"My lord?"

Thranduil dragged his head out of the pillows and opened one eye to Harune. "Is it an emergency?"

"No. I just wanted to let you know your bath is ready."

Thranduil sighed and went back to sleep. He was exhausted! Baths, kingly duties, playing with Legolas . . . he was too tired for any of it! Harune could deal with the whole lot today. It was not as though running the kingdom required loads of paperwork in the office. But still . . . . .

"My lord?"

Thranduil opened his eyes. That sounded like Legolas. Why was Legolas calling him my lord? "Yes, my little leaf?"

Legolas fell on his knees beside the bed and clasped his hands pleadingly. His voice shook. "May I p-please s-sleep with y-you t-tonight, m-my l-lord?"

Thranduil sat up in bed. "Legolas, what is the matter? Since when have you ever had to beg me for anything? And enough with calling me my lord; I am your ada! Come on up here. Of course you can sleep with me."

Legolas's eyes widened. "You—you are hurt! Ada is hurt!"

Valar, he had stopped concentrating on the magic concealing his scar while he slept! What an idiot he was! Now he would have to deal with the consequences! Steeling himself, Thranduil knelt down on the floor next to his son and took Legolas's hands. "No, ion-nin, I am not hurt. This is just the scar of a very old injury."

Legolas stared at him doubtfully. "B-but can the healers not fix it? They fixed me."

"I know they did and for that I am grateful. The healers have fixed as much of this wound as they can. This is what will always remain. Magic keeps it hidden."

"Does it—does it hurt, ada?"

Thranduil smiled sadly. "Yes, all the time." He closed his eyes on the painful moisture that blurred his vision suddenly.

A soft, gently caress landed on his cheek. Thranduil's eyes flew open in shock. Legolas had kissed the scar! The ugly, horrible, disgusting scar and Legolas had kissed it!

"Is that better, adar?" Legolas asked anxiously.

"W-what?" Thranduil stuttered.

"When I get hurt, you kiss me," Legolas explained. "Do you feel better now, adar?"

Thranduil stared at his son in shock and amazement. Then the tears came in a flood. He held onto Legolas and sobbed. Sweet little leaf. Why had he ever given Legolas up? Legolas was so kind and gentle and brave even after all Lord Katar had done to him. Thranduil squeezed his son tight.

Legolas wrapped his arms around his father. He was not used to his father crying but he was not afraid. He knew Thranduil still loved him. And Thranduil's tears told Legolas that his father had a heart just like his; full of pain and love. Knowing that he was not alone with his troubled emotions made Legolas feel better.

Thranduil finally let go of his son but Legolas stayed in his lap, cuddled against him. He looked up at his father and asked again, "Do you feel better now, adar?"

Thranduil smiled as Legolas touched his cheek. He was not in pain anymore. He felt whole again.

"Yes, little leaf, I do," Thranduil said, kissing the top of Legolas's head. And he did.

Legolas grinned.

"Why did you come here? Were you having nightmares, ion-nin?"

Legolas flushed, his smile fading. He curled into a tight ball and looked down, his cheek pressed against Thranduil's chest.

Thranduil stroked the top of Legolas's head. "Ion-nin, nightmares are nothing to be ashamed of. I have bad dreams to."

"R-really? Who looks after you and holds you when you have nightmares?"

"Harune. Harune has looked after me since the day I was born. Harune is older then me."

"Is he your ada?"

"Yes, he is, in a way."

"Can I call him daerada?"

"You may. I think he would like that. Legolas, you need not be afraid to climb into my bed at night."

"Y-you will not get mad and throw me out?"

"No, never. I promise. I am your father. I am here to help you. Holding you makes me happy. And it helps my nightmares go away."

Tears filled Legolas's eyes. "You make my nightmares go away to, adar."

"Then why do you not come to me at night more often?"

"I am scared of beds. Going to bed with someone also means to-to have—have—do things that hurt me," Legolas said shyly. "I was not sure which one you meant and I-I was to s-scared to ask."

Thranduil sighed. He might as well get this discussion over with at the same time. He stood up and set Legolas down on his feet. "Take off all your clothes."

Legolas whimpered. All his worst nightmares were coming true! Ada was going to throw him in bed and get on him and . . . Legolas shuddered. Slowly he obeyed his father. He knew he could not do anything to fight Thranduil. Resisting Thranduil would only make Thranduil hit him and yell. Once he was naked, he backed up against the bed, cold and trembling.

Thranduil felt sick. Legolas was a child; he should not be cowering in fear of the person he loved, dreading the horrible thought of having his privacy torn from him. Thranduil stepped towards his son. Legolas whimpered again. Thranduil gently took Legolas in his arms and ran his hands down Legolas's body. Legolas trembled, looking sick and pale with fear and grief.