For the second time in only a few days, He-Man was surprised speechless. He'd told her about that as Adam. Why was she suddenly questioning it? Teela took his look of shock to mean she'd upset him, and she rushed to explain.
"I'm sorry if this is painful for you to think about, but I need to know. It's really important," she told him. Her eyes pleaded with him.
"Yes, Adam was there," He-Man answered slowly. "Why do you want to know that, Teela?"
Relief and confusion written on her face, Teela got up and began to pace. "The father brought a get-well gift for you yesterday. He kept talking about you as if you were the only one there. I finally asked him if anyone else had helped you. He said no, that it was just you."
He-Man chose his words carefully, relying on Grayskull's power to aid him in telling the truth without revealing his secret. "People in distress often miss things. He probably just didn't see Adam." Of course he wouldn't have, he mocked himself silently.
Teela sighed with relief. "You're probably right. I can't tell you what a relief it is to hear this from you. Adam's been my best friend forever. I've always trusted him. I don't know what I'd do if he betrayed our friendship by lying to me like that."
He-Man swallowed hard, his face burning with shame. "Uh, Teela, why aren't you asking Adam about this?"
"I wanted to," she answered softly, sitting back down and toying with some rocks on the ground. "Even though I was hurt, he was the first one I wanted to talk to about it. But he was only coherent for a minute or two last night, and today…" she lifted one hand, indicating the craziness of it all. "I saw you first, and couldn't wait any longer." She looked down, embarrassed. "Now that I know he was telling the truth, I don't want him to find out I ever doubted him."
He-Man nodded his understanding. Part of him was hurt that she'd believed he was lying, but he really couldn't blame her, given Clemence's story. He knew he needed to transform back to Adam soon, but he hesitated. Teela seemed so vulnerable right now; he really wanted to stay and talk with her...realizing he was acting just the way Adam would if Teela were confiding in him, He-Man forced himself to get up.
"He-Man?" Teela's hand on his arm stopped him. "Thanks."
"Anytime, Teela," he told her with a smile. "Are you going inside to see Adam?"
"Yeah," she said. "You know, I haven't seen him fully awake since…since the other day." Her voice and eyes dropped. "I hope he's okay."
"Well, let's go see." In spite of the ache all over his body, He-Man bowed and motioned her forward, just to make her laugh, which she did. They walked towards the castle together, Battle Cat trailing after them. The Sorceress lowered the drawbridge for them.
"He-Man, do you actually live here?"
The champion was surprised by her question. It was one he'd expected for many years, but no one had ever asked. Fortunately, he had an answer for this one.
"No, the Sorceress is Grayskull's full-time keeper. My task is to fight evil and protect the innocent. That takes me all over Eternia," he replied as they entered Grayskull.
"Greetings, He-Man, Teela," the Sorceress said. "Thank you both for your help today. Skeletor spent a long time planning this. I hope we will finally have a few days' rest as he tries to come up with a new plan."
He-Man nearly slumped with relief. He just couldn't remember a more trying few days as Grayskull's protector.
The Sorceress noticed Teela's gaze going to the next room. "Prince Adam isn't there, Teela. I sent him to another part of the castle when Skeletor showed up." He-Man hid a grin. Yes, right to the drawbridge and out, he thought. The Sorceress raised an eyebrow at him, letting him know she'd heard his thought. "He-Man, if you would be so kind as to let Adam know that Teela is here to see him?"
"Of course. See you around, Teela. Come on, Cat." Teela watched as he walked away, strength and confidence in every movement, even though he was also clearly in pain. There was a lot about He-Man she admired, but she had to admit that he was mostly a mystery to her. She had no idea where he came from, who his parents were, or how he was chosen to be Grayskull's champion.
"He-Man is a mystery because he must be," the Sorceress said. She smiled at Teela's startled expression. "I'm sorry, Teela. When someone within Grayskull is concentrating on one thing so completely, it is hard for me not to know what it is."
Teela's face turned bright red, but she decided to take advantage of the moment. "Why must he be a mystery?"
"If Skeletor, or any of He-Man's enemies, were to find out anything about him at all, they could use it against him. His family, his friends, his home—all of them become targets. That is why he cares about so many, but calls so few his friends. And of them, fewer still know anything about him."
Teela turned to the Sorceress, sympathy in her eyes. "That must be an incredibly lonely existence."
"It is far more difficult than you know, my dear girl," the Sorceress answered, looking deeply into Teela's eyes. She had the feeling that the Sorceress was trying to tell her something, but she didn't know what it could be.
"Teela!" a voice called down the hall. They turned to see Adam, one hand on the wall, walking towards them. Cringer watched him carefully, as if he expected Adam to fall over any second. With a cry of relief, Teela ran to him and hugged him hard, welcoming the feel of his arms around her as he returned the hug. They stayed like that for a moment, then Teela felt a tremor run through him.
"Are you okay?" she asked, pulling back to study him. He didn't look too bad, except for the exhaustion lining his face.
"I just can't seem to stay on my own two feet for very long," he joked weakly. In truth, he was in constant pain, as if he'd strained every muscle in his body. "I don't suppose you've come to take me home?" His face fell as Teela shook her head. Now that Skeletor had tried the expected attack, Adam was eager to get home.
"I only have a sky sled, and you're in no condition to ride on it. Besides, Cringer wouldn't fit."
"I think we may be able to take you home, if you don't mind riding with your parents," his father's voice suddenly joined in. He and Marlena walked over and hugged their son.
"I'm so relieved to see you up and about," his mother said, her blue eyes shining with unshed tears.
"I'm okay, Mother, really," Adam said, hugging her again.
"I'm glad to hear that, brother," said Adora. Spirit followed her in, and Adam knew what was up in a glance.
"You're returning to Etheria, aren't you?"
"I'm afraid so, Adam," she said sadly. "Hordak has attacked another village, and is making the people his slaves as we speak." She turned to the others. "Would you mind terribly if I had a few minutes alone with Adam before I left?"
"Of course not," Randor said, giving his daughter a hug good-bye. "Please be careful, young lady."
After hugs and good-byes were exchanged all around, the others left. The Sorceress began to leave as well, but Adam stopped her.
"We need to talk with you," he said. Adora saw that he was growing weak again, and grabbed his arm. They walked over to the stairs in the main throne room, and Adam sat down gratefully.
"What is it?"
"The king seems to be, um, catching on, so to speak," Adora said, and explained what had happened.
"Teela also seems to be picking up on things," Adam added. "And truth be told, I think Mother already knows our secret."
"It is inevitable that the three of them will figure it out," the Sorceress said calmly. "And it is not surprising that it is happening now."
"What?" the twins asked together.
"Adora, you have no family on Etheria. Your parents do not see you enough to see make the connection. Your friends in the Rebellion have known you only a short while. Therefore, you have no need of a...disguise, such as Adam has used. But you, Adam…these three are the people who, other than Adora, love you the most. For years, your efforts at making yourself different from He-Man kept them from seeing the truth. I believe that Marlena, being your mother and not of Eternia, broke through the sword's magic some time ago, but for whatever reason, has never chosen to talk to you about it." She paused a moment, collecting her thoughts as the twins absorbed her words.
"Adam, when you saved your father and broke the spell during the last few days, your true nature was revealed to Teela and Randor. Your courage and determination were what saved you—the traits they see as belonging to He-Man, not you. The sword's magic will not hide the secret from anyone with a pure heart who wishes to truly know who you are, and from whom you do not want to hide the truth."
Adam was startled. "So, you're saying that this is partly happening because I want it to?"
"Yes, but that is only a small part of it. The sword's magic can sense when a person is ready to know, that they will be able to allow you, the Prince of Eternia, to do what he must do to protect not only Grayskull, but the entire planet. And that they will be able to guard your secret as closely as you have guarded it."
"So what do I do? Tell them? Or act even more cowardly and irresponsible than before, to try to keep it a secret longer?" Adam asked, a touch of bitterness in his voice as if he already knew the answer. Adora looked at him sympathetically. She did not have that problem, since she'd been raised as a warrior by the Horde. No one expected her to run from trouble, and they all believed her when she said she was going to find She-Ra. Adam had never been able to use that excuse, because it would only make the Crown Prince of Eternia even more of a target for Skeletor and others if it were believed he alone knew how to contact He-Man.
"No, Adam. The time for that is past," the Sorceress said gently. Adam looked up, hope lighting his face. "One of the reasons you had to keep your secret from your loved ones is because they could not handle the truth. They could not sit by and watch you place yourself in danger day after day. You have been He-Man for a long time now, and your parents and Teela now know that you are capable of handling the challenges you face."
"You must continue to protect your secret as you always have," she warned. "Let them figure it out and come to you in their own time. To tell them prematurely would be to put their acceptance of your destiny at risk. However, it would be reasonable for you, after your experience, to be more true to your nature. No one will question it if you seem to take your responsibilities more seriously and stop being late—when your duties as He-Man do not get in the way, of course. The sword's magic will continue to protect you. You must still be careful, and you may not want to improve your, ah, clumsy habits too quickly." The three of them chuckled.
Adam sobered quickly. "That will relieve some of the pressure, but I will still have to disappear to become He-Man each time. I'm afraid this newfound respect my father and Teela have for me won't last long."
"We shall see, my dear prince," the Sorceress said noncommittally. She turned to Adora. "I believe you have a town to save." With a wave of her arms, she created a portal to Etheria.
"This will take you just outside the town, Adora."
"Thank you, Sorceress." She turned to Adam. "I'm coming back as soon as I help the rebellion free that town. I'm afraid Skeletor isn't going to give you time to rest if he can help it."
"Take your time, Sis," he said, standing to give her one last hug. Adam watched as she left, feeling that familiar emptiness that seemed to be there whenever they were separated. After the portal vanished, he sat down heavily, resting his head on his arms, which rested on his knees.
"Adam, are you all right?" the Sorceress asked. Her brow was furrowed and concern showed in her green eyes.
"I didn't want her to know," came his mumbled voice. "She'd only worry more, and be angry with me."
Rather than ask additional questions, the Sorceress gently probed his mind, and was shocked by the raw pain, both physical and emotional, that was there.
Cut that out, Adam told her.
"I'm sorry Prince Adam," she said softly. "Both for invading your private thoughts and for not fully realizing the extent of what you've been through. And…for this." She touched his shoulder lightly as he looked up, and then he was sound asleep.