The following days passed slowly for Adam and Teela as they were forced by differing schedules to meet only at meal times. Even Adam's evenings were taken up by his father, who unbeknownst to him was trying to force distance between the two. Randor, like the Queen, had noticed a change in their relationship and was concerned about the direction it was taking, though not for any reasons Adam could have guessed.

For his part, Adam was still debating his next course of action. Despite his mother's encouragement, he felt it would be wrong to speak to Teela before clearing things up with her parents. He kept obsessing over her destiny and while he couldn't imagine Teela spending her life alone – a virgin sorceress in a stone prison – he also couldn't act in a way that would condemn her mother to even more time in that same stone prison.

On the third day following his talk with his mother, Adam's father requested a private audience with him. Nervously Adam entered Randor's private office. He could tell by the King's manner that this talk would be difficult.

"Adam. Good. You're on time."Adam heard the implied censure in the older man's voice regarding the many times Adam had failed to be punctual. The Prince sighed inwardly. He had to be patient. he had to forebear. The secret had forced him to make difficult sacrifices, but In return he'd been gifted with a tremendous opportunity to serve his people in a way that was both exhilarating and rewarding. He knew it was worth it, but his father's obvious disapproval of him cut to the core. Bracing himself for more of the same, he waited silently after taking a seat.

Randor cleared his throat, indicating to his son that he was uncomfortable as well. Adam's nervousness increased. Was Randor about to depose him as heir to the throne?

"Adam. I'd like to talk to you about something. As your father... but also your king. As such, I will require complete honestly."

Adam fought back his lack of ease and tried to appear calm. He did it all the time as He-Man -even when speaking to this most formidable man. Why couldn't he do it as Adam?

"Of course, Father. I'm completely at your service."

"Is there something going on between you and Teela that I should know about?"

Adam's tight control almost slipped and he had to consciously force himself to remain placid. His mind was flooded with chaotic thoughts. Adam hadn't been aware that Randor paid too much attention to his interactions with Teela but he obviously was very wrong. Had Randor learned about Teela being in Adam's room that night? His mother had informed him that she hadn't shared her information with her husband.

"Perhaps you could clarify," he began carefully. "I'm not sure what you're referring to."

"You two seem much closer than you've been in the past," Randor asserted. "She's stopped scolding you, for one thing."

Randor was secretly glad of this. While he appreciated the Captain's fervor and intent, it was not her place to yell at her future king. Had her behavior continued, Adam would have been forced to transfer her away from the palace when he took over lest he risk losing respect of those who actually still respected him. Randor had spoken to Duncan about this on multiple occasions and he knew his old friend agreed. Unfortunately, Teela didn't heed advice very well when she felt herself to be in the right, and Randor had never felt comfortable scolding her for behavior that in his heart he understood. Furthermore, He was loathe to remind the young woman of her true place in the hierarchy having treated her almost as a daughter.

"We used to be very close friends, Father, and while we lost sight of that for a while, we seem to have found our way back."

"Are you interested in her beyond friendship, Adam. This, I must know as King."

Adam gaped at his father for a few seconds, not knowing what to say.

"She grew up under my care, son,"continued Randor gruffly misunderstanding Adam's silence to be anger. "She's special - she's family. I don't want her dallied with -"

"I don't - dally - with anyone," Adam retorted quietly, refuting the implication that he took women lightly. His nervousness was abating only to be replaced by anger. He knew his father had a false impression of is true nature due, in part, to his own deliberate actions, but to be so misjudged by a man who should know him better rankled.

"You're a charmer, Adam - women like you very much. There isn't anything wrong with that, as it comes from your heart. I just don't want to see Teela get hurt."

"It's part of my role as Prince to be friendly," he retorted, his voice betraying some of his hurt feelings. "I'm not ... involved with anybody like that. I take that kind of thing seriously father, you and mother taught me that."

"Adam, I don't wish to offend you. I know you have good character. It's just that Duncan is my closest friend and Teela is like - a niece, I suppose... and – I wasn't sure if you saw her as a cousin, a sister, or something different?"

"She isn't like a sister," he blurted out. "You should know that I do have feelings for her."

"Feelings."

"I'm pretty sure I'm in love with her."

Randor paled. He had hoped to not hear these words.

"Come on, Father. You married a woman from another planet. You wouldn't push for me to marry royalty, would you?" Adam's customary calm was nowhere to be seen. His eyes were flashing anger and hurt and it was a struggle for him to keep a lid on his emotions.

"Royal blood isn't the issue here!" Randor was getting angry as well – angry that Adam would even think that he would hold that as an obstacle.

"Then what's the problem?" Adam's voice was hard. His arms were crossed and his jaw set. He looked more like He-Man now than his normal self.

Randor narrowed his eyes at his son's uncharacteristic belligerence. Perhaps falling in love had been the one thing that would push the boy into being a man. As happy as he was to see his son show some back-bone, Randor had to make his feelings known. The entire Kingdom could be at stake.

"Does Teela know how you feel?"

"No." Adam's response was curt and he offered no further explanation.

"He-Man and Teela spend a lot of time together -"

"Yes. In battle. What are you implying?"

"I've seen them interact - there's definitely something going on."

"Teela is not having an affair with anyone," Adam retorted, embarrassed and angered. "Especially not He-Man. He doesn't 'dally' either, father."

"I didn't mean to imply it had gotten that far. My problem isn't with the idea of a physical relationship existing – my problem is with an emotional one. if He-Man loves Teela, getting between them could be a mistake. The future King and the champion of Grayskull should not be at odds with each other over a woman. Those kinds of rifts are very hard to overcome."

Adam had not expected this concern and his anger fled. He stared at his father unseeingly, unable to puzzle through this problem.

"Adam?"

"Father. I can honestly tell you that won't be a problem ." Adam wasn't sure whether he should be angry or amused. The idea that his father thought He-Man could be so petty bothered him, but then, how could he fault him for this belief? His father didn't know the truth.

"Have you spoken to him?"

"He knows how I feel and I know how he feels."

"And he's okay with -"

"Yes."

"Are you completely sure?"

"Completely. I can assure you he won't behave badly over something like this - "

"I never said he would."

"You implied it."

Randor narrowed his eyes. Adam was fighting back – something he'd hoped to see a long time ago – but now it was upsetting him. They were perilously close to a full blown disagreement and Randor decided to cut his losses now.

"Son – please understand, I really am on your side. As king, it's my duty to find out about potential problems within the Kingdom. I never meant to slur either of your characters. I feel these are extraordinary circumstances and I wanted to make sure you were aware of the potential problem."

"I understand, Father," Adam said, feeling guilty for his anger. Of course his father had to worry about these things. It was his own deceptions that kept his father in a constant state of worry. Adam finally realized the extent of the mental anguish he had caused Randor by keeping him in the dark. His father wasn't merely annoyed by him – he was driven to distraction worrying about the future of his kingdom – leaving it in the hands of a man who kept proving himself to be unworthy of the job.

Bidding his father good night, Adam left before he broke down and confessed everything.

"I have a problem," Adam told the Sorceress and Duncan. "I really need your advice."

"You're in love with my daughter," responded The Sorceress with a serenity that could have masked anything. At that, she was the master.

"You read my mind?" Adam's tone was neutral, but the idea made him very angry.

"To us it's obvious," said Duncan wryly. "No magic needed."

Adam shook his head.

"Then why didn't you ever say something about it? She's destined to replace you -" Adam's face was a mask of worry and guilt. He didn't want to condemn this woman to being in this role longer than she had planned. Surely she had mortal hopes and dreams.

"It was one of her possible paths, Adam," said The Sorceress gently. "If I wanted to secure her path as future sorceress I would have done so. It's not for any of us to turn destiny into a prison. Teela must make her choices herself."

"She never knew this was an option – shouldn't she know before I approach her with my feelings?"

"Adam, whether or not you declare your feelings to her – she has the same feelings for you. I'm not reading her mind either. Now that she can fully devote her heart to loving you, her destiny has already been altered. She cannot serve as Sorceress now because her feelings for you would prevent her from serving everyone equally. Another person's path will bring them here to Grayskull. It has been foretold. I will have a replacement in due time. In your lifetime. In hers. And it won't be my daughter."

"Then... there's no problem? Really?" Adam began to feel light with joy. "I don't want to make life difficult for you."

"You aren't. Don't worry." The Sorceress's heart melted at Adam's concern. She could think of no better partner for her daughter than him.

"But there is a significant obstacle, Adam," she said warningly. "Many people believe she's in love with He-Man. Worse, they think he loves her as well." There was hidden censure in her voice. Adam had not been as careful as he might in modulating his feelings while in disguise.

"My father is one of those people," Adam muttered, his face dark with worry. "And he's King, so it isn't even remotely trivial."

"Yes. Which is why your father keeps trying to push you in the path of beautiful eligible women. Haven't you notice that the missions he brings you on involve unmarried young women?"

Adam flushed. None of the women he had encountered invaded his thoughts the way Teela did.

"I – don't see any other women. She occupies my entire field of vision, no matter how small she really is -" his thoughts drifted as he saw her standing barefoot in his room, her hair wild about her shoulders.

Duncan frowned at the look in his eyes – he was Teela's father after all.

"Adam. Did something happen between you two? If so, it lends a whole different -"

"Duncan. I would never – dishonor her - " he stammered. "I can't believe you'd think I would."

"Since she obviously returns your feelings, it'd be less dishonor and more – dereliction of –societal standards," claimed Duncan. "Dishonor is what you do if you coerce or deceive. When two people love each other, there is no actual loss of honor, no matter how close they get."

Adam flushed, embarrassed.

"Nothing of that nature has happened. I had to tell both my parents this as well. Father thinks that I'm getting in between Grayskull's champion and the woman he loves. He would rather I sacrifice my own happiness because he feels such a rift could have catastrophic consequences."

"Teelana. Perhaps it's time for Randor to know," Duncan said after a long pause. "This is beyond simple deception. Randor might not be able to forgive any of us if we don't clear this up now. If he's talking to Adam about these worries, he's been reflecting on them for a very long time. Just like Randor says - we cannot afford to have a rift between the King and the powers of Grayskull."

The Sorceress's gaze became distant. After a moment she regarded both men seriously. "I must confer with the spirit of Grayskull. I will have an answer for you once that is done."

Adam nodded, his expression worried.

"The sooner the better, Sorceress. I can't keep this up. Duncan is right. The rift between my father and all three of us could become insurmountable. I'm not willing to lose him."