A/N: Yeah, it's been two months. Hope you feel this was worth the wait. Thanks for your patience.
Warning: Strong Language. You must be at least 16 years of age to read this update.
Chapter 31
Marcus and Hall left the room to check security as Duncan informed Anna of the nature of Adam's injuries, the trauma team flying into action removing his clothes.
Placing a towel over him for modesty, Anna barked orders as nurses carried them out, the Prince unconscious as they took vitals and inserted an IV.
Amid the flurry of energy, catching something in her peripheral, Anna glanced over her left shoulder at an object in the corner on the floor, her curious gaze shooting to the King. Randor stiffened.
The Power Sword.
Anna knit her brow as Randor yanked the chamber curtain closed, obstructing it from view. Confused, she returned to her work.
Under the Queen's anxious gaze, the team checked the EKG and EEG monitors looking for irregular rhythmic aortic contractions and paralysis of the brain's higher functions, machines beeping and chirping over the shouting voices.
Glimmer, Gada, and Mrs. Stoley suddenly burst through the door, eyes wide craning their necks unable to see him as the medical team fussed about.
His heartbeat erratic, Anna pressed her lips together as they worked to stabilize his blood pressure, her eyes going to his arms and legs examining the burnt skin and branching of his veins consistent with severe and prolonged electrocution.
"Ancients…," she murmured worriedly.
They continued working, his friends and family holding their breath as the Prince gave an involuntary shiver, his heartbeat eventually settling into a normal rhythm, his blood pressure rising to acceptable levels.
Anna switched out the IV bag replacing it with a mixture of vitamin supplements for healing support of the extensive veining. An ointment was applied over the scorched skin on his arms and legs followed by clean bandaging. She took his parents aside.
"He's stable for now," she said cautiously. "We will run some tests to check for damage to the neocortex and the heart valve."
They nodded, Marlena swallowing hard. "What are we looking at, Anna?"
"His high order brain functions such as sensory perception, cognition, motor commands and speech are at risk and could be irreversible if the damage is severe enough. His heart valve could be completely fried warranting surgery, My Queen."
"Prognosis?" Randor asked, worried.
"He was severely tortured at an extremely high voltage. The damage to his body was extensive. Worst case scenario he could be confined to a wheelchair living out the rest of his life in a vegetative state."
Duncan frowned, Adam's mother clapping a hand to her mouth, his father clenching his jaw.
"Best case scenario he stays with us for at least a week while we monitor his vitals and administer the appropriate fluids, what we know about his ability for accelerated healing left to do its work. In that case he will have a headache and a limp for a few days after release. I acknowledge the extremes in the possible outcomes, but we won't know anything until the results come back and we have a clearer picture of what we're dealing with, Your Majesty."
"Understood," Randor replied.
She nodded, her intelligent gaze shifting briefly to the closed curtain then back at him before curtseying and turning back to the patient, the assistants placing a warm blanket over him as the Prince had begun to shiver incessantly.
His friends approached as the team, bowing and curtseying, wheeled out the triage machines and followed Anna out of the room, another nurse hanging back to record vitals and make a final adjustment to the monitors before heading out herself.
Duncan in the adjacent bed looked on as Glimmer studied Adam, his aura muddled and flickering as everyone crowded around the gurney, his mother stroking his hair, her worried gaze going to the nasal cannula, his sleeping features serene despite the trauma.
"Oh dear," Abigail murmured, feeling helpless and wringing her hands as her frenetic gaze searched the room.
Her gaze stopped at a strange yet familiar object. Knitting her brow, she blinked in confusion at the weapon behind the curtain, askew in a corner of the room seemingly forgotten.
A worried Cringer came trotting into the chambers, eyeing his unconscious friend and sitting on his haunches beside the gurney taking up vigil. A moment later, a concerned Princess Adora burst through the doors, her sapphire gaze locked on her twin.
"I felt something wasn't right with him…," she stated more to herself than anybody.
Abigail tapped Randor on the shoulder. "Whose is that?"
The King followed her finger and did a double take; the curtain wasn't pulled all the way.
Damnit. "Nothing."
"Well that certainly looks like something," she insisted. "And oddly enough, I remember it from somewhere."
At the conversation, eyes in the room suddenly glanced back and forth in confusion.
Abigail's mouth dropped open. "I remember now. Adora had a sword like this one when—oh my."
His face pinched, Duncan asked, "What is it, Madame?"
Her head whipped to the Princess. "It was you! You healed me that night!"
Adora wordlessly squinted at her, Randor sighing in resignation.
"You are authorized to tell her, Sire…," the Sorceress' voice echoed in his mind.
Another sigh as Randor turned to face his friend. "Abigail, my daughter is She-Ra of Etheria."
The room went quiet, even the monitors seemed to hush as the older woman stood stunned at the revelation.
"You mean…so…if Princess Adora is the mighty She-Ra, then who is the famed He-M—" her eyes shot to her former foster son lying unconscious, her head snapping back to the Sword before shifting to him. Her eyes then moved over the sheepish expressions of everyone in the room.
"No. He isn't, is he…?"
"Yes," Marlena replied.
"A-and, the Sorceress of Castle Greyskull is...?"
"My daughter, Madame," Duncan finished for her.
Her mouth hung open in shock, momentarily unable to speak. Blinking, she looked at the parents, her features settling with understanding. "When he was a boy, he was a mute unable or unwilling to use the power of speech. He would get into fights all of the time and I would caution him against using his fists as a means of communication." She looked down at his sleeping features. "Now I know; he was born to fight."
A few moments of silence as she looked back into their eyes. "All of you must be proud."
Their parents gave a wan smile, the focus going back to him lying there, hooked up to the machines.
"Very proud," she repeated despondently.
- MACS0647-JD -
They gathered at Prime's safehouse 12.8 billion lightyears away from the known galaxy, the argument heated.
"You replaced me with this…this…riff raff?" Penumbra screeched.
"You were captured," Catra intercepted on behalf of a brooding Prime sitting upon his steel high-back throne, the chair's back toward them. "He had no choice but to use this…," her eyes shifted to the portly wizard, "…mercenary clown."
Malek's balled up fists began to glow. "I'm the one who killed the Sorceress and kept that meddling Trollan away from you all! I'm the one who recovered all of you screw-ups! No one insults me!"
"Silence!" came the booming rebuke, everyone freezing and whipping their heads to him.
The throne high above them began to rumble as it slowly turned on its revolving platform to face them, the occupant's mechanical arm only heretofore visible.
Wide eyed, they stepped backward in fear.
A hulking twenty-foot robot with glowing red cat-like eyes glared down at them, his steel head bald, his body a patchwork of heavy steel plates fused together with rusting rivets. He wore the black uniform of The Horde Supreme Commander with its red bat insignia across his massive chest, a ring on his thick finger the size of a man's leg.
"Your Excellency," Commander Catra stated with a bow.
He glared at her. "I am capable of speaking for myself, Commander," he scolded, "I do not need your assistance!"
Trembling, Catra kept her eyes averted to the floor.
"You," he pointed at Shadow Weaver, "You merged with that Eternian without my permission!" he thundered. "Insubordination!"
Weaver flinched. "I was merely following a playbook you set in place many years ago, Your Excellency," she explained, her tone more deferential. "I did what I had to in order to best serve you, Master. The goal of world domination was always at the fore—"
Eyes glowing, he cocked his massive bald head. "Was it my plan you were following, or your own, Enchantress?"
She said nothing.
"And you," he stormed at Malek, the wizard shaking uncontrollably. "It is of no significance whom you claim to have assassinated. You are a nobody. And you will remain a nobody until I say otherwise!"
He managed a shaky nod and a wobbly bow.
Leaning forward with an elbow on his knee, he continued. "The Enchantress has diminished power now that she is no longer connected to The Eternian. I need you for this final invasion. We must face the Twins of Greyskull, The Rebellion, and Eternia's troops. It is time Andromeda and Triangulum are reminded just who is their Master."
Weaver narrowed her glowing gaze.
"Y-yes, S-sir—"
"What was that?" he stormed.
"Y-yes, Y-your Ex-excellency," Malek stumbled again.
Pushing off of the Steel Throne, he treaded heavily down the massive steps, the entire steel palace quaking in its wake, his nervous subordinates backing up, Malek putting his hands over his ears as Horde Prime trudged past them. He turned and glared down at them.
"We attack the Twin Worlds in seven days."
At that, he trudged out of the throne room to his quarters leaving them behind trembling with fear.
-Eternia, Two Days Later -
Having moved him to his own suite, despite showing small signs of improvement Adam remained in a coma, his family and friends hovering over him.
"I need to talk to my brother."
Marlena looked at her husband. "Now?"
"Yes," he stated, agitated. "I must get to the bottom of this. Why did he offer that intel on Malek?"
His wife remained silent as he tried to make sense of it.
"Was he in on Adam's abduction? Is he trying to get into my good graces only to knife me in the back again? Is he using us as a pawn in order to subdue his enemies involved in this…this Horde civil war? Or is he actually being sincere for the first time in his life?"
"Go," she replied. "We'll notify you if his condition changes."
He kissed her before stepping to the gurney to kiss his son's forehead. "Fight, Adam. I will return within the hour."
The King stepped out of the room, members of the Guard following as all eyes followed him out.
"Where is he going, Your Majesty?" Gada asked.
"He needs answers for what has occurred, my dear," Marlena replied solemnly.
Adora bit her lip.
-Greyskull -
The thirty-foot drawbridge slowly rattled open for the reigning High King of Eternia. It landed with a thud. He turned.
"Stay here," he said to his security detail. "I'll return momentarily."
"Yes, Your Majesty," they stated with a neck bow.
He made his way over the abyss and entered the grand stony foyer, the glowing eyes of the goblins glaring down at him from their perches above.
The sconces sequenced the way directing him to the majestic Throne Room. He stopped over the ancient mosaic of his ancestor.
"Sorceress."
Levitating in lotus over the Throne, the Redhead opened her eyes. "Hello, Your Majesty. You're here to speak to Prince Keldor?" she asked more as a statement.
He gazed up at her. "I am."
She wanted to ask about Adam's condition but decided against it. She nodded. "Come."
With a thunderclap, she vanished and reappeared before him, Randor nodding, eyeing her without a flinch.
She led him down to the dungeons and to a very bored Keldor sprawled on the stone bench behind bars, playing with a glowing floating orb between his palms. Teela hung back and folded her arms.
"Keldor!"
The orb popping invisible, flinching, the younger brother scrambled to sit up, his eyes registering confusion before irritation.
"I'm not one of your soldiers, Brother," he stated acerbically. "There is no need to bark at me."
Randor glared at him. "Why?"
Keldor blinked. "Why what—?"
"You know what I'm asking you!" he shouted.
The wizard narrowed his gaze before smirking. "I do. I just wanted to hear you say it."
The King bristled. "You may have Adam fooled but not me; I know you too well, Brother. So cut the shit and tell me why?"
The bitter brothers glared at each other for a few silent moments, Keldor finally giving a resigned sigh, the atmosphere shifting. He stood and approached.
"Because it's time. Because I've spent the majority of my life making your life miserable only to come to the realization that I'm no better for it," he explained.
Sensing the novel sincerity in his reply, his brother simply stared at him.
"I'm still the same old miserable bastard; second born, second place," he lamented sing-song, "The Heir," he pointed to his brother, "And The Spare," he gestured to himself, "And nothing I do will change that fact. Now don't get me wrong; I'm not entirely resigned to the role of Spare Change," he huffed in warning, "I must retain my quirky personality and be my own man too, you see." He glanced down at the "HP" royal tattoo under his right wrist, fingering it.
Randor's eyebrows shot up. "Father loved you equally as much as—"
Keldor waved a dismissive hand and turned away. "Oh don't give me that bullshit—"
"It's not bullshit!" he shouted. "He was proud of you! You knew him, Kel; he was never a man to show affection or compliment you to your face," he continued. "He would tell everyone else how much he loved and respected you."
His brother stopped, his back still turned, his shoulders heaving.
"I know because he did the same thing to me, Kel."
That made him whirl around, his chocolate brown gaze troubled. Randor took a step closer.
"Don't you remember? He tried to connect with you in his own way by inviting you to summits and conferences but that stuff bored you. After a while, he got the message and stopped asking. Instead, he took me."
Distraught, Keldor blinked.
"You wanted him to appreciate you on your terms," Randor stated, his hazel gaze piercing. "You're not always going to get that. Relationships are about compromise. It can't always go your way."
The younger man studied the floor, his confused gaze darting about.
"Father was a hardened General and later, the High King of Eternia, Kel. Just like his father, he was a workaholic; he didn't make time for us, he couldn't. Or wouldn't. So I resigned myself to accept the time with him in whatever form it came. I loved him unconditionally and as a result, I'm enriched by the wisdom he shared with me during those rare moments; his experiences on the battlefield and at Court…his logic when it came to striking treaties and his thoughts regarding the efficacy of summits." He gave a lopsided smile. "And if I got lucky, we shared the occasional fishing excursion."
As Keldor processed this information, Randor shrugged. "Some people just aren't capable of fostering warm, affectionate relationships. And you have to accept that."
Teela shifted uncomfortably as Keldor's eyes met his brother's. "So what you are saying is, I was being a bratty little shit?"
Randor rolled his eyes. "What I'm saying is that you need to view Evindor through a different lens, the lens of love and acceptance. He didn't reject you, Brother. You, in fact, rejected him."
Keldor's mouth fell open.
"In his declarations, as you know, he left you to inherit what's now known as The Dark Hemisphere, your full share of the Crown Purse, and desired for you to walk in his footsteps and become general of the Eternian Armies but you were too busy screwing around with Evelyn and pouting through the alcohol, whining about wanting to be king."
The younger man stiffened.
"Then, of course, out of jealousy you abducted my children and made our lives a living hell. What's more, you sneak off world and sleep with the devil, transforming into a sorcerous necro maniacal skeletal monster," the King exasperated waved a hand. "Need I go on?"
Keldor wordlessly shook his head.
"So," Randor finished with a deep breath, tugging the hem of his silk purple shirt, "Now that you are aware that you are and always have been quite selfish and narcissistic, I suppose you can appreciate why I question your motives in all things?"
"Yes," came the quiet reply.
Eyeing his younger brother, the King made a decision and nodded. "I won't order your execution. I won't send you back into exile…for now," he stipulated, "But you can sure as hell know I've got you on a tight leash, Keldor. Until I see a significant paradigm shift in you, you're one step away from death. Are we clear?"
The Dark Prince kept his confused chocolate gaze on the floor. "Yes."
"Good." Randor turned to the Sorceress. "We're done."
She nodded and led him up the cracked stony stairs and to the Throne Room, leaving Keldor alone with his conscience. They stopped over Greyskull's Seal. She turned to him.
"I hope you got through to him, Sir."
He took a deep breath, expelling it through his nose.
"Me too."
Anna returned to Adam's suite, her gaze scanning for the King.
"He had an important meeting. He'll be back momentarily," Marlena reassured.
The ER physician nodded and curtseyed. "I have the test results and was hoping to share them with the both of you—"
"I'm here," the deep voice called out, all heads whipping to the door as Randor entered. Curtseys from all except wife and daughter.
Anna held the print outs, her hands sorting through the pages, the room tensely awaiting the verdict.
"The results of the brain scan show that his neocortex exhibits no signs of brain damage and his heart valve is healthy—"
The entire room burst into sighs of relief and thankful murmurs, Anna pausing, her features still grim, Marlena catching it. The Queen knit her brow.
"But?"
"But his body has sustained significant, repeated trauma, Your Majesty. Although he's responding to the treatment, he is still in coma which is troubling. I recommend he stay with us for two weeks for monitoring. If he doesn't awaken within the next forty-eight hours, that's an indication of a virulent infection, lessening his chances of making a full recovery by eighty-three percent."
His parents took a deep breath and exchanged glances. "Yes, of course," Randor replied, Adora's eyes settling on her beleagured twin.
Her features grim, Anna stepped to Adam, adjusted his IV, replaced the bag. She then turned and curtseyed, leaving the room.
"Just when I thought there would be good news," Adora lamented.
Glimmer's eyebrows shot up. "Aren't you capable of healing? Can't you heal your brother?"
Adora shook her head. "After plummeting to Etheria from space, the impact diminished my healing abilities. I'm still not one hundred percent back online in that area."
"Plummeting from space?" Gada repeated confused.
The Princess nodded before filling everyone in on what transpired on Prime's barge three days ago.
Abigail's hand over her mouth, everyone went silent.
Worried, Glimmer leaned over and studied Adam's sleeping features. Reaching out, she gently lifted his eyelids; to her horror, his eyes were rolled back causing her to gasp and release him.
Staring at her son, Marlena clenched her jaw. "He's strong. He'll get through this."
Everyone nodded.
The Sorceress meditated in lotus position hovering over King D'Vann's granite throne, her mind troubled.
She kept watch over her former Love, worried over his injuries. She monitored Keldor and Evil-Lyn for signs of deception. She kept an eye on Hordak in custody and remained connected with Light Hope of Etheria while monitoring Queen Castaspella's condition. She kept an open line for Uncle Montaurk. All this while she searched the Cosmos for Horde Prime, Malek, Shadow Weaver, Catra, and Skeletor's mutants.
Teela was exhausted; mentally, physically, spiritually. She marveled at how her mother seemed able to keep everything running with such grace, making it all look so easy.
She fretted over the visions she was receiving from the Castle; about the possible futures of her loved ones. Every scenario seemed to result in death and great loss.
When your heart is broken…
All you see is hopelessness and destruction…
At the sound of D'Vann's voice, her eyes popped open.
For all is not lost…
Remain steadfast…
"Yes but for how long?"
That is the test, Young One…
"Test?" Teela latched onto that word, recalling Adam's speculations about the Castle's intentions a week ago after her father had been injured by Weaver. Her gaze narrowed in thought. "Why am I having trouble communicating telepathically with Adam?"
You must balance your connection with disconnection…
Confused, Teela frowned.
You have accepted your new position as Sorceress…
You have reconciled that your relationship with him is over…
Now you must reconnect with him in a different way…
You are attempting to connect from the perspective of intimacy…
From now on…it must only be business…
This is the reason for the difficulty
"Oh," she said to herself, blushing slightly. Another question came to mind.
"We all have our own battles, our own obstacles to overcome. Is Keldor sincere? Is he truly remorseful for all he has done in life? Why did you remove the restraints and let him attack us like that? And why did you sneak him out of here to Etheria?" she wanted to know.
Silence. Then finally –
All is not lost..
Remain steadfast…
The Sorceress pursed her lips. "As you have duly noted, Spirit of Greyskull. But please, I must know. Will you answer my question?"
Silence. Then—
NO
Teela felt a jolt, his response so forceful, so final that she almost felt the need to apologize for probing. She swallowed hard.
"Okay…," she drew out.
xxx
-Eternos Palace Infirmary, The Next Morning -
The vigil continued, Cringer lying on the floor beside his "brother", his head on his paws as his sister, parents, Glimmer, Gada, and Abigail waited for any sign of consciousness.
Duncan remained in the adjacent suite; today he would be discharged.
Although he was released to his quarters a week ago, Randor had ordered him back to the infirmary after deigning to leave his bed to crash the security meeting at the news of Adam kidnapped. The King has been nothing but cautious concerning his friends' and family's health.
Then again, Farrell amusedly thought, it was probably punishment for disobeying a direct order to rest.
Sitting in bed, his thoughts went back to the lad next door, a young man he considered a son, a man he watched grow up and come into his own after unspeakable childhood trauma.
"if he could survive Ernest, he can survive this," he said to himself.
Farrell then thought of Teela'Na, his heart heaving at the thought of her lost...forever. The pain resurfacing, he closed his eyes and pushed it away.
He then thought of poor Orko and wondered of his condition before his thoughts switched to Prince Keldor, Lady Zieg-Powers, Malek, the Etherian Horde, and the looming threat of invasion. His eyes opening, he lifted them to the ceiling.
"God help us."
xxx
Sitting around his bed, everyone discussed the national security debriefing Marcus had delivered an hour ago, Marlena holding and stroking her son's hand.
Adam's eyes suddenly opened to stare at the ceiling.
Everyone gasped, all of the air suddenly sucked out of the room as it fell silent, Cringer's head popping up from the floor. They watched as his eyes looked around, focusing on each face before moving to the next. He then stared at his twin sister, their eyes locked.
The corner of his mouth curled into a slow crooked smile as everyone burst into relieved chatter, his parents kissing his face, his sister holding his palm to her cheek, his friends' eyes welling up. Adam's eyelids blinked heavily as if fending off sleep.
"Hi."
"Well hello back," his father replied swiping at his eyes, his mother sniffling back tears.
"How…long…was…I…out?" he croaked.
"Three days," Glimmer replied.
His eyebrows went up. "Not too…bad. I…thought…it would be…longer..."
"You remained your alter for nearly three hours after the injury," Adora replied. "He said you would have needed six more hours to heal or you'd be under for two weeks."
Adam gave a weak nod and a slight shiver.
"Someone call Anna," Randor ordered as Sergeant Durizimen leapt to her feet and rang the call button.
xx
A few hours later, Adam showed significant accelerated healing as he was now sitting up in bed talking better and stroking Cringer, Duncan in the room on a crutch smiling widely.
The Prince examined his bandaged arms. Scrutinizing the injuries, he grunted in pain.
"She got me pretty good."
The room agreed when he suddenly stiffened, his features suddenly going blank. Everyone stared at him.
"Yes, I hear you," he said aloud.
"Who, son?"
He turned to his mother. "The Sorceress."
Adora looked relieved as everyone nodded understanding, his face suddenly darkening.
"What?" Randor asked.
"We don't have much time," Adam replied glancing about the bed as if missing something.
"What's going on?" Glimmer asked.
"Greyskull and Light Hope have picked up the Horde galvanizing troops on Etheria," he replied, shifting in bed. "There's also movement on MACS0647-JD, Prime's safe house—"
Randor reached out and put a hand on Adam's blanketed leg. "Son, we need to debrief you on the latest."
Adam's expectant blue gaze held Randor's hazel ones.
x
The King filled him in on the latest security information on the two worlds before adding, "And…it was Malek."
The Prince's features leveled off. "What did he do?" he asked more like a statement.
"He's the one who kidnapped you from the Gardens that night and delivered you to Prime," his father carefully explained.
Adam's sapphire gaze ignited in fury, his nostrils flaring, his hands balling into fists. "That son of a bitch got the drop on me?"
Glimmer gave a sad nod.
Suddenly bedlam: with lightning speed he threw the blankets back, ripped out the IV, and limped to the door in bare feet and pajama bottoms, everyone shouting begging him to stay in bed, Cringer roaring, Randor rushing over grabbing Adam from behind to restrain him.
Furious and his strength superhuman, Duncan dropped his crutch and limped over to assist the struggling King, Gada and Adora each grabbing a bicep while everyone shouted, Marlena's hands to her mouth, Abigail's eyes wide, an anxious Glimmer hopping up and down with nervous energy, his aura bright red.
"WHERE THE FUCK IS MY SWORD—!"
Hearing the commotion, a nurse opened the door just as Adam grabbed for the doorknob. Horrified, she disappeared then returned swiftly with Anna holding a syringe, the Prince fighting everyone off as she managed to pinch the skin of a flailing arm and jab him with a sedative.
The Prince froze, his eyes rolling back before collapsing into the King's arms, he and Duncan dragging him unconscious back to bed. Silence with only the labored breaths of everyone in the room.
"Oh my God," Anna stated. "What set him off?"
"I mistakenly told him who was responsible for the kidnapping," Randor sheepishly admitted, the women tucking his limp body back in bed. "Perhaps I should have waited until later."
"Much later," Adora concurred, panting.
xxx
-Infirmary, Later That Evening -
On edge and bare chested, Adam sat in a chair glaring at the opposite wall, his fingers tapping the chair's arm. He glanced about the room.
"Sorry about that."
"It's okay," Glimmer replied. "I'd be pissed too."
Everyone nodded agreement.
He knit his brow. "My back…I don't sense my Sword. Where is it?"
Adora lifted her elbows grabbing the hilts of the Twin Swords over her shoulders as they magically materialized at the ready. "I've got both of them." She released them as they dematerialized.
"Thank you."
She nodded.
"We don't have much time," he stated before turning a steely gaze to his father. "I have to ask you something."
Randor knit his brow. "What is it?"
"I've been dreading this conversation, but it needs to be asked. The Sorceress and I need Uncle's help in locating her mother."
Duncan's mouth fell open as someone gasped, Randor's eyes going wide. "Are you joking?"
"No."
"Why him?"
"The night Weaver attacked the Palace, Greyskull told Teela and I he was the only one who could help," Adam explained. "The three of us will climb to the turrets and link power sending a beacon to locate and lock-in on her signature."
The King shook his head. "No. Too risky. How do we know he won't try to use it as a way to gain control of Greyskull? No."
"We don't know, Dad, but if the Castle told us it's him, how can we challenge that?"
The room went pensive.
Adora recalled their conversation a few days ago. "A faith walk indeed," she interjected.
Adam snapped his head to her and nodded.
Randor eased himself into a chair and took a deep breath, moving a hand over his face. His hand pensively covered his mouth as he stared at Adam, his son staring back. He took his hand away. "I talked with him yesterday."
His son lifted an amused brow.
"It would seem we have no choice," he resigned, leaning back in his chair. "With you down we will need all the help we can muster—"
"I'm not going to be down."
The room exploded into nervous chatter.
"The physician says you need rest and time to heal," Abigail objected worriedly.
His eyes found hers. "There is no time to rest, Mrs. Stoley. I'll have to train hard to get back to one hundred percent."
"I'm your training partner, Brother."
He nodded.
Randor and Marlena held each other's worried gazes for a long time. He turned to his son, his features lined with angst.
"Do what you have to do," he looked at his daughter, "Both of you."
The next day, Adam felt well enough to be discharged from the infirmary, against Anna's recommendations and better judgement of course.
He would rest one more day in his chambers and relax with Cringer before starting training.
As his mother spoke with Elda about the arrangements in the coming days, Adam gingerly climbed into bed and leaned against the headboard. Glimmer stood at the door of his bedchambers, everyone filing out into the salon.
"May I come in?"
"Of course," he replied, Cringer hopping off the bed and trotting into the other room with everyone else for privacy.
"May I?" she gestured.
Adam held her gaze. "Yes."
She took a seat next to him. "Life is short as demonstrated by the events of the last few days."
He nodded.
"Thanks to this Malek character, we had one day. I understand the need for cutting it short right now, but I would like to express my desire to pick up again where we left off once this is all over if that's agreeable to you, Your Grace?"
He gave a small, crooked smile. "So formal?"
The Rebellion Commander smiled and shrugged. "It's a formal royal courtship so, yeah," she chuckled.
He studied her features, his gaze slipping down to her lips before returning to her eyes. "Yes. I would find that agreeable, Princess."
She smiled and nodded. She stood and turned to go before turning back to him, Adam's eyes still on hers.
Glimmer sat back down and hesitantly moved closer, Adam not moving, his eyes watching hers.
She finally leaned in and, cupping his face, kissed him soundly, he returning the kiss, the princess moaning against his lips as he slid his hands up her arms and down her back, she shifting closer and palming the bed on either side of him, the kiss going deeper, Glimmer feeling it in her toes.
The kiss broke, her cheeks rosy. "Okay well, thank you and see you soon," she stated awkwardly before standing and rushing out. She stopped at the doorway and turned to him.
He gave a small smile, she returning it before leaving.
He thought for a moment.
He liked her. He enjoyed that kiss.
But something was missing.
He took a deep breath, something inside of him dying a little.