Evening. Time for the ceremony.
A brilliant full moon shone over Tranquility Park. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. Of course, that meant it was wickedly cold, but that's why there were so many blankets and wraps set out for guests. The last amber rays of the sun were giving way in the west to light blue, then deep, pricked with stars that glinted like ice.
Round paper lanterns cast a decidedly warmer glow on the congregation. They had gathered around the Kioku Pine, which was the oldest tree living on the Island. Its topmost branches seemed likely to brush the moon herself.
Some twenty feet up from the ground, spirits ganged and looped among the branches. The Kioku Pine's own spirit was happily playing host to them, pouring liquors of distilled morning air and fermented sea-foam. They toasted the health and happiness of the Avatar, and otherwise paid little attention to the humans.
Katara stood at the tree's roots, wearing deep blue robes. Before her was a table, with a standing bowl, a bottle of hot sake ready to be poured out, and cups for the ceremony. A heat lamp stood nearby. Pema was on one side, Senna and Tonraq on the other.
Mako gave a signal. The brides were ready, it's showtime! The congregation hushed.
Asami entered first. Her cherry blossom kimono was at once in contrast to the wintry night, and a perfect complement. Mother-of-pearl pins glinted in her chignon. She shivered with relief when she was close enough to feel the heat lamp's effect.
She stood by Pema, who held in her hands a portrait of Hiroshi Sato and Yasuko Miyamoto.
Then Korra entered. Her inner kimono was white and grey, and her outer robe was a match for the night sky above—a deep, deep slate blue which lightened towards the hem. Rabbits frolicked at hem and sleeves, picked out in silver thread. A full moon, surrounded by clouds, shone on Korra's back.
At the altar, the brides clasped hands and beamed into each other's' eyes. Tonraq wiped away a tear.
Katara began the ceremony with a prayer. She struck the sounding bell with a mallet, to produce a deep, resounding chime. One chime for each thanks.
"I give my thanks," she began, "to the sustaining Earth. To the Kioku Pine, bearing witness." (Up above, the Kioku Pine spirit and friends raised a toast.) "My thanks to Avatar Kyoshi, who shaped this island to protect her people."
"My thanks I give to Fire and to Air; my deepest thanks I give to the Moon above us, and the Ocean around us. In this sacred night, we gather to witness the marriage of Asami and Korra." She smiled. "It's a beautiful night to get married, but it's also dreadfully cold. I won't keep us out here too long.
"If you know me at all, you know that I like to hold forth about the four elements and what they signify. You can blame my husband, if you like."
"I will," Toph promised from the fourth aisle.
"But all these years," Katara went on, "I've found that four elements makes a good frame for a sermon. Water, Earth, Fire, Air, and that's quite enough, Toph."
Toph held off on groaning theatrically. Beside her, Lin looked vexed to hell and back.
"Water, the native element of Korra and myself. Water changes constantly. The flowing tide grows full and begins to ebb, or ice melts to welcome spring. Such is the surprise of love. One secret, one smile, one day at a time, until the entire foundation of one's life is altered.
"Earth, though, Earth won't yield easily. Earth is a certainty that that can only be earned with time. Passion and thrills can fade when Earth collects its due. Love is not logical or practical," Katara went on, "But marriage must be. To build a home, engage with the world, to raise a family—Earth is needed for all of these.
"Now we get to Fire. Some refer to Fire as 'passion' and leave it as that. But Fire is an element of change, no less than Water. It is dynamism, life itself. Its home in the body is the stomach, the seat of willpower. Fire invigorates us to choose, and keep choosing. To choose to fight for love, in ways great and small. All this is the province of Fire. Korra and Asami, you two each have an enormous will to persevere and to create. Now you affirm that, together, you choose to make a married life, greater than the sum of your parts.
"And Air. The element of freedom." She paused, and for a second the entire congregation tensed, in case she should start to cry—but then she chuckled, astonishing everyone. "I got to hate that phrase, when Aang and I were engaged. So many terrible jokes! If Air is for freedom, why was he going to get hitched?"
"The freewheeling bachelor lifestyle!" Toph called.
"Yes! Sokka used that phrase to death." Katara laughed, apparently not noticing Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi growing increasingly mortified. Even Korra murmured, "Master Katara…"
"I beg pardon, dear. You and Asami love to travel and see the world." A collective sigh of relief; Katara was talking like a proper officiant again. "You don't need to marry for an escape, as far too many people do. And you love each other, but your love is like a moving sea between your souls. That is a healthy love. Not chained by ankle and hand. Only in freedom can love thrive. In such freedom, you gift the world to each other. You share your souls with each other. The future is not hemmed in, but open. Any vista might await you, but you'll meet it together, with hands joined."
Korra and Asami gazed deep into one another's eyes. They were almost aglow with joy. Katara finished, "And now, the brides shall present their necklaces."
Korra drew a velvet pouch from her deep kimono sleeve. From the pouch she took a necklace. The band was strong silk, colored deep blue. Korra held it out so that the congregation could see the pendant, which was light blue with a whisper of green, and then she presented it to Asami.
"We agreed on silk necklaces," she said, "with carved stone pendants, which is a Water Tribe tradition. And we agreed to source our pendants from the United Republic, which is where we make our home. This amazonite comes from near the city of Compass. This piece struck my eye with its intricate colors—every change of light shows new depths. Needless to say, it reminded me of you, Asami."
Asami blushed. Korra went on, "Only afterwards did I find out that amazonite is a stone for the air chakra, which deals with love." Korra's left hand rested a moment on her own heart. "That sealed my choice. What better stone for the most loving, generous woman I know? With my best artistic ability, I carved it just enough to bring out the natural beauty, to help it resemble the ocean, which is your namesake." A shaky inhale. "The ocean gives us life, and love gives life meaning. Asami, my love—" She looked up at her, and her eyes shone, "I'm so grateful I can spend the rest of my life with you."
Asami wiped a tear, whispered "Thank you," and then presented her own necklace: a deep red stone on a ribbon of dark grey. "This stone is garnet," said Asami. "It was mined from the Hua-Mulan Quarry over fifty years ago. Where the quarry was is now the Magnolia District of Republic City. And, well, no surprise, but it's been in my family collection since then. My grandmother, Koharu Uchiha-Sato, was a jewelry designer. She never found a use for this stone, but kept it all the same. I went to her collection, because you're going to be a part of my family now, Korra. This stone just spoke to me. Maybe it was meant for you, all the time."
She chuckled, sending a little puff of white into the cold air. "To think about history, to think about everything that's brought us here, together, everything that led up to our first meeting… it amazes me. We found and chose one another, out of everyone in the world. It's close to miraculous. But I'm rambling and it's so cold."
"Don't worry, Asami." This murmur came from Katara, who was smiling with a deep contentment in her eyes.
"Well. I chose garnet, and I've been told that garnet is a good stone for all the chakras—"
"Man, you've got me beat," Korra said, shaking her head.
"Don't make me laugh, I might not stop," Asami warned. "Garnet, as I was saying, is a stone for all chakras, particularly the root chakra. I liked it, because we're starting a new life together. Garnet is a stone for love, for balance and strength. It's perfect for you, Korra. I love you, and I'm so glad to be yours." The fingers of her free hand twined with Korra's. "Let's start our life together."
"Sounds perfect," Korra replied, so softly that no one but Asami heard.
"You have affirmed your love, with the congregation to witness," Katara said, for all to hear. "The air accepts your words. Now, exchange necklaces."
Asami turned carefully, so the hem of her kimono wouldn't twist too much. She bowed her head slightly to give Korra easier access. It struck Korra as a very vulnerable, trusting gesture—the back of Asami's neck, exposed to the cold air and all dangers. In a minute Korra had wound the necklace around Asami's throat and fastened it with its two tab closures.
Asami turned back, with the amazonite glinting under her chin. The two women reversed, and now it was Korra who bowed her head and trusted Asami. Asami's deft fingers fastened the necklace around her neck, and Asami's fingers lingered just a second on Korra's skin.
"And now the toast. Three sips of hot sake, in the tradition of Kyoshi Island," Katara said. Steam billowed into the lamplight as she poured out sake from the insulated bottle, without haste, but with due promptness (by now the cold was really starting to bite) into a shallow cup, one of three.
Asami (the older) took up the cup first. Holding it up, she said "Korra, I take you for my wife. I promise to love, honor, and protect you."
She took a careful sip, then handed the cup to Korra, who drank and drained it.
Katara poured out a second cup, a slightly larger one. This one Korra took. She held it out and said, "Asami, I take you for my wife. I promise to love, honor, and protect you." She sipped, and gave it to Asami, who drank.
Katara poured out a last cup of hot sake, and again Asami took it, and vowed to honor Korra as her wife, and sipped. Korra took the cup, spoke the vow, and drank. She lowered the empty cup, and she was smiling with a slightly dazed, giddy expression.
"Beloved guests," Katara said, "I present to you the brides, Asami and Korra. Now let's get inside and celebrate!"
A cheer went up from the congregation. Korra and Asami leaned in and kissed one another, a slightly askew peck that tasted of rice wine. If it weren't for Katara's firm shepherding, the brides could have been swamped with hugs and kisses from their family and friends—but Katara's direction prevailed, and the congregation made their gradual way out of the park, towards the inn and the dining room, towards dancing and lots, lots more sake.
The last one remaining was Kya. She cleared off the table of the standing bowl and sake bottles, and packed them away. There hadn't been much trash, but she helped the park workers to pick up what there was. As the park rangers stowed away the chairs, she bowed low before the Kioku Pine.
"Kioku Pine spirit, we thank you for the use of your space. I hope we haven't displeased you."
"It was a lovely ceremony," came a trill from the lower boughs. "And it didn't take too long, after all."
Kya smiled. "The space is yours again. The brides asked me to convey to you our thanks, and best wishes for a Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year!" came an answering trill. Satisfied, Kya took up her pack, thanked the park workers, and headed to the inn.
A/N: I designed a ceremony that's a bit like a Western wedding, a bit like a Shinto one, but also simplified. I apologize for any egregious errors.
I'm hoping to write one more chapter. I hope this lifts the spirits of my readers. RR, and stay safe out there.