Age of Lions
Chapter 8
Lost, Found, and Lost Again
Marshall's body was spinning as if he was on one of those carnival rides, but instead he was in a cold, dark, empty void. The wizard apprentice tried to stabilize himself to fight the anti-zero gravity until he came in for a rough harsh landing on a hard floating lifeless rock. His body ached from the pain and his mind became all dizzy from that little joy ride. As he try pulling himself together, a familiar unwanted eerie voice whispered into his ear, "Sweet boy…" "Oh, no," He gasped recognizing the same soft, yet cruel, woman's voice back from the Janus Order.
Marshall cling onto his head covering his ears in desperation of blocking whosever dark evil influence from his mind. "What's wrong my dear? Are you afraid? Do you fear of what will becoming? Or is that you might not be strong enough to protect your precious little lion?" "Get out of my head." Marshall struggling to fight off the dark voice. "You know what I am talking about don't you? You know that you're not Strong enough to overcome Gunmar's dark magics. You've tried so yourself. So, what do you hope to achieve of winning this war?" Despite of the state he was in trying to shake off the mysterious dark force, he could sense it's presence coming closer. His hands glowed bright amber with fury preparing to strike this demonic foe down. Marshall opened his eyes turned to face his adversary and shouted, "Just leave me alone!" He fired a magical blast from the palm of his hand to strike the intruder but instead. . . "Hey!"
Claire dodged missing Marshall's attack, "Marshall! What the blazes was that?"
"Claire!" Marshall surprised yet somehow relieved to see one of his friends. He calmed down as the fiery amber aura from his hands extinguished. Claire carefully landed her feet on the rock next to him. "I think after one of the Tellad-Urr's took my staff we somehow wound in this shadow realm," she explained.
"I'm guessing you're a wizard too?" A male voice was heard. They looked up above and find the warrior in an iron-lion shaped like mask hanging from another asteroid upside down like a bat. He came down launching himself towards them as they stepped back before he flips and lands on their rock. "First you," mentioning Marshall, "Another amulet that looks exactly like Merlin's, and a human boy who wields it and is able to harness it's power. This day just keeps getting more interesting by the minute."
"And…you are?" Claire looked suspiciously at the stranger.
"Claire, is Jim with you?" Marshall asked. With him mentioning her boyfriend Claire snapped back and couldn't believe she nearly forgot about him. "Oh, right! We need to get out of here and find Jim right away. "She pointed up in the air revealing a small speck of light above their heads showing them the door. "Even without my staff and the portal closed behind us. I was able to conjure up an exit thanks to my emotional anchor." "So do you think that Jim might be on the other side?" Marshall asked. "Only one way to find out." Claire took off from the rock like a rocket making her way towards the light. Marshall and Leo looked at each other unsure about this whole shadow realm trickery, but they knew that there was no other choice. So, they pursued after Claire.
As they caught up, they've spotted Jim Lake Jr. floating in mid-air unconscious falling straight for their possible exit. "Jim!" Claire sped up reaching out towards him. The teens pursued him and flew straight through the portal.
Now they've entered a predawn sky high above the moorlands. As gravity reclaimed them. Bracing gusts, buffeted Claire's body, whipping her silver-streaked hair into her face. As the harsh force of falling pressured Marshall's eyes causing him to leak making it hard to see. Leo's cloak was flying like a flag his hood blew back revealing his silver hair shining bright in the sunlight brushing through the wind. Clearing her eyes, Claire saw Jim's body falling below her own. She dove right after him and wrapped her arms around his armored chest. "Wha – Claire?" Jim roused, surprised by her sudden appearance.
"Told yah I'd catch you," Claire yelled.
"Thanks! But who's gonna catch us?" Jim asked.
"This is where I come in," Marshall yelled diving down fast passing by Jim and Claire. With the Moorlands above their heads, he shouted his favorite spell, "Nulla Gravitatis!" Just like that their bodies were all enveloped by his aura slowing down and falling like leaves. "Yeah, way to go Marshall!" Jim cheered. "Don't thank me yet," Marshall grunted still having not fully mastered the spell dealing with carrying a group of people. With all the sweat and pressure, he raised his hand towards the water. "If I conjure us up a ride before the spell wares off before we're all soaked, I can fly us safely towards land, but the problem is that it's hard doing two spells at the same time." "Then you'd better hurry!" Claire said. "Allow me," Leo dropped in floating downright next to them. Jim and Claire took notice of his silver hair looking exactly like Talia's. Leo reached out his hand, clenched his hand to a fist, and pulled it back to his side. A flat ground surface rose from the water like an island, the mud turned into a moist, thick, soft grass everyone was completely surprised by his performance before they made it safely on solid ground.
"Wow. . ." Jim said speechless. "That was amazing thanks." "Save the gratitude for later when we get to the other side." The silver haired boy said, as he builds them a bridge to crossover.
As they've made it to the other side of the land, Leo came up straight towards Jim in a aggressive manner, "'Alright, talk. Who are you, where did you come from, why do have an amulet that looks exactly like the Trollhunters, and how were you able to use its magics?" Demanding answers poking his armor's breastplate before it vanishes as Jim catches the amulet. Still staring at the boy in his lion face mask, Jim's only response was, "Are you a silver lion?" Leo's eyes widen in astonishment on how this kid knew exactly what he was. He stepped back and said, "How did you- Our race was supposed to be secret! Dang it!" Leo slapped himself in stupidity saying it out loud. "Not very good on keeping secrjets, aren't you?" Claire teased. "Hey don't tease me, witch. I can tell by your strange outfits that you guys are outsiders. And I demand answers." "Well, we can't do that without know you are first," Claire crossed her arms. "Beside you wear a mask and how can we know to trust you?" "Because might've already killed Tellad-Urr." Leo answered. "What do you mean?" Marshall asked. Leo sighs and admits total defeat leaving him no other choice. The word was already out and they somehow knew what he was.
Leo removes his lion face mask revealing his face and explains, "My partner, Zelda and I were bequeath the task of hunting Tellad-Urr. He'd betrayed his oat and now is abusing the power in the name of the Trollhunter's and is now working for Gunmar. Innocent's both mortal and magical are being attack, homes are being invaded and destroyed by his wrath."
"Yeah, yeah, we already know that, but the part of you killing him?" Marshall asked.
"I'm getting to that! Don't interrupt!" Marshall, Jim, and Claire froze threaten by his rude outburst. Leo cleared his throat and continued. "So, I thought of a suitable punishment for his crimes was to give him a terrible end."
"Terrible End?" Claire asked.
While they were talking, Jim then heard rumbling of plodding footsteps approach the river. Clambering up the sandy bank, he looked out at the moors and his eyes bulged in alarm. "Guys. . . I think we should hide right about now," he said pointing out the reason why.
Leo saw the dark Trollhunters clones, "Heh, looks like the scar I left behind on his face is taking a bit longer than I expected. Just before he was about to make his move, Marshall caught him in his magical lasso. "Hey!" Then the young wizard apprentice clamped his mouth shut and dragged him down to the riverbank along with Jim and Claire under the footbridge.
The stone arch sprinkled silt onto their heads as six Tellad-Urr the Terribles marched above them. They looked over the river's waters, which reflected the grim army. One of the dark Trollhunter's hefted the sundown mace, three pushed the covered wheelbarrows full of 'tributes', and the other a fistful of chains. Jim, Claire, and Marshall's hearts sank as they saw the rippling reflections of Toby, Blinky, and Arrrgh - each of them shackled and pulled along Tellad-Urr's prisoner's.
Leo looked at the water reflecting the last remaining clone carrying a body tied in chains over his shoulder wearing the same uniform as him recognizing who it was. Zelda the Fierce captured at the hands of the enemy. Leo muffled and struggled to break free from the restraints, but Marshall held him on tight preventing him from giving them away.
"Tellad-Urr, I implore you to listen to reason," said Blinky, rattling the cuffs on all four of his hands. "We are all Trolls here surely we can come to some sort of peaceful solution."
"Well technically, I'm not a Troll," Toby stipulated. "But I was crowned King of the Quagawamps for an hour. We even came up with a dance in my honor!"
"A peaceful solution," Tellad-Urr snorted derisively. "Do you have any idea how often I pleaded Merlin for peace? For even the slightest reprieve from his Amulet's constant demands?"
As they crossed the footbridge. One of the wheelbarrows his a raised cobbolestone, causing it to spill. Jim, Claire, Marshall, and Leo heard the contents fall over the bridge and tinkle against the river stones beside them. Picking up scraps, Jim recognized it as an iron fastener that once rested on the village's front gate. Even in the absence of light under the bridge he saw that the metal had been wrenched out of place. It now appeared as twisted and bent as the Trollhunter above them.
"I knew no peace as a champion," said Tellad-Urr the Terrible ignoring imminent sunrise. "So why should it be any different for the worlds I was supped into protecting?"
"Seriously? That's the whole reason why you are doing this? All this destruction? All this carnage? Because you've grown tired of your duties and responsibility?" Zelda shouted from the back of the line looking over at the fallen hero. "We can all agree that life isn't easy and can be very difficult sometimes, wishing that there was some way to get out of it. But that's because we all have a purpose and what you're doing right now isn't one of them!"
"Do not lecture me girl!" Tellad-Urr yelled. "Don't you think that I have forgotten of what your partner did to my face. Whatever curse he'd brought upon me I can tell death is coming for me. You're lucky that you're alive because I need you to undo this spell before it's too late."
"And what will happened if I don't?" she asked.
"Then I will hand you over to Gunmar the Black," he said.
Blinky, Arrrgh, and Toby glanced at one another nervously. Toby gulped down his throat knowing of what awaits them.
"We've got to save them," Jim whispered to his friends.
"No!" Claire whispered back. "You can't help them if you're dead!"
"We can't just leave them with that red lunatic-" Jim quietly protested.
"You really think Tellad-Urr'll let you pirate more of his Amulet's magic?" Claire breathed. "We need a plan first. You know that's what Blinky would say."
Jim looked into Claire's eyes and knew she was right. He let out a wear sight, which was drowned out by the last of the Tellad-Urr's footsteps as they cleaned the bridge.
"We'll get them back, Jim," Claire promised as their friends disappeared over the next hill.
Will the Tellad-Urr's out of sight Marshall finally released Leo from his chains. Leo stretched and rolled one of his shoulders to relieve him from all the tension.
"What's the matter with you people? Why didn't you just let me take care of them?!" Leo said.
"Uh, hello? Do you really want to risk your friend and ours getting killed by Tellad-Urr and one of his clones?" Marshall asked. "You can't just jump into the last minute without a plan."
"My Zelda, is going to be traded off by another evil troll like a piece of property! I can't let him know what we are."
Jim's ears perked up by the sounding of that familiar name, with his striking resemblance to his childhood friend, his attitude, Jim put all of the pieces together and came to a conclusion," Zelda? Th-then you must be Leo the Slayer."
Leo looked at the boy, yet again he's surprised him once more, knowing what he was, and identifying his name. Claire became just as surprised as he was looking at him a second time and realizing it herself Jim was right. He does remind her a lot like Tally. "How do you-"
"Hey" Another voice was heard. "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" Jim, Claire, Marshall, and Leo turned and discovered a River Troll staring at from the shadow of the bridge. The troll took a step towards them, Leo's quickly puts himself in front of the group, crouched down on all fours, his nail grew into claws, his fur sprouted all over his body like grass, dentures sharpen, eyes turned ice cold blue, unlike Talia's transformation his hair grew long, bushy, and thick like a male lion's mane, and his size grew big. The River troll shrieked frightened by his appearance and threatened by his aggressive ferocious growl.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Jim jumped between the two, spread his arms out wide, stopping Leo from trying to attack this scared old troll. "Calm down! I'm he's just a troll."
"All trolls are the same, boy," Leo snarled. "They've vicious, ruthless, cruel, and no sense of sympathy for others."
"Uh . . . that's not entirely true," said the scared troll raised an index finger. "Some of us are quite peaceful really. Some of us just want to be left alone."
"Then I guess we're all on the same side here," Claire said, before she introduces herself. "I'm Claire, this is Marshall he's a wizard, and this is Jim the Trollhunter."
Leo's face sharpens as the troll screamed again in terror. "No, no! He's a good one! From. . .from far away!" Claire quickly added. The River Troll studied the group for a beat second before he slowly crept toward them. The sky lightened over the bridge, letting Jim, Claire, and Marshall get a better look at him. The Troll appeared frail and old, the patch of moss on his body having faded from green to gray long ago. He wore a burlaps smock, and even the horns on the boulder a top of his head bent downward as if they, too, had grown weak in age.
"Please to meet you," said the River Troll. "The names Gogun.
Jim and Claire's eyes bugged in amazement. With a jubilant whoop, they grabbed each other's arms and began jumping for joy under the bridge. The old troll scowled at the noise as Leo and Marshall looked at them weirdly.
"We found Gogun the Gentle," Claire cheered.
"I'm Gogun the Graceful," Gogun griped in annoyance. "You must have me confused with someone else." Jim and Claire stopped jumping.
"In my generation 'Gogun' is a pretty popular name. It's right up the 'shmorkrag.'"
Marshall looked at the troll with a cocked eyebrow with a confused expression before he went over to his friends. "Could someone explain to me what is going on here and how this guy is so important?" he whispered.
"Blinky said that Gogun is the Trollhunter after Tellad-Urr and if our identifaction is correct he could just be the guy to solve all our problems," Jim explained to him. He turned back to Gogun to speak to him, "There is no coincidence. Only destiny."
"Is that so? Well, my destiny is to stay under the bridge until I croak from old age or Tellad-Urr destroys the world -which- ever comes first," Gogun announced with some finality.
Leo got back up on his two legs, turning back to human form, and crossed his arms unimpressed by this troll's character "Heh, maybe I was wrong about this one. This guy looks pretty pathetic in fact he's pretty much of coward to say the least."
Claire then slapped Leo behind the head leaving him a painful sting, "Ow! What was that for?!" "Don't be rude! It's not nice to judge and say mean things to people before you get to know them."
Jim smiled appreciating her support and continued to reason with Gogun. He takes out his defective amulet and paces it in the old Troll's hands and said, "Listen, I know this is going to sound crazy. And you can call yourself whatever you want, Gogun, gut this Amulet brought us here for a reason. Claire, Marshall, and I. We need your help. To find our friends. To free them. To stop Tellad-Urr once and for all so the amulet can pass onto you the next Trollhunter."
Claire patted her boyfriend on the back proud of his inspiring speech. Jim smiled, seeing his words stir dee feelings with the Troll.
"Are you insane?!" shrieked Gogun. "Me? Fight Tellad-Urr? The Terrible?"
"It's the only way you can become the next Trollhunter," Claire explained patiently.
"But I don't wanna be a Trollhunter!" Gogun yelled, then broke into a sob. "I've spent my whole life running from conflict! That, and those tiny, bald, drooling surface creatures."
Jim gaped in confusion before asking, "Are . . . are you talking about babies?"
Gogun screamed again at the very mention of them. Marshall's jaw dropped completely dumbfounded seeing this Troll wailing and crying like a scared little child.
Leo comes up to him looking at the cowardly troll shaking his head irritably annoyed by his cries. "I don't know what your friend here is talking about. Or why the amulet would bring you all here to find this guy. But I'll tell you one thing that device has bad taste in champions."