Here is chapter 2, sorry if it took a while.
Have fun!
Chapter 2: You Were Never My Mom
by
Hatoralo
"NOOOOOO!" Hilda got up and wailed wildly around in a fit of panic. She looked around like a scared animal, her entire body shaking in fear and ready to fight or flight. Suddenly two arms embraced Hilda from behind. "Hilda I am here, everything is fine."
Johanna was still surprised that Hilda's Troll skin was less rough and cold than she expected. But Johanna wouldn't have gone for a less strong embrace even if Hilda's new skin had been very cold and very rough. "Mom, I dreamed about the escape from the Stone Forest again," told Hilda her mother while hyperventilating. "Why can't I stop dreaming about it?" Johanna stroked carefully over Hilda's back, drawing small circles to calm her daughter down. "Calm down Hilda, you are with me, you are back home in Trolberg, your mother is here."
Hilda calmed slowly down while she clung harder to the pajama of her mother. After she calmed down enough, she let go and walked several meter away from her mother before she removed a collar full of magical cyan blue glowing glyphs she was wearing around her neck. "I don't like this collar." Johanna's expression was nothing but sympathy. "But you need it if you want to spend the night with me, Hildi." Hilda sighed. "I know. It suppresses my superstrength but it wearing it feels so restricting and controlling." Hilda was gifted this collar from Tildy. It was a collar to suppress her superstrength. A result of magical research to keep a Troll of the magical community of Trolberg to keep a Troll under control if necessary. Now it was used to keep Hilda in her Trollform from destroying anything or hurting somebody in case of her reccuring PTSD attack.
"Do you need something, Hilda?" asked Johanna worried. "A glass of water? A apple? Twig?" "Water please," requested Hilda. She put her collar back on and hugged her mother. "Please, don't leave me alone." Johanna returned the hug and lifted Hilda up despite Hilda's increased weight since her transformation. They left the large bed in the large bedroom together, a bedroom placed under the magical Witch Library of Trolberg. "I am here with you, I am here Hilda and I will not go away." On the large bed was also a collection of many blankets and pillow in different colors and patterns. It was a bed for very massive witch-slumbers parties but for the Moment it was a guest-bed for Hilda and Johanna. Both mother and daughter made their way to guest bathroom were Johanna poured a glass water for Hilda which she quickly gulped down, still in her mothers arms who hold her tight and comforting. "Was it the same nightmare, Hildi?" The Human in form of a Troll nodded. "That escape still continues to haunt me mum. Why is that happening?"
Johanna struck through Hilda's hair and smiled warmly at her. "That is trauma, the worst memory comes back again and again all of the sudden. Don't be ashamed of it, it is not your fault. You need time to heal and you will get it, I promise this to you." Hilda gave the now empty glass back to her mum and snuggled deeper into her arms. "Thank you, mum." They went back to the big bedroom of their new domicile. With Hilda transformed Johanna was worried that a normal human could spot Hilda and call the Safety Patrol, leading to a messy situation. Hilda didn't complain so far but Johanna felt terrible for keeping Hilda hidden away and in one place even if it is meant to be a temporary situation.
They meet Kaisa on the way back who looked tired with unkempt disheveled hair, her clothes were unfit and she had bags under her eyes. She was on guard 24/7 since Hilda returned even with Tildy and Frida rotating the guard duty. All of them were worried that Trylla might pull another magical abduction on Hilda but especially Kaisa.
"Kaisa, please go to sleep," requested Hilda and Johanna in unison, making them chuckle at that just happened. "I can't," Kaisa explained in a demanding tone. "Hilda needs to stay here with you, Johanna and she deserves to reclaim her human appearance once again. I will not fail her again."
"You never failed me Kaisa," made Hilda clear, with nothing but honesty in her voice. "I believed that I should not get involved with Troll magic," countered Kaisa, her tone of voice revealed her regret and sadness over that decision. "That human Witch magic shouldn't be mixed with Troll Magic." Johanna smiled warmly. "You still didn't. You brought my daughter back home without mixing Human magic with Troll magic." "But I waited too long with the rescue!" shouted Kaisa back, her hands and arms dramatically stretching to the sides. "You had a dangerous encounter with Trolls because I was unwilling to do anything at that time!"
Kaisa breathed heavily and avoided the brunette's gaze. This was not her first confession of guilt to the two, she repeated them often. She couldn't stop feeling guilty for her inaction which in her mind unnecessarily lengthened Hilda's kidnapping ordeal and endangered Johanna's live as she tried to get Hilda back on her own and was attacked by several Trolls, a situation she was barely able to escape. "Kaisa, we all made mistakes," repeated Johanna because it was something she had said several times to Kaisa already. The mother of Hilda didn't feel animosity or resentment against the Witch in any form. "You probably didn't expect to be confronted with such a moral conundrum, not to mention that you obviously fought with your decision and came around to help us in the end."
"I…" Kaisa had no words to attack herself anymore. Not the first time that happened to her these days. "It is not easy to work through your own guilt and my guilt is pretty bad." Johanna couldn't take the self-hating Witch anymore and embraced her with one arm while holding Hilda with the other.
"Kaisa, it is fine, it is all fine." Hilda joined the hug. "We forgive you, Kaisa."
The Pearssons expected Kaisa to cry, to return the hug, to thank them and to say she is happy that she did the right thing. Instead they heard the Witch snoring into the arms of the Adventurer Troll Girl and the Graphic Designer Human Woman.
"Pfffff!"
Hilda was barely able to suppress her laughter. "We better bring her to bed," suggested Johanna, chuckling a bit more. "Hildi, can you help me with carrying her?" Hilda removed the collar around her neck and carried Kaisa like a bride on her own.
"Are you sure you don't want to carry her, mum?" "Why do you ask, Hilda?" "You look at her, like you are really interested in her," remarked Hilda softly. "Do you want to be friends with her?" "I think so," admitted Johanna, smiling friendly. "I should talk with her after she is finished, she really needs to sleep in." Mother, daughter and the witch the little daughter was carrying returned to the bedroom they had been sleeping in. The two removed Kaisa's shoes, socks and cloak from the witch before they tugged her in the large bed. "I can't be angry with Kaisa," explained Hilda. "Nobody seems to know anything about Trolls, especially the magic they wild, trying to reverse magic unknown to you sounds really risky.
"Perhaps," agreed Johanna. "Experiments are needed, safe and ethical magical experiments to figure out a safe way to turn you back. I don't want to risk your live my beloved daughter."
"And I don't want to be suddenly turned into another appearance I don't want," lamented Hilda and touched her long nose. "I never wanted this." Johanna fondled the nose of her daughter lovingly. "I said it to you before: Your appearance doesn't matter for me. You are my daughter, regardless of the body you have, had or will have. I will always love you." This elicited a smile from Hilda. "Thank you again mum. But want my old appearance back because I feel good as a human. That is my wish." "And I will help and support you with that Hilda," promised Johanna. "Any appearance you want you shall get."
Hilda just put the collar back on and give her mother a strong hug of pure familiar love, one Johanna returned. Eventually they sat down on the bed together, still holding each other. "Should we call home to ask Tontu and Baba are doing?" suggested Hilda. "He is not very experienced as a Babysitter."
"We can wait until tomorrow," said Johanna, sounding not worried but sad. "Baba is pretty active but Tontu has nowhere space to keep the little girl occupied." "Mum, what is wrong?" Johanna gave her daughter a sad smile. "I got you back. I still have Baba. I want to give Baba back to Trylla." She caressed her Troll-daughter through her hair. "I hate Trylla, but not enough to keep her separated from her only child but I have no choice."
Hilda didn't understand the issue. She wanted to ask but instead tried to figure out why Baba in her human form couldn't return to the Tro- It clicked. "They will never accept Baba as long as she looks and smells like a human."
Johanna nodded, pulling Hilda's face deeper into her side. "Baba needs to stay here with us until we can turn her back into a Troll."
Hilda understood now. Keeping Baba for themselves was no revenge but for Baba necessary too survive. Some Trolls have big issues with humans and they would show no mercy for a human in the Stone Forrest. Hilda's interaction with other humans was limited right now because several of them feared Trolls but the situation was not nearly as bad as Baba's situation in the Stone Forest would be in comparison.
"Good that Baba is too young to understand what is happening around her at the Moment," Hilda said with relief. "Yes, but she also needs to return during that time where she doesn't fully comprehend her situation," explained Johanna. "Otherwise, reintegration into Troll-Society will be very hard for Baba."
Mother and daughter lay down onto the bed once again, the one with the skin of stone quickly cuddling herself into the one with the softer skin of flesh. Clingy and needy weren't words Johanna would have described her daughter with but since the two had been forcefully separated by a Troll Shaman Hilda wanted to be as close to her mother as possible. Even limited to the magical library, Hilda didn't want to be too far from Johanna these days.
"Everything will be fine, Hildi. I will not lose you ever again to anything or anyone." "And I will not leave you ever again, mum." Johanna felt a bit worried after hearing these words. She hoped it was just a phase because the thought of her free-spirited daughter becoming a mummy's girl was not a pleasant one.
Despite this the Graphic Designer wrapped herself and her daughter in a warm blanket, embraced her tightly and both would fall asleep again after a while.
"Archmage Pilqvist we understand the situation but experimenting with Troll Magic is-" "Dangerous I know but without learning more about it we can't help Hilda," explained Tildy in her usual serene way. "Furthermore, it shouldn't be a bad thing to understand the magic of Trolls in general."
Matilda Pilqvist stood before the Council of Three and was reminded once again why she preferred to talk with the Witch Circle of her friend Esmerelda Weatherwax. These three were a lot more amicable and helpful in contrast to these three fearful morons.
"Human magic users tried to use Troll magic in the past and it backfired every time," explained one of Committee of Three, the sternest looking one. "Most of the time in trivial ways but the few times it backfired on them in a catastrophic and even deadly way." "Ever seen how a Half-Troll Shaman Half-Human Mage runs amok through a city?" asked the most Goth looking member of the Committee, Abigail is her name. "I didn't either but the descriptions alone in historical texts were horrific."
"I read these reports myself," made the legendary Archmage clear. "I was scared by them as well and I doubt they were purely made of lies, they didn't read that way." "We can't be too hasty with that research in any case," said the Committee member in the middle who was more balanced than the other two. "We can experiment with test samples of Miss Pearson and Baba but it will not get immediate results." Tildy could only agree with that. Some security measures had to be in place for something that delicate, some forms of rules and regulations needed for the safety of the Witches who would perform the experiments and how they would try and research towards the desired results. "We also agree to let Hilda live in the magical library as long as she is a troll," told the strictest of the three. "She shouldn't be seen by any regular human, they tend to panic a bit too fast." Tildy choose not to make a comment on this hypocrisy. "Hilda is not a prisoner," made Tildy clear. instead "We know Lady Pilqvist but we want to advise Hilda to only seek contact to other humans very carefully," explained and advised Abigail. "She already has a number of human friends who accept how Hilda looks like now," informed Tildy the Committee. "She is meeting some of them right now."
"I just carry you David, an easy solution." David gulped. "Up the highest mountain of Trolberg?" "Yes." "And Frida?" "I carry her too." "Can't we practice that on a small hill first?" suggested Frida with a awkward smile. "You would survive the fall in case of a mistake, I and David land either in a hospital or the morgue."
The three friends walked through one of the surreal rooms of the Library while talking, in this case a wooden room filled with blue trees with red leaves. None were perturbed by Hilda's new look, except for the nose. Frida had to think of evil Tengu, infamous for their long noses, a sign of their arrogance while David thought of Pinocchio as the more obvious reference but he was of course aware that Hilda was not lying to him.
"Are you even allowed to leave the library?" asked David. "Your situation is unique but I doubt the safety patrol would see it that way." "I can take Erik Ahlberg," was the assuring answer of Hilda. "He couldn't be a danger to me even if he tried."
"He has a large team behind him and not everyone in the safety Patrol can be incompetent," warned Frida Hilda. "Gera Gustav for example is hypercompetent in contrast to Ahlberg." "I hope I can open a dialogue with her," told Hilda with a hopeful tone that was mixed with some worry. "She is the more reasonable than her boss and could help us when she understands my situation."
Though Hilda was still a bit confused about Gerda in regards to their first encounter. Back then she was as reckless and stupid as Erik as she steered the Zeppelin the day she meet them both for the first time. She acted more responsible later of course. Hilda wondered if she had been cursed to act like the stupidest human being by somebody during the duration of Hilda's first encounter with Gerda or if she had hit her head somewhere.
"A secret meeting with Gerda is in order," suggested David. "We will be your backup Hilda and cover you." "You don't fear the danger?" was the surprised reaction of Frida at hearing this. "Gerda will draw a torchlight," reminded David Frida. "We are not hurt by the light of it but it could be dangerous for Hilda. I will go between Hilda and the torchlight, a weapon that is unable to hurt me but is dangerous for Hilda."
They left the room with the colorful trees and entered a graveyard of ice and flowers. A surreal place, of dream and place felt to Hilda like what her live has become. Hilda touched her new long nose, contemplating about her situation. "Frida, how is it to be part of a minority?"
Frida was caught off-guard by that question. She didn't expect that kind of inquiry from Hilda and wondered what she meant by that. Her first reaction was a "because I am black" counter question but Hilda asking her that just made sense and she had a hunch that Hilda might feel like a minority now with her Troll appearance. "This is Scandinavia Hilda, I never really felt unwelcome, no I felt very welcome," answered Frida. "This place is too progressive. Slurs and insults against my ethnicity are not a regular occurrence here."
"You have to go to the United States for that," was David's surprisingly sarcastic answer with a quantum of social commentary. "I will not, if I can avoid it," made Frida clear with a grim expression. "And I would only visit blue states if I really be forced to go there." Hilda was not sure what this meant but she had a certain hunch. Still, she didn't ask further about U.S. Politics. "You will be meet with suspicion, dislike, fear and even hate by stupid and superstitious people," explained Frida seriously. "But your case is unique: You are now not just a different ethnicity but also a completely different species, one that that never was researched a lot in Trolberg."
Hilda suddenly felt very alone. She didn't even fully feel like a Troll, she felt more like a mix of Human and Troll. She looked at her hand, her skin like rough stone of a Troll but with the nimbler fingers of a Human.
"I am alone, there is nobody else like me…" Noticed Hilda, horrified to an extent. "I am truly unique alone. Nobody is here who can truly understand this."
"You are- OUCH!" Frida and David started saying the same sentence simultaneously and went to hug Hilda but because they didn't observed where the other would move towards their heads collided and they stumbled back, rubbing their foreheads. Hilda hold her hands on her mouths, desperately trying to control her wish to laugh out loud.
"We try to show our support and you laugh?" was Frida's miffed reaction. "Sorry guys, but this was too good," Hilda explained while still trying to suppress her laughter. "The comedic timing was just too excellent."
Frida tried to be sulky about it but laughter overcame her as well, true, heartfelt laughter. Something that hadn't been there since Hilda's kidnapping and safe return.
David laughed a little bit as well. "We wanted to say that you are not alone. Also we are good at making you laugh as you can see." Hilda couldn't agree more with David. "I am blessed by the Norse Pantheon to have you two as my human friends." Frida and David embraced Hilda. This time they approached her bit slower so their heads wouldn't collide a second time. The same joke twice in succession would be boring.
They continued their walk for a while in silence afterwards.
"Why are you still not wearing clothes, Hilda?" asked David suddenly in an unsure, awkward an overcautious manner. He even blushed a bit.
"It feels right, this stone-skin protects me from low temperatures very well," explained Hilda. "Also there are no holes down there to cover."
"You have no-" Frida stopped herself and changed her question. "Does that mean you don't have to use the toilet?" Hilda nodded. "It is a bit strange. I eat and drink but nothing wants out later. I have no idea how this works or how Troll Biology works."
"But don't you really want to wear clothes anymore?" asked David. "Other people might react to you more positively if you appear before them wearing clothes." "When the time comes, it should be worth a try," agreed Hilda with David. "I need something that isn't too easily damaged by my new form, like a yellow raincoat for example."
"Baggy clothes can help too," suggested Frida. "They can hide your features as well. Though the nose is still a Problem." Hilda touched her long nose once again. From all the changes this was the one that continued to be the most outstanding and most alien. It was so simple but differentiated her more from the typical human appearance than anything else, even her skin of stone.
"How many will call me Pinocchio?"
"The jerks probably, but you don't have to worry about them," assured Frida her friend. "Just insult them back and if they try to get physical-" "Get your mom!" interrupted David Frida. "That is a solution, Johanna is very helpful and protective but Hilda is superstrong, David," argued Frida. "She can handle some weak humans herself." "I know Frida, but Hilda needs a good reputation among the people of Trolberg in Trollform," explained David. "I could record my daily life with a hidden camera," suggested Hilda with a sly smile. "When people see how I get harassed they will forgive me should I have to get physical in self-defense."
"There is also the option to give you your normal appearance with a concealment/illusion spell," was Frida's next idea. "I, Kaisa and Tilly should be able to make an enchanted amulet, necklace, ring or wristband for you that is able to give you your old appearance." Hilda stopped walking. Instead, she turned to a frozen gravestone decorated by ice-resistant flowers. "A solution for one Problem. But maybe I really should show Trolberg my current appearance sooner or later."
"Why?" asked David, looking very confused. "You counted all the reasons why this would include a lot of hardship for you." "Trolberg has to learn to accept the supernatural more," explained Hilda in a serious tone. "Most cities in Scandinavia already did that from what I learned. Why is this place behind? This has to stop."
"You are right but you are only one person," reminded Frida her friend carefully. She feared that Hilda took too much of a challenge with that one. "Who in Trolberg would even support this cause?"
"There are always people," pointed Hilda out with determination. "They just have to be encouraged to do something and they need to be made aware that they are not alone." "How can we be sure that are there other supporters among the humans in Trolberg?" asked David in a hopeless tone. "Nobody ever protested the Safety Patrols measures." "I don't know, but we figure it out," promised Hilda her friends. "It would make no sense if only the Witches, my mother, we three and some others are friendly to the supernatural."
David remembered something now and he hated to bring attention to these bad news but knew it had to happen eventually. "My mother, who is in the Safety Patrol told me that a specific Troll comes daily to the wall these days and tries to break through it."
Hilda realized immediately who this Troll was. "Trylla…" David nodded "Most likely case, Hilda. It would make the most sense." "She wants her daughter back," added Frida as the current Captain Obvious with a serious tone and expression. "One of the two girls at the very least."
"I will never return to her," made Hilda clear with a coldness and hardening in her voice so strong and intense it shocked Frida and David a bit. "Johanna is my mother, my mum, nobody else and I want to be with her, not with Trylla." "And as long as Baba is a human she will not return either," added Frida neutrally sounding. "It is too dangerous for a human meatbag in the Stone Forest, a place with many Trolls and several of them hate humans. Not all but more than enough to be a danger for Baba."
This was followed by some oppressive silence for one minute until Hilda said: "Baba is lucky in a sense. She is too young to fully comprehend what is happening around her. I am not so lucky… So unlucky were all my friends and family as well. None of them, none of YOU two should have gone through the emotional turmoil of my kidnapping brought to all of you, mental scars which were caused by Trylla's insane logic." This was the state of things and something had to change. hr /
"Calm down, Troll or I give order to sound the bells!" Gerda Gustav, second-in-command of the Safety Patrol stood on the wall which surrounded the city, overseeing a current recuring Problem for the City of Trolberg beneath her which was on the outside of the wall.
The response was another scream of wrath and sadness. "You have to go before my superior arrives," warned Gerda the person below her. "He will see you as a easy heroic task, one that could end in your death and an embarrassing photo-session with him standing on your corpse afterwards."
More screams and the wall was hit by a angry fist again. "Why did nobody invest more money to study the language of the Trolls," sighed Gerda. "No other Troll was so far this persistent to get into the city. What does this Troll want every day anyway?" Gerda was about to call the Bellkeeper to let the bells ring to scare this Troll away like the last few days as she heard a familiar voice. "Let Hilda talk with her."
Gerda, who didn't recognize the voice turned around and was confronted by a woman with purple elements in her black hair, a older small woman with white hair, Johanna and her daughter Hilda who was for some reason wearing a light-blue cloak that was hiding her entire body and her face in shadows.
"How did you four get up here?" asked Gerda curious but also with authority in her voice. "No civilians allowed during a Troll attack.
"We are here to stop the Troll," explained Johanna. "Well, Hilda will mostly."
Gerda was surprised and confused. "I don't understand, why Hilda? Did she learn the language of the Trolls at some point?" "Yes, but not under the best circumstances," explained Hilda hidden in the shadows of the cloak. "I can convince the Troll down there to go without the need of violence."
Gerda shrugged. "Okay, but when the Troll starts throwing things I let the Bellkeeper activate the bells." "Not the bells!" shouted Johanna and Kaisa worried in unison. "Not until Hilda is back at her sanctuary!"
"Sanctuary?" asked Gerda with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, whatever. Please, calm down the Troll, Hilda." Hilda nodded and took Gerda's place at the wall. The Troll below immediately changed tune as she noticed Hilda, sounding a lot more friendly. Hilda shouted something back with the Troll vocabular that was so Alien to Gerda. "Where did she learn the language?" asked a flabbergasted and hopeful Gerda Johanna. "With that knowledge we can finally start a proper dialogue with the Trolls, starting a proper relationship and solve problems." "We will explain this later," promised Johanna grimly, looking at her daughter and detained herself from the temptation to look down to the Troll. "But you may not like the price you have to pay for this knowledge, Officer Gustav."
Hilda and the Troll talked. Gerda could swear that Hilda sounded cold while the Troll sounded hopeful and friendly. The hopeful tone eventually changed to confusion and then very audible despair. The Safety Patrol woman with white hair noticed how Johanna embraced herself and gripped the sleeves of her coat hard while listening to the conversation.
Kaisa, on her knees, peeked over the edge of the wall. She looked at the where she cut off Trylla's hand. There was a new hand, one made of fresh stone and less sturdy looking. Kaisa exhaled in relief. She really wasn't keen on being responsible for Trylla being forever one-handed, despite her crimes against Hilda and Johanna.
The moans and audio between Hilda and the Troll below became more intense with every second. Gerda was worried for a Moment that the Troll would try to attack the wall once again but the female being of stone eventually calmed down. Gerda risked to look over the edge of the wall and behold a now rather depressed looking Troll below her, so very different than before.
"Why is the Troll looking so depressed?" "Her name is Trylla and she lost something very important but it was her own fault," explained Tilda to Gerda. "By the way Lady Patrol Officer my name is Matilda Pilqvist but you can call me Tildy."
"Nice to meet you miss Pilqvist," greeted Gerda the Witch. Then her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, Pilqvist? I know you, you are the Grand Alchemist of the Dark Communion of Halgar!" "One of my titles yes," admitted Tildy innocently. "But how do you know about that?" "My mother was a witch herself and brought me often to the secret library, showed me the magic she weaved and told me a lot about Witch-History and her own activities," explained Gerda casually. "She was also a member of the Dark Communion of Halgar, Miss Pilqvist."
While Gerda and Tildy were talking the conversation of Hilda and Trylla was slowly reaching its conclusion. Hilda despite sounding serious and cold at first and then changing to angry was now sounding sad, solemn and regretful. All these emotions where the same Johanna had felt through the entire conversation and it cost all her willpower not to run over Hilda right now and embrace her.
"Go now," Hilda ended the conversation in Norwegian but also the Troll language afterwards a second time. "Go, and hope that we discover a solution for the Problem." Trylla was on the verge of despair and looked like she would try to just climb the wall. She went onto her knees instead and hollered a wail that was as loud as it was sad.
"What is going on?" asked Gerda in a serious tone. "What is the history between this Troll and Hilda?" "We will soon explain this Miss Gustav," promised Kaisa. "But it will be a lot to tell."
Gerda saw how small tears fell from the hood Hilda was wearing while the Troll below turned around and went back into the wild. "To all units, get back to your post," ordered Gerda. "The situation has normalized, the Troll returned to the into the wildness." "What?!" was the protesting voice of Erik Ahlberg heard through Gerda's radio. "But this was my chance to show and proof to everyone that I am a true hero!" "That moron is nobodies hero," snarled Hilda. "Who said that?!" demanded Erik's voice to know. "Was it Officer Ege? Why can't she stop criticizing me?!"
"None of our people, was probably an Elf," tried Gerda to deescalate the situation with a easy lie. "As for you sir, there is no need for you to come to this place anymore with the Troll gone." "Guess you are right," sighed Erik's voice. "Finish whatever needs finishing there and come back to write a report and whatever." "A model of professionality," snarked Johanna and Gerda who almost laughed about that remark rebuked Johanna with a shushing gesture.
Hilda went back to her mother's side who put her arms on her daughters shoulders and looked around. "Nobody else is here, aside from Officer Gustav, Hilda." "Is that important?" asked Gerda curiously, wondering what this was about. "Yes," answered Tildy seriously. "Gerda Gustav, you are one of the few who wouldn't immediately freak out about what we need to reveal to you."
"What is the issue?" wanted Gerda to know. "Did you found a Troll Baby or another giant Hound inside the city?" Hilda looked around her to make sure nobody else was nearby. "No, those were other cases but this one is only about me," explained Hilda and removed the hood. "What do y- Oh, in Odin's name!"
In a private meeting chamber Gerda listened carefully too Hilda's story. It was quite a story, one that would fit in easily with the lore and mythology of Scandinavia. But this tale happened in modern times and it was obvious to Gerda how serious the situation was. As Hilda was finished with what happened and why Trylla was acting like she did Gerda thought hard and looked to the ground until she eventually looked up and said: "I will help you as much as you can Hilda Pearsson, I promise you that. If you want to stay in Trolberg you have every right to do so."
"Thank you, Gerda," was all a surprised Hilda could say, she didn't expect to get such an good assurance that fast. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart." That was easy," commented a surprised Alfur. "I mean way too easy. Or not. I guess not everything has to be overly complicated and difficult." "The issue for me is easily understood," admitted Gerda. "Convincing other people that this situation is not bad will be the real challenge." Johanna sighed. "I saw that coming. We probably have to explain this to your superior, Ahlberg as well but make sure he has no weapons when we introduce Hilda's new appearance to him."
"I make sure of that," promised Gerda determined. "In general; It is good that you came to me. The absence of Hilda from school and the presence of Baba in your care would have been Problems in the long run." "What do you mean with that Officer Gustav?" asked Johanna, a bit confused.
Gerda made a hand bridge, supporting her elbows on the table and closed her eyes. "The absence of Hilda at school would have forced the authorities to check if Hilda was healthy and safe sooner or later." Johanna froze in place. "And the eventual discovery of Baba, could have raised question like "wherefrom is that baby" and "why is this little girl with Johanna instead of Hilda" among others."
Johanna started to breath heavily. She never thought about those issues, only about how to get Hilda back. Having to explain the disappearance of her baby to any authorities AND who Baba was would have been her only chance not to be arrested for child abuse, child endangerment and kidnapping. Of course telling the Safety Patrol that her child had been exchanged with Baba and their species swapped with Hilda against her will and Johanna would have been the perfect excuse for the more radical people in the Anti-Troll Faction to declare open war on the Trolls and morons like Erik might have shoot at all Trolls he sees and not really looked if one of them was Hilda or not. Not to mention that they could have done to Baba to get any intel about the Trolls and the Stone Forest, maybe even canceling out human rights for the little girl because she was actually a Troll, not a human, opening the way for more barbaric interrelation techniques to make a Toddler talk, a child who had hardly any idea what was happening around her.
"How many horror scenarios are going through your head right now, Miss Pearsson?" asked Gerda who noted the changes in Johanna's body language. "I have several going through my brain itself at the Moment. It is good that you all came to me, I can help you to ease other people into the situation. You should find a civil rights attorney for Hilda as well just in case."
"We also work hard on reversing the spell of Trylla," added Kaisa quickly, trying to bring more hope and positivity back into the conversation. "Maybe Hilda will regain her human appearance in no time with no need afterwards in tackling such complicated social issues." "Perhaps. Yet the bells are a Problem too," noted Gerda grimly. "Hilda needs to know about it happening before any bell rings. Not to mention that anyone can buy a small bell."
Hilda groaned audible. She never took small bells into consideration or how she should deal with them. "The small bells only make Trolls really angry; Their tone is not loud enough to drive us away but they attack humans with little bells for the annoying sound." "Hilda has superstrength in this new form," explained Tildy. "Strong enough to lift a car. She can take on any human as long as they don't have bigger bells or really powerful UV-Light." "We should avoid violence, when possible," reminded Alfur everyone. "And Hilda should only act in self-defense if absolute necessary." "Why is this so complicated all of the sudden?" wondered Johanna, sounding stressed. "Maybe I should use the insurance money to build a new house in the wilderness and move with Hilda there."
Hilda's head perked up in surprise. "Insurance money? What insurance money? Do you mean money for our destroyed house?" Johanna nodded. "Our house was insured against supernatural damages. It took some time and research but the insurance company eventually relented last month and gave me the insurance money they owed me, enough to buy or built another house wherever we want.
Hilda was of course aware that this insurance money wasn't an immediate solution via financing a return to a house in the wilderness. Building or buying one would take time and getting the money in the first place also didn't happen overnight. So Hilda didn't feel betrayed but she disliked the idea of giving up on her place in Trolberg so willingly. "This may sound strange from me but I don't want to leave Trolberg," made Hilda clear. "As much as I hated it at first in this town I have friends here now, many more than I ever had out there in the countryside. I love nature but I also love my social circle."
"An odd way to phrase it with the words "social circle," Hilda," was Alfurs opinion. "But I understand you." "We too," added Frida and David in unison. "We could use chatrooms, eMails, messengers, etc. to communicate but you don't like using computers," added Frida further.
"They are so difficult to use!" protested Hilda. "Who knows even what a Firefox is? There is no fox with burning flames as fur, that is so cheap. Such a cool fox could be a friend for Twig." Everyone in the room tried to keep a neutral expression at hearing that statement as good as they could. "What?" wanted Hilda to know, confused about the mostly unmoving faces she looked at. "Nothing," claimed Johanna as calm as possible while wanting to laugh out loud more than ever before in her life. "Back to the point:" Changed Tildy the topic. "We Witches will research the Changeling spell of the Trolls to find a way to turn Hilda and Baba back into their respective original species." The woman with white hair nodded. "And you want me to help to prepare Trolberg to accept Hilda in her current Troll-Form, correct?" "That is plan B," clarified Johanna. "Hilda wants her human body back, because she prefers to be a human."
"I didn't choose this form, it was forced onto me by Trylla," made Hilda clear with a tone that was unusually serious and cold for her. "I never asked for this." "The appearance is her choice, not anyone else's," agreed Frida with her friend.
"Of course," said Gerda. "I have the feeling I should have arrested Trylla instead of just letting her walk away." "Do you have prison cells for Trolls?" asked Kaisa in a serious but also curious tone. "Yes," admitted Gerda. "They are meant for Trolls who are especially aggressive, Trolls who would attack Trolberg and its citizens repeatedly."
Hilda, who hated the idea of imprisonment wouldn't wish this not even on her worst enemy, not even on Trylla or Erik. But if somebody causes nothing but intentional harm to others what other choice was there? "As for Baba and Hilda… The situation is big. Better if I explain this to the Mayor first," announced Gerda. "I don't think Erik should be the first to hear about this situation. Later we can present Hilda and Baba directly to the Mayor."
"What do you think of that Hilda?" asked Johanna her daughter. "I guess that sounds like a good plan," was Hilda's somewhat slack answer. "I guess, I agree to that plan."
"Well, if that is everything, or is there something else to talk about?" asked Gerda into the round. "Should I also talk with the Committee of Three about the plan?" "We explain it to them," promised Tildy warmly. "They will not be an issue, and they know Hilda's situation already."
"Very well." Gerda got up. "I will do my best. I promise you to fight for Hilda and help you as good as I can." Hilda smiled warmly. "Thanks Gerda. I hope you replace Eric as the head of the Safety Patrol soon."
Gerda raised her finger in a scolding yet not-too-serious manner. "Hilda, you don't say something like that. Too loud."
Hilda giggled. "Yes, sorry. I will say that you should replace Erik quieter from now on." "If you say it out loud, don't mention Gerda or it might implicate her," taught Johanna Hilda helpfully.
"Aside from how to handle your boss, I think everyone should head home," suggested Kaisa. "Tonight is late enough." "And I still want to take a stroll before bedtime," revealed Hilda to the others. "Outside of the city of course."
My intention with this chapter was to show the fallout and possible consequences of Hilda's transformation. There is a lot if you think about it and it would be not easy for Hilda to live as a Troll in Trollberg. The bells, their sound would bring nothing but pain to Troll!Hilda, the citizens of Trollberg mostly fear the Trolls, people have slightly unclear relationship with the supernatural and the apparent willingness to accept really stupid projects (non-stop bell ringing? Have fun sleeping.) There is a lot of potential for exploring that side of Hildas transformation but I think it would turn out good in the end for her. Hilda could and would deal with the situation, probably seek a better ending, one that frees everybody, Amma, return Baba to Trylla (for Baba's sake) and keep even Trundle alive. But Eric Ahlberg should still lose his job. He was never qualified for it in the first place. So, this is probably all I have to say for the Moment. I hoped you liked this chapter and I wish you all a good day. The title "You were never my mom" was the idea of my good friend godlessAdversary.
godlessAdversary has a A0E3 account, a Twitter Account called EarlyStarProdu1 and a DeviantArt account called ashenhunterreyes.
Until next time!