And speaking of talking…
Katara leaned back on the deck chair. She was alone on the balcony. Blessedly alone. She loved all of her grandchildren so much, but if she had to spend another hour with Jinora and Ikki's questions and Meelo's cries of "Gran-gran, look at me!" and Rohan… well, Rohan was shy. He didn't demand Katara's attention five ways from Sunday. And that didn't help Katara's mood—she would have loved to have time to know him, without his loud, lovable siblings shoving themselves in her way.
Now was the hush before the ceremony itself. People were getting ready, or preparing the ceremony site. Eksa and Desna had arrived, without the slightest bit of advance notice. (When Lin Beifong demanded why they hadn't replied to the invitation, Desna merely gave her a perplexed look and said "Korra's our family," as if that explained everything. Maybe it did.) The arrival of the twins had given Katara's grandchildren an immediate task, which was how Katara had slipped out and set up tea on a balcony overlooking the sea.
Katara felt very peaceful about the evening event. She'd officiated over a score of weddings in her life. For Asami and Korra, she'd prepared a prayer, and had it memorized enough that she could be flexible with the mood of the evening.
No, whatever anxiety Katara felt had nothing to do with the wedding, and everything to do with…
A tiny quake shook the balcony. Katara gripped the railing and looked away. Her heart was hammering. She hardly dared to hope… but she did hope, and didn't want to taste disappointment—
The thudding footsteps sounded on the stairs from the beach.
"I'm here," called an old woman.
"Toph," Katara said. She turned, and stared. "Toph!"
"Yeah, it's me, don't get all—oh, okay, a hug if you insist." Toph said this as Katara caught her in a tight embrace. Toph hugged her back with all the warmth of day-old noodles, and then continued in her previous vein.
"You guys are dang lucky that I checked the telegram office in Foggy Swamp when I did. I had a hankering for red bean pancakes and strolled into town."
"They'll be happy to see you," said Katara, pulling away and wiping her eyes.
"Korra's met me once, that should be enough. I came to see you."
Katara repeated, "Came to see me? Toph, you know where to find me. You sent letters."
"Letters are one thing. Stepping onto the South Pole, with fathoms of glacier between me and good solid rock—you know I've never liked ice."
"You couldn't overcome a dislike of ice to see me?"
"You couldn't overcome a dislike of greenery?"
"I don't dislike greenery—"
"All the landmasses on this planet and you stick to the South Pole! Honestly, woman, why'd it take you twenty years to set foot on a simple continental crust?"
For a second, Katara saw the scene as if she was looking at it from overhead—two old women standing and bickering on a nice winter afternoon, with the sea chortling and the ghosts of the girls that they had been, listening. Her face screwed up, and she laughed.
"I asked you a question, Sugarqueen! C'mon, the South Pole isn't that interesting."
"Sugarqueen," Katara echoed, and laughed louder. She dared look at Toph. The other woman's reserve was cracking through a crooked grin.
She still deserved an answer. Katara took a deep breath. "Oh, Toph. There's a lot that you missed."
"I know."
"And we missed you, for that matter."
"I know." Toph set her shoulders back a little. "I'm sorry."
"C'mon, sit down. You've come a long way, and I've got tea brewing."
Toph sat down. Sniffed the air. "Green?"
"Jasmine and green."
A brief grin lit Toph's face, but she said nothing. Of course Katara remembered a detail like Toph's favorite tea.
"Let's see—to put it very simply—" As her thoughts gathered, Katara stretched out her left arm towards the bay. Notwithstanding a little arthritis, she could sense the currents of the water, the volume of salt, even the temperature—hers to bend if she wished, but she didn't wish. Let the water flow as it would. She held the awareness in her left hand, and spoke. "Aang died, and the whole world held its breath until the Avatar was found again. That took five years. And the Chieftain of the Northern Water Tribe, well, he kicked up an almighty fuss about me. Unalaq, his name was. Seemed to have this notion that I was too powerful of a bender. I could take over both Water Tribes, if I set my mind to it, and I had political ties to back me up."
"He thought you might start a war?" Toph asked, disbelieving.
"He didn't say so in as many words, but he kept whispering around… planting doubts, seeding suspicion… and the Earth Queen was extremely receptive. Snappish as a mantis-wasp, and paranoid about her southern coasts. I put up with five years of that."
"He thought you'd start a war. You," Toph shook her head. "He sounds like a dummy."
"Ehh. He wasn't half as smart as he thought he was. Anyway, there was enough trouble that the Order of the White Lotus stepped in, and we held a meeting. With a few nobles from here, a few ministers from there, and Unalaq and I, staring icicles at each other across the table… we agreed to a sort of treaty. Well, a gentlewoman's agreement. I didn't sign my name, but I agreed in speech to remain at the South Pole."
"Why the hell?"
"To show that I was committed to the peace. I would not cross international waters or use my bending powers in an act of war," she recited, as if by rote.
"Oh, you had to show that you were committed to the peace that you only spent your whole life building up! I'd like to give that Unalaq a piece of my mind."
"If it's any consolation, he's dead." Katara poured out the tea. Jasmine steam filled the air. "Well," she amended, "we're pretty sure he's dead, it was kind of unclear. Get this: he sailed here—I mean, to the South Pole—but went out of his way to avoid meeting with me. He babbled all kinds of wisdom and philosophy to Korra until he had her awestruck by his powers… and before you know it, Unalaq forced an embargo on the South Pole. He had the stones to act like this was some kind of paternal gesture and not an act of war. Within a week he was talking about the two Tribes re-uniting—with him in charge, of course."
Toph hooted with laughter. "Crap, that's awful. I shouldn't laugh. But I mean, of course! He pointed at you to smear you with all his own ambition." She shook her head. Katara tugged out the chair opposite her, and Toph settled herself in. Katara refilled the teapot with a little wave. She felt like she might bubble over with happiness. To sit here and talk to Toph.
"I thought as much at the time, when he first confined me to the South," Katara said. "But Unalaq was dead set against me, and I didn't have the spirit to fight. Aang had died, and then Sokka—so abrupt—and Suki was fading."
"That must have been really hard for you," Toph said. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me."
After a pause, Katara said, "I missed you, but you're here now."
"More than that. You've got your fighting spirit back, now," Toph observed. "Of course, you've gotten all creaky and wrinkly and saggy like me—"
"Come on…"
"—But your heartbeat's light. Your chin's held up high. That's what I like to see."
"You sound like a healer."
Toph snorted. "It only took me fifty years, but I'm getting the hang of Earth medicine. I've been studying acupuncture in earnest. With that, I bet I'm a way better healer than you now."
"Really?"
"Yes, really, now what got your spirit back, Sugarqueen? Was it Korra?"
Katara nodded. "Korra was born to Senna, who has a proud Southern lineage. I would have kept my distance, if Korra and I didn't get along, but—"
"You said 'hello' and you were thick as thieves, eh?"
"Yes. I love that girl so much. Watching her grow has been such a gift."
"And now she's getting hitched. And you're doing what? Playing music?"
"Not exactly. Korra and Asami are getting married, and they asked me to officiate."
Toph gave an approving nod.
"They've come all the way out to Kyoshi Island for the ceremony," Katara went on. "I couldn't sail to Republic City for Jinora's Anointing ceremony—and let me tell you, I was furious about that. But Kyoshi Island, for three days, I can visit. That's as far as my gentlewoman's agreement allows."
"Oh, hang the gentlewoman's agreement. Come with me, Katara. We'll steal a skiff—after the ceremony, of course, and the food—and we'll go back to all our old haunts. Don't tell me you don't miss the seasons up North. The smell of the earth waking up in springtime. C'mon, Katara, let me whisk you off, and leave everyone scratching their heads about where you went."
Katara hummed thoughtfully, but couldn't stop a smile. "My kids might worry about where I'd gone… but then again, they don't visit me nearly often enough. A little befuddlement would serve them right."
Toph snickered into her teacup.
"I want to stay through the reception. Korra wants me close by, and Asami—have you met her? She's a lovely girl."
"That's nice."
"But Toph—" Katara laid her hand on Toph's, "I'll have a bag packed by midnight, and leave the boat to me."
"That's the Katara I know. Will it be a good boat? Big sails, full bar, the works?"
"I'll commandeer the fastest and fanciest pleasure-boat on this backwater." Katara tapped her cup to Toph's, who grinned and took another sip. "Will you attend the wedding yourself?" Katara asked.
"Oh, sure. I came all this way. Besides, think of the sensation I'll make! Not to usurp the brides of course," she added.
"You might give Tenzin a heart attack."
"That would do him good."
"Toph, that is my youngest child."
"Well, a shock would do my Lin some good, too."
Katara's laughter echoed over the surf. Her laughter was what finally brought Ikki onto the balcony, and within minutes everyone in the inn knew that Toph had come to Kyoshi.
A/N: This conversation was so much fun to write. I couldn't resist the chance to bridge the elderly, staid Katara that we meet in "Korra" with the passionate leader from "Airbender." Why the hell didn't she attend Jinora's Anointing? I could blame Unaloq. To be continued!