Chapter Ten

A/N: This is one of the most difficult chapters I've ever written. It's taken a lot out of me.

I hope you all enjoy it. : )

A short time later, Teela was back at the ruins of Lal - her sanctuary, her refuge. Her horse stood grazing close by. She sat on the floor of a ruined house, her back braced against a partially collapsed wall.

What have I DONE? she thought, trembling with grief and remorse, her arms pulled up tightly against her chest. How could I have been so foolish … so gullible?

All at once, Teela heard the cry of a bird. She looked up to find Zoar the Falcon perched on top of a partially collapsed wall.

Zoar, Teela thought, casting her eyes downwards.

Teela looked up again to find that Zoar had disappeared. I suppose YOU think I'm a disgrace too, huh? she thought, her thoughts directed at Zoar.

"Teela," said a soft feminine voice at Teela's shoulder.

Teela turned towards the voice. Crouched before her was none other than The Sorceress of Grayskull, in all her feathered glory.

"Are you all right?" asked The Sorceress. Without warning, Teela drew her dagger and held the blade against The Sorceress's throat.

"Teela, why are you doing this?" The Sorceress asked, puzzled by Teela's seemingly bizarre behavior.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Teela snapped, her green eyes now ablaze with fury.

"You don't have to do this," The Sorceress said softly, Teela's dagger still lodged against her throat.

"How do I know you're not Evil-Lyn?" Teela shot back.

She's frightened, The Sorceress thought. Can't say I blame her, though. "She doesn't know about Zoar…" she said softly as she clasped her hands around the hilt of the dagger.

"She's gone…" said The Sorceress. Nimble fingers gently removed the dagger from Teela's grasp. "When have you ever known her to press on with a failed strategy?"

"That's true," said a now-disarmed Teela, her face a mask of shock.

The Sorceress placed the dagger on the floor between them. "…And had I truly been Evil-Lyn, I would've killed you by now."

Teela relaxed her shoulders and breathed a sigh of relief. "Forgive me, Sorceress," she said apologetically.

The Sorceress put a comforting hand on Teela's shoulder. "It's all right," she said softly. "I don't blame you for being afraid." She sees illusion everywhere, she thought. "What she did to you was cruel … and inhumane."

"What're you doing here?" Teela continued.

The Sorceress took a seat on the floor against the wall, right next to Teela. "You seek your mother," she said.

"Yes," said Teela.

"Would you mind … if I asked why?"

Teela turned back to face the wall. "You wouldn't understand," she replied softly.

"Try me…"

Teela sighed. "Who AM I?" she said. "WHAT am I? Where did I come from? Who were my parents?"

"Those are good questions," The Sorceress replied.

"How did EVIL-LYN know that I was searching for my mother?" Teela wondered.

"That's partly why I'm here," said The Sorceress. She has to know SOMETIME, she thought.

"What do you mean?"

Guess this is it … "Teela, you're a telepath…"

"A WHAT?" Teela exclaimed.

"A telepath," said The Sorceress softly. "A telepath is someone…"

"I know what a telepath is," Teela interjected. "So what you're saying is … Evil-Lyn tuned into my THOUGHTS?"

The Sorceress nodded. "More accurately, she tuned in … to that which you broadcast."

"How did I get this way?" Teela asked, her voice quavering.

"You're a telepath … because your mother is a telepath," The Sorceress replied.

Teela stood up and faced the wall. "It's Evil-Lyn, isn't it?" said Teela, turning back to face The Sorceress. "She's my mother … isn't she?"

The Sorceress stood up and shook her head. "No, Teela," she said softly.

"It IS her, isn't she?" Teela shot back, years of repressed anger suddenly rising from within. "How else do you explain the secrecy … the pussyfooting around … the forbidden questions?" Teela paused. "She's an embarrassment … I'M an embarrassment…"

"You're not an embarrassment," said The Sorceress, putting a hand on Teela's shoulder. "Not to Man-At-Arms … not to the palace … and most certainly, not to ME."

The longer I keep my silence, The Sorceress thought. The more she'll be convinced that I'm keeping her from the person whom she perceives to be her quote-unquote "real" mother … Evil-Lyn.

I suppose I could erase her memory, she thought. But that would only leave her prey to the next … Evil-Lyn … to come into her life.

Ancients, it was never my intent to drive my own daughter to MADNESS!

"I'm here … because you need help," said The Sorceress softly. "You need to learn to control your powers."

"I AM an embarrassment," said Teela dejectedly.

"You're not an embarrassment … and you're most certainly not a bastard," said The Sorceress.

Teela did a double take. "What makes you think I'm a bastard?" she asked. "Can EVERYONE read my mind?"

The Sorceress smiled and shook her head. "I didn't need to," she said. "You TOLD me…"

"I DID?" said Teela. "When?"

"Remember that day at breakfast?" said The Sorceress. "Does the name … 'Captain Atreyu' … ring any bells?"

"Wait," said Teela. "YOU … were HIM?"

The Sorceress nodded her head … Yes.

"Why the disguise?" Teela asked.

"I wanted to see you. To be … close to you," The Sorceress replied. "I wanted to do it without attracting … attention … to myself."

All the breath suddenly left Teela's body. It could've just as easily been Evil-Lyn sitting across that table from me, she thought.

"Yes, that's true," said The Sorceress, responding to Teela's unspoken thought. She then smiled and added, "In the future, do try to be more … discreet … in public."

"How did He-Man know about my birthday?" Teela inquired, changing the subject.

"He didn't…" said The Sorceress. "…But I do." The Sorceress paused. "He was speaking … for ME."

"For YOU…"

The Sorceress nodded. "The voice you heard back there … was MINE."

"You seemed pretty sure of yourself back there," said Teela as she composed herself. "How bout I ask you the same questions…"

"You were born on the eighth day of the month of Renwet…" The Sorceress interrupted, answering Teela's unasked question. After a long pause, she then added, "…At Castle Grayskull."

Teela stared at The Sorceress, mouth agape. How does she know all this?

"And you graduated at the top of your class at the Academy," The Sorceress said with a shy smile, answering Teela's third question. She then added, "You gave a beautiful speech at your graduation."

A chill suddenly ran down Teela's spine. There's only ONE way she could've known all that, she thought. "Are you…?"

"Yes, Teela," The Sorceress replied, finishing Teela's thought. "I am your mother."