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
A New Life
The first thing Jinora did the next morning was groan.
She was so sore and just sore everywhere. Goddess, the only thing that seemed like a good idea right then was just to lay there and she would have if not for her husband's absence. Forcing herself to sit up, she could see him sitting at the edge of the watering hole braiding his hair. Somehow managing to stand up, she wrapped the robe around her and walked over to him.
He didn't look up when she did and Jinora wondered if she should nudge him with a leg to let him know she was there.
"We're going to leave soon," he told her, fastening the last band on his braid. He gestured to the watering hole. "You should get cleaned up."
She frowned.
Is that all he had to say to her?
"So soon?" she asked, knowing what would come next when they got back Miao Cheng.
She didn't want to say goodbye to her family. She didn't know if she was ready for that... the very thought made tears prick at the corners of her eyes and she turned away, laying the robes aside and just got into the water hurriedly. Shivering, she tried to ignore it since it was only making her feel worse, but a tear rolled down her cheek and she splashed her face with the cold water.
After she was clean and dried, she put on a lighter robe instead of what she wore for her wedding. They did everything in silence and Jinora wondered if he was just tired, perfectly fine or something else. She wished he'd talk to her.
"Will we be leaving soon?" she asked as she mounted Aena.
"Sek," he said and her heart dropped. "The summer months are ending. We must get back to Vaes Najahheya before the cold sets in."
Jinora understood and nodded. As saddened as she was, she knew that the horde was only on the road in the spring and summer before they returned to their cities just west. She'd known that the day would be rapidly approaching, but that didn't mean she wanted it to come.
Leaving home for foreign lands... nobody ever told you how hard it was. How hard it was to leave everything you grew up on and make a home somewhere anew. It was like leaving a piece of yourself behind almost.
What would happen to her now?
-:-:-:-
The day for the khalasar to leave Miao Cheng came soon after. It took all of her strength not to cry outright as she hugged her parents, her sister, her brothers, her friends...
They all stood outside of the courtyard gates, bidding their farewells. Her mother openly wept while everyone else were only containing the glistening of their eyes. When would be the next time she saw them? Would it be years from now? Would it be when one of them was dead...? Would she even be allowed to see them anymore?
Mounting onto Aena and ripping her eyes away from her one last look at her family and her home had to be the hardest thing she'd ever had to do. Turning away, her tears finally fell from her eyes and she quickly wiped them away, trying to contain her sniffling. Concerning her husband, Kai had been very quiet. He always was it seemed, but aside from exchanging respectful farewells he hadn't said a word. She tried to silence herself as best as possible, not wanting him to hear or see her cry as she rode just behind him. After they'd ridden a few miles outside of Miao Cheng's gates, she noticed him just briefly glancing back at her.
"You will see them again," he said in Dothraki.
"...sek?" she asked, trying to stifle the hope in her tone.
Though he'd turned away, she could see him nod...
She had no idea what to make of her new husband. He had been much more talkative the day before and last night had been the best sex she had ever had – it was the only sex she had ever had, but it was still very good – yet, today it was as if they were right back to the day they had met.
She may have shared a common language with him and his people, but that still didn't mean that she didn't feel alone.
No matter, she thought, steeling herself as she always did. I'll just mind my own business.
She wanted a friend, but that didn't mean she needed one she supposed. Apart of her back and forth fear was the fact that she worried about what the Dothraki people here thought of her. Did they see a khaleesi or did they see an ifaki? Did they, in fact, see only a foreigner? "One who walks" as they called it? For the Dothraki who generally based their lives around their horses – even their deity was a horse: The Great Stallion – walking was a shame, an insult and an all together indication of unworthiness. If you did not ride then you were of no importance... was she considered such...?
Of course, Jinora rode a fine filly who was strong, would grow into a beautiful, strong mare and her riding skills were fair if she said so herself. Living on the lush Soaring Plains, her own people were native horsemen as well. Perhaps not as intensely as the Dothraki, but it had been a common entity between their two peoples for many years now. Both the Rluni and the Dothraki had a certain understanding of horses that others might not. Granted, the Rluni were generally very respectful to most animals and tended to be a more pacifistic when left to their own devices while the Dothraki lived warfare as a lifestyle.
Of course, these days the Rluni were far more than willing to take to blood as well if it meant defending themselves ever since the Fire Nation's war had rampaged through their lands long ago. They would never be the victims of a genocide again and she had always gotten the impression that the North Khalasar respected their reputation of such vehement resistance.
These thoughts occupied Jinora's mind and the day wore on as they continued southwest from Miao Cheng. They would travel southwest there and then begin heading north to Vaes Najaheya instead of just going straight west. Apparently, they would be making detours. Meanwhile, Jinora allowed herself to fall behind from Kai, not particularly liking how she was feeling about him currently though she wasn't sure if that had to do with the aftermath of their consummation or not. Then again, she also appreciated him letting her know that it was just fine for her to see her family. At least, that's what she took it as and she wondered if he knew what he was doing with this arranged marriage thing as much as she did.
By herself she rode, despite being in a crowd of people. Riding was not a problem. Riding for so long without anybody to really talk to was a problem.
It was boring.
The only people who talked to her were handmaidens who wanted to know if she required a drink of water every now and again, but they made no real effort to hold a conversation with her and Jinora didn't know if they wanted to nor would she try to impose.
As if some god out there heard her growing despondency, a stocky man with swept back dark hair parted parted in the middle came riding up near her. Over his eyes he wore a metal frame with glass in the round sockets that Jinora could only vaguely remember learning about... spectacles, weren't they called? Jinora smiled tentatively when he beamed at her.
"M'atchamaroon zhey khaleesi," he said, greeting her. "Are you well?"
"I am," she said in Dothraki, but switched to the common tongue tentatively. "Thank you...?"
The man nodded.
"I speak the common tongue," he said, switching languages. "I'm just used to speaking Dothraki around here now. I'm Otaku by the way. It's an honor."
"Otaku," she repeated, nodding. "Hello. Or, well, M'atchamaroon to be more exact."
Otaku smiled.
"I hope you don't mind me coming over. You looked kind of lonely."
"Thank you. I'm alright... it's just all kind of new," she said, looking up at the sky a little. "All of this... new lifestyle I suppose is the best way to say it."
He smiled and nodded, understanding.
"It can be a little intimidating, but you're doing admirably."
Jinora chuckled.
"Thank you. Again... may I ask...?" she began, looking pointedly at his face.
Otaku laughed.
"They're spectacles. To help with my eyesight. I get them made in the trader cities far west. They're a bit odd looking I know, but they work out really well."
"Spectacles..." she repeated. "I think I've heard of those actually."
"They're not common, but they're incredibly useful."
"I'm glad," she said. "Erm, Otaku... was it? You... don't exactly look Dothraki... where are you from?"
"Well, I'm Tunese," he said, smiling wryly. "Yeah, I'm from the south, but I managed to stumble my way up into these parts."
"How did you come upon the kalasar though? To ride with them I mean?" she asked.
"This." Otaku reached to his side and clutched his sword hilt. "I saved a group of young ones who strayed too far from the kalasar. They were almost picked up by sellswords. Turned out that one of the children had a bloodrider for a father and they welcomed me to travel along if I wanted to. I had nowhere to go so I said why not? Besides, I love encountering new cultures."
"That's amazing," said Jinora genuinely. "It was a really great deed for you to save those children."
Otaku smiled bashfully though he tried to shrug.
"It just... seemed like the right thing to do. Common sense thing to do. They also let me come along when they witnessed me fighting and realized I was a warrior. Guess it was a matter of me gaining some of their respect."
"And you deserved it for what you did," she said, nodding. "How long have you bee traveling with the horde?"
"Several months," he said. "Since spring I believe. So, I've had a chance to learn the language and get used to their way of life."
Jinora blinked.
"You learned the language in only a few months?"
"I'm a fast learner," chuckled Otaku. "And you pick it up even faster when you're around the people daily. I must say it's been an experience. Though it is nice that the khal apparently reads. I always need to remind myself that this khalasar is different than the ones in the south."
"...he reads?" she asked tentatively, as if she should have been embarrassed for asking, but she was genuinely curious. Most Dothraki weren't literate evenif her grandfather had helped them develop an actual form of writing alongside Khal Rukko.
"Oh, yes. Well, not a lot," said Otaku. "But if he sees something he might pick it up. He likes to read about past wars for an obvious, but he doesn't mind a few odd tales here and there though I'll admit that majority of what he picks up usually serves a purpose to him. I don't think the Dothraki see reading as very important. As far as I know only the people at the palace know how."
"That's... interesting," she said, frowning slightly. "I just... I know that his grandfather helped develop a writing system. My grandfather was apart of it, but... it just kind of never struck me I suppose. Never thought they might care about it."
Otaku pursed his lips.
"Thought it would just become forgotten in a generation or so?"
Hesitantly, Jinora nodded.
"I can see why people would think that, but this kalasar is... very different. Very different indeed. More than once they have betrayed my expectations, but I think that would be the current khal's grandfather's doing. Khal Rukko was a striking man I hear. A revolutionary man. I actually gifted the Khal Kai an excellent book written about him for which he was very grateful."
Her curiosity peaked, Jinora tilted her head. She had heard about Khal Rukko. Everyone knew about Khal Rukko. Rukko, The Dragon Slayer. Rukko The Dragon Slayer who went into the lair of said dragon and killed it in it's own said lair. In light, he was probably one of the most fearsome khals who had ever lived.
"My father told me a little about him," she said. "But not a lot. All I know is that he died when I was younger and my father got on with him rather well. Nothing substantial however."
"Well, as for myself, I only know what's written and what most people know, but I do know that Khal Kai was rather close to him. Perhaps it would be a subject to talk about if you asked him?"
Otaku gave her a shy knowing look and then it was Jinora's turn to chuckle.
"Is it truly that obvious?"
"That you two don't know what to talk about? You don't even need to be in front of me for me to know that. I'm not sure he knows what to talk about either or if he even finds it necessary, but perhaps it will make you feel better? Add another bridge between you two besides just having been wed?"
Jinora smiled at Otaku. She didn't know why he was helping her attempt to get on better with Kai, but she was glad for the suggestion. It wasn't like she required his approval of her or anything, but they were married after all. More speaking, even if it was just polite conversation, was more comfortable than none.
Besides, she was still very curious about her new husband and all of his engima. She still knew very little about him.
"Thank you, Otaku. I appreciate that. I will ask him later tonight about those things," she said. "It's not much, but it's something."
Otaku beamed again though it faltered into something softer.
"I know what it's like to feel a bit out of place," he said, adjusting his glasses. "So, I'm glad to help in that dilemma."
It was a slightly sad dilemma indeed. She wanted to know more about her new husband, but she wasn't sure if he earnestly cared to know more about her.
-:-:-:-
"Do you have any family?" asked Jinora.
They lay beside each other, the sweat cooling off their bodies in the night. She had felt Kai's hands pawing at her and, remembering their wedding night, leaned into his pawing. No words were exchanged, but the next thing she knew she was panting into her pillow as she was being taken from behind in traditional Dothraki manner.
When they were done, they rolled onto their backs and Jinora could feel that neither of them were asleep even a little while after. It was a strange silence, laying bare and being comfortable enough to be next to each other just like this.
She turned her head just slightly to see if he was looking at her and, as if he could feel her moving, he glanced at her as well. He turned back to stare at the ceiling of their large tent.
"My cousin."
"Have I met him?"
He nodded, grunting.
"Varrako. He's qoy qoyi."
Blood of my blood? Jinora thought back on the rider that had brought Aena to her. The same bloodrider who she couldn't help, but keep noting that he looked related to Kai...
"He's one of your bloodriders?" she asked curiously, remembering a man about Kai's height with brown eyes and dark, thick hair in a braid that went down his back. His wasn't as long as his cousin's, but she figured that must have been Varrako. He was a leaner man than Kai, but there was something in the bone structure that Jinora recognized. "The one that brought me Aena."
Kai nodded.
"That is him."
"Oh..." she said, a little loss for words now that her one topic hadn't gone anywhere. She was actually a little nervous to ask about his grandfather. What if he didn't want to talk about it? What if they weren't close and Otaku had it all wrong? Or what if he just didn't feel like taking about him with her? Or talking with her at all?
Feeling a little bit lonely like she did earlier that day, she laid her head back down and didn't say anything else. She fell asleep wondering disdainfully where Tsering was among the kalasar and what exactly was he doing that she hadn't seen him. Not that she wanted to see him, but him lurking around made her wary.
Needless to say, her sleep was restless.
The next day, Jinora found herself talking to Otaku once more. Apparently, he too was an avid reader and they spent much of the day discussing novels of their past. Later, as they stopped to rest the horses, she looked around. It wasn't as if she had never traveled before so she didn't know what to expect when her eyes rested on miles upon miles of lush green grass. The color would be dying away as the summer was, she remembered, and the cold would set in. Of course... that was why they were heading to the palace in Vaes Najahheya.
Her new home.
The thought made her wrists and ankles feel heavy with imagined iron. Just the very thought. It wasn't as if her husband talked much. They had a common language, but his body language was clear.
They were attracted to each other, but he didn't find her very interesting. Annoyingly, Jinora had never found herself so down before over someone else's view of her. Perhaps it was because he wasn't just anybody. Perhaps it was because he was now her new spouse with whom she would have to spend the rest of her life with.
Perhaps it was her pride.
Most people liked talking to her. Men that was. Enjoyed spilling what they had to say in droves that she could barely humor but, here she was, not even being humored herself now. Thinking about it made her cheeks burn and her mouth slip into a frown.
What was it with this man?
What did you have to do to pull a few more words out of him?
Or was she going to have to fuck him every time she wanted him to talk to her?
Now thoroughly annoyed, the whole thing made her roll her eyes and snort. Maybe her new husband was just full of himself. Maybe he was just a prick and there wasn't much more to him than that.
Still– and most conflictingly – she wondered about him.
She remembered the want.
That need he had pulled out of her.
She growled a little to herself.
Maybe he was just a very interesting asshole.
"Khaleesi?"
It took Jinora a moment to turn around and respond to that, forgetting the fact that she was indeed the khaleesi of this horde now. The bloodrider who looked like he was related to the khal – Varrako she guessed now – had dismounted and was leading his horse by the reins when he had apparently stopped to observe her.
"Ah, sek?" she asked, trying not to feel so small. She was the khaleesi. She didn't have to be afraid.
Not that she was afraid of anybody.
"Are you well, Khaleesi?"
"I am..." she said, nodding. She tilted her head uncertainly. "...Varrako?"
She relaxed slightly when he smiled.
"Yes, Khaleesi," he said, nodding his head. "I am Varrako. Kai, er... the khal has told you about me, sek?"
Jinora nodded.
"May I ask what he has said?" he asked with a small, inviting grin. "I am simply curious as to what my cousin has to tell others about me."
She smiled back a little, trying to share in his mirth.
"Nothing much as of yet. He just told me who you are."
"Ah, I see," he said, as if taking in the information and scratched the light patch of hair at the base of his chin. His horse seemed to want to go off now, probably to find some water. "It seems that I have duties elsewhere. Khaleesi."
As quickly as he had come, Varrako nodded his head respectfully at her, smiling wide, and walked away with his impatient stallion. Jinora looked after him, trying to consider what odd moment had just passed. It wasn't exactly an unpleasant one. At least he seemed friendly.
-:-:-:-
"Hm..."
Varrako sauntered over, messing with a knotted piece of rope in his hands. The picture made Kai frown, knowing that his cousin clearly had something else in mind from the way he was fiddling with the rope so casually.
Running his fingers through his stallion's mane, Kai snorted.
"Just spit it out," he grunted.
"You told your wife about me?" asked Varrako.
Kai raised an eyebrow, then went back to scanning the landscape.
"She asked."
Varrako nodded, an exaggerated frown on his lips.
"Did she ask anything else?" he asked slowly.
Kai sighed.
"Vos, Varrako. What are you gett-"
"You don't talk to your wife," laughed Vakarro. "You have been married for two days already and she knows that I am your cousin. Impressive."
Kai rolled his eyes.
"You made my point for me. We've only been married for two days."
"And you just made my point. Should she not know a little more by now?" asked Varrako, raising his eyebrows. "And should you not use your words?"
Glancing back briefly, Kai hissed a little bit, but Varrako only shook his head.
"What is it? What could be the matter? Me zheanae. Chiori zheanae" he asked, reaching out to clap Kai on the shoulder. "And she is yours! Make it a good start. I just do not see the problem."
Kai grunted.
Yes, as Varrako had said, his new wife was a beautiful woman. Very beautiful, but...
"She is arrogant," he said shortly.
"And you're not?" Varrako snorted right back. "Besides, you seem to be perfectly fine bedding her. Then again, that could be why you are so keen to. Not that it takes very much convincing with you..."
Kai ignored that last bit.
"Because she is also fine with it. Otherwise, she doesn't seem to feel like talking to me."
Varrako raised his eyebrows. Kai shook his head at him.
"It is known."
"It is an excuse." A slow grin spread across Varrako's lips. "You do not know what to do with her. She allows you to bed her, but you do not know how else to approach her. That's it, isn't it?"
"I don't want to hear about her opinions that our people are savages. You know how... people not us are. I won't hear it. "
Varrako shook his head at Kai now.
"You are afraid."
Kai glared at him and Varrako only snorted again.
"Okay, you are not afraid, but you are unsure... and you are testing her," said Varrko, seemingly having finally realized what may be going through his cousin's head.
At that, Kai finally smiled a little.
"As she is with me."
Varrako didn't see the way she looked at him. When she looked at him, he could see so much running behind her eyes. As the khal, he would do well to see whether he was sleeping with a snake or not. He had met this woman barely several weeks ago.
He did not know her.
They had wed, but that did not mean he knew her.
He knew her less than the slaves who erected their tent after the day was done.
It wasn't as if he didn't have enemies. It wasn't as if no king had never had their throat slit by their newlywed bride. Such a thing happened all the time and even his own grandfather confessed it had nearly happened once when he had first become khal with a woman he had bedded.
Kai did not feel like being among them.
He was very unsure about her, but fear was not apart of that uncertainty. If anything, he was amused. She wanted to test him, but it was like she didn't know how. So, he waited.
"The viper, the hare and the lion," his grandfather used to begin a tale. "You are a stallion. The viper can strike at your heel and then you are dead. The hare is harmless, but it can give you nothing. The lion can be an enemy, a friend or neither. The lion is of it's own. It can kill you if it wants, but it may not for it's own reasons. Reasons that you may or may not like and it may or may not care how you feel about it. Kill the viper, ignore the hare, respect the lion. That is a how a king survives."
Now, the question remained.
Was his khaleesi a snake, a hare or a lion?
This chapter introduced a couple people, first meeting Varrako! Kai's cousin and bloodrider. You will be seeing more of him from here on out and Otaku makes it into this story as well! Here, Otaku is more modeled on his B4 appearance where it really helps with him being in a warrior role and you will also be seeing more of him.
Kai and Jinora here are at odds, but not at odds at all. They're not one hundred percent sure what to make of the other for different reasons. Jinora wants to know what kind of man Kai truly is and Kai wants to make sure his new wife doesn't have plans to kill him in his sleep. They met only a few weeks ago and, in perfect honesty, they don't really trust each other yet. In a way, they do, but not fully. It's an awkward and wary position to be in for them both.
As always, I love it when you guys drop those reviews! They really keep me writing and keep me motivated to write faster! Thank you for reading! Tune in for next chapter!
