Chapter Three: Tempest
Bayard leaned back in his chair, smirking like he had just won the world. "And, thanks to their acts during the Southern Wars, the Kyoshi Warriors are the pride of the south."
"But they never leave their island," Annis pointed out, her voice stiff but her face interested. Despite the rocking of the ship, she sat perfectly straight and firm
"They don't," Bayard agreed, seemingly unbothered by this fact. "But we are safe from an attack from the south. No one can defeat our girls."
The way he said it, like he had personally trained Kyoshi's Warriors, rankled with Mithian, but she forced a smile on her face. "We look forward to seeing them in action," she said.
Apparently she didn't look interested enough, for Annis gave her a disapproving look. She could talk, really; Annis never smiled.
"When will we reach the island?" Annis asked, scanning the horizon.
"By late afternoon, Your Majesty," Bayard responded.
Mithian resisted the urges to yawn and raise her arms in the air to let the wind cool her armpits. Neither of them were princess-y acts, and her mother had urged her to impress Bayard.
Mithian didn't know why Annis cared; Bayard was the king of Omashu, a tributary to the Earth Kingdom. Annis-if not Mithian-outranked him in about a thousand different ways.
Bayard didn't seem to understand that. He had procured, it seemed to Mithian, a highly unsuitable ship for the needs of the Earth Queen and Princess, one that barely held their retinue. Annis and Mithian had been forced to share a small cabin, something not benefiting their stations.
If Bayard couldn't be bothered to impress his own queen, why should Mithian bother to impress him?
At least they weren't with him for long, just for the tour of the southwestern Earth Kingdom. She was, at least, grateful for his guidance. The south was nothing like what she had expected: hot, humid, full of trees and deserts, sea and land.
The most amazing part had been the people, who were so different than the cultured aristocrats she knew from Ba Sing Se. These were farmers, pure and simple, clinging to life in the southern sand. Their clothing was different than in the north-and they wore less clothing too, not that she blamed them, with the weather getting so hot even though it was barely spring. All the same, all those bare legs and arms had her blushing.
The weather was also totally different, too: Mithian was used to the hot, dry air of the north, with mild winters and sweltering summers. This had followed them on their journey to Omashu, but almost as soon as they had entered the boat to travel south to Chin and Kyoshi, the weather had changed. The air grew even warmer and humid, something she remembered from the Fire Nation.
And now, as the sun westered, Kyoshi Island rose up ahead of them, a crescent-shaped mass with low peaks and a collection of green buildings beneath them.
To their right, an elephant koi leapt into the air, rocking the ship. Some of the guards stood on the sides of the boat, weapons at the ready.
"What are the guards doing?" Mithian asking curiously.
"This bay holds a beast called the unagi," Bayard explained. "It often eats the elephant koi, and we want to discourage it from thinking we can be taken so easily."
Mithian stared as another giant koi leapt into the air. Something that ate those would have to be massive indeed.
The dock wasn't long enough for the ship to reach, so they weighed anchor out in the bay and an unspeaking boatman rowed them to shore in shifts. A small collection of men and women waited for them on the docks.
Behind her, Leon sucked in a quick breath. Mithian felt a grin grow on her face as she recognized one of the people on the dock.
"Merlin!" Mithian yelled, and flung her arms around him. "What are you doing here?"
"I just finished my training at the Southern Air Temple!" Merlin responded, hugging her back with equal vigor. "Now I'm heading back north to visit my family for a time. What about you?"
He didn't wait for an answer, turning to Annis with wide eyes. "Your Majesty!" he gasped, and almost fell over bowing. "I should have greeted you first, I'm so sorry-"
"You haven't changed much," Annis grumbled, but held out her hand for Merlin to kiss. "It's been a while, Avatar."
"Spirits, not you too," Merlin grumbled. "It's like I don't even have a name anymore. Do me a favor, my queen; call me 'fool,' just like old times. Please? I can't handle all this 'Avatar' nonsense."
"Nonsense, you say?" Annis replied, looking amused. Merlin's disrespectful antics had always seemed to amuse more than annoy her, much to Mithian's relief. "Alright, fool, have it your way. But don't say you have been shirking your Avatar duties!"
Merlin hastened to assure her of his devotion of the sacred Avatar calling, then there was another commotion as Merlin threw himself on Leon and Elyan and clamored for news, only composing himself to be introduced to Bayard.
"It's nice to meet the man who rules Omashu," Merlin said, looking more respectful and still than Mithian had ever seen, even with her mother or Arthur. "My family owes their livelihoods to you."
"A king does what he can," Bayard said, but he looked pleased. "I'm proud that yet another Avatar has arisen from my district."
"Yes, the south does seem to claim that pleasure quite a bit, doesn't it?" Annis said, pursing her lips. She turned to the others on the dock; two of the women, Mithian noted with interest, wore the green clothes and white face paint of the Kyoshi Warriors.
"Your Majesty, it's a pleasure to meet you," a warrior with dark curly hair said. "My name is Kara, and this is my fellow warrior Eira." She gestured to the blonde woman at her side. "We welcome you to Kyoshi Island."
Annis nodded at them. "A pleasure. I've been impressed by what I've heard about your warriors. Perhaps a demonstration of your skills later today?"
Kara's eyes shone with pleasure. "Of course, Your Majesty!" She seemed starstruck, even as Annis turned away to converse with the village elders.
"Where are the others?" Mithian asked, claiming Merlin's attentions. "Lancelot, Elena?"
"They've stayed behind in the Southern Air Temple."
"They'll want to be careful," Eira said, worrying her lower lip. "Tensions are rising again with the Water Tribes. It's only a matter of time before one of them attacks."
"Olaf is our ally; he would never attack us. But Cenred is a worry," Mithian agreed, putting her chin in her hand. "It's been seven months. I don't know why Morgana or Morgause haven't come out of the earth yet. It's like they've just disappeared."
Merlin looked troubled, but said, "If Cenred attacks them up in that mountain, he'll regret it. The Air Nomads are stronger than they appear."
"And if he attacks here, he'll regret it as well!" Eira said, standing straighter. "Our warriors have held off all attacks for centuries. Let them try."
A smooth, laughing voice came from behind the group. "Don't underestimate Cenred's stupidity, Eira."
Mithian almost froze, spinning around to face the speaker, then forced herself to relax. "Well, well, look what the catbird dragged in," she said cooly.
Gwaine looked just as she remembered: tall, dark and gorgeous. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, winking at her from under his eyelashes. "Not the catbird, just a certain Kyoshi Warrior."
Eira rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to him, Your Highness; he's assisting in our intelligence gathering!"
Mithian realized Gwaine was still holding her hand and pulled it away quickly. "Intelligence gathering?"
"Well, I was born and raised in the Southern Water Tribe," Gwaine pointed out, slinging an arm around Eira's shoulders. Mithian swallowed and looked away. "I have knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses. When Eira contacted me, I figured it made sense to be near where all the action was."
"Today has been one big reunion!" Merlin said, stepping into the conversation again. "If only Lancelot and Elena were here."
"Why didn't they come?" Mithian asked quickly, then remembered she had already asked.
"Lancelot is intent on reading his way through the Southern Air Temple's library, and Elena wouldn't leave him, of course."
Gwaine laughed. "Did dear old Lance finally get over his infatuation with Gwen and realize what was under his nose?"
"Yes! He and Elena are quite happy. I don't really know how Air Nomad weddings work, but I hope we'll be getting good news soon!"
"Do airbenders even get married?" Mithian questioned, realizing she had no idea. "I mean, they don't raise their own children, right? They're raised communally."
Merlin hesitated, then shrugged. "I was with them for seven months and never saw a marriage, but who knows?"
A young boy slipped up to the group to announce shyly that dinner had been laid out, and Mithian and Merlin continued a lively speculation on airbender weddings all the way down the road to the village hall. It looked like the whole of Kyoshi Island had come out for the feast. Annis, Mithian, and Bayard took their spots at the front of the hall on a raised platform. Merlin went to sit in the crowd with Gwaine and Eira, but Annis beckoned to him imperiously.
"Don't be silly, Merlin," she said. "Come sit at my side."
Mithian felt a moment of triumph to see Bayard booted from his seat to make room for Merlin. The southern king pursed his lips but said nothing.
Merlin peered into his cup. "Ugh, mead," he muttered, then blushed under Annis' eye. "Sorry, this is one thing I have not missed about the Earth Kingdom."
"I love it!" Mithian put it. "Here, trade with me, I have wine."
Merlin traded eagerly, then said, "How's the lavabending? It looked impressive the last time I saw!"
Mithian shrugged. "Hard without George to instruct me. I've looked far and wide for a master in Ba Sing Se, but apparently everyone thought lavabending was a skill reserved only for Avatars!"
Merlin whistled. "My lady! You'll be stealing my job soon enough."
"Despite her lack of a teacher, Mithian has been progressing adequately in her studies," Annis said. Was that a hint of approval in her eyes? Mithian blushed. "I just wish she would spend as much time in the council chambers with me as she does in the courtyards with the Dai Li."
Mithian looked away. "Yes, Mother. You know I love being part of your council."
"Perhaps you should show it then," Annis continued sternly. Mithian saw Merlin and Bayard exchange awkward glances. "You'll be queen one of these days, Mithian. Bending is an important skill, but I think you will find that you'll spend much more time negotiating than you do fighting."
Seven months ago, Mithian would have loved to have sat in on a council session with her mother. Anything to get her mother to trust her. But when she had temporarily ran away on the quest with Arthur and the others, she had tasted the freedom that princesses and queens didn't have.
"Can't I train too?" Mithian insisted, the lines of the familiar argument rising to her lips. "Why, Avatar Kyoshi, whose sacred island we sit on, solved most of her problems by crushing them with earthbending!"
"Why are you so sure you'll be fighting in this war, daughter?" Annis responded, toying with her chopsticks like she wanted to stab something.
"A good leader joins her troops in battle," Mithian said. "That's what all the kings and queens in times past have done."
Annis clenched her jaw. "You have seen enough of war. You needn't fight on the front lines."
"It's an admirable goal, my lady!" Bayard interjected, leaning around Merlin and Annis to nod solemnly at Mithian. "Troops appreciate a leader who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. But there's not need to for you to take the front lines, as your mother has said. That's what the Council of Five Generals is for."
"I'm not going to leave everything for the Earth Kingdom's generals to manage when I am queen," Mithian insisted, resisting the petty urge to throw a piece of elephant koi at Bayard. "I will stand with my people."
Annis' hands were clenched, and Mithian thought with a jolt she had gone too far. But her mother said nothing-at least not yet, in public.
Merlin coughed awkwardly. "What excellent fish! Having been among the airbenders for so long, it's many months since I've had meat."
While everyone else hastened to praise the cook and food, Merlin shot Mithian a pitying look over Annis's back. "You should find George. Convince him to teach you in Ba Sing Se."
"Leon tried," Mithian moaned. "He refused to leave 'his ladies.'"
"Those three creepy elders in Disir?" Merlin shuddered.
"He's quite devoted to them." Mithian shook her head, then lowered her voice. "Speaking of devotion." She wiggled her eyebrows at him. "When are you starting your waterbending training with a certain brunette lady?"
Merlin looked away, but not fast enough to hide his smile and blush. In the side of her vision, Mithian saw Leon and Elyan lean forward eagerly. "That's not set in stone."
She smirked. "I'm an earthbender, Merlin. Let me decide what is set in stone. And don't avoid question."
"Freya visited the Northern Air Temple, once, before winter came," Merlin said, swigging his wine. "She did tell me to join her in the north when I was done learning airbending." His entire face was red now.
She grinned and squealed, earning a disapproving look from Annis. "Merlin!" They dissolved into laughter.
Leon cleared his throat delicately. "Speaking of marriage . . ."
Merlin choked. "Oh, it's nowhere near that! We'll see what happens . . . I won't want to stay in the cold, wild north all the time."
Mithian wiggled her eyebrows again. "You'll soon be singing a different tune! I'll check for message hawks daily." Merlin made a face at her behind her mother.
The sun slowly sunk toward the ocean and the dinner party moved outside. Merlin watched the sun lower for a moment.
"I must fly," he said regretfully, taking Annis' offered hand and kissing it again. "I want to make it to Chin by nightfall."
"Send our regards to your mother and father," Annis said regally. Merlin blinked as she bent her head. "Our hopes go with you, Avatar."
He bowed low, and then winked at Mithian. She grinned and bowed.
"When you have learned the inferior art of waterbending, Merlin," she said, "come to Ba Sing Se and learn earthbending with me. I have masters enough for the both of us."
Merlin's eyes brightened. "That I shall, Your Highness! I look forward to learning from you. Spirits protect you all."
He was gone, twirling his glider in his hand. Mithian watched him flit off into the growing darkness with a sinking heart. She hoped he made it to his family. She got the feeling the fragile peace was going to head south quite soon.
Almost before Merlin was out of sight, the Kyoshi Warriors raised a cry to gather in the town center; it was time for their demonstration.
Mithian joined her mother on the first bench with a feeling of excitement: Even though the warriors rarely left their small village, she had heard tales of their skill even in Ba Sing Se.
"Gather round, gather round!" Kara called as children raced to sit on the ground in front of the benches. A hush fell over the crowd. Even the villagers, who had surely seen the warriors in action hundreds of times, leaned forward eagerly. "We welcome the queen of the Earth Kingdom, Annis, Princess Mithian, and King Bayard of Omashu!
The other warriors crowded around her, their white face paint glowing orange in the fiery sunset. Mithian saw Eira wink at Gwaine, who lounged on the ground surrounded by children.
"First, the Kyoshi salute," Kara announced, and whipped out her fan.
Mithian leaned forward, clasping her hands together. The warriors moved perfectly in sync, their bodies low and centered toward the ground like an earthbender.
"What I wouldn't give to study with those girls," Mithian whispered, just loud enough for her mother to hear. "If you would let me."
"I can't let my only child gallivant around the southern Earth Kingdom when she should be preparing to be queen," Annis whispered back.
She said it like there was no point in arguing, but Mithian gave it a go anyway. "I don't want to be stuck in council chambers all my life," Mithian protested, keeping her voice low. The sounds of warriors covered most sound, as well as the oooohing and ahhhing of the villagers and the chattering of excited children. "The winds are changing, Mother. You've got to let me learn to fight."
"You're a princess, the heir-"
"Arthur learned how to fight, and he was the heir!" Mithian protested, then lowered her voice again when a couple people turned to look. "Some Earth kings have gone off to war. Is it because I'm a woman? Is it?"
"This has nothing to do with you being a women, Mithian," Annis sighed. "This has to do with your place in the world. You have to lead!"
"I will lead! From the battlefield!"
"No, with diplomacy! With peace! That is how this war will be solved! Not with thousands dying on some unnamed hill!"
"But what if I could save them? This skill I have-"
"What, lavabending?" The queen actually scoffed.
"Yes! What if I could-"
"No more, Mithian," Annis warned.
"I'm not a child anymore, Mother," Mithian hissed. "One of these days, I'll be queen, and I'll take the route I want."
"You may regret it," Annis said coldly, and said no more.
Mithian wasn't sure how she managed to stay in her seat until the demonstration was over, but she rose as soon as Annis did, bowed shortly, and walked off. Behind her came whispers, and she saw Bayard watching with interest out of the corner of her eye.
Two shadows detached themselves from the edges of the crowd and followed her down the empty road.
She sighed, trying to breathe her anger out. It didn't work, but her voice was steady as she said, "You don't have to follow me everywhere, not here."
"Threats can come from any side, my lady," Leon said respectfully.
Mithian slowed down so Leon and Elyan could flank her on either side. The dock came up before them, two people standing on it; the setting sun haloed their silhouettes in gold. "Why is she so disapproving of what I want? Not every queen has to fit a mold, you know!"
Elyan nodded briskly until Leon shot him a dark look. Mithian sighed. Leon was a good friend and advisor, but it was no use making him speak out against his queen, even on things he might have agreed on.
The very bottom edge of the sun had kissed the horizon. Mithian scanned the darkening waters, wondering if she might see the Southern Air Temple from here, but all she saw was that the two people on the dock were Gwaine and Eira. Eira also looked out to the water, her brow furrowed, and Gwaine had a hand on her arm.
Elyan's face brightened, and he broke away from Mithian and Leon to join Gwaine. Leon sighed but didn't say anything.
"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about, Eira," Gwaine was saying, his voice drifting toward them. "You know how airbenders are."
"But they've never done this before," Eira protested. "In all my years on this island, they have never been this late."
"What happened?" Elyan asked, slinging an arm around Gwaine's shoulders. "What about the airbenders?" Frowning, Mithian wandered closer.
"We should have an air bison from the Southern Air Temple by now," Eira responded, turning to face them. "They come every weekend to trade with us. I don't understand why they aren't here yet."
"There's a storm," Gwaine said. "They wouldn't come in that."
"Yes, they would," Eira insisted. "They've never missed. I'm worried!"
"I'm sure all is well," Leon said. "The Avatar assured us they are strong. Perhaps, with their equinox festivities, they're coming tomorrow."
Gwaine smirked and shook his head. "Airbenders are easily distracted. Why, do you remember how Elena was?"
Mithian felt a spike of annoyance. "Elena wasn't easily distracted," she snapped. "She was happy and innocent, even when times were hard."
"Never said she wasn't, princess," Gwaine replied easily. "In fact, perhaps you could learn a thing or two from her."
Mithian folded her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You seem a little tense," Gwaine observed, turning away from Eira to face her. "All those council chambers, maybe? Spending all that time cooped up in Ba Sing Se can't be good for your health."
Hearing her own words in Gwaine's voice did nothing to improve Mithian's temper. "You don't understand what's expected of the heir to the Earth Kingdom's throne."
"Not at all, not at all," Gwaine agreed, flicking his hair off his face. "I mean, perhaps we could all learn a thing or two from Elena. You, for instance, might benefit from a little, uh, distraction every now and then." He winked at her.
"Your Highness," Leon said from behind Mithian. She ignored him, instead narrowing her eyes at Gwaine.
"Why, so I can end up like you? No ties, no responsibilities? Sounds like a stable life."
"Your Highness," Leon said, a little louder.
"Doesn't look like you're enjoying your life like this, either," Gwaine pointed out.
Before Mithian could respond, Leon tapped her pointedly on the shoulder. "Your Highness!"
"What?" she snapped, rounding on him.
He pointed, out to sea.
The others turned to look. A dark cloud, backlight by the sun, rushed toward the island.
"Are those . . . airbenders?" Gwaine muttered, shading his eyes.
Now that Mithian looked again, she saw Gwaine was right. As the "cloud" moved closer, she could see individual airbenders and bison weaving through the air. Even as she watched, one gliding figure faltered and fell toward the ocean. Three more airbenders streaked down to catch the figure and drag it back up to an air bison.
"Didn't you say they come to trade?" Mithian asked sharply.
Eira gaped. "Not this many! That's got to be half the temple!"
Mithian swallowed hard. This did not look like a trade delegation.
Eira turned away. "Clear the center of the village!" she yelled, running and waving her arms to attract attention. "We have company!"
Within minutes, the airbenders arrived with a massive gust of wind that raised a cloud of dust and set everyone coughing. Many were wounded and bleeding. Crying and yelling filled the air.
Mithian stumbled over, grabbing the nearest airbender who looked halfway alive. "What happened? Speak quickly!"
"Waterbenders from the south!" the man gasped. "They came out of nowhere! We had no way to defend ourselves-"
Horror filled Mithian as she surveyed the scene. There were probably a hundred airbenders all told. "Is this all? Where are the rest?"
The airbender gulped, tears streaking his face. "Dead or captured. We saved everyone we could."
Mithian let him return to his work, then rushed forward to help an old monk dismount her air bison.
The monk was groaning, "The children . . . I tried so hard to save them . . ."
Mithian thought she might vomit, but she only put an arm around the old woman. "Y-you're safe now."
When the villagers had patched up and fed who could be, Mithian marched up to her mother. Annis stood with arms crossed, looking stormier than Mithian remembered her looking for a long time.
"You cannot let this go unanswered," Mithian hissed. "Attacking the Air Nomads? Unacceptable! They don't even have a military!"
"I cannot interfere in another nation's war," Annis said, then held up a hand to hold off Mithian's protests. "But I doubt this will end here. I fear we have barely dodged a boulder."
"What do you mean?"
Annis looked troubled as she surveyed the milling refugees. "Do you suppose the timing of this attack was so coincidental? The Avatar himself was there not long ago. I think Cenred hoped to capture Merlin, but failed."
"Thank the spirits Merlin moved on from here already, especially if Cenred is following," Mithian muttered. Annis only frowned.
Her eyes searched the crowd again. Hadn't Merlin said Elena and Lancelot were at the Air Temple? Where were they? Surely . . . surely they hadn't been-
"Queen Annis!" An older Air Nomad stumbled up. "You must evacuate the island! We were followed by a whole fleet of ships!"
Annis gripped his shoulder, her mouth pinched. "How many?"
"At least a hundred."
Mithian clutched her heart. A hundred Water Tribe ships? "This is an invasion," she said.
Annis nodded grimly, her eyes searching the south. She turned to Leon. "Send for a runner. Find the Avatar and bring him back. There's going to be war."