((Alright, everyone who has followed me and this story, I am so, so very sorry for the long delay. Real life had a part in abducting my muse, and then even after I had this and the next couple chapters figured out she stalled on me, and I really was hoping to get more up before I continued posting. But I've left you all, my good readers, high and dry for far too long so I'm going to at least close out the 'Killahead Bridge' segment now. Hopefully the fates will be kind and my inspiration will soar again, and the chapter I'm working on will cooperate for me - seriously, I've scrapped about three chapters and rewatched the episodes needed at least five times trying to get it to sound right! Bleh!))

Reconciliation

The three Trolls made their way carefully back to the museum, for as Blinky explained after their first 'false alarm' Vendel would in no way believe them without physical proof in hand. He had been about to go in alone, citing his smaller stature giving him greater stealth, but Aaarrrggghh physically put a stop to that by grabbing his friend and countered with the possibility of the other Changeling - Strickler - being still around. This made Draal curious about Nomura as she was not spoken of, and when he was informed that she'd been pulled through the Bridge he couldn't help but think it was a fitting fate for her. If she was so dedicated to Gunmar then let her join him.

A short debate later, all three made a quiet and quick entry and exit with no one sighted, and then heading back to the canal with the keystone - just about the best proof for its distinctive appearance - held securely in Blinky's lower hands. But when they got to the place where the entrance to Trollmarket was hidden and Blinky pulled out the Horngazle, Draal hesitated.

"I should probably return to the Trollhunter's house," he said by way of explanation for his step back when they looked at him.

"Hurt," Aaarrrggghh pointed out.

"Quite right," Blinky agreed. "You must get your arm properly seen to, or it will only cause worse problems." Draal knew that. The stump would need to be sanded smooth or the rough edges would catch on things and chip away, possibly progressing the dead stone into the living quite painfully. And Draal was equally aware that of everyone he knew, Vendel would be the best to do just that.

But to reenter Trollmarket...

Seeing his indecision, Aaarrrggghh gently grasped Draal's whole arm.

"Be okay," he reassured. "They know truth soon. You pulled Amulet out. Honor well regained." Blinky looked Draal over, noticing the indecision, then gave a small smile.

"Aaarrrggghh is correct again. We will - well, I will have to recount what happened, and your part will of course be included. It was no small feat, and it is one that cost you dearly. I do not doubt that everyone in Trollmarket will be quite willing to welcome you back then." Draal sighed and nodded his agreement.

That didn't mean he was looking forward to this though, never mind how much he actually did want to go home again.

But walking down the crystalline staircase, returning in glory for that was what they were doing even if none below knew it yet, and already feeling the soul-deep pulse of the Heartstone from so close by was like a balm to a wound he hadn't even realized he bore. He closed his eyes for a moment, just feeling the smooth crystal beneath his feet and hearing the murmur of Trollmarket ahead, and missed Aaarrrggghh smile at Blinky in the process.

The chatter in the general vicinity soon stopped the moment they took one step actually into Trollmarket proper, however. Aaarrrggghh, much to Draal's surprise, came around to stand on his right side, and Blinky his left flanking him, though the casual manner in which they did it made it seem like nothing unusual. In fact were it not for the events of the past hour Draal himself might have not realized anything was amiss. Blinky started leading the way towards the Heartstone, the most likely place to find Vendel, and Draal heard the murmurs starting up.

"What's going on?"

"What's that Blinkous is holding?"

"What's he doing back here?"

"Bold to come back after he was beaten down in the Forge."

"Look at his arm! Do you think the Trollhunter did that?"

"Maybe Draal went back after him."

Draal's jaw was clenched so tight it almost physically hurt, hearing it, but he wouldn't dignify the speakers with a retort. Beside him, more felt than heard, was a low rumble from Aaarrrggghh though the Krubera seemed to be restraining himself as well, and Blinky's face was set in a hard mien as he focused on the far more important task. They might have walked all the way there without interruption save for one bold wit in the crowd who dared throw something, an empty cup, at Draal's back. Draal heard the grunt of the throw, the voices raised in protest as they were spattered by the remaining drops of glug inside, even in the sudden quiet heard the cup flying through the air as he started to turn, reflexively trying to bring one arm up to block it. But out of habit given the angle of the attack he started to raise his right arm, and cringed as the movement painfully strained where dead and living stone met, a few small fragments breaking away.

And then in a quick, aggressive movement, Aaarrrggghh swatted it out of the air so hard the mug dented against the stone walkway and growled at those standing around, eyes blackening with anger and runes glowing, speaking in Trollish just to make extra certain that he got his point across.

"Do not dare!" His aggression was so unexpected that those in the front of the crowd actually retreated back a few steps, bumbling into those behind them.

"What is going on here?" came Vendel's imperious question as the crowd ahead parted for him. His brows raised in surprise as he caught the Krubera just settling down, seeing the trouble behind cowed and still looking sternly at them, Blinky seeming unbothered by his roommate's sudden violent streak, and Draal clearly badly wounded. "I trust there is a suitable explaination for all this?" Which meant there had better be! With more than a little bit of pride in his steps, Blinky approached the Trollmarket leader and spoke in a loud voice, so everyone nearby could hear.

"Yes, Vendel, there is." He held out the keystone. "The Trollhunter has found, and destroyed, Killahead Bridge, through the valiant and vital deeds and self-sacrifice of Draal the Deadly, son of Kanjigar the Courageous, and our Trollhunter has also killed Bular the son of Gunmar in single combat!" The gasps and shouts of astonishment were loud and for a moment Vendel's demands for silence and order were drowned out.

A bellow from Draal took care of that: "Be silent!"

"Ahem, thank you Draal." Draal nodded in reply, though in truth that yell had taken some more of his somewhat flagging strength from him. "Blinkous, Draal, Aaarrrggghh, come with me, immediately. The rest of you, continue on with your business. When I have heard the full story then the necessary steps will be taken and you will know everything." Murmuring to themselves though they had to be content with that the crowd dispersed. The three Trolls followed behind Vendel obediently, though out of the corner of his eye Draal thought Blinky looked decidedly smug.

Well, he'd earned it. Aside from his history of conspiracies, Draal had been among the many mockers when he'd first started talking about a human Trollhunter, and after the battle at the Forge rumors certainly would have circulated that he was trying to convince Vendel about a Changeling conspiracy. Now he had validation right before everyone's eyes that none could refute. It had to feel kind of good. Draal smirked, content to let the scholar enjoy his moment.

Vendel led them first to the infirmary where he told Blinky to wait on his explanation until he'd seen to Draal's arm, then gruffly informed them after an examination that Draal would need to go to the Heartstone chamber itself for this procedure so he would have it to bolster his strength during the sanding process and while he awaited a false-arm to replace his natural one. Though there were some stares while they headed there but none dared to speak to any of them for any reason.

Draal had before now only been inside the Heartstone's hollow core a very small handful of times, and as before he almost sagged with the sheer welcoming warmth of it. Perhaps he did a little as Aaarrrggghh gripped his left arm to help support him until he assured the Krubera he was well. While Vendel gathered what he needed from the table in the center of the chamber he had Aaarrrggghh carry a stone slab from a normal side-chamber just outside and place it against one wall to act as Draal's bed until he was healed fully, and though he typically disliked being fussed over Draal was grateful to lay back and rest a bit, eyes closing and letting the Heartstone warm him through. He felt Aaarrrggghh settle close by, both keeping him company and keeping an eye on the Troll who was once a whelp often left in his care. Dimly Draal could hear Vendel and Blinky talking, probably an explanation of the battle. Safe, Draal let himself doze.

He awoke when Vendel came over to him with a thick pad to cover and bind the stump against the jags catching on anything and words about the procedure ahead. He assured the warrior it wouldn't cause him any further pain, and that if he felt any he was to speak up immediately and not try to 'tough it out' like some prideful fool, and once begun it would take quite likely a couple of hours to complete. After that Vendel would begin work on the artificial arm, a much lengthier process. For a Troll to lose a limb but not their life at the same time was a rarity to say the least, but it had happened in the past and thus there were blueprints and guides for what to do. And what would Draal do while it was being built? Rest, simply rest and not strain himself.

Ug.

But with little choice in the matter Draal merely nodded in compliance and lay back to wait. It seemed there would be a bit of a delay as back at the table Vendel picked up the keystone of the Bridge, said something to Blinky, and departed, and Blinky looked Draal's way, seeming uncomfortable.

Ah. Draal felt his stomach tighten in anxiety similar to the moments before a battle. Yes, this was the first chance that Blinky would have to talk to him without anything else demanding greater attention. Draal had apologized to Aaarrrggghh at the Lake household, but he still had yet to make amends with Blinky – and if he were honest with himself this was the conversation he more dreaded. Aaarrrggghh was a forgiving sort but Draal could recall Blinky speaking harshly of Gumm-Gumms dead centuries for the friends they'd taken from him, and he remembered all the scowls he'd earned from the bookish Troll recently.

Blinky fidgeted with something on the table for a moment, balking, then took a breath and came over. Draal braced, watching the other approach and willing to accept whatever lecture or scolding or words of anger that were leveled at him. He knew he'd deserve it. Aaarrrggghh, with a glance between them, stood and moved to the entrance to the chamber to give them privacy and likely ward away the curious outside.

"Are you in any pain?" asked Blinky, looking for words it seemed and trying to divert with 'small talk' to borrow a human phrase.

"No," was the answer. "It is strange, of course, but I feel only a numbness where my arm is stone, not pain."

"Ah, good, good." There was a tense pause, then Draal took a breath.

"Blinky, I - " Blinky held up an upper hand to stop him. Draal fell silent.

"I normally would let you talk first, but I have something to say before you do." Blinky took a breath, looking Draal right in the eyes as he sat cross-legged next the makeshift bed. "You have behaved in a way that I never thought I would witness of you, Draal. You were brutish, arrogant, and I would even go so far as to say cruel, both to Master Jim, to Aaarrrggghh, and to myself. I honestly cannot say whether I was more disappointed or wounded by the things you said." Draal lowered his gaze, unable to look at the other, shame burning in his chest. The words were true, and he knew it.

"But," Blinky went on, "even bound and hanging upside down, when I saw you had come to aid Master Jim with Tobias and Aaarrrggghh – I almost thought I was seeing Kanjigar standing there."

That made Draal's head snap back up!

"You reminded me so much of your father, and it was like - " Blinky paused as he tried to find just the right words. " - it was like you had been lost for what felt like a long time, and suddenly you were back again. Like you'd woken up from some strange dreamwalking and were you once more." Draal swallowed heavily.

"I have said as much to Aaarrrggghh, but I know I have behaved exactly as you said, and far worse I would add. I know I do not deserve forgiveness, or even the consideration of it, for even one act let alone the sum, not from you or anyone." Blinky lay a hand on his shoulder gently, smiling.

"I have heard it said that those who say they do not deserve forgiveness are often those who most actually do, because they are the ones who regret the deed."

"Regret is most decidedly how I feel about the first days after you brought the Trollhunter to Trollmarket. I was a fool!"

"Even a fool can learn from his mistakes, if he is willing. And I know you have learned well." Blinky blinked back a bit of moisture from his eyes as he finished, "Welcome home to Trollmarket, Draal." Draal finally felt his tension leech away from his spirit, closing his eyes gratefully.

First the Trollhunter forgave him in the basement of his house.

Then Aaarrrggghh had added his own forgiveness in the kitchen of said house.

Finally Blinky had spoken his in his usual verbose way, in the heart of the place Draal had never thought to be again. Finally Draal felt like he had redeemed himself, and his father's legacy.

His heart could be at peace.