chapter 1: the contemplation of the festival of marriage

In the world I live in, no one really cares about what girls have to say. The men have all the power, and the women just have to stay home and clean. This is just the way it goes. But for me, I plan to run against the law, and fall in love with a boy I actually care about. I won't give in to my parent's ldingarranged marrage plans. This is my story. And it's main character is me, Katara.

It was fall in the year of 1876, the world of benders preparing for the long winter ahead. I was born in the Southern Water Tribe, the small village of water benders of the south pole. This village may not be as big as the other gigantic cities, but it does have a royal bloodline. The palace I live in is huge, well, to me it is. Being as I'm the princess of the south pole, obviously I would live in one. Servants waiting on me every second of every day, what's not here that a girl could want. Even I should find it amazing, but I just find it annoying.

I mean I do have 2 feet, so I can take care of myself! But they still insist to wait and shower me with a bunch of unneeded junk. This is why my independence from my parents has gone up throughout my life. And the worst part about it yet is that my parents are holding the traditional festival of marriage in order to find me a suitor. I get to meet 10 men, and then decide which one I want to be my husband the night of the festival. All royal men are usually stuck up in their own worlds, so much that I want to just shove a really sharp stick up their shiny white asses. Man, it's so hard to find a good, sensitive and strong man, who is also of high status.

" Lady Katara, i am very pleased to meet you. my name is count darren." My hand rested under my chin, a very bored expression on my face as I introduced myself back from my slumped position in my throne. Count Darren was the 9th guy, and he is a firebender. So far I have met 3 earthbenders, 4 firebenders including darren, and one waterbender from the north pole, my sister tribe. All of them were exactly the way I described them, so i'm glad that I only have one more to meet after this one.

After Darren had finally left after over 3 hours of torture, I sighed in relief.

"So Katara, what do you think of Darren?" My mother was asking this for the millionth time today, or so it felt like it.

" He was fine okay. I'm tired so can I please go to bed now?" I tried to say it as politely as I could, despite my pissed off attitude.

" yes you can honey, but first, we would like to tell you some stuff about the final gentleman."

'ughhhh... wait... they haven't told me anything about the last 9 of them, so why now? huh, must be important if they have to.' I nodded for her to continue.

" well, the first thing you need to know, is that he is an airbender."

" what!" I nearly choked on the lemonade that one of the servants had brought to me as a compliment, my mother rubbing my back as i coughed the liquid from my windpipe.

" are you okay sweetie?"

" im fine, im fine.. he's an airbender? thats the first time i've heard of them willing to let one of their royal princes marry outside of their bloodline. so why now?"

" they decided that since we are really the only other mild people other than them, that they would allow their most valueable prince be married to our most mild daughter. we have told them much about you, and they like your personality and kindness. also, there are a few more little things that we should mention to you about him." I thought about the things that they had told the airbenders, most of which were true. I then nodded again for her to say the rest.

" Sure mom, please let me know them please."

" thankyou. okay, so the first thing that you should know is that he is 15, his birthday being last month." I was 16 and half, but I guess only one year age difference would make a difference.

" okay, what's next?"

" the second thing is that he isn't exactly as tall as you'd expect. not to offend their culture, but he about reaches just above your chin. you may not like that, but please overlook that piece." ' why the hell would i care if he was just a little shorter than me? i mean, as long as he isn't the size of a 3-year-old.'

" it's okay, i dont mind."

" thank you again. And finally, the last thing you need to know might be the hardest of all to understand." 'huh?'

" and what might that be?"

" the thing is katara... he has a fear of women."

"what?" ' he's afraid of girls? what would make him do that?"

"why is he afraid of girls?"

" the boy's father told me that girls' used to bully him for his size, and soon he began to think that all girls besides his mother wanted to hurt him. So the main reason he wanted to let him marry a kind and talented girl, like you, who might be able to help him not fear women. I hope you'll understand him.." i was sad. was he really bullied by girls, just for being a little smaller than other guys?

I clenched my fist and closed my eyes. ' okay, i will help him, and at least try to give him a chance. i'll probably have to be calmer than usual in my head and outside, so i'll just smile gently and genually try to help him.'

" okay, i'm determined to give this one a chance." my mom started to tear up.

' oh lord... not again mom...' she suddenly then hugged me.

" thank you so much Katara! He'll be here tomorrow by noon, so please get a good night's sleep."

" i will mom. good night." and with that, i left the room, and went to bed. this was certainly going to be a BIG day tomorrow.