Days passed with no sign of Nomura. Every time Joan checked the empty keep, guilt haunted her.
Maybe it's my fault… she wondered. Maybe she'll kick me out when she gets back…
Jim and Claire proved impossible to exasperate, and while she stayed with them, Joan learned new things about the pair. For one, they were a unique couple. They met when Jim was still human, and Claire stayed with him despite his transformation. Once more, Claire's patience was boundless. She didn't mind Jim's trollishness, and she supported him during his bouts with depression. Joan had no doubt this was why she was so patient with her too.
Blinky eventually heard about Joan's run-in with Dictatious and came to Jim and Claire's hut to apologize. He met Jim and Joan on the porch. When he spoke, he wouldn't look at Joan, and his behavior perplexed her.
"Blinky," Jim said after the troll finished. "What Dictatious does isn't your fault."
"I'm the one who allowed him to stay in Trollmarket with us," Blinky said. "He's a traitor, and I should never have brought him. But…" He sighed. "He is my brother, and I couldn't leave him, blind as he is – especially since that's my doing. Everything he does is my responsibility." He turned to Joan. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
Joan shook her head. "He just… talked, I suppose."
Blinky sighed. "Dictatious is a troll who thrives on treachery and lies. Whatever he said, pay it no mind."
"He said trolls eat humans," Joan muttered toward the floor and everyone fell silent. "Is… that true?"
"Some trolls do," Blinky admitted. "And, in the past, it was much more common, but here in Trollmarket, such things are forbidden!" He shook his staff and the Christmas lights strung around it jingled.
"So… you can eat humans, but you choose not to." Joan hugged herself and shivered.
"When you put it like that… it's… erh…" Blinky stopped, but finally admitted, "Yes."
"Well… I suppose humans can eat other humans too, but it's considered horrible to do it. Heh." Joan gave an awkward laugh.
"I suppose that's one way to look at it," Jim said. He cleared his throat and steered them away from the morbid topic. "This is how I see it. Trolls and humans aren't that different. They're both capable of doing so many things – good and bad. Most people do both. Sometimes, what one person considers good, another calls bad. Then there are those who do bad things but try to justify them. And sometimes it's just something they have to do – even though it is bad… which makes everything really complicated." He looked from Joan to Blinky. "But, the great thing about all of it is we can choose what we do. We don't have to do bad or good things. It's our choice what kind of person we're going to be. And people…" he looked toward Trollmarket's entrance and smiled, "they can change. Sure, doing good now doesn't erase a bad past, but what's the point if we can't move forward?"
Joan frowned toward the faraway cavern ceiling, and the surface world that lay beyond. "You talk like anyone can change just like that."
"Well, not anyone," Jim said. "If a person doesn't want to chance, they won't. They have to want it. Dictatious doesn't – at least, not right now." He turned to Blinky. "But he might one day."
Blinky returned a sad smile. "Maybe one day."
To Joan Jim continued, "That doesn't mean others can't. Humans can choose. Trolls can choose. The trolls who live here, they chose to be peaceful, so you don't have anything to worry about."
"Wait, 'who live here'?" Joan said.
Jim nodded. "There are other trolls who – Ahem – didn't choose the same life as the ones here in Trollmarket, so if you meet one, stay on your guard."
"Master Jim is right," said Blinky. "Trollmarket was built as a haven." Blinky tugged open the bag slung over his shoulder and took out a glowing light. "Long ago, there was a war. Numerous tribes fought, and every day trolls lost friends, brothers, mates. Trolls who wanted no part in the war found one another and made a city for themselves. They called it Trollmarket. It's the only place trolls of different tribes and species live together. The rules here are clear. We don't seek out conflict. We hide and protect ourselves from harm, so we may live in peace." As he spoke, the light floated into the air and Joan watched, entranced.
Blinky continued, "We are trolls who sought a different way. Our enemies still hunt us, attack our home, and when that happens, we defend ourselves." The light settled in with a host of other glowing crystals and stopped an inch short of the ceiling. "But… our belief that peace is possible led us here."
Joan looked at Blinky as his eyes flickered from the light to her.
"We wish no harm – not to humans, or trolls, not to anyone. That isn't why Trollmarket exists. The world is dangerous, for human and troll alike. There are many who do harm. But Trollmarket was built in a world much worse than this one – amidst a war so filled with bloodshed we didn't know how we could ever face another day. Here, we are safe. This is a refuge to those who seek peace as we do."
Blinky's story left Joan speechless, but as she stood on Jim and Claire's porch, a melody, light and clear lifted the heavy air. Joan listened and hummed for a few seconds before she began to sing quietly.
"Ah, what a lovely voice you have, Miss Joan," Blinky said.
His compliment went unanswered when she realized the music's source. "NOMURA!" she cried. "Nomura's back!" She sprinted for the keep. When she burst in, the sight of an exhausted troll sprawled in her sleeping spot welcomed Joan.
"Nomura!" she gasped.
"Oh… hello there, precious," replied the troll as she gave Joan a heavy-lidded glance.
"Nomura, I–" Joan choked. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what I said. I was just – I don't know – upset. Please, don't throw me out! I was stupid, and you were right. I was being selfish."
"Huh?" Nomura opened her eyes a little more, confused. "Oh, you're still thinking about that? I'd forgotten all about it." She settled back down into her spot.
"What?!" Joan was too flustered to say anything else. Here I was, terrified for a week that she would throw me out, and she forgot about it? Seriously?!
"Sorry, kiddo. I had a lot on my mind." Nomura's voice waned as she tired.
Joan chewed her bottom lip. "A friend of yours needed help, right?"
Nomura gave her a questioning look.
"Jim told me, but he didn't say anything specific. Are you okay?"
"I'm just…" Nomura sighed, "really tired…" She groaned. "Urgh… Stupid Stricklander… Why did he ask me to do something like that?"
Joan saw a few scrapes, scuffs, and even what looked like claw marks on Nomura's stony hide. Whatever she'd gotten roped into, Joan was sure it wasn't pleasant. "So… you're not throwing me out?"
"And leave you on the street?" Nomura tsked. "I'm sure Blinkous, the Trollhunter, and everyone else would be unhappy with me. Looks like I'm stuck with you."
"Sorry…" Joan shifted and looked at the floor.
"Don't be so pathetic. Stand up for yourself," Nomura chided. "I've seen you do it before. You stood up to that oaf Josh, didn't you? Show some pride!"
Joan swallowed the lump in her throat.
"You want to be a diva, so stand up straight!" Nomura instructed.
Joan eased her shoulders back and dared a glance at Nomura.
The troll nodded as Joan's posture improved. "Now, be a dear and change the music." She pointed to the little MP3 player and its speakers.
"What do you want to listen to?" asked Joan as she scrolled through the plentiful selections.
"Something soft," replied Nomura.
Joan nodded and picked an instrumental Chopin album. She turned her attention back to Nomura. By now, the troll lay on her back, eyes closed. Her deep, slow breaths made Joan think she was asleep.
She sat next to the troll and hugged her knees as the music filled her. "Nomura?" she whispered when the song ended.
"Yes?" came the quiet reply as another song began.
"I'm… really glad I met you… And that you decided to help me," Joan said. "I guess I'm pretty confused these days – not always sure what to do. But when I sing, it's wonderful. To be honest, I… don't have to become a professional or anything. I just want to be a better singer. Is that… all right with you?"
Nomura opened her eyes and looked over at Joan. "Yeah."
"I want to be the best singer I can be, even if I can't be on a real stage. I think I'm getting better, and it feels wonderful to improve – to know I can get better. So… I don't want to think about life up there." She pointed toward the ceiling. "When I'm singing, I just want to concentrate on that. Is… that okay?"
Nomura nodded. "I think that's very wise. Honestly, I think I need that too."
Joan smiled a little. "I'm glad I could see all this – Trollmarket – even if it won't last forever."
"I'm… glad you're pleased." Nomura hesitated, then turned her gaze back to the ceiling. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm very tired."
"Okay." Joan nodded and moved to her corner. She didn't know if her company meant anything to Nomura, but she was glad the troll was back – and not angry with her anymore.
There were still so many things she didn't understand – about trolls, Changelings, the word "impure." But when she was immersed in music, it didn't matter quite as much.
This chapter has been editted by Dtill359