Chapter Six: Hospitality of the Tuskarr

A cold wind blew through Arthas' hair as he looked out over the frozen hills. There had been something different about him since they met Aang. It was like something had been withdrawn from him, or perhaps he had withdrawn back.

Arthas was trying to hide it, of course, but it was there. "Katara, have you met with Tuskarr before?"

"Well, yes, but not these ones," said Katara.

"Then I am relying on you to negotiate," said Arthas.

"You don't have to worry. I'm sure I can talk with them," said Aang confidently.

"Do you have experience with negotiation before this?" asked Arthas.

"Well, I always use to hang out with people from all over," said Aang. "Like my friend Kuzon from the Fire Nation. Or Bumi from Omashu."

"You know King Bumi?" asked Arthas in surprise.

"Bumi's a King?" asked Aang,

"Yes," said Arthas. "Or at least the King of Omashu is called Bumi.

"He is arguably the greatest Earth Bender the world has ever seen."

"Wow, do you know him?" asked Aang.

"I know of him," said Arthas, adjusting his cloak. "Negotiations were moderately more successful than with Ba Sing Se. Moderately.

"In any case, I am going to defer to Katara on this. Unless I am mistaken, she is the only one among us with actual experience with the Tuskarr."

On they flew until they were over the shore. As they did, Katara saw a village of huts. The scent of cooking fires could be smelled, and many of the Tuskarr were at work.

"There it is," said Katara.

"What's that over there?" asked Aang, pointing.

Katara looked up and saw a large group of riders surging across the plains. Zuko and Zhao, maybe?

"Drop the bison down, now. Get behind the hills," said Arthas.

"What's the big deal?" asked Aang obeying.

"Zuko is on his way to the fort," said Arthas. "Your flying bison will instantly attract his attention. We're lucky we had those clouds behind us."

Katara hadn't even noticed the clouds.

As Appa landed, Arthas slid off the creature and shouldered his pack. Removing the fish they'd caught in the pack, he looked up to them. "We'll leave the Bison here."

Was it just Katara, or had Arthas suddenly become a lot less warm all of a sudden.

"What if Appa gets lonely?" asked Aang.

"What if Appa gets seen, marking this party as in the company of the Last Airbender," retorted Arthas. "Thus bringing the entire Fire Nation army over here?

"The animal stays here."

"Appa's not an animal; he's my friend," said Aang.

"Then your friend stays here," said Arthas. "He's a dead giveaway to your location."

"Aren't you friends with Zuko?" asked Aang.

"As far as friendship is possible between Princes? Yes," said Arthas. "But I wouldn't expect him to betray his nation. Let alone give up the chance to go home. Can Appa survive on his own? Or would you prefer to remain behind with him?"

Aang paused and looked to Appa. "No, Appa's fine. Right boy."

"Good. Then let's get going," said Arthas. "Katara, lead the way."

Katara did so, and there was something cold as they walked. Aang and Arthas kept looking at one another, and she had the feeling something was going on. Aang began to get a scowl on his face, only to hide it.

Katara got the feeling that Arthas did not like Aang at all. They'd seemed to get off badly right from the beginning. But things had only gotten more hostile as time went on.

Either way, Katara couldn't focus on that.

Halting in front of a frozen lake, she saw the ice wasn't all that thick. Someone had broken holes in it to hunt. It could break if they weren't careful and stepped in the wrong place.

"...What's wrong, Katara?" asked Aang.

"There's a frozen lake across here. Walk slowly and be wary of cracks," said Katara. "Arthas, you'd best walk a bit farther away from us?"

"Why?" asked Arthas.

"You've got armor on, so that's a lot heavier," said Katara, grateful she hadn't taken her chainmail. "We'll want to spread out, so we don't plunge straight through."

"I could probably fly over it," said Aang.

"Without the bison?" asked Arthas.

"Yeah, this is a multipurpose staff," said Aang, spinning it. "Although I can only fly over short distances."

"Wow, that sounds really handy, Aang," said Katara.

"I know, right," said Aang. "Let me give you a ride some time."

"Focus," said Arthas.

And so they began to make their way across the ice while spread out. Katara knew how to act in this kind of situation, but neither of them did. Several times she had to give them instructions on how to spread out their weight.

Fortunately, the ice here was thick and didn't crack at all. So Katara ended up feeling a bit silly.

"So uh, why do you want to talk to these Tuskarr anyway?" asked Aang.

"I want to see what they know," said Arthas. "Zhao doesn't seem like the sort to pay attention to those beneath him. They probably know things about Northrend that nobody else does."

"They definitely do," said Katara. "They've been here since before even the Water Tribes existed." Soon they got off the ice, and Katara moved up to Arthas. "Hey, Arthas, can I talk to you?"

"What is it?" asked Arthas.

"Why do you have a problem with Aang?" asked Katara.

"He abandoned his people," said Arthas. "He was supposed to fight for them, and he just took off. Sure, he says he wanted to be himself, but I'm not sympathetic to that."

"But he had no idea the Fire Nation was going to attack," said Katara.

"Why should that matter?" asked Arthas. "A leader must sacrifice for his people. It was his duty to serve the world as the Avatar."

"Were you like that when you were twelve-years-old?" asked Katara flatly.

"I should have been," said Arthas. "The twelve-year-old Arthas was an idiot. I am a Prince. I exist to serve my people. They look to me to lead and give me privileges no other man has. If I did not live for them, I wouldn't be much of a Prince."

"Look, just... give Aang a chance, okay," said Katara. "Maybe what he did was wrong. But he didn't ask to get trapped in the iceberg. If he hadn't, he'd have saved the world, I'm sure."

"Does anything about him indicate the ability to save-" Arthas cut himself off. "Nevermind. Lead on."

When they came back, they found Aang resting on a sphere of air. He cut it out and looked at them in surprise. "So, what were you guys talking about?"

"Just clearing up a misunderstanding earlier," said Arthas. "It happened before we met you."

Arthas lied like a champion, didn't he?

Katara put it from her mind as they walked toward the Tuskarr village. As they did, she wondered what Arthas meant by living for his people. They had a similar idea in the Southern Water Tribe, but there everyone looked out for everyone else. Everybody knew eachother, so no one judged.

But Arthas seemed to think that he had to look out for everyone all on his own. While Aang didn't seem to like the idea of looking out for others. Katara thought that it was uncharitable of her to think of the Avatar. So she focused on reaching the Tuskarr.

"Here we are," said Katara as they neared a village.

Their presence had been marked. Into sight came a huge Tuskarr, clad in furs. His fangs were far larger than the others, and he bore a huge spear. He made a guttural noise, and Katara listened to it. He was speaking the Tuskarr trade language.

"What's he saying, Katara?" asked Aang.

"He is the Chieftain of the Tuskarr, Bok," said Katara. "He recognizes me as a member of the Southern Water Tribe by my garb. But he hasn't seen anyone like me for a long time.

"He wants to know who we are?"

"Tell him I am Prince Arthas Menethil of Lordaeron. I wish to learn from his wisdom so that I might know this land," said Arthas, drawing out the pack of fish. "Both it's wonders, and it's horrors."

Katara listened to the response and translated. "Bok is unsure of you. He asks that you present your fish. Surely someone in the company of a Southern Water Tribeswoman would know."

"Yes, of course," said Arthas, drawing out the fish. "We will gladly tell the story of the catch?"

Bok then looked to Aang and spoke again. "Um... Bok asks if Aang has brought a fish."

Arthas looked panicked for a moment, though someone who didn't know him. "...Tell him that Aang only came into our company after our fishing trip finished. He, at present, has nowhere else to go. Thus we ask you forgive his failure to-"

"Tell him I'm the Avatar!" said Aang quickly and cheerfully.

"What, no, ignore that statement!" said Arthas.

Katara didn't know why, but she found herself obeying Aang's instructions without question. It was weird; she guessed she just deferred to him naturally because he was the Avatar.

"What's the big deal?" asked Aang. "I mean, it could help?"

"Do you really want to spread that information in Fire Nation territory? We have to-," began Arthas.

But the Tuskarr spoke, and Katara translated again. "The Tuskarr Chieftain proclaims that the Avatar does not need to present a fish. His very nature is proven since long ago."

"Alright!" said Aang.

Arthas looked on in surprise and irritation. "...You can understand our language?"

"Trade has taught us many things," said Bok.

Arthas sighed. "Clever. May we come in and explain the details of our catch?"

"By all means, come in," said Bok. "We'll eat fish soon."

"Um, I'm not allowed to eat meat," said Aang. "It's against my religions. We Airbenders believe that all life is sacred, even the tiniest fly."

"...What about the plants you kill to eat instead of animals?" asked Arthas flatly. "They're alive too."

"Well, um, they don't feel pain, do they?" asked Aang.

"How do you know they don't?" asked Arthas.

"I'm sure the plants understand," said Katara. "I mean, even you have to eat."

"Right, thanks Katara," said Aang.

"We do eat other things that are not fish, of course," said Tuskarr. "Though they are more difficult to get, only the best for the Avatar."

And so the meal was laid out, and they ate. As they did, Katara asked about a lot of things with the others. It turned out that a significant portion of their fish was taken by the Fire Nation. It also turned out that a lot of harbors were being built on the coast.

Katara wondered if it was in preparation for something big.

"Wow, who knew we'd get such a warm welcome here," said Aang.

"I wonder if the Fire Nation would be so warm," muttered Arthas, who seemed bitter.

"Oh, come on, Arthas, we can trust him," said Aang.

"And what about everyone he knows?" asked Arthas. "And everyone they may know? Within a week, word of your presence will have spread to every village.

"No matter how well-meaning, you can't swear this many people to secrecy."

"That is how it should be," said Bok. "The coming of the Avatar will inspire hope in these dark times. We shall tell all of this.

"But only once you have departed.

"So tell me, Avatar Aang, who are your companions?"

"Excuse me?" asked Arthas, seeming offended.

"Oh, this is Arthas, a Prince from Lordaeron and Katara, she's from the Southern Water Tribe," said Aang. "So, um, what um-"

"Avatar Aang and I are here in order to learn more about a strange group of creatures. They attacked the Fire Nation fort," said Arthas, cutting in. "No doubt you saw them yourself some time ago."

"Um, we are?" asked Aang blinking.

"An army of the undead attacked us; we'll explain later," said Arthas.

"Ah, yes," said Bok. "That is the work of the Lich King."

"The Lich King?" asked Katara. She'd never heard of such a thing. There had been stories of the dead rising now and then. But nothing like this.

"Yes," said Bok. "Some years ago, a great shard of ice fell from the sky and landed in Icecrown Glacier. It drew to it many powerful demons, and they served it. Spreading out, they turned the surrounding villages into the walking dead. And with them, they spread a terrible plague.

"Those who died from the plague were then transformed into the undead in turn.

"The Tuskarr tried to get the peoples of Northrend to unite against them, but the old hatreds ran deep. Disunified, we have been fighting alone for many years.

"It is for that reason that we put ourselves at the service of the Fire Nation."

"What about the Northern Water Tribe?" asked Arthas, voice calculating.

"They have done battle with the undead at sea and sunk many of their vessels," said Bok. "However, what happens here is no concern of theirs."

"This Lich King, what is he? Do you know?" asked Aang, voice a bit eager. Why was he eager?

"He has..." Bok paused. "Powers over the elements. Terrible powers that allow him to turn the weather itself against us. Not always, but often armies invading his domain are faced by rain and snow. He also wields unholy energies."

"How far is Icecrown Glacier?" asked Katara.

"At the very heart of Northrend," said Bok. "But to reach it, one would have to do battle with many foul creatures on the way. The Fire Nation defends against them, but their primary goal is to reach the Southern Water Tribe.

"And any approach to the Lich King would have to go through... Drak'theron Keep."

Shudders came from many Tuskarr, and a young Tuskarr huddled with its mother.

"It is a black citadel of horrors beyond imagining," said Bok. "We dare not mention it for fear of drawing the attention of Mal'Ganis."

"Who is this-" Arthas halted as he saw the reactions. "-Dark Lord?"

"He is... truly terrible," said Bok. "None who are alive have yet seen him. Yet he often seizes the living from their beds and takes them to Drak'theron Keep. Our boldest scouts have heard their screams at night and seen unholy magic at work.

"Zhao has checked several of their advances. However, we fear things may become worse soon. The corpses he has been raising seem without end and many of them are Nerubians."

"The spider-folk who dwell beneath the earth?" asked Arthas.

"Yes," said Bok. "They have been fighting many wars with them. But things may be going ill, now. There are rumors of horrors rising beneath the Earth. I've told Zhao of this, but he has dismissed them.

"All of the Fire Nations will is bent on establishing coastal towns. I believe they hope to invade the Northern Water Tribe. But to do so, they need supply chains."

"So um... should I do something about this?" asked Aang. "I mean, the Fire Nation is pretty strong? We can't just let them conquer the Northern Water Tribe. Especially since they're um, dealing with... him."

"The logical choice would be to make contact with my Father," said Arthas. "If the Fire Nation and Lordaeron were to coordinate, it may be possible to destroy the undead. Uther is the greatest wielder of Light in the world; the Silver Hand could make all the difference.

"We're already planning to establish colonies. With military support from the Alliance, we might solve both problems."

That solution sounded like it could work for Katara. At the same time, she found her gaze drawn to Aang and realized the plan completely sidelined him. "Hang on, Arthas. Do you really think finding Aang like this was a coincidence?"

"Yes," said Arthas. "Why wouldn't it be?"

Bok shook his hands. "The Lich King cannot be defeated by mortal hands. He has infested nature itself and can only be purged from it by nature. Only the Avatar, wielder of all Four Elements, can stop the Lich King.

"You, Avatar, must learn to wield the Four Elements and master them. Only then can you defeat the Lich King."

"Isn't the Fire Nation his primary nemesis?" asked Arthas, voice holding an edge.

Bok sighed. "The Fire Nation can conquer the world, but life would persist in some form. The Lich King, however, would end all life everywhere. Those places he conquers become wastelands where nothing lives save abominations of darkness."

"So, um, what do I do?" asked Aang, seeming on edge as well.

"You must first learn the element of water. And for that, you will need a teacher," said Bok.

"The Northern Water Tribe has many benders, and they could instruct you."

"My fleet could sail that far once we're out of here," admitted Arthas. "I am looking for a peaceful solution between the Fire and Water Tribes, after all. So perhaps we could kill two birds with one stone."

"Why would you want to kill birds?" asked Aang.

"It's a figure of speech," said Arthas. "It means that we are using one action to achieve two objectives."

And then a Tuskarr rushed through the tent doors. "Chieftain Bok!"

"What is it?" asked Bok.

"The Fire Nation is coming," said the man. "And in large numbers."

Arthas didn't lose control for a second. He stood at once. "...Hide Aang, immediately. When the coast is clear, break away to meet with Appa. Meet up with us further down the coast. Fly low and don't do anything rash. I'll deal with this.

"Katara, follow me."

Katara thought about Aang being out in the wilderness all on his own. "Maybe I should-"

"Your absence will be noted if you don't come with me," said Arthas. "The last thing we need is suspicion. Now come on."

Always a good reason to leave something behind. Arthas was the most practical person Katara had ever met.

Out they went, and as they did, Arthas waved.

Riding in was Zuko upon a horse. Zhao and Iroh were with him, and Arthas moved forward and waved. "Zuko, what news?"

Zuko paused. "Prince Arthas. What are you doing here?"

"Speaking with the locals," said Arthas. "Nothing of great interest to you, to be honest. I like to understand the local customs."

"I'm glad you're safe, Prince Arthas," said Iroh. "When we learned you had gone out on your own, there was concern, to say the least."

"Well, this isn't my first blizzard," said Arthas. "How did the pursuit go?"

"We routed the undead and destroyed many of them," said Zhao, dismounting. "The rest were caught by a force of Ice Trolls in an ambush. Some of your men were among them. They nearly got us killed."

"How did that happen?" asked Arthas.

"The Ice Trolls, under the direction of a Water Tribesman, engineered an avalanche. It filled in the passes the undead took," said Zuko. "It sealed the entire breach and nearly caught us in it."

Sokka had done all that? Buried an army of undead under the ice? That was pretty impressive.

"Still," said Iroh. "At least we won't have to worry about any more undead invasions till spring."

"My apologies for the inconvenience," said Arthas, not missing a beat. "I haven't been in contact with Muradin, and he may have acted independently."

"It is of no consequence," said Zhao simply. "The odd thing is that when I got back, I could have sworn some things in my office had been moved around."

Zhao knew, or at least suspected, but Arthas' face didn't move. "Ah, yes, well, I apologize for that.

"With every one of rank out pursuing the undead, I had to delegate my responsibility. I thought it was necessary for Falric to be familiar with the situation. We had no idea how long he would be gone.

"But I assure you, I instructed Falric to touch nothing that would be considered secret by the Fire Nation."

"I see," said Zhao, voice suspicious.

Wait, was Arthas playing dumb? Or admitting to his guilt? Katara wasn't sure.

"Prince Zuko, may I make a recommendation?" asked Arthas suddenly.

"What is it?" asked Zuko scowling.

"I think that you should write to your Father," said Arthas. "Inform him of the situation here, and describe Commander Zhao's heroics. Make it clear to your Father how dangerous a situation he has been keeping well in hand here.

"The Fire Lord should know who among them serve him best."

Zhao paused and looked to Zuko, then Arthas carefully. There was a calculating look in his eyes. "Well, if you wish to do so, I would be eternally grateful."

Zuko paused. "...I will consider it."

"On a separate note, Prince Zuko," said Iroh. "Has Admiral Zhao briefed you on the traditions of the Tuskarr? They have an innate connection to this land and know it well."

"He has not, no," said Zuko.

"Well then, perhaps we can discuss some of my findings back in the fort?" asked Arthas. "I'm sure we've all been tired. And some of the Tuskarr's stories may be useful to you.

"In any case, my ships will have to move out soon."

"So will I," said Zuko.

Katara had the feeling things were going to get very complicated very soon.