The feast began at dusk and continued till dawn.
Portions of the kill were used but the other half was put away to be stored. The feast was held outside due to the large numbers.
Katara was seated at the high table next to Sokka. Nobles and good warriors also sat at the hightable, amongst them Tonrar. Just bellow at one of the many tables facing vertically sat Aang. Usually he'd be seated at the high table but seen as he technically wasn't in the North Pole, he dressed his head in a cap to cover his arrow and conversed with the commoners he rarely got to have a normal conversation with.
Katara watched affectionately as he talked animatedly with a little girl with wild black hair. The little girl giggled as Aang floated bubbles of water around and she tried to catch them.
"Katara," her brother poked her with a fork.
"Ow Sokka!" Sokka's eyebrow rose at her and he tried to suppress his grin.
]"Nothing, but I've caught wind from the big wolf that your skipping town soon with a certain airbender." He whispered.
Katara smiled, "Yes?" Sokka was about to continue when Arnook called order.
They looked over to see Chief Arnook standing holding his goblet high in the air. "We are the people of the water and moon." He began.
"They say we are crazy for living at the poles, but I wouldn't have it any other way."
Cheers and applause met him.
"This year, the annual hunt was held for the fifth time in nearly sixty years, in the last week, boys became men and men became warriors."
"We hold this feast to celebrate the spirts of the moon and water as well as the Avatar and all those who aided him, for ending the war so we may live in peace and so our tribes may be as one again." The place echoed loudly with applause and cheers.
She looked down and blushed as her eyes connected with Aang's. She winked and he grinned. Katara didn't notice him watching, but Tonrar was watching her wink and smile at the strange fellow.
Jealously boiled in his stomach, his want for her increased every time he looked at her face, he not only wanted her body, but her status as well. Marrying the daughter of chief Hakoda would make him second in line to be chief of the Southern Tribe, and that brother of her's wouldn't be a problem to get rid off. Plus, there was her well-known fame and association with the Firelord, the Earth King and Avatar.
"Master Katara." A serving girl handed her three sealed letters.
She noticed Sokka receiving two also.
Katara looked at the first one written across the front the symbols of the four elements and her name, and placed aside, those were for Aang. She looked at the first one addressed to her, it was from Zuko, the second was from the white lotus.
She opened the one from Zuko and sighed, it was the letter about the world meeting to discuss restoration movement. She opened the white lotus one and read, it too was about the same meeting.
"Wow..." Sokka said beside her. Aang was watching her intensely as she read the letters. She smiled at him and subtly held up his.
He rolled his eyes and took a long drink of what she knew was water. She giggled at his dramatics.
After the third course traditional dancing ensued. Katara stood with Sokka and joined the large group around the bonfire. Aang came to stand on her other side and they joined hands making a large circle. The music was mostly drums and sounded extremely tribal to Aang. "Do you know how to dance traditional water tribe dances?" Katara asked.
Aang shrugged, "A little."
Katara giggled, "Just watch me, you'll be fine." Aang watched her feet weaving intensely before he copied her movements easily.
They speed increased and they moved faster. As that song ended and the next one began Katara faced Aang took his hands in hers, "This is more of a freestyle dance." Aang guided her through steps, unknowingly flicking back and forth between fire nation, earth kingdom and water tribe dancing.
Aang lifted her into the air by her waist and she laughed. As he brought her back to her feet she grinned up at him.
Tonrar tapped Aang on the shoulder, "I'm sorry, I don't appear to know you as head of security I know everyone and you weren't with the hunt and you weren't here before we left." Aang smiled politely at him, "I'm Lee I'm from the Earth Kingdom." Tonrar looked down at his arms around Katara's waist and envy flashed in his blue eyes.
"Well I don't know how you do it in the Earth Kingdom, but here we don't touch women inappropriately in public."
Aang nodded, "I do apologise, forgive me Master Katara if I caused offence." He removed his hands and bowed.
Katara wanted to hit Tonrar.
"Not at all Master Lee, no offence caused." Katara answered politely
"So how long are you staying Lee?" Tonrar asked rudely.
Aang answered, "Just till tomorrow, then I will be escorting Master Katara to Yu Dao."
Tonrar registered that fact and stared in surprise, "What?"
Aang played Tonrar like a fool, "Master Katara and I are leaving tomorrow for Yu Dao to meet with Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang, we're assisting with the Harmony Restoration movement, you may want to get your ears checked Tonrar."
Tonrar could do nothing but stare before blustering, "An unmarried woman should not be travelling alone with a man. It's dishonourable."
"Oh don't worry about Master Katara with me, I've been escorting her throughout the world for a long time and we're just close friends."
Tonrar stared at Katara for a few more minutes before recomposing himself, "Well, it is extremely inappropriate, your honour and reputation most certainly must be questioned, no man will marry a used woman." He spat the word used.
Aang standing much taller than Tonrar, glared him down.
"You dare question the honour of Katara and myself?"
"I do Lee." Tonrar fired back.
Aang growled, "She is more honourable and impeccable than you shall ever be, and not only did she assist the avatar in saving the world at just fourteen years old she mastered water bending in a month. You will never be deserving of such a great woman."
"Even great women can fall from grace."
Aang breathed heavily for a moment glaring at him before allowing his eyes to glow momentarily. Tonrar stared in shock before looking back and forth between them before hurrying and away.
Katara looked up at Aang smirking, Aang grinned down at her mischievously. "So... Lee."
Aang laughed and caught her hands, "Dance with me Katara!" She laughed and allowed herself to be pulled into Aang's dancing frenzy.
After dancing till their feet hurt Aang guided Katara away and back towards the palace. When they well enough away Katara laced her hand into Aang's and leaned into his side. Aang returned the gesture. In their room Katara handed him his letters, "This are for you, I'm assuming their about the meetings." Aang flopped back onto the bed and began reading.
He groaned, "The meeting's in a week." Katara sighed as she hung her parka over the desk chair. She chucked her own letters into the pile of paperwork and crawled onto the bed. Aang welcomed her, chucking his letters onto the floor and removed his parka. Underneath he wore his air nomad beads but wore water tribe clothes.
"Taken a liking to the blue?" She teased. Aang stood and posed, "It's a lot warmer than air nomad clothes." Katara laughed and rolled onto her back.
Aang removed his shirt, and flexed his muscles. Katara laughed harder but also couldn't take her eyes off him. Aang grinned and crawled on top of her and kissed her passionately. Katara responded eagerly and ran her hands down his chest. Aang shivered. Aang pushed them further up the bed and leant on his elbow.
He gazed down at Katara running his fingers over covered stomach. Katara stroked his cheek bone with her thumb. "So Lee, I thought we were just friends." She smirked.
Aang growled, "Friends with benefits." Katara laughed softy as his lips found hers. His hand began undoing the robe covering the dress. Katara sighed as the fabric fell away and his hand found her breast.
Aang sat up suddenly and completely unclothed her. Katara didn't mind but she was slightly confused as he wasn't removing the rest of his. Katara stared up at him, her arms crossed and looked at him questioningly. He leant up against the headboard and pulled her into his lap, securing an arm around her middle.
He leant in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, his right hand trailed up and down her thigh. "Aang, what are you doing?"
He chuckled, sending shivers and nerves through her body.
"As much as I like knowing that I'm married to a beautiful woman who is desired by many, I didn't like that jerk threatening you or coming onto you, demanding your hand."
Katara knew how to respond, "Oh?"
Aang looked her in the eye, "Jealousy is not usually something that happens to me, but when it comes to you..." She felt his finger's trailing further up her leg.
Katara sighed heavily. "Really?"
Aang grinned devilishly and touched her. Katara gasped and squirmed. Aang wrapped his leg around hers to keep her legs parted and secured his hold around her middle.
His fingers began in circles. Katara's breathing became hitched and she groaned. "I can be a jealous man Katara."
His finger's slipped into her. She gasped again and her yelp turned into a groan as he began to move in and out. "Can...You?" His finger hooked and found her spot. Her body jerked and Aang grinned triumphantly. "Yes." His breath tickled skin.
His fingers worked tirelessly in her lower region. Katara groaned, sighs turned cries of pleasure, her hips instinctively began moving with him. He pumped her faster, her breathing was mere gasps now and her back was arched. Aang kissed her breast resulting in another moan that turned into a groan.
Katara's hands fisted in the sheets and as his finger's found that spot again she jerked. As she neared, Aang could feel her tightening around him. He pumped faster still and watched as her eyes crossed and she released with a groan and cry. He kept going, getting slower and slower as she pulsed around him. She her breathing was still heavy and she looked at him, "You..." was all she could manage.
Aang removed his hand and grinned, "I feel better now that I've seen you so vulnerable and so completely mine."
Katara's fingers began to trail the band of his pants. "Aang." She breathed.
His finger's curled around her wrist, "Yes?" he whispered, his voice husky.
She watched as his eyes closed as her hands travelled over him. He sighed heavily. "Aang." She prompted again.
He opened his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. "Yes Katara?" His voice was deeper.
Katara only had to raise her eyebrows and he allowed her to flip them over so she straddled his waist. Aang's hands came to rest on the side of her thighs. Katara smoothed her hands over his chest and placed a kiss just above the waist band of his pants. Aang shivered. Katara looked up at him and grinned. She tugged at the fabric and Aang assisted in removing his last items of clothing.
She looked at what was revealed and glanced at Aang as he fingers drifted closer. Aang's breathing picked up with anticipation. Katara's hand at the last second detoured to his hip. Aang groaned loudly, Katara smiled sweetly at him as she trailed her fingernails up and down his hips.
"Katara," his voice was rough. Katara drifted her hand back to him and lightly began to tease. Aang's head fell back. She lowered her lips and began to kiss him.
His groans became louder, his back arched and he began to thrust into her mouth. She sucked lightly earning a low cry. Katara quickened her pace, her teeth lightly gliding over him. Aang felt himself reaching his climax, he groaned loudly again, Katara sucked one last time from bottom to top and he came.
As he came down, she crawled up and lay flat on his chest, her chin resting on her crossed arms. Aang's shaking thumb stroked her cheek bone, his breathing heavy. "You..." Katara traced circles on his collar bone. "Me." She whispered and looked back at him.