This fic is also on my tumblr blog where my username is Kuno-chan and my blog name is Dragoness Ramblings.

Disclaimer: Legend of Korra belongs to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko


The Life of a Noble


Jinora scowled fiercely at her father and he sighed.

"Now, now don't look at me like that," he said, putting his hands up defensively. "He's only an escort and he says he'd like be among the Dothraki with you. Learn their ways. Think of it as a formal entourage."

She rubbed the bridge of her nose, sighing and put her book down on her father's desk.

"I don't needa formal entourage. Father, please..." She cringed. "Tsering Shuixian? His family are good people, but he..."

Her father smiled painfully, nodding in acknowledgment.

She huffed.

"You just want to get rid of him."

"Of course not," he said. "I am earnestly just granting his request. Jinora, I promise, this was not my doing."

She plopped herself down in her father's study chair and sighed heavily. Tsering of House Suixian was one of the last people she wanted to accompany her anywhere. For anything. Goddess of light help her why did it have to be Tseringof all people.

He was more than an annoyance or a pest. He... he disgusted her. Scared her even in certain ways. Tsering was the debauchery villain of tales that always seemed at a distance to the heroine. The lewd scoundrel who was scarier than any conqueror because he was personal.

And Jinora knew that first hand.

She wasn't entirely concerned considering she was going to be the wife of a powerful man in both rank and physique. Protection was not a problem. However, that did not mean that she wanted him anywhere near her.

Sighing heavily, she dragged herself out of her father's study room.

"I'm going to the library," she said glumly.

"Alright, dear... I'm sorry. If I had known you would be this upset about it I would have turned him down," said her father gently. "You know I don't choose to upset you on purpose. I would even reverse it now, but I can't really afford to rattle my ties with his house..."

Jinora stopped at the door and smiled reassuringly.

"I know. It's not you're fault. Just the life of a noble sometimes, right?"

Her father nodded wryly and she waved to him as she left. Of course she knew her father wasn't making this difficult on purpose. She knew he wanted her to be happy even if it couldn't be every day.

She left for the library on a horse and with guards. By now, she was used to a couple guards accompanying when she went out. It was, after all, their lifestyle. As were marriages one didn't ask for and necessary adaptions to such changes in life.

Of course, she was thinking about her future husband, the khal.

He was attractive. She was going to give him that much. His eyes were a wonderful deep green and she could probably get used to that. Yet, at the same time he was also some kind of interesting. Whether that was for worse or for better she would have to find out, but it was something to hold onto. The man was clearly not a dull one and it was infuriatingly entrancing. Her curiosity getting the better of her was, to be frank, probably why she'd agreed to marry him in the first place.

He was that tall, mysterious, handsome stranger that she read about in some of her favorite novels and it was irritating to say the least. She didn't want him to be that. A part of her wanted him to be predictable. Someone she knew how to deal with on a day to day basis. On the other hand, another part of her liked the mystery of him. The way he made her want to know more...

With that in mind, being interesting was going to have to be enough to get her through this. She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she'd be leaving her family.

Her friends.

Her home...

She was going to have to say goodbye to Miao Cheng. In hindsight, she wasn't moving terribly far. Only a few days ride in fact from where they resided in The Soaring Plans and on the cusp of the next region over, but still. It was sad to think that so many of the people she loved were going to be at a distance now only to be reached by ink and parchment.

But... again, she supposed this was the life of a noble. This is what they did. This was her life.

Her father once told her that gold was cold. It was valuable, but still only a metal. Dirt was rich with life and free to choose what fruits it would bear, yet, we as people considered it lowly and undeserving of prestige.

She had to agree with her father that classes were funny like that. As were people.

Despite that, it saddened her to think about the fact that she was happy with her life here and how soon it was that she would have to say goodbye to it.

She was willing to adapt, but Raava... why did adapting have to ache so much?

Determined the keep those thoughts at bay, Jinora arrived at the library and ordered her guards to stay near the entrance instead of following her deeper inside. She desired the solitude of the inner corners of the library where lesser known books were kept and she could simply be alone to distract her thoughts.

Around she wandered and wandered, taking her time to simply enjoy the smell of old and new parchment and the small excitement of so many stories around her. After taking time to read from a stumbled upon poetry book, she recognized an old favorite of hers from the top shelf. She reached for it, skimming her finger along the spine as she pulled it out.

She had just about grabbed it out of it's place when she suddenly felt someone wrap themselves around her from behind. Her elbow came up instantly in a panic and right into the stranger's ribcage, using their rebuff to scramble away.

Holding the book tight at her chest, Jinora came face to face with fair skin, brown eyes and dark hair against a tall physique. He smiled at her charmingly, lightly, as if he'd had just played a practical joke on her and she was supposed to have found it funny.

"What in all the hells are you doing, Tsering?" she asked him viciously although she knew exactly what he'd been doing.

"I'm jesting, Jinora," he said, laughing and reached out for her, but she smacked his hand away. "Don't you know how to have a laugh?"

"Not when I don't find it funny. Don't touch me. How many times do I have to tell you tht? 'll-"

"-you will ask for me if you need me. Yes, I know." said Tsering, coming closer again. "Come now, is it so hard to look a little happy to see me?"

"It's impossible," she said coldly.

He sighed.

"You know, there was a time when seeing me would make you smile. Blush a little even... oh, come now, don't be like that. I'm only trying to help you see what you need."

"I beg your pardon?" she asked, taking a step back when he kept coming to her, blanching as her back hit the book shelf. "I think I know what I need and it's for you to not come any closer before I call the guards."

"See, this is the problem. As a woman, you have a hard time seeing the bigger picture. You don't..." He made a gesture as if trying to come up with the right words. She hunched when he put a hand on her shoulder. "...ah, well, you don't put all the pieces together. Have a little sympathy for me. You're extraordinarily beautiful. Can I really help myself?"

"You'd better," she said fiercely, but her voice shook when she felt his hand come down her arm. "And quit trying to flatter me. You're terrible at it."

"You're funny. Now, I've been looking all over for you. There were some things we needed to discuss..." He smiled, now putting his hands on both her elbows and holding her firmly. His grip tightened and she felt her heartbeat stall as he brought his mouth down to her ear. "Why, oh why, would you ever intend to marry that savage? And without even saying a word to me? You knew how much I'd dislike that, darling."

When he dug his nails into the cloth over her skin, she jerked her head away from him, feeling dirty with his breath all over her neck like that.

This shouldn't still be happening, Jinora reprimanded herself. Why am I letting this happen to me?

"You don't own me. I'm not your anything. I've never been your anything. Now, let me go already before I scream."

"I'm fine with that," he said quietly, shrugging and roughly grabbed her by her face. He observed her for a moment. "I can even help you with that."

Letting out a breath, Jinora wanted to cry. She absolutely refused to break in front of this sorry excuse for a man, but it was still... humiliating. Shameful. What had turned into an innocent fancy at one point in time with him... how had it turned omto this? If she'd just tell her family, this would be taken care of swiftly. His hands, let alone his eyes, would never reach her again.

"What did I ever do to you?" she asked him before she could stop herself.

Of course, she knew the answer to that too. Rejection was the answer. And, as retribution, he threatened her with vicious lies. Lies he'd had help fabricating by using his family's spies planted in her own household. Women who'd gotten a good look at her body in years time and had relayed to him a detailed map of her flesh.

He'd never seen her body, but with him this close and eyes so menacing she felt like he had... and he would tell the whole world what he knew of her body...

Then where would her reputation be...?

She shouldn't have cared. She should have spit in his face when he'd initially threatened her, but she couldn't. All of it be damned, she did care and he used that to toy with her as he saw fit.

Now, looking in his eyes and remembering the discomfort she'd felt in the presence of her own servants because of him, part of her was now growing a little happy she was leaving, If only he would stay behind and leave her to her own devices as well.

Still, that didn't resolve the issue of her reputation and the way Tsering held it over a fire. If she ever came to be known as his plaything in any way – no matter how untrue it was – her family would be shamed for it. She would be dishonored for it and her name would be a black stain on their tapestry in history. It would start with one lie, then another, then another and another until she was the laughing stock even of brothels.

That wasn't something she could let happen either.

She knew how these things worked. She knew the world of nobles and the risks and rules they had to abide by.

Because this was the life of a noblewoman. Her reputation was, in many ways, all she had.

Jinora had learned that and come to passively accept it. Like a thinned out hole on the steel veil she wore to the world. When she thought of it, it made her feel small again.

Yet, at the same time, right now she felt a fire. A fire of fear, yes, but also a fire of defiance.

"And he is not a savage. Don't be ignorant. He's a Dothraki khal and-"

"He's a lord of savages," laughed Tsering flippantly.

"He's probably worth more than a thousand of you," she shot back. "Now unhand me!"

This time, she jerked free of his grip and his disgusting presence. She hated the way he touched her. The way he felt so comfortable putting his mouth anywhere near her.

"You fancy him?"

"I like him a lot better than you," growled Jinora. "Now, what do you want? Just to flaunt your perceived superiority now that you hear I'm getting married? And what's this I hear you're going to be coming with me? You're mad if you think any of this is going to be going on. Tell me what you need and be quick about it."

"I'm not allowed to see you when I feel like it?" he asked casually.

Jinora, feeling a little braver, walked up enough to spit at his feet.

"Don't push your luck with me. We have leverage on each other. Remember that as long as the blood of House Gyatso runs in my veins I have power over you. Your house is a vassal of my house. Do not ever think I won't have my breaking point."

Now, he got closer to her too, a less charming look in his face.

"If you'd only let me have you. Then nobody would have to break anything."

Looking him in the eye, Jinora frowned and nearly spit in his face this time.

"Never."

And with that she turned on her heel and left, leaving her book behind half put away on the shelf.

-:-:-:-

That night, Jinora stood out her balcony looking up at the stars and enjoying the breeze. She wanted to relax, feeling tense from her encounter with Tsering and just generally wanting to be alone with her thoughts. The castle was awfully big as it was, styled like the air temples of old from the outside, but being very much livable for a prestigious family inside. There were many spaces to actually get away from the servants and her family, yet her room was the place she felt the most comfortable.

All of her books, her things and personal objects she wished to take with her would be brought to Khal Kai's palace in Vaes Najahheya.

His room.

She didn't shudder, having known full well what was to come besides the wedding. They would have to produce children. Sons more preferably for Khal Kai probably. Less favorable omens put females along with the stillborn and the disabled. Here, she found herself struggling again to feel better about this arrangement. It wasn't like she was just marrying a man. She was marrying a culture.

A culture notorious for their violent and less savory behaviors.

Easing herself back into her room with those thoughts on the forefront of her mind, she walked over to her bookshelf and pulled out Rlun: Kingdom on the North Plains. She flipped through several chapters, coming to the pages detailing the peoples who lived in their region of the continent.

Finding what she was looking for, she skimmed down the page with a finger.

"The Dothraki are a nomadic people. Divided as rival war clans, the hordes raid and pillage for their livelihood," she read, skimming a few paragraphs down. "...their sense of shame is different than what is common in many cultures and privacy is hardly of value."

Jinora pursed her lips and read on about how they kept slaves, mated like animals in heat and would leave deformed or crippled infants behind as they traveled.

It... it honestly made her want to cry.

Where had her life gone? Stuck between marrying into a violent culture and stay home with a man who thought he owned her. Not that getting out of marrying the khal was an option, but the crossroads were so bleak and dark. Was she going to forever be uncomfortable in her own home?

There was a knock at the door and Jinora almost dropped her book, having been yanked out of her thoughts.

"Yes?"

"It's just me," called her mother, coming in as she said it. "I just have something for you."

"For me?" blinked Jinora. "You got me something?"

Her mother smiled gently at her, pulling a small novel from behind her back as she closed the door.

"I did. Or well, I already have it, but..." began her mother, sighing. She handed Jinora the book and Jinora couldn't help but smile at it. It was an old book she used to love as a child about a princess and a horse she found and took care of. "You remember this, don't you? It was your favorite growing up. I just wanted you to have it... for your own children."

When Jinora looked up, she could see her mother's eyes over bright and it made Jinora pull her into a hug.

"Mother, don't cry," soothed Jinora. "It's going to be okay. I'm sure I'm going to see you..."

If he lets me, Jinora tried and failed not to think.

"It's a wedding, not a funeral, but I can't help but feel a little sad. Seems like only yesterday you were a little girl talking to me about how you'd get married one day. Now, here you are doing it... I know it's not exactly your ideal way of doing it, but I still want you to know how proud I am of you... you've grown up so well."

Jinora smiled sheepishly as they pulled back.

"Well, I have you and father to thank for that," she said. "I'm glad you're happy."

"And we wish for you to be to no end," said her mother. "... tell me. What do you think of your husband-to-be? I want to know. I want you to let it out."

Slightly stunned at that, Jinora opened her mouth to speak then closed it again. For a moment, she simply sat there, gathering her thoughts and trying to really go through all the different emotions she was feeling about the arrangement.

She sighed.

"I'm scared," said Jinora. "I'm scared that he's going to be a terrible person and that I'm not going to get used to their culture. I'm glad I'm doing something new and finding a new home and trying out new things. I'm sad because I don't exactly want to leave you all."

"But that didn't answer my question. I asked you what you think of Khal Kai. It's okay to say so sweetheart."

Jinora shook her head.

"He's... I don't know. He's alright. Well, more than alright I guess... it's hard to have an opinion on him right now. I'm... intrigued. I have one, but it's pretty neutral. I want to know more. I really do. My opinion isn't exactly good or bad. It's just curious."

Her mother smiled.

"That's wonderful."

"Wonderful?" she asked. It was better than horrible, but she wasn't sure if it was wonderful. "That's a pretty strong term, mother..."

"Dear, there are men who show their true colors even before commitment. Call it parent's intuition, but I think he's an honest kind. Jinora, as your mother, I want nothing more than for you to spend the rest of your life with someone who's going to treat you right and love you. At the very least, Khal Kai seems like the kind who's going to be good for you in those things. I really feel it. Don't you?"

Jinora shrugged. She couldn't – wouldn't – make any assumptions.

"You're not disagreeing," said her mother.

"I guess. I can't really say, but if there's one thing mostly certain is that I will probably have to have his children. If all goes well. That book is going to come in handy when I do," said Jinora quietly.

"Darling... know that if anything, you're going to love the children he ends up giving you. No matter what. I know I sound like I'm rambling, but I just always want you to find the bright side of things. Don't fall into despair. Don't be sad. Find things. Make friends. Love your children. Yes, it's an arranged marriage, but don't let it be the end of your life. It's only the beginning. Even if you don't end up loving him, find things to love because you have to be with him. Whatever you do, don't let anything poison you. Be kind when you have to be kind. Be strong when you have to be strong. Be both. Promise me you're going to be the strong young lady you are today... promise me."

Staring at her mother with a soft smile, Jinora reached out to grabbed he hand, squeezing it and soothing the shaking in her mother's voice.

"I promise."

That night, as she closed her eyes, Jinora promised herself the same thing.

-:-:-:-

The days afterward saw Jinora trying to spend time with as many people she'd miss as possible. Outside of her family, her friends Kumi of House Yumai and another girl named Padma were two friends she'd miss seeing on a day to day basis. Padma was a lower born girl who worked in her family's household, but Jinora's family always made sure that Padma and her family were also doing well. Kumi's family was a vassal under Jinora's and the two had gotten to know each other over the years. Admittedly, Jinora didn't have a very large ring of real friends, but these girls were two of the few she had.

"Well, at least you'll travel a lot," said Kumi kindly. "A lot of girls can't really say the same."

Jinora tried to smile.

"I suppose..."

Padma scooted closer to both girls, smiling sweetly.

"He's also attractive, didn't you say? A lot of girls can't say that either. You really did get the luck of the draw in a lot of ways. And I'm sure you'll be able to write to us and all the people you want."

"That's if he lets me. What if he's, y'know... that kind?"

Like Tsering, Jinora thought miserably.

Kumi and Padma shared looks.

"I guess there's no way to know that... but you can still hope, can't you?" asked Kumi.

Jinora sighed.

"I guess, but... I'm just going to miss everyone. You guys and just... I wish at least someone could come with me. I mean, someone I like," she said bitterly, then went on. "I just feel like I'm going to be utterly friendless out there."

"I'm sure that you'll make friends," said Padma soothingly. "Don't dread this so much."

"It's hard not to though. I didn't even really choose him. He just happened."

Then again, she didn't forget her brief conversation with Khal Kai when they went out riding. It'd been a stranger gesture, but his "formal proposal" seemed to her like he wanted to make her comfortable. Which was nice. She wasn't going to use that as contrary evidence for all her worries, but it was still a personal polite gesture and that much she could appreciate.

"Write to us them," said Kumi. "Every day. Write all the time even if you don't send them off. Just... when you're upset. If he hurts you. Write us... that way, if we don't hear from you we know you're doing okay..."

As Kumi's eyes turned downcast, Jinora blinked at her, staring, and pulled both girls into her arms.

"I'm going to write for more reasons than that," said Jinora quietly. "I'm not going to forget you. Don't worry. I might not write as frequently as we all would wish, but you're going to be in my thoughts."

The three girls shared a hug right there in the gardens. As they pulled away, a man dressed in the dark red and orange servants attire came up to them, respectfully bowing toward Jinora and Kumi when he approached them.

"Forgive my interruption, my lady," he said to Jinora specifically, nodding toward Kumi in acknowledgment. "But there is something waiting for you out in the courtyard. A gift."

"A gift?" asked Jinora, frowning slightly. "From who?"

"I was told it was a gift from Khal Kai. A Dothraki rider waits outside with it."

Unsure of what else to say, she looked at Kumi and Padma, Padma smiling giddily when she'd heard the term 'gift'.

"I wonder what it is," Padma whispered excitedly.

"Let's go find out," said Kumi, nudging them both along before Jinora could really say anything.

They followed the servant out of the gardens and around the palace grounds until they reached the courtyard. Upon arriving at the courtyard, they were met by one of the khal's dothrakiquoy – the one who looked like they could be related to him – riding on a horse with the reins of a young horse in his hand.

Slightly speechless, Jinora carefully approached the horse, glancing up at the rider for assurance. He nodded silently and even seemed to smile a little.

"She is very young," said the rider in Dothraki. "Not even four years. A vado. The khal sends her to you."

"A gift for me?" she asked in Dothraki.

The rider nodded, handing her over the reins. Carefully and gently, Jinora rubbed down the filly's back and ran her fingers through the horse's mane. The filly was a beautiful horse of a gorgeous shade, a color as if just dusted with the lightest brown and a dark wavy mane with dark tufts growing around her hooves.

The filly nudged her gently when Jinora brought her hand down the horse's neck and it made her smile.

"Does she have a name?" asked Jinora, rubbing down the filly's forehead ever so lightly.

"We do not give our horses names like your people do," said the rider, turning his horse to leave. "But the khal says you may. He would like to hear what you have thought of the next time you meet."

With that, the rider left and Jinora only looked after him before turning back to her new horse.

Admittedly delighted, she rubbed down the horse some more and looked at her two friends with a genuine smile on her face.

"Isn't she beautiful?' asked Jinora, mesmerized but the filly's gorgeous color and coat.

Her friends nodded, also gently rubbing down the mare.

"What are you going to name her?

Jinora only stared into the filly's coat color, reminded of the gentle snow mornings in the winter, yet also the calm spring mornings. She thought of the peace of waking up in her bed and looking out to see the soft sky. Even though the filly's color was nothing like a blue sky, she thought of the calm and contentment of waking up to a new day in the safety of your own abode.

It would sound funny though if she named the filly morning. In her own language and the common language it didn't have a nice ring to it. Dothraki, however... the word for morning was rather lovely.

"Aena," Jinora finally said, smiling proudly at the filly nudging at her. "I like Aena."


Whoo, second chapter is up! I have a little bit of a queue going so next chapter should promptly be up next week!

This chapter deals with the fact that Jinora is a noblewoman and you get a glimpse into her inherent mindset. Not necessarily one of a prisoner, but also not necessarily one of a totally willing participant either and I tried to make it really evident with the fact that Tsering is essentially threatening her with lies because she rejected him in the end of some would-be-almost courtship. Jinora is perfectly aware that, in her position, vicious lies (no matter how untrue) can be serious ammo against her and her family.

It's not fair in either of her old and new situations and her conflicting feelings about that is something I tried to display.

As always, I really love it when you guys drop those reviews. They really keep me motivated and keep me writing! Thank you for reading! Tune in for next chapter!