It didn't escape Keldor's notice that the room they were in was the same one in which Prince Adam had been put on trial for killing Darren—a trial at which Keldor had impersonated He-Man and tried to condemn the prince. 'Just one more of my many crimes,' he thought morosely.
Today, the room was full of the masters only. The general population was witnessing even this part, which for a normal criminal would have taken minutes, via a hologram in the Great Arena.
Keldor's hand tightened on Lyn's as the charges against them were read. He had known there were many, but at this hearing, each one was read out, and Keldor and Lyn had to respond with their plea. He soon lost count of how many times he said, "Guilty."
First there were the charges against them for their attempts at stealing the Widget's coradite. Then for enslaving a few towns and villages. Stealing. Looting. Casualties of war. Keldor and Lyn stared straight ahead, their voices emotionless as they pled guilty to each accusation. But it was when the crimes against the royal family, and then He-Man, were read out that Keldor felt his heart go into the floor beneath him, and he lowered his head in shame.
"…assisted in the kidnapping of the Princess of Eternia…"
"…kidnapped the King and Prince of Eternia, as well as the Captain of the Guard and Man-at-Arms…"
"…kidnapped the Prince of Eternia and placed him in a cave with no food or water…"
"…kidnapped the Prince and King of Eternia and subjected them to torture in an attempt to learn information about He-Man, nearly killing the Prince in the process…"
"…erased He-Man's memory and sent him into an unknown dimension with the intent that he would never be found…"
It seemed to go on and on, and it was all Keldor could do not to scream out that he was guilty of every crime, so why bother listing them all? His only consolations came in that with every guilty plea that left his mouth, Adam relaxed a smidgen more, and Randor's voice did not increase in hostility as he read the charges. Keldor let out a small sigh as Randor paused.
"The charges of sedition and treason have been dropped, given that Keldor had a rightful claim to the throne. Also dropped are the charges against Keldor and Lyn for their repeated attempts to enter Castle Grayskull and obtain its power."
"What?" Fisto cried out in disbelief. A discontented rumbling ran through the room, growing louder as the masters supported each other in their protest.
"I don't believe it!" Orko harrumphed. "That's not fair."
"It's the way the Sorceress wanted it," Randor said loudly. "Now settle down, all of you."
"How do we know you aren't just protecting your brother?" Buzz-Off asked, his wings buzzing in irritation. "Maybe the Sorceress had nothing to do with this. She's not here, and neither are He-Man and She-Ra."
'Serena, why didn't you tell me?' Adam demanded mentally as he tried to unobtrusively leave the room.
"Adam, where are you going?" Randor asked, easily catching sight of his son.
"I thought perhaps I should try to contact He-Man, given the questions raised," Adam replied, his tone deferential.
"Very well," Randor said with a wave of his hand. "We'll resume in five minutes."
'Keldor has changed, Prince Adam,' Serena responded to his earlier question without actually answering it. Adam escaped quickly down the hallway. 'He would die to protect this castle, as you would.'
'You can tell you weren't around for long before he was captured,' Adam sent sardonically, even as he glanced around and raised his sword to transform.
Silence fell as He-Man walked into the room.
"He-Man, thank you for coming," Randor said formally. "There has been some question about the charges against Keldor and Lyn being dropped in regards to Grayskull." His tone indicated he'd like to hear the answer as well. "I'm afraid I can't answer them; I only know the Sorceress sent a note requesting we drop the charges. I could hardly refuse, since Grayskull is not even part of the kingdom."
He-Man nodded as he stared at his former enemies.
Fisto leaned over to Mekaneck. "It's odd. This is a day I dreamed of for years, and yet it's like there's some kind of understanding between He-Man and Keldor. I'm not sure I like it," he whispered. Mekaneck nodded.
Keldor began to fidget under He-Man's direct gaze, but caught himself and clenched his fists instead. 'Why isn't that blasted muscle-headed moron speaking?'
'I heard that,' He-Man's voice returned in an amused tone.
Keldor frowned darkly and dropped his eyes, unable to look at Adam any longer as the list of crimes began to re-play through his mind.
"My friends, we struggled long and hard against these two people," He-Man finally said. "I suppose when we thought of defeating them, we dreamed of different things. I'm sure some of us wanted to lock them up forever. A few of us probably wanted to see them dead." There was an uncomfortable shifting. "I'm not sure any of us really thought that Skeletor would change. But that is what has happened. The Sorceress does not wish to condemn these two people because she believes that they would now die to defend Grayskull, just as they once believed they were willing to do anything to obtain its power."
"And what do you believe, He-Man?" Stratos called out.
Keldor and Lyn tensed as they waited for his answer.
He-Man turned to face Stratos and the masters. "I believe they are on our side now."
A surprised murmur ran through the group; He-Man couldn't help but wonder how the population was reacting. "We know of others who have changed," he pointed out. "Sybilline, for one. Xanthos for another. This change seems more miraculous, but that does not make it impossible." He looked at Keldor and Lyn's penitent faces and decided that perhaps Serena had been right. He made a quick decision--a way to offer them his public support without causing any real harm to this process. "It is for that reason I also wish all charges pertaining directly to assaults on my person be dropped."
A soft rumble of voices echoed through the room, but ended quickly as Randor lifted his eyes to He-Man. Adam met his father's gaze directly, a touch of defiance in his stance, but there was no surprise or denial in Randor's face. He knew, as Adam did, that it actually didn't matter if they dropped the charges of crimes against He-Man. The crimes against the royal family and the population were more than enough to send Keldor to the prison mines for an eternity.
"As you wish. Thank you, He-Man for your testimony," Randor said, dismissing him.
He-Man bowed respectfully. Before the hero left, however, he paused, and glanced back at Keldor and Lyn, who seemed somewhat relieved that he believed in them now—at least to some extent—and yet heartbroken and downtrodden from reliving their past crimes throughout the day. 'Take heart,' he sent to encourage them. 'Have faith in the Truth.'
Keldor squeezed Lyn's hand and could sense her thoughts echoing his own. He-Man was right. As difficult as this was, it was the right thing to do. They had to keep that in mind and hold to what they were now, not what they had once been.
Keldor paced back and forth. Thanks to He-Man's "unexpected" support, the rest of the trial had gone smoothly, and the past few days had been quiet. With the trial over, he and Lyn should have been at least somewhat relieved of their anxious anticipation, but instead, his agitation seemed to grow with each passing day.
"Lyn, we need to talk to him," he muttered. "We have less than two months before our sentencing and if we don't do whatever we are supposed to do soon, we may not be free to do it."
"That's not the only reason you rush this, Keldor." Lyn smiled sadly.
Keldor turned and reached for his wife. Lyn walked into his outstretched arms. "No," he whispered. "Whatever this prophecy means, it will be brutal enough that a sacrifice must be made. It is dangerous enough that you fight, but you are carrying my child and the longer we wait the more we put that child at risk." He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. "I don't want the sacrifice to be this babe," Keldor said, tightening his hug.
Lyn sniffed. She had grown weepy lately. Pregnancy hormones and worry had worn at her normally strong facade. "You're right. Even if we never see the child, it must live."
"We will see it Lyn. Randor gave me his word. Whatever else he does, Randor will not go back on his promise." Keldor was never more thankful that his brother was an honorable man.
Lyn nodded. "Let's go find them then, before I have to waddle down the caverns of Snake Mountain."
Adam and Teela wandered through the gardens, Josiah in a small stroller before them. "I wasn't sure we'd ever get to do this with him," Teela confessed.
Adam placed an arm around her. "I only wish this whole thing with Keldor weren't so difficult right now. I'd like more time with the two of you." He sighed as he looked at his timepiece. It was almost time for yet another meeting with another mayor of another town who wanted to know why Skeletor hadn't been charged with the attacks on his particular village. The fact that he had had five years to ensure the attacks were properly recorded didn't seem to matter to him.
Teela stiffened under his arm, and Adam followed her gaze up the path to see the blue man himself and Lyn hurrying towards them. "Looks like trouble," he muttered to Teela, who nodded her agreement.
Keldor strode toward Adam. He held Lyn close to his side and tried not to focus on his own children and child-to-be and the fact that he would most likely never again spend time with it in such a peaceful way. Lyn apparently lost that battle as she shuddered quietly under his arms, though she never slowed her pace.
Keldor ignored the wary glances of Adam and Teela as he addressed them. "I do not mean to interrupt your day, but there is something Lyn and I need to discuss with you, and Adora." He looked around and saw the hard glares of guardsmen who always now seemed to appear out of nowhere when he or Lyn dared set foot out of their chambers.
"Did someone mention my name?" Adora asked, coming in from a side path. "I was just on my way to find you, Adam. That next meeting's been delayed, and Hawk thought you might want to sneak in a little fishing." She eyed their tense postures critically. "But it looks like you have other things on your mind."
"Apparently I do," Adam said a bit dryly. "Do we need to go inside, Keldor?"
"As it pertains to matters of Grayskull and a certain prophecy, I think we should."
"Very well." Adam led the group inside to the cartography chamber, which was filled with different maps from various eras of Eternian history. "All right. What's on your mind? "
Keldor pulled a chair out for Lyn and motioned for everyone to sit. "As you know, Lyn and I are scheduled for sentencing in less than two months. And as you also know, Lyn is pregnant. If we are to assist you in whatever this prophecy is, we must do it soon. The longer we wait, the more danger my child is in and we do not know how much time we need to fulfill whatever Grayskull has predicted our role must be." Keldor leaned back in his chair as he looked around the room.
"What happened to following the Truth's leading?" Adam asked, one eyebrow quirked.
"I've felt more and more uneasy as each day passes. It's quite possible that Truth has been speaking to me of this, but my mind has been on other things," he said, casting a worried glance toward his wife.
"Neither of us has been listening to much lately other than worry for our children," admitted Lyn.
"We can understand that," Teela said with a soft, sad smile.
"So exactly what is it you want us to do?" Adora asked. "We don't actually know what this prophecy means or what it is we need to do to close off Evil's connection to Eternia."
"We want to travel with you to Grayskull. To consult with its guardian, while we still can," replied Keldor.
Adam shrugged. "That's easy enough. I'll clear my schedule for tomorrow, or we can go tonight after I've finished for the day."
Although a bit surprised at Adam's easy acquiescence, Keldor nodded and stood. "We will be in our rooms until you come for us."
Teela stared at Adam as Keldor and Lyn left the room.
"What?" he asked.
"You actually trust them!" she exclaimed, a slightly horrified look on her face. As Adam opened his mouth, she added, "Don't deny it Adam! You just agreed to let Evil-Lyn and Skeletor into Grayskull!"
Adam's own mouth dropped open slightly. It was true; he hadn't thought of the threat to Grayskull at all. He looked at Adora, whose face was starting to flush slightly. "I didn't say who was going. I think perhaps He-Man and She-Ra should accompany them, don't you, Adora?"
"How dare you," snapped Adora, glaring at her sister-in-law, then Adam. The couple's eyes widened in shock at the anger in her tone. "Both of you. They saved Josiah. After all they've done, do you truly still think they are Skeletor and Evil-Lyn waiting for their chance to take Grayskull?"
"I think it is my duty to guard against that possibility, however remote it might be," Adam replied in an even voice even though he felt they would never pose a threat again.
"You're not being fair to them!" Adora bit off, her hands on her hips.
"Were you there at the hearing, Adora?" Teela argued back. "Did you hear the list of crimes against Eternia? That didn't even include Grayskull!"
"Calm down, both of you," Adam ordered. He grasped his sister's shoulders. "Adora, I do believe they have changed and are doing good as best they know how. But their strongest temptation may be Grayskull's power. It is what they lusted after for nearly a decade. It is our job to defend it. We have to be prepared to do that job at all times."
Adora jerked away. "I'll escort them as She-Ra all right, but it will be for their own protection, not because I think they're trying to steal Grayskull's power."
Malick sat heavily in the chair across from Serena. He was immensely grateful that she was preparing dinner for them now. After that last spell of preparation, he was sure he wouldn't be able to use magic for the rest of the evening. However, his training was complete now, and that thought gave him comfort.
Serena pulled aside the covers on their trays to reveal perfectly cooked steaks surrounded by roasted vegetables and warm, fresh rolls. "I thought after all of your work, we should celebrate a bit."
"I thank you," Malick replied with a grin. "I'm not exactly sure I want to know how you knew what my favorite meal is, Serena, but I suppose completing my training dictates such a celebration."
Serena raised a glass. "To the new sorcerer of Castle Grayskull."
Malick clinked his glass against hers. "I look forward to a few days of rest. I feel like I've run across the Sands of Time with no water and no rest after all of my training."
"We can only hope," smiled Serena as she began her meal.
Malick chewed a piece of steak slowly, relaxing fully in his chair. He took a few more bites, reveling in the taste and the peace of the castle, which had eased his sense of loss in recent days. As he did so, he found his mind drifting back to the prophecy. He nearly groaned aloud. It was the last thing he wanted to think about right now. But the word "seed" echoed in his mind like a bell.
"Serena..." he said slowly.
She looked up, alerted by his voice. "What is it?"
"I know that 'seed' is often a reference to offspring, but what if we work backwards for a moment?" Malick asked, his food all but forgotten as he followed this new line of thinking. "Take the analogy to its end. What if He-Man and She-Ra are the plants, so to speak? If Grayskull's power is the food and water, then the seed would be-"
"Adam or Adora," Serena finished, her eyes wide. She shook her head. "I wish I could say I'm surprised, but it almost seems inevitable."
"Surely there's a way to prevent it," Malick mused.
The clang of the jawbridge startled them both. "Some guardians we are," Serena chided them both as she made the food disappear with a wave of her hand. "If that's not He-Man or She-Ra, we have a problem."
Malick laughed heartily. "It has to be them. The gates open automatically for no one else. But I guess that answers my question about rest." He stood by the door, ready to escort Serena down to the throne room.
Keldor gripped Lyn's hand tightly as they walked through the halls of the castle that was once their obsession. He-Man and She-Ra walked before them with a confidence that came from familiarity with the strange tunnels and hallways that led to secret pockets of power and magical knowledge. Soon all five stood in a loose semicircle around a large flight of stairs that led to two thrones. In a flash of light, two people stood in front of those thrones.
"Greetings, my friends," Serena said. "I sense you are here with a purpose."
"We believe the time to close Evil's connection to Eternia is near," Keldor said, catching He-Man off-guard.
He-Man frowned at Keldor's immediate assumption of control of the situation. He was thankful for Keldor's help, but not ready to step aside as Grayskull's protector or Eternia's champion.
"I believe you are right," Serena agreed without hesitation.
"What is it we must do?" asked He-Man, pushing aside his minor irritation.
Serena looked at him with a deep sadness in her eyes she couldn't hide, try as she might. "You must find the source of Evil's power on Eternia. We know it is in Snake Mountain, but not where. Once it is found, it must somehow be closed."
"With a sacrifice," He-Man said aloud, unflinching.
Lyn and Keldor exchanged glances. "We know where it is," Keldor said, dread in his voice.
"Where?" Teela demanded.
Lyn's face was even paler than normal. "It is in a lower chamber sealed by darkest magic. But even if you can get into the chamber, it is sealed with a stone covering that neither Keldor nor I was ever able to open. We both tried because we sensed the power—it was like a siren's song, calling our names. But we when we did manage to open the door only a tiny crack, we were both injured by one of the many wards guarding the entrance."
"It took us several months to heal from that slight attack," added Keldor, shifting uncomfortably.
"If we need to enter that chamber, we will need help," stated Lyn.
"You will have it," replied Malick firmly.
"I'm sure we will," Lyn said, gratitude in her voice, "but there is only one way to be sure that we can get past those wards. I think I should pay a visit to my father, before we go."
"You don't mean?" began Keldor.
"Can you think any other artifact that could allow us entry?" Lyn asked.
"But do you think he will just give it to us?"
"What are both of you talking about?" interrupted He-Man.
"The Ram Stone," guessed Serena.
He-Man blanched. That was not a good memory. The Ram Stone had ripped Grayskull's power from him, reverting him back to Adam. The only reason Skeletor hadn't learned his secret that day was because the stone had tossed him so far away.
"The Faceless One is your father?" Teela asked in shock.
Lyn nodded a bit sheepishly. "I cannot be sure that my father would consider allowing me to use the Ram Stone. Not after Keldor and I stole it from him in the first place. I can only hope that he will believe me when I tell him of my change."
He-Man shifted uncomfortably, a slight unease building with this new information. "You know I'm not supposed to let you go alone," he said, looking at Lyn and Keldor.
She-Ra let out an aggravated sigh. "Let's not get into that again, brother."
"Easy for you to say," Teela snapped. "It's not your freedom on the line if they change their minds about showing up for their sentencing."
"It's more than that," He-Man argued, thinking of the Ram Stone's power as well as his own personal issues. "I promised my father-"
"I was actually hoping you would all come along," interrupted Lyn.
"Oh?" Teela asked with a raised eyebrow.
Lyn wrapped her arms around herself and began to pace slowly. "My father has absolutely no reason to trust me." Lyn's eyes grew bright, but she continued. "I wouldn't blame him if he blasted me out of his stronghold as soon as I enter the doorway after the myriad of ways I betrayed him and all he has sacrificed for over all the years."
Keldor placed his hand on her back to stop her pacing, and Lyn continued her speech. "I thought perhaps having you two along could help me convince my father that I am not up to my old tricks. Believe me when I tell you that he is a good man. He has devoted his life to protecting this stone until its promised guardian comes to take it on a mission of greatest good. It will be impossible to convince him to allow us use of it on our own. But if the champions of Grayskull are with us and can convince him that this mission is for the good of all Eternia, perhaps he will."
"All right," He-Man said decisively, "then we'll leave immediately."
Teela hesitated. "I'll stay here," she said slowly. She looked at Serena. "I'd like to look around Grayskull's library if that's okay, see if maybe a different set of eyes can figure out something else about this prophecy."
"Of course," Serena agreed readily. She opened a portal. "This will take you directly in front of the temple," she said. "Be careful. The Faceless One has had to turn back many enemies since the Ram Stone was returned to him. He is suspicious of all."