The He-Man Inside
AN: Thanks for the reviews, I love ya'll so much!
Disclaimer: Damn! Double damn!! I wonder if the creators would be willing to sell it for a penny, maybe even put it on loan, or even let me have just one, tiny, itsy, bitsy pic. Yeah, when hell freezes over.
Adam could do nothing but sit and wait for fate to come to him and his fate happened to be walking across the amazingly (somewhat) empty dining room. The servants had been sent away so that they may rest and replenish their strength after clearing away some of the preparations for the party, such as blue and gold silk ribbons, sparkling dust that Orko had somehow managed to make, midnight blue silk table cloths stood to one side of the room carefully packed away until the servants could finish their duties and much more. The food, the Masters, his father and himself filled what space was left; he wondered how they managed to fit. It was amazing how large a room could seem at some point in time, it was amazing how that very same room could seem small but what was even more striking was that, that very same room seemed to be becoming remarkably smaller and more cramped as the soft pads of his mother's feet carried her in his direction. He thought of escape but took one look at Man-at-Arms' face and realized that the older man would not let him take two steps without carrying through with some of the threats he had made earlier. All he could do was sit and wait and, hopefully in the process, finish what was left of his last meal before his mother could spirit him away to do with as she pleased.
He was just finishing with the meal when she came to a stop behind him. He dared not look around; he already knew what awaited him. "The Face". When his mother began to tap her foot lightly on the marbled floor he ducked his head closer to his plate, hoping and praying that he might somehow extradite himself from his present situation. When the tapping became louder and he heard the shift of his mother's clothing, all he could do was gulp. He looked around the table at the other Masters but none would look at him, or the shadow of the woman who loomed over him, all except Teela who sat looking at him with her hand under her chin, with a devilish gleam in her eyes and a satisfied smirk on her face that said, "Now you're gonna get it." Adam grimaced in reply and turned back to looking down at the table knowing sooner or later he would have to face his mother. Someone coughed softly, he thought it might have been his father, but it was enough to spur him into action. With a resignated sigh he stood from the table, careful not to touch his mother and turned to face her. She was standing with her weight balanced on one foot, her other no longer tapping, her arms wrapped in front of her and upon her was..the face, 'Twice in one day. Must be my lucky day.'
"Hello, son." When the queen spoke she emphasized the word son with an irritated air.
He saw her eyebrow twitch which was definitely not a good sign for him. His reply was hesitant and shaky at best, "Hello mother. It's good to see you in such fine condition. I was hoping I could find you before the party begins." Adam thought he heard a snicker and knew it had come from Teela, he cast a withering look over his shoulder in her direction.
The queen just looked at her son and did not bother to reply to his obvious attempts to "sweet talk" her. The queen left her son standing beside his chair as she went to the head of the table where Randor was sitting. The King's posture soon became stiff with anxiety and fear. He knew his wife was in a poor mood and he did not wish to be on the receiving end of her wrath nor anywhere near someone who would and that just happened to be his son. The queen rested one of her hands on the back of her husband's chair and after taking a final look at Adam, simply said, "Come with me." She turned and started walking towards the doors and did not see the look on her son's face.
Adam could not hide his look of horror and fear as his mother walked away, commanding him to follow. He looked for aide from the Masters but none, not even his own father would look at him, all except Teela, who was sporting an even larger smile than before and whose small snickers soon became outright laughter. Unable to suppress his anger Adam leaned across the table, dangerously close to Teela, who could still not hide her obvious delight at Adam's present situation, his voice was deadly quiet when he spoke, "I'd be quiet if I were you. I'm definitely in no mood to deal with your antics."
Teela's smile did not vanish from her face because she knew Adam could never, would never, hurt her in any form or fashion, however, he was still leaning across the table and she had the sudden urge to shove some food in his face. She was going to say something cheeky but before she could the queen said something that wiped the smile from her and her blood to drain from her face.
"Come with me as well Teela."
Adam, who was finally able to enjoy some part of this day, smiled & walked around to the other side of the table and helped Teela from her chair. The two walked out behind his mother and the door closed with a sharp clang, the noise reverberating around the crowded room. No one at the table moved or spoke a word. They all sat there staring at their food in a tense silence until one of the Masters broke in, "Those poor, poor children. May the Elders have mercy on them."
In the Castle fitting rooms
"Awww, mom! Do I have to wear this? I'm not a child any more, you know."
"Be quiet Adam. There's not one frill on the entire outfit. There's not even a piece of lace. I was sure this would be better than what you wore at the last party." The Queen smiled as she imagined her son's face at the moment. She was sure he was pale and grimacing from the memory she had dredged up but at least he was quiet now, for how long, she didn't know. 'Not long that's for certain.' True to her thought her son spoke his annoyance.
"You're gonna suffocate me in this thing! I can barely breathe. Why can't I just wear what I usually wear? I mean, if it's good enough for me to wear around the kingdom I'm sure it's good enough for me to wear to a party."
"No Adam and that's final. Now be a good little prince for Armand. I'm going to go see how Teela is fairing with Michelle." The queen left Adam, his grumbling complaints and curses in the King's fitting room, making sure to close the door with a resounding "thud".
She leaned wearily against the door, rubbing her temples as she tried to relax for the short amount of time that she was allowed. After a few minutes she pushed away from the door and made her way across the "middle room". The room's walls were made of mirrors except for the ceiling which had a scene painted on it of dancing noble men and women dressed in all their finery, showing off the perfection and glory of Old Eternia. This room was used to look at and examine the "final product" of the royal family's tailor and seamstress' work.
Once she reached the other side she did not pause as she opened the door and stepped into the chaos that was the Queen's fitting room. The room was a flurry of activity as maids dashed about with cloth in their hands, sewing supplies, lists of measurements & plans for dresses/outfits and other such things. In the middle of it all stood a very unsure and stunned Teela on a raised platform, who could do nothing more than what the woman at the base of her feet told her to do. Marlena smiled at the young woman with fondness, remembering how it felt to be standing in the middle of such a mess and den of activity for the very first time. Somehow, she managed to make her way to the middle of the room and talk to Michelle, who happened to have an armload of cloth and a mouthful of pins.
"How is everything dear? I hope Michelle isn't scaring you too badly. I know she was a demon to me in my younger days. Of course, we were about the same age and she was rather inexperienced-Ow!" Marlena scowled down at the top of Michelle's head.
"My Queen, are you alright?"
The Queen looked back at Teela and saw the concern written across her face, "Yes child, everything's fine. I think I stepped on a needle is all. Now, that aside how is everything?"
"It's.....well, it's..."
"Hmmm, let me guess. Daunting? Overwhelming?" Marlena turned away to look through a basket of sample cloths, feeling their texture and holding them up to see how the light played across them.
Teela smiled and managed to relax somewhat, "Yes exactly. I can't say that this is something I'm used to. You could say I'm out of my element."
"I'm afraid you'll have to get used to it." The queen added silently under her breath.
"I'm sorry, my queen but I didn't hear what you said."
"Oh, it was nothing sweet ling. I was just commenting on the fabric and how well you would look in cream."
"Oh...."
Marlena laughed softly as she turned around to stare at the young woman who was about to be "mauled" by Michelle, "Oh, for the Elder's sakes! Leave the child alone for a bit will you? I'm sure she could stand to use a break, as I am sure you could as well."
"Now, Mar-" Michelle started to reply in a rich, French accent.
"No more Michelle. Let her rest then I promise you can come back in and terrorize her all you want."
"Fine. Just don't blame me if she's not ready for the party."
"I won't now if you're quite finished with reprimanding me?"
"Quite."
"Then be off." With that final statement the room was cleared in seconds all save the queen and Teela, who had already collapsed into a heap upon the raised platform.
"Thank you so much my lady."
"Think nothing of it Teela. I remember my first fitting and let me tell you, you may get used to it but it is always a daunting and trying experience."
Teela smiled as the queen came to sit beside her and noticed the stress lines on the queen's face, "So I take it the prince's fitting isn't going as smoothly as hopped for?"
"Oh, it never does but I'm sure you already know as much. It's not that it takes such a long time to fashion the garments to the prince, it's just that he complains far too much while it is being done."
"Yes, Adam doesn't seem to do much of anything unless it's in his favor. Not that your son is a spoiled brat- I mean...uh, ummm, er..." Teela could not look the queen in the eye after the words had left her mouth, her face flaming from her embarrassment.
Marlena only laughed in reply, "You are right Teela. He barely does anything his father tells him to do. He barely does what I tell him to do and the only reason he does, is because he see's me as this dragon that will bite his head off and roast him on a stick if he doesn't comply."
"Ha! Yeah, that definitely sounds like Adam."
"Except you, Teela."
"I beg your pardon, my lady?" Teela looked at the queen confused, not knowing where that quiet remark had come from.
"Except you. Adam barely listens to anyone these days except for you. The both of you are very close and it's obvious that should Adam ever be requested to do anything all a person would have to do is talk to you."
"Your majesty, I-"
"Sssshhhh. You don't have to say anything. It's true and all I can say is that I'm happy that Adam has chosen you to listen too. There's not another person who I'd rather have Adam trust and depend on, than you." Teela was speechless but none the less pleased with the queen's words, "Now, take care and watch yourself. If I were you I'd grab something to hit Michelle over the head with in case she gets to demanding." With that final piece of advice the queen stood and made her way out of the room. In her wake came the tidal wave of maids followed by a perturbed Michelle.
"Hurry, hurry! We have no time to waste if we are to be finished in time for the party."
The sun was setting; darkness was stretching her hold over the land, casting what was once a land of light into a land of shadows. It crept up the high walls of the Eternian Palace and into the very household itself. It swept through the halls like an all-encompassing wave and did not stop till all light was extinguished, causing the servants to wonder through the palace to light the way. In one of these darkened rooms, lit only by the fire in the hearth, sat the queen sipping from a goblet, her eyes closed as she savored the taste. The liquid was a thick, dark red, a fine old vintage of wine brought up from the cellar by one of the maids. She stared into the fire intently after she sat down the goblet, waiting for something....or someone. Finally, after she had drained the cup and filled it with more of the delicious Eternian wine, a voice reverberated around the chamber but it was not the voice of the same shadow as before. It had come from the hearth, where once only flames danced, now they had the blurred outline of a face.
"You called?"
"Is everything in place?"
"Almost but I can assure you that nothing will go amiss."
"Almost isn't the right answer. I want nothing to interfere or go wrong and it had better not. I want both of them taken care of and I want them taken care of permanently! Is that understood?" The queen picked up her goblet and took an irritated sip from it.
"I understand perfectly. There remains only a few minor details to be taken care of and then all shall fall into place as it has been planned. All you have to do is make sure that they are both there for the party, "your majesty"." The last words were said with disdain and the queen could just make out a sneer on the blurred face.
"I would watch your tongue if you wish to receive anything from this....prospect. Now, be off. I have no more need of you." With that rude rebuttal the face disappeared and the flames returned to normal. The queen drained her goblet and stood, making her way towards her dressing room to prepare for bed. Randor was sure to be in need of some TLC and she would be sure that he got it. When she came out of the dressing room she was scowling, She couldn't help but think that something was bound to go wrong but shook it off as she climbed into bed to wait for her husband.
"Their heads will roll if it does not go as planned." With those final words the queen slipped deeper under the covers as the palace became cold by the frigid night air.
Well, there it was, Ch.4. I hope ya'll enjoyed it and please R&R. Tell me what I'm doing wrong and how to fix it or tell me what I'm doing right and how I can make it better. Love ya'll! ^.^
AN: Thanks for the reviews, I love ya'll so much!
Disclaimer: Damn! Double damn!! I wonder if the creators would be willing to sell it for a penny, maybe even put it on loan, or even let me have just one, tiny, itsy, bitsy pic. Yeah, when hell freezes over.
Adam could do nothing but sit and wait for fate to come to him and his fate happened to be walking across the amazingly (somewhat) empty dining room. The servants had been sent away so that they may rest and replenish their strength after clearing away some of the preparations for the party, such as blue and gold silk ribbons, sparkling dust that Orko had somehow managed to make, midnight blue silk table cloths stood to one side of the room carefully packed away until the servants could finish their duties and much more. The food, the Masters, his father and himself filled what space was left; he wondered how they managed to fit. It was amazing how large a room could seem at some point in time, it was amazing how that very same room could seem small but what was even more striking was that, that very same room seemed to be becoming remarkably smaller and more cramped as the soft pads of his mother's feet carried her in his direction. He thought of escape but took one look at Man-at-Arms' face and realized that the older man would not let him take two steps without carrying through with some of the threats he had made earlier. All he could do was sit and wait and, hopefully in the process, finish what was left of his last meal before his mother could spirit him away to do with as she pleased.
He was just finishing with the meal when she came to a stop behind him. He dared not look around; he already knew what awaited him. "The Face". When his mother began to tap her foot lightly on the marbled floor he ducked his head closer to his plate, hoping and praying that he might somehow extradite himself from his present situation. When the tapping became louder and he heard the shift of his mother's clothing, all he could do was gulp. He looked around the table at the other Masters but none would look at him, or the shadow of the woman who loomed over him, all except Teela who sat looking at him with her hand under her chin, with a devilish gleam in her eyes and a satisfied smirk on her face that said, "Now you're gonna get it." Adam grimaced in reply and turned back to looking down at the table knowing sooner or later he would have to face his mother. Someone coughed softly, he thought it might have been his father, but it was enough to spur him into action. With a resignated sigh he stood from the table, careful not to touch his mother and turned to face her. She was standing with her weight balanced on one foot, her other no longer tapping, her arms wrapped in front of her and upon her was..the face, 'Twice in one day. Must be my lucky day.'
"Hello, son." When the queen spoke she emphasized the word son with an irritated air.
He saw her eyebrow twitch which was definitely not a good sign for him. His reply was hesitant and shaky at best, "Hello mother. It's good to see you in such fine condition. I was hoping I could find you before the party begins." Adam thought he heard a snicker and knew it had come from Teela, he cast a withering look over his shoulder in her direction.
The queen just looked at her son and did not bother to reply to his obvious attempts to "sweet talk" her. The queen left her son standing beside his chair as she went to the head of the table where Randor was sitting. The King's posture soon became stiff with anxiety and fear. He knew his wife was in a poor mood and he did not wish to be on the receiving end of her wrath nor anywhere near someone who would and that just happened to be his son. The queen rested one of her hands on the back of her husband's chair and after taking a final look at Adam, simply said, "Come with me." She turned and started walking towards the doors and did not see the look on her son's face.
Adam could not hide his look of horror and fear as his mother walked away, commanding him to follow. He looked for aide from the Masters but none, not even his own father would look at him, all except Teela, who was sporting an even larger smile than before and whose small snickers soon became outright laughter. Unable to suppress his anger Adam leaned across the table, dangerously close to Teela, who could still not hide her obvious delight at Adam's present situation, his voice was deadly quiet when he spoke, "I'd be quiet if I were you. I'm definitely in no mood to deal with your antics."
Teela's smile did not vanish from her face because she knew Adam could never, would never, hurt her in any form or fashion, however, he was still leaning across the table and she had the sudden urge to shove some food in his face. She was going to say something cheeky but before she could the queen said something that wiped the smile from her and her blood to drain from her face.
"Come with me as well Teela."
Adam, who was finally able to enjoy some part of this day, smiled & walked around to the other side of the table and helped Teela from her chair. The two walked out behind his mother and the door closed with a sharp clang, the noise reverberating around the crowded room. No one at the table moved or spoke a word. They all sat there staring at their food in a tense silence until one of the Masters broke in, "Those poor, poor children. May the Elders have mercy on them."
In the Castle fitting rooms
"Awww, mom! Do I have to wear this? I'm not a child any more, you know."
"Be quiet Adam. There's not one frill on the entire outfit. There's not even a piece of lace. I was sure this would be better than what you wore at the last party." The Queen smiled as she imagined her son's face at the moment. She was sure he was pale and grimacing from the memory she had dredged up but at least he was quiet now, for how long, she didn't know. 'Not long that's for certain.' True to her thought her son spoke his annoyance.
"You're gonna suffocate me in this thing! I can barely breathe. Why can't I just wear what I usually wear? I mean, if it's good enough for me to wear around the kingdom I'm sure it's good enough for me to wear to a party."
"No Adam and that's final. Now be a good little prince for Armand. I'm going to go see how Teela is fairing with Michelle." The queen left Adam, his grumbling complaints and curses in the King's fitting room, making sure to close the door with a resounding "thud".
She leaned wearily against the door, rubbing her temples as she tried to relax for the short amount of time that she was allowed. After a few minutes she pushed away from the door and made her way across the "middle room". The room's walls were made of mirrors except for the ceiling which had a scene painted on it of dancing noble men and women dressed in all their finery, showing off the perfection and glory of Old Eternia. This room was used to look at and examine the "final product" of the royal family's tailor and seamstress' work.
Once she reached the other side she did not pause as she opened the door and stepped into the chaos that was the Queen's fitting room. The room was a flurry of activity as maids dashed about with cloth in their hands, sewing supplies, lists of measurements & plans for dresses/outfits and other such things. In the middle of it all stood a very unsure and stunned Teela on a raised platform, who could do nothing more than what the woman at the base of her feet told her to do. Marlena smiled at the young woman with fondness, remembering how it felt to be standing in the middle of such a mess and den of activity for the very first time. Somehow, she managed to make her way to the middle of the room and talk to Michelle, who happened to have an armload of cloth and a mouthful of pins.
"How is everything dear? I hope Michelle isn't scaring you too badly. I know she was a demon to me in my younger days. Of course, we were about the same age and she was rather inexperienced-Ow!" Marlena scowled down at the top of Michelle's head.
"My Queen, are you alright?"
The Queen looked back at Teela and saw the concern written across her face, "Yes child, everything's fine. I think I stepped on a needle is all. Now, that aside how is everything?"
"It's.....well, it's..."
"Hmmm, let me guess. Daunting? Overwhelming?" Marlena turned away to look through a basket of sample cloths, feeling their texture and holding them up to see how the light played across them.
Teela smiled and managed to relax somewhat, "Yes exactly. I can't say that this is something I'm used to. You could say I'm out of my element."
"I'm afraid you'll have to get used to it." The queen added silently under her breath.
"I'm sorry, my queen but I didn't hear what you said."
"Oh, it was nothing sweet ling. I was just commenting on the fabric and how well you would look in cream."
"Oh...."
Marlena laughed softly as she turned around to stare at the young woman who was about to be "mauled" by Michelle, "Oh, for the Elder's sakes! Leave the child alone for a bit will you? I'm sure she could stand to use a break, as I am sure you could as well."
"Now, Mar-" Michelle started to reply in a rich, French accent.
"No more Michelle. Let her rest then I promise you can come back in and terrorize her all you want."
"Fine. Just don't blame me if she's not ready for the party."
"I won't now if you're quite finished with reprimanding me?"
"Quite."
"Then be off." With that final statement the room was cleared in seconds all save the queen and Teela, who had already collapsed into a heap upon the raised platform.
"Thank you so much my lady."
"Think nothing of it Teela. I remember my first fitting and let me tell you, you may get used to it but it is always a daunting and trying experience."
Teela smiled as the queen came to sit beside her and noticed the stress lines on the queen's face, "So I take it the prince's fitting isn't going as smoothly as hopped for?"
"Oh, it never does but I'm sure you already know as much. It's not that it takes such a long time to fashion the garments to the prince, it's just that he complains far too much while it is being done."
"Yes, Adam doesn't seem to do much of anything unless it's in his favor. Not that your son is a spoiled brat- I mean...uh, ummm, er..." Teela could not look the queen in the eye after the words had left her mouth, her face flaming from her embarrassment.
Marlena only laughed in reply, "You are right Teela. He barely does anything his father tells him to do. He barely does what I tell him to do and the only reason he does, is because he see's me as this dragon that will bite his head off and roast him on a stick if he doesn't comply."
"Ha! Yeah, that definitely sounds like Adam."
"Except you, Teela."
"I beg your pardon, my lady?" Teela looked at the queen confused, not knowing where that quiet remark had come from.
"Except you. Adam barely listens to anyone these days except for you. The both of you are very close and it's obvious that should Adam ever be requested to do anything all a person would have to do is talk to you."
"Your majesty, I-"
"Sssshhhh. You don't have to say anything. It's true and all I can say is that I'm happy that Adam has chosen you to listen too. There's not another person who I'd rather have Adam trust and depend on, than you." Teela was speechless but none the less pleased with the queen's words, "Now, take care and watch yourself. If I were you I'd grab something to hit Michelle over the head with in case she gets to demanding." With that final piece of advice the queen stood and made her way out of the room. In her wake came the tidal wave of maids followed by a perturbed Michelle.
"Hurry, hurry! We have no time to waste if we are to be finished in time for the party."
The sun was setting; darkness was stretching her hold over the land, casting what was once a land of light into a land of shadows. It crept up the high walls of the Eternian Palace and into the very household itself. It swept through the halls like an all-encompassing wave and did not stop till all light was extinguished, causing the servants to wonder through the palace to light the way. In one of these darkened rooms, lit only by the fire in the hearth, sat the queen sipping from a goblet, her eyes closed as she savored the taste. The liquid was a thick, dark red, a fine old vintage of wine brought up from the cellar by one of the maids. She stared into the fire intently after she sat down the goblet, waiting for something....or someone. Finally, after she had drained the cup and filled it with more of the delicious Eternian wine, a voice reverberated around the chamber but it was not the voice of the same shadow as before. It had come from the hearth, where once only flames danced, now they had the blurred outline of a face.
"You called?"
"Is everything in place?"
"Almost but I can assure you that nothing will go amiss."
"Almost isn't the right answer. I want nothing to interfere or go wrong and it had better not. I want both of them taken care of and I want them taken care of permanently! Is that understood?" The queen picked up her goblet and took an irritated sip from it.
"I understand perfectly. There remains only a few minor details to be taken care of and then all shall fall into place as it has been planned. All you have to do is make sure that they are both there for the party, "your majesty"." The last words were said with disdain and the queen could just make out a sneer on the blurred face.
"I would watch your tongue if you wish to receive anything from this....prospect. Now, be off. I have no more need of you." With that rude rebuttal the face disappeared and the flames returned to normal. The queen drained her goblet and stood, making her way towards her dressing room to prepare for bed. Randor was sure to be in need of some TLC and she would be sure that he got it. When she came out of the dressing room she was scowling, She couldn't help but think that something was bound to go wrong but shook it off as she climbed into bed to wait for her husband.
"Their heads will roll if it does not go as planned." With those final words the queen slipped deeper under the covers as the palace became cold by the frigid night air.
Well, there it was, Ch.4. I hope ya'll enjoyed it and please R&R. Tell me what I'm doing wrong and how to fix it or tell me what I'm doing right and how I can make it better. Love ya'll! ^.^