3/?: What the Parents Confronted.

Fortunately both the Royals and Duncan were roused by the time their respective messengers arrived, breathless and not a little frantic in their explanations. It had the three parents practically racing to the Captain's suite; normally they would have moved a more sedate pace, if only to keep the gossips from misconstruing their haste for panic and terror. All three were beyond worrying about petty concerns, and indeed were nearly so hasty that they missed the caution with which both Maid and Guardsman spoke as they related what they'd seen.

Their respective accounts differed, naturally, but the central point was unmistakable: there was something very, very different about the newly-awakened pair, at least in contrast to how they appeared and acted before. Neither could point to any specific thing in those rushed minutes, but their conviction was enough to give the parents slight pause in their race.

Their caution was proven justified as Duncan, who reached Teela's room first, was startled as he entered her bedroom. His mind had only just processed the image of Adam and Teela kneeling on the floor and grasping each other tight, when the latter literally sprang to her feet, arm drawn back as if let a throwing blade fly; where she had hidden such a weapon escaped him as surely as the blade would have her hand. Fortunately Adam proved equally fast in jumping up and catching her hand as it swung forward, preventing said blade from doing exactly that.

Duncan could make out his daughter's expression at this, not one of anger or argument, but of wide-eyed terror and embarrassment. Adam's back to towards him, thus he had no idea what the Prince made of this beyond his obviously expecting such a move, hence his catching it so smoothly. His heart positively ached as he watched her all but collapse back into Adam's arms, her hands bunching the fabric of his own nightshirt, clinging to him as if for dear life.

An odd chill came over Duncan as he watched this, one he could not begin to explain even to himself. With some reluctance, he stepped forward and softly called "Teela? Sweetheart?"

Teela then let go of the Prince and, clearly equally hesitant, tottered towards him. She kept her eyes downcast, appearing slightly unsteady in gait, before all but colliding and throwing her arms about him. "Poppa," was all she managed, her voice as raw and deep as he'd ever heard her. Duncan crushed her to him, only dimly aware of Randor and Marlena's own arrival, and of their having to push past him to reach Adam.

Through teary eyes, Duncan watched as his oldest friends embraced their son, only to frown a moment later as he noticed something…odd: Adam appeared to be using only his left arm to embrace his parents, while his right arm dangled loose at his side. He'd held Teela with his left arm only...caught her arm with his left hand only...

Duncan frowned hard and placed his arms on his daughter's shoulders, gently disengaging her hold on him and asking "Teela? Look at me. Please?" His girl seemed disinclined to do so, and so he placed his finger under her chin and with the greatest care drew her face upwards. While she obliged him there, her eyes were the last to rise and meet his. Duncan was understandably taken aback at the sight of her eyes, dark and glittering as they were like polished obsideon.

He blinked quickly, unable to comprehend what he saw, only to be shocked still further that an instant later those same eyes were their original bright blue. Surely it had just been a trick of the morning light? But the depth and age with which she gazed on him now, that was no trick or phantasm. Duncan was shaken all the same by it (whatever it had been). Teela's gaze on him – one pure wonderment – wasn't helping. She even reached up and ran both palms over his face, as if touching some priceless glasswork that would shatter under the smallest pressure.

"Father," she breathed quietly, her voice strangely deeper and darker. "Father…I'd forgotten…Goddess, I'd forgotten…" She buried her face back into his chest, shoulders shaking again. Duncan felt tears start to soak the fabric of his shirt, his head now swimming in churning waters without relief in sight. Teela…his Teela…actually crying? And her voice, throaty and dry in comparison to how she normally sounded, it might as well have been a stranger speaking. His grip on her tightened and a singular question formed in his mind. What had happened to her?

Another unfamiliar voice spoke up. "Someone should summon the healers." It was more a command than an idle suggestion, one Duncan found himself very nearly stepping out to obey. He caught himself immediately and looked over to where this stranger was, prepared to berate the man for barking orders in the King's presence…jaw closing with a loud 'clack' seeing it was Adam who had spoken. He was now seated on Teela's bed, his mother sitting to his left and holding his hand, his father standing beside her. Duncan had to shake his head clear, something about the scene there striking him strange, as if it were a portrait of the monarch and his heir, except the heir was the only one standing.

His temples were throbbing at this bizarre line of thought, adding to his already confused state of mind given his daughter atypical behavior. If he didn't get some order to his thoughts soon, he'd be the one desperately needing Himon's care.

As if summoned by just the thought of his name, the elder healer breezed into the room with several attendants trailing close behind. The white-haired practitioner swept the room with his eyes, taking in everything, gaze lingering upon the Prince and Captain. His characteristic frown deepened slightly at the sight of each, then nodded and said "It's too crowded in here. Your Highness, would you and your parents mind going out front? Thank you."

Where Adam would normally, if not literally jump to obey, this time he grit his teeth and stood. There was a meeting of eyes between himself and Teela, after which he quit the room, notably without waiting for his parents. Again, the question resounded in Duncan's mind, the same as was written on Randor and Marlena's faces.

What had happened to them?

TBC...