Pure Intentions? Chapter 34

With a visible bounce in his step, Adam walked quickly to his rooms to the dumbfounded stares of the guards patrolling the hallway. They were shocked to see him exit their Captain's living quarters so early in the morning. Adam saluted each of them as he walked past them. Smiling, he reached his rooms entering his security codes to open his doors. As the metal doors pulled apart, Adam faced the guards who were still in awe their gazes darting between his and Teela's doors.

"This remains between us", Adam commanded. He knew who each and every one of those guards were under their heavily masked artillery. If rumors about him spending the night with Teela arose, he knew who would have spread them. Hearing the note of authority in his voice, the guards immediately changed their posture straightening to their full heights all look of surprise wiped from their eyes. If their Prince wanted them to forget that they saw him leaving the Captain's rooms at such a peculiar hour, they would.

"Thank you", he stated before entering his apartment. As the metal doors swooshed closed behind him, Adam began removing his clothes while walking toward his closet. Before removing his pants, a huge green/gold blur of fur darted out from beneath his bed in a mad beeline straight for the Prince.

"Aaadaaam", Cringer yelled as he raised his massive body on his hind legs to wrap his front paws around the Prince's shoulders. "Wwhere were you?", the cat asked his voice shaking with fear.

"Telling Teela the truth", Adam responded as he squeezed his companion around his waist to give the big cat a scratch behind his ears.

Dropping his paws to the floor, Cringer sat on his haunches as a big smile graced his furry face. "You ttold her yyou are in love with her?", he asked.

Squatting down to continue petting the feline, Adam grabbed Cringer's head as he nuzzled against the fur on his neck answering, "She knows everything."

"About the ttransformations tooo?", Cringer asked in disbelief his eyes darting left and right.

Standing up, Adam giggled at the nervousness his pet was displaying. Walking into his closet, he carefully chose his clothes ensuring they were loose enough to hide his extremely muscular frame. Despite Teela and his parents now knowing the truth, Adam still had to hide his body from others. Depressing a button against the far right wall of his closet, Adam removed a lightly padded fat suit to don beneath his clothing. The Prince chose to add this extra precaution under today's choice of clothing as he was going to forego Teela's hated long sleeved white shirt. It was getting warmer outside, necessitating Adam to wear apparel more suitable to the changing season. The fat suit would provide a layer of deception so that he could wear lighter clothing.

Exiting his wardrobe, he stopped in front of Cringer to answer his question. "She knows that I am He-Man, but I'm not sure if she pieced the clues together that you are Battle-Cat." "Do you want her to know?"

"That I become that fffretful bbbeast?", the timid feline asked shaking his head with disgust. "Hmmm, now that I have a ccchoice I think….yes." "She'll be so sssurprised", he commented.

As Adam dressed, he listened to his companion's musings. Buttoning up his shirt, he turned to face Cringer again as he stated, "My parents know the entire truth too", as he had yet to let Cringer know that the King and Queen knew of his secrets. "They may start acting differently towards you if they know you are not always such a fraidy cat", Adam teased.

"Oooh, but I am", Cringer answered covering his head with his large paws. "Please don't allow them to treat me differently….I like the treats they give me", the cat stated with a mischievous gleam in his golden eyes.

"Don't worry, Cringe." "The King and Queen know they have to help us hide the truth." "I doubt they'll treat you or me any differently than they have previously", the Prince stated as he pulled on a pair of shoes. "Have you breakfasted yet?"

"Noooo, I was waiting for you ttto0 come back." "You ssscared me when you didn't return lllast night", Cringer admitted. "Did you ssstay in Ttteela's room?"

"I lost track of time and woke up there this morning", Adam answered easily. There was no reason not to be honest with his pet. "By the way, she agreed to court me."

"Tthat's why you ccame in here singing", the cat stated.

Surprised, Adam asked "I was singing?"

"Yes, something about 'True blue mmmmmm you'" (see work cited), Cringer quoted trying to sing the song.

Hearing the feline attempt to sing caused Adam to double over clutching his abdomen as spasms of laughter racked his body. No wonder the guards were giving him such crazy looks. Not only were they shocked to see him exiting Teela's rooms, but apparently he was singing out loud and he hadn't even noticed it. His actions bespoke volumes about the happiness coursing through him.

Adam couldn't control his laughter as all the stress of years of hiding his identity from the woman he loved, finally left his body. Falling backwards on his bed, he let the hilarity of the situation wash over him, erasing any fears and doubts he held that Teela didn't love him. However, a thought nagged the back of his mind. Teela never said "I love you" back to him last night. This automatically helped end his joviality.

Joining him on the bed, Cringer laid his massive head on top of the Prince's abdomen as his own grumbled with hunger. "This ccchanges everything for us, ddoesn't it?", the feline asked.

"What do you mean?", asked Adam as he propped himself up on his elbows.

"If Ttteela moves in here wwwith you, I'll have to move out", the cat replied.

"Cringer, it'll be a long time before Teela and I start living together", Adam informed him. "Plus I have a feeling Teela wouldn't mind your presence, she adores you."

Nodding, the cat leaped off the bed padding over to the window. Looking outside, he asked "It's a bbbbeautiful day, want to go fffishing?"

Standing up, Adam joined the feline by his veranda also looking outwards towards the great forest bordering the Palace's perimeter. Reaching down to give the cat one final scratch behind the ears, Adam replied "Unfortunately, I'm super busy today, Cringe." "We'll have to put off our fishing trip till next time."

"Iii understand", Cringer stated his voice sounding a little disappointed.

Adam caught the hurt in his buddy's voice wondering what was causing the cat distress. Not wanting his companion to hold any disgruntled emotions, Adam asked "What is it Cringe?"

Always having an open relationship with the Prince the cat replied, "Ever sssince your fffather announced ttthat he's going to abdicate the Thttrone, things are ccchanging around here."

"I had to change because of that, Cringe." "Can you imagine what will happen if I continue acting the fool?", Adam asked with an abhorrent shake of his head. "Skeletor will think Eternia is a free for all, a buffet for his taking." "I have to figure out how to be the best King I can be, while still keeping my secret." "I'll need your help to accomplish this", he stated affectionately.

"Meee?", the cat asked.

"Yeah, who else can I count on." "We're a team, Cringer, always and forever", Adam replied ensuring he eased his companion's worries.

"Ohhhh, thanks Aadam", Cringer stated as he raised himself once more on his hind legs to lick Adam across the face.

"You are most welcome", Adam stated. "Now I have a job for you."

"What?", the cat asked.

"I need you to deliver these messages", the Prince stated as he walked over to his writing desk. Sitting down, he retrieved a pen and paper along with his waxed signet ring. Writing the missives, he folded them into envelopes before affixing them with his official seal. Handing both to Cringer, who held them gingerly within his colossal jaw Adam stated, "Deliver these to the people addressed on the envelopes and then meet me in the dining room."

Without further ado, Cringer left their apartment to run an extremely important errand for the Prince.

While Adam was writing his missives, Teela decided to forego breakfast needing some time away from the Prince to calm her fury. Deciding a workout would bring about the necessary calming effect, she joined the guards for their morning training. It had been a long time since Teela put her body through the rigorous guard training. Joining the men and women on the training field she eased through the morning routine, Adam's last words to her replaying in her mind.

Why did he want her to wear a stupid wig? Teela couldn't figure it out. In Morainia, he wore it to the masquerade party, appearing as that disguised dancer in front of the Morainian Royal Court. Then, he danced with her. Reminiscing of the King's words yesterday, that his announcement that Adam must marry, may have started a 'civil war' among the eligible women of the realm, Teela's heart beat faster. Could it be that Adam was just trying to protect her? Teela stopped her movement mid pull-up, her body dangling several feet off the ground, as she contemplated this.

Adam/He-Man always did that. He was a protector through and through. Especially, when it came to her well-being. Knowing this, Teela decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Finishing her morning workout, she wiped the sweat of her face before taking a long swallow of refreshingly cool water.

Depositing the water bottle in the recycling bin, Teela decided to return to Adam's office to see if there were any clues as to why Skeletor and Count Marzo abducted Lady Stephania. There was nothing like good hard detective work to occupy her mind from a thousand questions she had for her Prince.

Entering his office, she noticed that the demolished wall was almost complete. Palace staff had worked throughout the night ensuring Adam's office was up and running in no time. Surprised, Teela noticed that Adam was not present and wondered where he was. She tried reaching him on his communicator, to no avail. Stopping a maid, she asked if she knew of the Prince's whereabouts. The maid didn't; therefore, Teela decided to seek her father out knowing now that the King's Man-At-Arms always knew where Adam was. Perhaps He-Man was needed early in the morning thus explaining Adam's disappearance.

Finding her father in his workshop, she kissed him good morning. Not one to engage in small talk she asked, "Father have you seen Prince Adam?"

"No, is everything all right?", the wizened soldier asked.

"I hope so", Teela answered. "I went by his office and he wasn't there." "He didn't respond on his communicator, either." "Was He-Man needed?", she asked jumping to the conclusion as for the reason Adam wouldn't be in his office. Teela knew Adam's schedule and today was his assigned date to handle his legal paperwork that went along with his various assignments/responsibilities as Crown Prince.

"How would I….", Duncan began to state but was interrupted by his daughter as she held up a hand stopping his denial as she stated, "Father, I know about Adam's secret."

"What do you mean?", Duncan asked hesitantly through half-closed eyelids.

"He's secret…..", Teela let the word hang in the air.

Her father continued looking at her as if she had two heads. Frustratingly, she threw her hands in the air as she stated through gritted teeth, "His alternate persona." "When he transforms into….", Teela left off the end of her sentence when she saw her father's eyes grow as big as saucers in his face, as he also held up a hand stopping her. Removing his protective eye gear and laying the blow torch he was holding to meld the engine of a broken Sky Sled together on a table, he sat down on a workbench as he stared at his daughter.

"He told you?", he asked with surprise.

Teela's eyes quickly darted away from her father's hard glare. She couldn't tell him exactly how her suspicion was clarified last night. What she did with Adam in her bedroom was her business only. Off course, Teela's sudden unease didn't go unnoticed on her father. Drawing the right conclusion, he cleared his throat and turned back to the Sky Sled.

"Just be careful, Teela", he advised her.

Her father's words confused her. Was he warning her about Adam? What did she have to be careful about, she wondered. Then it dawned on her. Her father correctly surmised that her relationship with Adam had drastically changed in the last 24 hours. Closing the distance between them, she hugged him from behind stating, "Don't worry, dad." "We will be."

Reaching backwards, he squeezed her arm as he continued working on mending the Sky Sled. Seeing that he didn't answer her question about Adam's whereabouts, Teela repeated it as she continued to hug her father.

Before answering her question, Duncan stated "Don't talk about those transformations aloud." "You never know who may be listening or lurking in the shadows", he warned.

Teela apologized for her mistake before her father continued, "No, Teela." "He-Man wasn't needed this morning", her father answered.

Whispering in his ear she asked, "So where is Adam?"

Turning to look at his beautiful offspring, Duncan replied "I have no idea." "Do you need him?", he asked as he screwed in the last missing bolt.

"No, not really." "I went by his office to see if Count Marzo or Skeletor left any clues as to why they abducted Stephania and noticed Adam wasn't there", she answered.

"Perhaps with his office in shambles, Adam is working somewhere else", Duncan offered.

"Yes, off course that makes sense", Teela answered. "If you see him, will you tell him I was looking for him?"

"Sure, dearheart." "Where are you off to?", her father asked.

"To see King Randor about organizing a rescue party for Stephania and the Rock People's children." "With yesterday's attack, we haven't had a chance to plan how we will find those children", Teela explained.

"The King has already dispatched a rescue party for Stephania", Duncan informed her. "We came looking for you and Adam at your respective offices, but not finding either of you the King tasked me with selecting a few Masters and guards for the job." "To be honest, Teela, I don't want you anywhere near that woman until we figure out what she is truly up to."

Teela's eyebrows flew into her hairline at her father's news. She thanked the Ancients that she wasn't caught in a comprising position on top of the Prince's desk. That would have been total embarrassment and earned her a demotion for lewd behavior on the job. Turning beet red, she excused herself from her father's presence without any explanation. It was a good thing Adam had the foresight to douse her desires.

Teela practically ran to her office, locking the door behind her. Crouching on bend knees behind her door, she took several deep breaths to calm her heavily beating heart. Releasing her heavy mass of red hair from its ponytail because the weight of it was pulling down on the nape of her neck brining about a headache, she stood up and poured herself a cold glass of water. Downing it in one gulp, she sat behind her desk turning on her computer.

Once the screen blinked on, Teela realized that her office looked different. Peering from around the computer module, she stared at the freshly delivered flowers on top of her bookshelf. Turning to look at her medal counter, Teela saw more vases with flowers. Perplexed she stood from her chair, coming around her desk to inspect the vases closer. There must have been at least 60 vases filled with her favorite flowers of red roses. Stopping in front of the largest vase, Teela retrieved a small envelope with her name printed on it. Opening it, she found a simple card with handwritten words in Pig Latin. The Queen had taught Adam and Teela this made-up language as a game.

Bringing a trembling hand to her mouth, Teela suppressed a cry of delight. While she was training and visiting with her father, Adam had asked the Palace florist to deliver these beautiful flowers to her office. His card noted that there was a vase for every month they were together in secret. This was his way of making up for the missed romance he owed her for all those years and indicated a promise that he meant to make it up to her, beginning with tonight. In the note, he asked that she wear something comfortable instead of something fancy, for what he had planned didn't require formal attire.

His romantic gesture brought instant tears to her eyes. His actions proved to her that he was aware how much he had hurt her by not giving himself 100% all those years. Teela instantly forgave him, her anger at his wish that she wear a wig tonight forgotten.

Teela was now excited to see what he had planned.

After leaving his rooms, Adam briefly stopped by the dining room greeting and informing his parents about his plans for the day. King Randor was more than eager to allow Adam to use his own office in the wake of yesterday's catastrophe. Thanking his father, Adam entered the King's study informing Mr. Exenbli that the King was taking the day off. Adam was to handle all manner of business in his father's absence.

Therefore, while Teela was smelling her flowers, Adam was sequestered inside his father's office on a video call with Lord Teary. The Viscount was already aware that his daughter was missing and had sent out his own rescue party. Adam had ensured the older man, that Eternos was going after her with full force and he was confident that the Masters and guards his father had dispatched would bring her back safely.

"Prince Adam, your father also informed me that my daughter had abducted your bodyguard", Lord Teary stated with concern.

"That is true, sir", Adam answered.

"I must apologize for my daughter's actions, I don't know what has gotten into her." "Ever since she saw you and the Captain dancing together at your birthday ball, she has gotten it in her head that you and your bodyguard are romantically involved", the Viscount stated.

"I'm aware of your daughter's thoughts, milord", Adam replied. He wasn't ready yet to let the older gentleman know that his daughter was correct.

"However, I informed her that she is wrong." "You could never be involved with a commoner", the Viscount stated dabbing the sweat of his face.

Adam heard the older man's words, barely restraining himself. Calling on years of self-discipline the Prince breathed through the scathing retort ready to spring from his lips. Lord Teary wouldn't be the only nobleman voicing his opinion of Adam's choice of a bride. The Prince was cognizant of that fact, having heard the difficulties his parent's had when they were courting. History did have a funny way of repeating itself. Being his father's son, there was no way in Hades that Adam would let them insult Teela. The Prince knew that he would have to make it clear to all the nobles, that he wouldn't' accept anyone impeding his happiness.

"Tom", Adam began calling the Viscount by his first name as a means to show him that he wouldn't be intimidated, "do you forget that my mother is a 'commoner'?"

"Your Queen mother is a wonderful lady whom I was actually in great support of to marry your father, Your Highness", Teary answered knowing fully how defensive the Miro family was of each other. He didn't want to alienate the Prince, as he needed his help to retrieve Stephania.

"Then what are your reservations against Captain Teela?", Adam asked.

Being honest the older man answered, "She isn't my Stephania."

Adam saw red. It was as if their previous conversation in Arcadia where he thought he made himself clear on the subject of his interest in Stephania or lack thereof, didn't occur. There was nothing like the present to make himself clear once again as he responded, "Stephania and I will not marry." Adam gave the word 'will' an extremely hard stress hoping that the Viscount would hear him clearly. "Although I", Adam stated once again clearly highlighting that it was his own personal resources that were being used to fund Stephania's rescue, "am willing to have her rescued it is so that she can be fully prosecuted for her crimes against the Crown."

"You wouldn't dare", Teary stated insolently.

Adam did not respond to the Viscount's threat. Rather, he stayed motionless his cold hard eyes boring into the obese nobleman's gaze.

"She hasn't done anything wrong!", Teary stated worriedly when he saw that his threat went unheeded by the Prince. "You can't prosecute her", he pleaded.

"Try me!", Adam stated acerbically. "She committed crimes against one of my allies, let alone the woman I plan on marrying", the Prince stated wholeheartedly. There was no use in hiding his intentions for the brave Captain any longer. After his discussion with his father this morning, the King would be making an announcement that Adam would be entering into courtship with someone of his choosing during the next official Royal Court day. In two weeks time, the entire Realm would know that the Kingdom was one step closer in having its next Queen named. "I'm sorry, Tom, but your daughter will have to pay for those crimes", Adam finished.

The Viscount was speechless. He didn't know how to handle the normally placid Prince's admission. Perhaps, he and the rest of the nobles had underestimated this young man. The current thought of those that comprised the ton was that Prince Adam would be a puppet ruler, one easy to maneuver and bend to their will. His actions and words today were more reminiscent of a younger Randor who commanded respect and authority from a very young age. Noticing that Adam's will was as ironclad as his father's, Lord Teary began to question his assumptions about the younger man. Twice in less than a week, the Prince had made sure his intentions were extremely clear. This was remarkably unlike his alluded aloof easy-going personality. The Viscount began seeing the Prince in a new light. Once his daughter was safely home, Teary would address his fellow peers sharing these new insights into the Prince's personality. It seemed that their designs for the Crown would not be easily won over.

In an attempt to pacify the Royal, the Viscount stated "Please be lenient with my daughter, Your Highness." "She is but only a love sick young lady, who has been reacting to her father's wishes."

"So you mean to tell me you had something to do with Teela's abduction?", Adam asked his voice harsh devoid of any of his usual cordiality.

The Prince's assumption left the gargantuan nobleman speechless. Stuttering he answered, "Wwhy would yyou think so?" Teary couldn't afford to be brought up with charges of treason against the Crown. He was an extremely affluent nobleman and if found guilty, he knew that he would lose all of his riches, lands, and power.

"Right now, I have the right to suspect all of you", Adam replied implying that he didn't trust any of the men that had females of marriageable age. In fact, he didn't even trust any of the noblewomen either. In his experience, it was the female Eternians that were even more conniving than the men. Lady Stephania was just one of many women, Adam was sure would try to impede his courtship with Teela.

Several long minutes passed without either speaking. Adam was quickly losing his patience, he still had to visit Grayskull and this conference with Lord Teary was taking longer than he intended. Therefore, he found himself repeating, "Did you have anything to do with Captain Teela's abduction?", his tone unwavering in its intensity.

Folding his pudgy hands into a steeple in front of his rotund face, the Viscount lowered his forehead to touch the tip of his fingers as he mumbled, "No, Your Highness." "Stephania has acted completely on her own." Deciding it was better to save his own hide he added, "You know she isn't even my biological daughter, but I love her as if she was." "I'll do anything to protect her."

"Then you'll be in the right to warn her to stay away from me and the Captain." "I'll do my best to bring her safely home so she can stand trial." "This I promise you", Adam stated as he wanted to end the call.

"Your Highness", Teary called when he noticed that Adam was about to sign off the call, "there is something else you should know."

Intrigued, Adam asked "What is that?"

"Perhaps, you shouldn't waste your time trying to retrieve Lady Stephania", Teary stated sheepishly.

Now it was Adam's turn to look perplexed. "Why not?", he asked cautiously.

"Not everything is what it seems with her", Teary stated.

Adam wondered if the greedy nobleman was speaking about Stephania's magical abilities. He wasn't expecting to hear the Viscount state, "It's about who her biological father is." "You see, my beloved deceased wife was already pregnant when we married." "I loved her so much, I accepted that fact promising to lovingly raise her daughter."

"I don't mean to pry into your private business, but do you know who the father is?", Adam gingerly asked.

Nodding his immense head, the Viscount answered "Count Marzo."

Work Cited:

Madonna. "True Blue." True Blue, Sire Records, 1986.