Eternal Foe
Chapter 19
"Oh Gods Teela no!" He-Man found the still body of his companion. He shook her gently but was met with no response. She had the barest of vital signs and her entire body was cold. A pool of her blood had seeped onto the floor and had already begun to clot.
Needing desperately to bandage the wound He-Man silently cursed the fact that he did not wear any more than a harness and a fur kilt over his shorts. He raised his sword and uttered the incantation returning him to his normal guise.
Prince Adam tore his shirt off and bunched it into a crude pad; he then stripped off his undershirt and used that to hold the pad in place. Satisfied the bandage would hold for now he tried to pick her up, not adjusting for the fact that he was not He-Man. He again changed into his alter-ego to make the process simpler.
It was daylight when He-Man emerged from the lair, carrying the still barely alive Teela in his arms. He ran straight for the Wind Raider they had arrived in only to find it a complete wreck, obviously at the hands of King Hiss.
He-Man slunk to his knees defeated. There was no way now he could get Teela to the care she needed, his lifelong friend would die in his arms and there would be nothing he could do to stop that.
He-Man cried softly into his friend's hair before he realised he could hear the roar of Wind Raider engines overhead. He watched as they made their landing and almost leapt for joy to see Mekaneck and Man-at-Arms.
"What happened? What in Eternia happened?" Duncan demanded as he ran over.
"I don't have time to explain now, I need you and Mekaneck to fly back to Eternos and let them know I have taken Teela to the nearest medic."
Duncan shook his head. "No! Mekaneck can do that alone, I am not leaving my daughter's side!"
Time was too precious to waste arguing. "Come then." He-Man conceded.
The Wind Raiders quickly took to the air and turned south. They had been flying for several minutes when Duncan finally asked to where they were headed.
He-Man stared silently ahead for a moment before answering. "To a sorceress hidden deep within the Altecoms." He-Man paused again. "You have been to the Sorceress' residence once before - when you first held Teela in your arms."
Man-at-Arms shut his eyes and shook his head, anger now seemed to mingle with his grief.
Several hours later they had flown into the Il Grando Pass. He-Man checked to see that Mekaneck's Wind Raider was far behind before he made the turn into the hidden path to Grayskull.
He-Man looked to Duncan who busied himself by attending to his ailing daughter. Finally the old veteran spoke. "How do you know? Did 'she' tell you?"
The bronzed champion shook his head. "No, and I don't think she's even sure I know."
"She's not taking my baby." He-Man was taken aback at the vehemence in Man- at-Arms' tone, he had never heard him speak so passionately of his adopted daughter. He also had the feeling that there was a tinge of anger directed at her mother.
They touched down near the drawbridge to find the Sorceress already waiting for them. "He-Man, you must bring her inside - quickly!"
He-Man held the two swords aloft as Duncan carried Teela. The drawbridge opened at He-Man's command and in they went.
The Sorceress glided up to them and levitated Teela from her father's arms. The laws of Grayskull prevented me from bringing her in myself, but once within these walls no such barrier exists." She explained as she and Teela floated away.
"He-Man, you and Duncan can wait for me in the throne room while I tend to the girl."
He-Man led Duncan to a nearby stairwell. Man-at-Arms harrumphed once they were out of the Sorceress' earshot. "The girl, that's what she called her, not 'my daughter' or anything like that." He-Man said nothing for he knew nothing of what Duncan was feeling.
They reached the top of the stairwell and passed beyond a single, oak door into the throne room. A meal had been prepared and awaited He-Man's and Duncan's arrival. Duncan at first was determined not to accept the Sorceress' hospitality but hunger and the frustration of waiting soon broke his reluctance.
Sometime later the sound of the oak door creaking open caught their attention. "She will be well with a few days rest, it was good you brought her here, she may have perished in another's hands." She said to He-Man.
"Yet you don't even thank him for saving your daughter!" Duncan accused.
A flash of anger and then sorrow painted the Sorceress' features, it was the first time He-Man had ever seen open emotion displayed by this mysterious woman.
"You judge me unfairly Duncan."
"You've made me lie to your daughter all these years, don't tell me I judge you unfairly!"
"I can never enough express my gratitude for all that you had done for me in the past, and all that you do to this day. That is why I have one more burden I must place on your shoulders."
Duncan looked incredulous. "What more?"
The Sorceress looked at He-Man. "I have seen your thoughts, you wish to seek out the one you have lost." He-Man looked only mildly surprised before nodding in agreement. "You may be gone for months, your absence, for both your-selves will not go unnoticed."
She again addressed Duncan. "This may make little sense now, but He- Man.and Prince Adam will be gone for a time and we need you to tell the world the Prince has died."
Duncan opened his mouth to protest but the words stuck in his throat as he saw a glow envelope He-Man. Within the space of a heartbeat the slim frame of Prince Adam stood in the spot previously occupied by He-Man. Adam was shirtless and it took Duncan a moment to realise the makeshift bandages he had seen wrapped around Teela's waist were Adam's clothes. Suddenly the He- Man/Adam relationship became clear.
"I still don't understand why the Prince has to 'die'?" Duncan asked.
"If the King and Queen believe their son to be alive they will instigate a futile search for him, if they believe him dead then after they appropriately grieve they will focus on the administration of the kingdom."
Duncan sighed. "So where is He.Adam going?"
"To find the Princess Adora, for she too shares a destiny akin to Adam's and her assistance against Skeletor will prove invaluable."
Duncan looked to the Prince. "So when do you leave?"
"Uh, well actually I haven't yet."
"The sooner the better Prince Adam. I feel you should leave.tonight." The Sorceress interrupted.
Prince Adam rubbed his head. "Uh, yeah, I suppose." Adam screwed his face up. "Uh, why?"
"Do you think you could possibly wait any longer, knowing she may be out there and nothing here to tie you down?" the Sorceress answered.
"Okay." Adam shrugged.
"You should rest first Prince Adam. You will find a cot in the room over there." The Sorceress suggested.
Adam obeyed wordlessly.
"There is something you wish me to know privately?" Duncan shrewdly deduced once Adam was out of earshot.
The Sorceress gravely measured the old warrior. "In the coming days Skeletor will return with a host at his hind, if He-Man were to face Skeletor's army he would fail and die, so he must leave to keep himself alive and find help in the process."
"The princess, does she still live?"
"She must," the Sorceress said, "she too is prophesied to wield a weapon of power against the dark forces of Eternia. Destiny would not let her perish."
Duncan turned to make as though he was about to leave.
The Sorceress stopped him. "There is more you must do Duncan." Man-at-Arms looked back incredulous. "You must convince the King and his people that they must flee their homes and seek shelter beneath the walls of Grayskull, in the coming months it will be the only sanctuary left in Eternia."
Duncan laughed, "Do I get to be transformed into a magical warrior to accomplish this impossible task?"
"That is not your destiny Duncan, but it does not mean that you are less important in the events to pass, the responsibility of the future of Eternia lies within your hands, for now."
Duncan hung his head, "And what of Teela?"
"She is not fit to travel yet. She will stay with me for the time."
"Be careful Teelana, you may develop a maternal instinct." Duncan said derisively.
The Sorceress stood there watching Man-at-Arms as he left the throne room. It was yet another sacrifice she had made in becoming who she was. She shook her head, now was not the time to be living in the past, not when the future was so uncertain.
Chapter 19
"Oh Gods Teela no!" He-Man found the still body of his companion. He shook her gently but was met with no response. She had the barest of vital signs and her entire body was cold. A pool of her blood had seeped onto the floor and had already begun to clot.
Needing desperately to bandage the wound He-Man silently cursed the fact that he did not wear any more than a harness and a fur kilt over his shorts. He raised his sword and uttered the incantation returning him to his normal guise.
Prince Adam tore his shirt off and bunched it into a crude pad; he then stripped off his undershirt and used that to hold the pad in place. Satisfied the bandage would hold for now he tried to pick her up, not adjusting for the fact that he was not He-Man. He again changed into his alter-ego to make the process simpler.
It was daylight when He-Man emerged from the lair, carrying the still barely alive Teela in his arms. He ran straight for the Wind Raider they had arrived in only to find it a complete wreck, obviously at the hands of King Hiss.
He-Man slunk to his knees defeated. There was no way now he could get Teela to the care she needed, his lifelong friend would die in his arms and there would be nothing he could do to stop that.
He-Man cried softly into his friend's hair before he realised he could hear the roar of Wind Raider engines overhead. He watched as they made their landing and almost leapt for joy to see Mekaneck and Man-at-Arms.
"What happened? What in Eternia happened?" Duncan demanded as he ran over.
"I don't have time to explain now, I need you and Mekaneck to fly back to Eternos and let them know I have taken Teela to the nearest medic."
Duncan shook his head. "No! Mekaneck can do that alone, I am not leaving my daughter's side!"
Time was too precious to waste arguing. "Come then." He-Man conceded.
The Wind Raiders quickly took to the air and turned south. They had been flying for several minutes when Duncan finally asked to where they were headed.
He-Man stared silently ahead for a moment before answering. "To a sorceress hidden deep within the Altecoms." He-Man paused again. "You have been to the Sorceress' residence once before - when you first held Teela in your arms."
Man-at-Arms shut his eyes and shook his head, anger now seemed to mingle with his grief.
Several hours later they had flown into the Il Grando Pass. He-Man checked to see that Mekaneck's Wind Raider was far behind before he made the turn into the hidden path to Grayskull.
He-Man looked to Duncan who busied himself by attending to his ailing daughter. Finally the old veteran spoke. "How do you know? Did 'she' tell you?"
The bronzed champion shook his head. "No, and I don't think she's even sure I know."
"She's not taking my baby." He-Man was taken aback at the vehemence in Man- at-Arms' tone, he had never heard him speak so passionately of his adopted daughter. He also had the feeling that there was a tinge of anger directed at her mother.
They touched down near the drawbridge to find the Sorceress already waiting for them. "He-Man, you must bring her inside - quickly!"
He-Man held the two swords aloft as Duncan carried Teela. The drawbridge opened at He-Man's command and in they went.
The Sorceress glided up to them and levitated Teela from her father's arms. The laws of Grayskull prevented me from bringing her in myself, but once within these walls no such barrier exists." She explained as she and Teela floated away.
"He-Man, you and Duncan can wait for me in the throne room while I tend to the girl."
He-Man led Duncan to a nearby stairwell. Man-at-Arms harrumphed once they were out of the Sorceress' earshot. "The girl, that's what she called her, not 'my daughter' or anything like that." He-Man said nothing for he knew nothing of what Duncan was feeling.
They reached the top of the stairwell and passed beyond a single, oak door into the throne room. A meal had been prepared and awaited He-Man's and Duncan's arrival. Duncan at first was determined not to accept the Sorceress' hospitality but hunger and the frustration of waiting soon broke his reluctance.
Sometime later the sound of the oak door creaking open caught their attention. "She will be well with a few days rest, it was good you brought her here, she may have perished in another's hands." She said to He-Man.
"Yet you don't even thank him for saving your daughter!" Duncan accused.
A flash of anger and then sorrow painted the Sorceress' features, it was the first time He-Man had ever seen open emotion displayed by this mysterious woman.
"You judge me unfairly Duncan."
"You've made me lie to your daughter all these years, don't tell me I judge you unfairly!"
"I can never enough express my gratitude for all that you had done for me in the past, and all that you do to this day. That is why I have one more burden I must place on your shoulders."
Duncan looked incredulous. "What more?"
The Sorceress looked at He-Man. "I have seen your thoughts, you wish to seek out the one you have lost." He-Man looked only mildly surprised before nodding in agreement. "You may be gone for months, your absence, for both your-selves will not go unnoticed."
She again addressed Duncan. "This may make little sense now, but He- Man.and Prince Adam will be gone for a time and we need you to tell the world the Prince has died."
Duncan opened his mouth to protest but the words stuck in his throat as he saw a glow envelope He-Man. Within the space of a heartbeat the slim frame of Prince Adam stood in the spot previously occupied by He-Man. Adam was shirtless and it took Duncan a moment to realise the makeshift bandages he had seen wrapped around Teela's waist were Adam's clothes. Suddenly the He- Man/Adam relationship became clear.
"I still don't understand why the Prince has to 'die'?" Duncan asked.
"If the King and Queen believe their son to be alive they will instigate a futile search for him, if they believe him dead then after they appropriately grieve they will focus on the administration of the kingdom."
Duncan sighed. "So where is He.Adam going?"
"To find the Princess Adora, for she too shares a destiny akin to Adam's and her assistance against Skeletor will prove invaluable."
Duncan looked to the Prince. "So when do you leave?"
"Uh, well actually I haven't yet."
"The sooner the better Prince Adam. I feel you should leave.tonight." The Sorceress interrupted.
Prince Adam rubbed his head. "Uh, yeah, I suppose." Adam screwed his face up. "Uh, why?"
"Do you think you could possibly wait any longer, knowing she may be out there and nothing here to tie you down?" the Sorceress answered.
"Okay." Adam shrugged.
"You should rest first Prince Adam. You will find a cot in the room over there." The Sorceress suggested.
Adam obeyed wordlessly.
"There is something you wish me to know privately?" Duncan shrewdly deduced once Adam was out of earshot.
The Sorceress gravely measured the old warrior. "In the coming days Skeletor will return with a host at his hind, if He-Man were to face Skeletor's army he would fail and die, so he must leave to keep himself alive and find help in the process."
"The princess, does she still live?"
"She must," the Sorceress said, "she too is prophesied to wield a weapon of power against the dark forces of Eternia. Destiny would not let her perish."
Duncan turned to make as though he was about to leave.
The Sorceress stopped him. "There is more you must do Duncan." Man-at-Arms looked back incredulous. "You must convince the King and his people that they must flee their homes and seek shelter beneath the walls of Grayskull, in the coming months it will be the only sanctuary left in Eternia."
Duncan laughed, "Do I get to be transformed into a magical warrior to accomplish this impossible task?"
"That is not your destiny Duncan, but it does not mean that you are less important in the events to pass, the responsibility of the future of Eternia lies within your hands, for now."
Duncan hung his head, "And what of Teela?"
"She is not fit to travel yet. She will stay with me for the time."
"Be careful Teelana, you may develop a maternal instinct." Duncan said derisively.
The Sorceress stood there watching Man-at-Arms as he left the throne room. It was yet another sacrifice she had made in becoming who she was. She shook her head, now was not the time to be living in the past, not when the future was so uncertain.