Loneliness is an eerie feeling. It's hard to know how much a person means to you until they aren't there for a while. But perhaps I wasn't the only lonely one roaming the streets of Trolberg.
Remorse Of An Adventurer
2021 Remaster
By Daring D.D. Danger
Chapter 4: The Nisse
We loaded Hilda into the librarian's car with David favoring one side for walking the whole time. On the drive back we made plans to sneak Hilda back into her room at David's house. Aside from her clothes being essentially gone, and replaced with the librarian's cloak, she was unscathed.
"She'll be good as new once her life force comes back." asserted the librarian. As for David, his injuries could be hidden, but there was nothing to do about the blue streak in his hair. The librarian said she'd so some research for him, but there was little she could do then.
Ultimately David got grounded for "dying" his hair. It would be hard to keep up a ruse about him having highlights in the future, but it would manage for a while.
A few days had gone by without seeing David when I walked into town and was flagged down by the Woodman.
"So you guys had an eventful night a few days ago I hear." He asked.
"Hilda and David got attacked by the Black Hound, yes." I returned the lie, as the librarian had demanded.
"See, I know that's not true. Only weak-minded people can have their memories altered by magic. That being said, your secret isn't my business." I was both terrified and relieved, because the lying was wearing hard on me.
"I don't think we'll ever have Hilda back." I said, taking a seat next to him.
"You still have her. She's just going through a change is all. Even if she's different, she'll still be the girl you knew." The Woodman picked up his instrument and began playing with the strings.
"She's certainly the only kid I know who could do what she did the other night."
"Hilda might come off as brave to you, but don't mistake her fearlessness for bravery. She doesn't do well with change, and this is certainly a big one." He paused to play a little tune.
"If you are looking for bravery, look at your friend. He is the one that risked his life for that girl."
"David has changed a lot too I suppose. Maybe I'm the one who isn't adapting well?"
"Not for me to say Frida." A moment of silence passed.
"That was the end of the conversation. I'd like some alone time."
"I don't have anywhere to go."
"Why don't you talk to that guy." The Woodman pointed towards a small furry creature in an orange shirt across the road.
"What is that thing?"
"It's a Nisse, a house spirit. They are normally hidden, but they become visible if they get banished from their home."
"Banished?"
"Yea. For stealing or some other crime."
"You want me to talk to a criminal?"
"I bet new Frida would want to." Alright. I could do that. New Frida. I crossed the street and moved in front of the Nisse. He was laying against the wall of a building.
"Hi, I'm Frida. who are you?" The Nisse immediately stood up and began walking away.
"Hey! Aren't Nisse supposed to be invisible?" He stopped.
"If I answer your questions will you leave?"
"Sure." The Nisse sat back down.
"Okay first off Nisse aren't invisible, in every house there is unused space, like behind the bookshelf, and Nisse can enter a sort of extra room, which is made up of that unused space."
"And your name?" I interject.
"Oh, Tontu."
"Is that a common Nisse name?"
"We are all named Tontu."
"That's interesting, doesn't it get confusing?"
"No, Nisse avoid each other generally."
"Well Tontu I must ask, how did you get banished?"
"I was framed! Something burst through my home and destroyed it, and I got blamed." He seemed honest enough, was he really a criminal?
"I might know a place you can live."
"Really!" said Tontu excitedly.
"Yes." I led the Nisse home with me. I checked to make sure the coast was clear before leading him to my room. Maybe this is what it was like being Hilda? Bringing creatures home?
"Not very organized, are you? Tontu asked, looking at my room, which I'd let slide for a while since cleaning it.
"It's a long story." I still felt a bit ashamed about it. My messes are what started this whole mess in the first place.
"It's okay, I like it!"
"Really!?"
"Yea. Tons of unused space to live in."
"Hey Tontu. Can I come into the extra room with you?"
"Okay, fine." groaned Tontu. He grabbed my hand and pulled me under my bed, but instead of just under the bed, we entered a tube of light at a speed where I couldn't help but scream. We just as quickly dropped into an odd room, full of holes and old junk.
"So you guys collect unused stuff I'm guessing?"
"Yea. Anything that's been forgotten."
"And the holes are all the unused space?"
"Correct. You're quick" responded Tontu as I peaked out from under my refrigerator. I returned to the Nisse room and noticed a larger item. A couch.
"How does a couch end up here?"
"Sometimes we take unused items like that as offerings." I jumped down on the couch and landed on something hard. I grabbed the object out from under me. It was my book! The one I'd fought with Hilda over!
"What's wrong?" They had clearly noticed the emotions welling up inside me.
"Well a few weeks back I..." Suddenly a small Nisse emerged from next to the couch and ran across the room. Then we noticed the two Nisse on the other side, and they noticed us. They barred their teeth as Tontu pulled me out of the Nisse room. We bolted down the stairs and out of the door with two pairs of eyes staring from under the couch as we left.
"I should have known. There aren't many houses without a Nisse."
"Wait, I know one more place we can try." Tontu followed, although he now seemed distrustful of my help.
"Can you do that thing outside? It would make this much shorter."
"No!" Tontu seemed serious.
"The unused space outdoors is so vast, there's no guarantee you'll ever come out if you go in."
"Okay. We'll walk then."
We rounded the corner to David's house as twilight faded to night, devising our new plan.
"Okay, we need a pebble to get his attention." Tontu threw me a small stone, and as I readied my aim to hit David's window, I slightly changed my aim and hit Hilda's, knowing he was likely laying with her. David opened her window and peered down at us. He was mouthing something, but it was anyone's guess what it was. He left the window and soon the window in his room opened and Raven emerged, frightening Tontu, before bringing us to Hilda's room. As we entered David returned, carefully closing Hilda's door.
"What the heck Frida! I'm grounded and you brought a Nisse with you! Do you think you're Hilda now, bringing creatures home with you!?" David turned to look at Hilda as he spoke, the streak of blue hair crossing over his face.
"David just... talk to him. I don't have time to explain everything, but he's nice okay?" David sat down with a sigh and Tontu told him about how he was framed, how Nisse spaces worked, about how he missed his yellow house and the duck who lived in his yard. David explained about the streak of blue in his hair. After a little time Tontu looked my direction.
"That reminds me Frida, What were you going to say about that book?"
"Oh yeeaah. Funny story, my missing book was in my homes' Nisse room all along." The room fell silent for a moment.
"Are you SERIOUS! We wrestled a GHOST. For nothing?" David turned away from me.
"My mom would still be alive." We all turned to Hilda, surprised to hear her voice. She gave my an empty look. "We wouldn't have fought, and YOU," Hilda had tears in her eyes. "You wouldn't have hit me."
David grabbed my arm and pulled me out into his room, slamming the door behind him.
"FRIDA. Why would you tell her that."
"I- I wasn't thinking about Hilda's mom! I'm sorry! This is all my fault, all of it!" David looked me in the eye.
"Frida, you can't keep thinking like that. Or you'll end up like Hilda. Just accept your mistakes because you can't change THE PAST. Hilda's mom, is not coming back. My hair, is not changing back. Nothing can change back. Nothing. But the three of us. We can still stick together." David held out his hand. I grabbed it and we shared a firm handshake.
"Congratulations!" Alfur had been watching from his home the entire time.
"Yeah agreed." The Raven's head poked out of Alfur's house. he must've snuck out of Hilda's room when the yelling started.
"What were you two up to anyway?" I asked.
"Uhhh… paperwork." Alfur answered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hey you forgot about me." Tontu emerged from under David's dresser.
"Sorry! I hope Hilda wasn't too angry with you!" David said.
"No, actually we talked a bit. We have a lot in common. I just came to say goodbye to Frida."
"Hilda is talking to you now?"
"Well, Yeah! She asked about Nisse stuff and talked about you two. Anyway I'm gonna snag a bag of Jorts and get back to Hilda." Tontu disappeared.
"Well, that was unexpected." I said.
"Yeah. She never talks to me much, and I think I stole her hair." said David.
"Don't worry about the hair David. Maybe you can be in a band someday"
"Well I did always like singing, although I'm nervous since the time Hilda almost stole my soul." We both giggled quietly.
"Hey since I'm here, are you, Alfur, and Raven going on the Sparrow scout year end camping trip?" I asked.
"Yes! I'm going to be un-grounded just in time!
"Wouldn't miss it for the world Frida!" Alfur and Raven waved.
"Is Hilda coming?" I asked David.
"No. We agreed she'd start Sparrow Scouts next fall maybe. Besides, I'm already nervous enough about the Black Hound."
"David, you know all the sightings of the Black Hound were proven false."
"What about the deaths Frida?"
"They said that was just another random wolf attack. Besides the campground is private property. Raven leader wouldn't let us go if it wasn't safe."
We returned to Hilda. She gave me the same empty stare.
"I'm sorry about bringing up the book." I grabbed my arm nervously.
"Okay" Hilda mumbled, looking back down at Tontu.
"Okay. I should go then." I hugged David and Raven helped me to the ground.
I pat myself on the back as I walked home. Good job new Frida. I rounded the corner to my street and saw a large pair of eyes in the distance. I jumped back, ready to dash around the corner. But when I looked again, they were gone. I suppose David left the Black Hound on my mind. I picked up the pace though, making sure to get home before curfew.
To Be Continued In Part 5: The Black Hound
Remorse Of An Adventurer, written by D.D. Danger, inspired by ghost-buddie