A Trek Through Darkness (Trollhunters)

Chapter Two

Of course, I have no such luck. The two stalklings advance, and I hold up eclipse, hoping that I will, at the very least, be given a chance. For once, I am in luck. The trolls stop, halting just inches out of my swords reach. I do not dare advance, for I know that if I move in any sort of way that they may perceive as threatening, they will not hesitate to attack. Although neither of these are as big as the two large stalklngs in the basin between hills, they are still several times larger than either Aarrrgh or Draal, and I know that if they wished, they would be able to kill me quite easily. I lower the sword slightly, but only just. The larger of the trolls stands up taller, and begins trying to speak. I suppose it is intelligible, but it is loud and full of squawking. I understand the gist of it. It is asking to be allowed to project its thoughts to me. At first, I am unsure. What if they are able to use this connection as a sort of mind control? Yet, I know that I have no choice. It is either allow this, or die anyway. I nod my consent. For a moment, nothing happens, then I am attacked by a barrage of noises and pictures and sensations. I stumble momentarily, leaning on eclipse for support. The stalklings back off, giving me a moments respite, watch in amusement, then reestablish the connection. It is not nearly as bad as what it was before, yet it still takes a moment to get my bearings. Once everything has faded to background static, I hear a voice. I look around frantically for a moment, before my eyes come to a rest on the troll who spoke earlier. It nods, so I focus on the voice in my head, trying to listen. At first, I wonder if I am making a mistake, because I cannot hear it anymore, but it returns, and I am surprised to hear that, although it is gravely and raspy, it is also not as deep as I would have expected. It is not quite feminine, but the pitch almost rests at a high tenor position.

'Why have you come, trollhunter?'

It is a valid question, and much easier to answer than others that it could have asked. 'I have come to retrieve my friend's brother, who is a changelings familiar, as well as to destroy Gunmar. So, like, I would really appreciate it if you left the maiming and killing for another time?' I laugh nervously.

Both throw their birdlike heads back and laugh. I am confused, and a little offended, yet I do nothing. I know that would most likely only end poorly for me if I did. I wait for them to finish laughing, before they give me an explanation.

'You may smell like a troll, but you look nothing like one. You are barely strong enough to lift that sword, you will not be able to use it to kill that tyrant. How confident are you in your abilities? Have you even won a single battle yet?'

I look them in the eye, hoping that they will not take it as a challenge. I stand up taller, and tell the pair of my accomplishments. 'I single-handedly fought and killed Bular. I fought and defeated Draal, the son of the former trollhunter, in single combat, and gained an ally instead of a kill. Before entering this world, I, along with the help of my friends, killed Angor Rot, and you ask me if I am confident in my abilities?! Bular set a stalkling on me, which I fought and defeated. I killed it while hundreds of feet in the air, yet I still survived the fall. I have done all of these things, and yet you still ask if I am capable of surviving a fight?'

I realize that it may have been a mistake to tell the stalklings that I have killed one of their kind, but it is too late now. I can only hope that they are not like the goblins, attacking me to avenge their fallen kin. Thankfully, they do not, and only look at me thoughtfully. In my head, there is another voice, 'Could he be the one destined to...' but I am cut out of the experience. I am curious, but know that I should not provoke them, if I value my life. Thus, I remain silent.

They seem to talk between themselves for a few moments, during which time I study my surroundings. What before I had perceived as rocky outcroppings, I can now see are mounds of soil with old bones littering the surface. There is a growth on and around them, but it is like nothing I have ever heard of or seen before. It is a strange color, one which I have never seen before. I find this odd, but realize that it is probably just something that only occurs in the Dark Lands. However, the more I look around, the more I realize that everything here is different, even paradoxical. There is a river which I had not noticed earlier, off to my left. It is not far away, but nonetheless, I am sure that I must be imagining everything about it. What should be water is replaced with a thick, swirly mixture of dark red and bright orange, along with that new color that has just recently appeared. It seems to be made of a type of molten rock, yet there are chunks of ice floating along the top. The sky is dark, and I can see no source of light, yet I can see everything perfectly fine, apart from a strange yellow green tinge coloring everything. This world, the Dark Lands is nothing but chaos, and I know that I must get out of here, before I am driven insane.

The stalklings turn their attention back to me, and I gulp. There are two of them, and I barely managed to defeat a small one alone, and both of these are much larger. I take a nervous step back, waiting for them to begin speaking. The larger one crouches down, nearly getting to my level. It circles me, studying me. It seems to be trying to decide what to do with me. I stand up taller, and let out a breath that I had not realized I had been holding. There is a soft shink, and a soft glow, before eclipse and my armor are absorbed back into my amulet. Out of habit, I stretch out my hand to catch the amulet as it falls from my chest, yet nothing happens. The amulet remains, as if glued to my chest. I suppose that it may be considered a defense mechanism, as a way to ensure that it is always right where it belongs whenever I need it to protect me. The stalkling which had been circling me jumps back slightly when my armor disappeared, but has begun studying me with a renewed interest, going so far as to get within inches of my face, smelling me. There is no doubt in my mind that it is looking for a weakness that it may exploit. It backs away, with what can only be described as a curious look in its eyes. The other rears up, towering over me. I frantically ask it to stop, to allow me to save the baby before it kills me, and it pauses.

Now both stalklings are studying me, and I am dragged back into the combined minds against my will. There is an argument between the two, but I cannot figure out who is speaking at which point in time, nor can I tell which stalkling is arguing in my favor. Suddenly, the larger darts behind me, leans forward again, and before I have a chance to react, raps its neck around my body, with its head curled over mine, effectively immobilizing me. Wherever its bare skin touches mine, there is a slight electric shock, and just as suddenly as it began, it is over, and the stalkling unwinds itself from me. I back away, frightened, and without thinking, turn and run. I hear one of the trolls behind me take off, before I feel myself being lifted into the air from behind.