So I originally wrote this idea like a year ago and I decided that since I have a shit ton of writing energy that I might as well finish this small little one-shot I created. I have no way to really describe how the idea came about, but... Well... Just read it, honestly if you're interested. It's the best way to get the idea of the AU and everything.

All I really did was minor editing and wrapping up the ending, but I think you guys will enjoy it. :)

Much love, my friends!

The fire crackled as I watched her sit there silently on the fallen tree log. She was gliding her fingers over the small circular object that was in her hands. I couldn't quite captivate within my mind what could be running through her's. All I did know was that I couldn't speak much to comfort her with us just meeting not long ago.

Also doesn't help that your last actually memory of your life was in the Battle of Killahead Bridge.

I shook my head and decided to walk over with my hand on the hilt of my blade's handle. My faded tunic and breaches were conflicting with her rather dark apparel but when I sat down next to her, I felt a little more in place with the scene.

"How are you, Claire?" I winched a little bit at my faded accent. It has been generations since I last spoke in a decent conversation. With the whole put to sleep by a wizard thing, it took a toll on my body in more ways than one. Yes, I was somehow sixteen still after over 900 years but my body was basically kept close to death. Basically leaving my limbs barely functional and my voice in shambles.

"My feelings are nowhere near the pain that you must feel." She shook her head with a stressed chuckle. I felt my eyebrows crease together in worry. I knew that she must feel like knowing most of the people that I knew are more than likely a pure part of the earth by now should be paining my shoulders with the weight of a dead generation.

"My pain does not mean that yours must be belittled. All feelings matter, my lady. Especially those that make you feel isolated. Especially yours." I watched her looked at me with a sad glaze over her eyes. It looked as if rivers were about to break the dam that she had build within her time as trollhunter. I knew the look way too well since I used to look in the mirror and see it within myself when I first started my training as Merlin's knight. "If you wish not to speak, I understand. I am but a stranger still." I reached out and placed a hand onto her knee as I continued. "But if you ever need someone to help carry the weight of the world I will happily oblige." I gave her a soft smile as she gave me another glance and then went back to staring at the amulet within her hands.

"Have you ever just wished that you didn't do the one thing that now defines you? Like, right now I wish I never picked up this stupid amulet." I felt the pain within her voice as I watched her grip tighten around the small object. "I should have taken a different route home from play practice. I should have told mom that I wasn't feeling well and couldn't walk home. But it's a little too late for that, isn't it?" I looked over to the fire and rubbed my two hands together.

"I understand though." I could feel her eyes glue themselves onto me but I did not dare look her way. "I've been often thinking about what would have happened to me if I didn't accept that wizard's proposition to be his knight. I would have starved to death more than likely. My mother was a witch in hiding and my father ran off once he found out her true profession. I was a street rat. A thief of the night. Until Merlin found me. But now I'm here, in a world that feels nothing like how I left it." I looked over to her and gave her a smile as I rolled up my left arm's tunic sleeve. "But I have this to remind me what I'm moving forward for."

I showed my arm over to Claire and watched her eyes trace over the tattoo-like essence that was on my inner left forearm. It was a tree of life, a Yggdrasil as Nordic myths say, that has been on my arm as long as I could remember. It grew with me as I have gotten older. Staying the same vibrate image even though the rest of me has started to fade.

"It's my mother's marking." She looked up at me as I pulled my arm away slowly and rolled back down the sleeve. "She placed it upon me before she left. It was her way of saying that she would always be with me and as long as it's upon my skin, I know she's out there. It didn't fade after 900 years. Which means she made it through. But back in my time, I fought for the idea that I could someday see her again." I scanned her eyes to see her reaction before I continued. "Fighting takes a toll. Battles, wars, sabotage, it all drains a warrior. Yet when we remember what made us agree to the circumstances in the first place, we thrive." I placed a hand on her shoulder before giving her a soft smile. "There was a reason why you agreed in the first place. You just have to remember."

She gave me a smile in return. "Thank you, Jim." I gave her a small nod and we both went back to staring at the fire. The events of a few days prior replayed within my mind.

"What the- What's with the guy in a suit of armor?!" I glared at the shorter red-headed being.

"And what is with the dwarf withing my presence? And what is with your attire?" I looked over to Merlin as questions filled my head. "Merlin, what in all that is holy is going on here?" I watched as the older wizard approached me slowly.

"James, before I say anything I need you to be calm." I smacked his hand away as he tried to reach out for me.

"The last time you said such rubbish, you said that Morgana was closer to bringing the war to our doors than what you thought! If you have anything to say, you bag of mystical fairy dust, you might as well state it outright!" I placed an armored hand on the hilt of my sword as I glared at him through my helmet.

"Alright, alright. James, my boy, I put us to sleep after the battle with Morgana. To keep us alive and to keep the ability of the Trollhunter vibrant and full. But, as you can see," He waved out his hand to the four small mortals and the two trolls beside him. "Times has changed." I gripped my sword as anger rose in my body. He tried to reach out for me once more but I backed away from him. I pulled off my helmet with my spare hand and looked at myself within the reflection of the bluish tint of the armor.

"And just like you, I haven't aged a bit." I shook my head and placed my helmet on the crafting table next to me before I let go of my sword and ran my armored hands through my hair. I felt the anger still make its way through my blood but I leaned against the counter that was beside me. "Why didn't I have a choice in the matter? I have magic, I could've done something to myself on my own accord instead of being forced into what felt like a death-like sleep." I looked over to the four humans. Three were staring at me in awe as the one that made a rather questionable introduction of himself was obviously frightened at this point. One caught my eye though. It was a girl that was holding Merlin's amulet. "What day is it?"

"Saturday. April thirteenth of 2017." I felt my eyes turn into saucers as the smallest of the bunch spoke.

"It's been 900 years." I looked over to Merlin with pure rage filling within my heart. "900 years! I've been asleep for 900 years! You put me to sleep for 900 bloody years!" I watched as Merlin gave me his normal cold and distant look that he would give whenever he thought what he did was right and didn't deserve the consequences.

"James of Lake, you do not raise your voice at your master. Without me, you would have been another body on the side of the road. I would be thankful if I were you."

"But all that I knew! My mother, Merlin, what if she-!"

"That witch would be better off dead anyway, James! You know that! She's been in hiding for centuries!" I pulled my sword out of my scaffold and pointed it right at his chin.

"Say another word like that upon my mother's name and I will-"

"It is great and all for you two to have a, um, wonderful reunion, but we have bigger fish to fry at the moment. We didn't come all the way here for nothing! The amulet is shattered and Claire needed to be able to dawn the armor, like, yesterday." I kept my sword pointed towards the wizard as I took a deep breath to ease myself. I dropped the blade to my side with a sigh before putting it back into my scaffold.

"You don't deserve the effects of my wrath." I looked over to the group of them before bringing my attention back to Merlin. "But this conversation isn't over."

"Knowing you, I will hear about it for a millennia if it weren't for your life span."

I looked back over to Claire with an embarrassed feeling filling my chest. I shouldn't have lost my control over my emotions so quickly in the situations, but I am still human. At least, in the slightest regard.

"I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't have reacted as I did."

"Don't be sorry." I turned my attention toward Claire with a shocked look as she was giving me a gentle smile in return. "I would have been the same way, honestly."

"I doubt that with your calm display."

"Oh trust me. You haven't seen me lose my shit yet." I couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh at her response.

"With how I saw you hold a blade, I rather not."

"Just don't get me angry then and we'll be fine." She placed a hand on top of mine as she spoke. "But I doubt by your display that you won't have to worry about that." She smirked at the end as I just gave her a confused look.

"Was there something wrong with what I said?" She let out a small laugh as she pulled back her hand from mine. I glanced down toward my hand as the skin there was instantly missing her warmth.

Huh. I guess my body has been starved within these last 900 years.

I brought my eyes back up toward her to see she had given her attention back toward the fire before us. Her dark hair looking just a shade lighter within the aura of the ember flames as her hazel eyes nearly looked auburn in the fire's glow. A small blush taking over my cheeks as I took in the beauty that was the trollhunter.

I could understand if it was due to anything else, though.

I pulled my eyes away from her as I brought my attention toward the fire myself.

Whatever this is, I have been told that emotions like these can only blind you within war.

I glanced down to my right forearm where a nasty long scar covered most of my skin.

And it has before. When Douxie was threatened by the beast Bular.

I let out a slow breath as I looked over the flames once more.

I wonder if my old friend is around. It has been centuries after all and even wizards are physically mortal despite their abilities. Why do I even say old friend, though. He was my only friend within those lonely castle walls.

I turned my attention back toward the trollhunter once more. A content smile now gracing her face as it seemed the weight she bore was lifted just the slightest off her shoulders.

But I don't think adding a new one to that small list would hurt me any.