Maege V courtesy of Sensfan90. Thank you for your contribution ! =)


(Dragonstone: 298 AC) Maege V (by sensfan90)

"Give me a moment cadet, the Firelord has requested some works for personal review. There is to a be a play that the entire academy will be expected to attend. I have spent the past hour choosing the best selection possible."

Kneeling patiently, she was immediately curious. As far as she knew the Firelord was not one for such things. "If I may ask Instructor, what works?"

"Old plays and ballads; The Conquest of East and South, Sozin the I, My Friend/My Enemy, Last Breath, The Final Companion. I doubt you've heard or read any of them, the avatar, the villain is a subject matter that is rather complicated to explain to someone from Westeros."

"He was a bender then? You do not want the people to know about the gift?" The woman stiffened at her question before relaxing. Whatever this Avatar was they were surely an enemy of great terror.

"Exactly cadet, exactly. The world must never know of the Avatar lest they get the wrong idea."

Frowning at the thought of such a horrible man she focused on why she approached the Instructor in the first place. Dragonstone was quiet for the first time in what seemed like ages. With the spectacle of the Fire Festival in passing the people of the Fire Nation fell back into a well-travelled routine. The students returned either with glee or dread in their classes. If they were able, a degree of freedom was given. If they proved themselves incompetent only the harshest of instruction waited them. One did not fall behind in the Fire Nation even if they needed to be dragged.

Though she was easily above such dangers the past month had put her world into focus. More and more her lessons diverged from her sister and cousin. Perfection was the standard, not the goal. She dreamed of the sweet encouragement of her mother, yet only heard the sharp sounds of orders and demands. The drills and stances continued until she could not take it. She needed a way out, one that would not bring dishonor.

"I have to admit that I am flattered young lady. No cadet has ever asked that I take one on as a personal apprentice." Clad in her uniform, Instructor Tima was the model of Fire Nation Citizen. Her hair perfectly pulled back into a tight ponytail with her uniform crisp and free of any stain. Her desk immaculate and sparse, only single book seeming out of place.

"Lady Rina always speaks so well of you Instructor Tima, I believed you were the best person to ask. Maester Cressen could aid me as well but I cannot bring myself to bother a man of his age and responsibility with such a serious request. Ever since the night of the Fire Festival I have been thinking of my life. Of how I wish to live my life among my people."

"Forgive me Lady Mormont but I had thought your destiny was obvious. Has your mother birthed a second son?"

"No, though I would not be surprised if mother and father wished for another child. As for my destiny, I am aware I will be married someday if that it was you mean. I do realize I will join the Navy in some capacity, Commander Zha-Leng informed me himself. The material I have been given after the standard classes also suggested what the Firelord wishes of me." Instructor Tima nodded with a queer look in her eye before opening the book she had brought to the table. With great care it was placed between them, the older woman delicately trailing her left hand on its bindings.

"Do you know what this is Lady Mormont?" The candlelight revealed a large tomb, the color of obsidian. It had golden threads along the bindings with a burning stag woven into cover. She had read many books and seen many more in her life but never one created with such care as this. The reverence Instructor Tima gave to even the lightest touch of its surface filled her with wonder.

"I have never seen such a book Instructor."

"It is the history of House Baratheon of Dragonstone. It is the history of Firelord Azula and her family. From the day we arrived in this world to the moment the Lady Ty Lee finished first in her class it was recorded. This book represents my life, my dedication to the Fire Nation and all our history. I hold this book in regard second only to my sister, do you understand?"

"The Lorekeeper, the Historian of the Fire Nation is not a simple task. It is a great duty and honor." Already she feared the insult had doomed her. This was not going as she had planned at all." I…I am aware you are busy and important. I know you probably think I am looking for an easy way out of my station."

"You are currently the only combustion user on the planet Lady Mormont. I know exactly of the weight upon your shoulders, anything but what the world expects of you would be the easy way out." A thought occurred to her, of answers her father barely gave. The woman would know the tales and stories as well as any person alive.

"Is it worse than they tell me?" A flare in her aura told her as mush as the look of pity….it was worse.

"The greatest Firelords in our peoples' history could control combustion on a whim. I do not exaggerate to say some men and women in these halls would bargain their children to spirits and gods to have your power. Yet combustion is spoken in the same ilk as the wielders of lava and water tendrils in are world's lore. Potent abilities just as likely to kill oneself as an enemy." Tima stopped to sip a bit of tea, her eyes hardening as her eyes drifted above her own to the green and silver third eye. "You did well during the games of the festival did you not? I seem to recall my sister came home with quite the purse."

"I am do not see why that matters…"

"How many cadets not named Kai and Takkar could best you battle?"

"What?"

"I asked a simple question Lady Mormont. In fact I will make it easier, barring the graduation class who truly threatens you?"

"Well in school I could say…"

"Perhaps I need to be blunt, how many firebenders?"

"Two, three if you count Lady Ursa."

"You know I do not, she beat Commander Chang as a girl. She completed her academic studies years ago even if she never attended a graduation ceremony to celebrate. As a warrior I gather only the Firelord herself proves her superior. You are dodging the question Lady Mormont, your answer!"

"Ty Lee has the skills to beat me I am sure. Though I win our spars more often than not I can see her improving every time we fight. Cadet Aemon is assuredly my better if the fight came down to endurance. He is stronger and taller than I as well."

"He is nearly a man and almost two years your senior but I can understand your reasoning. So, without combustion you are already a bender of worth. Yet you come asking me for a decidedly non-combat position. As I said I understand your burden but I find myself questioning your reasoning. Are you looking for an escape or are you looking for an excuse?"

"Father wants me here, mother wants me here, the Firelord practically ordered me here! There is no escape what I want is a choice. Do you know what my sister did this morning?"

"Train, eat, read?"

"She spent the day with my cousin Lyanna and her friends in the market. She did not have to spend more hours meditating among the Red Priests. I always figured my training was harder than my sisters. Now with the changes between semesters I realize how much. I am not being trained as everyone else, I am here for something more and it scares me! When I arrived, it was just a few extra lessons, now it is an entire different schooling!" She felt the tears fall on her face as the last words escaped her lips. Several days of despair and frustration finally escaping her. With blurry eyes she looked towards the Instructor once more, her stoic reaction to her plight oddly comforting. Wordlessly Instructor Tima closed the book and returned it to the shelf. With barely a glance she grabbed a much smaller book with a shapeless scarlet red cover.

"Did Rina ever tell you of the day the Firelord trained her class personally?"

"No…I am sure I would have remembered her speaking of it."

"Before she became more invested in the governance of King's Landing the Firelord would regularly surprise the men and women of Dragonstone with her presence. There would be no demands, no orders or even goals. She merely appeared and assumed all would do their duty."

"I am guessing some did not." A thin smile formed on the older woman's lips at that remark, she flipped open the red book to a picture. A thin golden ribbon with black edges was glued to the parchment.

"Once perhaps but never twice. Cobblers, Smiths, Sailors, Engineers and Instructors were treated equally. She never spoke a word against them in public of course but behind closed doors…"

"Punishments and ill tidings. Mother and father do much the same thing with some of their officers back home."

"I am not surprised in truth, more than a few officers adopted her approach. As it happens on that particular day your sister's namesake joined the bending class in leading them through their stances. From the way Rina tells it the Firelord could correct more forms with an eyebrow than her teacher could in the entire year."

"Was she that good of a teacher?" She had never met the Firelord in person but she had received more than one letter in her hand. The details she knew of her life were frightening, the perfection of her advice even more so. When Ty Lee spoke of the work the tutors put into her instruction she had no doubt the specter of her mother still overshadowed their every move. She could only wonder what divine standards her personal instruction would feel like.

"Rina was young and memory can be twisted with time. In all likelihood the presence of the Firelord merely helped them focus where before they could not. By the end of the morning class every student but one had met her expectations. To say some of the parents were overjoyed after was an understatement." Given the sheer look of reverence some of the older students gave her portrait, she could believe it.

"What of the one student who did not?"

"She came home, put her head in my lap and cried a flood that could sink Valyria. I have never in my life seen my sister so heartbroken, not even when our parents left, I am sorry when they were reassigned to the Stannis Fort."

"How? Rina is one the best firebenders I know!"

"How indeed? She thought much the same. The day after she woke before dawn and approached Chi-Ha to give her extra lessons. She worked harder than I ever thought a young girl could for weeks. Until one morning when she finished her stances and found the Firelord had observed her without knowing. She congratulated her for mastering the stances for the following years class. This hair ribbon, one of her own in the rare times she forgoes the royal headpiece, was given as proof of her accomplishment."

"Wait, the next year's class?"

"Rina did not actually fail in the weeks before with the Firelord looming over her every move. She was already the best in her class and the Firelord knew this. Not an hour after she visited the Instructor she was given the extra work in order for her to grow at a rate that matched her talent. That day my sister learned that the Fire Nation despises stagnation. A loyal citizen under the Firelord is always expected to improve their ability in which to advance and enrich our people." With a sigh Instructor Tima removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. Her voice had become sharper and her body tighter.

"You have made great strides with your bending and the faculty is treating you accordingly. All firebenders serve the Firelord before all others and we are all expected to give our fullest. Even one whose talent for the flame is as pitiful as I." A small red flame escaped her nostrils, the sparse heat a sign of its weakness. "You are being given the work because the Firelord believes you are ready. By all accounts your only brother lacks the flame and thus leave Lyanna's Bay for you to rule in the future. Dragon's Cove itself demands a benders touch in any case. Until the day you inherit your station I doubt you will ever be free in the way you seek."

"Then what can I do?"

"Accept it, embrace your path in life. You are still young and I am sure the world seems so much harsher than it will be. Give it a few years, where your skill will give you great power and opportunity. When that time comes use all that they have given to take control of your life. Make no mistake, there are those who will treat you as a tool, a Cyvasse piece on a board, one to be honed and improved until it can be used. It will be up to you to ensure your freedom."

"Thank you Instructor Tima, your words have been very helpful. Just so you know, I was serious in requesting an apprenticeship." With complete sincerity she slammed her fist into her palm, bowing far lower than was proper. The Instructor nodded her head in response before quickly closing the red book and placing it back on the shelf.

"And I believed you when you asked. Rina has spoken at length of her positive experiences with you. I believe she even requested a placement in Lyanna's Bay if she could not be posted with our parents. The book I showed you was one I made for her own journey. Like you she worried over her own future, to her great credit she has made a name for herself. Now, before you leave Lady Mormont I have one last piece of advice." She moved forward only to kneel in front of her. Softly she placed her ring finger on her forehead, slowly tracing its touch along her third eye.

"You are Maege of House Mormont, your family history greater than many of the Fire Nation can ever hope to match with their own. Embrace it, make the world remember where you come from. Your cousin has the right of it, your blood has a grand history that gives you strength. You are not simply the spawn of some officer, you are a fierce bear. A mighty young woman with a soul forged from the countless triumphs of the First Men."

"Thank you, my lady, no one of Dragonstone or the Fire Nation has ever spoke of my mother's blood with such kindness." A sharp laugh escaped Instructor Tima, who demurely composed herself after she spoke.

"I am a historian my lady, all experiences and events have meaning no matter how some may wish to ignore. How else would we have arrived to the present?"