Disclaimer: Mattel and other people own 'em. I'm just borrowing them for NONPROFIT fun and entertainment purposes. Please take pity and don't sue.
Keywords: Teela POV. Angst, humor, romance, all kinds of goodness.
Rating: PG-13 for now. May change later…
Summary: Teela has to confront and deal with the changes – good and bad - in her life.
*Editor's Note: I was a big fan of the television show Sports Night. If anyone reading this also liked that show, then you'll pick up on the little homage I pay to it in this chapter. If you're not a fan and never watched it, then you won't know the difference. There is also a reference to the HM epsiode "Quest for the Sword."
As always, feedback makes my world go round. The more I get, the happier I am. And when I'm happy, I'm inspired to write updates. No pressure … *grin*
Chapter 20
Whistling Cave Tavern
Village of Leria
I believe that Eternia is home to some of the most magnificent places in the universe. Eternos boasts some of the grandest architecture in all of the land. The sweeping Fertile Plains are breathtaking with their golden and green hues and waving fields. You can find the most exotic flowers and plant-life in the Enchanted Forest. The Crystal Sea is reminiscent of a something you would see in a dream.
The Village of Leria, however, is the complete opposite of all of those.
When I was a student at the academy, I never ventured into Leria. Its inhabitants are mostly former (and still present) criminals, cheats, swindlers, and mercenaries. I was responsible for the arrest of many of the people that live here now.
Which is why I would stick out like a sore thumb had I not thought to bring a cloak. Eric, however, seems to feel right at home. We sit at our secluded table in the tavern, waiting for my father and our drinks. Eric's civilian attire is very plain, a simple pair of brown pants and a green shirt. But the minute we stepped foot into the walls of Leria, it was like this other persona overcame him. He became withdrawn and quiet.
And one thing I have learned about Eric over the last several days is that he is NEVER quiet.
I hunch over the table, careful to keep the hood of my cloak up to shield my face. "Okay Eric, what gives?"
He furrows his brow and leans forward. "Something doesn't feel right. I can't place it. It just feels … off, somehow."
I nod and play with my napkin. In truth, I have been edgy since earlier when I thought someone was watching us back at the academy. Now, the feeling is stronger, though I am more inclined to attribute it to the colorful atmosphere of this place.
A large, burly woman with an enormous bust and what I believe to be facial hair brings our drinks to the table. Eric pays her and, with a grunt, she puts the money in her vast cleavage and waddles away. Eric lifts his mug, takes a look at it and sets it back down.
"I think she likes me," he says with mock seriousness. "My parents would adore her, don't you think?"
"Oh yeah," I scoff. "She even kissed your drink for you. There's lipstick on your glass."
He pushes the mug away. "I don't think that's her lipstick mark," he frowns. "The color is too tasteful."
I grimace and also push my drink away. I have never intended on drinking it, but this establishment seems very much like a "buy-something-or-get-out" type of place. I look around to see if I can spot my father. I would wager a year's salary that he is also wearing some kind of disguise as he is well known amongst Eternia's criminal set. He helped imprison most of them at one time or another.
Eric fidgets uneasily in his chair and I glare at him. "Would you calm down? You are practically wearing a sign that says 'I DON'T BELONG HERE,'" I scold.
He scowls at me and sits still for a moment. Several minutes of silence pass before the quiet clearly becomes too much for him.
"So … what's this I hear about you and the prince? Any truth to the rumors?"
I was expecting many things to come out of his mouth. That, however, was not one of them. I don't know whether or not to be embarrassed, offended at him being so forward or amused that he hadn't brought it up sooner. I so hate playing games …
"Well, since you having been blatantly hitting on me since the moment we first met, what do you think?"
He has the good graces to look a bit chagrined by my remark. However, he isn't letting me off the hook so easily.
"There is nothing wrong with giving a beautiful woman some attention, is there?" he leers.
I know I'm blushing, but it's not in a good way. The fact of the matter is I do not and never will reciprocate any romantic feelings – with Eric or any other man that isn't Adam. And in order to be fair, I need to put a stop to Eric's innuendo and flirtations right now.
"Normally, I would say no, that is not a bad thing," I say while down looking at the table. "But I am spoken for. And it is inappropriate and uncomfortable for me to be the subject of your gracious advances. I love another and always will."
Eric inclines his head to the side. "So … it is the prince, then?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you didn't say it wasn't either."
"Exactly."
"Come on, you have to give me something here."
Actually, I don't. But maybe if do, it will get us past this subject onto less controversial matters.
"I will say this then," I explain. "The man I love is the bravest, most loyal, caring man in the universe. And he has always been there when I needed him. He is my best friend and the only man I could ever love."
"Always been there for you?" Eric asks skeptically, then reaches over the table and taps lightly at my right shoulder. "Really?"
How in the Elders does he know about my arm? Or was that just a random gesture ...
"Please don't do that," I grind out. "EVER."
Eric leans back in his chair and snickers. I glare at him.
"What's so funny?"
He puts his hands behind his head. "Nothing. Except if it is the prince that has 'spoken for' you, I hope you are ready for all that comes with him."
What the hell? This guy has the uncanniest ability of pissing me off.
"What does that mean?" I say indignantly. I really don't like where this is going.
Still, he looks undisturbed. "Well, think about it," he drawls. "The prince doesn't have the greatest reputation. He's always got nagging courtiers around him. Some of them aren't too shabby either. It has to be hard to have that many gorgeous – albeit airheaded – women around and not take advantage of it somehow. There are probably a few skeletons in the closet there. Then there's the King who is allegedly always berating him for some kind of mistake. If the King doesn't have confidence in the prince, how are the rest of us supposed to? Especially since he's not exactly known for his reliability. I mean, how many battles has he run from. Pretty much everyone on Eternia thinks he's a coward and …"
Eric's words are cut off as I throw his drink in his face. For a second he is stunned, and then he looks angry.
"Why the hell did you …"
He's cut off again as I throw my drink in his face as well. His head and most of his upper half are soaked and he wipes his face furiously with his shirt so that he can see.
Surprisingly, this little exchange seems to go unnoticed by our fellow tavern patrons. Perhaps this is common conduct here. I bet fist fights are common too and right now, I'm VERY willing to put that theory to the test.
"Okaaaaaaaay," Eric draws out. "Why did that happen?"
As much as I wanted to slug him, he's still a Major: A major jerk. I lean forward and grip the table.
"You don't know Prince Adam the way I do," I seethe. "You have no idea what he is capable of. So don't you dare sit there all self-righteous and insult him in my presence or by the Elders, you'll get so much worse than an ale bath."
Eric smirks, though for a second, he looks afraid. "Message received, Captain."
I huff and cross my arms, wishing my father would decide to get here already. Eric is pouting slightly and there is nothing worse than a grown man who pouts. It never occurred to me what a snob he is. How dare he judge Adam?
"I can't wait to hear He-Man tell Adam what he thinks of him. This is going to be more fun than a party!"
Shit. The memory of that day comes rolling back with full force. All the gloating I did. I was actually looking FORWARD to Adam getting bawled out. My cheeks burn with embarrassment as I realize I was complaining about Adam TO Adam.
I look at Eric. Though I feel differently about Adam now, there was a time when I may have agreed with what Eric just said … to a point.
I sigh. Since we have time to kill and we're getting all personal …
"Eric, why did you retire from the guard?"
He is clearly caught off-guard by my question and immediately tenses up. He crosses his arms over his chest.
"What do you care?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Well, it would help explain what you are doing here, for one. I know why I was assigned to the academy. Why were you? You don't exactly seem like someone with a disability, other than your mouth that is."
He shakes his head and looks away. "Not all disabilities are physical. You of all people should know that."
Elders this man is driving me crazy. "Are you trying to deliberately antagonize me or something? Because if you are, it's working very successfully."
His shoulders slump and he glances at me before looking away again. More people start to fill up the tavern.
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little wounded by your earlier onslaught."
For effect, he grabs the collar of his shirt and wrings some ale out of it. "I don't like to talk about my time in the guard. I joined because my father wanted me too. I left because I absolutely needed to."
Before I can ask him to elaborate the door to the tavern flies open and there is a large commotion as people start filing outside, yelling and screaming. Eric and I share a look of confusion and are out of our seats immediately.
In the village square outside, a large bonfire blazes. The howling wind causes the orange and yellow flames to lick high into the air. It is at least as tall as the tavern. Even from a distance, I can feel the heat from it. But it is what is past the burning pile that has captured everyone's attention. Eric and I are pushed forward with the crowd and are separated by the flow of people. I stumble a few times but I am eventually able to fall back out of the chaos and follow from a safer distance. I try to scan the crowd for Eric, but I am unable to find him. Everything is made hazy by the billowing smoke from the bonfire.
There is a strange mixture of terrified screams and celebratory hooting and hollering coming from the crowd in front of me.
A flash of lighting tears across the sky, revealing a horrifying scene.
no. no, No, NO.
The people around me spread out and I am alone, left standing, staring as three bodies swing morbidly back and forth from one of the tree's twisted branches. Though I am at a distance, the lights from some of the villagers' torches illuminate the bodies.
I can't see their faces, but I can discern that two of the bodies are female. One appears to be a redhead wearing a long, dark-colored gown. The other is blonde and is wearing a familiar red jumpsuit.
Nononononononononononononononononononopleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
I close my eyes tightly and pray that what I'm seeing is an illusion. An evil trick of magic. I take deep breaths and convince myself that when I open my eyes, this will all be gone. Time itself seems to slow as a mantra of denial pounds an intense beat in my mind.
NothimNothimNothimNothimNothimNothimNothimNothimNothimNothim
But when I do open my eyes, what I witness makes my knees give out. I crash down to the ground.
The third body is that of a blonde man. Wearing an all-too familiar pink vest.
I scream as my world collapses around me.