merendinoemiliano-Why thank you! Yes, I tried to make Jim as dramatic as he is in the show, with a little extra :)

T3ddyBearL0ve-Haha, well I'm glad you finally saw it! Unfortunately, we all love it when the main character beats themselves up, so I MUST. For the sake of the story. Besides, Jim doing more troll stuff like whining is always great. And thank you! I honestly didn't expect the story to go this way, but I'm glad it is!

Musical Child-Claire is indeed the best; that's why her and Jim are the OTP.

Jim gaped at Merlin, not believing his eyes. Was he really seeing this?! No, he's got to be dreaming-

"To make things clear, you are not dreaming," Merlin said, as if he was reading Jim's mind. "Now, I-"

"Wait, wait, WAIT!" Carbak shouted, cutting off the wizard. "That's-that's Merlin! The dreadful Arthur's wizard! Wh-why is he here? And why is he contacting you?!" he turned to Jim, confusion and a trace of fear etched on his face.

Jim put his head in his hands. Well, there goes his amnesiac cover. Thanks, Merlin.

He took a deep breath. "Look, I-"

"I have no idea how you came across a fellow troll," Merlin interrupted, "and I'm sure the tale is thrilling, but I don't have much time. This projection is taking all my energy, and I didn't have much to spare to begin with. So, do be quiet while I explain, will you?"

Carbak opened his mouth to protest, but Jim quickly shushed him. "I'll tell you everything later, okay? But for right now, just-just trust me. I need to know what's going on."

Carbak gazed at Jim for a long moment before sighing and nodding. He gestured for Merlin to continue.

"Thank you," Merlin said. He groaned, and shifted uncomfortably. Now that Jim had gotten over his initial shock, he finally registered Merlin's odd position. He was suspended in the air, his arms and legs splayed like a starfish. Glowing cords were wrapped around his wrists and ankles. Whenever he moved, electricity crackled over him, causing him to flinch in pain.

"Merlin…" Jim whispered in horror. "What…what happened to you? And where are the others?"

"A very long story," he said. "But I shall do my best to make it short. After you, ah, abruptly left-" Jim flinched at the memory, "-fair Claire wished to go after you, but we were able to convince her the other trolls were of greater precedence. After all, you could take care of yourself. The other trolls couldn't. It took a few days, but we were able to track down the rest of the party. They were badly scared, mind you, but were unharmed."

He shook his head. "And, of course, it was when we were utterly exhausted from our search that the Janus Order decided to attack."

Jim started. "The Janus Order?! But I thought Gunmar finished them off-"

"Obviously he did not," Merlin said, rolling his eyes. "And I said no more interruptions. As I was saying, the Janus Order struck hard and fast. Apparently, they were the ones behind all those golem attacks." Jim's eyes widened. So that's where those things were coming from. "They attacked us with over two dozen golems and quite a few changelings too. We didn't stand a chance."

Guilt flooded over Jim. This was all his fault. If he hadn't run away, this would've never happened. He would've been there to help. There to help Claire-

He gasped and leaned forward. "Claire!" he exclaimed. "Claire, where is she? Blinky, Nomura, the others?"

Merlin looked away. "I'm afraid I do not know," he admitted. "They knocked us unconscious, one by one. I woke up here, my staff gone and restrained by these horrible ropes." He moved barely an inch and yelped as electricity danced over his skin. He slumped, his body smoking.

"Merlin!" Jim cried, reaching for him. His hand passed through him like nothing was there. He bitterly drew his hand back. Right. Just a projection. "Merlin, talk to me-"

"I'm afraid the old man is out for the count," a woman's voice purred. "But please, don't go. I can give you some company."

A tall woman with pale blonde hair and striking blue eyes walked in front of Merlin. She smiled, her teeth a little too sharp to be human. "Hello, James Lake Jr."

Jim bared his teeth, showing his tusks. "Are you the one responsible for this?!"

"My name is Eunice Helgar, thank you for asking," she said, pretending as if she didn't hear him. "And dear, responsible for what?"

He snarled. "Don't play games with me."

"My, my," Helgar tutted. "Such a temper. Maybe there's still some gravesand left in your system after all."

Jim's face fell, and he stopped growling. "Wha-how did you know-" Then the pieces clicked together. The Janus Order had sent the golems. There had been a gravesand bomb inside one of them. She was responsible for making him hurt his friends! She was responsible for him leaving them behind! IT WAS ALL HER.

He roared and slammed his fist into the wall, making Carbak jump. Cracks spread from the impact and ran all the way to the ceiling. "YOU!" he bellowed, oblivious to the way his eyes flashed red. "You-you're the one that sent the gravesand! Give me my friends back, or I swear I'll-"

"Ah, ah, ah," Helgar crooned, cool as ever. "There's that temper again. Your friends are unharmed, but keep shouting like that, and, well. I can't make any promises."

Fuming, Jim sat down.

"That's better," she said. "Now, let's not make this any longer than it has to be, yes? First, you can't come to rescue your friends."

"You can't possibly-"

Helgar held up a finger, and Jim forced himself to stop talking. She smirked. "Very good. Now, I know you think with your strong magical armor you can take on all of us." She leaned forward, deadly serious. "That is false. We have dozens of more golems and changeling to boot. There's no way you'd make it past us.

"And if you think you can sneak in? You're wrong. We have cameras and drones everywhere. If you still want to come get them, despite all that, consider this." She cocked her head. "Yes, we may have…manipulated you, but we had no idea you were a berserker troll. And correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the legends say berserkers were infamously violent in battle? Bloodlust, I think it was.

"So, tell me. How long would it have been until you attacked your loved ones on your own, hm? You are a berserker troll. Even if, by some miracle, you managed to save them, it would only be a matter of time before you hurt them again, without gravesand." She smiled coldly. "You'd be doing them a favor by not coming back."

"I-" Jim's breath hitched in his throat, and he looked away. It was like she had read his mind. He was a monster, to both humans and trolls. If he got everyone back, he would just hurt them all over again.

He blinked and shook his head. No. Leaving his friends in the hold of the Janus Order? What was he thinking?! This woman-she was dangerous. She could get into his head.

Helgar was right about one thing, though. As soon as they escaped, he was going to leave them. He had no choice. It was for their own good.

"Listen," he snapped, pointing an accusing finger at her. "I'm coming for them. I don't care how strong your defenses are; I'll break through them all. And once I get them? I'll find you, and I will end you."

Fear flickered across Helgar's face, but it was gone before he was sure it was ever there. "That's your choice, then?" she asked. "Fine. I've always wanted to kill a Trollhunter anyways." She grinned. "Oh, but just so you know, we do have more gravesand. Sure you want to come back and risk killing them as well as us?"

Jim didn't say anything, but Helgar must've seen the panic and fear in his eyes, because she smirked. "That's what I thought. Why don't-"

"It's a lie, James," Merlin croaked. He lifted his head slowly, looking older than ever. "I…I overheard them talking. There's no more gravesand. After what they did to you, there's none left-"

"Shut up!" Helgar screamed, and slapped him across the face. She turned to someone out of view. "Cut the feed! I don't know how, just do it!"

After a few seconds, Merlin and Helgar disappeared, and the red magic seeped back into the amulet.

Carbak stared at Jim, eyes wide. Confusion and fear were still painted on his face, but now, there was anger there too. He opened his mouth, closed it. He crossed his arms, thinking hard.

Finally, Carbak opened his mouth. "What the hell," he rasped, "was that all about?"

A/N: Sorry this chapter kinda came late! For me, chapters for this fic are super hard to start, but once I actually start writing it, it's only a matter of hours before it's done lol. And I know I promised no cussing, but it REALLY fits Carbak's character. Besides, hell's not even that bad sooooo…

And guess who's back! That's right, ze bitch! I mean, she's a horrible person, but she's actually SUPER fun to write. I dunno why, but she just is. Maybe 'cause she makes Jim torture himself hehe.

(By the way, Merlin didn't know Carbak is a berserker troll, he thought he was just a normal troll.) Anyway, thank you guys for reading, and see you in the next update!