Chapter Four- Proposal and Wedding

"Adam, you will be king one day. I believe the time has come for you to choose your royal consort," Randor declared three days after Teela Na visited.

Adam stared at his father in surprise. Choose a consort now, of all times? He saw Duncan recoil slightly from surprise as well. He had been hoping that Teela would be Adam's consort despite her destiny of being the new Sorceress. A bit foolish of me to think that Teela could eventually be queen of Eternia when she was to be the Sorceress. I wonder if Adam had considered Teela

The prince was staring at the steps to the thrones, appearing to be in deep thought. It's not like I didn't know this was coming. It's just I didn't expect it to come so soon. I had thought of asking Teela, but that's no longer possible. I know Mother and Father would have approved of her; I must choose someone else and I think I know who.

Adam raised his eyes. "Father, I didn't expect to have to choose so soon although I did have a few options to choose. After some thought, I decided to go with a friend of Adora's."

"One of Adora's friends?" Randor was intrigued. Who could have captured his son's interest? "Who is she, Adam?"

"She is Queen Castaspella of Mystacor."

"Queen Castaspella? She rules alone?"

"Yes, Father. I met her once and she seemed interested in me and I was also interested in her. If she had a husband, I suspect I would have met him."

"Well said, son. I approve." He glanced at Marlene, who nodded. "We approve," he amended. "I suggest you find a way to contact her and ask if she will be your consort, or rather, fiancé. I expect you to come back when you receive an answer."

"Yes, Father. I'll do that right away." Adam left the room with Man-At-Arms right behind him. "Duncan, you know I would have ask the Sorceress if she hadn't already fulfilled her destiny."

"I know, Adam." As the two men climbed into a Wind Raider, he added. "I assume we're going to Grayskull to contact your fiancé?"

"Right."

"And on the way there, you can tell me about this Castaspella. How did the two of you meet?"

Sorceress was concentrating on the orb, just as she did when she was substituting, only this time she was having no trouble focusing on the different areas of Eternia. She turned her thoughts to the front of the castle and saw a Wind Raider with Adam and Man-At-Arms in it heading for the drawbridge. She sent the orb away with a wave of her hand and waved her other arm to lower the bridge and waited for her visitors.

She kept her voice calm and pleasant as she greeted them. "Adam, Man-At-Arms. What a nice surprise. How can I help you?"

"Sorceress, I need to contact Etheria," Adam said.

"Of course, Adam. Do you wish to speak with Adora?" Sorceress asked as she led them to the Window of Spirits.

"Actually, it's one of her friends. Queen Castaspella of Mystacor."

Adam's request threw her off slightly, but she didn't allow this to show. Instead she said, "Very well." She stood before the Window and chanted Castaspella's name as she had done for Adora. The glass shimmered and the queen of Mystacor appeared. Adam suspected that she was looking into her mystic pool to speak to them.

Castaspella smiled at the prince. "Adam, how lovely to see you again. What can I do for you?"

"My father has told me that I must choose a royal consort whom I will marry one day. I thought about it and well…Castaspella, will you marry me?"

Castaspella's blue eyes widened in surprise and shock at the question before a beaming smile came to her face. "Oh, Adam, I am flattered. Yes, I will."

"Wonderful. I'll let my parents know. Oh, Adora should know too."

"I will tell her."

"Thanks, Castaspella."

"Oh, no trouble at all, dear." The Window shimmered and became an ordinary glass again.

Adam turned away from the mirror and saw surprise flicker across the Sorceress's face before she smiled warmly. "Congratulations, Adam. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Sorceress. We have to go so I can tell my parents that Castaspella accept my proposal."

"Of course. Goodbye." Sorceress continued to smile as her friend and father left the castle. Once they were out of sight, she let the smile slip and felt tears burn behind her eyes. She had wanted to be Adam's consort, but instead he chose someone else, and a queen at that!

Teela Na stepped up beside her daughter and pulled her into a comforting hug. "I know you're upset," she said soothingly. "But, you couldn't be queen of Eternia and the Sorceress of Grayskull."

Sorceress blinked back her tears before answering, "I know you're right, Mother. I do enjoy being the Sorceress and I know I wouldn't trade it for anything."

"That's the spirit. Besides, think of Adam. He has a secret you know that he can't tell his fiancé."

Sorceress chuckled. "That's true. May we study some more magic? I would like to learn to change to a falcon so I can observe Adam's wedding when that day arrives."

"I would be happy to teach you and it's not at all difficult." The two women headed for the laboratory to begin another lesson.

Zoar soared through the sky, months later, enjoying the freedom of flight as much as she did the first time she flew. She circled above a brightly-colored, decorated courtyard where the wedding would take place. She could see from her height, people gathered outside the wall near the courtyard. She didn't see the royal family, her father, or the bride. Am I early as the people are? she wondered.

The blast of wedding trumpet almost startled her and sent her flying away. She quickly got a hold of herself before looking for a place to land. She found a spot on the wall where she could watch the proceedings and not be spotted. It would seem I am just in time.

The king and queen appeared first, followed by her father and Adam and then Castaspella and Adora. It was clear that the bride and groom were the happiest people in the courtyard, perhaps the happiest on the planet.

Adam and Castaspella stood before the king and queen and Adam gazed at his bride before lifting his eyes slightly to look at the partially concealed falcon on the wall.

She stared back before tapping her telepathy. "Hello, Adam. I wanted to be present on this happy day."

"Hello, Zoar," Adam replied. "I'm glad you came. It means a lot to me."

"My pleasure."

The End