After Nomura's return, Joan made a discovery. Trolls liked classical music. And not only did they like it, they loved it.
Lost in thought, Joan sang softly. She didn't notice until several measures in all the big, brutish trolls staring. Half a dozen sat, hands folded as they leaned forward to listen.
Joan stopped, shocked.
Her audience grinned and clapped like a bunch of excited children as more trolls gathered.
Am I a Disney princess now, or something? She blushed and tucked a curl behind her ear as a warm glow spread through her at the applause.
The rest of the day, she hummed everywhere in the hopes a troll would ask her to sing again – offer her a chance to perform for them.
Joan often caught glimpses of Nomura's proud grin – even though the troll stuck to the shadows. Once she heard Nomura mutter about someone named Stricklander and with her hand over her heart the troll whispered, "Something to protect." But Joan didn't understand the significance.
Just after that, a huge, gray troll scooped her onto his back and carried her all around New Trollmarket as she laughed and waved at everyone they passed.
That night – according to Joan's watch – she returned to the shared keep and sat on her mattress. A smile still glowed on her face.
"Had fun?" said Nomura from her seat at the table.
Joan nodded. "Ymir gave me a ride."
"Ah, that's his name…" Nomura muttered.
"Everyone is so nice here it's ridiculous," Joan said as she flopped onto her stomach.
"It is," Nomura agreed. She picked up a piece of broken pottery and fitted the shard on to a half-made vase.
"But not Dictatious. He's mean," Joan said in a pout.
"You ran into him again?"
"I… kind of followed Blinky when he went to find him. Blinky was really angry. He told Dictatious not to do anything like that again, or he would banish him."
"Oh? And how did Dictatious react to that?" said Nomura as she sifted through more pieces.
"He cried. Begged. Talked about how he'd die out there all alone. Blinky didn't buy that pathetic show."
Nomura's laugh filled the keep. When she saw Joan's face, she explained. "Oh, I know Dictatious' kind. He acts tough when he has someone to hide behind – Gunmar, Morgana – even Blinky now. He doesn't know how to stand up for himself without leeching off someone else's confidence."
"That's… kind of sad." Joan sat up and crossed her legs. "Although… I can think of a few other people who fit that description." She set her jaw. "I don't want to be like that."
"Good," said Nomura with a smile.
"But I'm still scared… I feel better because you're protecting me. Isn't that kind of the same?"
"Well… No. I wouldn't say it is." Nomura leaned back in her chair and fingered a pottery shard.
"Why not?"
"Because you're doing all the real work yourself," said Nomura.
Joan looked away as Nomura's words ran through her mind. "Erhm… Nomura?"
"Yes, precious?"
Joan smiled a little. That nickname used to be an insult, but… it had become their thing – almost a term of endearment. "I… I've been down here for a while now, haven't I?"
Nomura nodded.
"I don't know what's going on up… there." Joan glanced at the ceiling. "You know, with Mom… Chris, David."
"You don't owe them anything." Nomura snorted and flipped the porcelain piece into a box of mismatched scraps.
"But still… She's my mom. And they're – they're my brothers. I'm worried about them." Joan folded her hands and pictured Chris and David's faces.
Nomura's eyes glowed green in the dimness. "You want to go see them?"
Joan nodded. "I want to at least talk with Chris and David. They're just doing what everybody else does – what they think they have to do to fit in. But that's not right! It's not right at all!" She shook her head. "Chris tries to be cool, and David really looks up to those awful people. He wants to be like them. But they're horrible, Nomura." She met the troll's eyes. "I don't want to be like Josh or his stupid goons. This is my life – not theirs, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it what I want it to be." She stopped and swallowed hard. "Do… you think Chris and David will figure that out too…?"
"Well… they are your brothers. And if either of them is anything like you, I wouldn't count them out." Nomura said. "Just don't go up there alone."
Joan frowned. "It won't do any good to go at night. That's when everyone's drunk… or high. Not every night, but… well… They'll be more reasonable during the day. And Josh'll be asleep."
"I can't come with you during the day!" Nomura hissed.
"It's my mom… and my brothers. They won't let me get hurt."
"They already did!" Nomura countered. "I saw it! That idiot slapped you, and none of them tried to stop him!"
Joan's hand drifted to her cheek. "A slap… doesn't really hurt that much. It'll be okay. It's just a short visit."
"Fine. I suppose there's no arguing with you," Nomura muttered. "At least come back soon." In a hiss so low Joan almost didn't hear, Nomura whispered, "Never thought I'd wish I could change again – but not like Stricklander. That's much too permanent."
"I'll be okay," Joan said. "And when I get back, we can go watch another opera. They're doing 'The Magic Flute'!"
"Magic Flute? Ah, Mozart." Nomura chuckled.
"What?"
"There's a piece in that opera. To sing it the way Mozart wrote it should be impossible, however, a few people – only five in the world now – can sing that piece. They defy the limits of the human body."
"Wow. What's its name?" Joan said.
"The Night Queen's Aria," Nomura said with a smirk.
"Night Queen?" Joan raised an eyebrow.
"Only someone able to go beyond what should be possible can sing it. It would be lovely to hear you try it one day, little Night Queen."
Joan rolled her eyes. "As if I'm that good."
"Not yet. Train. Learn. Then prove the world wrong."
Joan blushed.
"Heh. What a cute little Night Queen," Nomura teased.
"Shut up." Joan quipped. But Nomura's words stuck with her. Night Queen? It has a nice ring to it. Sure beats "precious." I… could get used to it.
This chapter has been editted by Dtill359