"Sire, may I speak with you?" Hawk asked, catching the king in the hallway. "It's about Adam."
Randor glanced sharply at Hawk, but nodded. "Let's go to my study." He led Hawk down the hall and entered, motioning for his future son-in-law to take a seat. "What's going on, son?"
Hawk fixed his eyes on the king in determination. "Sire, last month, when Adam and I were out in the Vine Jungle together, he confessed that there was only one thing he wanted for his birthday."
"Oh?" Randor asked, one eyebrow raised in curiosity in spite of himself. "And that would be what?"
"His family's forgiveness for bringing Keldor back and hiding his identity from you." Hawk watched the play of emotions on the king's face and pushed on. "Somehow, King Randor, I got the feeling that you and Adam have left the matter unsettled between the two of you. It's his birthday. Don't you think you should at least talk to him about it?"
Adam held his head in his hand as he re-read the letter he had just signed. Once He-Man announced Skeletor's and Lyn's capture and imminent sentencing, it would go out to all of the villages and kingdoms throughout Eternia.
"The people formerly known as Skeletor and Evil-Lyn have been apprehended by Prince Adam. These alleged criminals have been placed under house arrest at the royal palace, and are under 24-hour guard. Former King Miro has acknowledged that Keldor, formerly Skeletor, is actually his son, lost to him over 60 years ago. Keldor and Lyn plan to plead guilty to all charges at the trial to be held on the first day of the second winter month, and will be sentenced for their crimes two months hence. The populace will be able to witness the sentencing via hologram at the Great Arena."
Adam groaned. He was sure it was going to be a circus. They would have to have the masters and the guardsmen stationed around just to ensure Keldor's survival for sentencing.
Sighing, Adam continued signing. It was a curse that each one had to bear original signatures. He had already signed them as He-Man, and Randor, She-Ra, and Miro had done their part. His signature was the last to go on.
He was just finishing the final one when a knock sounded on his door. Randor strode in without waiting for an invitation.
"Father," Adam said in surprise, standing immediately.
"Happy birthday, son," Randor said in greeting.
"Thank you, Father," Adam said automatically. The two men stared at each other for a full minute, Randor's gaze dark and assessing, Adam's wary and expectant.
Randor blew out a breath. "It seems we've retreated to some old habits."
"Sire?" Adam responded, not understanding.
Randor smiled bitterly. "You avoid me as much as possible, while I avoid you, and we both ignore the fact that we're avoiding each other. We haven't done that in years."
"I've been preoccupied," Adam protested weakly, but it was a token protest, and they both knew it.
"I hope you understand why I was so angry," Randor said, sitting down. Adam came around his desk and sat across from his father. "You have a tremendous responsibility, Adam, bearing more authority and power than anyone in history. I was very afraid you were beginning to abuse that power."
"I do understand, Father, but I hope you know that I was just doing what I thought was best," Adam said honestly.
Randor pursed his lips for a moment. "Adam, you have had to hold your own counsel and secrets for a long time. But I know that you frequently sought advice and help from Duncan, the Sorceress, and others. Don't lose that. When you find yourself keeping secrets from the people, or too ashamed or defensive to seek advice, that is usually when you are on the verge of betraying the people in some way. Remember you are here to serve them."
"I will," Adam promised earnestly. "If there's one thing I've learned in the last two months, it's that I can't do any of this alone. I don't know what I would do without my family and friends."
"And Keldor?" Randor asked in a quiet challenge. He leaned forward slightly as Adam hesitated.
"Father, he has changed. He has fought with us, healed people, helped to save Josiah…" Adam's voice trailed off, then he met Randor's eyes apologetically. "I know I went about it the wrong way, and I'm sorry for that. But I am not sorry I brought him back to Eternia."
"Nor am I, actually," Randor agreed, catching Adam by surprise. "After reviewing all of the reports, I'm not sure we could have re-taken Illgar without him. But I still question his motives every minute of every day."
Adam shook his head slightly. "As do I. Trust is a hard thing to rebuild once it is broken." His eyes held an unasked question.
"Not when you know that the negative action is a mistake, not a habit," Randor disagreed with a half-smile.
Adam relaxed in his chair, knowing Randor had forgiven him, even if the king had not said the words.
"...Prince Josiah!" A thunderous roar greeted the words that formally introduced the newest prince to the kingdom. The streets below were packed full of people, with barely any room to move. Adam grinned widely, fatherly pride written all over his face. Teela exchanged a grin with him and they kissed briefly, to even greater cheers.
The group of women watching from a balcony collectively rolled their eyes.
"Prince Adam's either a kind man or a sap. Surely he knows that child is not his!" Lady Elsan hissed. Her sharp nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Oh, I know, isn't it awful how he dotes on her when she's sleeping around with He-Man?" Lady Rosette sniffed delicately as she patted her short strawberry-blond curls into place. "I think he's clueless."
"We may not see He-Man on the throne of Eternia, but at least we'll be well shed of Prince Adam's delicate influence. Our prince Josiah will be the son of a true man," commented Baroness Dalia, her thin lips curled into an evil smile. "The weak blood Randor brought in when he married that alien will be weeded out." She ended with a flick of her fan.
"Do you really think He-Man's going to announce that he is Josiah's father today?" Lady Edwina asked in a semi-bored voice, her thin form draped lazily across a chair.
"What else could it be?" asked Lady Elsan. She tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder. "Unless he's going to claim the throne for himself."
"Surely they wouldn't let him speak if that were the case," Rosette protested.
"Let him?" laughed the Baroness derisively. "If He-Man decides to do anything, the entire royal guard and all of the kingdom couldn't stand against him. And just think girls," she added with a sly wink, "He-Man will need a queen if the announcement is what we hope." She pursed her lips thoughtfully, looking like a fish in the process. 'I wonder how he feels about older women.'
"Unless he exiles Adam and takes Teela as his queen," Edwina said in a petulant voice. She still couldn't believe that that warrior woman/servant was now the princess.
"The royal family has been gone for a few minutes and the heralds are coming out," squeaked Rosette. "It's time."
He-Man drew in a deep breath and nodded to Orko as the heralds sounded their horns. Orko quickly cast a spell to make He-Man's voice carry throughout the crowds.
The hero was not prepared for the thunderous applause and overwhelming cheering that greeted him. He rarely addressed the people like this, and he belatedly realized that his lack of public appearances of late had most likely served to add not only to the rumors, but his own legend. He held up his hands and waited for the crowd to calm.
"My fellow Eternians," he said, not realizing his very voice was making some of the courtiers swoon, "the royal family has asked me here not only to share in their joy, but to share other news with you as well."
Rosette and Baroness Dalia elbowed each other in expectation.
"You may recall that several years ago, Skeletor kidnapped Prince Adam and King Randor. He threatened their lives if they did not share information about me." A deathly silence fell. He-Man took another deep breath. This was harder than he had thought it would be. "Adam almost died that day, protecting me. For that I owe him my undying loyalty."
Elsan and Edwina sat up straight. "Did I hear him right?" Elsan hissed.
"Hush!" Baroness Dalia hissed back.
"Not long after that, Adam and Skeletor shared a near-death experience that changed Skeletor. He helped us defend Grayskull against the Horde, and then, knowing that on Eternia he would be subject to life imprisonment, he fled to another world, where he has been fighting to free the planet from evil." He-Man held up his hands again to calm the rumbling through the crowd. "I know this is hard to believe, my friends, but please hear me out."
"Hard?" Rosette repeated, her black eyes wide in disbelief. "Try impossible!" The other ladies nodded their agreement vigorously.
"When the Alma'Odela began attacking the people of Illgar," He-Man continued, "Adam learned that somehow Skeletor was the key to defeating them. He was able to call Skeletor and Evil-Lyn back to Eternia, and together with our allies we defeated the Alma'Odela." A half-hearted cheer rose up. He-Man pressed on, hoping they would take the next part half as well.
"During this time, we also learned that Skeletor is actually Keldor, Miro's long-lost son from his first marriage…a marriage to a blue elf he kept hidden for fear of his father's reaction." Angry voices protested from below. He-Man could hear the sound, but couldn't make out any accusations in particular.
"Miro married one of those despicable creatures?" Rosette exclaimed. Her petite form shuddered in distaste.
Lady Edwina rose to her feet in disbelief, the bored expression gone from her face and an unsettling predatory gleam in her eye. "Did he say Skeletor?"
"Yes, but what would you want with that bone-faced freak?" asked Lady Elsan, one perfectly tweezed eyebrow arched delicately.
"No wonder Miro hid him. I wouldn't claim that creature either. I wonder what kind of spell that witch elf placed on Miro to get him to father the monster?" demanded the Baroness, her strong chin raised haughtily.
"You're just upset that you didn't know that spell to trap Randor when you had the chance," teased Rosette weakly. "It must be a joke," she continued. "A really bad joke."
"This is not a joke, or an error," said He-Man, as if in answer to Rosette's comment. "We have undeniable proof that Keldor is who he says he is, just as we have undeniable proof that he has changed. However, let me assure each and every one of you that this connection to the royal family is not going to translate in any way into leniency for the man you knew as Skeletor. Keldor has already surrendered his claim to the throne to King Randor, and he and Evil-Lyn, who is now known as Lyn, plan to plead guilty to all charges at the formal reading of those charges next week. Their sentencing will be held within two months, and will be broadcast via Man-at-Arms' hologram in the Great Arena.
"In the meantime, Keldor and Lyn surrendered directly to Prince Adam and are in his custody. They are under house arrest, and are wearing tracking cuffs they cannot remove. I myself am staying in the palace and keeping a close watch on the two of them." He-Man paused and seemed to be waiting for the crowd's reaction. It was swift and angry-sounding; the people obviously did not like the idea of the two villains being in the palace.
He-Man held up his hand for silence once more. It was not the complete silence of before, but he could be heard. "I have told you of Adam's willingness to sacrifice himself for my protection. I want you to know that I share that willingness when it comes to the protection each and every member of the royal family. You also know I value law and justice. I fight for our freedom from tyranny and mob rule. For that reason, I will stop anyone who seeks to stand in the way of the courts being able to do their job."
"He deserves to die!" someone from the crowd shouted.
"It is not your job nor mine to pass judgment on him," He-Man said firmly. "That's what the courts of Eternia are for. Although Keldor and Lyn will plead guilty at the trial, they will still have to go through the sentencing, and we will hear testimony for and against them at that time."
"Who's going to sentence them?" another person demanded.
"A panel of the masters and Eternian citizens will make their recommendation," He-Man answered. "King Randor and the royal family will oversee the sentencing, and as always, the king will have the final say. As you know, that final decision usually adheres to the recommendation of the panel."
"This is despicable," Lady Edwina said, her nose in the air. A horrible thought came to her. "That means I'm related to that-that thing!"
"My my my, further proof that Randor's bloodline is bad--any bloodline that could produce that villain has to be," affirmed the Baroness, patting her upswept gray hair.
"Wait," interrupted Rosette, "aren't you related to Baron Hutch?"
"That has nothing to do with this," hissed the Baroness.
"Oh really?" asked Edwina. "Interesting that you don't apply your own rules to yourself." She raised her nose in the air and sniffed.
"All of you stop it," interrupted Lady Elsan. "Isn't anyone worried that Skeletor and Evil-Lyn are in the palace?"
"By the grace of Eternia," Rosette whispered, horrified. "They could take over!"
Edwina waved an arrogant, airy hand. "Oh please. He-Man himself is watching them, and I'm sure She-Ra is helping. We didn't see Skeletor and Evil-Lyn at the presentation, so it's not as if they have free movement about the palace grounds."
In the midst of all their gossip they did not notice He-Man dismiss the crowd. But when they looked up, they saw people dispersing, murmuring angrily.
"Well," Edwina said in her cultured, bored voice, "it looks like it's time to attend the grand reception." She rose to her feet, determined to find out for herself what was going on. She had only just arrived back on Eternia that afternoon, and clearly there were some things about which her parents had failed to inform her.
The baroness followed her example swiftly. "Yes, perhaps we'll learn more while we're there."
Adam and Adora grinned at each other as person after person wished them a happy birthday. Although He-Man's speech was the talk of the evening, it seemed to have done the trick for now; there were very few frowns, and Adam noted that the normal groups of dissenters were not gathering together. It was most likely a brief reprieve, but he wasn't about to question it.
"My face hurts!" Adora whispered good-naturedly, leaning towards him.
"Well get ready to protect your back," Adam whispered back as a group of ladies approached them. He tucked Teela's hand firmly into the crook of his arm--it was a bit of an awkward position, seated at the head table as they were, but he wanted to send a subtle message right away that whatever these gossipers were coming to stir up, it wasn't going to work. He glanced over his shoulder at Josiah, sleeping blissfully behind them in a cradle, before fixing his smile in place.
"Oh, Prince Adam, Princess Adora, happy birthday," Rosette said, twirling her shiny strawberry-blond hair around her finger. "And Princess Teela, how are you? Oh, is that the baby? We couldn't see him very well from where we were." Her tone implied a slight on the part of Adam and Teela towards her.
"Yes, that's Josiah," Teela said easily. "It was crowded out there today, wasn't it?"
Adam grinned inwardly. She was getting better and better at deflecting comments from these thorned roses.
"My," breathed Baroness Dalia, leaning to look into the cradle. "He is so very lovely. Why Princess Teela, I believe he has your nose."
Teela smiled brightly, "Yes, and he makes it look cuter than I ever thought possible."
The ladies tittered at Teela's joke.
"It's too bad he's asleep," continued Teela. "You miss his beautiful blue eyes. They are Adam's eyes. The exact same blue."
The Lady Elsan awed, but then added, in a voice that sounded almost genuinely curious, "I wonder where he got such a lovely warm tone to his skin. With you and the prince having such lovely ivory skin, I mean."
'I know exactly what you mean,' fumed Teela, her eyes sparking and her cheeks starting to redden.
Adam gripped Teela's hand tighter and mentally begged her to calm herself. Thankfully, Marlena chose that moment to approach the impromptu inquisition.
"Yes, isn't Josiah's skin tone lovely?" she asked innocently. "He was sick for so long with that horrid spell that we didn't realize it. He was so pale. But once Lyn, Dree Elle, and Lana broke the spell, he started getting color. Imagine my surprise when he darkened a bit, just like my great-grandfather. He was what we Earthlings called Native Americans." She sighed longingly. "Such lovely skin tone they have. I, on the otherhand, look like my full-blooded Irish grandmother, with the light skin and red hair."
"Um, right," Lady Elsan said hesitantly as the group of them exchanged confused looks. "Well, again, happy birthday, your highnesses, and congratulations on the baby, Prince Adam, Princess Teela." As they walked away, she whispered, "Do you have any idea what she just said?"
"I'm not sure," confessed Baroness Dalia, "but I think she just said that Josiah looks like someone in her family."
Rosette rolled her eyes. "Obviously. That's the trouble with having an alien as a queen. You never know what horrible genes might be intermingled with good Eternian ones."
Marlena chuckled as she caught Lady Elsan's parting comment of confusion.
"Thank you, Mother," Adam said, a twinkle in his eye.
"Anytime, dear," she said, turning to head back to her seat. Her eyes widened. "Oh my. Adora, I believe Hawk needs you on the balcony."
"The balcony?" Adora repeated. Glancing over she saw her fiancé motioning urgently. "Oh. Well, excuse me, please."
Adam, Teela, and Marlena grinned at one another as Adora made her way through the crowded ballroom. She approached the wall-sized windows that allowed the cool breezes of the day to flow through the party and headed out to the widest balcony in Palace Eternia. Here, on a balcony easily half the size of the ballroom, she was astounded at what she saw.
"Swifty!" Adora shouted as she ran to her friend.
Swift Wind trotted toward her. Adora threw her arms around her friend. "I've missed you so."
"As I've missed you, dear friend," Swift Wind neighed. "I am glad to celebrate this birthday with you."
Adora released him to look into his lowered face. "Oh, please tell me you are staying for the wedding."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world. And my wife and foals will be joining us for the ceremony."
"Foals?" asked Adora, her mouth gaping. "You had another?"
"Two actually," said Swift Wind, arching his neck proudly. "A girl I named Princess, in your honor, and another son. Sunfire."
Adora's eyes grew bright as she leaned her face into Swift Wind's soft mane. She stroked his neck gently with one hand and with the other reached out to grasp Hawk's hand. "Thank you, Hawk. Thank you for bringing Swifty to me."
Hawk held her hand tightly. "You're very welcome, my love." He looked over his shoulder and saw Adam and Teela standing in the doorway, smiles on their faces. Adam had carefully disallowed anyone from coming on the balcony during the party, and in spite of the multitude inside, it was still clear. Adam closed the huge door behind them as he and Teela joined Hawk on the balcony.
Adam breathed a sigh of relief at their temporary escape. "I feel like we've been celebrating all day," he said with an exaggerated groan, rubbing at his cheeks.
Adora let go of Swift Wind and faced them, one hand still on her pegacorn's neck. "We have been," she pointed out with a giggle.
"Good to see you, Swift Wind," Adam added. The animal neighed a greeting back.
"Do you think Father would be terribly upset if we flew away?" Adora asked wistfully.
"We are the guests of honor," Adam pointed out with a grin, "but I think I can cover for you for five minutes."
Adora kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks, brother. You're the best!" She and Hawk leapt onto Swift Wind's back, Hawk holding her tightly since she had to ride side-saddle-style. The pegacorn neighed in delight and, with a mighty surge, took off into the night sky.
"Thank the Ancients," Teela said, pulling on Adam's arm to turn him to her. "I didn't think we were ever going to be alone."
"Aren't you glad we combined the celebrations?" Adam teased.
"Infinitely grateful," Teela agreed in a sultry voice, wrapping her arms around him. "And now I can give you your birthday present."
Adam's breath quickened. "You can- " His words were cut off as Teela kissed him as if they hadn't seen each other in months.
"Mm-hmm," she murmured in his ear as she broke off the kiss. "I had my check-up earlier today." She started trailing kisses on his jaw. With everything that had been going on, she had been putting off her six-week follow-up appointment—something Ramos had nagged her about almost constantly for what felt like ages.
"Oh?" Adam managed.
"I'm right as rain," Teela whispered. "So the sooner we can get out of here..."
Adam didn't need to hear anymore. His hand went to the small of her back and he guided her inside, suddenly determined to wrap this party up as quickly as possible.
Marlena walked up to Randor's side as they bid their remaining guests good-bye. "That was a nice move earlier tonight," he observed, passing Marlena a glass of wine. "You cleared away that nest of vipers around Adam and Teela in less than a minute." He chuckled.
Marlena laughed quietly. "Practice makes perfect."
"Ah, and we have had practice at dealing with those filled with malice, haven't we love?" Randor asked as he smiled fondly down at his wife.
"We have." The queen sighed contentedly. "Dear. I just can't believe how quickly things have turned around. Just a few days ago we were sure we were going to lose Josiah, now we are done celebrating not only Adam's and Adora's birthday, but Josiah's presentation to the kingdom."
"I know. I am truly grateful," added Randor, his voice heartfelt.
"As am I," agreed Marlena. "But I haven't thanked all of the right people yet."
"You've already thanked them," Randor said a weary edge to his voice. He did not like where this was leading.
"Perhaps, for saving Josiah, but not for everything else they have done. And in spite of their evil, you cannot deny how hard both of them have fought for our people."
Randor groaned. "I suppose."
"Randor...I need to thank them. Will you go with me?" Marlena eyed him expectantly.
"It's too late to bother them," Randor protested.
"It's not that late," Marlena pointed out, crossing her arms. "The moon hasn't even risen yet."
Randor grimaced a moment. 'And we were having such a nice time.' Then, with a reluctant nod, he followed his wife to find Keldor and Lyn.
Lyn sat on her bed, clutching her pillow close to her chest. Keldor was just in the next room and she did not want him to hear her sobs.
Lyn had been strong, confident in the future every day from the moment she first stepped back on Eternian soil. Somehow she had known that things were going to work out for the best. But now...how could things work out when there was a chance that she would bear a child she would not even know? It had been hard enough to imagine leaving Keelyanne, and Micah and Neara, but somehow, this was making the idea of leaving behind her children even harder to deal with.
"Truth," Lyn whispered. "I can't stand it."
A sharp rap on the door caused Lyn to jump, and a single sob escaped her.
"Lyn?" called Keldor, as he made his way to the main door of the suite. He peered in their room long enough to see her wiping fiercely at her eyes.
"I'll talk to whoever is at the door while you wash your face," Keldor said gently.
Lyn nodded. She was grateful that the bone-thick shell of insensitivity that once surrounded her husband so completely had disappeared over the years. She went to the sink and washed her face, patting herself dry as she heard the door to her chambers open and muted voices coming from the sitting room. Forcing herself to take several deep breaths, Lyn turned and made her way to greet the visitors.
Marlena looked up as Lyn entered, and quickly took in the other woman's red-rimmed eyes. She smiled gently at Lyn, who returned the smile with a wavering upturn of her own lips.
"Your Majesties." As she drew closer, Lyn greeted them both with a curtsey, surprising them.
"Lyn, please sit down," Keldor said, standing and taking her arm gently. "Can I get anyone anything?"
"No," Randor said gruffly. At Marlena's sharp look, he quickly amended, "Thank you." There was an awkward pause as Keldor took his seat again and looked at the royal couple expectantly.
"I know it's late, but we just wanted to talk for a moment," Marlena said, taking over when she realized Randor wasn't going to broach the subject. "You have done so much for us since you returned, and we realized we have not thanked you."
"You're welcome," said Keldor weakly, but it came out sounding more like a question than anything else.
Lyn nodded, but was still trying to keep a rein on her emotions and could say nothing.
Marlena nudged Randor, who cleared his throat uncomfortably. "As He-Man said in his speech today, you have done much for us since you first began to repent of your evil ways," Randor said, his eyes focused on Keldor's chest. "Please accept our thanks for saving our lives, our planet, our kingdom, and our grandson." With the last few words he raised his gaze to meet Keldor's, and caught his half-brother's look of shock.
Keldor closed his mouth with an effort. He was stunned and unsure of what to say. "You are welcome."
An uncomfortable silence followed, as the four of them avoided each other's eyes and shifted their weight in their respective seats.
"I am sorry, Randor," Keldor finally added, quietly, "for everything."
Randor felt as if his breath had frozen in his throat. He hadn't expected such a forthright and obviously heartfelt apology. Not now, after he had already dropped the charge of treason, nor had he expected it to come in the privacy of the current setting. He had thought it would come in a contrived public scene, in a way designed to set people against him...if it came at all. Truth be told, he hadn't expected it at all.
He wanted to accept that apology, to give Keldor the forgiveness the man seemed to want desperately. But the words wouldn't come. He scrambled mentally for a suitable answer--one that was honest. "I...I think I'm beginning to believe that," Randor finally managed.
"We both are," Marlena added. She reached out and grasped Lyn's hand. "We see it."
Lyn was bit back a sob, and nodded toward Marlena. She would not break down in front of the king and queen. She refused to.
"What's wrong?" Marlena asked softly. "I don't mean to intrude, but something's obviously bothering you, Lyn." Her gentle blue eyes offered understanding.
Lyn groaned internally. Marlena had asked a question. A question, that as a Truth Sworn--and a mother-to-be just now developing morning sickness--Lyn could not refuse to answer without becoming violently ill all over the queen's silk dress. 'I'll have to answer, but I will not allow them to think this a play for sympathy.'
"I fear you both will misunderstand," Lyn began, blinking back the tears of fear and anger at her humiliation, "and think I say this to influence our sentence." Lyn lost her battle with her tears and they began to fall freely, though she did not weep. "I do not," she ground out, "but you have asked and I must answer. I fear that I will bear this child and never know it. That I may never look on or hold this babe I carry. That I may never look into its eyes and tell it 'I love you.' That I might never see any of my children again." Lyn's voice broke with the admission and she dissolved into silent weeping.
Randor looked on helplessly as Marlena threw her arms around Lyn. "Lyn, surely you don't believe that will happen. A group of the masters will decide your sentence, but Randor has the final approval. What you have done since you have been redeemed will be taken into consideration, won't it Randor?"
The king nodded mutely at her question, but as Marlena jerked her head slightly towards the weeping woman, he cleared his throat. "Of course it will be. That's the point of having people speak for and against you during the sentencing."
"Now stop all this nonsense," Marlena said briskly, letting go of Lyn and handing her a handkerchief. "I know your emotions are out of whack right now, but if you truly trust in the Truth to lead you in the way you should go, you must trust Him to take care of your family."
Lyn forced herself to breathe as she dabbed her face. Something about the way the queen mentioned the Truth stuck her as different. "You know Truth as we do?" she asked in wonder. Even as she asked she sensed that there was some kind of connection between the Truth she knew and the queen.
Marlena smiled, a look full of light. "I know Him in a different way, from the things He did on Earth," she replied easily. She glanced at Keldor. "Perhaps Keldor will share the story with you some time."
Keldor nodded. "It is a story I'm sure you will find no limit of interest in."
Marlena's smile grew at Keldor's word choice. "I'm sure that's right." She rose to her feet smoothly, Randor following suit quickly. "I think we've all had enough for today. Perhaps we will be able to be more civil to each other from now on?" She looked at Randor as she asked the question.
Randor flushed slightly. "I, ah, am sorry for punching you," he said hesitantly to Keldor. "It won't happen again."
Keldor and Lyn looked at each other agape.
"I-I deserved it," stammered Keldor. "There is nothing to forgive."
"Deserving it doesn't make it right," Randor countered. "You were right in that I was letting my anger and hatred rule my head." His gaze grew frank. "What justice is to be served remains to be seen. I certainly hope it will be fair to all involved." His words hung in the air as he and Marlena bid Lyn and Keldor good-bye and left the room.
Keldor stared at the door that closed quietly in front of him. He pinched himself.
"Ow," Keldor said with a grimace. "Well at least I know I'm not in the middle of some strange dream." Lyn chuckled wryly.
"Come on woman," Keldor said, lifting Lyn to her feet. "You have an appointment with the healer early in the morning and you haven't had any rest at all. Come. Perhaps if we sleep we will have dreams of normalcy since our lives now seem like a twisted nightmare."
Keldor looked over the report Hawk had given him earlier and grinned. Hawk had made great progress in very little time. And, as requested, the foundations, charities, and scholarships that were the first phase of his desire to pay back the debt he owed Eternos were not easily traceable to his hand.
"Thank you," Keldor said. He took a sip of the ale on his table as he continued to flip through the report.
"No problem," returned Hawk with amusement. "You know I had to pinch myself several times as I was doing this. It seemed so surreal that you were behind all this." Hawk lifted his glass of ale to Keldor and took a sip.
Keldor nodded to Hawk. "I appreciate the speed and effort you have placed in this."
"Your trial is next week. I felt you deserved to know how your money was helping others." Keldor nodded and pushed the report to the side as Hawk continued. "Are you sure you don't want anyone aware of this, Keldor? It could ease your sentence."
"That's exactly what I want to avoid," Keldor explained. "I do not want to appear that I am trying to buy my way free of justice. No. I want nothing to influence the sentencing that is not brought forth by Truth itself."
Hawk shook his head. He understood Keldor's reasoning. Yet he wondered, for the first time, exactly how justice would be better served in Keldor's case. A prison cell or a mine cave didn't seem best anymore. It was a realization that shocked Hawk entirely. But he could no longer deny his gut, and it was telling him that Skeletor was gone. Completely gone. And that this Keldor could be trusted and would be better used to live his life as he was now--free to serve others.
Hawk took another sip from his glass and wondered when the universe turned upside down. He was actually rooting for Skeletor.