Neytiri was concerned. They were just finishing the evening meal, and Jake already looked half asleep. He'd been pushing himself hard these past three weeks since returning from their honeymoon, working nonstop from dawn till late into the evening to learn the language, the People, and his duties as Olo'eyctan as well as helping his dreamwalker friends.

Enough, she decided. The Omaticaya normally reserved the evenings after meal time for socializing, when the chores of the day were done. Jake had participated every night, interacting with as many Na'vi as he could. It was obvious that he was pushing himself too much.

Neytiri stood up and reached for Jake's hand. "Come," she commanded, to his surprise. Let everyone think what they will, he needs to rest. She pulled him to his feet and didn't let go of his hand until they reached their quarters. She pushed him right past the cloth that curtained off their sleeping-space and then pressed down on his shoulders until he sat.

"You're being pushy tonight," he observed.

She didn't bother denying it. "You are tired. You have been doing too much, working too hard. It is not necessary." She sat down behind him and started massaging his neck and shoulders.

He sighed with relief as his tight muscles started to unknot themselves under her hands. "There's so much to do. I don't want to let the People down." He looked at his mate, "I don't want to let you down."

She smiled and said softly, "You care about the People, Jake. As long as you care, you will never let anyone down. The Omaticaya understand that it will take time for you to learn us fully. After what you have done for the Na'vi already, no one minds giving you all the time you need. "

He faced forward again and was quiet for a minute, gathering his thoughts. "I never planned on being a leader, never wanted to be one. I saw too many tin-plated dictators, too many who were willing to sacrifice everyone under their command to achieve the objective. Too many guys who became drunk on power and turned into monsters their own mothers wouldn't recognize."

Jake turned to his mate with concern naked in his eyes. "I don't want to be like that, Neytiri. I don't want to turn into that. I'd rather be a guy that people can walk up to and say 'Hey, can we get a drink and talk?' I don't want people looking at me from twenty feet away like I'm some legendary being or something. That's not me. That's not who I am."

Neytiri paused in her massage and let her hand rest comfortingly on his shoulder. You already are a legend, my mate, she thought to herself. Out loud she said, "Be who you are, Jake. No one is asking you to change. Eywa brought you here because of who you are, not because of what you might become."

He turned back and sighed as she started massaging his back. She spoke softly, "An'nai and Tiri told me and mother that the people speak of you very favorably. They are pleased that you talk with so many Omaticaya, that you are honestly interested in the things that the people do."

Jake turned to look at her again, "They are?"

Neytiri nodded decisively. "Everyone sees how hard you are working, and they respect you for it. An'nai said to me that one person told her that she was happy that Eywa had sent the Omaticaya such a caring man to be Olo'eyctan."

He turned forwards again, and she was pleased to feel tension leaving his body as he exhaled. "Jake, you have many years ahead of you to learn the Na'vi. Pushing yourself too hard will not do the People any good, and will only exhaust you without reason. It will all come, in time. Be the man you wish to be, and leave the rest in Eywa's hands."

He closed his eyes and let himself relax. Neytiri soon felt exhaustion catch up with Jake as he went nearly limp under her touch. She pulled gently on his shoulders until he leaned back against her, all but asleep, and cradled him in her arms so that she could hold him all night.