Adam quickly dove to the side, avoiding the Syriak, who landed almost on all fours. Keldor ran down the hall, shouting at Bedorat to back off. Adam rolled and managed to get to his feet, but Bedorat had used his momentum to spring at him again immediately, and he knocked Adam down. Adam's head hit the stone wall with a thud that Keldor would later swore he heard.
"That's it!" Keldor roared, mentally cursing himself for his delayed reaction. Using his magic, he activated Bedorat's collar, and the creature found himself unable to move. "I'm sorry," Keldor said to Bedorat, hating that he had to use the despicable device, "but it's either that or a prison."
Keldor bent down and placed a hand on Adam's shoulder. The prince's eyes were shut, his breathing shallow. Keldor sent his healing magic through Adam, hoping it would be enough. Within a few minutes, Adam's eyes slowly blinked open to find Keldor's worried face close to him.
"Are you all right?" Keldor asked almost impatiently.
"Just great, thanks, never better," Adam replied, a trace of sarcasm in the words. He sat up gingerly. "I suppose I should thank you."
"No thanks needed," Keldor said gruffly, helping Adam rise to his feet. He sent a burst of magic toward the Syriak. It grew dazed and calm. "Go to your room and do not come out," he ordered.
The Syriak did as bidden, its gait wooden and stiff. Even as awkward as it appeared, it still presented an intimidating sight, standing nearly two feet taller than either Keldor or Adam.
Adam watched it go warily. "That thing seems to have it in for me whether I'm He-Man or not."
"It has an unusually well-developed sense of smell, and its mind is not stable. I daresay that Grayskull's magic cannot hide your identity from it," theorized Keldor.
"Great," Adam muttered. He started to move on, but stopped. He hated being at odds with people, but his desire to protect Teela from any additional distress was kicking his natural defensive instincts into overdrive. He struggled with what to say to Keldor, the former enemy who had now become an ally and a part of the family.
Keldor looked on Adam in the silence. He felt a need to continue this conversation, yet everything within him fought against it. He sighed internally. This was another compulsion.
"I will add a few more wards around his door, so I can detect his movements in the future. I would have been more careful, but your cat has been keeping a close guard on the door lately and it hadn't occurred to me to be more cautious," Keldor explained unwillingly.
Adam nodded stiffly. "Well, Cringer's pretty much ruled by his stomach," he said, striving to lighten the tension between them, though he had no idea why. 'He killed Teela's father. If- " Adam's thoughts suddenly ground to a halt, then sped forward even faster. If Skeletor hadn't killed Teela's father, she wouldn't have come to the palace to live. She would have stayed in Grayskull with her parents.
Keldor chuckled at his remark. "Panthor was much the same." He grimaced internally as soon as the word left his mouth. 'How could I be so stupid to bring Panthor up? Right,' he reminded himself, "because I have been missing him because of the way the cowardly cat's lovely mate likes to walk with me.'
Adam pulled himself from his tumbling thoughts of how terribly lonely his childhood would have been without Teela. He tilted his head in curiosity. "Panthor," he repeated. "Whatever happened to him, anyway?"
Keldor released a breath he did not realize he'd been holding. "I really don't know. He always had an independent streak and I never sought to tame it. He would go about from time to time, I assumed finding female companionship if the smug strut he used every time he came back meant anything. The last time I saw him was just before our encounter on the other side. I'm sure he's out there somewhere taking care of himself. I never understood why such an independent beast would want to be around anyone, but we understood each other."
Adam smiled. "I get that," he said. "Cringer and I understand each other as well." His smile turned into a smirk. "Of course, Cringer can talk."
"I'm rather happy Panthor couldn't say what was on his mind. I'm fairly certain we wouldn't have gotten along nearly as well if he could tell me exactly what he thought of my plans. And I'm fairly certain he would be using much more....erm...colorful language than your cat has ever heard," Keldor said with a chuckle.
Adam laughed out loud. A small silence fell between the two men as they headed back towards their suite doors. Adam paused outside the door and took a deep breath, turning to Keldor. "Look," he said hesitantly, "I can't hurt Teela anymore. Agreeing to keep your secret from her was a mistake to begin with. I-I need to be on her side, so to speak, until she works through her anger with you." Adam's blue eyes asked his uncle for understanding.
"I understand completely," assured Keldor. "I would expect no less, and I do not expect you to be on my side. I only expect you to do what's right."
Adam nodded his appreciation, but Keldor caught a flash of uncertainty on his face.
Keldor would have cursed out loud if it would have helped his case. 'Truth, I don't do mushy sentimentality and I'm blasted tired of apologizing. I don't WANT to continue this conversation. Keldor tried not to show his gritting his teeth and said as calmly as he could. "I was going to the kitchen for a snack. Would you like to accompany me? "
Adam hesitated again. The last thing he wanted to do was risk spilling out the story of how tempted he'd been by Damien's offer. He didn't need a lecture from Keldor about doing the right thing. Nor did he want Teela to come looking for him and find him breaking bread with "the enemy."
"No thank you," he finally answered. "Let's just call a truce." He held out a hand expectantly.
Grateful beyond words that this uncomfortable moment could end, Keldor extended his hand, "Truce." He gave Adam a firm hand shake and headed to the kitchen. He wanted to go back to his room, but he had said he was going to the kitchen, so that's where he headed. Another day he would have complained a bit about the unnecessary trip. But today, he was elated as he walked down toward the kitchen.
Adam stood there for a moment, feeling as if an opportunity had slipped away. He glanced at the door leading into his suite and turned back the way he'd come. He felt the need to see his family again.
Damien materialized inside of Adam's study, where the prince sat at his desk, holding his head. Damien had watched him, undetected by the sensors, for the last two hours as Adam had searched through book after book, seeking a cure for Josiah. Damien grinned in anticipation. There had been four different men who had accepted the mantle of He-Man during his time on Eternia. He had tried to get to each one of them in different ways. He had had the most success with Darren, but the fool had killed half of Damien's cohorts before trying to take over the planet.
Damien nodded to himself. Playing with Adam like this would be much more effective than anything he had done before, he was sure.
"You're not going to find an answer in those books," the demon said matter-of-factly. Adam's head jerked up and he leapt to his feet, the chair crashing to the floor behind him. Damien held his hands up as Adam drew his sword. "I am here to talk, Prince Adam," he said respectfully. "Nothing more."
"And I told you before I don't want to hear what you have to say," Adam growled at him, his sword still raised defensively. He came around the desk slowly, threateningly. "Get out."
"I just came to see if you had considered my offer," Damien said, softening his eyes to make himself look friendlier.
"My answer's still no. Now get out," Adam snapped, his face dark with anger.
Damien barely held back his smile of delight. Adam was ripe for the picking. He could sense the prince's frustration and anger over the entire situation.
"Not even if I change my terms?" Damien asked in a gentle tone. "Three days."
Adam hesitated ever so slightly. "No."
"Josiah is not going to get better, Adam." Damien cocked his head to the side, feigning concern. "Haven't you discovered the prophecy yet?"
"That's the second time you've mentioned a prophecy," Adam said, almost to himself. His blue eyes pierced Damien. "What prophecy are you talking about?"
"It's in Grayskull," Damien said, pretending to be surprised. "And yet you do not know it?"
"What prophecy?" Adam growled, advancing another step. He seemed to have forgotten he wasn't He-Man at the moment.
Damien forced himself to hide his inner joy and put a look of utter sorrow on his face. "The seed of a hero must be laid down—one life denied," he quoted. "That all others may live to see another sun. This will be the end of a beloved one." Delight rose up in Damien at the sight of comprehension dawning on Adam's face, the understanding replaced just as slowly by despair.
The tip of Adam's sword slowly fell forward until it rested on the floor. "No," he whispered, taking a half-step back. "Ancients, no." He shook his head as if to clear it, and stared hard at Damien. "You're lying."
"I'm afraid not, Prince Adam," Damien denied with a sad shake of his head. "If you don't believe me, go ask your beloved Sorceress." He raised both hands in a sign of friendship. "The prophecy doesn't have to come true. Three days, He-Man. I can cure your son if you will give me three days."
Adam shook his head. "No," he said hoarsely, almost desperately. "Leave me."
Damien bowed. "As you wish, Sire. Should you change your mind, you know where to find me." He vanished, leaving Adam alone with his tormented thoughts.
Adam looked out the window of his study. He had been in a fog ever since Damien had made his new offer. Adam was torn in two with the choice placed before him, his stomach in knots and his shoulders weighted down with a burden worse than any he had ever felt. Even the rumors of protests stirring in some of the outlying towns—protests against him—had failed to hold his attention the last few days as he and Teela had watched Josiah slowly fade. Now he felt immobilized.
Three days for Josiah's life. Three days of servitude to Evil. How could he? But for Josiah's sake how could he not? Adam forced himself to remember the days of servitude to Hordak, the things the monster had had him do. It would be worse this time, he reminded himself.
Adam sighed, a deep sound that was pulled from the center of his soul. 'I need to go to Grayskull.' He had known it the moment Damien spoke of the prophecy, but part of him was terrified of what it might actually mean. It had been easy to find excuses to delay the trip yesterday. But today, he needed to make that trip. The sooner the better.
Adam was shaken from his dark musings by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Adam called distractedly.
"Adam," said Mira quietly as she entered. "I know you have a great deal on your mind now, dear boy, but I was wondering if you had a minute?"
"Of course, Aunt Mira," Adam said. The words were right, cordial and proper, but his voice was a dead and lifeless thing. 'Fitting,' he thought bitterly. 'As dead as my son will be if I don't do something about it.'
Mira walked up to her nephew, and Adam stood automatically. Mira gathered him into a firm hug. "Oh, but I love you, my favorite nephew."
In the past Adam would have teased her back, but now he could only woodenly return her hug.
"Can we sit down?" asked Mira. "I need to talk with you about something."
Adam sighed. 'She probably wants to tell me how wrong I was for bringing Keldor back too.' In spite of his dread, he sat and was vaguely grateful that he was too beaten down to be annoyed. He was fairly certain he'd have snapped at his gentle aunt if he weren't.
"Adam," she began. "I went to check on your father after She-Ra made her report to him. He had snapped at She-Ra. And I was very worried about him. He's usually the epitome of courtesy. When I got to his door, he and Adora were arguing--loudly."
Adam straightened up, concern finally penetrating the haze of sorrow, confusion, and bitterness that had kept him held so deeply a prisoner within himself.
"About what?" Adam asked.
"About She-Ra's report in front of the family and attending members of the court. Adora said she could give her report--She-Ra's report--any way she wished and she did not deem it an abuse of power. Your father very loudly disagreed with her."
Adam's jaw dropped open. "Ancients, no." He began to shake his head and mutter angrily. "Secret? What secret? At this rate everyone keeps learning it, I could send word out with the town criers to proclaim He-Man's and She-Ra's secret, and it would be old news by the time they got there."
"Oh, Adam. I'm sorry you're upset," Mira said soothingly as she reached to grasp his hand across his desk. "But I'm not sorry I know. At least for now." Adam tipped his head curiously at her words. "Adora told me that I could have the memory removed by the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull if I wished." Mira paused as Adam looked up into her warm brown eyes. "I think I will take her up on that very soon, but I want to keep this knowledge just a little while longer. It makes it easier to try to help your father with his problems with Keldor without this secret in the way."
Adam nodded. "I can see how it might," he admitted grudgingly. "But please, it must remain a-"
"Secret?" completed Mira.
Adam nodded again.
"I understand, dear," Mira assured him and squeezed his hand reassuringly. "But that's not the only reason I wanted the knowledge for a bit longer. I wanted to thank you, Adam."
Adam's gaze was once again riveted on his aunt's face.
"I don't know what you mean," he hedged.
"Oh, but Marlena and Randor must be so very proud of you. You saved our world over and over again. You sacrifice your safety and reputation for the good of the kingdom and kingdoms that are not even our allies. You protect all life and fight for the freedom of all people, and you yet you are humble enough that you don't even know what I'm thanking you for?" Mira's eyes twinkled as she spoke.
Adam stared at his aunt, blushing and dumbstruck.
"I'm thanking you for being He-Man, for saving my kingdom, for saving Jeremy as He-Man and teaching him to be a man as Adam. I'm thanking you for keeping your commitment to serving Good, even when you thought Teela had been killed before your very eyes, and enduring torture to see that Randor and Marlena came home to us."
Mira stood and released Adam's hand. His eyes were growing suspiciously bright. She patted his hand reassuringly and walked away, seeming to look out the window.
Adam suspected that she was giving him time to gather himself, and he mentally thanked her.
After a moment she turned to look at Adam again. "My father is an amazing man, and a wonderful king. With all of his power and influence he accomplished so much. Enriched and protected the lives of our kingdom and our allies. Yet in weakness," she continued sadly, "he lied. He hid his wife and child for political reasons. One mistake made with good intentions at heart, and look how we all suffer as a result of his one simple mistake because that mistake was made by a leader. A man with power and authority."
"You, Adam, have access to more power and authority than I can possibly imagine. I don't know how you don't break under the pressure." Mira paused a second as she gazed down at her seated nephew.
"I did break," Adam muttered too softly for his aunt to hear. She continued even as the last word left his mouth.
"If you had ever made a mistake like Father had, I don't doubt it would have been a disaster we may very well never have recovered from. Thank you, Adam," Mira said, her words heartfelt.
As if all of her words hadn't already given him enough to think about, Mira continued. "Adam...I know everyone thinks you made a mistake by calling Keldor back. I don't agree with them, but even if you did, I don't doubt that your mistake was done with the purest of intentions—not to hide something, as my father tried to do, but to save lives."
Adam shook his head, overwhelmed by her faith in him. "Aunt Mira, you're giving me far too much credit-"
"And while I know you, like everyone, make mistakes in little ways, you have a heart that is devoted to doing what's right," Mira went on as if he hadn't spoken. "Only that kind of person would offer himself is place of another simply on the chance that that person could avoid Blazes. Because all life is precious. Adam I am just so proud of you, and so happy to be your aunt."
Adam's throat tightened at his aunt's words. "Aunt Mira," he choked out, his face burning with embarrassment, "I-" He cleared his throat and tried again. "I don't deserve your kind words," he finally managed. 'Or your faith,' he added silently, thinking again of Damien's "offer."
"My dear nephew," Mira said in a gently teasing voice, "when someone pays you a compliment, the correct response is to say, 'Thank you,' not to tell them they're wrong."
Adam choked out a laugh. "Thank you," he said humbly, his face still red. "But I'm just doing what needs to be done."
Mira smiled. "And you do it so well." She patted Adam on the cheek. "I know this is a difficult time for you, Adam. I'm going to hold on to this secret of yours for now. If you need an extra ear, I'll be around."
Bemused, Adam watched her glide out of the room, and wondered how on Eternia he had been blessed with such an incredible family. At the thought of family, Adam's mind quickly returned to Josiah. Mira's visit had broken through his feeling of immobility. It was time to find out what this prophecy was really about.
"Adam, what a pleasant surprise," Serena greeted him, thankful that Malick was in Grayskull's library. She didn't want to explain the wizard's presence to Adam just yet. She frowned as she took in Adam's hard expression. "What's wrong?"
"I want to know about the prophecy," Adam said flatly, not wasting time.
Serena's heart thudded against her chest, but her expression didn't change. "Which one?"
Adam had no trouble repeating the words Damien had uttered; they were etched into his mind. "The seed of a hero must be laid down--one life denied. That all others may live to see another sun. This will be the end of a beloved one." Adam stared at Serena, whose face had turned so white it almost matched the white feathers on her bodice. "I want to hear the whole thing, Serena."
"Who told you?" Serena demanded, glaring up at him.
"Damien."
"Damien!" Serena repeated in horror. "He's not even supposed to know about it!"
Adam reached out and grasped Serena's arm, his grip tight. "Is it about Josiah?" he demanded. "Is he the one it talks about?"
Serena's eyes welled up with tears. "I don't know, Adam. You know interpreting prophecies is never an absolute." She put a gentle hand on his forearm. "You're hurting me, Adam."
Startled, Adam let go and backed up a step, staring down at his own hand in something akin to horror. "I'm sorry," he said hoarsely.
"It's alright," Serena assured him. "You're upset, and rightly so."
"I can't let him die," Adam said, looking back up at her face, his blue eyes dark with pain. "I can't."
"It might not happen," Serena pointed out. "Just as Teela did not become the Sorceress." She swore under her breath. "You were not supposed to know about this."
Adam balled a fist. "What does the prophecy say, Serena? All of it."
Serena sighed heavily. "Come with me," she said reluctantly.
"Hello, Prince Adam."
Adam stopped short at the sight of Malick in Grayskull's typical garb. "What on Eternia is going on?" he demanded.
"Malick has been chosen as the second Guardian of Grayskull," Serena explained calmly. "A few weeks ago, a second throne appeared. It had been foretold that this would happen when it was nearing the time for the final battle between Good and Evil."
"And this prophecy? It has something to do with this final battle as well?" Adam guessed. He really didn't like the way this was headed.
Serena nodded as she pulled out the scroll. She read it aloud to Adam, whose face grew pale at the ending verse.
"I've been thinking about this," Malick interjected before Adam could say anything. The other two looked at him in surprise. "It makes little sense to me that a being of goodness would demand the life of a child. It seems to me that we must be misinterpreting it."
"One would think so," Adam murmured, but in his heart he didn't believe it. He saw Serena move towards him, and he backed away. "Oh no you don't," he snapped. "You're not erasing my memory of this."
Serena gazed at him with great sadness in her eyes. "Adam, do you really want to be burdened with this?"
"Yes," he said firmly, his chin set. "It's the only way to stop it."
"Adam-," Serena began.
"No," he interrupted, his eyes ice-cold. "Good can take me if He wants, but He can't have my son. And I will do anything I have to in order to protect Josiah." With that, Adam whirled around and strode out of the castle, leaving Malick and Serena to stare at each other with worried eyes.
Adam's strides were long and angry. Every footstep pounded into the ground, leaving an easy trail to follow. Adam didn't care. His own voice was echoing in his head. "I will do anything in order to protect Josiah.'
Had he meant it? Did that include serving Evil for the three days Damien was asking him for? Adam's step slowed as he struggled with the answer. His knees suddenly gave out as he came to the devastating conclusion.
Adam's heart once again overflowed with pain, but he knew Mira was right. There was no such thing as a "small" act of evil. With even one act strategically performed in service to Evil, he very well might save Josiah in the short term, yet condemn him to live in a world not only ruled by the powers of darkness, but ruled by those black forces because He-Man had cleared the path for Evil's advance.
'No. I can't do it. I can't serve Evil,' Adam thought brokenly. Tears flowed freely from him now and he became unable to keep the sobs in his chest. They broke out of his mouth, echoing into the stillness around him. Even the animals of the Evergreen Forest seemed to sense his pain; they fell silent and moved away, their heads lowered.
"I won't serve Evil," Adam promised himself aloud in between sobs, "but so help me, I will not serve You either, Good. I may do that which is good and right, but I won't do anything more for You. Never again."