Trolls Fanfic - Branch to the Rescue

(VI) Broken Heart

Very well. A little discretion in this chapter. Let's just say it won't be very pleasant for the faint of heart.

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Once Branch made sure that the rest were safe, he returned to the interior of the palace carefully so as not to wake up the bergen. It had been a while, and the chloroform was probably wearing off.

If the other trolls were right, Poppy, Stream, and Mr. Fluffy must have been held behind the huge doors they came out of when they were locked in the cage. Returning was not difficult, since Branch already knew the way. The real problem was getting through the huge doors without being detected. But he didn't have to think long, because the solution to his problem came in a hurry.

Right from the other side of the corridor, a huge berth came running. He wore a red uniform and held a sharp spear in his right hand. Undoubtedly, it was one of the huge guards at the castle gates. Whatever it was, he seemed to be in a hurry, even bumping into some of the Berten servants along the way. "Did they discover the others?" Branch thought.

Without enough time to think of a solution, and worried that his escape plan had been discovered, Branch had no choice but to jump and grab onto the guard's uniform as he flung open the doors. Only to jump back up and hide behind a decoration once they were inside. A deadly decision.

Right after Branch hid, the huge guard turned around and began to check his uniform. Without calculating it correctly, Branch's weight was something that the guard felt, added to the very slight footsteps that could be felt. That's not counting the small drops of a red liquid that went in that direction, since the troll hadn't realized that his wound was still open, and occasionally he dropped a few drops after making too sudden a movement. The imposing bergen turned around and began to walk towards the ornament where Branch was hiding, this being the only element in the area.

Branch could feel his huge footsteps getting closer as fear began to control his body. Without moving too abruptly, he slowly reached his hand towards his knife, to try to swing it if things got out of hand. Even so, Branch knew perfectly well that he had no chance. The footsteps grew louder, and the troll's breathing began to get out of control. Sweat began to break out uncontrollably, and his pulse was no longer so stable. The bergen approached until he finally stopped and knelt in front of the ornament. He stretched out his huge hand to check behind and Branch knew it. It was only a matter of time for:

????: - Hey! You! What are you doing there!? - Shouted a strong female voice.

Bergen Guard: - I... I'm sorry, Chef. - He got up and turned around, ignoring Branch's presence.

Chef: - Why aren't you at your post!? -

Bergen Guard: - I'm sorry, Chef. But the villagers wonder when the trollstice will be... Many are uneasy. -

Chef: - Tell them to wait. They have waited years for this day... They can wait a couple more days. Now go away. -

Bergen Guardia: - Yes... Chef. -

The huge bergen withdrew the same way he had come, completely forgetting the question that was hidden behind the decoration. But her fear for Chef was much worse than simple curiosity. Still, he managed a sidelong glance before leaving the room, but there was nothing behind the ornament. Well, with that little distraction, Branch had enough time to climb towards one of the chandeliers that hung from the walls and contemplate the whole panorama from there.

The layout of the room was simple but elegant, in their own way. A huge table with enough capacity for barely twenty diners, or more, in the shape of a horseshoe spanned the huge room. Only two servants remained going over the last details; how to check the perfect position of the cutlery and glasses, or retouching the position of the pictures. Finally, there were two more bergens in the room.

Sitting smack dab in the middle of the table was a Berten boy wearing a sparkling golden crown. Without a doubt it was the king, complete with the huge red cloak that he carried on his back, which was clearly bigger than what he could carry. He was sitting calmly on a chair with several cushions, although he was clearly feeling nervous. Apparently, something was bothering him. Just to his right, standing a little behind him, an elderly bergen, with a grumpy face and a huge chef's hat. Without a doubt, she was the one who gave the order to the guard.

King Gristle: - Are you sure this is correct? - He asked with a naive and childish voice.

Chef: - What do you mean? -

King Gristle: - I mean... There aren't enough trolls for everyone... Don't you think that would be unfair to the others? -

Chef: - Don't worry, my King. Tomorrow morning, we will go out to capture the rest of the trolls. I remember very well where those rats hide. - He said with a cynical smile on his face.

At those times, Branch felt lucky enough to tell King Peppy to move somewhere else. The only thing he could hope for was for the king to heed his words.

Chef: - However. Today will be just a formality. For those nobles and... of course, for your highness. -

After finishing speaking, Chef made a raised hand signal, and immediately, an elegant bergen dressed as a cook burst into the room dragging a serving cart. On the cart, an elegant silver tray, covered with a plate cover, aroused the curiosity of those present.

The bergen approached and placed the still covered tray right in front of the King, and after another nod from Chef, all the remaining bergens left the room. Once only, Chef went around behind the King, and from his left removed the cover plate showing a scene that seemed to Branch to come out of hell itself.

The plate showed a dough of flour in the shape of a basket and around it, various vegetables cut into slices as if it were a ratatouille. A strange yellow sauce spiraled around the plate, gracefully decorating the items. Finally, the chilling sight showed a troll above the basket of flour.

Branch was able to recognize him in the distance. It was Creek, wrapped in spaghetti mass, which tied his legs and hands, and gagged his mouth. But the scariest thing was that the troll was still alive.

Creek panicked when he saw the King. She was beginning to writhe and scream, but the mass of spaghetti impeded her movements and muffled her voice. Even so, Branch could not do more than watch terrified from a distance.

King Gristle: - Wait. Is he still alive? -

Chef: - Of course, my king. This is how happiness feels best. - She said with a sinister face.

The King was hesitant at first, but with Chef's help, he managed to grab the troll in his hands as it writhed to try to free itself. Their screams could tear at the soul of any young man, but the flour gag consumed any attempt by Creek to plead for his life. The closer he got to the mouth, the more he writhed, but escaping from the berten's huge claws was simply impossible. When he was already inside the King's mouth, Creek could not do more than look at the sunlight for the last time while tears ran down his face. Then, the King bit down hard.

The image left Branch in shock, who couldn't even move a muscle. The shock of seeing Creek being eaten alive tore at his heart much stronger than a knife. To make matters worse, every time the King chewed to taste his prey, the tiny bones could be heard being crushed in a terrifying pattern that shook Branch's body in time.

Branch couldn't even keep looking. He had no choice but to turn around and cover his long ears to avoid hearing the crunch of bones. His body was shaking, his hands were shaking, his legs were shaking. His face was sweating, but he felt chills all over his body. His breathing was uncontrolled, his pupils dilated, and his hair stood on end. Branch had never felt so afraid in his life, since the day he saw his grandmother being devoured while still alive right before his eyes.