A/N: I don't own these guys. Neither does LLG. We just enjoy escaping to Eternia on a regular basis.
'I can't believe I'm doing this,' Keldor moaned to himself.
Mira had only just left his chamber and he was marching down to the infirmary to offer to help heal Adam's son.
'She-Ra's here and can heal just as well as I can,' Keldor groused to himself. 'I'm only going to cause more pain and discomfort by showing up in that chamber. I'm sure She-Ra has already arrived and healed the boy. And I really don't want to cause anymore trouble for Adam, yet…' Keldor let out a heavy sigh. 'If it were my son, any of my children, I would want any possible help. This is the right thing to do.'
Keldor caught sight of Adam and Teela coming towards him, and his step faltered slightly. The former Captain of the Guard hardly looked like herself, and Keldor knew immediately that it was not childbirth that had caused the dark circles under her eyes. Her normal commanding stride was gone, replaced by a relatively slow walk. Adam even had one hand solicitously under her elbow, as if he were concerned she might collapse.
The two of them spotted Keldor at the same time. Adam's face showed no change of expression as he hid his jumbled feelings of wariness and hope. Teela's eyes narrowed, the anger and jealousy that exuded from her catching Keldor by surprise.
"I wanted to see if I could help," he said as they drew near each other.
"Don't you think you've done enough damage to my family?" Randor demanded from behind Keldor. The mage paled as he whirled around.
Keldor felt something snap within him. 'Drat it. I'm trying to help.' "Which is one of the reasons I wanted to help," Keldor snapped aloud. "Which is why I came back in the first place. To help, and face justice."
Keldor silently fumed as he looked over Randor. The old feelings of resentment he held toward Randor began to bubble up within himself, and he struggled to bring them back under control. Yet here in front of him stood his brother, judging him when all he wanted to do was help. Keldor knew somewhere in the corner of his mind that Randor had a right to his rage, but it did not matter to him anymore. He was tired, and he was through defending himself. He glared at Randor, and the resentment he'd felt against his younger brother showed clearly on his face.
"All you've done is spend the last two years figuring out another way to get the throne," Randor said, his eyes nearly black with suppressed fury. "And this is a new low for even you, playing off the emotions of an old man who lost his son."
"What the Blazes are you talking about?" Keldor demanded.
"I don't care who you are, you are not my brother," Randor growled. "Even if you are Keldor, all that's changed is the way in which you are attempting to claim the throne."
"I don't give a hair about the throne!" Keldor shouted, his face inches from Randor's."All I want to do is help! Can't you get that through that thick crowned head of yours, you annoying aristocrat?" Keldor's chest heaved at his outburst.
"By making my grandson sick?" Randor demanded. "Interesting that no one can figure out what's wrong with him and you happen to be back on Eternia, don't you think?"
"Father," Adam protested, though his mind also latched onto the idea. It had been habit to blame Skeletor for too long.
Teela's eye's narrowed. "Of course, I should have known!"
Adam placed a hand on her back. "Teela, calm down," he said. However, his gaze did not hide the suspicion that was growing within him.
Keldor looked at Adam with a mixture of anger and hurt. He had known he didn't have Adam's trust, but to see the prince so quickly believe ill of him...it hurt more than he would have expected, and his fury at that grew rapidly until he could no longer contain himself. "I did not hurt your son! Even at my worst, my very worst, I never willingly harmed children! I braved the wrath of Horde Prime himself for two children I had met only two days prior! And I risked death for the love of two orphans that I'd known for only six months," Keldor ground out.
"Oh spare me your fairy tales," Randor snapped.
Keldor glowered at Randor, his face stone.
"He did, though," Adam said neutrally, trying to sort through his own thoughts and feelings."He saved the Earth children from Horde Prime."
"Surely you aren't taking his side?" Teela demanded incredulously.
"I'm not taking sides," Adam protested. "I'm just stating a fact."
"I'll tell you a fact," Teela growled. "He's not laying a finger on my son!"
Keldor spun around and strode away angrily.
"You know where to find me if you change your mind," he called over his shoulder in a bitter voice.
Teela glared at the retreating form of her enemy.
"I'm going to get everything ready for our trip to Grayskull, Adam. Meet me in the hanger bay in an hour."
With all of the determination of her time as captain of the Royal Guard, Teela strode down the hall to her suite, leaving Adam and Randor standing across from one another in the hall.
Adam swallowed hard. The disappointment on Randor's face was enough to make him wish the floor would turn into a convenient dimensional portal.
Randor glanced up and down the hall as he took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. "We need to talk," he said in a low voice. Adam nodded wordlessly and followed Randor into the nearby library.
"Father, I'm sorry-" Adam began as soon as the door shut behind him, but Randor cut him off.
"I have no idea where to even start, Adam," Randor said, grasping his hands behind his back. He began to pace back and forth across the room. "How long have you known about this?"
"I wasn't sure Skeletor was Keldor," Adam said in a low voice, his eyes on his father. "If I had been sure, I would have told you."
Randor stopped pacing, staring hard at Adam. "I wish I could believe that, Son. But your actions as of late have been less than honest."
Adam barely resisted the urge to squirm under his father's gaze. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I could call him back."
Randor took off his crown, ran a hand through his hair, and held up the crown. "We have a responsibility to the people, Adam. Regardless of what is going on in our personal lives. By not bringing Skeletor to justice, you failed in your responsibility as the crown prince and as He-Man."
"I know, Father," Adam said, contrite. "I was tired. I just wanted to live a peaceful life, and with Skeletor gone I felt like that was possible. Oh I told myself it was because I wanted him to have a chance to change and part of me did, but I failed, Father. And I am sorry."
Touched by the sincere apology in spite of himself, Randor looked at Adam. Shock set in when he saw exactly how weary his son did look.
"Are you all right, Adam?" he asked in genuine concern.
Adam nodded quickly. "I'm not used to feeling at odds with everyone," he admitted quietly. "Even when you were disappointed in me before you knew I was He-Man, I knew it was temporary. This time I really did let everyone down."
Randor didn't bother to cushion the facts. "Yes, you did," he agreed. He frowned darkly. "And allying yourself with someone who was once your worst enemy, in spite of your family's wishes, is not showing good judgment, Adam. I don't know what your reasoning for claiming Edward's Law is, but I think you ought to think long and hard about your responsibilities."
"Yes, Father," Adam said meekly.
"And unfortunately one of those responsibilities is to ensure that that fiend and his witch cannot escape so my kingdom retains its crown prince."
Adam nodded.
"I know that you mean to go with Teela to Grayskull. I expect you will take all measures necessary to ensure that the criminals in your custody are kept in custody," Randor ordered.
"I'll speak with Duncan and Adora before I leave," Adam assured him. "Duncan was telling me of a device he had that would track and incapacitate them while we were still in the Vine Jungle, but Grandfather overheard us and refused to let either of us consider using them. I thought it was going to turn into a huge fight, but Battle Cat and Stratos showed up just a few seconds later with some intelligence for us."
Randor's head jerked up. "Battle Cat? Father was arguing with He-Man about security precautions?" Randor began to fume. 'Father is so besotted with that vile piece of filth that he will argue with Eternia's champion and his rescuer?!'
"No, he was arguing with me about this." Adam swallowed hard at the disbelief on Randor's face. "I'm sorry I forgot to tell you sooner, Father, but he figured it out while traveling with Adora. Apparently She-Ra looks a great deal like Grandmother without her headdress."
Randor gaped at his son. "He knows?"
"Yes," Adam confirmed. He waited a few heartbeats, then decided Randor was too surprised to pressure him for more details right now. "Father, I need to see Duncan and Adora about the security measures to be taken while I'm gone. I need to get Josiah to Grayskull," Adam said, his tone implying it was a request for permission.
"Very well, Son."
Adam turned to leave.
"And Adam."
"Yes, Father?"
"Before you ever get this tired again, so weary that your judgment is clouded, please come to me," Randor said firmly but kindly. "I want to help you, Son, but I can't if you won't allow me the opportunity."
Adam nodded, his face a mask that did not quite cover the sadness in his blue eyes, and then exited the room.
Keldor slammed the door to the opulent suite behind him then leaned back against it, running his hand through his hair. He tossed the staff Adam had returned to him earlier over onto the ivory sofa just as Lyn walked into the sitting area.
"I'm not entirely sure that door deserved that abuse, Keldor," Lyn drawled as she leaned on the doorframe of the bedchamber.
Keldor looked at Lyn for a moment, opened his mouth to speak, then stopped. He walked over to the window and stared out into the gardens below.
"What happened?" Lyn asked as she reached up to massage Keldor's tense shoulders.
"Randor," Keldor ground out.
"Tell me more," Lyn prompted as she began to knead a tense mass of muscle near his left shoulder.
"I went to offer to heal Adam's son."
"And you expected that to be received well?" Lyn asked doubtfully.
"No. I didn't. But neither did I expect to get into a shouting match with Randor in the middle of the hallway. I almost blasted him, Lyn, and I'm not sure which bothers me the most. That I wanted to blast him, or that I didn't follow through with it."
"Keldor, what was it that upset you so? You've been yelled at by Randor before...and you didn't expect him to receive you well."
"Of course I didn't," Keldor snapped.
Keldor groaned and walked over to the sofa. He moved his staff to the side and sat down. Lyn sat across from him and looked at him expectantly.
"It's just--he's so self-righteous....and so...so....."
"Angry?" Lyn asked dryly.
Keldor let out a deep breath.
"He has every right to be angry, and I..." Keldor trailed off. "I shouldn't be but sometimes I see his crown and his confidence, and his good life and know that I could have had that. I should have had that. I thought I was over that, Lyn. I can't believe I'm still feeling resentment toward him. I thought that was gone."
"The Truth didn't wipe out our evil inclinations, it merely revealed them for what they were," Lyn reminded him. "You have to deal with all of your feelings, whether you believe them to be right or wrong." She paused. "Personally, I think it's not the feelings themselves that are wrong. It's what you choose to do about them that could be wrong. If you continue to make the right choices, eventually even Randor will have to admit you've changed."
Keldor looked up at Lyn. "You are right, as usual." He gave her a mock glare. "Though I am loathe to admit it as that pretty head of yours has a tendency to swell."
Lyn swatted Keldor with a pillow. He smiled, but it faded quickly.
"It comes back to what we've discovered since our first day on Carina. Doing the right thing is not easy," Keldor said with a sigh.
"You're tired, Keldor," Lyn said, leaning to take his hand. "We both are. We've been through a great deal. In the old days, after such an intense campaign you would take out your stress on the throne room and then sleep for three days." Lyn smiled as she took Keldor's other hand looked into his eyes. "I doubt Randor would be fine with your trashing his throne room, but you can get some rest."
Keldor gave a short bark of laughter. "That would just add fuel to the fire, trashing the throne room. Randor-"
Lyn interrupted him by holding up her hand and tilting her head to the side. Silently, she crossed to the door, took a deep breath, and yanked it open.
There was no one there.
Lyn shook her head as she shut the door. "I was sure I heard something." She smirked. "I guess all this talk has me paranoid."
Keldor held out a hand. "I can't sleep right now. Let's go for a walk."
"Without Adam?" Lyn said, half-teasingly, half-sarcastically.
Keldor grimaced. "Oh, I'm sure that infernal Man-at-Arms or someone will keep track of us."
The wind coming up from the abyss seemed stronger than normal today. It blew at Adam and Teela from both sides at once. Teela tugged Josiah's blanket more tightly around him, and Adam's hand came up to rest between her shoulder blades in a protective gesture. The jawbridge opened before they neared the approach to the great wooden bridge.
"Adam, Teela," Serena greeted them as they entered, her head tipped slightly to one side. "What can I-?" She stopped in mid-question at the sight of Josiah in Teela's arms. Serena's entire face softened, making her look almost like a child. "Oh, he's beautiful."
"He's sick, Sorceress," Adam said somberly, his eyes darkened to a midnight blue in the castle's dim lighting. Serena automatically started to reach a hand out to heal him, but Adam's next words stopped her. "She-Ra could not heal him."
"But why?" Serena asked, her hand dropping as she sensed there was more to the story.
"She said he isn't ill," Teela said, her voice thick with emotion. "But he's so weak, and cries as if he's in pain. And he's starting to lose weight." Tears slipped down her face as she spoke. In spite of her anger with Adam, she leaned into him as his arm slipped around her shoulders. She needed his strength.
"I want to try the Chamber of Life," Adam said, his voice confident for Teela's sake.
"But that contains a wild magic," Serena protested. "Teelana told me that I wouldn't be able to control it."
"You probably can't," Adam agreed as he stepped away from Teela and raised his sword. "But I can. By the power of Grayskull!"
Serena narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. 'Odd, that Adam can control the magic while I cannot. Perhaps he has more abilities than we have given him credit for.'
"Are you sure it won't hurt him?" Teela asked hesitantly as He-Man took Josiah from her a moment later.
"I won't let it," he assured her. He-Man stepped into the window and the light surged around him, causing Teela and Serena to shield their eyes.
The hero felt the magic surge through him in an almost intoxicating manner.
Serena was impressed as she felt the glow of the massive power that He-Man was controlling and directing through his son.
The power glowed around the tiny boy in He-Man's arms but Serena could sense no change--no healing taking place at all. It was odd, but the magic seemed to be passing through Josiah. It was very strange.
Teela was frozen with worry as she watched the power flow over her family. Serena moved close to her cousin and placed a hand on her shoulder. Together they stared as the glow began to fade and He-Man stepped away. Josiah fretted a bit in He-Man's arms just before Teela took him.
"Did it work?" Teela asked, worry etched on her face.
"Let me check," requested Serena gently. She placed a glowing hand atop Josiah's chest. "I sense no illness," Serena said uneasily.
"But?" pressed He-Man.
"Something doesn't seem right. I'm not sure what I'm sensing," Serena clarified.
Before anyone could say another work Josiah let out a sharp wail.
Tears welled in Teela's eyes and spilled over before she could even attempt to stop them. There was no mistaking that cry. It wasn't Josiah's cry of hunger or tiredness, but a screech of unquestionable pain.
It was the first time He-Man had heard the cry that had been haunting Teela for a week now, and it pierced his heart. Tears pooled in his own eyes as his gaze met Teela's. "Is this what he's been like all along?" he demanded, emotions making his voice harsh.
Teela glared at him. "Yes! I told you all something was wrong!"
"I never said there wasn't!" He-Man protested. He sighed and relinquished the power back to Grayskull. "Sorceress, you're sure he's not ill?"
"Yes, Adam," she responded quietly to the young father, her eyes sympathetic. "Something is not right, but..." She hesitated briefly, then plunged on. "It may be genetic, Adam. I-I don't think there's anything we can do." She held back the fact that she thought Josiah was dying. She sensed it was not the right time to break such news to them. They would more than likely come to the sobering conclusion themselves very soon.
"What?" Teela gasped. She had known it was a possibility in the back of her mind, but never consciously acknowledged it.
Adam's jaw tightened and his face turned to stone. "I will find a way to heal him," he said in a dangerous tone.
Teela felt her worry recede just a little. 'Adam will fix it. He'll figure it out.' They were irrational thoughts, but she took comfort in them anyway.
Serena's studied Adam, worry reflected in her eyes. "What are you going to do?"
"Whatever I have to."
Randor's feet stomped sharply on the floor, announcing his presence to Miro before he had even arrived. Miro sighed wearily as he put away the small scrapbook he had kept hidden in his desk all these years. It wouldn't do for Randor to see him mooning over old photos.
In spite of his heavy steps, Randor knocked calmly and entered without displaying any type of emotion. He shut the door firmly behind him. It wasn't until he turned that Miro saw the suppressed fury in his son's brown eyes.
"I understand you know Adam's secret, and Adora's," Randor said in a hard voice.
Miro rose to his feet. "That's right. I know they are He-Man and She-Ra," he acknowledged, wanting everything clear.
"Then perhaps it's time you understood exactly what Skeletor's crimes include."
Miro knew of Keldor's crimes in the abstract, but to hear them now tore open his heart. He'd known of the countless soldiers that died in Skeletor's attacks, but to hear the names, and the families left behind...it was heart-rending. Then to hear of the destruction. With every example Randor grew more enraged. Randor was pacing in front of his father now, as he came to his next argument, fury in every tense step he made.
"Then he captured both Adam and myself and threw us in a cell. Adam didn't have his sword, but that didn't stop him from trying to escape at the first opportunity. He was beaten mercilessly in front of me while Skeletor laughed. And that was only for the escape attempt. He set some kind of spell over us that would force us to tell the truth and cause great pain if we lied. He began to question me about He-Man's identity. He understood quickly that I knew nothing so he turned on Adam."
Miro's head jerked up. Randor allowed a flash of triumph to cross his face as he saw the shock on his father's face.
"Adam had already been cruelly beaten and was in extreme pain, but he fought that spell, Father. He fought it with everything he had in him. He was willing to suffer any pain to keep his secret. To perform his duty to Eternos and to Castle Grayskull, and he almost died for it. It was only when Skeletor was killing me with his magic that Adam told Skeletor his secret--to save my life. Then I was frozen by a spell and forced to watch as Skeletor came within seconds of killing my son." Randor stopped pacing as he looked out the window, a haunted look in his eyes. "He laughed the entire time."
"I...I..." Miro mouthed the word, but no sound came from his mouth. Even though Randor had spoken of this before, to hear it as the final straw of all of Keldor's other crimes...somehow, the weight of what Keldor had done was finally starting to sink in. Miro stared at Randor's back, shock and horror at what he had heard catching him tightly.
His father's strangled sounds finally penetrated Randor's mind. He turned on his heel and froze at the sight of Miro's white, drawn face. 'By the Ancients, I was so caught up in convincing him how evil Skeletor is that I never thought about what it would do to him.'
"Father, are you all right?" Randor demanded, crossing the room swiftly and kneeling next to Miro.
Miro's stricken eyes never left Randor. "I'm so sorry," he rasped. "It's all my fault."
Anger surged through Randor anew. "That's enough of that nonsense," he snapped, standing abruptly. He crossed his arms belligerently. "Skeletor is responsible for his actions, not you."
"You don't understand," Miro argued, his voice gradually gathering strength. "You have refused to listen-"
"Because everything that man has ever done is a lie!" Randor shouted, his face reddening. "He has two motives, Father, greed for wealth and lust for power. Everything he does is directly related to fulfilling one of those desires!"
"He cried in my arms like a child!" Miro yelled back, standing to come face-to-face with Randor. "He is broken-hearted at what he has done!"
"Broken-hearted that he didn't succeed, you mean," Randor snorted.
"He was a good child, Randor," Miro said, his voice imploring his son to understand. "It was the torment he was forced to endure that-"
"Don't speak to me about torment!" Randor cut him off. "Adam has withstood more than your precious Keldor ever has, and has not faltered in his desire to do good! I may disagree with him or be disappointed in his choices at times, but he makes those choices out of a desire to help others, not selfishness and lust."
"And there is the difference!" Miro snapped, his eyes blazing. "Adam has had you. He has had Marlena. And Duncan. And Teela. Keldor had no one, and that was my fault. I should have been there for him." Tears began rolling down the old man's face. "I should have been there for him," he repeated in a whisper.
"Father, you are not responsible for his crimes." Randor clasped his father's arm.
Miro shook his head and was about to protest when a roar echoed from grounds below the window. Miro and Randor rushed to the window to see the Syriak attacking the priceless sculptures in the east gardens a few floors below him. Randor felt shock run through him. He had been briefed on the Syriak's presence—and the disturbing fact that the creature had been put in a room next to Keldor's so that the blue mage could control him—but it was terrifying to see the seven-foot monster crashing around the palace gardens.
Bedorat slammed his club into a statue that was well over five hundred years old, shattering it. "Ancients," both men groaned at the same time. Randor activated his communicator to call the guards.
--
"I-I'm s-sure that someone will call the guards," stammered Cringer as he shook just down the hall from the Syriak's mayhem. He covered his eyes with his paws. "L-let's just w-wait on them to arrive."
'You're the only thing he's afraid of, Love,' purred Callie. 'And how would you feel if a guardsman got hurt when you could have stopped it?'
"-come on Callie. D-do I have to?" Cringer whimpered.
'No, but you should.' Callie rubbed her head to his cheek. 'And I would be veeerrrry proud of you.'
Cringer let out a great sigh. "I g-guess I s-should."
Trembling, Cringer rounded the corner and inched into the garden.
"I will kill you all, you ice demons of Trall," growled Bedorat the Syriak as he slammed his makeshift club into a statue of the elders, sending it flying into the empty training fields. "You will die and I will roast your frozen heart over the blaze of your cursed houses!" A loud shattering echoed around the small garden as two more statues fell under the massive Syriak's blow.
Cringer slunk in behind some bushes until he was less than two feet from the raging Bedorat.
A stone head flew through the bushes, barely missing Cringer's tail. He jumped out of the way, only to land directly in front of the Syirak. Bedorat did not see Cringer at first, however. His focus was on the guards that were standing in the entry to the garden with their blasters raised. Seeing Callie give him a stern look, Cringer cleared his throat. "Hmm...hmmm. Excuse me, Mr. Syriak?"
Bedorat turned back. His yellow bloodshot eyes widened as he saw Cringer.
"Erm...." Cringer began. "Grrrrrr?" The green cat's growl came out more like a question than a threat, but the deranged Syriak did not seem to notice.
"Killer Kitty!" he yelped dropping his stick. He raced out of the garden, knocking several of the guards to the side. They looked at Cringer with shocked expssions for just a moment and then followed the creature as it raced down the hall.
"Your Highness," came the voice from Randor's communicator a short while later, interrupting his review of various petitions from a few provinces.
"Yes?" answered Randor.
"The creature is now secure in the room you requested."
"Any problems, lieutenant?" Randor asked, dreading the answer. He drummed his fingers on the desk, wondering why Adam had agreed to let Keldor house the creature next to him. It was obviously dangerous.
"None at all, Sir. The creature fled and was easy to direct after Cringer scared it."
"Cringer did what?" asked Randor incredulously.
"Apparently the beast is very afraid of Prince Adam's pet," the soldier reported, barely able to keep the amusement out of his voice. "He called Cringer a 'Killer Kitty.'"
Randor let out a loud guffaw at that epitaph.
"Cringer has agreed to guard the door of the Syriak for the time being, and it is locked from the outside as well."
"Damages to the garden?" Randor continued.
"All repaired. When Prince Keldor heard of the damages he used his magic to make the repairs. You can't even tell anything was touched now, Your Highness."
Randor gritted his teeth at the title Prince Keldor, but said only, "Thank you for your report and your quick response."
Randor sat heavily in a nearby chair. His father had left soon after their "discussion," still insisting that he was to blame for Skeletor's crimes. Randor shook his head. As if he needed any more reasons to hate that monster, now his father was suffering, and he didn't know how to fix this. "I don't know what your game is now, villain," Randor snarled. "But it won't work. I will protect my kingdom, and I will protect my father."