Chapter Nine: Gifts and Blessings
"Let's see. There are mysterious pirates." Aang held up a finger. "Tsunamis, spirits, earthquakes, rebuilding the Air Nation, and the mess in the Fire Nation." Aang counted these off on his fingers. "Did I forget any?"
Katara walked beside him. "I know there's a lot of stuff going on in the world, but with you as the Avatar, we'll get through this. You have everything you already need to deal with this." She put her arm around him and pressed her cheek to his. They crossed an ice bridge "We may have only come for the wedding, but we've helped rebuild the North Pole. And you closed a Spirit World opening. What if you weren't here and someone else stumbled in?"
"I know." Aang sighed. "But I keep feeling as if I'm gonna need to add to Sokka's old to-do list to keep track of everything."
"Don't say that too loudly. He might actually hear you."
Aang smiled. It was rumored Sokka still had his massive to-do list from their trip through the Fire Nation, ready to unroll at any time. Katara and Aang continued along the canal. Gran-Gran and Pakku's wedding was tonight, so Aang and Katara were going to help with the preparations. It was early morning and the streets were empty. Everyone was either sleeping or already helping with the wedding. Aang and Katara walked with their arms around each other. Katara heard Aang whisper something.
"Did you say something?"
"Sorry, just thinking out loud."
"What were you thinking?"
"About what you said, how I have everything I need to get through this." Aang looked at her. "And you're right. I have you."
Aang kissed Katara beside her mouth. She flushed from surprise, but when Aang kissed Katara on the lips she kissed him back. Katara held Aang's face as they put their foreheads together. Their excited breaths came out in clouds. They continued kissing, silently taking each other in. Neither of them noticed the other couple coming down the canal.
"What are you doing to my sister?"
"Sokka!" Katara and Aang separated. Sokka looked stunned. Suki stood behind him.
"W-what are you two doing?" Sokka stammered, "G-Gran-Gran. Looking for you. But—but what are you two doing?!"
Aang was too stunned and embarrassed to say anything, but Katara spoke. "I don't know, spending time with my boyfriend?"
"Boyfriend?" Sokka squeaked.
"Yes."
"How? When?"
"Katara and Aang have been dating since Ba Sing Se," Suki answered. "And I think they make a cute couple." She smiled. Sokka's mouth hung open.
"Don't tell me you're that clueless," Katara said.
"No," Sokka replied, "I just wouldn't expect you and Aang—what are you two doing together?" He wagged a finger. "If you two are touching or doing anything inna--"
"Shut up, Sokka." Katara smacked her brother's hand away.
"No busy fingers?" Suki grinned. "Isn't that a bit hypocritical?"
"Suki." Sokka blushed. Aang gave a snort of laughter and Katara bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"What?" Suki said, "It's true. And you said if Katara had to date anyone, you'd want it to be Aang."
"Suki, I told you that in private!"
Aang spoke. "You said that?"
"Yeah." Sokka sighed and hung his head.
"Oh, Sokka." Katara could see how hard it was for her over-protective brother to admit that. "I'm glad you approve." She hugged him. Even though Katara would have dated Aang whether Sokka gave his blessing or not, she was glad her brother had approved.
"Although this doesn't mean I approve of any shenanigans."
"Shenanigans?" Aang said. "Never."
They separated. Katara went with Suki to where the women were. Aang and Sokka went in another direction. Suki led Katara to a small igloo. Noise came from inside. Women were everywhere. They were cooking, talking, and bustling about to prepare for the wedding reception. Katara and Suki found Gran-Gran in a side room. The older woman was trying on some of her clothes for tonight and talking to Yugoda and a few other women. Gran-Gran was doing most of the talking.
Katara smiled. Since returning to the North Pole, Gran-Gran was happier than Katara had ever seen her. Katara knew why. The older woman had been lonely. Gran-Gran rarely spoke or smiled, doing so even less after her daughter's death. Katara had always wondered her stern grandmother could have a vivacious daughter like Kya. Katara now knew it was because Gran-Gran had been like her mother. Katara could tell. Kya had told the best stories; anything would have reminded Kya of a story she could tell. She had told the best scary stories. Gran-Gran was the same way. She had only used to tell of the Avatar, but now Katara liked hearing about her younger days.
Katara and Suki were going to wait until Gran-Gran was done talking, but Gran-Gran called them over. They greeted each other. The two girls asked how they could help, and Gran-Gran told them help was needed in the kitchen. As Katara was about to go with Suki, Gran-Gran asked Katara if she could hand her a bracelet that lay nearby. Katara did.
Gran-Gran put on the bracelet and inspected herself. She noticed her granddaughter's bothered expression in the mirror. "What's wrong, my little waterbender?"
"Nothing," Katara began, but under Gran-Gran's gaze continued. "I think it's great you and Master Pakku are getting, but why are you marrying him now when you didn't want to before?"
The woman turned to look at Katara. "I've always like Pakku, but I hated life here. I put up with it for so long. But when my parents arranged my marriage to Pakku, it was too much; I wasn't ready for it, so I ran away. Didn't think twice. I certainly don't regret it."
Gran-Gran had already told Katara how she had a good life at the South Pole. She had loved Katara's grandfather and had given Kya a better life than she had. Gran-Gran's only regret was not leaving a letter for her parents or Pakku. It made Katara think of Aang's situation with the monks. Katara stood, saying nothing, as Gran-Gran continued.
"Live you life on your own terms," Gran-Gran said, "but I'm sure I told you that enough times when you were younger." Gran-Gran held up a pair of earrings she was supposed to wear tonight. She sighed. "Don't know why I'm supposed to wear these ugly things."
"I think they look fine," Katara said. She gave her grandmother a hug and went to help Suki.
Aang and Sokka walked in an awkward silence. Neither knew what to say. Sokka coughed and cleared his throat.
"Do you remember the time Katara had us visit Madame Fuu, that fortuneteller?" Sokka asked.
"You mean Madame Wu?" Aang corrected. He remembered rescuing Madame Wu's town from an erupting volcano. He also remembered his attempts to woo Katara. Aang wondered where Sokka was going with this.
"Mu, Chu, it doesn't matter." Sokka waved his hand and continued. "I remember you asking me for advice on women, but you weren't talking about Meng, were you?"
"Meng?" Aang wrinkled his face and scratched his head in concentration. He could not remember who Meng was. Then he remembered. "You mean the girl with the hair?"
"Yep."
Aang answered apprehensively. "No, I wasn't talking about her." Now Sokka knew he had been asking about Katara.
"Thought so."
Nothing more was said until the boys made it to the place where the men were getting ready. They were turned away as no help was needed, and Sokka and Aang already had their clothes. Sokka waved his arms and sputtered. What were they supposed to do now? Aang remembered the shamans saying they had something to give him before he and Katara left tomorrow. So, he and Sokka went to the temple. One of the hooded, female shamans greeted the boys and took them inside. The shamans had been expecting Aang.
Inside, four shamans tended a crimson fire in the center of the room. Each one chanted and tossed herbs into the fire. It changed color. Aang and Sokka were led past them. Aang admired the carvings in the ice of the temple's arched ceiling. The outlines of stars and other heavenly bodies could be seen. Aang wondered if the images were accurate, an actual map of the sky. Was this how the night sky looked on the winter solstice? He wondered this as the woman took him and Sokka into a tiny side room. It was a storeroom. The shelves were stocked with herbs and drugs sealed in jars or wrapped in waterproof seal blubber. A preparation table stood along one wall. Sokka examined labels and Aang resisted the urge to sneeze. The shaman took a small, earthen pot off a shelf and handed in ceremoniously to Aang.
"Avatar Aang," the woman began, as Aang peeked into the pot and made a face. "We have wanted to give you this since the equinox, when your friend journeyed into the Spirit World. Does your friend still suffer from headaches?"
Aang nodded and closed the lid on the waxy, cream-colored substance. Katara came down with headaches daily.
"Well, this is to help with that. Burn some of this for your friend when she begins to feel faint, and she should be fine." The shaman gave a small smile. "And do not look so sad, Avatar. Our gift may not look like much, but it is an auspicious sign." When Sokka asked how a jar of earwax could bring good fortune, the woman explained.
The jar Aang had been given, along with some of the other drugs, had been a recent gift from the Fire Nation. Only the Fire Nation had the ingredients and the knowledge to make them, but these items had become rare during the war. If the nations could reestablish trade, it would benefit everyone (especially the Water Tribe where common crops, like rice and tea, were prized). It was a step in the right direction. It was something good that had come out of the mess in the world.
Aang remembered something Monk Gyatso told him about the Western Air Temple. The sisters there had kept bees. Their honey had been world-renowned, and every year the Fire Lord would receive a small pot as a birthday gift. Aang wondered if one day the temple would have beekeeping inhabitants again. Or even inhabitants. Aang told himself the temple would. He would make sure of it.
Aang bowed to the shaman. "Thank you for this gift. I'm sure it is a sign of good things to come." The shaman bowed and Aang and Sokka left the temple.
The wedding was held in the Spirit Oasis. Katara stood with Aang, Suki, and the rest of her family. Pakku's guests were the handsome, young waterbender and his wife. Everyone waited anxiously in the tropical, night air. Gran-Gran waited alone in front of the tall, blue doorframe beside the koi pond. Her bangles, earrings, and the ornaments in her white hair glittered. She wore a slitted, purple dress with pants underneath. Glancing around, Katara's gaze caught Aang's. She smiled. He squeezed her hand and smiled back.
The door to the Spirit Oasis opened. A shaman entered. Pakku came behind in his wedding furs. Everyone waited in excited silence as the men moved to join Gran-Gran.
"With the blessing of the Moon, under his sky," the shaman began, "let the man give his final gift, himself. Let the circle be complete, let the words be spoken."
Gran-Gran and Pakku clasped hands. The guests did the same. Katara held Aang's, Sokka held Suki's, and Hakoda placed a hand on his son and daughter's shoulder. Gran-Gran and Pakku said the traditional vows. They smiled at each other and seemed to radiate happiness. Katara wanted to look the same at her wedding. After the vows, Gran-Gran and Pakku kissed each other and continued holding hands as they left the oasis. The guests followed.
"To the after party!" the young waterbender's wife called.
Only the immediate friends and family attended the wedding, but everyone celebrated afterwards. Weddings were a community event. Gran-Gran and Pakku led the growing procession through the city. People came out, cheering, carrying gifts, and congratulating the couple, and attached themselves to the wedding party. Aang and Katara were swimming in a sea of people. The crowd was led to a series of massive tents outside the city.
Aang and Katara's group was swept into one. Tables and lanterns were arranged along the tent walls. The tables were laden with steaming dishes. All had been cooked by members of the community. Gran-Gran and Pakku took a table by themselves. Aang plopped into a spot and Katara sat beside him. Sokka, Suki, and Hakoda joined them. For the past week every night had been a party, so the group knew what to do. They served themselves and began talking and eating.
"Mmmm." Sokka talked with his mouth full. "Did you try the sea brine squid Yugoda made? Delicious!" He chewed contentedly.
"Sounds nasty," Katara replied as Aang stuck out his tongue in disgust.
"Let me try some," Suki said. Sokka scooped some up with his chopsticks and fed it to her. "Salty, but surprisingly delicious."
This prompted Sokka to continue feeding his girlfriend. Sokka and Suki sighed, ate, and gazed at each other romantically. Hakoda was too busy talking to Bato to notice. Aang and Katara talked.
"Wasn't the wedding great?" Aang poured himself a drink. "I've always loved going to weddings."
"It was wonderful," Katara replied. "Even though this was the first wedding I've ever been to."
"For real?"
Katara nodded. "But the whole thing, the vows, the engagement necklace, it was so nice. It makes me think," Katara paused. "Well it kinda made me think about if—if I were to possibly get married someday." She quickly added, "When I'm older of course."
"Of course."
"I mean I'm much too young," Katara said, "but it's nice. It's—it's--" She was thinking of the right word. She did not want to sound silly or embarrass herself further. Katara already felt foolish for what she had said to Aang.
"Romantic?" Aang tried.
"Yes, romantic."
"Yeah," Aang began. "That's why I like weddings, too. But I especially love the dancing."
Katara smiled. She got the hint. Instead of saying anymore and embarrassing herself, Katara got up to dance with Aang. A few other couples were dancing to the drum beats. Katara and Aang danced and laughed with each other. Later, Sokka and Suki began to dance wildly. Throughout the night, everyone danced, switching partners and having fun. Aang and Katara were going to leave tomorrow, but they took advantage of the time they had left at the North Pole.
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me.
This chapter took a longer time to write than I thought it would, between school and a bit of writer's block. But I hope you enjoyed Aang and Katara's last chapter at the North Pole.
