Warily Argh looked around, deeply intimated by what he saw. They had all walked into a huge room, but it wasn't like any other room Argh had ever seen.
All of the walls were shining in a warm orange light, spikes of this odd stone was raising up and in the middle was the biggest one of all of them. These stones all seemed almost alive, pulsing with this warm gentle glow.
There was a round table in the middle of the large room, which the trolls now placed themselves around.
Trollhunter Deya, Vendel, Blinky, Ursurna and Argh… Ursurnas body-guards had been left outside asked to guard the entrance, no one else were allowed inside.
Argh swallowed as he looked around, then gently Blinky touched his shoulder catching Arghs eyes. "It's all right my friend." he assured. "This is the heart stone chamber a sacred place, violence and fighting is not permitted in here." he informed. "Which makes it an ideal place for the troll tribunal, the leaders of troll kind are less likely to kill each other in here." he commented which made Argh smirk slightly but then exhaled.
They were now all gathered around the table, Blinky not far away from Argh, Deya and Vendel standing in the direct opposite to them and Ursurna to Blinkys right… which meant Vendels left.
Deya exhaled deeply as he placed her hands flat on the table. "Blinkous, I believe you owe us all an explanation." she stated. "Please, tell me how Argh the brutal came to be in your keep and why your punishment shouldn't be severe." she asked.
"Certainly, I shall tell you everything that happened I swear." Blinky assured. "Though, if I may. Could you not call Argh that?" he asked. "Does the name 'the brutal' seem fitting right now?" he asked.
Deya glanced up and saw how Argh was looking away, and true enough… In spite of Argh being the biggest troll amongst them, right now he also seemed the most vulnerable.
"Very well, his true name is Arghamon, is it not?" Deya asked.
"It is indeed." Ursurna assured. "And I to would appreciate it if you would call him by his true name."
"Very well then." Deya nodded then looked at Ursurna. "You say Arghamon was taken from the Krubera, when he was but a child. how young?" she asked.
"A fletching." Ursurna informed. "He had yet to speak a full sentence."
"And you are sure that this is the same troll?" Deya asked.
"Trollhunter Deya!" Ursurna huffed in a scorned tone. "Are you doubting my senses!? We the Kruberas are able to sense each others distress you know, Argh has been cut off from us for so long, but recently was the link restored and I felt his pain but I did not know where he was! I assure you, this is Arghamon our long lost child!"
"The trollhunter meant no disrespect." Vendel then assured. "Her concern only lays with the protection of troll marked! Please forgive her, she has been fighting over a hundred years, slaying many Gumgums and has grown weary as a result, there isn't meant any insults."
"Fine then, I shall overlook your insult." Ursurna then stated in a important tone.
Deya huffed, clearly not happy about being lectured like that but it seemed like she finally decided it was better just to let it go and turned to Blinky. "Well then Blinkous, explain." she asked.
"Yes, of course!" Blinky then started. "It all started, shortly after Dictatous's demise, you remember how I walked the caves in search of solitude right?" he asked. "It was at one of my wanderings I found myself very close to the surface world."
"You walked that far?!" Deya asked. "Blinkous what were you thinking?"
"Would you stop interrupting?" Ursurna asked annoyed and Deya huffed again Blinky though cleared his throat.
"To answer Master Deyas question, I wasn't thinking at all." Blinky then admitted. "I just walked where-ever the tunnels took me, how-ever none of that matters now. I did reach an exit to the surface and that's where I stumbled upon Argh. You can imagine how shocked I was, I was quite sure I was going to die but… Argh wasn't moving. After a while I finally decided to approach him, to find out what he was doing there. That's where I found out, Argh was waiting for the sun to come up. He had laid down at the entrance, waiting for the sun to… to.." he halted.
Deyas eyes widened, Vendel was frowning and Ursurna, she looked deeply concerned.
"I just couldn't let it happen." Blinky then admitted. "So many trolls are dead, I could not let another one die right in front of me." he stated. "And that's why… That's why I took him to my keep. If I didn't he would die, that much was obvious, and I couldn't let that happen!" he stated. "So punish me if you must, but it is what my conscious demanded of me." he stated. "Since then, I spend every day with Argh and well, we became friends." he then stated. "I can't imagine Argh wishing to do harm, if anything he told me he doesn't want to fight anymore. That's why he waited for the sun, he wanted to sun to shine on him so he wouldn't have to fight! But… There's another solution isn't there? Argh shouldn't have to go to such an extreme just so he wont have to fight anymore. Master Deya." he asked. "Vendel."
Deya exhaled deeply. "You acted very foolishly Blinkous." she commented. "If your judgment had been wrong, you would have put all of troll marked under so much danger. Do you realize that?"
"Yes." Blinky admitted. "I do."
"It is though a compelling tale." Vendel had to admit as he stroke his long white beard. "Blinkous is quite right that many trolls have died and to kill even more now would be wasteful." he commented but then he frowned and he looked very displeased. "But then you went behind our backs Blinkous, writing a letter to such a highly esteemed individual as Ursurna!"
Ursurna lifted an eyebrow but didn't object, realizing that the treatment of Blinky wasn't her jurisdiction, only Argh.
Ashamed Blinky looked away.
"Why didn't you tell us Blinkous?" Deya asked. "Either of us, you promised you would say something if something dangerous was at large."
"Well… I tried to tell you, both of you." Blinky pointed out. "But… You both made me swear to never ever bring up the subject again."
That made both Deyas and Vendels eyes widen as it looked like they had both gotten a big smack across the face as Ursurna smirked amused. "Perhaps now we should hear from Arghamon." she then suggested. "Arghamon, what do you have to say?" she asked Argh.
"Urhmm…" Argh hesitated then looked questionable at Blinky.
Blinky shrugged lightly then turned back to the others. "Perhaps you should just ask me what you want to know." he suggested. "I'm sure Argh will answer any question you may have. Isn't that right Argh?" he asked looking at the bigger troll.
"I'll try." Argh nodded.
Deya frowned lightly as she looked at Argh. "So… You claim you don't wish to fight anymore. Why is that?" she asked.
That made Arghs eyes widen.
"It's okay Argh." Blinky then assured. "You can tell them, tell them what you told me." he asked. "It's fine, you can trust them."
Argh swallowed then nodded. "I…. hmmm." he looked down.
Deya frowned and was just about to open her mouth as Blinky lifted up a hand. "Please! I beg of you have patience!" he asked. "Believe it or not, this is not easy for Argh."
And Deya quited as Argh halted then he took in a deep breath.
"I am… not sure." Argh then admitted. "I remember…. for as long as I remember." he corrected himself. "Felt so much rage, anger… in here." he held a hand over his chest. "Anger all there was, all I remember. Then… There was a fight, many humans dead. I was feasting and then suddenly… a human looked at me. Even though human dead, still looked at me." Argh commented. "Then… got scared, suddenly… Remembering all those fights, all that pain. Not making me angry, making me hurt." he stated then grabbed his head. "Hurting humans bad! Hurting trolls bad!" he exclaimed. "Pain… Suffering.. Bad! BAD!" he exclaimed. "Do not want! I do not!"
"Hey-hey easy!" Blinky exclaimed grabbing Arghs arm. "Take it easy, you're not at the battlefield okay? You're here. Argh easy, come back to us!"
And Argh opened his eyes as he took a deep breath, seemingly back into the room then looked at Blinky. "Thank you."
"Argh described it to me as an experience of waking up." Blinky then informed. "Like all that rage and bloodlust he felt wasn't even his own but had come from somewhere else. We all know that Gunmar has the ability to control the mind of trolls." he stated pointing at his own head with just one hand. "And please, listen to my theory." he asked as he placed his hands on the table. "Gunmar, at the beginning of the war he raided troll tribes, stole all of their youngest! A number of the tribes he wiped out he only killed the adults but kept their youngest, then he conditioned all of these children to become his own warriors! Young minds are far more impressionable than an adult, so he wouldn't need the same amount of concentration to control such a large number! Gunmar took them, then groomed them to become his personal army, raised them in a environment where it is either to kill or be killed. He even denied them food and made them hunt humans for their own nourishment, another way to thin out the human population. This is vital information!" he stated. "We now know where Gunmars army comes from, if we can better understand his army we'll also stand a better chance of defeating them!"
"And so… You suggest that Argh broke free of this control?" Vendel asked.
"Yes." Blinky stated. "And imagine how confusing that must have been, if I am right and Argh was under this control ever since he was a little child. He has never known anything else, he doesn't even know who he is. Which also explains his simple languet and gaps in knowledge. OH!" he suddenly realised."I'm sorry Argh, I didn't mean."
"It's okay, it's true." Argh pointed out.
Deya frowned slightly looking at the two. "How did he break free though?" She asked. "If your theory is true."
"Well… honestly." Blinky hesitated. "My best guess is a mixture of shock and Arghs true gentle nature emerging." he stated. "Trollhunter Deya, can you honestly say that this Argh next to me is the same Argh whom you met on the battlefield?"
Deya hesitated then looked at Argh, whom looked back at her with rather pathetic green eyes. For a moment Deya looked stunned then sighed. "No." she then admitted making everyone look up. "I shall never forget what it felt like facing Argh the brutal on the battlefield, I remember looking into his eyes and there was nothing there, nothing but rage. I was scared that day." she admitted.
This new information did indeed shock Blinky, he could never imagine Deya being scared of anything.
"Your eyes are different now, Arghamon. And I don't mean just the color, I see no rage." Deya admitted. "I see…" she halted. "Sorrow, confusion… hurt." she commented. "Heh, that's three more emotions than before." she had to admit. "You don't seem like the same troll at all. The fear I felt back then… It is hard to recapture now."
"This is a difficult decision." Vendel commented. "It seems to me that the decision we have to make now is this. Is it Argh the brutal whom stands before us, in which case Blinkous brought a Gumgum to Troll marked and must be punished! Or… Is this Arghamon, another troll whom shouldn't have to answer for the brutality of Argh the brutal. In which case… Blinkous merely brought a refuge to troll marked, just like he would be expected to do if he found a troll out there without a home."
Confused Argh looked at them then frowned.
"It's really not that simple though is it?" Blinky asked. "Argh both is and isn't Argh the brutal on the same time. How-ever… I do not believe he can be held responsible."
"Blinkous it is not Argh but you who are on trial, i'm afraid your opinion doesn't matter right now." Vendel had to point out.
"I'm sorry." Blinky replied sheepishly.
"What about me?" Argh had to ask.
"You are indeed a Krubera so it is Ursurna whom will determine your fate." Vendel exhaled deeply. "Troll marked can't afford to go to war with the Kruberas too over such a matter." he commented a little annoyed.
"Seems to me though." Ursurna commented. "That Arghamon is benefitting greatly from the presence of Blinkous and could stand to benefit some more." she pointed out looking at the two then she sighed. "I would invite Blinkous to the Krubera caves but I am afraid he would not survive long down there."
"Aside from that troll marked needs Blinkous." Deya flat out stated. "He has a very important job to do."
"I do?" Blinky asked confused.
"Blinky your books." Argh pointed out. "You are writing down the history as it happens, so no one will ever forget. Remember?" he asked.
"Oh yes! Right!" Blinky realized hammering a fist into the palm of his hand.
That made Ursurna look at the small six eyed troll. "You're a historian?" she asked.
"Well yes I suppose." Blinky scratched his cheek.
"He writes books! Lots of them!" Argh smiled happily. "I'm not good at reading, but i'm sure they are great!"
Ones again Deya looked rather astounded, clearly taken aback by the warmth that now came from Argh by the mention of Blinkys work. This really was the polar opposite from the warrior she remembered.
"Well I… I'm just trying to be as accurate as possible." Blinky informed rather embarrassed.
"Well I believe that does settle that Blinkous is going to stay here." Vendel stated. "And Argh, even though he benefits from Blinkous's presence, must go back to the Kruberas."
"Must?" Argh asked. "Do I have to?" he asked sounding rather sad.
"We would welcome you Arghamon." Ursurna assured. "It is your home, and you are one of our beloved children!"
"But…" Argh halted. "I… I want to stay." he admitted.
Blinky smiled clearly touched but then had to shake his head before he turned to the others. "Trollhunter Deya, Master Vendel. Isn't there some way we can allow Argh to stay?" he asked. "He has helped me so much! And i'm sure he would do all he could to help troll marked!"
Deya and Vendel hesitated as they looked at Argh, then Deya frowned as she lifted a hand to her chin.
Vendel as well looked like he was in deep thought, concerned did both Blinky and Argh look at the two awaiting their decision.
"Well…" Deya then halted. "I think that… I could allow Argh to stay."
"What really?" Blinky asked deeply surprised.
"Under one condition!" Deya exclaimed holding up a hand. "Argh must make a vow of pacisifism, to me!"
Argh frowned confused. "Paci-fism?" he asked.
"It means you're not allowed to hurt anyone or anything." Blinky informed and Arghs eyes widened.
"Oh." Argh realised.
"Make this vow to me!" Deya demanded. "That you will never… And I mean never harm any troll under any circumstance ever again!" she stated. "And if you break this vow, just ones! I will hunt you down and kill you. Ursurna will not be able to protect you, if it is a vow to a trollhunter you broke!"
"I have the utmost confidence in Arghamon." Ursurna then stated. "That if he is to take such a vow, he would not do it lightly. So I agree, how-ever if he doesn't break the vow and you hurt him, it will mean war between our tribes. Am I clear?" she asked.
"And I think I got the perfect punishment for Blinkous then." Vendel stated. "It'll be your job to make sure that Argh doesn't break this vow!" he stated. "I am allowing the vow only because of your insistence and I do value your advice, believe it or not. How-ever! If Argh break his vow, it will be considered that you broke it with him and you'll both face punishment. Are we clear?" he asked.
"Yes!" Blinky exclaimed happily. "Yes! A thousand times yes! Argh, Argh did you hear?!" he asked turning to Argh whom wide-eyed looked at the elders. "You'll be allowed to stay! All you have to do is promise to never ever hurt anyone but, you don't want to hurt anyone anyway! It's perfect!"
"I… Don't have to hurt anyone?" Argh asked. "Never again?"
"You wont be allowed to." Deya stated. "Ever again."
And Argh broke out in a large grin. "I ACCEPT!" he stated surely and Blinky jumped up in the air clearly happy, the three older trolls couldn't help but smile as well as Argh put a hand untop of Blinkys head and ruffled in his hair as Blinky laughed.
"Remember Arghamon, it is not only your own life on the line now, it is Blinkous's to." Deya pointed out. "do not take this vow lightly."
"I wont." Argh assured in a grin. "I wont hurt Blinky!"