Author's Note: Guess who just figured out he can submit chapters via his phone where he does most of his writing without having to use the very touchy app. Anyway, enjoy!
"WAKE UP, PAPA!"
This, along with Arthur's launching himself onto his back while he was sleeping, was Jim's wake up call several days later. He didn't even have a chance to think about it, and apparently, neither did the Amulet. As far as it was concerned, its master was under attack, and he'd donned his armor before realizing his son was sitting next to him with a huge grin. The glow of the armor reflected in his excited eyes, and Jim stared at him for a moment longer before sighing and dismissing the Amulet.
"Good morning, Arthur," he said as he set it back on his nightstand. "What was that for?"
"Happy birthday, Papa!" Arthur said as he bounced a bit. Jim stared at him again and forced a smile.
"Thanks, big guy." He pulled his son in for a hug. "But maybe next time you want to wake me up, don't launch yourself at full force, okay?"
"Sorry," Arthur dipped his head.
"Me too," Claire said as she came in with a tray bearing breakfast. "I told him not to, but he was just too excited." She eyed the boy. "That's not what I meant when I said 'go wake your father up.'"
"Sorry, Mama," he said as he slithered off the bed.
"All right. Go play, okay? We'll be down soon." Arthur grinned and ran out of their bedroom, and Jim fell face first into his pillow as Claire sat down next to him.
"My birthday," he grumbled. "Jeez, I'm thirty."
"Yes, you are," Claire chuckled as she set the tray aside and laid down next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "And a raging pack of Gumm-Gumms will not keep me from making sure you have a good day."
"Don't say that," he snorted as he turned his head to her. "You know it's just my luck that a raging pack of Gumm-Gumms would show up today." She rolled her eyes and kissed him. He returned it and curled in against her. "Can I just not get out of bed today?"
"Not an option," she told him as she stroked his hair. "Come on, it'll be fine!" She sat up and pulled him with her. "Eat up. I made an omelet for you! ...And NotEnrique is currently in the kitchen eating the eggshells. He stopped by to say 'hi.'"
"All right…" Jim stretched his arms up and felt a crack in his back. "I'll be down in a bit. Just give me a few." She smiled and kissed his forehead.
"Take all the time you need, mi amor." Jim took her hand briefly before she walked away, and he turned his attention to the omelet and a glass of juice next to it. He still had yet to acquire a taste for coffee and highly doubted he ever would. He took a bite of his breakfast, a smile on his face at the peppers and spices that Claire had used to give it a bit of extra kick.
He jolted again at the sound of a yell from downstairs, and he grabbed the Amulet and jumped out of bed, nearly running into Claire. He heard Arthur saying something, followed by a certain troll's voice.
"Uh, SIS?!" He called. "A little help?!" Claire exchanged an alarmed look with her husband and they both rushed downstairs.
"NotEn… Enrique?!" Claire stammered. Her fifteen year old brother was standing in the kitchen, restraining a squirming green troll in his arms. He looked absolutely horrified. Arthur, meanwhile, was trying to get his uncle's attention to let the troll go with little success.
"Claire!" Enrique huffed. "Call animal control! Or the police, or someone! This thing can talk!"
"I ain't just a thing!" NotEnrique protested. "Put me down!"
"Enrique, it's okay," Claire insisted. "Let him go. He's a friend."
"A friend?!" her brother repeated. "This is a monster!"
"I am NOT!" NotEnrique argued. "I'm one of the good guys!"
"Enrique!" Claire snapped. "Put him down. Now." Enrique stared at her in shock before dropping the troll, who grumbled and quickly made his way behind her. "I'm sorry for yelling," she said. "Enrique, mi hermanito… I know you're confused."
"Yes, I'm confused!" Enrique huffed. "You know that thing? What even is it?!"
"I ain't an 'it!'" NotEnrique said curtly.
"Calm down, Enrique," Jim said with his hands up. "Give us a chance to explain. You may want to sit down." Enrique's brow furrowed, but he pulled out a chair from the table and did as he was told. Jim exchanged a look with Claire and sighed. "This is… We've called him 'NotEnrique' for years."
"Not… Enrique?" Enrique stared at the troll. "Why? What does that mean?"
"Mi hermanito…" Claire said gently. "Have you ever wondered why you're shorter than a lot of the boys your age?" she asked. "You're kind of actually a year younger than you think. Physically, anyway." Enrique blinked.
"What?" was all he managed to say.
"When you were a baby, you were… kidnapped."
"KIDNAPPED?!" He demanded. "What?! Why have Mom and Dad never told me?"
"Because they didn't know," Claire replied. "You were taken to a place called the Darklands, and… this guy," she gestured to NotEnrique, "took your place. While you were there, he was able to take your form. He's a troll, more specifically a Changeling." Enrique started to say something else, but shock robbed him of his voice.
"You've always looked up to Jim, right?" Claire went on. "You don't remember being in the Darklands since you were just a baby, but… Jim was the one who saved you and brought you home." Enrique's disbelieving eyes went from his sister to his brother-in-law.
"It's true," he said with a nod. "There's an entire world you know nothing about. And the only reason I do is because I'm the Trollhunter." He held up the Amulet. "For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command." Enrique watched, enraptured, as the armor appeared and encased Jim's body.
"Whoa…" the boy said. "Wait, wait," he shook his head. "Let me get this straight. I was kidnapped when I was a baby. I was taken to some other place which meant that this guy could turn into me, and Jim found me and brought me back home." Both Jim and Claire nodded. "But why is he in your house?!"
"I told ya, I'm a good guy now," NotEnrique said. "Jim's got a way of winning folks over to his side." He jumped up on the table and Enrique shrunk back a bit. "Look, kid. I didn't choose to be like this- a Changeling. I didn't choose for you to get nabbed. I was doin' my job until these two convinced me otherwise. And I'm better for it. Your sister never gave up the thought of saving you. Count yourself lucky to have such a good big sis lookin' out for you." Enrique's face softened a bit as he processed all of this, and he brushed his blond hair back.
"You really did all that for me?" He asked as he looked up at Claire, and she smiled.
"Of course. I love you." He turned to Jim.
"And you're like… some kind of superhero or something? You really saved me?"
"I did," Jim agreed. "Enrique, I still remember the day they took you. I tried to get you back then, but I couldn't keep up. I promised then that I wouldn't stop until you were home safe." He dismissed his armor. "Look, if you have any questions at all, feel free to ask us. Just remember, all of this is a secret. People can't know about trolls or anything like that." Enrique nodded and dropped his gaze for a moment.
"So… he said he's one of the good guys," he said. "Are there other… 'good' trolls?"
"Absolutely," Jim replied. "They make their home in a place called Trollmarket under Arcadia. Now that you know, we'll take you there sometime and introduce you to our friends."
"Can I come?!" Arthur asked excitedly. "I wanna introduce Uncle Enrique to Grampa Blinky!"
"Grampa Blinky?" Enrique echoed.
"He's my mentor, and a dear friend," Jim explained. "Arthur's been calling him that since he learned to talk."
"Okay…" the teen said. "All right, I think I've kind of got my head wrapped around this now. I would like to meet these other trolls. Just… sorry in advance if I freak out again."
"Don't worry about it," Claire teased. "Anyway, what brings you by? We weren't expecting a visit."
"Oh, right." Enrique smiled sheepishly. "I was out on my board heading to meet some friends and I wanted to swing by and wish you a happy birthday, Jim. So… happy birthday!" Jim laughed and nodded.
"Thanks, Enrique. I appreciate it. Sorry for the surprise."
"It's okay," Enrique shrugged. "Also… I guess… thanks for bringing me home." Jim's eyes softened.
"Of course. Back then, you were Claire's little brother. But now, you're mine too. And I would do anything to keep you safe."
"Appreciate it, Jim." Enrique stood up and gave him a quick hug. "I gotta run. This whole troll thing kind of threw me off schedule. I'll see you all later!" He gave his sister a hug, then his nephew, and rather awkwardly waved at the Changeling he had once been connected to. NotEnrique gained an amused smirk and waved back.
"Good kid," the troll said once he had left. "Took that better than I expected."
"He may not remember it, but I bet his time in the Darklands did influence him," Claire said. "He's always been pretty easy going about 'weird' things."
"He was there almost a year," Jim pointed out. "Anyway. I'm gonna go finish my breakfast and get ready for the day. Hopefully this is the worst thing that happens."
"Ai, that thing is probably cold by now," Claire sighed. "Bring it back down and I'll throw it in the pan a little longer."
"Sounds good." Jim nodded and kissed her cheek, then headed upstairs.
