I do not own The Hobbit or Avatar: The Last Air Bender.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Blackspeech"
Kori stretched as she awoke to a rising sun and singing birds. It had been a few weeks since she had arrived in Middle Earth. She had filled her time with reading books from the library and partying with the elves. It wasn't anything like the parties back home, but they had endless supplies of wine.
Kori got out of bed and made her way to the wardrobe in her room. She had kept a few dresses, but she couldn't always wear dresses. She had several pairs of leggings and tunics to wear with them, but that wasn't her favorite clothes. Her favorite was something she had asked someone to make for her. Pants that had two layers, one that was a legging and another over top that was sheer and wispy that tied at her ankles. And the top that went with it crossed over her front, leaving her shoulder and stomach exposed. Apparently it was scandalous here, but she wasn't too worried.
"Blue today." Kori pulled out a pair of navy blue flowing pants and a sky blue cross top. She brought them with her as she went to the bathroom to wash for the day. It didn't take her long to bathe and dry off, bending helped. And soon she was dressed for the day.
"Good Morning Avatar Kori." Kori waved as many of the elves greeted her. She greeted back the ones she knew by name and waved back to the others.
Soon she was alone and by a large oak tree. She laid her hand on the tree and centered herself, sitting down as she expanded her mind and senses. She knew where everyone was in Rivendale, the earth told her. The air told her of good weather to come for that day. Kori let out a breath as her senses returned to her, no sign of Gandalf.
Kori got up from her position and decided to go training. She took one step and paused. Her bare feet communicating with the earth, telling her of someone approaching. Kori looked and spotted Lord Elrond walking down from a pavilion. 'He feels heavier. Wonder why he is wearing armor?' Kori asked as she turned and faced the elf Lord. "Good morning Lord Elrond. Are you going somewhere?"
"Good Morning Avatar Kori." Lord Elrond gave the young woman a small bow of his head. She had more than earned his respect in the short time that she was in his home. "Our scouts have spotted an Orc pack running around. We are going to exterminate them."
"Orc?" Kori asked curiously, she had never heard of such a thing. "I don't think I have reached any books on the subject yet."
"We don't have many books on them. It is common knowledge, if you are from this world." Lord Elrond added to his statement as he remembered Kori's origin. "They are vile creatures of darkness. All they seek is the destruction of the world for their master." Lord Elrond spotted his Guard Captain near the Gate Path. "I will return shortly. My children can help you if you require anything."
Kori gave the elf a smile. "Be safe out there. There are people waiting for you."
Elrond was a bit surprised at the lady's request. She spoke as if she had someone who did not return. He gave her a nod in reply. "I shall." With that said he walked away from the young woman who had surprised him once more.
Kori watched as the man walked off to go fight Orcs. She looked away as the greenery around her flashed to the snowy plaines of the North Pole. She turned and headed for the training grounds. Pulling her hair out of their long pigtails and braided them back in a single braid.
"Deep breath." Kori spoke as she centered herself once more. "Feel the earth beneath you. Center yourself on the now." She pushed one foot in front of her and swept it back. "The past is long gone, the future is just ahead of you." She spun her hands in front of her, creating a sphere of air in her hands.
She leaned forwards and fell down onto the sphere. Slowly she steadied herself and stood on the sphere with her hands supporting her on top of it. She pushed off the ball and launched herself into the air, controlling her ascent with the air around her. Then once more to control her descent.
Kori landed on the ground and spun as she moved away from where she touched down. Her attention was drawn to a very interesting discovery, there were new people in the valley. And they weren't elves. Kori had memorized what elves felt like, and these ones felt a little bit heavier, but their steps were large and frequent. "What is that?" She stomped on the ground to get a better read on the valley ground. And up a mountain path were 15 new sets of feet. Two of them did not feel like the other 13, or each other.
Kori made her way towards the main hall and towards the east bridge. She rounded the corner and stopped when she caught sight of the group of travelers. Gandalf was easy to spot, he was taller than herself, but his companions barely even reached his waist. Seeing Gandalf smile at her she tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ears as she made her way down the steps. "Welcome back Gandalf. I was wondering if you forgot."
"I may look old, Avatar Kori, but my memory is excellent." Gandalf spoke as he greeted the young lady. "You look well."
"I have been well." Kori looked from the wizard to the rest of his group. They were all looking at her curiously. "Who are your companions? And what are they?" Kori tensed realizing she spoke her mind. "I am so sorry. I did not mean to sound rude and I meant no offense. I've just never seen anyone like any of you." Kori grumbled as it continued to sound rude. "Nan would have my tongue on a soap stone after my first question."
"That does not sound pleasant." One of the short men with bright red hair spoke up with a chuckle. "And no offense taken lass. Truth be told, we've never seen anyone like you either. Is your skin normally that dark?"
Kori cracked a smile at the man's comment. "It is. Most frequent comment so far has been that I should bathe more often."
Gandalf cleared his throat to get Kori's attention. "They are Dwarves, my dear."
"Oh. None of those back home." Kori took a step back to face Gandalf a bit more. She perked up and turned to the bridge. She had picked up the feeling of horse hooves heading their way. "Lord Elrond is on his way back."
Gandalf frowned at the woman's statement. "How do you know that?"
"I can feel it through the earth beneath my feet." Kori looked down and wiggled her toes. "That is why I do not wear shoes." She looked back over the bridge as horses rounded the corner and thundered across the bridge.
Kori moved out of their way and stood by Gandalf as Lord Elrond rode up to them. "Mithrandri, welcome back. Our scouts spotted a pack of orcs. They were curiously close to the secret passage. As though something drew them there."
"I'm afraid that may have been us." Gandalf spoke as he gave the elf lord a bow of his head.
Lord Elrond gave Gandalf a knowing look before turning his attention to the woman in their midst. "Hello Avatar Kori."
"Welcome back, Lord Elrond." Kori gave the lord a bow of her head and a smile. "Looks like you have more guests. And more people to accompany us to dinner."
"And so it seems." Elrond looked from Kori to the dwarves. "You should go and ready yourself for dinner. I shall see to our new guests."
"And perhaps I shall dance tonight." Kori smiled as she looked towards the dwarves. They looked tense and angry at being around elves. "Perhaps a bit of fire dancing tonight."
"I believe a different element would be better." Gandalf suggested to the young woman.
Kori eyed the wizard. "I can not do earth, it would ruin the marble. Water threatens to dampen the mood and air causes far too much problems with food. So that leaves fire. And so dance with fire I shall." Kori left it at that and turned away from the two men. As she reached the stairs she looked to the dwarves and gave them a smile before she climbed the stairs. She needed to properly tie her hair and change the color of her clothes.
Kori had a smile on her face as she walked through the halls of Rivendale. She could hear music float through the halls as she made her way to the dinning pavilion. Her red puffy pants and red halter top hugged her body and red sheer silk floated around her hips and over her arms. And her hair was tied back into a traditional topknot of the Fire Nation, one of the easiest styles to recreate.
She rounded the corner and gave a smile to the many dwarves that were seated at the table. At the high table was Lord Elrond, Gandalf, and one of the other dwarves. She noticed Lord Elrond stand and face her as she looked over at him. "Good evening Lord Elrond."
"Good evening Avatar Kori." Lord Elrond gave the lady a small bow of his head as she made her way over to their table.
Kori walked around and looked at all of the dwarves. "Good evening to you all. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I am Avatar Kori, at your service." She gave them a small bow of her head as she introduced herself.
A dwarf with bright white hair greeted her in return. "It is pleasant to meet you, Avatar Kori. I am Balin, at your service. May I ask what the title Avatar means?"
"Of course you may." Kori gave the dwarf a smile. "Avatar means I have mastery over all of the bending elements." The dwarves nodding as she answered. "In return, may I ask you what dwarves do? I'm afraid I am uneducated about other races and cultures of Middle Earth. I have not been here long."
"Is that so?" Balin asked. "Well, dwarves do a great many things. But we are most known for mining and creating great works of metal, stone, and gems."
"That sounds amazing." Kori stated as she looked at all of the dwarves. Many of them were smiling with pride.
"We are also great warriors." A dwarf spoke up. His bald head and rough demeanor told Kori that he was probably a warrior, and proud of it.
"That as well." Balin added while looking to the dwarf beside him. "But other races also have warriors."
The bald dwarf shook his head as he crossed his arms. "All Dwarves are warriors."
"Dwalin, I am trying to make it simple for the lass." Balin said as he looked over at the dwarf once more.
Kori bit her lip trying not to laugh at their little argument. "Thank you for being considerate, Master Balin. Middle Earth is certainly more complicated than my home. But I have grown up there, not here."
"Where do you come from?" Kori looked over to the dwarf that had no beard.
"I come from The Northern Water Tribes. But you probably haven't heard of that." Kori chewed her lip as she tried to think of how to explain her home to the simply.
"Is it just far in the north?" The same dwarf asked curiously.
Kori shook her head. "Much further I'm afraid. And more complicated than that." She saw everyone looking to her expecting an explanation. "I come from a much different world than this. And I know that because I have been almost everywhere in my world, and I have never seen any place like this."
"Wow, that's amazing." The black haired, beardless dwarf spoke happily.
"Kili." Everyone looked to the dwarf sitting by Lord Elrond. He was giving Kili a look that told him not to speak another word. "That's enough."
"But Thorin, there is another world out there." Kili spoke as he sat back in his chair. "I wish I could see it."
"Maybe in a few years." Kori said as she sat down across from Balin. "Right now there is a war going on. And I doubt you all would be able to defend yourself against the warriors of my world." She rolled her eyes as many of the dwarves raised their voice in disagreement.
"You underestimate us." Thorin spoke as he watched the dark skinned woman. "Dwarves are fierce warriors in battle."
"I do not doubt that, Master Dwarf. But do you know what a bender is?" Kori asked as she picked up a cherry tomato and tossed it into her mouth.
Thorin eyed the girl again. She held herself confidently and proudly, like a warrior. But she was not built like a warrior. "I understand the gist of the term."
"No, you don't." Kori said as she stood up once more. "Let me show you." Kori stepped onto her chair and launched herself over the table with a flip, aided by the air around her. She touched down and walked a few more steps before stopping.
The music changed from it's airy and lofty sound to a more fierce and foreboding sound. Kori extended one arm to the side, a single wisp of fire running down her skin till it danced in her downward facing palm. She let the ball fall to the floor before stopping it and spinning it around as if it was on a string. She turned back towards them as she continued to spin the ball of fire around her. She spun it up towards her face and caught it with her other hand. She fell forward, landing on the fireball, and balanced herself with one hand on the fireball. With her other hand she spun herself around on her fireball till it shrunk and her hand touched the ground. Once her hand touched the ground she twisted onto her back and kept spinning as fire shot out of the ends of her feet. After a few spins she pushed herself up to her feet and spun till she faced the dwarves. She brought her hands up to her mouth and blew fire out from between them. Before the fire got anywhere close to the dwarves she sucked it back into her mouth. She smirked at the dwarves' shocked faces as smoke came out of her mouth and nose, blocking her from their view.
The smoke cleared and the Avatar was not where she had been before. "That," The dwarves turned to see Kori leaning by the window of the pavilion. "Is but a small glimpse of what a fire-bender is capable of."
Gandalf was very much surprised by what Kori was capable of doing. "I can see why you are called a master."
Kori chuckled from her place. "I have spent my entire life training and mastering the elements. After a little more than 15 years, I believe being a master is quite an accomplishment."
"How old are you?" Kori looked towards the non-dwarf Gandalf had brought with him.
Kori gave the man a shrug. "18. I'm still considered rather young by my people. Saying I should be looking for a husband, not being a warrior." Kori noticed a few of the dwarves had a frightened look on their faces when she said her age. "Is 18 considered young around here?"
"Among most races." Gandalf stated as he pulled out his smoking pipe. "But for someone of the race of Men, it is rather old actually. Most women are married at the age of 15, and have their first child before they turn 17."
Kori felt her mouth drop in shock. "That sounds like hell."
"Ladies should not curse." Kori shot Thorin an annoyed look while he glared at her.
"I am not a lady." Kori crossed her arms as she straightened. "I am the Avatar, master of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air." She noticed many of the dwarves still had some fear in their eyes, but a couple had only curious eyes. "If you will excuse me, I am retiring for the night." Kori gave them a bow as she turned and walked out of the room.
So we got to see a bit of what Kori can do. More to come later on. Please leave a comment and let know what you think of the story so far.
