I love it when my half-assed stories become more popular than my stories I put a lot of effort into. Happens every time!
Edit: MidnightWriter44678 pointed out an error I made with the amulet. It has been fixed!
—
Around dawn, Jim pulled off at an exit that sported a pair of yellow arches.
"It's tearin' up my heart when I'm with you
But when we are apart, I feel it too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you!"
Jim pulled into the parking lot, parking under a tree, and shut off the truck.
"Thank God," Merlin muttered in the backseat.
"Alright, Claire and Merlin get to go in and have breakfast, while Blinky and I figure out how to get him in the backseat."
Merlin hopped from the truck gratefully, stretching and popping his spine. "And whilst you figure that out, Claire and I will decide who gets to ride in the front. I delegate myself, because I have longer legs."
Claire huffed. "And I delegate myself because I didn't turn Jim into a Troll."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "I suppose you're not going to let this go anytime soon, are you?"
Claire just smiled at him. "Take a guess."
Together they went into McDonalds, which for Claire was the most normal, American thing a person could do, but for Merlin, it was all brand new.
"What sort of establishment is this? A tavern?"
Claire snickered. "No, it's a fast food place. They make quick, cheap, barely edible food for people on the go."
"So a tavern."
Claire rolled her eyes, "okay fine. But no alcohol."
Merlin blew out his lips like a horse. "I was really rather hoping for a beer. Especially after that ride."
"Well, I'm not old enough to buy a you a beer, so you'll have to wait until we get back to Arcadia."
"Not old enough? Are you not old enough to drive a carriage?"
"I'm seventeen, you can't buy alcohol until you're 21."
"The future has everything backwards."
Claire shook her head as she scanned the menu. She already knew what she wanted, but maybe something else would reach out and grab her interest.
"Alright, I have no idea what any of this is." Merlin shrugged.
"It's easy. Most of it is a combination of egg, bread, and meat. Some with cheese."
Merlin looked at the menu, with mouth screwed up. "I've never seen the likes."
"What do you usually have for breakfast?"
"Well, the first real meal of the day is dinner, served at noon. But first thing in the morning, I would have a little bit of bread soaked in wine. If I felt a bit peckish, I'd add some fish. Like anchovies."
The lady standing in line in front of them turned around and looked at him with look of horror.
"Okay…Well, do you drink coffee?"
"Coffee? What is coffee?"
Claire gasped in shock and dragged him up to the counter.
"Good morning, what get we get you today?" Asked the cashier.
"He'll have a sausage, egg, and cheese McMuffin and a black coffee with cream and sugar."
"And for you?"
"Sausage burrito and a french vanilla latte."
Once they got their food, they decided to sit in the restaurant for a bit, enjoying the space. Claire picked a seat by the window, soaking up the sun.
"Something has been bothering you," Merlin stated, studying his sandwich. He sniffed it tentatively, before biting into it. He chewed a bit, then swallowed, deeming the meal edible and taking another bite.
"Huh? No, I'm fine." Claire avoided his gaze and started eating her own burrito.
"Fair Claire, I'm over a thousand years old. I sense a disturbance within you."
Claire shrugged. She wasn't going to say a word about Morgana. Who knew what kind of nefarious experiments Merlin would conduct on her to try to get to her?
"It's Morgana, isn't it?"
She almost choked on her food.
"I wondered. The way you wielded her staff was purely masterful, something only a soul touched by Morgana could do." He sniffed at his coffee, took a sip, and smacked his lips. "Not bad."
"I…was possessed by Morgana. She tried to kill Jim, using my body."
"Sounds like her."
"But I took her staff and made it mine. And then I pushed her from my body."
"No, you didn't."
Claire sat up a little straighter. "What?"
"You can't banish a sorcerer from the mind once they possess you. They won't be able to control you, that's for sure, but they leave a stain behind. Much like myself and your Trollhunter."
"What do you mean, like you and Jim?"
"Because Jim picked my amulet, and likewise I picked him, I have stained his heart. It's not a terrible thing, like you might assume. In fact, it's rather good. He has a knack for learning skills if I teach them. And had he not been a troll, he would also gain my longevity."
Claire noticed the woman that had listened in on the conversation in line was sitting two booths away, staring at her and Merlin. No doubt because Merlin was still in his armor.
She leaned forward a bit, and spoke softly. "So…what about me?"
"Why don't you tell me about the last time you talked to Morgana?"
"What? I…it would have been when she was banished to the shadow realm."
Merlin calmly took the last bite of his sandwich. "It's odd that she would have taught you Incudo of all spells. Since it really only helpful. If she was possessing you and leaving you spells, I would have assumed they'd be destruction and dark magic."
Claire scooted down in her seat. "Fine."
Merlin patted his beard clean with his napkin and leaned forward, crossing his hands.
"I had a nightmare when we stayed in the hotel. At the scariest part, I found myself in the shadow realm, and she was there."
"I see. Go on."
"She introduced herself as Morgan La Fey."
"What did she look like? The same?"
Claire shook her head. "No…she looked like a normal person. I didn't even recognize her."
Merlin put his hand under his chin. "Interesting…then what?"
"She…thanked me for trapping her there. She finally had a realm to rule and she was safe from…you."
Merlin gnawed on his lower lip, actually showing remorse. But he said nothing.
"Then she offered to mentor me in magic."
"And you accepted?"
"No…I told her I wasn't sure. On one hand, I want to help Jim…but it's Morgana! She tried to destroy the world!"
"No, she didn't."
Claire glared at the old wizard. "Um, I was there. I'm very extra sure she did."
"No, Gunmar tried to destroy the human race. Morgana simply wanted to take care of the Gum-gums. She always had an affinity towards the Troll race. And she wanted to destroy me and my champions."
"That doesn't change the fact that she destroyed Trollmarket and helped Gunmar and—why are you taking her side?"
"I'm simply trying to see the full picture. You are right, Morgana did heinous acts. She killed and destroyed, but so have I."
Claire stared at him.
"If you were to look at all the deeds we've both done over the millennia, who would be the real villain?"
Claire swallowed hard, not really feeling comfortable sitting by him anymore.
"What if I offered to mentor you?" He asked.
"Morgana begged me not to take you up if you offered."
Again, that sad look shadowed his eyes. "I suppose when you amputate your friend, they tend to distrust you. Well, I suppose the choice is up to you. Since she still has a connection to your soul, it will be easier to learn from her. But spells don't work if the heart is not willing."
"Wait, are you saying you're okay with this?"
"I have no fear." He chuckled. "You destroyed her staff, which held most of her magic. I regained my magic that she had stolen. What's left is barely enough to call out to you."
"Can't she regain it if I grow stronger?"
"I suppose. But that could take hundreds of years, and I'm still doubtful that she'd be able to escape the shadow realm…or if she'd even want to, since she doesn't want to see me."
Claire swallowed, remembering the conversation she had with Morgan in her living room. "Did you love her once?"
"Love? That's such a childish word. But yes, Morgan and I were connected once, physically and spiritually. We were married once."
This was new. Morgan had made it sound like a fling.
"It wasn't very long, just long enough. We were married in human standards, and in Troll."
"Trolls get married?" She interrupted.
"Why yes, of course. Although, it's quite a bit different from human tradition. It's not just words, and vows, and promises…it's a connection of souls….of your very being. It's not easily broken."
Claire frowned. "But you broke it…?"
"Morgan did." He glanced towards the crowd. "But I drove her to it." He shook his head, and then met her gaze with finality. "You can save yourself a lot of pain if your don't take what's not yours, and you don't force people to do what they don't want to do."
"Oh." Claire rubbed her finger on the rim of her almost empty coffee.
"I will tell you this as a warning. I see the looks you and the Trollhunter exchange. I'm sure he'll want to pursue the idea of marriage as human and troll with you. And that's fine, I suppose. Love can be a powerful drive for magic."
"And happiness."
"And happiness," he agreed. "But make sure it's something you are both prepared for. Morgan and I…there was a night where I did something…morally ambiguous with her. She didn't like it, and she said no. But I didn't listen. She distrusted me for a while…and things eventually fell apart. Then, she went to the Troll elder Vendal and had him undo the soul binding." Merlin sighed. "Imagine, you have two pieces of clay, different colors, and you mix them together. You can't really un-mix them…so you just have to cut out the part that's unsalvageable."
"He cut out your soul? That can happen?"
"It can and he did. Most of it, at least. My compassion, my happiness, my love and kindness…they were all hacked from me like the impurities in metal. As were hers, which is way she fell so easily into anger and cruelty. But I aged more than Morgan did…so perhaps I loved her more than she loved me."
Claire didn't know what to say. The idea of having her soul mixed with Jim's was beautiful, but not so much having her soul hacked into pieces.
"It is only food for thought. Now, we've been in here for quite some time. I'm going to use the washroom, and then we can leave."
Claire nodded, finishing her coffee, and going to the restroom herself.
—
When they finished, Claire and Merlin came out to a empty parking lot.
"Where the bloody hell is the Trollhunter?!"
NotEnrique, who had craftily snuck out of the truck while Jim was being ushered into the squad car, laughed by the door. "Ole Jimbo was arrested, for theft of a huge, precious gemstone."
"Oh, is that all?" Merlin snorted. "Then I'll be here, having another coffee."
Claire quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Jim.
Blinky answered, "Oh Lady Claire! I am so glad you've called! They have taken the truck!"
"Yes, we're looking at the empty parking lot! Enrique said Jim was arrested!"
"Yes! It seems we've been confused for thieves of a large gem, much like the Heartstone."
"He also said that, where are you?"
"I'm still in the truck! Jim told them I'm a costume! But I can't get out without aid…and there's no shade in this lot!"
"We'll figure out how to get to you!" Claire promised. "Just be careful!"
—
This was a small police station. At least that's what he assumed, since he had never been arrested before.
During the pat down, they had taken his personal items. Then he was moved over to a scanner were his hands were placed on the glass. His more human hand was fine, but when they put his trollish hand down, it produced no fingerprints.
"He's got no prints on his right hand sir."
"Take off the glove, kid."
Jim smiled awkwardly. "I…don't have a glove on."
The policeman took his arm and rolled up the sleeve, looking for the glove line, but found nothing.
"Scan whatever comes up as the prints."
He had gotten his picture taken, as a mug shot, and they hadn't asked him to 'remove' his costume. But it was only a mater of time.
He was sitting in an interrogation room now, a single light hanging from the ceiling. On the table in front of him, there was a tray with his wallet, keys, and a fork he was saving for a snack. (He had taken a handful at the pizza place.)
He'd been waiting here for a while. No doubt Claire and Merlin had come out to find him missing, and were fairly peeved. That was understandable. But, Blinky had his phone still, so hopefully he'd explain the situation.
An officer came into the room, looking calm. He sat opposite of Jim, glancing at his file. "So, Jim Lake. Can you tell me more about that stone in your truck?"
"It's called a Heartstone," Jim explained. He would be as truthful as need be, but not any more than that. "It's a rare gem, and I found it in a cavern in New Jersey."
"You found it? All by yourself?"
"No, my girlfriend and my grandpa were with me. They were eating breakfast in the McDonald's where I was arrested."
The officer took note, then continued, "What did this stone look like when you found it?"
"Basically the same as it looks now, it was half buried, so we had to dig it out."
"Any other gems?"
"No sir, just the big one in the back."
The officer screwed up his lips just a tad, nodding silently. "Alright, that's all for now, we're going to hold you until the professor at the museum can identify the stone."
Next, Jim was once again lead from the room.
Jim was ushered to a cell, where another man was sitting on the bed. There was only one bed and a toilet in the room.
The other detainee smiled awkwardly as Jim was locked in. He had tattoos all over his face, arms, and chest. Along with face piercings.
"Nice horns," said the man.
"Uh, thanks…nice…um, all of this." Jim gestured to his face.
—
Using Blinky as an emotional anchor, Merlin was able to make a portal to the police station.
"Are you saying that you could make us a portal back to Arcadia at any time?!" Claire hissed as they arrived at the edge of the parking lot.
"I could if not for you and the Heartstone."
This was interesting. "What do you mean?"
"The Heartstone is a power source. It gives off an immense magic that conflicts with mine. As does your bond with Morgana, it's just enough to make things irritating."
Claire shrugged. "Sorry?"
"I forgive you," Merlin spoke, not even looking at her. There were several squad cars in the lot, and in the middle was a rusty blue truck, several officers around it, studying the inside and the trunk.
And Blinky was still in the backseat, frozen in place.
"Now what?" NotEnrique asked, in his human form.
While their attention was on trying to saving Blinky, a conversation was happening nearby. Two men, in nice clothes were also looking at the truck. "So, what are we going to do, Bill? That's not our calcite."
"No, but whatever this is, its much more rare. I've never seen the like. We should make the kid an offer first. See if he's sensible." And the two men headed inside.
—
Jim stood in the cell, awkwardly chatting with the other inmate.
"So your costume…it's a job?"
"Yeah, it's a whole thing. I'm a troll, that protects the surface word from evil trolls, goblins, pixies, that kinda stuff. I perform at conventions and birthday parties. That kind of deal."
"What ended you up 'ere then?"
"I have a geode I found in a cave, and wanted to take it home. Sounds like there was a similar one that went missing from a rock museum."
"They cuffed ya over a rock?"
"A big rock."
"Sounds like a load of bollocks, if I don't say so myself."
"What about you? If I may ask."
"A older man was getting fresh with a young girl. I punched his lights out."
"Aw man, I'm sorry. That's not fair that you're in here."
"I mean, I sent him to the hospital. And the girl gave me her number, so it's not a total bust."
It wasn't long before another officer came to the cell.
"Lake, we need to give you a medical examination."
Okay, this could be a problem. But Jim behaved, producing his wrists for cuffs.
This time they ordered him into a sterile room where a nurse waited.
"Please remove your clothes down to your underwear," she ordered.
Jim did as he was told, folding his clothes neatly and setting them on a nearby chair. The nurse worked on the computer, not watching him intently. When he was finished, he sat on the cold paper covered table. Even if temperature didn't effect him the same way anymore, the metal table was still just too cold.
The nurse looked at the gently glowing circle over his heart, and the almost crater-like hole that spanned the rest of it. She decidedly didn't address it.
"Jim Lake, your mother is Dr. Barbara Lake?"
"Yes ma'am."
"And would your medical records be up to date?"
Truth is, Jim hadn't gotten any sort of physical from his mom since his transformation. In the last days, things just happened so fast, and he felt in peak form. "Um…probably?"
The nurse just gave him a look, then handed him a cup and pointed to the bathroom.
Once finished, he handed over the sample, and sat on the table as she left. Two officers waited in the room, watching him. Both wore looks of confusion and concern as they studied his form. No doubt, they were coming to the same conclusion:
This was definitely not a costume.
The nurse returned, brows furrowed as she stared at Jim. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"What?"
"What did you put in your urine sample?" Her voice had force behind it.
"I didn't do anything! I was only in my underwear! I swear!"
Her face went pale as she looked to the men in the room. "He needs to go to the hospital, ASAP. His sample shows an extreme level of RBC and WBC count, all sorts of weird bacteria and crystals...the crystal count is amazing. Your kidneys must just be stones at this point."
Jim would have laughed if he wasn't in a lot of trouble.
"…but his pH is…his urine is basically battery acid. It ate through the cup!"
Hmm, weaponized pee, this could be helpful. "Look," Jim spoke to the nurse. "I'm not exactly…normal, anatomically speaking. I'm probably fine."
"This pH balance is not normal, Mr. Lake! If it was a little lower, I might feel a little better, but it still would mean your kidneys weren't working…" She shook her head frantically. "I have no idea what this means!"
One of the officers cleared their throat. "I think he's trying to tell you he's not human."
The room grew silent as all adults stared at the troll in the room.
Jim glanced around, trying not to make eye-contact.
"What are we going to do?"
"I think we should just isolate him until the chief gets in. He'll know what to do." One officer said, then he added, a little hopeful. "He's in here for theft, not anything violent."
"I wouldn't hurt a fly." Jim piped up. Not exactly true, but he hadn't turned his blade on a human yet.
"Okay, isolation then."
