"I am to get married!" Adam was looking rather distraught while he wandered aimlessly through the corridors of the palace. His mind was wholly focused on this one word – marriage. Its implications were so enormous that he wasn't really able to think clearly. He was so occupied with himself that he didn't even notice what was happening around him; neither the servants who greeted him cordially nor the delicious scents from the palace kitchen which would normally have made him pay the cooks a visit.
Unconsciously he had made his way to Duncan's laboratory; he only noticed it when he was almost standing in front of its door.
He needed somebody he could actually talk to, who would listen to him. He somehow had to sort out the chaos that was reigning in his head; and who would be better suited to help him than his good friend Duncan? After a moment's hesitation Adam entered the laboratory and looked around for Man-at-Arms. He was standing on the other side of the room, bent over a table, working on the completion of his transporter, highly concentrated.
"Duncan?" Adam asked softly to get his attention.
The royal inventor looked up from his work.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you?" Adam continued.
The young prince's confused expression and his grave tone of voice immediately made him pay attention.
"You never disturb me, son," he answered. "What's the problem?"
"I've just had that conversation with my father," Adam explained. He stopped. Duncan somehow knew that this meant no good.
"He wants me to get married. Soon."
Man-at-Arms was visibly surprised. "Um... well... to whom?"
"To nobody in particular. I may chose my future wife myself." Adam was silent for a moment. Duncan said nothing, as he felt that this was by far not all the prince wanted to say.
"I don't understand why my father has had that idea all of a sudden. I know that he isn't satisfied with me. But I can't help it – well, I don't have to explain it to you."
Duncan nodded compassionately.
"I'm fully aware that I'll have to marry someday, after all I'm the heir to the throne. I absolutely don't mind getting married, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. I don't really feel that I'm ready for it, that is, I've got a bad feeling to go and look for a wife just like that; I mean, there are certainly enough women who would jump at the chance of getting engaged to the crown prince. Well, I'm sure there would be some nice women among them, but I'm not really interested in any of them. There's only one who really interests me. But I don't know what Teela would say..."
When Adam realized what he had just said his torrent of words stopped abruptly. This was the first time that he had openly admitted his affection for Teela. Adam looked at Duncan who looked at him in return, his face displaying a good-natured expression.
"I've always hoped you two might find each other one day."
"But we haven't found each other," Adam argued.
"Not yet," Man-at-Arms corrected him. "You'll have to tell her of your feelings if you want her. And soon at that."
"I don't think that the solution is that easy. You seem to forget how much she likes He-Man, and I don't know how she feels about Adam."
Duncan came over to Adam and put a fatherly hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe she just needs a little hint to open her eyes. So far she's probably thought of you more as a good friend and the idea that you could be more to her hasn't crossed her mind yet."
"But – I haven't got much time to convince her. I think my father will insist on having this settled soon."
When Adam mentioned the king again Duncan's face darkened. He couldn't understand how Randor could possibly create such a situation for his son. It made him angry, but he tried not to show it to Adam.
"You have to tell her. It's your only chance, and it might be your last, you know that. If you are married to somebody else then Teela's liking for He-Man won't be worth anything. You would surely regret it if you didn't even try it."
Adam thought about it for a moment. "Yes, you're right. I'll talk to her as soon as possible. Wish me luck." Adam turned around and went to the door. There he stopped for a second and looked around to Duncan again. "It's good to have you as a friend." Then he left the laboratory.
Man-at-Arms gazed after him lost in thought. Adam was a good boy, he didn't deserve even more sorrows. He sincerely hoped that everything would work out well with the two young people.
The dinner that evening was governed by silence. Even Orko's magic tricks weren't met with much enthusiasm. Adam said almost nothing. Prince and King hardly talked to each other.
Marlena realised the tense atmosphere. She concluded that her husband had already talked to Adam. She decided to talk to her son at the next best opportunity.
Duncan studied the familiar faces of his neighbours. He was worried, and he hoped that in the end this whole affair would turn out well.
Only Teela was as ignorant as Cringer who was happily gnawing at a bone under the table. But nevertheless she realised the strange atmosphere of the evening.