A Promising Start

Part 8

*five years later- so this is after season 3 now :D. Only difference is that instead of leaving, Merlin managed to actually be useful and heal the heartstone, so they stayed*

Polonius and Deia played in the corner of Blinky's library while Blinky read one of Jim's most recent reports. The trollhunter had left a month ago to investigate rumors of a blood goblin nest in Germany, and it sounded like he had found and destroyed a small group of them. He should be coming home today if his travels went smoothly.

Blinky hoped they would; the humans had recently begun some development near trollmarket, and while there were too many layers of magic for the trolls to be accidentally discovered by any digging, there was still the constant noise, and the threat of cavern collapse.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Deia tugged at one of Blinky's arms, her three other tiny arms wrapped around a book. "What is it darling?" Deia opened the book to show an older human geology textbook that Blinky had 'borrowed' from the local high school years before. "What is this? Magma?"

Blinky was pleased, but not surprised to see his young daughter with a rather advanced book. She and Polonius had both inherited Blinky's brains and were quite advanced for their ages. Blinky and Aargh couldn't be more proud, and Jim would hopefully bring some souvenirs for them- it was something the trollhunter always did when he had extra time on a journey.

Deia grinned happily as Blinky explained, "It's hot, melted rock that fills the center of the earth. Our caves don't go far enough to come in contact with them, but we're close enough to benefit from its heat." Deia nodded slowly, then whirled around to face her brother. "I was right!" she turned back to her father. "So if Polonius wants to find some and swim in it..."

"That would be an extremely bad idea."

Jim opened the door just in time to hear wild laughter. Polonius and Deia saw him before Blinky did, and their screams of joy startled Blinky before he saw Jim standing in the doorway. The fear hadn't totally left his eyes though- Jim looked beaten and worn, and his greeting was subdued.

"Jim! Jim! Jim!"

The trollhunter lifted both young trolls into his arms, and once they clung to him and freed his arms, he reached into his pocket and drew out two small toys. "Why don't you take these and go play with them?" Once the children were out of the room, Jim turned back to Blinky.

"We really, really need to talk. I found something bad."