A/N: Little Llama Girl and I do not own these characters. I think Mattel does, but since they don't do anything but make collectible toys few of us ever see, we're borrowing them to write stories from which we make no money.
This story follows Reunions Book 1: The Return, of course. You might want to read that before starting this one. :-)
Warning: This one is angst-filled. We make no apologies for it because we loved writing every word.
The small group was silent as they rode through Anas; the palace was just a short distance away now. The golden spires of the east towers could be seen just beyond a stand of trees. The hum of the attak trak's engine was the only sound in the tense compartment. Keldor and Lyn held hands tightly, communicating with each other through telepathy.
'I wish you had gone home,' Keldor sent irritably, his blue face drawn into a frown. 'Now we'll both be sent to the prison mines.'
'You don't know that,' Lyn argued. Her violet eyes narrowed at him, her delicate nostrils flaring. 'And I'm rather tired of hearing you say it. Besides, bonebrain, we both felt that we should surrender. It was a compulsion we both shared. We are doing the right thing, and you know it.' The sound of a rock hitting the side of the track interrupted their thoughts.
"What was that?" Keldor asked, gripping his staff and leaning towards the front where Adam and Miro were seated.
"That," Adam replied steadily, neither his expression nor his voice betraying his emotions, "was one of our loyal subjects expressing their displeasure with me." His blue eyes scanned the area ahead of them, watching for a more serious threat.
Keldor saw Adam's jaw muscle twitching ever so slightly, and the mage cocked his head towards his wife. With a simple spell, Lyn's crystal wand displayed several angry groups lining the streets—each one no more than four or five people, but the total number was about twenty-five, which was a good percentage of the small town's population. Hawk, Adora, Keldor, and Lyn watched as people raised their hands angrily. Others stood behind them, seeming to be yelling in defense of the royal family.
"Surrender the throne to He-Man!" one man shouted. Others began echoing his call, and several more rocks hit the side of the trak. Lyn and Keldor exchanged glances. They had known there was unrest because of rumors Hutch and Damien were spreading, but neither of them had suspected it was this bad.
"The irony here is simply delicious," Lyn commented dryly with a glance towards Adam. "They want you to surrender the throne to yourself. Have you considered just revealing you're He-Man?"
"More times than I care to say," Adam admitted. He didn't turn to face them, but stared straight ahead as the trak rolled through the town. "It would take away all of the power Hutch and Damien have over me right now."
"But you think you're not supposed to reveal your secret," Keldor said, disgusted for a moment with Adam's stubbornness on this issue. Elders knew it had caused and would continue to cause Keldor a lot of discomfort as he tried to keep from telling Adam's secret.
Adam turned in his seat to glance back at Keldor, then returned his attention to the road ahead. "Keldor, to what has He-Man pledged his allegiance?"
Keldor raised an eyebrow, annoyed at the stupidity of the question. "Grayskull."
"And Prince Adam's?"
"Eternia, of course." Keldor's voice grew more irritated.
"Eternia the kingdom, not Eternia the planet," Adam agreed quietly. "Can you imagine what would happen if other kingdoms knew that He-Man's day-to-day allegiance lay with Eternos and its provinces?"
"They would line up to ally themselves with you," Lyn interjected. "What's wrong with that?"
"Perhaps they would," Adam acknowledged. "Or perhaps they would attack out of fear. Either way, the tensions between kingdoms would be volatile."
Adora, seated directly behind Adam, laid a hand on his shoulder. "We'll take care of it, Adam," she assured her brother, her long blond hair spilling forward over her shoulders. "These false rumors can't last forever. The truth will win out somehow."
Her brother grunted. "I hope you're right, Adora," he murmured, gazing at the last of the riled villagers as they passed out of town.
Adora looked annoyed for a moment. "If only that stupid communications device wasn't destroyed, we'd have proof." It was the Syriak's fault the device had been destroyed; the creature was completely unpredictable. 'At least that spell Keldor cast will keep Bedorat asleep for the next day,' Adora thought gratefully. 'That's one less worry for now. And Beastman and Tri-Klops are in custody. Maybe they can help us prove that Hutch and Marzo and Damien are trying to discredit Adam.' Adora shook her head. She still couldn't believe Beastman and Tri-Klops had defected. She chuckled.
"What?" asked Miro, confused. Everyone else in the trak had been growing more and more tense as they approached the great hanger bay. Adora's laughter was strangely out of place.
"I was just thinking of Tri-Klops and Beastman. Well, more about Beastman." Adora turned her gaze on her uncle, mischief sparkling in her eyes. "We went about attacking the forces of Snake Mountain wrong all along. We should have just sent in some children and their pets and you, Lyn, and Beastman would have been defeated long ago."
The laughter that ensued was heartier than the situation or the comment called for, but it had been a stressful few weeks—and the coming confrontations with King Randor and the rest of the royal family promised to be even more so. Keldor dragged his hand down his face with a silent groan as the trak rumbled up the stone entry to the palace.
The convoy had arrived. The refugees were being taken to shelter and cared for, a job Marlena normally would have seen to…but not now. Today, she and many others of Miro's family were gathered in the throne room, waiting for the return of the rest of their numbers.
Randor and Pierce paced restlessly as their wives watched them with semi-amused smiles. Teela was almost trotting back and forth across the throne room floor as well, but she had an excuse: a softly whimpering baby Josiah was in her arms, where he had been almost constantly of late. Off to the side of the room stood Duncan, his silent, still form betraying none of the underlying emotions he was experiencing, nor the remaining soreness and weakness that had resulted from his injury of nearly a week ago.
Marlena pushed an errant strand of her orange-red hair back under her crown and tried to relax against the throne. Standing next to her, Mira chewed nervously on her lip and twisted a strand of her long blond hair as her brown eyes darted from face to face. Lana sat on the steps, her own demeanor as calm as her emotions truly were for the moment; as the former Sorceress of Grayskull, she had learned that preparations worked well, but worrying did nothing. Since there was nothing she could do to prepare for the confrontation about to take place, she merely sat motionless, as if she were still on Grayskull's throne, and did her best to project a soothing presence.
Randor's brother Stephen and his wife Hannah stood on the opposite side of the room from Duncan, their arms wrapped around each other as they mentally grappled with the facts they had learned only the evening before. Stephen's own brown head was bent towards Hannah, whose black hair was pulled into a loose bun. Their son, Dal, leaned against a nearby wall, his hands in his pockets. No one spoke a word. The tension in the room was as thick as a standoff between good and evil.
"Oh, hello everyone," Adam's voice came from the main entrance, cutting through that tension with his friendly, unassuming way. Everyone turned to see the prince and his twin, Adora, standing in the doorway, their matching blue gazes roaming around the room. In spite of his easy tone, however, Adam's own body was tight with tension. His eyes fell on Teela, and a brief longing crossed his face before he got himself under control and continued. "I'm glad you're all here. Grandfather has someone he wants you all to meet." He and Adora stepped apart slightly to allow Miro, former king of Eternia, to enter the throne room.
Miro's step was sure and there was a contentment to him that none of his three children present recognized. For the first time, their father looked complete. Miro's children exchanged glances as the former king spoke, his white hair shining in the morning light slanting through the open windows.
"I have found my lost son Keldor."
Keldor strode forward into the room with Lyn by his side, burying his feelings of uncertainty and shame deep within him. His blue-gray cloak was thrown back and flowed down his back. Around his neck glinted a wide gold medallion like the ones that each of Miro's other children wore.
Coming to a stop, Keldor looked around the room slowly and tried to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach as he saw the expressions of revulsion and suppressed rage among those gathered. Lyn, sensing his mood, took his hand and stood closer to him. Keldor froze as his eyes met Randor's. Keldor could see the king's hatred in his expression; yet as much as Keldor wanted to look away, he instead forced himself to continue to look into the face of the man he'd hurt so much. He wanted to apologize to Randor, but he knew that all of his words could never do anything to help him. And as he gazed at the man who, though unintentionally, nevertheless had taken his place, inside Keldor there began to burn the hurt and resentment that he had long since thought he'd moved beyond. His conflict showed in his eyes, unknown to him, but easily seen by Randor.
The king's face flushed a deep red as he looked over at this fiend. Slowly he advanced until he was standing before Keldor, this scoundrel who was wearing his face. Randor's inspection stopped as did his breathing for a second as he saw the crest, his father's royal crest hanging about his mortal enemy's neck.
"Hello, brother," snarled Randor. Without a second's warning, the king of Eternos drew back his arm and threw a powerful right hook directly into Keldor's face.
Gasps and shouts of shock echoed in the room. Marlena took a few steps towards her husband, but Stephen reached her before she got there and grabbed her arm, shaking his head at her. Miro stepped forward to interfere, but Lyn gently pushed him back. Adam and Adora exchanged worried glances, both taking a half-step towards the pair before them in the center of the throne room.
Keldor stumbled as he tried to stay on his feet in spite of the force of the blow. A few seconds later he stood and faced the half-brother he'd hurt so much—the brother who even now stood his fists clenched, his body rigid, and his jaw twitching. Intentionally, silently, Keldor turned his unbruised cheek toward his brother.
Randor's left fist closed up and his arm tensed as he stood there. Part of him was shocked at what he'd just done; he, with all of his years of diplomacy among the nobility and his talk of justice. Part of him was sure Skeletor was going to reveal his true self any second, and the king waited for it with sick anticipation. And a small part was astounded that this man had literally just turned the other cheek to his rage.
"You might not want to do that," Adam commented dryly. Randor looked over at his son, a sense of betrayal broiling up again, which only grew when he realized Adam wasn't speaking to him. He was gazing at Keldor. "His left hook's stronger than his right," Adam added as Keldor glanced at him, confused.
There was a stunned silence, then Adora giggled. She quickly sobered as Randor's still-angry gaze turned on her, but she could tell Adam's tactic had worked. It had delayed Randor just enough for him to comprehend what he had done. The king stepped back from the entire group, bewildered that his own children seemed to be standing with Keldor. As he did so, he focused back on Adam.
"You knew," he accused him, "and you didn't tell us!" His brow furrowed in confusion as he spoke.
"I asked him not to," Keldor interjected quickly.
"Who died and made you king?" Randor snapped at Keldor.
"Randor!" Marlena gasped.
"Father, please," Adam started, desperate to heal the rift he felt he had created within his family. "Just listen-"
"Don't 'Father, please' me," Randor interrupted angrily. "How long have you known Skeletor and Keldor were the same person, Adam?" Adam's lips parted to answer even as he dipped his head in acceptance of the chastisement.
"Randor," Keldor said firmly before Adam could speak, "don't take your anger out on your son. I put him in the position to keep secrets. I reminded him of another time when I kept a secret for him."
Adam's jaw went slack as he half-turned to his uncle. He had put up with Randor's disappointment and anger for years before his father had learned he was He-Man. No one other than Marlena and Duncan had ever stood up for him during that time. The idea that Keldor, of all people, was attempting to do so now, made his mind reel.
Hawk, still standing in the entryway, folded his arms, his own chin rising with approval over Keldor's words.
Randor whirled back to the blue mage, whose face was calm even though his eyes belied his inner turmoil. "You're one to talk," he snarled. "You've done nothing but attack us for years. You practically killed him in front of me! Now you think you can just walk in here and we'll welcome you the way my father did? Forget it, Skeletor. You may have a face, but you're still the same lowlife you've always been, and I plan to see you rot in the prison mines for your crimes."
Pierce's brow pulled together. He knew Skeletor had held Adam prisoner and tortured the prince in front of the king, but he had not realized Adam had almost died. He had been visiting Phantos when the two had been kidnapped. He exchanged glances with Stephen, whose face had gone dark with anger at Randor's words.
"Do what you must," Keldor said quietly. "It is no less than what I deserve." For the first time, Stephen noticed that the mage's staff was in Adam's hand, and that although a sword was strapped to Keldor's waist, he had not reached for it yet. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he looked from Adora to Adam, then to Miro, who had suddenly gone into motion.
"Over my dead body," shouted Miro, pushing past Lyn and standing in between his sons. "I just found him and you have no idea why he became Skeletor."
"I don't need to know why," Randor growled. "I know all I need to know."
"You will not send my son away so soon after I've found him," Miro returned, a fire in his eyes.
"Go ahead, Father," accused Randor. "Choose him over us just like you always did. Staying out looking for him while we were at home learning and working to protect and rule your kingdom. Brooding at birthdays and parties because he wasn't there. Because we weren't enough. Loving a long dead wife more than you ever loved our mother."
"That's not true," Miro sputtered, a mixture of hurt and shame chasing some of the anger from his posture.
"True or not," interjected Keldor. "It's not fair. Randor, he is your father and you love him. Please don't allow me, even through your anger at me, to hurt another member of your family."
"Don't you lecture me!" Randor roared at Keldor, anger bright in his eyes. The two stared at each other for a moment, Randor's chest heaving as he sought to control his anger. His next words came out in a hiss. "You have no right."
"You're right, I don't," Keldor agreed softly. "So do what you will with me. I will not protest, but do not be the fool I so often accused you of and allow your anger toward me to cause a rift between you and the ones you love." Keldor looked into Randor's face and mentally begged him to stop attacking his family. To take out all of his anger on him.
'That doesn't sound like Skeletor at all. Yet it is him. They admitted it.' Randor looked at his enemy warily. "Whatever this latest game of yours is, Skeletor, it won't work."
Keldor sighed inwardly. 'Good.' At least Randor was becoming more rational if he was trying to find out the nature of his "trickery."
Mira pulled free of Pierce and took a few steps forward. "Why?" she asked, her eyes bright.
Keldor was struck to his heart by the pain he saw in his sister's face. Looking at the floor he said, "I have no excuse. I was a fool."
"That's not true," Miro protested, his eyes shining with unshed tears. Randor stared at his father in disbelief as the older man continued. "Keldor was taken by the Alma'Odela and forced to be a slave for years. He-"
"Enough!" Randor interrupted sharply. "I will hear none of his excuses and lies."
"They aren't lies!" Miro argued. "You have no idea what he has been through, what chased him down the path of evil!"
"Nor do I care!" Randor roared. 'My son has endured enough to break any man,' he thought angrily. 'I cannot tell any of them that, but nor will I stand here and listen to Father lament about "Poor Keldor" and make excuses for him!'
"Randor," Mira snapped, her eyes flashing as she interrupted his thoughts, "Keldor saved my kingdom. I believe his has earned the right to speak on his own behalf."
"His name," Randor snarled, "is Skeletor. And I'm finished with this conversation. Guards!" Two of the royal guardsmen ran in immediately, guns in hand. "Arrest him!" Randor pointed at Keldor.
"No!" Miro shouted, trying to keep himself between both guards and his oldest son. "You can't!"
"Watch me," Randor muttered, slowly lowering his arm.
"It's all right, Father," Keldor assured Miro as the guards placed power cuffs on his wrists. "Randor is only doing as he must." The king's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"No, it's not all right," Miro protested. He turned back to the king and went down on one knee. "Please, Randor, listen to him," he implored Ranay's oldest son. Randor looked down at his father in shock and disbelief, and even the guards slowed in their motions, suddenly unsure of their task as they sneaked glances at Miro, and then began looking back and forth between their king and his blue look-alike.
"Adam, do something!" Adora hissed, her blue eyes filled with tears. "Don't let them put Uncle Keldor in prison!"
Adam tore his gaze away from his father's angry face and looked into Adora's shimmering eyes. "Don't look at me like that," he whispered, his resolve to stay out of it breaking down already. "Father's well within his rights. And Keldor's willingness to pay for his crimes will eventually calm Father down."
Adora shook her head, her bangs falling forward as she did so. "Please, Adam," she begged him, placing both hands on his arm. "Look at Grandfather."
Almost against his will, Adam looked back at Miro, who was now on both knees, his shoulders slumped over as Randor shook his head and stepped back wordlessly. The lost, defeated look on Miro's face was more than Adam could bear. Almost without realizing it, Adam stepped forward and placed his hand on the guard's arm before the man could lead Keldor and Lyn away.
"That won't be necessary, Lieutenant," he said quietly but firmly.
The guard hesitated slightly, his hand still on Keldor's elbow. "Your Highness?"
"These people surrendered to me, Father," Adam said, carefully keeping his tone respectful. "They are in my custody."
Keldor and Lyn exchanged confused glances. Miro's expression became one of ecstatic disbelief as Adora unobtrusively helped him to his feet, biting her lip hopefully. Randor's eyes narrowed at his son.
"Are you claiming King Edward's law?" the king asked evenly.
"Yes, Sire," Adam replied, his heart pounding in his throat. He returned his father's gaze unflinchingly, even as he wondered how much larger he was about to make this rift between them.
"I don't understand," Adora said, her arm still around Miro. "What are you two talking about?"
"It's an old law, several hundred years old," Duncan supplied, his voice harsh. "It states that if a criminal surrenders himself into custody, the one to whom he surrenders to is responsible for him until the trial. In this case, it means that it is Adam's decision whether to put Keldor and Lyn in prison, or be responsible for them attending their trial."
"Wait a minute," Teela spoke up for the first time, her voice low only because of the now-sleeping baby in her arms. "Isn't that the law that says if they don't show up, the guardian must serve their sentence?" Her green eyes sparked with suppressed anger, although her tone remained calm.
"That's the one," Randor said, crossing his arms as he stared at Adam. Marlena put a hand to her mouth to cover her gasp. "So what are you doing, son?"
'Are you going to choose him or me?' Randor didn't say it, and he might not even have thought it, but it was the message Adam received. The prince swallowed hard and looked to Miro's hopeful face. The former king begged his grandson with his eyes to follow through on it. Adam met Keldor's and Lyn's eyes, still hesitating.
"You have my word," Keldor said quietly, "we will abide by your decision." Inwardly the mage frowned, not sure why he'd felt the need to say that. He had wanted to urge Adam to let them go to prison as they deserved. Even he could see that the divide between Randor and Adam was larger than it had ever been. He should know. He had spent a lot of his life spying on the royal family.
"Like your word's worth a sand slug's spit," Randor snorted.
"Actually, Father, a week ago I would have agreed with you on that, but now…" Adam nodded slowly to Keldor and Lyn, then turned back to Randor, whose angry, hurt eyes were almost black. "Keldor is incapable of lying. As difficult as it is to believe, his word is as good as mine. I will retain custody of Keldor and Lyn until the time of their trial." He nodded again, this time to the guards, who looked at Randor for confirmation. The king glared at Adam for a moment.
"Very well," he said at last, "unbind them." Randor turned away angrily. "Now get that filth out of my sight." Randor stalked toward his throne. Adam knew well that in his father's current dark mood further discussion was useless.
"Follow me," Adam said quietly to Keldor and Lyn once the power cuffs were removed again. Adora started to trail behind the little group when Adam shook his head. "Help them," he whispered, laying his hand on her arm as he nodded toward Miro and the rest of the family.
Keldor and Lyn walked silently behind Adam, their fingers intertwined. For several minutes the only sound was the clicking of three sets of boots on the palace floor.
Keldor stared at Adam's back, feeling more and more upset and annoyed by the minute. Hadn't he told them to do what they must? Adam was driving an even greater wedge between himself and his father, and it was his own fault. Finally Keldor could be silent no longer.
"What in Blazes do you think you were doing?" he asked irritably. "I told you-"
"Shove it," Adam said shortly, not turning around or slowing his pace. "I did it for Grandfather, not you."
Keldor exchanged glances with Lyn, unable to come up with a response. Keldor felt miserable; he was grateful to Adam for sparing Miro additional distress, but he was sick over the fact that it was causing additional discord among other family members.
They entered the pale blue hall of suites where Adam and Teela dwelled, and came to a stop. Adam stood still for a moment, then turned to Keldor and Lyn, a harsh challenge in his eyes.
"Miro has suffered enough over you," he said, his tone inviting no argument. "As for all your talk of owing me and being trustworthy now…" He took one step closer to Keldor, their faces only inches apart. "This is your one chance to prove to me that you deserve to be trusted."
Before Keldor could respond, the group heard the urgent clicking of another set of boots approaching rapidly. Adam turned to see Teela almost running towards them.
Adam was stuck between a sigh and a smile. He wanted to reach out and pull his wife close to himself and, just for a moment be aware of only her warmth and the flowery scent of her favorite perfume. He had missed her more than he thought possible. Her expression was that of fury however, and Adam knew that loving embraces were the last thing on her mind. Adam tried to think of another tactic to diffuse her anger before she went into the tirade that she looked entirely ready for. "Where's Josiah?" he asked.
"He's with your mother," Teela snapped as she split her angry glare between Adam and his "guests." "How could you do this? How could you trust them?" she spat.
"Funny you should ask that," Adam muttered under his breath. He met her eye and reached for her hand. "Teela, I-" he started.
"Never mind," she interrupted. She yanked her hand away from his clenched her fists at her side. "It's probably another one of your secrets. I'm going to take my son back to the healers now. He's sick, remember? Or were you too busy running around playing the hero?" Teela's face crumpled. She turned away, determined not to allow Keldor and Lyn to see the tears suddenly streaming down her face.
Adam's hurt and anger at Teela's accusations faded into the background. "He's no better?" Adam murmured worriedly as he put himself between her and their two former enemies, and gently turned her into his arms. He had hoped...Adam gave a slight shake of his head as he rubbed Teela's back soothingly.
Keldor and Lyn took a step back to attempt to give the couple more privacy without appearing to run.
"No, and the healers thought I was just having new mother paranoia. He's crying all of the time, and he's losing weight now. I'm worried. They've run so many tests already and they haven't found a thing," Teela rasped.
"Breathe, Teela," Adam urged her. "I'll get these two settled and meet you at the healers with Josiah."
Teela dried her eyes and collected herself with an effort. Then she stepped to the side so she could see Keldor and Lyn, leveling a steely gaze at them. "If you do try to escape, I will find you. And I will rip you apart with my bare hands."
Lyn stepped forward. "Capt—er, I mean, Princess Teela. Once you and I had an alliance. You tried to convince me that I was wrong then. I have understood since then that you were right about many things. I offer that same alliance we shared before to you now. I will stay here. I will not leave this palace without first speaking with Adam, Adora, or you. This I promise."
Teela looked unconvinced but she nodded nonetheless. She turned on her heel and headed down the hall without a backward glance.
"If you would like, Adam," Keldor offered, "Lyn and I can use our magic to heal your son."
"Thank you," Adam said softly. "But I don't think that is a good idea…" He trailed off. "She-Ra said she'd help." He pointed to a door behind them. "There is your suite. Teela and I sleep in the suite across the hallway. Before you do anything or go anywhere outside of these walls I expect to be notified." Without waiting for their agreement Adam turned and strode quickly toward the infirmary and his son.