We were both very intoxicated, when we went to the room we were sharing. You nearly fell over a few times on the way up the stairs,' Legolas murmured, just now recalling that particular part of the memory. 'We got into the bed and somehow you wound up kissing me, and then we…'

'How is it that you can remember this so well when you were drunk as well?' Elessar suspiciously queried. He wondered if it were possible that Legolas had taken advantage of him while he was drunk.

Legolas rolled his eyes. 'I regained my memory, though it took months. Elves have perfect memories, after all.'

Elessar merely cocked an eyebrow at the Elf. 'Elves tend to have a higher tolerance for wine and ale more than Men. How do I know that you didn't-'

'-take advantage of you?' Legolas finished. 'Don't put the blame on me, Elessar- I was more drunk than you. You kissed me first; you pinned me to the bed. If there was any seducing, you did it to me. I'll not take the full blame.'

'Why were you so drunk?' Elessar questioned, surprising both himself and Legolas. He knew that Legolas only drank when he was very upset about something. 'And what were you doing while I seduced you?'

Legolas firmly stated, 'I had my reasons, which I will not discuss.' A flush settled over his face, as he remembered what he had been doing while Elessar made love to him. 'I will not say.'

Elessar scowled. 'Embarrassed?' he taunted.

'If you must know, I was just laying there, in a fit of laughter,' Legolas finally confessed. 'I told you that I was more drunk than you.'

Elessar was surprised at how enticing that mental image was to him. 'And you found out three weeks later that you were pregnant- with my child. Why didn't you tell me then?'

Legolas sharply retorted, 'I'm sure Arwen would have loved to know just how good you are at getting Elves pregnant, female or not.' His voice softened, before he murmured, 'She deserved better than that, Elessar, and you know it.'

'So that is your excuse for denying me the right to see my son for nearly ten years,' Elessar flung at Legolas, still hurting from that last remark. God, that would have devastated Arwen, especially as she had been pregnant with Kasia at the time.

'What I did may not have been right, Elessar, but how dare you judge me!' Legolas snapped. 'For ten years I have protected, nurtured, supported, and loved Elleelen. I work so that he, at least, has good clothes and food to eat. And I do not mind that, for I love him and would do anything for him.'

Elessar smiled triumphantly. He had Legolas exactly where he wanted him. 'Anything, you say?'

Legolas did not like the gleam that had just entered into Elessar's grey eyes. He slowly backed away, as the Man drew closer to him. 'I would do anything to keep Elleelen safe, but I don't-'

'You did say 'anything',' Elessar said coldly. 'Now you will listen to me. Both of you are coming to Gondor, and that is not a request. My son- and heir- will not live with servants.'

'Even if a servant be his father and the one who gave him life?' Legolas asked pointedly.

Elessar extended a hand towards Legolas, ignoring the flash of guilt he felt. 'Tis simple, Legolas. Either you come, with Elleelen… Or only Elleelen comes.'

Legolas turned ashen at those words. 'You cannot take him from me! He is my life!' the stricken Elf cried.

'The decision is yours.' Elessar averted his gaze, so he did not have to see the agony going through Legolas right now. It made him feel ashamed and uncomfortable.

"Damn you," Legolas hissed. He could not let Elleelen go; his son was all he had in the world. "I'll go…" he said, giving in to that demand. He felt numb; he had not thought Elessar capable of doing such a cruel thing. Anger warred with shock and sadness inside of him.

Elessar reached out a hand and attempted to touch Legolas on the face with it. He was not altogether surprised when the angry Elf backed away from him. 'You'd better get used to my touches, Legolas.'

Legolas coldly glared at Elessar, ignoring the way his body wanted him to lean into the outstretched hand, to let it touch him. 'You will not touch me again, so why should I?'

'Didn't I tell you?' Elessar inquired sarcastically, flinching inside for the wince he saw crossing Legolas' face. 'We're going to marry.'

'Never,' Legolas spat out. 'I will never marry you.'

Elessar shook his head. 'You will, Legolas. You know what will happen if you do not…'

Legolas gaped silently. 'You do not have the right to do this; you cannot!' he cried. His soul cried out in torment, for it was one thing to go to Gondor, but another to be bound in marriage. 'Men do not agree with their king marrying other males, if I am not mistaken.'

'I am the King,' Elessar said flatly. 'My word is law.' He despised himself for the despair he saw in the cobalt eyes of the beautiful one next to him.

'Do you truly hate me enough to force me into marriage?' Legolas whispered hoarsely.

Elessar bit back the words he wanted to say, to comfort Legolas. Instead, he said something else. 'What I want or you want does not matter. What matters is establishing Elleelen's legitimacy, because he will be my heir.'

Legolas hated Elessar right now, even as he loved him. How could Elessar do this to him? Give up his freedom… his life… and even his self-respect? No, Elessar did not love him, Legolas told himself. His former friend lusted for him.

Yet, a touch on his face melted away part of Legolas' stern resolve not to respond to Elessar. The hand possessively caressed every part of his face, before cupping his chin. It then slid down and gently teased Legolas, stroking across his bare chest.

The breath caught in Legolas' mouth, as Elessar purposefully stepped closer, sliding his other hand around the slender waist. The Man's tongue sought to possess every inch of the warm mouth that belonged to Legolas, while his hands continued teasing the Elven beauty.

Legolas groaned, in spite of himself. Every part of him felt like he was on fire when Elessar touched him, drawing out his desire. But he was devastated by the look of triumph in Elessar's grey eyes. His sadness soon melted into anger. So Elessar thought that he was going to surrender so easily, Legolas mused. He might not be able to stop his body from reacting to the Man, but his mind, however, was not so easily seduced.

Elessar might currently be winning the fight, but the outcome was far from over. Legolas intended to show Elessar just what it meant to attempt to blackmail him.

And, of course, he had a distinct advantage over Elessar.

To be continued