Escrito por: Some recent events
Teela and He-Man were on their way back from Castle Grayskull, after another fight that had ended with Evil-Lyn and Beastman thrown into a puddle of mud.
Teela complained because her new boots had dirt all over them, «I was supposed to present my report to the Council of Elders this afternoon and I thought, for once, I’d look decent».
Soon they reached the Lake Greensight and decided to get some rest there.
He-Man went swimming for a little while to freshen up. Then he sat on a rock near the shore and looked at Teela, wondering how she could remain so detached from what had happened between them. She had been careful enough to avoid being alone with Adam ever since. She didn’t look even a bit disturbed by the event, while he constantly thought about it.
Teela gathered some tree leaves and started wiping off the mud from her boots, thinking about what Adam had said at the Privy Gardens. She was past the denial; she knew she wanted him too. Yet it wasn’t that simple. He was the Prince of Eternia, and she was none other than his bodyguard. They were bound to be close to one another, for life. If she made a mistake, she would have to endure the consequences for a very long time.
She feared that if she said yes, everything could end disastrously. Although she knew she was not strong enough to watch him fall in love with someone else.
She broke the silence abruptly, talking to He-Man, «We have a lot in common, you and I, don’t we?»
He-Man was startled by the sudden question, «You could say that, yes. Why?»
She stopped what she was doing and looked towards the lake, «I’m devoted to serving Eternia. I’m quite passionate about it. I do believe it’s an honor and it fills me with purpose. But do you ever wonder…?»
«…If there’s more to life than service?» said He-Man, shrugging, «This might surprise you, but this is the first time someone has asked me that, ever. I was sort of born into it, and I was never let to believe I had much choice.»
«Then, it is hard for you too.»
He-Man sighed and smiled, «At times, it is trying.»
Teela decided it was best to take her boots off and wash them, so she walked into the lake until the water was up to her knees. He-Man thought she looked adorable tiptoeing into the water.
When she was satisfied with the look of her boots, she walked back to the shore, sat next to He-Man, and said to him, «I didn’t know you felt that way. You’re just perfect for the job, aren’t you?»
«Maybe that sense of fate makes it easier to bear», he answered.
«Don’t get me wrong, but I’m kind of relieved, to know that I’m not confused over nothing.»
«What do you mean, confused?» He-Man asked. Maybe she wasn’t so indifferent after all.
Teela sighed and frowned slightly, «I’d never questioned my path. I wasn’t really born into it as you say, but it was a clear path and it seemed like the only one. And now I’m beginning to wonder what it means for me, for the people I care about, in the long term.»
«Why… what makes you think about that now?» asked He-Man with an unusually shaky voice.
«Some recent events», Teela’s cheeks were burning with a sudden blush.
He-Man had to bite his tongue to stop himself from smiling.
«Some happy events?» He asked.
«I’m not sure. I want to make things right, but I don’t know which way to go. If it was only a matter of choice… but I don’t fully understand what would happen if…» she shook her head, «I shouldn’t be bothering you with this.»
His heart plummeted because he felt he was losing her right before his eyes. He took a deep breath and decided he wasn’t going to let her go without a fight, «Teela, in the end, when I’m old, I want to look back and be not only proud of what I’ve done. I also want to know I tried my best to lead a happy life. So should you.»
She didn’t understand why he was looking at her with such a grave expression, and she felt the need to justify herself.
«It is not only me I have to think of», said Teela, with an air of melancholy.
«Then the decision is not yours alone».
Teela smiled briefly, and straightened up, as if new life was brought into her. «Thank you. I still don’t have any answers, but I think I have the right questions».