Lin rose to her feet and stared at the woman. "But you are the greatest healer in the world," she implored, "There has to be something!"
The room fell silent as Korra emerged from the healing chamber. She possessed the same look as Lin... broken and without solace of hope. She looked at all of us in the eye before she barreled past everyone in order toget out of the house. "I'm sorry-" she cried over her shoulder.
"Go after her," I urged Mako, and then turned my attention to Lin. She stood alone whilst everyone else turned to seek the comfort of their families; slowly, I made my way over to her, and she looked at me out of the corner of her eye. "I'm here," I murmured, and gently took hold of her hand, "I made you a promise."
"If Katara cannot restore Korra's bending...then- then how am I to get mine back?"
"We will find a way," I reassured her faintly.
"You aren't going to give up, are you?" Lin sighed.
"Nope- seems like I got that from you," I reassured her faintly, and gently shuffled Rohan in my arms.
"Kailyn, a word," Tenzin called out faintly.
"Not now, Tenzin," I replied, and refused to take my eyes off Lin. Tenzin placed a firm hand on my shoulder, and so in turn I turned around. I handed the sleeping baby to his father, and then took hold of Lin's hand. "Be with your family," I added gently.
"They're going to scar," Lin mused suddenly.
"Hm?"
Lin's thumb ran over my recently healed knuckles, drawing my attention to a recently acquired scar that ran a jagged line across my hand.
"Scars are stories that aren't meant to be forgotten."
"Who said that?"
"My father," I answered.
"He may have been a politician, but I liked him...most of the time," Lin chuckled lightly, but swiftly grew solemn.
The door burst open, revealing an exhilarated Avatar and a wide eyed Mako. "Beifong!" Korra exclaimed, "Come with me." She came up to the two of us and took Lin by the hand. Wordlessly, I followed them out to the earthbending meditation temple. A gentle smile curved my lips as I reached out and touched one of the large, upright boulders. My eyes closed as I felt the hum of the earth tremble up the length of my arm.
My attention was drawn back to Korra and Lin, both whom were above us on the first platform of the flights of stairs that led into the earth temple. Lin was kneeling in front of the Avatar, lips set in a straight line as she looked up at Korra. Korra took a deep breath and eyes ignited with the celestial light of the Avatar State. Lin's personage began to glow as well, and as swiftly as the light had engulfed the two of them- it had gone.
Lin looked up at the Avatar, features smoothed, and the latter faintly nodded her head in encouragement. Lin rose to her feet; my heart leapt in my throat as I saw Lin's feet slide apart in a tell-tale move. Lin's arms rose up, and to my delight and everyone else's surprise, the boulders surrounding us rose in silent obedience of Lin's voiceless order. I could have laughed at Bolin's face of shocked awe, but I was too overjoyed at the miracle I had borne witness to. A beaming smile erupted on my face as I hurried towards Lin; I ignored Tenzin's attempt to elicit congratulations- I could only continue making my way to Lin.
My momentum was so great that even when I intended to stop, I discovered I could not. I frantically latched onto Lin as I clambered to remain on my feet, and Lin scrambled about to help me remain upright. I clung to her with such fierce ferocity my arms were trembling from the exertion...but Lin was holding me with equal fervour. "Thank you," I whispered to no one fervently.
Lin Beifong may not have been what I wanted at first- but I realised now she was what I needed.
Fin.