Chapter Text
Jim (POV)
His vision was blurred. After a minute. And another. And another. Specks of different colours came to life in Jim’s vision. Through the pain and coughs, he blinked a couple of times. That didn’t help. Jim only wanted one thing. For Toby to be alive. For the lives that were lost to continue on with their life. It didn’t matter if he died, he just wanted to escape the grief and burden.
Yells and shouts came muffled in his ears. One thing for sure, there was chaos. Though there’s one voice that sounded through his ears.
“James Lake…”
The voice was crystal clear. Sweet. Cold. Yet angelic.
“James Lake…”
Jim realized there weren’t any spots of colours running around, no more muffled yells. Just complete silence that was accompanied by the water that sloshed against the raft.
Wait, water?
“Trollhunter…” the voice echoed.
A woman stood on the water. Her body shone a teal colour. Her hair sank into the endless water. The woman grew taller and taller. To a height that Jim didn’t even know was possible for humans, despite the woman not being a human. Her hair looked like it supported her weight. Everything else was the same bright teal colour that illuminated the cave around them, except for the eyes that illuminated brighter than the rest of her body.
The cave itself was a pretty large area. The woman lightened the cave, revealing the rigid and rough walls and the eroded stones that constantly got hit by waves.
“You are a very interesting human…” the woman started, leaning forward as she examined Jim.
“Um… thanks?” Jim replied.
“My sword?” she asked.
Jim tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, “Your sword?”
The woman sighed, “Excalibur.”
Ohhh, she’s the Lady of the Lake!
Jim remembered the stories Steve told him when they were back in Camelot. How he was eaten by a scary fish lady.
“You’re the Lady of the Lake?” Jim totally forgot her question.
“Yes, I am the Lady, Nimue, Eldest of Oracles. And I seek my sword, Excalibur.”
“I-Um… don’t have it.” Jim answered sheepishly.
Her eyes widened, “You don’t have it?”
Jim nodded. She swam a couple inches back and muttered a spell. Her teal magic made a window like circle that let her view what was happening with Jim in the real world.
His jacket was discarded on the floor while Vendel worked on the wounds. Toby pacing back and forth, muttering apologies while Blinky and Aaarrrggh did their best to assist Vendel. Through the commotion, something caught Jim’s eye.
“Are those… horns?”
The Lady nodded, “And I sense the presence of my sword with some magic aura that I can not make out.”
The window faded away and the Lady turned towards Jim.
“I sense time magic in you, young one, and a worthy soul for my sword. You are destined to do great things, trollhunter.”
Ugh, destined . What’s destiny’s obsession with him?.
Excalibur appeared between them, floating in the middle of teal magic that circled it. The once emerald gem slowly turned into a sapphire gem. Teal balls of light rose from the water and whispers and hushes sounded through Jim’s ears as they entered the gem.
“Use it, trollhunter, to give your loved ones their memories.” the sword soon faded away, “From now on, you are my champion.”
Jim didn’t have time to process the whole conversation before a voice called out.
“I’m sorry, Jimbo,”
“Jim!”
“I’m sorry…”
The voice was distant and faint, yet still crystal clear for Jim to make out what they said.
The Lady swam away, “Your time is up in this realm. Your friends are waiting for you, champion.”
In a blink of an eye, the Lady was gone. Actually. The cave was gone. There were no more sounds of the waves eroding the rocks. Instead, there was a quiet sob.
Jim opened her eyes, fighting back the drooping eyelid. He was in the library, probably on Blinky’s table. Books surrounded the table and artifacts were placed neatly on the shelves.
He tilted his head towards the sound.
“Toby?” his voice was hoarse, but audible.
Toby’s head flicked up, revealing a tear stained face.
“Jimbo? JIMBO!” Toby started crying again, “I-I’m so sorry,”
Jim raised an eyebrow, “For what?”
Toby sniffed, “if it wasn’t because of me, y-you would have been safe, a-and not end up as a…a…”
Jim waited for him to continue, although Toby ducked his head and continued sobbing. He used his remaining energy and rested a hand on Toby’s shoulder.
Holy frijole!
Jim gasped at his hand. It was stone. Living stone. The sharp yet blunt nails were coloured almost like black. There were a few markings that were engraved into him but Jim’s pretty convinced it was from the battles.
He’s half-troll again isn’t he? To confirm his suspicion, Jim slowly rested his hand on his cheek.
Thud.
Jim groaned mentally. Yeah, sure he liked being half-troll sometimes but it hasn’t even been a year ever since he became human again. Destiny loves him don’t it?
“T-that’s why,” Toby sniffed, wiping his runny nose with a fist.
Shoot.
He completely forgot Toby was there. He should act scared right?
“James, you’re awake and well,” a familiar deep voice.
“Vendel? W-what’s wrong with me?” Jim asked.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure you know, James,” Vendels eyes flicked to Jim’s discarded jacket.
“W-wait, you went through my stuff?!” Jim lifted himself with his elbows, despite trembling and could fall back onto the table any second.
“Now, young one, I believe you should take a rest,” Blinky, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, grabbed his shoulders and pushed Jim back onto the bed, “and you, Master Tobias, should go back to your cave, or what you humans call it, house.”
Toby sniffed and nodded, not looking up from the ground. It shattered Jim’s heart that he was crying because he thought it was his fault that Jim’s a half-troll now. His heart aches more that it was because Jim decided to go back in time. He listened to the scraping of Toby’s shoe on the stone floor and the constant tapping of the shoe.
“Rest, young one, or would you like to listen to Blinkous’s never ending list of questions?” Vendel questioned, knowing he was going to rest either way.
Blinky glared at the old troll, though quickly averted his eyes when he realised he didn’t want to get Vendel’s ‘I'm the elder’ speeches.
“I don’t have a choice do I?” the now half-troll mumbled before closing his eyes.
“No, you don’t,” Vendel replied, “If I may, I will take Blinkous and Aaarrrgghh to discuss about some issues,”
Jim hummed in agreement. His ears picked up the sound of the taps of Vendel’s staff and the thuds of their stone feet.
He sighed mentally, letting the flood of questions enter his mind. What did Nimue mean “from now on”. Actually, that’s a stupid question. Why did she want to find Excalibur? She could somehow summon it anyways. What realm were they in? But somehow the most important question for him how he was supposed to go to school in this form? He can’t just say “Oh hey, just a half-troll, nothing here!”.
Jim twisted and turned his tongue around in his mouth. He felt it touch his tusks and sharp teeth. He swore if he was human, his tongue would be cut. Even the walls of his mouth were stone.
Jim sighed and placed his hands on his stomach. He couldn’t turn around or anything.
The next thing he knew, he was sound asleep on Blinky’s study table.