Adam's Way
Chapter 9
The next day started off late because everyone stayed up till early morning hours. Teela'na and Teela were enjoying their breakfast in their rooms when there was knock at the door. Teela answered it and a Queen's page handed her a sealed letter and left. Teela brought it over to her mother and opened it. Teela'na asked "What is it?" Teela read it and said, "It's a royal summons by the Queen. We are to meet with her at 3 to discuss our new duties as Ladies in the house of Eternos."
Teela sat down and said, "I don't know if I can do this mother. All I have ever planned on being is in the Royal Guard. I never respected any of the 'ladies' because of the way they treated me. I was always lower class to them. Now she wants me to deal with them on a face to face basis. I don't know if I want to do that."
"What do want to do dear?" Teela'na started. "Your father says you could teach at the Royal Guard academy, but that would mean you would have to move from Eternos to there. Would you really be happy doing that?" Teela'na stood up and paced. "You faced countless dangers and battles and your afraid of how a bunch of women might treat you? That is not the Teela I know. You must fight this insecurity you have so you can be happy. You will be on equal ground with them now. No longer the warrior but a lady."
Teela put her head up. "I guess I'll just have to do it. I can't leave here, I just found you and we have so much to learn from each other. So the other ladies will just have to deal with me!"
The meeting with the Queen started off smoothly with the formal introduction of Teela and Teela'na to the other ladies of Eternos. There we're so many questions asked and answered so they could get to know each other. Sometimes when then the questions got to personal the Queen would intervene and change the subject. It was determined that Teela'na, because of her knowledge, would be liaison for the ladies with the Masters. She would keep them up to date with the happenings in Eternos and vice versa. It was decided that Teela would serve with some other ladies as liaison with the Royal Guard.
The ladies were just chatting away about current events when Queen Marlena noticed that Teela seemed anxious and kept looking at the clock. Marlena knew that Teela was not used to being around the ladies for so long, but she was doing so well till now. After the fourth look at the clock Marlena asked, "Teela, is everything all right? Do you have to be somewhere?" Teela blushed and gave a small smile and replied. "I'm having dinner tonight with Prince Adam, but I don't know when." At that statement all conversions stopped and eyes were on Queen Marlena and Teela.
"I was not informed of any formal dinner arrangements for Prince Adam tonight." The Queen stated. "When did he ask you?"
"Last night, after our dance." Teela replied. She was feeling exposed with all the ladies paying attention to their conversation. "Did I do something wrong?" She questioned.
Queen Marlena laughed a little, "No of course not Teela, it's just that you are no longer his bodyguard and are now one of the ladies of court. You must have a chaperone and protocols must be followed. A quiet dinner between the two of you is no longer simple as when you were children." The Queen rose from her seat and stated, "Please continue on with your discussions ladies, I have duties to attend to." She looked to Teela and assured her, "Do not worry Teela you will have your dinner tonight." Then she left the room to find her son and husband.
Prince Adam and King Randor were in the king's office discussing the locations of Skeletor's cronies and what to do about them when Queen Marlena was announced. With their discussion pretty much over Queen Marlena entered the room. Randor greeted his wife with a kiss . "How goes the meeting with the ladies, my love."
"It was going quiet well." Marlena sat down so the men could get comfortable. "I believe the ladies are well matched for their duties. I had to leave them because of a pressing engagement tonight that I had no knowledge about."
Randor started to look for his calendar when Adam spoke up. "That would be about me father. I made arrangements to have dinner with Teela. I need to speak to her alone."
Randor looked to Marlena and then his son and asked, "What is so important that you need to speak to Teela alone about? You can talk to her at anytime, son."
Adam stood up and walked across the room. Both his parents looked at each other in confusion. Never had they seen Adam as nervous as he was now. After a few moments Adam sat back down and announced, "I'm in love with her, I have been for sometime but I could not tell her and put her in more danger. My duties to Greyskull forbid me from telling anyone my secret and frankly I was not acting in a suitable suitor manner. Now that she know's who I really am I want to ask to court her, with her permission. I don't know how she will react and I don't want to tell her in public." Adam looked to his parents for their reactions.
Randor was the first to speak. "Have you talked with Duncan or Teela'na yet?" He knew his son was going through a lot with the discovery of being He-man and Skeletor's defeat but this was the farthest from his mind. Years ago he thought they would be a match growing up but a lot has changed over the years.
Marlena spoke next. "Are you sure you want to declare your love so quickly, perhaps we should plan a courtship. Spend the time you have lost back together, to know each other again."
"A courtship would be good. Teela has gone through so much I don't want to overwhelm her. No matter how much time goes by I know my love for her will always remain. I need to be patient for her." Adam replied. "I'll ask her tonight, if she agrees I will talk to Duncan and Teela'na."
"Good. If all goes well tonight we will make an announcement tomorrow of your formal courtship. We can discuss the formal arrangements over breakfast in the morning with Duncan and Teela'na present." Marlena said. "By the way Adam, you need to send a formal dinner invitation to Teela, she has no idea when your dinner is tonight."
"Thank you mother." Adam stood and kissed his mother cheek. "What about a chaperone?"
Marlena giggled. "Already taken care of dear. Go get your invitation sent." With that Adam left out of the room. Marlena looked to Randor. "I think they make a good match, Randor."
Randor looked at Marlena seriously. "As a warrior and bodyguard Teela has seen Adam at his worst. She must get over his deception and see him for who he really is. Hell, I'm not even used to his attention to duty these last days but he has been a tremendous help. I am excited to have my son back. I want the best of happiness for him and I hope Teela feels for him as he does for her. Teela's trauma is not over as of yet, Skeletor must be brought to trial and she must testify to his crime. Adam will also have to testify at the trial for all of the deeds prior to his capture. I hope their bond is strong."