Destiny Diverted
Disclaimer: Avatar:the Last Airbender duly belongs to Bryke. The Lord of the Rings belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. The movies result from the vision of Peter Jackson. No profit is made from this story other than the sheer gratification of reviews. And there is no way in Hell that I can write even a fraction as well as J.R.R. Tolkien, so no very high expectations of writing quality, please.
NOTE: Now, a Katara-centric chapter, because I have been seriously neglecting her. Zuko has been stealing the spotlight so much in this story but it's about both of their destinies being altered so Katara deserves her time.
One of the earliest ideas for this story was having Katara remain unconscious in the Houses of Healing. I felt that keeping Zuko in an angst-coma was such a common theme in most of my stories (Sojourn, Tempests, Error) and so I decided to switch it this time. I think it still works. Katara's not in an angst-coma though, she's just been touched by the Black Breath from the Nazgûl.
Now, I love the movies to death but my biggest peeve with Peter Jackson was downplaying the Faramir/Eowyn relationship. If not for some short, SHORT scenes (beautiful but short) in the Extended Edition, it looks like they had no relationship at all. And all the screen time devoted to Aragorn/Arwen. (Yes, I know, he is the King and she's an Elf, they're the Alpha couple). But STILL, their story was in the Appendices while there was a whole CHAPTER in the book dedicated to Faramir/Eowyn. (And knowing Tolkien, there were such beautiful descriptions and dialogue).
Sorry for the rant but I ship that couple fiercely and they're totally CANON too. Anyway, this is the part where I deviate from the movie and give Faramir and Eowyn the attention they deserve. With my poor writing, I won't be able to do them much credit but at least they will have their place in my LOTR story. (It goes without saying that my main reference for scenes and dialogue here is the book. There is a song in here that is from the book so I am not taking any credit for the lovely lyrics.)
Sorry again for the rant, and hope you enjoy this second-to-the last chapter. Updates will be coming almost daily from now on. Only an epilogue after the next chapter and I can get some more sleep.
CHAPTER NINE
Every morning all of Gondor looked to the east, waiting anxiously for news from the host that had taken the road to the Black Gate. No messenger had returned and no rumor had spread since the king and his host left for the darkness of the mountains. Those who dwelled in Gondor had no choice but to wait in dreadfully suspense.
Among those who looked out over the walls eastward was Katara, who had woken up only hours after Zuko had bid her farewell. She had been frustrated at having missed him but she had not been allowed to leave the sanctuary of the Houses of Healing which of course only added to her exasperation.
As she gazed into the distance, trying to imagine where Zuko and the others had gone, certain words began to echo in her memory. There was very little she could remember about her prolonged slumber. It had been a long, dreamless sleep and one that she was relieved to be out of.
But she remembered distinctly hearing Zuko's voice during her sleep although the words were no longer clear to her once she awakened. Every now and then, she would recall snippets of his speeches to her but they were not always very coherent.
She was determined to be able to remember everything that he had told her so that she would also know how to react to him once he returned. She was certain he would because one of the few things she remembered hearing from him was his promise to come back to her.
She had noticed the dagger by her side right away and she had been certain that it was he who had left it there.
"Never give up without a fight," the inscription read, and she thought that it fit Zuko very well. She would unsheathe the blade every time she thought of its owner, and it had become very precious to her.
"You're always going off to do things all alone," she thought sadly, although she realized that in this instance, he was also fighting for her, "I wish that I was fighting by your side."
She missed him terribly and had so much she wanted to tell him.
As soon as she was able to walk around, a tall man of Gondor presented himself to her.
"My name is Faramir, my lady Katara," the gentle soldier introduced himself, "and I have heard so many wonderful things about you from Lord Zuko."
"You're a friend of Zuko?" she asked, rather sheepishly since it was already quite obvious. She was still recovering from the sleep and did not have all her wits about her.
But the tall man was kind and understanding. He smiled at her gently and Katara felt comforted by his presence. His clear sight perceived that she was troubled and about whom it was not a challenge to guess.
"He cares a great deal about you," Faramir told her, "and he would not have you worrying too much over him. He has entrusted me with making sure that you receive every comfort you desire."
"Thank you," Katara replied timidly.
Katara looked at him curiously and then smiled gratefully. There wasn't really anything that she needed in her current state, and the one thing she wanted was to see Zuko, and she knew that that wish was not to be granted yet.
But she was glad to have made another new friend in Middle-Earth, for all those she had met so far had proven to be among the best people she had ever encountered. She was not going to complain about her current state, instead she would do as she was bidden – wait patiently for Zuko's return.
She spoke more with Faramir and learned the details of the situation, who had ridden to the Morgul Vale, why they had done so. The waterbender understood the gravity of the situation and knew that there was very little hope for them all, but she was not about to let the darkness get the better of her.
She had always believed that things would somehow work out and so far, such faith in life and in goodness had not failed her.
As Katara made more friends among the people in the Houses of Healing, she also learned more about Faramir. She found out that he was the Steward of the City and that he was a brave warrior who had suffered much in the recent battles.
She was also glad to hear that Lady Eowyn was being care for in those houses although the shieldmaiden of Rohan had yet to awaken from her deep slumber. But at least, Katara would have another friend to talk to soon enough.
In the meantime, the waterbender was not idle. She realized that though she could not participate in the battle, she was still in a position to maximize her powers. Having regained her strength, she became determined to be as much help as she could in taking care of all those who were ailing and injured.
How fitting for her to spend her days in the Houses of Healing! And all the healers of Gondor were grateful for her support. They marveled at her ability to cure and ease pain with only some water in her hands.
Katara was always glad to be of use to her fellowmen and getting to work as a healer would take her mind off worrisome thoughts. But as the days passed, she continued to try and remember all the words that Zuko had spoken to her and little by little, the haze of sleep was clearing and parts of his messages and stories were at last reaching her.
She pondered on these things greatly and was already in the process of preparing adequate replies for all that he had avowed. The time she had been given away from the chaos of the battlefield was the opportunity for her to sort out her feelings for the first time since she had arrived in Middle-Earth. She had been so busy down the road from fighting at Helm's Deep and destroying the fleet of Sauron's corsair ships.
Katara wished she could consult Gandalf about all this but she knew that the white wizard had ridden with Aragorn and the others. She was comforted by the fact that Zuko was among the greatest warriors in that world. They would never abandon him in time of need.
Every now and then she would take a break from her healing duties and she would spend this time walking pensively in the gardens of the Houses of Healing. She would gaze towards the east, trying to imagine what Zuko would be doing, trying to catch glimpses of the flames and small explosions that he was sure to employ during the battle. But all was obscured by a great shadow, as if to exasperate further all those who were looking there for hope.
She noticed that Faramir frequented the gardens as well, and for all his kind smiles, she could see that his heart was troubled. For he was a man with keen sight, who knew more of the darkness than she, and yet, how he managed to keep calm in the face of impending doom was a marvel to her.
He seemed lonely, though, and even when she joined him in conversations and such, she knew that this would not be enough. She wondered what she could do for someone whom both she and Zuko thought highly of.
The answer came one day while Katara was strolling in the gardens. She heard Faramir speaking to someone and upon moving close to hear better, Katara recognized the voice to be Eowyn's. She was about to join them when she decided against it. There was something about their conversation that suggested she leave them alone for a bit.
"If you will stay in this house in our care, lady, and take your rest," Katara heard Faramir saying, "then you shall walk in this garden in the sun, as you will, and you shall look east, whither all our hopes have gone."
The waterbender knew this well, for she often did the same thing. Eowyn would learn that Faramir was a good companion to have when one was feeling anxious about the future. His presence was always a comfort and a pleasure.
"And here you will find me, walking and waiting, and also looking east," he continued, "it would ease my care, if you would speak to me, or walk at whiles with me."
"He is lonely after all," Katara thought and she craned her neck to hear how Eowyn would react.
"How should I ease your care, my lord?" Katara heard the shieldmaiden reply, "and I do not desire the speech of living men."
The moment Katara heard Faramir's reason for his request and his earnest praise of Eowyn's beauty, the waterbender grinned.
Katara felt excited about this meeting between two good friends and she knew she would have yet another thing to keep her occupied during her sojourn with the healers. All of a sudden, the waterbender felt her age again and had to struggle to suppress a girlish giggle.
Of course, Eowyn's response was not exactly encouraging but Katara felt confident that the shieldmaiden would open her heart somehow. Eowyn had always been exceedingly serious and was still undoubtedly brooding over the fact that she had been left behind again.
The waterbender knew the feeling though she was not quite as morose.
Katara now felt it her duty to somehow bring light and joy into the hearts of those two brave people who were sadder than they let on.
When Eowyn took her leave of Faramir, Katara felt that she ought to greet her friend. After all, the waterbender had been meaning to talk to the shieldmaiden for quite some time. Eowyn smiled brightly when she saw the waterbender and they embraced each other affectionately.
"It's good to see you up and about again," Katara told her friend.
"I am not as healed as I ought to be," Eowyn replied gravely, "my body, save for my left arm, has regained its strength, but my heart is troubled and a shadow hangs over me still. I cannot rest."
"We can't have that, can we?" Katara told her reassuringly, "you and I shall spend a lot of time together so that we can get rid of any influence the darkness might still have on you."
"I thank you," Eowyn answered with a smile, "I suppose now we shall have the time and opportunity to talk."
"I can promise you that we will never run out of things to talk about," Katara said cheerfully, "we must wait patiently for our loved ones to return here safely, but in the meantime, we must talk of happier things, to keep our minds away from all fear."
And so the two women spent the days together, laughing as much as they could while still in the confines of the Houses of Healing. Katara tried her best to comfort her friend during those precious hours.
But the waterbender also had another, sly motive for constantly speaking to Eowyn. Katara had spoken to Faramir on several occasions and gauged his impression of the shieldmaiden. The more she observed them together, the more the waterbender was determined to bring them together.
Katara had observed that the young captain of Gondor was clearly smitten by Eowyn although he was too much of a gentleman to impose himself upon her. Eowyn was determined to be grave and silent although Katara sensed that the lady of Rohan was also growing fond of her new friend.
Katara knew that Eowyn was still trying to get over her infatuation with Aragorn. The waterbender was certain that the king of Gondor had not left Eowyn in doubt as to where she stood with him, although Katara was not sure if Eowyn knew about Arwen and Aragorn.
She did not feel like it was her position to share such information so she avoided mentioning Aragorn to Eowyn as much as possible. Instead, Katara dwelled as much as she could on Faramir's excellent qualities.
At one point, the waterbender had been so caught up in praising Faramir that Eowyn became suspicious.
"You seem to be quite fond of Lord Faramir," Eowyn remarked to Katara one day.
"Who wouldn't be?" Katara began, "he's brave, wise, and kind. And he's also a very able fighter."
"I do not dispute any of those qualities," Eowyn agreed, "for indeed Lord Faramir is a fine man and one of the best in Gondor, I believe."
Katara was feeling triumphant though she struggled to hide it. Was her plan working at last?
"But am I to believe that Lord Zuko no longer holds a favored place in your heart?" Eowyn asked innocently enough.
It seemed like the shieldmaiden of Rohan knew more of Katara's heart than the latter did herself, just like Katara knew more of Eowyn's heart as well.
The waterbender stared at her friend in astonishment, and Katara saw how her plan had backfired on her so unexpectedly.
"No, no, of course not," Katara protested, "Lord Faramir is a good friend of Zuko's and of mine as well. But there is no way that anyone can replace Zuko in my heart!"
Having blurted this out, Katara realized the gravity of such a declaration and for a few moments she had to recollect herself. It was the first time she had said something about her feelings for Zuko out loud even if she had already been thinking about him for quite some time.
The waterbender blushed in embarrassment at her impulsiveness although a certain amount of relief accompanied such an awkward declaration. At that moment, in trying to make Eowyn know her heart, Katara realized the content of her own.
"You need not be ashamed of your feelings, Katara," Eowyn comforted her with a smile, "for I have no doubt that the object of your affections returns them."
Katara blushed again at this and thanked her friend. The waterbender was also quite surprised at how Eowyn knew so much about Zuko. But Katara figured that she was not the only keen observer in Middle-Earth.
No doubt Gandalf, Aragorn, and the others had noticed what was going on long before either she or Zuko had realized anything.
Katara began to pace back and forth in the garden restlessly while Eowyn watched in slight amusement.
"It seems so strange to finally admit all this out loud," Katara confided in her friend, "and now that I have done so, it all seems so simple. And yet, everything is more complicated than ever too. How am I going to explain all this to my friends once we go back to our world? I still don't know what to say to him when he returns here."
"I think repeating what you just told me would suffice," Eowyn advised, "I don't think he is completely unaware of your affections, however much you've tried to hide it in the past."
"I suppose you're right," Katara said with a sigh, "it has taken all these trials and battles for us to realize how much we mean to each other. And yet, had we not come to Middle-Earth, none of this might have happened. So, in a way, I'm grateful for all that we have suffered, because we have gained so much more from this."
Katara looked at Eowyn then, and saw the mingled concern and sadness in her pale face. The waterbender took Eowyn's right hand in hers.
"But the same holds true for you too, you know," Katara told Eowyn, "you must not let yourself be burdened by so much darkness and sorrow. Have faith that something infinitely more precious than all of the things you have lost shall emerge from all this pain."
Eowyn's eyes grew moist as she listened to such words.
"I would like to believe that," she whispered softly, "but it is not so simple."
"Nothing worth having ever is," Katara replied earnestly.
And the two women spoke no more of emotional turmoil or dark times, but they sat in the garden in companionable silence, gazing at the east.
In the next few days, Katara gave up her campaign to bring Faramir and Eowyn together. Not only was she more focused now on the revelations of her own feelings but more work had to be done in the Houses of Healing and she found herself too engrossed in healing to think up new schemes to further recommend Faramir to Eowyn.
Ironically, Katara's preoccupation gave Eowyn more opportunities to spend time with the Steward of Gondor. In the mornings, the shieldmaiden, clad all in white, would walk by the walls, and there she would meet the steward and they would gaze towards the east together.
Sometimes, they would speak and sometimes they would simply enjoy each other's company in silence. There was still no news from the front and all people were growing worried. The weather wasn't helping at all because chill winds were blowing towards the city and the sky was dark and dreary.
But as they stood together, in a cold, dark hour, awaiting their doom, Faramir felt that he would not have chosen to be anywhere else. In those painfully still moments, when the world seemed to have halted in its turning and the sky grew overcast with shadows, they stood together and unconsciously, their hands clasped.
It was thus that Katara found them as the waterbender took a break from her duties. She did not dare disturb the scene and so kept her distance. But she watched it with satisfaction.
She too had been bothered by the bleak weather of late and the silence from the troops. But she had faith in Zuko and constantly read the inscription on his dagger to remind her that he would never ever go back on his word.
And now, as she gazed upon the couple whom she had been trying so hard to bring together, Katara smiled, relieved that two wounded souls had found solace in one another even in such a dark time.
"I do not believe this darkness will endure," Faramir told Eowyn as she leaned on his shoulder and held his hand.
Then, something stirred in Katara at that moment and she too began to look towards the east. It was still dark but somehow, slowly, resolutely, a flicker of light as piercing through the shadow.
For some reason she could not explain, Katara felt her eyes grow moist and soon, tears of joy and relief were flowing down her cheeks.
"Did we win?" she asked of the sky, and when the sun shone through, she had her answer.
The streets rang with the sound of cries of jubilation, and soon a song of victory was being loudly sung. And even if Katara was not one of the people of Gondor, she found herself joining in and singing as the celebration began.
"Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor,
For the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever,
And the Dark Tower is thrown down,
Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West,
For your King shall come again,
And he shall dwell among you
All the days of your life
And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed
And he shall plant it in the high places
And the City shall be blessed.
Sing all ye people!"
After that day, there was a great hustle-bustle in Gondor and everyone was occupied with endless planning and preparation. Most of those who had been wounded in spirit were now completely healed and were eager to participate in the celebration and other activities in Gondor.
Faramir took up his authority as the Steward of the City and was soon busy with many important matters. His main duty now was to prepare the realm for the return of its king and he was performing this task with great diligence. Eowyn and Katara saw little of him as he went about the city, taking care of his numerous responsibilities.
Then, tidings arrived at last from the king and his hosts and everyone was relieved to hear that the captains were all on their way home.
Eomer sent word to his sister, summoning her to join him on the field of Cormallen. Katara likewise received a summons from Gandalf and Aragorn (who called her on behalf of Zuko, who was much too modest to impose upon her). The waterbender was only too glad to oblige and immediately began to prepare her departure.
It was as she had hoped. Things had worked out and now, she had only to contend with the apprehension of seeing Zuko again. But her joy and relief overpowered any of her inhibitions and she was eager to meet him again.
But even after all of that Katara still noticed Eowyn looking sad and grim, as she walked through the gardens. The waterbender also noticed that the shieldmaiden had refused her brother's call and seemed to have no intention of leaving the city.
"What troubles you, Eowyn, now when we must all be rejoicing?" Katara asked her friend in concern, although she had a good idea of the answer she was going to receive.
"I am happy, of course, at the outcome of the battle," the shieldmaiden replied timidly, "but though my brother calls for me to join him, I feel that I cannot, that I do not wish to leave this place. I feel rooted to the very ground on which I stand."
Katara smiled sympathetically at Eowyn and saw that the lady of Rohan had yet to admit to herself that she wished to stay because a certain steward of Gondor was not leaving the city.
The waterbender was torn between her eagerness to leave and her desire to see things resolved with Eowyn. The latter noticed the waterbender's distress and assured her that there was nothing to worry about.
"Please do not delay your journey to our friends on my account," Eowyn told her, "I know how much you would like to see Zuko again. So, go, and do not think of me."
"Well, I'm not going to be detained for much longer," Katara replied, "but there is one matter which I need to discuss with you before I go."
Eowyn raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. Katara shook her head softly but with a smile of amusement.
"Can you not see it or will you not?" Katara asked the lady, "you know why you do not want to leave this place, you are just too nervous to admit it."
Eowyn looked away gravely, and in slight embarrassment.
"What are you afraid of?" Katara asked Eowyn in concern and by the pained expression in the latter's eyes when she gazed at her friend, Katara understood the dilemma.
With a sigh, Katara knew it was time to reassure the lady of her beloved's affections. For all her ferocity in battle, Eowyn turned out to be just as nervous and as uncertain as any girl in love.
But Katara knew that this time around, there would be no heartbreak. And such joy coming at a time of victory for all was very fitting indeed.
"He loves you, Eowyn," Katara announced simply, "that I am absolutely certain of. I think he might have loved you from the very moment he laid eyes on you, even if you were still full of sorrow."
Eowyn stared at Katara in earnest and said nothing since she was listening intently to the waterbender's words.
"And you love him," Katara continued, "though it has been coming on so gradually that you hardly noticed. You were too mired in your grief. But now that there is no more reason to fear, you must embrace the love in your heart."
Eowyn smiled gratefully at her friend and Katara returned the gesture. The waterbender took Eowyn's hands in her own and squeezed them affectionately.
"You must allow yourselves to be happy now," Katara advised, "you both deserve it."
Eowyn nodded gratefully and Katara gave her an encouraging smile.
"But what am I to say to him?" the shieldmaiden whispered.
"I think you'll know when you see him again," was all Katara said in reply.
The two women embraced each other warmly and Eowyn wished Katara well on her journey. The waterbender promised that she would return soon, and expressed a hope that when she did, she would see Eowyn glowing with complete happiness.
As the waterbender took her leave, she nearly bumped into Faramir who was on his way to the gardens. The Warden of the Houses of Healing had been worried about Eowyn's continued state of sorrow and so had called the Steward to speak to her.
Faramir greeted Katara warmly and wished her well on her journey. Seeing him there, Katara decided to linger a little longer to see how things turned out.
"She's waiting for you," the waterbender told the steward with a wink, "you know what to do."
Faramir could not help but give a soft laugh at the waterbender's gesture and he thanked her for the encouragement. He then went in and resolutely approached the lady of Rohan, while Katara watched and listened discreetly. She was not about to miss such a crucial moment.
After asking Eowyn why she would not answer her brother's summons and giving her his guesses of the reasons why she refused, Faramir posed a burning question.
"Eowyn," he asked in earnest, "do you not love me or will you not?"
"I wished to be loved by another," she replied, "but I desire no man's pity."
Katara rolled her eyes and slapped her forehead at this and listened carefully to Faramir's answer. Luckily, he seemed to have prepared for this conversation for a long time and the words came easily to him now.
"I do not offer you my pity," he said, "for you are a lady high and valiant and have done great deeds that none shall ever forget, and you are a lady beautiful beyond all the words of the Elven tongue. And I love you."
Eowyn looked and listened carefully, and her heart became clearer to her as he continued. She no longer had any fear.
"Once I pitied your sorrow," he proceeded, "but now, even were you without sadness and the happiest Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Eowyn, do you not love me?"
The question was posed again, but this time a favorable answer was given. The shadow departed from Eowyn and she was finally open to the modest but blissful future that Faramir now offered her. He took her in his arms and kissed her in the sunlight, and all was well.
Katara smiled at the sight of two dear friends, together at last, and her heart full. Then, she turned quickly to leave so that she too could claim the happy future that awaited her beyond the walls.