Chapter Twelve: Wanting

Jamie entered the café with a light in her eyes and a flush on her cheeks. Her run had been fantastic today—probably due to the increased high-intensity cardio in her Trollhunter training regimen—and it made her mood soar, despite her argument with Strickler last night.

At least the Claire-meeting went well. Everyone, even Vendel, had unanimously agreed that it would be wise to introduce the girl to the world of trolls on their terms, lest the changelings managed to harness her ignorance for their ultimate advantage. Empowering Claire with as much knowledge as possible (and occupying as much of her time and attention as possible) was the best way to combat her not-brother's potential influence.

Thus, Jamie took a seat at the table closest to the glass wall, awaiting her friend's arrival eagerly. Her eyes were so busy scanning the streets outside for her friend that she didn't even notice when the waiter had approached her. "What can I get for you, Love?" his smooth tenor, lilting with an outrageously attractive accent, tore the girl from her excited musings.

Jamie felt herself stiffen as she realized exactly who had just spoken to her. Turning slowly, her heart rate skyrocketed as their gaze collided. His hazel eyes crinkled in amusement as her face flushed further. "Hi," she said, promptly forgetting what he'd just asked her. "What?"

He chuckled, obviously used to positive attention from his clientele. "Hey, there," he greeted in response. "Still high from today's run?"

"How did you know I'm a runner?" Jamie asked stupidly, as if she didn't plan her route around the café in hopes of catching a glimpse of the indigo-haired barista.

"I see you pass by most days," his eyelids drooped as he regarded his customer with a suave smirk, "if I'm lucky, that is."

Horrified by the girlish giggle that burst from her lips, Jamie turned her blue eyes toward the floor and bit her lip in an effort to shut herself up. Get a grip, girl, she chastised herself. He's finally talking to you and you're gonna act like that?!

"What's your name anyway?" he continued, despite her obvious awkwardness.

"Jamie," the girl managed to squeak. Forcing her eyes to meet his hazel ones once more, she asked, "What's yours?"

"Douxie," he said easily, leaning against the table in a relaxed manner. To both of their surprise, the table slid sideways under his weight, causing him to stumble clumsily to regain his balance. "Whoa," he shot her a sheepish grin, eyes cringed in embarrassment. "That happened."

Much more relaxed to see that her crush was actually a human and not some dark angel born to make her feel inferior, Jamie giggled much less girlishly than before. "At least you recovered well," she absolved him of his shame. "You're not even blushing! I'd be a mess!"

"I don't know about that," Douxie said as he readjusted the table, his indigo bangs falling adorably in his eyes. "You seem quite charming most days."

The girl smiled, flattered by the compliment and pleased with how easily they communicated. It was even better than her fantasies, stumble and all. "Ahem," Douxie cleared his throat. "Anyway, what would you like to order?"

Jamie started at remembering why she and Claire had chosen to meet at the café in the first place. "One vanilla frap, blended, extra whip, please."

"Excellent choice," the waiter smiled. "I'll have your order out in no time."

"'Kay," Jamie said simply and waited, more eager for his return than for her friends' arrival.

As her eyes followed the barista back to his place behind the counter, a buzzing alert drew her attention back to her phone where a text from Claire awaited her perusal. Jamie opened the message and was selfishly pleased to discover it read: 'Running late. NotEnrique ate all of my socks. :('

Oh, darn, Jamie thought dryly, casting her phone a little smirk. More time to chat with Douxie. Maybe that rotten little changeling was actually good for something every now and then… 'Troll troubles. :p' Jamie replied, hoping to lighten the mood. She wondered idly if Claire or NotEnrique had chosen his name…

"Here you go, Love," Douxie's voice brought the girl back to reality a few moments later. "One blended vanilla frappe."

"Thanks," Jamie smiled sweetly, hoping he would stick around for a few minutes more, despite the busy time of day.

There was a moment of silence in which Jamie nibbled her lip and Douxie swayed hesitantly, an obvious war waging behind his eyes. Just as the girl was about to give up and turn back to her coffee, the waiter spoke. "So," he said, hovering around Jamie's table just the way she wanted. "My shift's about to end, but I'm off to work my second job at the bookstore—GDT Arcane Books. Maybe you could visit me there sometime and we could chat?"

"Sure!" Jamie agreed instantly, her cheeks pinking with delight. "I'll see you there sometime."

"I look forward to seeing you again, Lady Jamie," Douxie shot her a suave grin before he strode off and disappeared through the door behind the counter.

The girl counted to fifteen, stirring her frozen coffee meticulously before allowing herself to squeal gleefully. She'd only been daydreaming of their meeting for months and today it had finally happened—and it was even better than she could have possibly hoped!

After another fifteen minutes, during which time Jamie drank half of her fuzzy coffee and planned a hundred possible conversations she and Douxie could have, Claire burst through the glass doors, irritation etched across her pretty features.

Wow, Jamie mused as she admired her friend's innate beauty. I'm so glad she wasn't here when Douxie took my order. Something told her that the sexy barista wouldn't have given her the time of day when in Claire's presence.

"So sorry, Jamie," the Latina apologized frantically, collapsing into the two-chaired table beside her friend. "I can't believe that rotten little turd-muncher! I had to wait until Mama left for work to steal a pair of her socks!"

Jamie snorted, feeling like the Councilwoman more than deserved to lose a pair of socks for the way she treated her daughter. "It's all good, Claire. I once came home to a giant hole in my basement because Draal wanted a back door to Trollmarket!" the girl soothed after another sip of her drink. "Did you want to order anything?"

"Are you kidding?" Claire burst with a smirk. "I wanna go to Trollmarket! Like, yesterday!"

The girls laughed. "Okay," Jamie said, "but I've gotta tell you—trolls are not super fond of humans. They were so pissed when the amulet picked me to be the Trollhunter. I'm pretty sure Trollmarket's Elder still doesn't like me."

"Oh," the Latina's brow furrowed with concern. "Should I be worried? Is there anything I need to know about?"

Jamie shrugged. "Not really," she said off-handedly, rising from the table and discarding her empty cup in the trash as they exited the building. "They really care about honor and respect. The right greetings, the right signals, speaking a little bit of their language… oh, and bribery is always good. If you have something to offer, then they'll like you way more."

As they walked, Jamie taught Claire the most respectful Trollish introduction she knew and mentally prepared her for the strange mannerisms she could expect from her troll friends—namely the lack of boundary-awareness, extreme bluntness, and gruff exteriors. Claire, for the most part, followed her brief lesson with fascinated attentiveness. She even remembered the Trollish greeting by the time they arrived at the canals.

Remembering her first trip to Trollmarket, Jamie channeled her inner-Blinky and retrieved the horngazel, smirking excitedly at her friend. "Are you ready?"

Claire was ready to the point of bouncing in place. "I was born ready!"

Giggling, Jamie drew the familiar arch way and smacked the center, reveling in the look of awe that overtook Claire's features as she witnessed the magical entry of Trollmarket opening for her admittance. "Holy sheeshkabob!"

"Pretty much," Jamie smiled and grabbed her friend's hand. "Let's go!"

The two traipsed down the crystal staircase, giggling like grade-schoolers and talking about all the fascinating sights the world of trolls had in store. Before reaching the bottom, Jamie donned her armor earning another excited squeal from her friend. "So awesome," the Latina whispered.

Jamie grinned and dragged her friend through the final opening before the view of Trollmarket became visible for their pleasure. "It's beautiful!" Claire gasped in awe.

One of Draal's friends, an orange troll with shiny armor, stood guard beside the entrance. "Oi! Human!" he barked in Trollish, holding a horseshoe aloft threateningly.

"It's okay," Jamie placed a steadying hand upon her friend's shoulder. "She's with me."

"Just followin' the protocol, Trollhunter," the troll grumped, eyeing the two humans suspiciously. "Wouldn't have to if it wasn't for you, though…"

Jamie rolled her eyes at the guard's obvious displeasure with being forced to work harder to protect the city. Trollmarket hadn't liked the protocols when they were first introduced, such was the stubborn nature of trolls. Now that the rules were more strictly enforced since NotEnrique's discovery, Jamie's reputation was worse than ever. Silently, the Trollhunter allowed the guard to tap her with the Gaggletack as a demonstration of the horseshoe's benign nature and smiled at Claire, "You're turn."

The girl did not hesitate, probably willing to do just about anything to get into the magical underground city. Claire's excitement would have brought a smile to Jamie's face if she hadn't taken off at full speed the moment the guard was through with her. "Claire!" Jamie cried, but it was too late. Her friend was running around Trollmarket all by herself.

"Shit, shit, shit," the Trollhunter muttered, racing to find her friend. She bobbed and weaved between colorful stone beings, skittering gnomes and shop stands purveying trollish goods; all the while, trying to guess where Claire might have gone. The hunt got easier when the citizens grew wise to the presence of a human on their turf—she just followed the terrified shouts until she stumbled upon Claire, gazing in wonder at Trollmarket's Elder.

"Oh, no," Jamie murmured in horror as she watched Vendel's face contort in distaste.

"Who let this fleshbag sully the hallowed streets of Trollmarket unattended?!" he hollered at the top of his lungs, gravelly voice rough with stress. "Trollhunter!"

The girl couldn't contain her squeak in response to the troll's ire. "Vendel!" she exclaimed and approached the two. "I am so sorry-!"

Her apology was cut off by Claire's perfect recitation of the Trollish greeting Jamie had taught her merely half an hour early. "Schtivlem vent, Dosh Vendel! Wo ie muss bringt schtoken dwobst Trollmarket!"

"Oh!" Vendel's eyes widened as the human's words sank in. "A human who speaks Trollish?!" he murmured, delight obvious in his tone. "In all my years, I've never met such a delightful and learned human! Trollmarket is honored to have you as well…"

The words shocked Jamie into further silence, but the ease with which Claire had been accepted compared to her own tumultuous journey left a sour feeling in her belly. Still, she wanted her friend to be welcome in the world of trolls and was unwilling to act upon the nasty feeling in her gut. "Good! Yeah!" she said and plastered a smile on her face. "Claire's really smart—top of our class, for sure!"

Claire beamed at the praise. "I'm just starting to learn," she said bashfully, "but Jamie is a super great teacher."

"Come along, human," Vendel said, placing an ivory hand atop the Latina's shoulder. "There are still a few trolls who are anxious to meet you."

Jamie bit her tongue and followed along silently behind, trying hard to ignore the angry flush that spread across her skin as Vendel openly inquired about Claire's knowledge of his world thus far. Why hadn't the trolls taken this easily to her? Was it because she wasn't as likeable as Claire?

Shut up, she commanded her brain firmly. You're just not used to having another girl around. It's been all about you for so long; you just need to remember how to share the spotlight…

Feeling like she had a better grip on her emotions than before, Jamie straightened her spine and followed the Elder into his workshop, where Toby, Aaarrrgh, Blinky and Draal all gathered in anticipation of their arrival.

"Claire!" Toby cried as his eyes landed on the girl. "Good to see you!"

Jamie felt her frown return as Toby failed to acknowledge her own arrival when in Claire's presence. Of course, he was more eager about his crush than his best friend—it was totally natural that the new girl was more exciting—but after what just transpired with Vendel, believing the fact felt much more difficult.

Claire managed to wave at her fellow thespian before her gaze found that of the trolls, who waited with eager smiles on their faces—except for Draal, Jamie noticed; he just looked bored. That or he's still moping about Nomura, Jamie thought pityingly. It had been over a week since the troll had come into contact with his ex-love and he was just starting to regain some of his usual spunk.

"You're… you're…"Claire murmured in awe as she approached Aaarrrgh.

"Aaarrrgh," the green giant introduced himself. "Three 'r's!"

Claire patted the enormous troll appreciatively before turning to Blinky, "And that means you're Blinky!"

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Fair Claire!" Blinky exclaimed in greeting, casting the new human a beaming smile. "You are as charming as your friends described!"

That one—ouch—that one stung. Jamie felt her core writhe and constrict with agonizing envy. Of all the trolls' favor, she craved her mentor's the most. Losing it to Claire… that would just be the end of her faith in herself.

"The pleasure's all mine, Mr. Blinky," Claire said with a smile as she eagerly accepted the Conundrum's outstretched hand. "I look forward to reading 'A Brief Recapitulation of Troll Lore'! Jamie said I could borrow it."

Blinky gasped in glee. "But of course!" he exclaimed, all four arms wild with delight. "The more, the merrier!"

Jamie had to bite her tongue to keep from rescinding the invitation to teach Claire Trollish. It was thanks to Draal's interruption that she managed to salvage what little poise she still possessed in the Latina's presence. "I am Draal the Deadly," the son of Kanjigar proudly introduced himself, "the Trollhunter's sworn protector and brother in arms."

Finally! The girl thought with relief. A troll who didn't lose his stone to Claire's greatness!

Her hopes were dashed when Claire turned her mahogany gaze upon the spiky troll. "It is an honor to meet you, Son of Kanjigar," she said with a bow. "Jamie told me you are the greatest warrior she's ever known."

Nononononono-! Draal's yellow-red eyes drifted to the Trollhunter for the briefest of moments, softening upon her form before returning to Claire, approval shining in his gaze. "I look forward to welcoming you into our ranks, fleshbag," he stated. "For now, I must return to my post guarding the Trollhunter's home."

As Draal took his leave, Jamie marveled at how quickly Claire managed to transform that entire interaction with a simple phrase. It had literally taken her up until a week ago to get Draal to be nice to her! What the fuck? What the actual mother-fucking fuck?

"Come along, friends," Blinky said, leading the way out of Vendel's workshop. "We must return to the Forge to begin today's training. Our Trollhunter must be prepared for any catastrophe!"

Like, Claire coming to Trollmarket and stealing all my friends? Jamie thought sourly as she plodded along behind her team, shoulders practically in her ears for how tense she was.

As the group meandered across Trollmarket—Claire skipping, Toby bouncing and Jamie trudging—they managed to pass another troll who was notorious in her hatred for Jamie. "Another fleshbag?!" Bagdwella cried. "It's an infestation!"

Claire gasped in delight, as if she hadn't even heard the narcissistic trolless's indignant insult. "Oh my gosh!" the Latina exclaimed and rushed to the voluptuous shopkeeper. "I just love that dress! Did you make it yourself?"

Bagdwella reared back in momentary surprise before the human's words fully registered and she regained her usual confidence. "Oh, this old thing?" the troll said in her sassy way. "It's been in the family for centuries!"

"Wow!" Claire gushed and circled Bagdwella appreciatively. "Trolls must be really good at making hardy materials!"

The trolless hummed in approval and crossed her arms. "You have excellent taste for a fleshbag," she appraised the girl. "You should come by my shop sometime! I'm sure my wears would be to your liking. In fact, I have this piece…"

Jamie wanted to scream in frustration. After waiting an agonizing eternity for Claire to finish charming Bagdwella, they resumed their journey to the Hero's Forge. Claire gazed around in wonder exactly the same way Jamie and Toby had the day of their first visit. Unfortunately, Jamie was in a rather graceless mood and had forsaken her patience in search of self-comfort. Yes, we get it: the magical troll world is amazing. Now, hurry up and get the fuck out.

"We need to start training if I'm going to be ready to take down Bular," Jamie interrupted caustically. "Tobes, you wanna give Claire the rest of the tour? I've gotta get to work."

"Totally," the boy agreed without sparing his best friend a glance, oblivious to the terseness behind her voice. He extended his arm out to the pretty Latina and cocked his brow enticingly. "My Lady…"

Claire giggled and accepted his proffered elbow. The two smiled easily as they made their exit out of the Forge, Toby happy to explain the finer details of troll culture and Claire listening eagerly. Jamie rolled her eyes as her human friends departed, followed closely by Aaarrrgh.

Hating how her irritation made her jaw muscles tense unpleasantly, the Trollhunter whirled to face her mentor with a scowl and summoned her sword. "Can we please kick the crap out of something?"

"Perhaps," the blue troll deadpanned, cocking a ridged brow at his fuming pupil. "If you can tell me what has you feeling so aggressive."

Jamie regarded her trainer for a moment, debating on whether or not confiding her insecurities to him was worth risking his opinion of her. Finally, craving reassurance, the girl caved and lowered her sword, shoulders slumping as low as her self-esteem. "I've been trying to get the trolls to like me for a month and a half now," she complained softly. "And then, Claire shows up and Vendel think she's brilliant, Toby stops hanging out with me, you think she's pretty-!"

"As far as I am concerned," Blinky interrupted defensively, "human appearances are all entirely unappealing. Fleshy, small, strangely-proportioned creatures…"

The teenager stopped her rant to laugh at the unexpected statement before furrowing her brow as another thought occurred to her. "Then, why did you call Claire 'fair'?"

"When introducing another human into our world," Blinky said in his usual teacher-tone, "the comfort of acceptance is paramount—especially regarding a human with such close ties to changelings. And it rhymed! How could I resist?"

"The only thing I can think of that rhymes with Jamie is 'Lamie'," the Trollhunter muttered bitterly, the sincerity of her tone further fueling her embarrassment.

"'Cockamamie,'" Blinky suggested with a smirk. "But that is far less flattering."

Again, Jamie could not help but laugh at how flippantly her mentor responded to her qualm, lightening her perspective considerably. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just being a baby. Don't tell anyone."

"Your secret is safe with me, Lady Jamie," the troll said, smiling fondly at his charge. "And you're not 'being a baby,' as you put it. Your emotions are valuable indicators of your needs. Listen to them and tell me: what is it you need?"

Jamie paused, attempting to pay careful attention to the feelings roiling inside of her—feelings she so often tried to suppress and ignore. "I think…" she said after a moment of silent struggle. "I think I'm afraid she'll make me look like a worse Trollhunter than I already do. She's smarter, prettier, more talented, more graceful…" the girl sighed in frustration. "Even Vendel approves of her!"

"I've had centuries to acclimate to Trollmarket's general disregard for me," Blinky stated matter-of-factly. "You are so young, so unused to the intense scrutiny with which trolls appraise one another. Claire was lucky enough to be given the tools necessary to win Vendel's esteem by an incredibly considerate friend, a luxury which you were, unfortunately, denied." The blue trolls eyes suddenly lowered in his tell-tale expression of shame. "After being underrated for so long, it did not occur to me to grant you such an advantage—I had not considered how vital a basic understanding of our culture would be for a Trollhunter in your unique position."

"Blink," Jamie deadpanned, "I go to high school—intense scrutiny and general disregard are basically all I'm used to." She sighed, rubbed her arms self-soothingly, and tried to refocus their conversation. "I guess I just got used to being the girl, the important one, the center of attention for once. Claire is super popular, way smarter, way better than me in basically every way." With a final burst of courage, Jamie made her point with a final, succinct statement: "I just don't get why the amulet, or anyone else, would ever choose me over someone like her."

Mired in her insecurities, Jamie almost did not notice her mentor's approach until she felt his stone hand cup her jaw and tilt her face upward, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Of all beings, both human and troll, the amulet chose you," he reiterated intensely. "Whatever she has to offer could never be enough to make you seem unworthy of being our protector. And, dare I say it: her looks could not hold a candle to the beauty of your spirit, Trollhunter."

Tears stung the teen's eyes, prompting her to rush into her trainer's already outstretched arms. "You're just saying that because you think we all look ugly," Jamie mumbled into the troll's stone chest as she squeezed him into a fierce, grateful hug.

"And because you are the loveliest person I've ever met," Blinky teased.

After a moment of lingering in their shared embrace, warmth flooding her being at Blinky's heartfelt words, Jamie finally withdrew to meet his gaze. "That's literally the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me," she said seriously. "Thank you, Blink."

"Always, Lady Jamie."

Strickler had been struggling for twenty-four hours with the fact that his enemy had been right all along.

After being nearly murdered by the Bular the Brute for what was possibly the thousandth time, the changeling was forced to concede to the Trollhunter's logic. Serving a troll who would have killed him for the slightest mistake may not be the best way to earn respect for his kind.

Before he had Barbara and Jamie, it had simply been a question of power. Which master would grant him the greatest status? Obviously, the Gumm-Gumms were at least willing to give changelings a chance, unlike the morally-superior traitors of Trollmarket. Now that the girl he practically considered his daughter was the Trollhunter, he had more important factors to consider.

For the first time in centuries, Strickler felt lost. He's always had a path, a plan, a mission to guide him. Now, he had a choice to make. Was his power really worth the risk Gunmar's reign would pose to his people, human and changeling alike?

"Waka chaka!"

Strickler pinched the bridge of his prominent nose as the goblin's words fully registered in his mind. "What do you mean 'there's a missing piece'?" he hissed, fury evident in his tone.

Fragwa chattered desperately, eyes wide, skinny arms flailing, in an attempt to convince the changeling leader of the goblins' innocence. It was obvious the creature was terrified, especially considered what had happened to his predecessor. Strickler could use that fear to his advantage.

"Bular needn't know of this," he said slyly. "Keep looking. Should you find it, report to me. I will continue to spy on the Trollhunter in the hopes that she will reveal its location. Hidden cameras should do the trick."

The goblin nodded eagerly, obviously willing to withhold any disappointment from the terrifying troll who commanded them. "Ka-cha!"

As Strickler watched the creature scurry away, sudden movement from the shadows caught his eye. His gut twisted. "You can come out, Nomura," he called, eager to regain control of a spiraling situation. "I know you heard."

The magenta troll emerged, eyes narrowed and shoulders tensed. "Whatever you're planning," she rasped sternly, "it won't work. Bular's watching you too closely since you failed to recognize the Trollhunter."

For a brief moment, Strickler felt his ego flare, tempting him to reveal that he'd known since day one of Jamie's induction into their world. As that would only serve to make him look more foolish, he refrained. "I can assure you, Nomura," the changeling drawled instead, "it is in everyone's best interest that Bular not learn of yet another failure on our parts."

Nomura scoffed and rolled her glowing eyes. "I'd say I've done well remaining in his favor, especially since I managed to procure the fetch," she crossed her arms and cocked a brow. "What have you done to impress him lately, Stricklander?"

She was right—of course, she was right. As long as she continued to please their master while he suffered in the role of double-agent, his position as her superior was in danger. His life was in danger. The way he saw it, he could rectify the situation in one of two ways: attempt to one-up the competition (impossible, given his currently conflicting interests) or try to bring her down to his level… "Perhaps, I am simply less concerned with impressing our prince than I am with freeing our Underlord," he snarked, a solution forming in his keen mind.

"If that were true," Nomura said with a smirk, "you'd tell Bular about the missing piece."

"And risk my life—risk everything we've ever worked for—all because some spoiled prince can't control his temper?" Strickler hissed, eyes blazing orange. "No. I will not sacrifice all of my efforts toward liberating changelings for the sake of a troll who would kill us on a whim. And should this gamble of serving such a ruler prove unwise in the end, I will not hesitate to rebel."

The way Nomura glanced around, eyes bright with terror, informed Strickler he'd gone too far. "You speak the words of a traitor," the changeling hissed, stepping closer to her leader so as not to risk being overheard.

"Oh, come now, Nomura," he replied dryly. "You and I both serve for the same reason—and it is not our love of Gunmar."

At the woman's responding bout of silence, Strickler took a chance and leaned forward. "When the time comes to pick a side, where will you stand: with Gunmar or your fellow changelings?"

"Right now," the magenta changeling said, features hard, "they are one and the same. To insinuate otherwise is to turn your back on both."

"I can assure you," Strickler said, backing toward the exit, "they won't be for long."

With that, he took his leave, praying to the Pale Lady his risk would pay off and Nomura would not disappoint him. Should his creator fail to answer his plea, he could always put those hidden cameras to good use…

Dearest Readers,

We meet Douxie! Finally! ^_^ Jamie gets feels. Blinky helps. The bad guys have a moment—whose side will Nomura choose?

To 17: So glad you're still happy! 3 Please, keep telling me that. I live for it.

To merendinoemiliano: Yes! Glad to hear you're getting what you want here! :D Hopefully, this chapter really sent it home. Barbara has an awesome mom-moment next chapter, so stay tuned!

Yours,

Elora Story