I agonized over the decision for weeks. I knew that I wanted this, but did she? It wasn't even a conscious decision when I bought the stone. I was walking through the marketplace on some other errand when I saw the merchant selling precious gems. The blue quartz was too perfect. I'd paid for it and was headed back home with it in my pocket before I really realized what I meant to do with it.
I'd been filled with doubt the whole time I was carving. It was slow work. The council took up most of my time and I couldn't very well work on it with Korra in the house. I had to steal a half hour here and there, until I finally had a blank disc with a single hole bored through the top. There was a little hesitation over the design, but it came to me while I watched her practice her waterbending forms. A waning crescent moon, with twisting waves tucked into its curve.
Even once it was completed, I didn't know what I would do. My own hopes were never in doubt. If she would accept me, I would be the happiest man in the world. But that was the horrible word. 'If.' At those times I couldn't help thinking about the twenty years that separated us. Surely she'd prefer to be with someone her own age, someone who wouldn't be old while she still had the bloom of youth. Even if she didn't care, she'd want someone whose life wasn't consumed by their work. Someone who took everything less seriously than me. Someone more like her. Or... I tried never to think about the fact that I was a bloodbender, that I had bent her, but there was no chance that she would ever marry me after that.
Somehow I nerved myself up to offering her the necklace. When she froze, staring at it without speaking, I despaired. It was all over now. I was about to turn away when she took one slow step towards me. She reached out to touch the carved stone, and I was amazed to see her hand shaking. Suddenly, she threw herself into my arms, almost knocking me over. Her arms were around my neck, and I could feel hot tears soaking through my shoulder. I pressed her tightly to me, burying my face in the crook of her neck. There was so much I wanted to say, but there couldn't be words that would do justice to my feelings.
Korra, will you marry me?
Of course.