Disclaimers: See the Author's Notes! This is an AU!! Not my song; it belongs to Lee Ann Womack. Elvish is in ' '; Common is in " "; thoughts are in .This is AU! Rated R for major angst and sexual innuendo. Takes place a few days later.

Amin Ai Olin
(My Little Secret)

Part 15. Yest- Au'

     (To Begin Again)

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You're a move I wanna make
You're a chance I'm gonna take
You're every dream oh

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'That's right; slow and gentle,' Legolas told Elleelen, as they sat in the large kitchen in Gondor castle. Long, wooden tables, with matching chairs, were set up and Kasia, Legolas, and Elleelen were sitting at one of them, making cookies. All three were rolling dough into little ovals to bake in the old-fashioned oven, taking it out of the large, blue bowl made of fired clay. Legolas had mixed the ingredients together for them, and now they were all having fun.

Kasia held up her rolled dough for Legolas to inspect. 'Like this?'

Legolas smiled and nodded. 'Now place it on the sheet- carefully, Kasia. It's still a bit hot.'

She nodded and placed the ball of cookie dough into the middle of the metal sheet, before taking another handful out of the bowl and rolling it together between her little palms. Elleelen concentrated on his own, making it into a perfect sphere. He sat it in the top right corner of the metal cooking sheet and took some more as well.

Both children had flour, sugar, and other things dusting their faces and their clothes. Elleelen's dark blue shirt and green leggings had white streaks across them, and cookie dough was on his face and in his blond hair. Kasia was not much better; she had worn leggings for once, so that one of her dresses wouldn't get ruined. Her yellow shirt and light blue leggings had cookie dough covering the majority of the cloth, and flour was in her dark hair.

But while they were a mess, both children looked very happy and content, as they made the cookies. Identical smiles were on their faces while they worked, under Legolas' careful supervision and instructions.

The taller and older Elf had only a little sugar on his face, and was quite clean, compared to the two children who sat on both sides of him, as they made cookies together. A genuine smile was across his oval face, as he watched the siblings messing with the cookie dough. A flash of regret went through Legolas, for he remembered when he had done this with his own father, long, long ago.

Legolas wasn't entirely focused on what he was doing; he was busy thinking of Elessar. The Man had not touched him in any way for three days now, though the former Elven Prince longed for him to do so, to feel the soothing touch of a gentle caress or a soft kiss once more. He felt pathetic and weak for feeling that way, especially after what all had happened between himself and Elessar, but the callings of his heart could no more be denied than the voice of the Sea. It was one reason that Legolas had never dared to venture close to the Sea, lest he, too, fall under its spell and thus be forced to depart Middle Earth for the Grey Havens, leaving his friends… and child behind.

Kasia could sense that Legolas was upset about something, and she rightly believed it was because of her father. But, not knowing that it was because Legolas loved her father so that he suffered, she thought her father was making him stay here, when he wanted to leave. Kasia knew that Elleelen was worried as well about his father, though she had not told her brother what her father was doing. She felt guilty that it was even being done; nothing Legolas had done made him deserve to be coerced into doing something he

didn't want to truly do. Silently, she continued rolling cookies, uncertain as of what to say to cheer Legolas up.

Elleelen looked at his father and saw the wistful expression on Legolas' face, as he paused in the middle of rolling a ball of cookie dough. The child just knew it was because of his sire that his daddy was unhappy and sad and lonely. His father had not told him it was so, but Elleelen knew that he had not been so downcast when they had not been here. Sometimes the boy could see that Elessar was a nice person- he was good to Kasia, after all, and spent time with both of them, but Elleelen still remained a bit wary of him.

Legolas finally looked up, and saw that the tray was ready. He stood slowly and picked it up carefully, in case it was still hot, and carried it over to the oven. Sliding it in, Legolas pushed it back far enough near the flames so that the cookies would only take a short time to cook, before he closed and latched the iron door.

"Oops…" Kasia mumbled, accidentally jarring the bowl with her elbow and knocking it over. Cookie dough landed on Elleelen's lap, and she couldn't suppress a giggle.

'Hey!' Elleelen cried in protest. He grabbed a handful of the dough and threw it at her, grinning when it landed on her face.

Kasia scowled and took an evil bigger handful, before lobbing it at her brother, getting it directly in his hair. She laughed at the look of shock on his face, before she crowed, 'I got you!'

Elleelen frowned. He picked up as much dough as he could hold, and began chasing Kasia around the room with it. 'Come back here!' he ordered.

Legolas turned from the oven and watched the two chasing each other for a few minutes, until he couldn't contain a quiet laugh any longer. However, he also knew that Elessar probably wouldn't like the children making a mess of the kitchen, so he firmly said, 'Kasia, Elleelen… Unless you both want to clean up the kitchen, you'd better stop.'

Elessar heard the sounds of his children laughing, and decided to see what they were doing. Peeking his head in the doorway, he saw Elleelen and Kasia throwing something at each other, while Legolas warned them to stop. Both were covered in the gooey substance, along with powder of some kind. Elessar smiled at the sight of his son and daughter getting along so well, and then his gaze drifted to Legolas, who had a white streak on his face. The King wanted to brush it away, until he saw that the same substance was on those firm lips, looking very tempting.

Legolas felt someone watching him and looked up, going silent when he saw Elessar in the doorway. 'Children… I think you'd better go clean yourselves up and change, before the cookies are ready,' he murmured, feeling his pulse start racing at the sight of the Man.

Both Kasia and Elleelen made a face but did as they were told, saying 'hello' to Elessar on the way to their room.

Elessar instantly saw that Legolas was nervous, for his friend busied himself with cleaning up the mess and putting the dishes in the sink, so that he could wash them. The Man walked over and said quietly, 'Do I really make you so nervous, Legolas?'

'Nay…' Legolas answered, swallowing hard. He did not look at Elessar, as he began preparing some soap and water.

'Legolas… you do not have to clean up after them- that's what the servants are for,' Elessar told him, before wincing. That was a great way to make Legolas relax; remind him that he had been a servant. Elessar wanted nothing more than to kiss him right now, but he still waited, uncertain if the beautiful Elf wanted it or not.

Legolas slowly nodded, knowing that Elessar had not meant to hurt him. He turned to look at the Man and was surprised at the look on his face. 'What's wrong?' he questioned, until he saw the smoldering look of desire in Elessar's eyes. Part of Legolas instantly tensed, while the other part begged for a touch.

Elessar murmured, 'I should like to touch you… but I will not. Not unless you wish it, fair one.' His sharp, grey eyes had caught the way Legolas had stiffened when the Elf had seen the desire in his eyes. The King feared rejection above all else, though he had hidden it, not wanting to pressure Legolas into doing anything that he did not want.

'I… would like that,' Legolas found himself saying, before he knew it. His heart grew lighter at the joy that was growing inside of him. Elessar was not demanding his obedience; nay, for the first time, he was asking before he…

A gentle, tentative kiss was given to Legolas, removing the traces of sugar from his lips and making him feel warm all over, from his head down to his feet. Elessar's left hand drifted up and brushed the flour off of the softness of the smooth cheek. Legolas' dazzling azure eyes spoke volumes to Elessar, and the Man pressed his lips against Legolas' lips even harder, feeling a contented sigh leaving the Elven beauty.

Firm arms wound around Legolas' waist, pulling him completely against Elessar, and he forgot about the cookies, savoring this bliss and warmth as Elessar kissed him hard enough to bruise his lips. His pale, slender hands slipped under Elessar's dark blue shirt, skimming across the firm muscles that rippled across the King's chest, while Legolas firmly kissed Elessar, slipping his tongue into the warm mouth, exploring it as he had never had the chance to.

Elessar groaned and was surprised to find himself pushing Legolas back onto one of the wooden tables, lowering the Elf onto it with utmost care. Their lips met again hungrily, in a flurry of kisses that left each breathless, while Elessar pinned Legolas to the table beneath his firm body rather roughly. He heard a faint sound and looked into the blue eyes beneath him, silently asking permission with his grey eyes.

Legolas nodded, and then gasped, 'The cookies!'

'The what?' Elessar questioned, looking baffled.

'I was making cookies with Kasia and Elleelen,' Legolas told Elessar, flushing slightly, as he gently pushed at the Man. 'I fear if I do not rescue them from the oven they will burn and the children will certainly be unhappy.'

Elessar sighed but sat up, amusement in his eyes. 'Go and rescue them, then… I shall wait.'

Legolas smiled, before he stood and raced over to the oven. Grabbing the blue cloth that sat next to the iron door, he opened the oven door and pulled out the metal sheet on which the cookies sat. He was relieved to see that they were not, in fact, burned, and sat the sheet on the table nearby. He had just replaced the blue cloth and closed the door when warm arms encircled him from behind once more. The resulting heat brought a blush to his face again.

'Did you want a cookie?' Legolas asked, controlling his breathing carefully.

Elessar nipped at the pale, slender throat for a few minutes before breathing, 'I'd rather feast on something more delicious, if the feast is willing…'

Legolas leaned back against Elessar, enjoying the feel of the experienced mouth trailing up his neck. 'And if the feast is willing to be ravaged?' he whispered, moaning softly as two hands trailed down his back, over the curve of his hips, before wrapping around him again, holding him firmly. He tilted his head back and looked up into the stormy grey eyes over him.

Elessar started to say something, when the door to the kitchen flew open loudly, slamming against the wall. Two pair of eyes flew to the door. Legolas drastically paled, for it was someone he had not expected to see again in his life.

'Father?' he hoarsely gasped. 'What are you doing here?' Shock was in his cobalt eyes as he wordlessly looked at one he had not seen for nearly ten years.

King Thranduil looked directly at his son. 'I came here… to get you and Elleelen,' he proclaimed, before glaring at Elessar. 'What did you do to my son to nearly kill him?' he demanded. 'Get your hands off of him, before I cut them off!' His right hand flew to the hilt of his sword.

Elessar released Legolas, but pushed the golden-haired Elf behind him, taking the hilt of his sword in his own hand. 'Tis none of your concern, King Thranduil, what Legolas and I do,' he stated grimly. 'But tis my concern when you break into my castle and make threats to me.'

Legolas was gaping at his father. 'Why would you come here for me and my son? You disowned me and all but threw me out of Mirkwood because of Elleelen.'

'And I made a mistake when I did so,' Thranduil murmured, looking directly at his son. Guilt and shame swam in his dark blue eyes, along with sorrow. 'I should not have acted as I did, and for that… I am sorry. I hope that, in time, you will forgive me.' He then gazed back at Elessar. 'And tis my concern when I feel one of my sons dying, but I do not know the cause or the reason, King of Gondor.'

'Father, listen to me, please,' Legolas interjected, but it went unheard as Elessar narrowed his eyes at Thranduil.

'You're sorry? Sorry isn't going to take back the years Legolas starved himself to feed Elleelen, is it? Or the sacrifices he made to keep his son clothed and safe under a roof?' Elessar inquired coldly, resentful of the way Thranduil was judging him.

Thranduil countered, 'What does that have to do with you? Not even his proclaimed best friend helped him through his ordeal!'

Elessar retorted, 'It has everything to do with me because Elleelen is my son, too!'

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Kasia and Elleelen's Room

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Elleelen and Kasia had just finished getting cleaned and changed into fresh clothes when a stranger wearing a cloak, with the hood pulled over his hair, entered the room and walked over to them silently. He gazed down at the children.

'Who are you?' Elleelen questioned, frowning slightly.

Kasia frowned as well, as she repeated the question her brother had asked.

'Surely it has not been that long, Kasia,' Lord Elrond Peredhil murmured, lowering his hood so that the children could see his long black hair and dark eyes.

'Grandfather!' Kasia cried, before throwing herself into his arms. Elrond caught her and held her tightly, for she reminded him so of Arwen.

Elleelen recognized Elrond, from the time he had spent in Rivendell with his father. 'Hello,' he muttered, uncertain as of what to say to the Elven lord.

Elrond smiled at Elleelen, but before he could say anything, Kasia began chattering at him happily.

'This is Elleelen, he's my brother. Did you know that, Grandfather?'

'He's what?' Elrond asked, not certain he had heard right. Shock was in his deep voice, as he looked at the golden-haired child more closely. Elleelen was Legolas' son, Elrond knew, but if he was Kasia's brother… That meant that Elessar was his sire, and that meant big trouble… for all of them.

To be continued