Adam's Way

Chapter 3

The King and Queen met the transports as they landed, worried looks upon their faces. Duncan addressed them as the medical team put prince Adam on a gurney, "As far as I can tell he is fine except for exhaustion. We found them in a clearing, the battle was over, I believe prince Adam has finally defeated Skeletor. We will know more when he awakens. Your highness we must talk about the prisoner."

Relief showed on the royal couples faces hearing about their son, King Randor addressed Duncan. "I don't want to hear anything more about Skeletor, lock him in the dungeon and have extra security round the clock. He must not escape again. We will deal with him after I know how my son is." Randor placed a hand on Duncan's shoulder, "The healer wishes to talk to you about Teela." The King and Queen anxiously following the medical team taking their son to the medical ward, leaving Duncan to secure the prisoner.

Meanwhile in the medical ward, Teela awakes to a nurse taking her vitals. Her nurse puts a hand on her good shoulder to stop her from trying to get up. "Rest Captain, you've just come out of surgery. You must not move too much." Teela relaxes and asked, "Where is everyone, what happened to Prince Adam?"

"I'll tell you what I can." The nurse replied. "They just brought Prince Adam in to Medical and are checking him right now. The rumor going around is that the prince and Skeletor had a great battle and the prince won. I heard that Skeletor was brought to the dungeon." With a smile on her face the nurse added, "Can you believe our prince fought against Skeletor. The rumors of him being a coward cannot be true." Teela closed her eyes and remembered the way Adam was fighting Skeletor with He-man sword and thought 'the battle was more like He-Man and Skeletor fighting'. Adam was He-Man she was sure of it, it all made sense now. Adam disappearing when He-man appeared, he wasn't a coward, he was running to change into He-Man. All those times that He-Man rescued her it was Adam in disguise. Sleep was pulling at her, softly she said to the nurse, "Please keep me informed about what is happening." "Of course Captain." The nurse replied.

The King and Queen were anxiously awaiting an update on their son when Duncan joined them in the waiting room. Dorgan, the healer, came out of Adam's room to address the worried family. "Prince Adam is physically fine, though he is completely exhausted. His vitals are good and I see no physical injuries other than some cuts and scrapes. I recommend fluids and complete bed rest for two days. You may go in and see him now." The King and Queen moved swiftly into the room. Duncan stayed behind to talk to Dorgan about Teela.

"How is Teela?" Duncan said worriedly. Dorgan lead Duncan by the arm towards Teela's room. "She lost a lot of blood and is very weak. Surgery went well and repaired a lot of damage, but I must tell you that the damage was great to her right shoulder. She will have limited movement of her arm for months and in a soldiers point of view her days of fighting are over Duncan." They stopped in front of Teela's room, "She does not know yet Duncan." Dorgan continued. Duncan shook Dorgan's hand and said, "Thank you, I shall tell her." Duncan went into the room feeling terrible for his daughter's fate, her whole life was about serving in the Royal Guard now somehow he had to tell her that life is over.

Later Teela awoke with her father by her side. Duncan clasped her hand with a smile, "Dearheart I was worried about you, how do you feel?"

"Much better than before. How is Adam, father? What happened to him?" Teela asked with an anxious tone. She tried to straighten in the bed awaiting her father's answer.

Duncan relied, "He is physically fine, Dearheart. He is sleeping from exhaustion and Dorgan has ordered bed rest for two days. As far as what happened with Skeletor only Adam knows what happened, we lost them in the forrest and their battle had been completed when we found them. Adam won against Skeletor, he is no more."

Shocked Teela asked, "He killed Skeletor?" Duncan braced his concerned daughter and said, "No Dearheart, but the person in the dungeon is Prince Keldor not Skeletor. I don't know what happened but Adam somehow changed Skeletor back into Prince Keldor. I am taking precautions that this still might be a trick on Skeletor's part, but I hope by the ancients that this was the final battle with Skeletor." Teela nodded, agreeing with her father.

Teela let her feelings of Adam's fight flow through her and tell her father, "You saw how Adam was fighting Skeletor and with He-Man's sword, father. I believe Adam is He-Man." Duncan not knowing how to answer started, "I". Only to be interrupted by Teela continuing with, "It all makes sense now. Adam is not a coward, he runs away to transform into He-Man. We never see the two of them together and He-man is always around when he is needed. I misjudged Adam all these years." Duncan could not deny the truth of it, he kept silent, knowing he must consult with the sorceress about Teela's new found knowledge. Duncan thought of the sorceress and wondered why she was not communicating with him at such an important time. Duncan clasped his daughter's hand firmer to get her attention. "We must talk of you and your injuries now my daughter." "I'll be fine in a few weeks father." Teela stated confidently. Duncan addressed her in a caring voice, "Dorgan tells me that your injuries are worse than you think. You have months of recovery and states that the damage done will end your career with the Royal Guard. You must realize this as a possibility." Teela looked downtrodden, a medical discharge from the Royal Guard is not something she ever imagined. Her whole life revolved around the guard and the Royal family. She wondered what her life would be like. Duncan sat next to his daughter in silence and allowed her to process the news he gave her. Life in Eternos will not be the same for Teela and Adam with all that has happened this day.