Pure Intentions? Chapter 14
A/N: Please note a small reference to Filmation's episode "A Trip to Morainia" in this chapter.
Several hours later, Adam and Teela were comfortably seated within the Attack Track, making their way to their first stop of Adam's Royal Eternian Tour. Cringer was lying down across the entire back seat, while behind him they had loaded a Wind Raider. Both of their luggage was loaded within the second Attack Track that preceded them, carrying Teela's lady maid and Adam's valet.
Adam noticed that Teela kept nervously looking behind her, as if someone might pop out from behind Cringer. Setting the automatic drive option, he hooked his arms behind his head after he reclined his seat backwards. Their trip to Morainia would take several hours, hours Adam planned on hopefully getting some additional shut eye as his high from his morning workout was wearing off. However, he couldn't relax feeling Teela's jumpiness next to him. Wondering what this was about he asked, "Sitting on a prickly pear?"
"What?", Teela asked shaken out of her reverie by the Prince's words.
"I was wondering why you are having a hard time sitting still", he said pushing his body upwards and turning in her direction.
"Ohhh, it's nothing." "I am just ensuring I did everything I had to before we left", Teela answered softly. Looking behind her once again, she wondered where Orko was. She didn't see him all morning. He wasn't there when they were loading the Attack Tracks. 'Had he changed his mind?', Teela wondered. She hoped not and yet he wasn't present. Off course, she didn't share any of this with the handsome prince as it would ruin the surprise.
"I'm sure you did, Teela." "You are a perfectionist after all", Adam stated nonchalantly.
"I am not a perfectionist, Adam", she corrected a tinge of pain coloring her voice. Smiling at him she continued, "If I was, I would never get caught by Skeletor or his goons", she pointed out.
"Teela, I meant it as a compliment." "You are very good at your job and you should be very proud of yourself", Adam responded quickly hating the pain he heard in her voice.
"I wasn't just alluding to my professional abilities, Adam", she shared sadly.
"What then?", he asked intrigued by the turn of the conversation.
"Nothing…", she stated unwilling to engage in this conversation with him until she knew for sure the truth about the man sitting next to her.
"Teela, you know you can trust me", Adam stated confidently. "I would never…." Not giving him a chance to continue she interrupted him stating, "I do trust you." "It's just that there are some things about me I want to keep secret."
"Secrets, from your best friend?", he asked wiggling his eyebrows at her.
Tilting her head back, she let out a light laugh before responding, "Hmm Hmm, everyone has secrets Adam."
Wondering at what secrets she kept he very matter-of-factly stated, "I hate secrets."
"And yet, I'm sure you have your share", she responded looking at him pointedly.
Gazing deep in her eyes, he responded "As Prince, I have insight to many state secrets others don't; but you knew that Teela."
"I'm talking about personal secrets, Adam." "You must have some?", she asked giving him an opening to come clean.
Boy did he ever. Thinking back, he realized that he kept so many secrets from this beautiful woman that totally ensnared his heart. As much as he wanted to share those secrets with her, he knew that he was not free to do so. Telling her any of his secrets would endanger their lives and he worried may push her away from him. Especially, his secret knowledge of the identity of her mother. Studying her, he wondered at this awkward conversation. Deciding his best recourse would be to change the subject he asked, "So where did your father take you out to dinner?"
Realizing the abrupt change of topic, Teela let go her train of thought answering him, "My favorite restaurant, Jarvonia."
"Nice, I haven't been there in years", Adam stated.
"It was nice, actually." "I missed spending time with my father away from the Palace", she stated without thinking.
"We keep you busy, huh?", he asked.
"I didn't mean that, Adam." "It's just that when I have him to myself, I can be myself", she answered.
"What about when you are with me?", he asked her.
"What do you mean?", she wondered.
"Are you yourself when you are with me?" "I know our relationship has changed in the last couple of years; but is what I see the real you?", he asked.
Reaching a hand out toward him, she took his warm hand into her own. Caressing his long square-tipped fingers she gave him a shy smile. Lowering her lashes she felt herself grow flush at his intense perusal of their joined hands.
Raising his hand, he cupped her chin and tilted her head back. Lowering his own head to touch his forehead to hers he spoke in a low voice, "I'd hate it if you weren't."
The low timbre of his voice, caused gooseflesh to raise all over her bare arms. Suddenly, feeling very naked and exposed she pulled her hand from his embrace, quickly wrapping her arms around herself for some added warmth. Always keen to her emotions, Adam noticed the uncomfortable feelings his nearness evoked. Dropping his hand from her chin and pulling back his head, he tilted his head sideways as he watched as Teela closed herself off from him.
Realization dawned that breaking down her barriers would be the hardest thing he ever did. This trumped his actions the night he ended their affair. Pain seized his heart, knowing it was he that was causing her such turmoil. He racked his mind as to how to rectify that situation. He vowed that when he was able to share his secret with her, he would beg her forgiveness.
"I'm tired, Adam", he heard her state. "Why don't we sleep until we reach our destination?", she suggested speaking his own mind.
"I think that's a great idea." "King Moraias does have a ball planned for tonight", Adam stated as he reclined back in his seat. Before closing his eyes, he watched as Teela depressed the button bringing forth the Attack Track's metal covering leaving only the glass windshield uncovered. He then studied her as she silently adjusted her chair so that she too was reposing on it. Closing his eyes, he contemplated their discussion and what her unwillingness to answer his last question disclosed. It seemed to Adam that they were both not being truthful with each other.
Teela awoke to the sound of the Attack Track applying its breaks and to the machine announcing that there was a blockage up ahead. Quickly opening her eyes and sitting up, she perused the road before her. A huge tree blocked their road. Disengaging the auto-pilot she pressed the buttons to open the doors. Grabbing hold of her laser pistol, she exited the vehicle. Walking up to the fallen tree, she wondered how she would be able to maneuver their vehicle around it.
Hearing Adam walk behind her, she put her hands on her waist as she waited to hear his suggestion. "Do you think it's Skeletor's doing?", he asked.
"It may be", she answered as she turned away from him. Walking back toward the Attack Track, Teela picked up her communicator to contact Maggie. She couldn't see them up ahead and Teela wondered if they had found a detour. As Teela spoke with Maggie, Adam contemplated if he should change into He-Man so that he could pick up the tree trunk. As he was thinking, he saw Cringer sauntering over to him.
"Do we need to change?", his feline companion whispered.
"We may need to, but how do we do so without drawing attention to ourselves", Adam answered.
"Leave that to me", Cringer answered as he made a mad dash away from the Attack Track. Shaking his head, Adam yelled "Cringer wait, where are you going?" Running after him, he passed Teela who was staring at Cringer running away.
Scampering a safe distance away, Cringer came to a stop in a clearing behind several thick trees. Running up to him, Adam stopped briefly to catch his breath before uttering, "Smart move, Cringe", as he reached behind his back. Making sure Teela was not watching, Adam uttered the words transforming himself and Cringer into Grayskull's Defenders. Leaping into Battle Cat's armor, he guided him back toward Teela who was still communicating with Maggie.
Passing the Attack Track, He-Man jumped out off Battle Cat's saddle before running to the fallen trunk. Bending low, he positioned both arms beneath the stump before lifting it off the ground. With a heaving breath, he flung the tree up and over the Attack Track. With a thundering crash, it splintered into hundreds of smaller logs no longer an obstacle to any traveling vehicles. As he was about to leap back into Battle Cat's saddle to leave, he felt Teela come stand behind him.
Turning slowly to gaze upon her, he noticed that she seemed very angry. "Fancy, finding you here", she stated coldly.
"I was in the neighborhood", He-Man answered.
Nodding she pointed to the Attack Track "Any idea where Adam went?", she asked. "King Moraias is waiting for us for a ball and we can't be late."
"I saw him running after Cringer, just as I was coming over that bend in the road", he answered curtly while pointing away from the location he had used to transform.
"Well thank you for your assistance, He-Man", Teela replied not hiding her annoyance with him in the least.
Bending low over his waist, he swept his arm out in front of him as he answered, "Glad to be of assistance." Straightening, he whistled for his companion to join him. Before leaving he heard Teela ask, "What brings you around here, again?"
Giving her a half lie he responded, "Prince Adam asked me to follow a safe distance behind in case any trouble arose."
"That was smart of him", Teela replied with a toss of her head before leaving him alone in the clearing. He watched as she boarded the Attack Track. Peeping out she yelled, "Tell Adam I'll wait for him here", before she closed the doors.
Rather than galloping away like he typically did, he decided he would let her stew in her anger a little bit. He-Man couldn't believe the rude reception she had just given him. He almost wished he could replant the fallen trunk back where it was, to block them from proceeding to Morainia. He would then join her in the Attack Track, pull her onto his lap and kiss her senseless. Quickly shaking his head at the bizarre thoughts he was having, he slowly walked into the forest where the trees blocked the scene of his transformation back into Prince Adam.
As soon as they were in their natural form, they walked away from the forest so that Teela wouldn't see them coming out of the exact location He-Man disappeared from. Coming to the front of the Attack Track, Cringer darted out of the trees running at full speed toward it. From inside the vehicle, Teela watched as Adam came running after his pet a smile on his generous lips. Jumping into his chair, he leaned back and closed his eyes as he waited patiently for Teela to start the engine as she sat behind the driver's seat.
Wordlessly, Teela relooked into the back of the vehicle wondering where Orko was. Igniting the engine, Teela copied Adam's movements closing her eyes again until they reached Morainia.
Soon after, the Attack Track informed them that they reached their destination. Opening their eyes, they watched as the Kingdom of Morainia came into view. Due to the constantly freezing and snowing climate, Morainia was built inside glass domes. These domes created a glasshouse effect allowing for warm weather year round on the inside. Teela knew that Morainia received its heat from the energy crystals they produced which they also traded with Eternos.
Perusing the city, Teela admitted it was truly a beautiful magical locale. She knew Adam had visited here a few years back when his father send him to pick up said energy crystals. He had related to them how Skeletor had attempted to steal the crystals for his own use and of how Princess Janice helped He-Man free her imprisoned father. Teela wondered if He-Man was still following them.
Sneaking a peek over to her companion, she noticed that Adam continued to sleep. Leaning over she nudged him on shoulder to wake him. Pulling back she watched as he slowly opened up his beautiful blue eyes and a small smile curved his lips. Becoming fully awake when he gazed out of the Attack Track, he turned in his seat to gaze at Cringer. "Hey bud, wake up we've arrived", she heard him state.
Pushing a button that served as a phone, Teela waited until the Morainian Royal Guards greeted them. When the shield that protected the dome where King Moraias's Palace was lowered, they proceeded forward. They came to a stop in front of a small gathering of guards lined in front of the Palace. Gliding the doors open, Teela stepped out of the Attack Track followed by Prince Adam and Cringer. Before closing the doors, she stuck her head back inside the vehicle giving it one final perusal. Facing front, she watched as the guards saluted the Heir Apparent before falling back to reveal Princess Janice.
Teela knew who she was facing from the many communications they had between the Royal Families in the past. However, the Captain had never had the pleasure of meeting the blonde beauty in person. She watched as the young lady curtsied in front of Adam before he raised her gloved hand to his lips giving her a chaste kiss. She continued to watch as a blush overcame the princess's features when Adam greeted her by her nickname. Teela knew these two were friendly; however, she forgot how beautiful Janice grew to be. A spark of jealousy enflamed within her heart despite Janice being almost ten years younger than the Prince. Given her royal standing, Teela knew that Janice was an excellent candidate to become Adam's wife.
Turning to face her, the Princess of Morainia saluted her before changing her demeanor. Reaching out, Princess Janice hugged the red-head stating, "It's good to have both of you here", surprising Teela at the warm welcome. "Come let's go inside and get comfortable before the ball."
Following the regal princess, Teela and Prince Adam entered the grand Palace of Morainia staring wide-eyed at all of the decorative ice sculptures lining the hallway. Princess Janice quickly gave them a tour before directing them to their suite. Once there she informed them that she had state business to attend to before the ball. Teela and Adam were given the freedom to rest, have a light lunch, and roam the Palace of their free accord before tonight's masquerade ball.
Opening the door to their suite, Adam allowed Teela to enter first, both out of gentlemanly manners and to give her an opportunity to discern any hidden threats. He waited until she checked out the room before following her inside.
Adam looked around the spacious room. In the center of the room was a large four-poster bed, a maroon comforter hanging off the sides. A fire was lit within the fireplace casting its warmth inside the room. To the right, he noticed two adjacent doors. Watching Teela open them, he noticed one was a walk-in closet, the other a restroom. Turning around, Adam noticed a chaise lined with overstuffed pillows matching the bedding.
Walking to the fireplace, he stoked the logs giving them additional oxygen and enlarging the flames. Turning he saw Teela freeze in front of the bed.
Continuing to face the bed she addressed him, "Adam, there's only one bed here."
Approaching her he stated, "I thought for security reasons its best we sleep in the same bed, Tee."
Turning to face him fully, she stated flippantly "I'm good on the chaise."
"Why?", he asked. "The bed fits both of us." "You'll protect me better if we were on the same bed", he stated desperately as his plan to win over her heart definitively included some intimate moments he planned on sharing with her on that bed.
As if she was able to read his most innermost thoughts she placed a hand on his chest before stating, "I don't think it's a good idea to share the bed Adam." "I'll take the chaise, you take the bed", she stated as she started removing the pillows off the chaise.
"Teela, what's the problem here?", he asked when he saw she wouldn't budge from her position. "We've shared a bed before", he reminded her.
"No, we've shared a tent and a bedroll but never an actual bed." "I'm your bodyguard, Your Highness, not your lover", she stated over her shoulder.
'Ahh, but Teela you are my lover', the Prince thought inwardly. Aloud he stated, "What about those times that we slept in the same bed as children", unwilling to give up the opportunity to wake up next to her.
Stalling in her movements, she turned to face him. "That was a long time ago", she said reminiscing about those years.
"Alright, Tee." "Then let me be a gentleman and sleep on the chaise." "You can have the bed", he stated gallantly.
"Adam…"
"I insist, I won't have my best friend sleeping on a cramped chaise, it's most unmanly of me", he said.
Raising her gaze to look him in the eyes she said, "Fine."
Resigned to his fate, Adam continued the chore of removing the pillows of the chaise as Teela turned down the comforter and fluffed up the pillows. Jumping on the bed, she emitted a loud sigh as her body was enveloped in its downy softness. Turning on her belly, she hid a mischievous grin.