The Northern Water Tribe
Royalty in Disguise
The cold climate struck me relentlessly, and I shivered to no end. I tried warming myself through firebending, but soon realized that it was costing me more energy than it would to let myself get a chill. I surrendered to the cold as Appa came to a soft landing. He was tired, and the rest of us needed to stretch our limbs. I followed Aang as we made our way towards the palace. We passed through streets and houses made entirely of ice; I was amazed at how organised and peaceful the city looked. As we walked, swarms of people trailed behind us, shouting and cheering in welcome.
Soon we were at the palace gates and the masses of people farewelled us, before returning to their duties. Inside, the palace was just as majestic. We strolled through a series of passages before entering the main hall. Chief Arnook sat in his throne with an expectant expression on his face. Aang and I greeted him respectfully, and he gestured for me to approach him. "Yes, Chief Arnook?" I asked, as I stood in front of him. "I'm very glad to finally have met you; you look more of a leader than I imagined," he stated with an impressed smile. I smiled bashfully, "Thank you, though I don't think I am as great as I seem," I said looking down.
"Well, I believe that in time you will be as great a leader as I am now. You wouldn't repeat my mistakes," he said, standing up. I was slightly confused at his statement, "What do you mean?" I asked wearily. He sighed, turning away from me, so that I could only perceive his back. "It was me who turned your family away from the Northern Water Tribe. You were only five-years-old; I doubt you can remember anything. Your parents ran away with you, and they came here for salvation, but I forced them away instead of granting them safety. As a result, they've met their deaths in the Earth Kingdom. I doubt you will forgive me for such a selfish act," he said in a guilty tone.
The hall was eerily silent. My mouth opened, but I was mute. All my efforts to find inner peace had paid off – I was slightly shocked at remembering this past event, but remained calm and open-minded. I took a deep breath, "It is passed; they've died and there's nothing we can do about it. There is no point in regretting our past actions, for we can gain nothing positive from it. I forgive you – you were only acting for the safety of your own people," I tried to persuade him. He swivelled to face me again, and he gazed deep into my eyes.
"You are truly wise; especially for one at your age. I am certain you will become a great leader. Thank you, Mi Li; you've given me peace of mind. But my past actions cannot be reasoned with – you may not have been residents of the Northern Water Tribe, but you were innocent people all the same. It was unfair to leave you to the mercy of the Fire Nation when it was clear that we could have offered aid," he said solemnly. I thought of how I could relieve the tension.
"Well, what is done cannot be changed – at least you've learned from your mistake," I said encouragingly. He smiled with hope, "Yes, but my gain has cost you your parents' lives," he said. I nodded, "Yes, but without their sacrifice, things wouldn't be the way they are. I believe it was meant to happen," I stated confidently. He looked at me determinedly, and nodded. "You're right. I am ashamed to begin your arrival this way. Let me introduce my wife and my nephew-in-law. I think they are in the dining hall. Follow me," he said, pushing aside an ice door with us trailing behind.
"This is Saska my wife," he said gesturing towards a pretty woman with a small but feminine figure. She came to stand next to him, as he wrapped his arm around her waist. She smiled warmly at me, "Welcome, Mi Li. We have heard much about you; I'm glad you're finally here with us," she said with a gentle voice. I smiled graciously, "I'm glad to finally meet you too," I said, bowing my head slightly. Then Chief Arnook gestured to a young man standing a few metres from us. "And this here is Toshiro, my nephew-in-law. He'd be the one to succeed me if you choose not to accept my offer," he said in a weary tone.
I looked at Toshiro, who returned my gaze, staring intently into my eyes. When I began to feel uncomfortable, I broke the silence. "I'm pleased to meet you Toshiro," I said, hesitating somewhat when I tried to say his name, and ended up stressing my tone instead. I gritted my teeth and mentally groaned in embarrassment. But he seemed just as frustrated, "Pleasure to meet you," he said, carefully. He was obviously avoiding my name. Then Chief Arnook gestured to two people; a man and a women sitting at the table.
"These are Toshiro's parents; Mr and Mrs Yukiko. Kengen and Olinda," he introduced; Kengen being Toshiro's father and Olinda being his mother. I nodded respectfully at them, "I'm glad to meet you," I said, smiling sweetly. They nodded back without saying anything else. Their faces expressed kindness, but I felt their silence indicated their disapproval of me. Of course, they wanted their son to be the next ruler – not me. Although I sensed their unrest, I let the issue slip away and I returned my attention to Chief Arnook.
"Now that everyone has been introduced, let's move into the conference hall so that we may discuss current issues," he said, leading everyone into a room with a huge round table. I took my seat on the left of Chief Arnook, while Toshiro and his parents sat opposite from us. Once everyone was seated, our discussion began. "So Mi Li, have you considered my offer?" he asked in a business-like tone. I nodded, "I have; very deeply in fact. It's just, I'm still not sure if I'm ready for such responsibility. I know it'll be some time before you step down from your position, but I'm not sure if I can lead the Northern Water Tribe when the time comes," I said as honestly as I could.
"But we will prepare you for the role; you need not worry about whether you'll be ready," he said encouragingly. I smiled, "I understand, but I'll feel like my decision is rushed. It's not that I do not trust you; it's just that I want to experience the role of a royal for myself. I'll stay here, for a month at least, before I make my decision. In the meantime, you can prepare me however you want; I want to treat this like a trial. Once I've had a taste of this life, I'll make my decision. Just in case I choose not to take up the leadership, I suggest that you start to prepare Toshiro as well. If I do accept your offer, then everything proceeds like normal. Is this scheme suitable for you?" I asked with hope.
He thought for a while, and then nodded approvingly. "It suits me. Very well; we'll do things that way. Both you and Toshiro can begin preparations immediately, and you can have up to a year to make your decision if you need it," he agreed, smiling with an impressed expression. I was thrilled, and couldn't help smiling smugly. Across the table, Toshiro's parents remain expressionless, but Toshiro gave me a slight smile. I quickly drew my gaze away from him and returned my attention to Chief Arnook. "Thank you Chief Arnook," I said gratefully, before standing to bow to him and his wife.
They laughed at my gesture, "Don't be silly Mi Li! You will not need to bow to anyone here. Remember, you are royalty; just like us. People will bow to you – not the other way around," Chief Arnook said with a light chuckle. I smiled sheepishly. "Of course; how could I forget?" I mentally said to myself. "Come; let us settle you down first. Would you like to have my daughter's room?" he asked casually. I stopped dead in my tracks at his question. His trivial attitude surprised me even more. "What? No, I couldn't! It would be dishonourable for me to do that." I began to stammer.
He turned to face me. His expression was puzzled. "Why? What is wrong with taking my daughter's bedroom?" he asked bemused. I hesitated, "W-well, I'd hate to feel like I'm taking her place. I respect her significance highly, and I don't feel it is appropriate for me to take what belonged to her," I tried to say as succinctly as possible. He paused, thinking. "I understand what you are saying, and it is very considerate of you. But if she were here, I know she would be honoured to have a friend like you, to take her belongings. After all, she's not here to make use of them – it would be a huge waste," he said soberly.
I agreed, "Then I'll accept what you have to offer me," I concluded definitively. He nodded appreciation and continued to lead us up a grand stairway. Once at the top of the stairs, we were in the royal common room, which looked more like a grand hall to me. On the sides of the huge hall, were double doors leading to the royal suites and some guest rooms. Chief Arnook led us to the farthest side of the hall; directly opposite from the top of the stairs. There, stood three doors. The one in the middle was largest, and had ancient carvings.
I assumed it was the door of the Grand Royal Suite. The other two doors were of equal size, and had the same ancient carvings, but were not as striking. He led us to the door on the left of us. "This was Yue's room. I hope you find it comfortable," he said, as he pushed the heavy ice doors apart. Inside, everything was neatly furbished and organised. "It's very nice," I said as I walked around inspecting the room. I noticed a double door in the far wall, and moved to pull the doors open. Instantly, bright light shone into my eyes, making me squint. Once my eyes adjusted, I realised that there was a balcony. I skipped outside to look over the ice balustrade.
I gasped at the sight that greeted me. I was overlooking the entire city, and I could see the Spirit Oasis not far below us. I smiled gleefully, eager to explore more of the palace and the city. "Do you like this?" Chief Arnook asked from behind me. I turned with an excited smile, "I like it very much – this is more than I could ever ask for!" I said delightedly. He chuckled. "Then I will see you in the dining hall tonight for dinner. There will be a feast; your place as the Princess of the Northern Water Tribe is effective as of now," he stated proudly, before leaving the room with his wife, Toshiro, and Mr and Mrs Yukiko. Aang stayed with me to admire the view.
"Will you be fine without me here?" he asked as he gazed out into the distance. "Yes. I'll be cared for. Besides, you're busy; you have to go places," I said turning to him. He turned to look at me, "Okay, I'll leave tomorrow then. I need to tell everyone else the good news," he teased with a cheeky grin. My eyes widened, "No! I haven't even made my decision," I argued. He shrugged, "Doesn't matter – you are descended from the royal family," he stated honestly. I folded my arms threateningly, but decided it was pointless; they'd have to find out eventually. I sighed, surrendering to the truth.
"Well, I'm going to unpack now. I'll get your stuff too," Aang called as he glided down the face of the palace to find a waiting Appa. Soon two of them flew up to my balcony. Aang tossed my bag over to me, before they disappeared from sight. I went inside my room, just as there was a knock at the door. "Come in," I called. The door opened, and Saska stepped in. "Your Highness," I addressed. She smiled, "Mi Li, I'd like you to have this – royal robes for the Princess of the Northern Water Tribe," she said, holding out a set of luxurious garments. I grasped it carefully, inspecting the thick fur. "Did this belong to Princess Yue too?" I asked quietly.
She smiled sadly, "Yes. I understand how you feel about taking her belongings, and that's fine. But I wasn't sure of your height, or your preferences for design. I have other garments ready if you want, but you and Yue seem about the same height, so I thought I might as well let you try this," she tried to encourage me, but I saw the sparkles in her eyes. I sighed, "But, I'm only concerned that it may be too much of a reminder of Yue," I said anxiously. She chuckled lightly, "Don't worry about us; we are proud of her, and you. She would be extremely pleased if you could take her place, and continue the task that was initially bound to her," she said confidently. I smiled, understanding the significance of my role.
"I'll try it," I promised. She smiled gratefully, and pulled me into her embrace. "Thank you," she said, before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. I looked blankly at the garment in my arms and exhaled deeply. An hour later, the feast was organised and ready to begin. I had worn the royal robes Saska handed to me, and I was waiting for her to help me with the final touches. When she came in she gasped, "You look wonderful," she complimented. I must have blushed, because I suddenly felt hot under the all layers of thick material. I sat in front of the dressing table, as Saska did my hair and put makeup on my face.
She gave me two sapphire earrings, shaped like falling water droplets. She handed me a turquoise bracelet that belonged to her. She also offered me a necklace, but paused when she noticed I already one. "You already have a necklace?" she asked curiously. "Yes. It's my mother's," I stated. She nodded sympathetically, "Well then, we are done here. My goodness, you look stunning!" she said, gasping. I giggled, "Thank you, Lady Saska." She smiled cheerfully, "You're welcome. Quick, the guests will be waiting to meet the next possible heir to the throne," she said, pulling me out of the chair and escorting me to the royal dining hall.
I gasped at the number of people in the hall, but relaxed when I remembered that I had seen much worse. A shiver pulsed through my spine at the recollection of the memories. We continued walking, meeting Chief Arnook somewhere in the crowd. Once our eyes met, a most serene smile appeared on his face. Then he gestured for me and Saska to join him in his group. "My friends, this is Mi Li. She has agreed to stay with us in the Northern Water Tribe, to experience the role of a leader," he introduced proudly. I smiled sweetly towards the guests, "I'm honoured to meet you all," I said courteously.
Some of them didn't seem very pleased, but their expressions changed to ones of kindness and respect once they saw me. They took it in turns to say their greetings, and I smiled pleasantly in return. A gong sounded at the front of the hall, and everyone shifted to take their seats. Chief Arnook held his left hand out for his wife and his right hand for me. I was slightly confused by his gesture, but then Saska took his hand and nodded to me reassuringly. I imitated her, taking Arnook's right hand, and he gave me an approving nod. Gracefully, he led the both of us to our seats.
The tables were arranged in a rectangular formation. The table for the royal family was elevated on a stage at the far end of the hall. The middle of the hall was left empty, most likely for presentations. The other tables were positioned along the walls, so that the guests would be facing the centre of the hall. Arnook led us up the steps, as the other guests were guided to their assigned seats. Arnook sat in the middle of the royal table. I sat on his right while Aang took the remaining seat next to me. Saska sat on his left, along with Toshiro and his family.
Apparently, Toshiro also had a younger sister, and she was eleven-years-old. I didn't see her earlier today because she was attending healing classes – that was what Saska told me. I hadn't had the chance to talk to her yet, but I thought she was very adorable from the way she behaved; she was well mannered, inquisitive, flamboyant and gentle. She took her seat between her mother and Toshiro, and gazed curiously at me. I smiled at her in a friendly way, and she smiled back with excitement. I giggled quietly, and returned my gaze to the rest of the hall.
Soon, the hall was devoid of noise and movement, and all eyes were fixed in the direction of the royal family. I sat up straighter, knowing that after Arnook had made the announcement, I would be followed by prying eyes. Some people may be optimistic of their new Princess, but I was certain that there were also those who would seek to gather sufficient reasons to demote me. Once my role became official, I would be susceptible to the criticism and praise of the people. Which one I receive more of, would be determined by my appearance, behaviour, skills and accomplishments. It would take some time to earn their respect and trust, but that is a challenge that I have accepted knowingly.
Chief Arnook stood. "My friends, I am deeply honoured and grateful that you have all arrived here tonight; even on such short notice for which I apologise sincerely. Tonight is for celebration, but more than that, it is a meeting of significance. Tonight, I'm going to tell you all a story – a story of loss, hardship, inner strength and destiny. It is the story of a young girl; it is Mi Li's story," he said in a leader-like tone. But once he mentioned my name, I couldn't help feeling small. I wanted to hide again; I didn't want another reminder of the sadness in my life. So I looked at the table, not meeting anyone's eyes, and let my ears become muffled by ghostly hands.
To make sure I didn't look cowardly, I kept my expression blank and unchanged. I waited patiently for Arnook to finish telling my story, and when he became silent I returned my gaze towards him. From where he stood, he gave me a glance of guilt, before facing the audience once more to continue speaking. I readjusted my posture and forced my head up to face the guests. They had all become fully absorbed into Arnook's speech, and no eyes lingered on me, thankfully. But I couldn't help feeling like a pair of eyes was still fixed on me. I slowly turned to my left, feeling the direction of the stare. What I saw made me jolt.
Toshiro was gazing at me! I wanted to turn away like I usually would, but something kept me. I was captivated by the emotions he portrayed; he showed strong concern… and heartbreak. The feelings were genuine, I was sure – I could feel his heart moving out from his own being, towards me. Instantly, I could feel a silver thread that connected us, and it was strong despite its thinness. I inhaled sharply as my heart began to flutter, and I instinctively resumed my royal pose. Staring blankly at the guests, all I could concentrate on were my feelings. That moment felt so long, but it was really a couple of seconds. Knowing the present situation, I quickly brought myself to listen to Arnook's speech.
"But she has made a brave decision. She has agreed to stay with us in the Northern Water Tribe to be trained for leadership. But she is still unsure of her decision to be my successor, so I have agreed to give her more time. However, should she ultimately decide not to take my place, my eldest nephew-in-law will become my successor. For this reason, both of them will be equally trained for my role," he said glancing at me to his right, then glancing at Toshiro further to his left. There was a murmur in the hall, but silence returned when Arnook held a hand up in authority. He continued.
"Because of this arrangement, we now have two new additions to the royal family; Toshiro the Prince of the Northern Water Tribe, and Mi Li the Princess of the Northern Water Tribe. I understand that there those of you who may disagree with this arrangement, but I will remind you that this is only temporary until Mi Li has decided. She is the true heir to my throne, after my daughter, so she will have the final decision on her future," he said in conclusion.
But before he could say anymore, a man from the far end of the hall stood up and spoke loudly. "Your highness, she is an outsider! The blood of our enemies is mixed in her own! She wouldn't even know how to lead the Northern Water Tribe; she's spent half her life living as a slave! And… most importantly, she is a firebender!" he shouted in an aggressive tone. I was expecting criticism, but I wasn't expecting it this soon, or with this level of loathing! I sat, not knowing how to react. So many times before I had been in this situation, and every time I ran away and cried uselessly. I wasn't going to do that now.
"You're wrong to judge her like that!" shouted the voice of a young man. I turned to the source, and found that it was Toshiro who had spoken out. He was completely changed; he rose swiftly up from his seat and stood in a defensive stance as I stared helplessly. He had transformed into a fierce tiger, defending his territory. But there was more; he was protecting me! I continued to stare speechlessly, but his gazed was focussed on the man who criticised me. "She's been through so much tragedy in her life and you still have the courage to speak of her that way?" he asked, enraged.
The man gave him a humoured grin, "And who are you to question me this way?" he asked smugly. Toshiro grinned back just as confidently, "I'm Toshiro – your Prince!" he announced clearly. There were gasps in the hall, and the guests began to have individual discussions. But Toshiro ignored the murmurs and continued to speak. "She is the last and only true heir to the throne. If she wants, she can leave the Northern Water Tribe this very moment. In fact, she wouldn't be here if she didn't care about the future of the Northern Water Tribe. But she took the trouble to travel here, to give us a chance; because a true leader, a good leader, does not abandon her people." He spoke with a passion I had not seen in anyone before. The guests fell silent. The man who spoke out grimaced at Toshiro, and folded his arms resentfully.
"And the world is at peace now. We should not feel hatred towards the Fire Nation anymore; they aren't the enemies they used to be. And Mi Li didn't choose her abilities – she was born with them, and they are a gift. She didn't choose her parents either; they just are. You're blaming her for things that aren't even her fault. I thought that as a society of high-class individuals, we could see past everlasting hatred. It is true that the Fire Nation has done damage to all of us, but it is time to move on. Dwelling on the past never did any good for anyone. We are living in a new age now – finding a new heir to the throne is only part of the changes taking place everywhere around the world. Can't you at least give Mi Li a chance to prove herself for what she really is, and not what you assume?" He asked in an intimidating way.
I was completely taken aback by his words; I wasn't sure how to feel, what to do. All I knew was that no one, not even Haru, had defended me this strongly before. Silence engulfed the hall, and the man who stood in the crowd looked down at the ground. "My apologies," he said reluctantly. But I had the feeling Toshiro wasn't done. "Address her as your highness! Is this how you treat your Princess?" he shouted sternly. The man hesitated but surrendered the argument. "My deepest apologies… Princess Mi Li," he said tiredly as he slumped slowly back into his chair. Arnook gestured for me to respond. "Apology accepted, sir," I responded clearly.
Once that was done, I saw Toshiro sit back on his chair, but our eyes didn't meet. Instead, he gazed proudly ahead, with a defensive expression. But his parents seemed against his actions. I could see their irritated expressions, even as they tried to seem oblivious to the events that had just occurred. But Chief Arnook signalled for the dinner to commence, and slowly discussions filled the huge hall. I tried to eat, but found myself at a loss. I had no appetite; I just really wanted to speak to Toshiro.
"Eat Mi Li, you need the energy. I think this feast won't last very long. We will have a discussion later, once the dinner is over," Arnook encouraged me. I nodded, "Okay," I said quietly. Surprisingly, the dinner did end faster than I expected and we could finally retreat to the privacy of our rooms. I changed into a night gown and wore a thick luxurious robe over it. Everyone was so exhausted from the day that Arnook decided to leave the discussion for tomorrow. I was glad for it, because it meant I could speak privately to Toshiro first.
I silently left my room, and tip-toed towards his door. Because he was Prince of the Northern Water Tribe (for the time being), Arnook assigned him the other room identical to mine. I crept past Arnook's room; huge double-doors guarded the entrance. I ran my fingers on the carvings as I slipped past, feeling the cold rigidity of the ice, and the smooth shape of the carvings. Afraid I might get caught, I hurried faster to the other side. Once I reached Toshiro's room, I tapped lightly on the ice door. I heard a muffled "Come in," that was clearly his voice. But before I could move the doors using waterbending, they seemed to slide open themselves.
There, Toshiro stood, looking at me with a surprised expression. I stood there, feeling strange and awkward. "Did that door just open magically?" I asked feeling silly. He chuckled, "No; I opened it," he said lightly, as he took a seat on the edge of his bed. "Well, are you coming in or what?" he asked casually. I shook myself awake and stepped inside his room. I heard a low grinding, and saw as the door closed. I was slightly surprised. "You're a waterbender too? I didn't know that," I said curiously.
"Yep, I'm a waterbender. Thing is, you can never tell who is a bender until they say so, or until they show you. I didn't know you could bend water when I first met you, but I'm even more surprised that you can bend fire too," he answered casually. I smiled at him. "Take a seat; I won't bite," he said chuckling. I rolled my eyes and moved to sit next to him on the bed. "Thanks Toshiro – thanks for sticking up for me. I really owe you for that," I said quietly. He smiled kindly, "No problem. He was extremely rude though; someone had to put him in line," he stated with humour.
I smiled weakly. "Yeah, and you'd be perfect as their next leader. They need someone with your discipline," I said as a compliment. He laughed quietly, and shook his head. "No thanks, I'm not exactly keen on being the next chief. Besides, you are the one that really deserves it," he said politely. I scoffed, "I'm not much of a leader – believe me. If I'm going to be their leader, I'll need to change a lot!" I said with grim humour. He gazed at me, deep in thought. "Well, we're in the same situation now. I can help you," he said calmly, as his eyes stared into mine.
I smiled gladly. "I guess so. But I really think you shouldn't just speak out like you did today. I saw how your parents reacted – they weren't pleased. Besides, I can take the criticism; I've had so much of it that it doesn't really matter now," I said as an excuse. He chuckled light-heartedly, and scoffed. "Sure it doesn't matter! I saw the look on your face when Arnook made your life-story public, and again when that man spoke out. I could tell that you were hurt," he said quietly, but with agitation in his tone. I looked down at the ground, feeling ridiculous.
"You might be able to fool everyone else, but you can't hide from me. And don't worry about what I did earlier; think of it as an act of friendship," he said cheerfully, giving me the most charming smile I had ever seen. I felt my heart leap in response. "Well, fine. But it's obvious that your parents are pushing you to become the next chief. I really shouldn't get in the way. I just know that I can't succeed Arnook, but you can – you have everything required to be a leader," I argued in an even tone. I was going to say more but he interrupted abruptly. "Don't worry about what my parents think! They are obsessing over the throne because of its high value, and if I became Chief they would benefit also," he commanded me in a stern voice.
"Look, I might become a great leader, but you are the priority. The throne should have automatically been handed to you, but Arnook wanted to let you choose, knowing that your life was already so full. I'm fine with standing back to let you move forward; gaining the throne is not a big deal to me," he said surely. I contemplated in silence. He hesitated. "How about we just forget all this? Forget about treating each other like royals – let's just start off like normal friends," he suggested, when my silence had endured for too long.
Not knowing what else to say, I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I can do that. It sounds like a great way to go," I said approvingly. He smiled excitedly, "Great!" Then his expression changed to one of uncertainty, and he faltered. "W-would you, like to spend some time with me tomorrow? I could show you around, and we could get to know each other better," he suggested with a slightly embarrassed smile. I giggled, "Of course! It sounds like a fantastic idea," I said, enthusiastically. Instantly he let out a sigh of relief, "That's good! Well, it's late; I probably should be getting some sleep," he said disappointedly.
I giggled, "Yes, I should be going too," I said, as I rose from the edge of his bed. He stood also, and escorted me to the door. "Goodnight!" I said cheerfully as I opened the doors. He gazed at me for a moment before replying, "Goodnight," he said quietly, with a weary smile. I smiled back and closed the door behind me. In a breeze, I made my way into my room. I removed my thick robe and climbed into the huge luxurious bed. The soft material was warm and comfortable; never had I slept in such luxury. Tomorrow, will be a new day – a new life.