A/N: I am on a bit of a roll now as this is the part of the story I have been anxiously awaiting. With any luck I will be able to get the next few chapters to you in quick succession and then will come the challenge of ending the story. That has always been the hardest part for me. As things stand, I have been considering a sequel, but we'll see if that is actually necessary or not. I'm glad you all have been enjoying this. I hope this latest chapter will live up to your expectations! Enjoy! As always - I don't own it, I'm not that lucky.
The next morning the Sorceress woke Teela before dawn. Adam, Man-at-Arms and Orko were on their way. The Sorceress cast one more cleaning spell over her and changed her sleeping shift into a simple tunic and trews. Even in an enchanted sleep her battle armor would not have been comfortable. Once the Sorceress was done, Teela said, "Thank you, Sorceress, for all you have done for me."
"You are very welcome, Teela. I only wish I could do more to help you."
After a moment's hesitation, Teela asked, "Sorceress, the other day when Skeletor was attacking. Well, there were times I felt...something. Magic that was overwhelming. What was it? I've never felt magic like that before."
The Sorceress absently stroked Teela's hair as she gazed out the window, seeing visions long since past. "To explain that, you must understand some of this castle's history. This castle was built during the days of the Ancients. Before even King Tamask's time as ruler. In those days the people were disorganized and fought with one another constantly. Occasionally, someone who could control the planet's magic would rise up and lead the people. There would be a brief period of prosperity and productivity, but these times were short-lived and infrequent. One of these magical leaders, a man named Jasal Grayskull, discovered one of only two focal points of magic on the planet. Jasal built this castle over that natural magical spring and eventually became Eternia's first king. He and his sorceress wife ruled in peace for many years. Our own royal family is descended from their line. When outsiders invaded the planet, King Grayskull and his wife drove them back. Unfortunately, they perished in the final battle, but their spirits and their magic reside now within the castle and are used to this day to help protect it. That is the magic that you felt that day. It is also why Orko's magic is at its strongest and most wild here."
As the Socreress ended her tale, Teela looked around the room once more. It looked the same, of course, but knowing some of the history - hearing about the man who built it - made the castle look different to her. Finally she asked, "You said there were two focal points of magic on the planet? Where is the other?"
"Can you not guess?"
Teela cast her mind to the different places she had visited on Eternia. There were many places where magic was so strong she could feel it. The dragons of Darksmoke certainly had a powerful magic, as well as the Oracle of the Crystal Sea. But the strongest magic she had ever felt was at ...
"Snake Mountain."
"Indeed. When the Snake Men built that fortress and began practicing their rituals and sacrifices there, the magic absorbed the evil taint and cast a pall over that land, causing the eternal darkness. It is that ancient evil presence that first attracted the Horde and finally Skeletor to claim it as their own. It is said that when the fortress is destroyed and the magic can be purified then will the darkness end."
"How can the magic be purified?"
"That we do not know. But now is not that time for it. Your father is here." With that said, Teela once more felt the rumble of the castle as the Jaw-bridge was lowered and raised again. A few minutes later, her father was once more embracing her in his strong but careful hug. Behind him she could see Adam and Orko waiting.
"Hey, Red," Teela made a face at Adam, "I'll go and get He-Man in a minute, but I wanted to make sure to see you before you left." Equal parts excitement at confirmation of her theory and pleased embarrassment tied her tongue for a few moments. Finally she managed a quiet thank you.
Adam turned to leave. At the door, Teela called out to him, "Hey, Adam! You better be ready when I get back to the palace. We have a lot of practice sessions to make up." Adam laughed, tossed her a mock-salute with an "Aye, Captain," and left. She could still hear his laughter fading in the hall.
As her father began explaining the HoverChaise to her, Teela was once more engulfed in the overwhelming magic. She could see her father's lips move, but could not hear anything he was saying. Glancing at the Sorceress, Teela became distressed to see that the woman appeared unaffected. How could they not feel anything? A moment later the sensation ceased. Her face must have shown her distress because the first thing she heard her father say was, "Teela, are you all right?"
Turning to the Sorceress, Teela asked, "Is everything okay? Is the castle in danger? Why did I feel that magic again?"
The Sorceress merely smiled. "I sense no danger at this time. No doubt you felt some of the magical fluctuations that occur here from time to time. When you've lived in this castle as long as I have, you grow accustomed to them and pay them no mind." Teela doubted she'd ever get used to such a feeling, but the Sorceress' tone was calm and soothing so she, in turn, calmed down.
Confused by what was going on, Duncan did what he did best: return to the matter at hand. "Now then," he said, "once He-Man arrives we will get you situated in the HoverChaise. Then the Sorceress can cast her spell and we will head for this pool. With any luck, we should reach the entrance of the cavern by mid-day. He-Man said he didn't know how deep the cavern is or how far we will have to travel to find this pool. Hopefully, it won't be too far and we can return in time for supper."
"How will I come out of the sleep?" Teela asked.
The Sorceress answered, "I will provide your father and He-Man with the necessary keys to break the enchantment. Orko will also be available to help if anything should go wrong. We know that he is capable of reversing my spell, though the process would be more painful for you if he did."
"Why would it be more painful?" Teela asked, eyeing Orko warily.
"I will be casting the pain relieving spell with the sleep spell. If Orko has to break the sleep spell, he will have to cancel both spells at once, thus causing you to feel more pain than if only the sleep spell is broken. It is our hope that you will be in the pool and restored soon after the spell is broken, so if it is necessary for Orko to break the spells than you will not have to suffer for too long. I am sorry that we could not do better than that."
Teela shook her head. "No, its okay. If I have to suffer a little pain to get better, than I will." Duncan patted her hand in both pride and understanding.
"I understand someone has an appointment with a magic pool today." He-Man said by way of greeting as he entered the room. The others chorused their hellos as he made his way to her bed. "How are you doing, Teela?"
Teela attempted to shrug, earning a wash of healing magic from the Sorceress for her effort, before answering. "Oh, you know. Ready to get out of this bed. The first thing I plan to do when I get my body back is go break Evil-Lyn's wand."
He-Man chuckled. "I would enjoy seeing that," he said. "Let's get you healed then, shall we? Ready?" At her nod, he carefully lifted her from the bed. Pain exploded from every nerve ending in her body, causing her to grind her teeth to prevent screaming. The transfer from bed to chaise only took moments, but the pain was so unbearable the move felt like an eternity to her. Finally, she felt the Sorceress' healing spell wash over her again, forcing the pain away. Taking a few deep breaths, Teela opened her eyes. Both He-Man and her father wore worried expressions and she could see Orko pacing (could it be called pacing when he was floating four feet of the ground?) behind them. She smiled up gratefully at the Sorceress before reassuring everyone that she was okay. Never one to show much affection before, she desperately wished she could grab her father's and He-Man's hands now, or give Orko a big hug, to comfort and reassure them. Instead all she could do was lie around like a lump.
Before she could let those thoughts drag her down into despair once more, the Sorceress spoke. "It is time for me to cast the sleep spell now, Teela. Are you ready?" She felt the Sorceress move around behind her and then both hands were placed carefully on her head. The Sorceress sang a short incantation and then removed her hands. As the spell took hold, she heard the woman tell her father and He-Man, "The key to waking her up again lies in her favorite bedtime story..."
