AN: Anyone up for an Arranged Marriage AU? Anyone? /o\

Btw, the timelines have been changed...

Day 10- Freedom

When war nearly broke out one hundred years ago, the leaders of the Four Nations did not panic (publicly, in any case). They were proactive in coming up with a solution to avoid any potentially devastating fighting in the future. The Earth King suggested the idea of arranged marriages between the Four Nations. Strategically formed alliances seemed like the best possible solution to prevent war. Most agreed.

There was, however, a group of Water Tribe who refused. They would not allow their people to be forced into anything. These people left their homes in the north and traveled south seeking their own land. Trade with this newly established Southern Water Tribe was forbidden and they were left to fend for themselves.

The Air Nomads, who cared little for possessions or money, walked away from the treaty talks peacefully. If any of the other nations needed something the Nomads could give them, all they had to do was ask.

The remaining nations soon agreed, signing the treaty that would give them much needed trade, strengthening their economies, while sealing the fate of a select few of their young.

...

"I don't see why I have to get married," Toph whispered. She hated the idea of being trapped anymore than she already was. Tied down to anyone sounded like the worst possible future. What little freedom she had managed to steal for herself would be gone. "I thought we could simply ask the Air Nomads for whatever it is we wanted and they'd hand it over."

"Apparently, they have changed their minds in that regard."

Toph paced the room, the walls trembled with each step she took. Her parents were not aware of her earthbending prowess—no one was—and she reeled in her emotions, so as not to give herself away.

"Why can't one of your partners' marry off their daughters?" Toph demanded.

Poppy and Lao looked at their daughter in shock. In the sixteen years she had been alive, Toph had never questioned them, never even raised her voice at them. She was always so obedient.

"None are yet of marrying age," he replied. It was the first time Lao looked ashamed.

"Do I mean so little to you that you're giving me away for a bunch of trees?" she asked, hoping to appeal to his paternal sympathies. She knew it was more than a few trees, it was the entire forest hidden among the Air Nomad mountain range near the Western Air Temple, which meant a lot of timber. Therefore, a lot of money. "Would you still give me away if I wasn't blind?"

Poppy burst into tears. Lao, shamed and guilty as he was, simply stated, "You will be married, Toph. It is your duty to do so. I will not discuss this further."

...

"Aang, please, this is important."

Laughter filled the air. "I'm listening, Gyatso."

Smiling to himself, Gyatso gave the young monk a few minutes to finish feeding his lemur.

"Okay," the boy laughed, turning to his mentor. "I'm ready. What did you want to talk to me about?"

For a very long while now, Gyatso had been carrying around a great secret. It weighed on him day and night until he figured out a solution.

"You are sixteen now-"

"Yup, my birthday fruit pies were your best yet!"

"I would have to agree," Gyatso grinned. But the amusement left his eyes and he cleared his throat. "In two months time, you will be married to an Earth Kingdom heiress."

Aang looked up from where he sat on the ground. "Married? But why?" he asked, standing.

The Air Nomads did not marry as far as he knew. They lived freely. They loved freely as well.

"It is something we are asking of you."

Gyatso could not share the reasons why with Aang. He did not wish to frighten the boy, but rumors had reached his ears that the Fire Nation was awaiting the revelation of the Avatar. This worried the old monk tremendously.

Why would they begin to show an interest now? They never seemed to care before.

What Gyatso could not possibly know was that the Fire Nation wanted their Prince Zuko or Princess Azula to marry whoever was declared the new Avatar. Fire Lord Ozai believed that a union between the Avatar and one of his children would ensure the Fire Nation's access to the vast, untapped, and undoubtedly profitable Air Nomad resources.

"But I don't want to get married," Aang stated simply. He did not want to leave Gyatso or his friends or the temple. He loved the freedom he had in his home.

"I understand," the older man replied. "However, it would be a great help to us."

"How would my marrying an Earth Kingdom girl help the other monks?" the boy asked with genuine curiosity.

That was the question Gyatso dreaded above all, but he believed Aang's life was in danger. In order to protect it, he went against many of their beliefs. Though Gyatso had been able to convince the other senior monks that it was in theirs and Aang's best interest to withhold revealing the boy was the Avatar until after they ensured his safety, his own heart was full of anguish. Still, he knew that by marrying Aang to someone well-connected within the powerful Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation would not risk hurting the young monk.

"Well, we would be able to trade for some much needed medicine. The younger children are in dire need of it," he lied.

"Oh." With a heavy heart, Aang agreed. "Okay," he said. "I'll do it."

...

The ceremony was a blur for Toph. One minute she was mourning the inevitable loss of her freedom, the next Aang of the Southern Air Temple was declared her husband, and it was gone forever.

Poppy had attempted to give her daughter some guidance in the days prior, relaying counsel her own mother had provided on her wedding day. All the advice Poppy gave Toph went in one ear and out the other. What did she care if her husband liked her or not? Still, Toph had been born and raised a lady and was as polite and proper as was required of someone of her station throughout the entire ordeal.

Except, of course, when he was involved. She could have kissed him, signaling the ceremony was complete, but instead she chose not to, simply holding still as he kissed her cheek. When the idiot then had the audacity to try and talk to her after the ceremony, she simply ignored him. And then, when he tried to take her hand in his as they greeted the incoming guests, she snatched it away. Toph didn't want anything to do with him.

Since then, she had been able to avoid his company.

A tiny highlight to the evening came when she was able to lose her shoes and dig her toes into the cool grass beneath her feet. There were so many people, so many vibrations she had to keep track off. She actually had fun trying to distinguish Earth Kingdom nobility from Fire Nation royalty to Northern Water Tribe aristocracy—all who where there to witness the first such union to an Air Nomad.

But where Toph was able to find almost everyone, no one was harder to pinpoint than her...her...husband. The word alone made her stomach clench in disgust. The way he and his people walked so lightly, it was almost like they barely touched the earth. It was fascinating in a way.

Not that she cared at all where he went, hardly. But she wanted to know when he was returning so she could go elsewhere. Her seismic sense had come in handy yet again and she had managed to avoid him successfully until dinner was served.

They had been forced to sit on a stage, where everyone could witness her misfortune, but Toph didn't care. She played her part flawlessly and no one was the wiser. No one except him. She had no pity for him. No sympathy, nothing.

An extravagant display of food from all over the world filled their table, as well as every other in the grand event. The Beifongs spared no expense for their daughter's wedding. As if that could somehow make up for anything, she thought bitterly.

As everyone began to eat, the bride and groom were forgotten for the moment.

"You should try something," Aang whispered.

Toph wanted to earth spike him out of existence.

"Try the egg custard tarts! And the dumplings are delicious, too," he added.

Toph took a deep breath. If she didn't control her growing anger, she would be tempted to bend the ground open and have it swallow everyone up, starting with the annoying person sitting next to her. The murderous thoughts running through her mind made her smile and unfortunately for her, he noticed.

"What's so funny? I love a good joke!"

The tiny improvement to her mood disappeared at the sound of his voice.

"I don't think I've said it, but your dress is beautiful!" he continued in that annoyingly cheerful tone of his. "And...you look really nice," he added in a whisper. The way his heart beat faster told her he was being honest.

But instead of thanking him for the compliment, she turned to him and growled, "Stop. Talking."

Sighing to himself, Aang sat back in his chair. Toph could feel his eyes boring into her. She wasn't suddenly self-conscious. She wasn't. What did she care if she made him feel bad? She didn't.

It wasn't until he did something she had not expected that Toph remembered he was still there at her side. He hadn't gotten up and left like she was hoping. Instead Aang leaned in so close, she could feel his breath tickle her skin as he spoke.

"Trust me, I get it," he whispered. "You don't want to be here...with me. I'm sorry about that, I am, but just so you know, you're not the only one who lost their freedom today."

After that, he didn't try to talk to her again. Not even after they were escorted to the room they were to share in her parents house for their first month of marriage, as tradition called for.

Aang didn't get close to the huge bed in the middle of the room. He didn't wish Toph a good night either. All he did was walk over to the settee under an oversized window. After staring at the stars shining in the dark sky for a few minutes, he drew the curtains shut.

Not bothering to change out of his wedding robes before laying down, Aang tried to fall asleep and forget what was essentially the worst day of his life.