Chapter 59: Phantoms of the Past
"Irkiq's imprisoned."
Khasiq cast a look at the guard standing outside of his metal cell. The guard, despite bearing the eccentricities of a Loyalist uniform, addressed the Nationalist leader with reverence fit for his true identity.
"We were excited about nothing, sir," the guard stared back at him dead in the eyes, "The prince came back just in time. It seems he's literally attached to her hip."
Khasiq brushed his overgrown hair out of his eyes and ambled over to the guard, barely able to see him from the overwhelming darkness even with the accompanying light of the torch, "But the deed is done, right?"
"Yes, but Irkiq is imprisoned," the guard repeated. "You didn't really expect him to escape, did you? There was just no way he was going to get out of the palace so easily—"
"I knew he wasn't going to escape," Khasiq confirmed. "That peasant is more than capable of handling him herself, and the prince wouldn't leave her by herself anyhow. Whether he made it back or not. After all, it was only expected the Avatar would be put in charge."
"Well the Avatar wasn't there for the conversation, and neither was anyone else," the guard said. "Irkiq managed that by playing on the princess's sentiments."
Khasiq shook his head, "That woman is a sentimental fool. The biggest fool of the North. You tell her you slapped a woman, and she goes all crazy, and that man-slut of hers comes running at you with an ax the next minute." Huffing, "But everyone knows how that goes. As far as I'm concerned, it does not matter to me if Irkiq is imprisoned or interrogated or what have you. He's a maniacal bastard, but he's well-versed at keeping secrets. And he has no one to call his own, either; no one can touch him. That's why I handpicked him for the job."
"Even if you used utmost care and calculation in choosing him, I don't understand what he really did for you," the man frowned, "It would've been one thing if he was successful and managed to kill her. But why put on a show?"
"The answers will unfold with time," Khasiq said. "All that matters to me is whether the seed is properly planted. So the viper plant can take root."
"I did what I had to because I love my country," the imposter hissed, shaking his chained hands in his rage. "As a loyal citizen, I cannot let this impure creature rule our nation." Pointing his crooked finger at the princess, "She's undeserving of the throne!"
Yue merely stared at the floor, uncertainty casting over her in waves despite her annoyed frown. Aang, Katara, and Ivaneq issued glares at the man, thinking him to be deranged. Sokka, however, was holding back a clenched fist, the sharp blue of his eyes on the verge of churning into a stark black, "You better watch that tongue of yours if you wanna keep it!"
"She's the complete antithesis of a woman! She's a demoness! A witch! She should've died the moment she was born—!"
Sokka roared, nearly shaking the building and jolting the hearts of those around him with his thunderous octaves as he charged forward. Yue grabbed his hand and stopped him, shaking her head and claiming restraint.
"You can skin me alive if you wish," the man spat, "But I will only stand by the Book of Purity. 'No house of La will give shelter to those who defy the purity code. Such a crime will render the bloodline impure! Disease, infertility, and death will reign the household! Starvation and damnation are imminent!'" Glaring at the princess, "This woman is a germ! She will taint the North for eternities to come! The tribe is already suffering because of her status as the princess; if she takes a seat on that throne as the nunaatip anaana, the North will perish for good—AAH!" the man fell backward, unable to reach the floor thanks to the chains binding him to the wall. The print of Sokka's heated palm stained the man's throbbing cheek.
"Isumataq!" Yue pulled Sokka back out of the man's cell, commanding in reprimand, "Control yourself."
"The tribe is suffering, huh?" Aang questioned the man's pathetic argument, "Is it suffering now more than it was under Khasiq? The public is bound to disagree."
"It had been ages since we've seen the faces of smiling children on the sidewalks, and the Spirits know just how much our sisters feared stepping out. That was the kind of hell Khasiq and his minions put us through," Ivaneq said. "The tribe is just now starting to see the light of day."
"If anything, he's the sourpuss here," Katara glared, "He probably got his ass and his bloated ego handed to him by the sisters of the tribe recently."
"Not me. The tribe is gonna have its dignity handed to it in a matter of days," the man managed out in spite of his throbbing face, eyeing the princess, "She has you all fooled into thinking she's Arnook's flesh and blood. But just keep in mind that you have no witnesses for the birth other than the chief and his wife, the liars themselves.
"Oh, then surely you were there on the night of the solstice to confirm that she was the baby who was born there," Sokka retorted, "Were you? Obviously not. So what fucking basis do you even have? You're nothing but another bully sent by Khasiq to circulate shitty morals and prey on the innocent. No compassion for the venerable Akna, no respect for Her Royal Highness—"
"Just so you know, I don't give a fuck about Khasiq and his politics," the imposter muttered. "Heck, you can take the Northern throne if you wanted right this moment, and I wouldn't give a damn. As long as she's out of our hair. And since you're harping on the basis of my argument, allow me to turn it around and ask you: Do you have a solid basis that she is Arnook's own? If she really was his and not a germ to be kept concealed, why did he keep her hidden? Why didn't he tell the tribe of her birth—?"
"Oh, yes, of course, a loving parent is expected to let his child's identity out when a killer is on the loose specifically to kill anyone in the way of the throne! Silly me," Sokka spat. "Arnook might not have known what the hell he was doing, and he might've made shitty decisions, but the ridiculous extent of his overprotection is no indication that she's not his own." Pointing an accusatory finger at the man, "If anything, you're the imposter here."
"I only acted as her father because she needed to be gotten rid of, and I thought there was no other way for me to reach her. As repulsive as she is, and as impure as it would have been, I was willing to take her by the hand and drag her out of the palace to finish her myself. If only I'd known I didn't have to go through all those steps. She acts like she melts into a puddle so easily at another's misfortune. Sentimental bitch."
Sokka, his irises now a dangerous black, grabbed the nearest torch and charged back at the man with an uproar that nearly sent the tribe shaking, causing Ivaneq to literally fall backward, the assistant barely caught by an equally shocked Aang and a horrified Katara. Yue managed to splash a tendril of water over the torch to extinguish it, subsequently grabbing tight hold of Sokka's arm.
"Let it go," she told the raging warrior, tugging him back. "Let's get out of here."
"You see that? She doesn't want the secret revealed!" the man exclaimed, earning annoyed looks from those around him, "Mark my words, you fools. Even if I'm gone, even if you suppress my voice, or even if you conspire to make this witch a queen, there are hundreds of others out there who know the secret she's keeping."
"Well they're gonna have to get through us and the White Lotus before they even think about targeting the North's last hope," Katara declared.
"And it wouldn't do your little group to challenge the Avatar," Aang warned. "Keep that in mind."
Ivaneq shook his head, incredulous, "No matter how hard I think I have no idea where this man's getting this from. It's insane—"
"It's the truth!"
Sokka kept his glower on the man, backing down from another lunge in his direction by the princess's squeeze of his hand. "If you recall, that's propaganda that Khasiq had wanted to spread. He kept screaming it to the White Lotus officials like a banshee-bat. This imposter is no different. He has to be one of Khasiq's minions."
"But he—"
"I don't care what he says about Khasiq," Sokka frowned, "He could easily be covering for him by making it seem like he has nothing to do with him."
"Yeah," Aang agreed, "And even if Khasiq is in prison, he could very well have allies in hiding."
"We can get him to spill everything with a couple of whips," Zhi suggested.
Yue, horrified, gawked at Zhi, "No!"
"He was looking to attack you, Your Highness, we can't take this matter lightly—"
"It's cruel," she emphasized, shaking her head vigorously, "No way on earth are you doing that."
"But—"
"Let it go, Zhi," Sokka muttered, but the prince's death glare still bore into the man's demented yet unperturbed look.
"Sleeping with her will give you absolutely nothing, Prince Sokka," the man shot the prince a snarling leer, "Scream at me all you want like an unhinged lover, but remember, you're already on the verge of losing your family. Just think of what the reaction would be if they find out you're consorting with the Akna. How easy would it be to snip you out of the family." Chuckling, "I pray that you don't take steps with her that you shouldn't take. Because she will consume you whole."
Yue, greatly perturbed and dismayed by the comments, glanced at her ikkingut, whose glower only deepened, the itch in his fists building again. She didn't give him a chance to react, though, as pure instinct grabbed his arm and dragged him behind her, leading him out of the room.
"He's an idiot, alright?" Sokka told the princess in spite of his being on edge, "It's just a rumor. Don't take it seriously okay?"
"I'm not the one taking this seriously," she pointed out, "You're the one jumping off the walls and punching everything you see."
"Well he's gotta learn how to control that damn tongue of his—!"
"Isumataq. Please, stay calm."
He took a deep breath to placate himself, "I just know he's connected with Khasiq. I'll look into this—"
"No, you're not," Yue insisted. "If you stand even a yard away from that prison building, I'll personally kidnap you in your sleep and ship you back to the South, you hear?"
Trying to maintain an offended pout but failing, "Fine."
Sokka had calmed down only when he secured a temporary chamber next to the princess's quarters, insisting on the need for additional surveillance on part of the guards and immediate alerts to be directed to him. Even with these arrangements, he found that he couldn't sleep, having stepped out of his room at around midnight and taking a seat on the pelts in the leisure area right outside of the annex of the chambers.
He had not been expecting any visitors apart from the guards on night duty; thus, he was surprised to see Old Man Ingimak approaching him.
"Grandpa Ingimak?"
"Hey, chap," the man smiled, taking his seat beside the young warrior.
"You don't usually take palace duty," Sokka noted.
"I know. I just wanted to check in on you two. I've been hearing from the others just how restless you've been." Looking towards the corridor that led to the princess's chambers, "Kuunnguaq really went through the wringer back there."
"Yeah," Sokka sighed, ridden with guilt, "Me leaving unannounced didn't help things either."
"But that's different. It was meant to lessen her stress. She would've been more devastated if she heard the news, and it would've been unnecessary anxiety since nothing really happened to our leaders. If anything, this would've added to what she goes through already…"
"That's exactly why I went," he rubbed his throbbing head, "If I announced I was going somewhere beforehand, I would've had a million questions thrown at me. Since I never go anywhere."
"We know, we know," Ingimak assured, his wrinkled hand on the isumataq's shoulder, "You went across the world to check on her parents, Sokka. It says a lot about how much you care and how serious you are about this relationship. And even if she's oblivious to that… This is the kind of thing that family does for family. And I know she's aware of that. I know she'll appreciate that for the rest of her life."
"It's not about the appreciation. I was terrified," Sokka admitted, "And I'm still terrified. Not about silak and ukuagek, necessarily, but… Her Highness is stressed enough already. She just doesn't stop… or take a break at least. She wasn't happy when she found out Katara and I haven't been getting any communication from home. Do you know how careful I'd been? Writing response letters, pretending to get letters when it's really just my own letters getting thrown back at my face? I'd managed this so carefully… and it just backfired. And of course she's blaming herself…"
"Well that's something we can solve by talking it out. She's not making that big of a deal about it anymore."
"Not openly. What if she's still calculating? I know she's now banking on sending me back right after her coronation… And now we have this imposter to worry about…"
"Eh, he's just a hater," Ingimak nudged the prince, "That's not something you two should be stressing over."
"It's fine if she takes it that way…" But it went beyond a matter of a random citizen's hate. At stake here was the life Yue knew and lived, and even though hiding the truth from her did not sit well with him, Sokka's goal was to prevent heartbreak from reaching her in any manner. He had seen her drained look, the verge of a crisis on her face during the interrogation, and he never wanted to see it again.
But…but… in the event that fate did not choose his side, or in the event that Osha's cryptic rationales burst the bubble when they least expected it… He shook his head, unable to hold back his horror. "Ever since Yugoda told me about her stress levels, I've been doing everything I can to make things as comfortable for her as I can, but there's always something to worry about." Swallowing the burning lump in his throat, pouring out his heart with the words, "I've gotten too close to her. I can't leave now. She's precious."
"Then tell her that, boy!" the man nearly woke the palace with his exclamation, dropping his voice lower when Sokka gawked at him, "How much longer? What are you so afraid of, Sokka?"
"I'm afraid that she'll send me away—"
"She won't," Ingimak assured him.
"But what if she does?" Twiddling his thumbs, a cold sweat racking his form, "What if she keeps her distance and…someone uses that to…" Running a hand through his hair, "That imposter wouldn't have made it inside if I was there. The entire time she and I were with each other, these entire six months, no one dared to come near us. But today, I left for an emergency, and look what happened!"
"Sokka—"
"I'd been working up the courage, Grandpa Ingimak, I really was. I tried to tell her my feelings. But it didn't work out. And after today…I'm even more terrified that she will keep her distance from me if I make any move that tells her I'm seriously considering sharing my life with her. If she doesn't see me that way, then that's fine. I'll consider it my bad luck. But if anything happens when I'm not there…"
"Boy, you better calm your yak-horses—"
"I can't let anything happen to her."
Ingimak frowned, but he felt his heartstrings being easily tugged by the warrior's persistent worry, the quiver of the prince's bottom lip, the affection brimming in his gaze. "Son," the man's hand squeezed the prince's shoulder, "You weren't here for it, but we all saw how difficult it was for her when you weren't here. She panicked when you disappeared for nearly a whole day. Trust me, Kuunnguaq had never reacted that way to anyone before."
Sokka furrowed his eyebrows as if to ask for elaboration.
"As a general matter, Kuunnguaq simply doesn't know how to ask for something for herself. Whether that be an object or the company of a friend…or even a bit of love. She doesn't know how to accept those things, either. Anything short of affection…it makes her feel skeptical. And that has to do with two major factors: the current situation in the tribe and the neglect she faced as a child." The man wore a concerned look on his face as he added, "It makes me worry sometimes. Kuunnguaq does not know how to ask for more of what she enjoys. She doesn't know how to ask Imona to stay longer than a week or two and give her company. She doesn't know how to ask for more prune pudding than what's served to her. She constantly wants to avoid being an inconvenience for other people."
"Yeah," Sokka sighed, "She's constantly occupied by ethics. She overthinks, overanalyzes. She comes to conclusions and explanations other than love. She thinks I'm doing this for gratitude. And she builds all these walls around her…not literally, but…"
"I know what you mean," Ingimak said. "There are certain things about her that will always be mysterious no matter how much we think we know her. But Sokka, I promise you, I really think it's becoming difficult for her to let go so easily in your case. She wants you. She wants your company. She may very well want you. But it could be that she doesn't know how to receive this affection you're showing. She is very obviously trying to not be an inconvenience by separating you from your parents. But the thing is, Sokka, no matter how hard she tries, today, she has seen for herself how hard that would be in your case. In such a short time, she has reached a level of comfort with you that she hasn't really reached with any of us else despite years of her knowing us."
Sokka softened his eyes.
"She has bonded with you in a way that she hasn't with any of us. We never even bought her a meal, you know that? She just doesn't accept it. She doesn't accept gifts of any kind… But that's not the case with you. Every moment of your time, you spend with her, and every moment of her time, she spends with you. No one has consistently been in her company for this long. Not even her parents. And thanks to you, we've been seeing sides of her we never have. Good sides. Happier sides."
"It warms my heart to hear that, and if that's really true, then no one in this universe would be as lucky as I am…but my parents have really messed things up. We can't deny that, can we?"
Ingimak appeared conflicted as if he was at war with himself, but he overcame his inward struggle, taking a deep breath, "Sokka…I won't say you're wrong about the way your parents treated Kuunnguaq. Their rudeness, their comments…they were inexcusable. Kya is helpless in this matter, and hakoda is definitely influenced by Pakku's yakshit to a degree… But I will say that your father has it in him deep down. A rage that can rival Pakku in the blink of an eye." Turning to the young warrior, "Whenever you defend the princess, I see in you the Hakoda I had seen long ago."
"You're saying my father went against Pakku?" Sokka huffed in disbelief, "From as far back as I can remember, I'd never seen him disagree with Pakku at least once."
"But before you were born, things had been very eventful, very tense between Pakku and Hakoda for a long time. So brace yourself."
Ever since Hakoda laid eyes on Kya, he had gone above and beyond to stay true to her. He still does to this day, Ingimak stressed, and by no means was Hakoda a stranger to love and rebellion. It was this loyalty of his had caused tension within the household at one point.
"But my mom's the most annoyingly obedient daughter-in-law anyone could ask for," Sokka raised his eyebrows, "Why would that be a problem?"
So Ingimak explained at length the details of the household before Sokka's birth.
"I wouldn't say Kya's family was poor, but by no means were they up to the standard that your grandparents would've liked. The economic depression was impending at that time, and to protect themselves, Pakku and Kanna had hoped for a woman from a wealthier family. That's why they didn't like the fact that your father loved her as much as he did."
But Hakoda was persistent, and he was ultimately successful. Three ruined attempts at Pakku's favored alliances later, Hakoda won Kya's hand— of course, with additional help from Kya's brother and Hakoda's best friend, Amaruq, who had successfully convinced the bride's side of the family.
"It did not take long for Kya to win everyone over," Ingimak said. "She was just the kind of daughter-in-law your grandparents ended up wanting minus the wealth: obedient, dutiful, submissive to the elders. And it is not shocking to note that your grandparents and relatives all still saw Kya as a machine deep down; all women in our prestigious culture are seen as baby-making, in-law-worshipping machines," Ingimak spat in dismay, "But Kya's days were still relatively bright because of your father. Hakoda placed her on a pedestal, Sokka. He treated her like the chieftess she would be. He saw her as an equal. He loved her in every sense of the word. He never let her step into the kitchen, claiming she deserves to be waited on with the others. She was no servant! And he insisted all of his annoying relatives to keep that in mind."
Hakoda's fine treatment of his wife was sweet to all in the beginning, and his emphasis on his wife's soon-to-be-chieftess status was highly regarded. He took her with him to every single meeting, leaving the servants of the time to look after the work in the igloo. And even when the economic depression hit, forcing the family to let the servants go and take to chores of their own accord, Hakoda regularly helped his wife in the kitchen and found ways to make her smile even through the impending destitution. They were truly the envy of the tribe, the pride of Tui and La, the Great Lovers.
But there was another sort of destitution that Pakku and Kanna had started to worry about. Two years into the couple's marriage, and they were yet to conceive.
"It must've become a huge issue," Sokka noted, the harshness in his voice having dissipated.
"It was a very big deal. In fact it was set out to ruin lives," Ingimak frowned. "At first, your grandmother insisted that it was the effect of evil eye. She had many rituals performed in the household to remove bad luck. Hakoda had announced that he and Kya weren't going to try for children in that destitute situation. He kept arguing that having children at that time would not bode well because they were already struggling to keep the tribe fed and under control. He did this so he can save your mother from the relatives' questioning. But your grandmother really believed something was wrong. She made your mother drink all kinds of fertility potions. Kya suffered from health issues thanks to some of those concoctions, and Hakoda put up a mad fight and got rid of Kanna's efforts altogether."
Kanna and Pakku had become more and more discouraged. They were preoccupied by the economic destitution at first to make a big fuss about Hakoda and Kya's issues with conceiving, and due to the increasing emergency situation in the tribe, Kanna and Pakku, recognizing their limitations given their age, handed Hakoda and Kya full powers, crowning them chief and chieftess despite their lack of children. Hakoda's position, would not be secured, however, until they had children. Three more years had gone by with no signs of a pregnancy in Kya, and Kanna, fearing for her son's future, began dragging her daughter-in-law to healing huts, conducting examinations. Kya resorted to the Spirits' worship in her desperation to bear a child.
Sokka's look had long hardened, "I didn't know all this happened. I always thought…I thought my grandparents loved my mom."
"The truth is, Sokka, all this favoritism your mother gets from your Gran Gran, all this lenience your mother gets from your Gramp Gramp…Yeah, none of that was there before. People looked down on her and saw her as a disappointment for not having children, for not fulfilling her role as a woman.
"Your grandparents were ruthless. All the relatives said your mother was barren, and that caused even more tension. They blamed her for the end of the bloodline, which they thought was imminent. When Hakoda found out, he threatened to permanently leave the household with his wife if anyone raised their voice against her. But that didn't stop anyone; they continued to harass your mother, only this time in Hakoda's absence, but your mother didn't say a word. She bore it all as much as she could. Some days it was just terrible; I still remember your mother coming to see my wife and staying with her until it was nearly time for Hakoda to come back home. My wife wanted to confront Kanna about this abuse, but Kya didn't allow it. Kya didn't allow anyone to spill anything to Hakoda and threatened suicide if anyone did. She was too afraid she would be separated from Hakoda if she raised her voice."
"Suicide?" Sokka shot up from the pelts, horrified.
"It had gotten to the point where one of Pakku's cousins had slapped Kya over a minor issue. That, too, in public," Ingimak continued. "Your father was enraged. He dragged that man to the forefront and beat the shit out of him. The man had been very dear to Pakku, so it was needless to say he didn't take it very well. Hakoda couldn't care less; he took your mother and left the igloo."
The couple had stayed with Kya's parents for several weeks. Kanna, aggrieved by her son's absence, repeatedly begged him to come back. She eventually faked a grave illness— which no one will realize until much later— but managed to bring her son and daughter-in-law back into the household. Things had been stable following that, and Kya was spared of negative treatment. Pakku, however, still felt insulted and insecure due to what had transpired; if Hakoda had gotten to the point of beating Pakku's cousin, it wouldn't be long before Hakoda beat Pakku himself. Fearing that his son was slipping from his grasp for good, Pakku privately searched for another woman for Hakoda.
"Malina," Ingimak said, disgust lining his gaze, "Daughter of a Southerner who had settled somewhere…I can't remember where exactly, but it wasn't the Water Tribe. Their family was very wealthy."
Pakku was driven by the need for money and prestige and heirs. One day, he claimed there was an emergency in the next village and purposely sent Hakoda away for a few days. He then brought Malina into the igloo and introduced her as a family friend at first. Kya had eventually heard Pakku talking to Kanna about this matter and his true intentions. It was exactly as she had been fearing; all those years of putting up with whatever abuse was thrown at her just to realize that she was going to be replaced.
"Kya's parents found out and had pleaded with Pakku to reconsider, to not have their daughter abandoned. But Pakku didn't listen and kicked Kya out of the house. When Hakoda returned, Pakku demanded him to marry Malina so that she would give him children and improve the family situation. He demanded that Hakoda either accept Malina as his lawful wife or give up his position as chieftain. Hakoda's choice was obvious." Ingimak held a look of pride in his eyes, "I still remember that day. Your father was done with all of that yakshit. He threw his royal pin into the fire and took your mother out of that house, and they went back to live with Kya's parents."
This was around the time when Amaruq had married and was officially cut off from his family; the circumstances had really broken Kya's parents, and Hakoda served as their rock, having treated them as if he was their own son while secretly staying in touch with his best friend through correspondence. The possibility of Pakku and Hakoda's future patch-up became very bleak. Due to Hakoda's walk-out, and due to the fact that Pakku and Kanna had no other children, the position for the next ruler opened up to the relatives, who then began fighting for the Southern throne like rabid animals even in the midst of the economic destitution. Hakoda simply did not care; he continued to support his parents-in-law by taking to shipbuilding. Despite the uncertainty about the next ruler, Hakoda was admired for his morals and sense of justice. He was still treated as the chieftain by the community despite several traditionalists thinking him to be a fool for not marrying again.
"This is the reason why Amaruq respects Hakoda to this day," Ingimak said. "This is why no matter what, their friendship will never be broken. Through all of this, Hakoda didn't once let go of your mother's hand, and for as long as he lives, Amaruq will never forget it."
Sokka knew his father harbored a very soft spot for his mother and loved her immensely, but he never knew the extent of Hakoda's loyalty until now.
"And then it became a whole thing with Malina repeatedly hitting on Hakoda and trying to bed him," Ingimak rolled his eyes, earning a wide-eyed look from Sokka, "And Pakku did nothing to stop her, but it became the final straw for your father when Malina's brother, Maliq, tried to violate Kya when her parents weren't in town," to which Sokka's eyes widened even further. "Hakoda came home just in time and killed that bastard, and because of the community's support for your father, Pakku finally banished Malina from the Water Tribe."
Five years had passed. Within that time, Kya's parents succumbed to their illnesses. They had left Kya and Hakoda the property in their will, and the couple had the igloo to themselves. Pakku kept putting off his choice in the next chieftain; he was compelled to choose someone among his relatives despite having a capable son whose only 'flaw' in the eyes of the heir policies was his lack of children.
"But then," Ingimak broke into a joyous grin, "The Spirits finally graced your parents. Your mother became pregnant with you. The whole tribe was truly very happy for her."
And this resulted in Pakku and Kanna running back to Hakoda and Kya's place and begging them to return and put an end to the relatives' harassment and bring peace to the family again. Hakoda refused and continued staying with his wife at his in-laws' house until Sokka was born."
When it nearly came time for your mother to give birth, Amaruq came to visit with his wife for the first time after he was driven out. All just to stay and see you. And then, right at midnight on the Winter Solstice, you were born. After ten long years of waiting. And it goes without saying how special you are. Whether you believe it or not." Ingimak smiled, "You know, you were actually born at your grandparents' home. Your mother's parents. You weren't born in Pakku's igloo like everyone wants you to believe; you were only brought there when you were a week old, when Kanna put up another fight and emotionally blackmailed your parents into returning."
Kya and Hakoda's suffering at the hands of societal expectations all became worth it following Sokka's entry into this world on the night of the Wolf Moon. They had prayed to the Great Spirit for a child, but the Great Spirit Itself came to them as the incarnated La.
"The entire tribe had celebrated your birth! You weren't just a highly wanted son, you were the ideal son just from your birth chart! No one could beat La even if they tried!"
Following Kanna's persistence and several apologies and reassurances, Hakoda, despite maintaining distance from his parents, was nevertheless officially reinstated as chief and Kya as the chieftess. One of Pakku's relatives, who had really wanted his son to take over the throne instead of Hakoda, had questioned little Sokka's birthright and yapped all kinds of nonsense about how Kya might have laid with another man.
"His reasoning was that if it was impossible for your parents to have children in the first ten years of their marriage, how would they have one now?" Shaking his head, "That bastard nearly got himself killed that night. Pakku wanted to win Hakoda back at any cost now that the odds are now in his favor, so he executed that bastard. And then people were distracted again after that because a month into your birth, you still hadn't opened your eyes, and that became an ordeal." Ivaneq sighed, smiling, "But all it took was for you to be brought under the moon!""
Sokka nodded, familiar with the later part of the story. It was one that his mother repeatedly told him even if she didn't at all mention the injustice she faced by her in-laws. It didn't make sense to the young prince at all; why would she endure that much abuse? What was keeping his parents from leaving that household altogether? Every string that was keeping the family together was more tense and toxic than anything else.
"Killing that idiot isn't supposed to make Pakku's every wrong a right," Sokka said.
"Of course it didn't. Hakoda was still bitter with Pakku for the next four years. You were too young to remember all that. But at the same time, he was willing to tolerate him. The household became much lighter, much happier. Kanna turned a new leaf; she never left your mother's side for anything—"
"She didn't turn a new leaf, she was finally satisfied that she had grandkids. If she never had us, then she wouldn't have cared."
"Well…" Ingimak dodged that observation, knowing it was likely hard for the warrior to swallow the events as he was close to his Gran-Gran, "Everyone pampered you, and when Katara was born two years later, everyone pampered her, too. And having you two run around the igloo improved Pakku and Kanna's relationship with your mother even more—"
"And then Katara showed signs of bending, and that's great, but it also became a whole other thing because I wasn't the bender Pakku wanted. I'm also not the pious tribesman that he wants."
"Well Pakku is impossible to please anyway, and you shouldn't even look to pleasing him. He got the grandchildren he wanted, so he can't really complain."
Sokka leaned back against the pelts, rubbing his forehead, trying to process all that had left Ingimak's mouth by this point. "You're throwing a lot of stuff at me today, Grandpa Ingimak."
"I told you to brace yourself."
"The thing is, why the fuck did no one tell me of these things?" Sokka demanded.
"No one wanted to revisit the past unless it was truly necessary, chap. It's an unwritten rule of Pakku's that no one speaks of these things in front of you. Because then your grandparents would look bad."
"Well they can't escape from what they did wrong. What were they thinking? That everything they did would be covered up?" Wearing a frown, staring at the floor, "I wouldn't have been surprised if Pakku did it, but Gran Gran…"
"Well, she was terrified of losing her only son. Just like how your mother is terrified of losing you." Ingimak noted the look of immense conflict on the warrior's face, "I'm not justifying their actions, Sokka. I'm only telling you what the driving force behind your parents' worries. So you can use this information to your advantage." Ingimak also leaned back against the pelt cushions, staring at a decorative figurine of the Aninnialuk, "I really don't think your parents hate the princess, and I know they don't hate you. They are caught in this struggle, if anything."
"That doesn't explain why my mom had to be so against Yue. She's been through the struggle of societal expectations. Yue's message is all about breaking those expectations."
"The sad reality of that, Sokka, is that at any rate, in our hypocritical society, a barren woman gets treated worse than a fertile woman. But then again, a barren woman is treated with much more dignity than, say for example, a disowned woman. And by today's standards, a disowned woman is far better than a woman who supports the abolition of purity laws…or worse, a woman born in a temple. These are all degrees of blasphemy that are cast on a spectrum and…your mother…she's on the privileged end of the spectrum…"
"I understand," Sokka sighed. "But I also don't get how my dad turned into whoever he is now. If he'd been so righteous back then."
Ingimak grew downcast, "When Hakoda injured his leg…he had lost all of his sense of self worth, Sokka. And along with that, he lost all of his righteous rage. He was weakened by the feelings of helplessness. The feeling of being useless takes a lot out of a tribesman in a culture like ours."
And it didn't help that their family had gotten into severe debts and there was nothing he could do about it. Even his shipbuilding business didn't give him much luck after one point, and he found that he couldn't keep up with it on his own. Pakku had helped out extensively, and gradually, Hakoda found that he couldn't raise his voice against the man as much. With time, their relationship— even if it didn't fully mend— was nevertheless stagnant, and Pakku began to be a greater influence on his son with regard to certain things; the older man knew full well that the old rebellious Hakoda would rear his head back if the situation wasn't dealt with carefully.
"And as your father's dependency on Pakku grew, it changed things. I can still remember the look I saw on his face before I came here…" Shaking his head, "He seemed lifeless. It must have killed him inside. Relying on his fourteen-year-old son to provide, to take the reins of the Water Tribe… And just imagine his frustration. Having waited years and years to have a son and finally having you…and you are several years past marrying age and still haven't married or had children. Seeing your children will bring them greater peace. Of course, I'm not trying to rush you into anything, but this is the truth."
And Sokka couldn't disagree. As overwhelming as it was to be aware of all these things, his conversation with Ingimak opened up several doors that had remained closed for a long time.
"It is also a matter of making sure there are no defects in the bloodline," Ingimak noted. "Your grandparents had your father relatively early into their marriage, so fertility was not an issue. Your parents, however, had trouble conceiving, and they were able to get by with the Spirits' grace. Now they are as fertile as ever. Your mother is pregnant right now as we speak. But…if it took them such a long time to kickstart the process… we'll never know if the reason is that Kya truly had the worse end of the deal as society's more comfortable with thinking…or if Hakoda's seed had been defective. Once you sire children, the anxiety will subside."
"So it's more than one deal, huh?"
"Exactly. Now you know why your parents are harboring that much frustration. But also keep in mind, Sokka, that your father is still healing."
Because Hakoda had only recently been able to get back to normal; six months may seem long, but the man had spent many years sitting in the corner of a room all day. It was bound to take more time.
"Hakoda has yet to find his sense of self-worth again, and if anything, he's the one operating on gratitude right now. Since your grandparents took great care of him when he was hurt. But he does have it in him, Sokka. Both of your parents have it in them to deny Pakku. They're just very afraid that they will lose you." Sincerity taking over his expression, "You are, after all, the boy who brought them much joy and peace."
Looking back at the older man, "Are you saying I should wait? Give them more time?"
"Even if I don't know where he is in finding himself, I think six months with no communication at all warrants some correspondence. So try to write to him again. Tell him about your predicament. Word it in a way that reminds him of who he used to be without disclosing that you know everything. If he's not willing to hear from you, then leave it to us; we'll do what we can to make him see things from our perspective. But before all of that… do what you need to do to secure your future with the person you love." Squeezing the warrior's hand in reassurance, "There is still hope. When you tell her how you feel, let her know this, too."
"You're not asleep?"
Yue moved her gaze from the lights in the sky to the isumataq at her door. The beams of the aurora passed through the window and perfused the room, lighting the princess up in colors. "I was watching the lights."
"It's three hours past midnight."
Crossing her arms, "Then what are you doing up?"
"I came to check on you."
"Sokka, it's not healthy if you're worried about other people at three hours past midnight."
"You're not an 'other' person," he blinked, "You're my person."
She let a small smile slip before scooting to make room for him, patting the space across from her on the bed.
"Do you fancy a middle-of-the-night snack, dronningi?"
After a moment of thought, "I do, actually."
"Wait here, I got just the thing." He quickly raced off only to return a few minutes later with a rather large container in his hands. Yue glanced at the container in curiosity, the dormant rumble in her stomach making its presence quickly known at the steaming aroma that slipped out from the loosened lid.
"Alriiiiight," he sang with a grin, taking his seat across from her, "Heated up and ready to go!"
"What is this?"
"Mother and Father wanted me to give this to you," Sokka said. "I forgot to give it to you earlier. It's still good, though, I kept it in an icebox."
She found that the container held seaweed dumplings and tomato-basil sauce in the heated compartment and small cakes in the colder one.
"Ukuagek said she made the cakes herself," Sokka said, "And Silak said he made the dumplings."
"Ataata made the dumplings?" Yue blinked.
"He's helping out your mom in the kitchen these days. You know, since she has to take it easy. Apparently, Mother craves dumplings all the time now, so he's become a real expert." Handing her some chopsticks, "Go for it!"
"Where are your chopsticks?"
"Nah, I'm good," he declined.
"Why?"
"Your parents worked hard and made that for you. I can't…"
"Did they say you can't have it?"
"No, but they're your parents, and they—"
"You think my parents would just ignore their gem of a son-in-law who flew halfway across the country to check on them?"
"I—"
"Hush." She picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks and held it up to his lips, "Eat, dear husband."
He grinned, "If you say so, dear wife," and happily partook of the dumpling, a positive giddiness filling him.
"How is it?"
"Mm," he nodded, "It's actually pretty good!" and he took the chopsticks from her, holding up a dumpling to her next. "You like it?"
"Yes," she nodded, "It's good. I'm surprised, actually."
They took turns before forsaking the chopsticks altogether, finishing the contents of the container.
"What did they say to you when you went?" she asked, placing the emptied container aside, "Apart from the expected formalities?"
"They were really excited that I came to visit," he said. "They originally asked me if I had any good news to share on our behalf."
"Good news, hm?"
"I told them I was there to check on them."
"I'll be surprised if they left it at that."
"Of course they didn't," he chuckled. "They asked me when we're planning to be parents."
"And what did you say?"
"I told them we had two kids already. The North and South."
"Well said."
His beam transitioned into concern, his voice taking a much more gentle turn, "Are you sure you're okay? About earlier?"
She nodded, "I've seen too many imposters at this point. How is this one any different?"
"Oh…well, okay…" but he didn't at all buy her reasoning, "Well don't worry about anything, okay? Everything's gonna be alright. You remember what Osha said, don't you? There are trolls out there that say all kinds of shit to bring us down."
And although she kept it cool, she wore a conflicted look on her face, nearly whispering, "I just think it's horrible how people are looking at the Akna like she's an untouchable…"
"I know," he frowned, "And it's pitiful how strong the reactions are. But I don't want you getting too caught up in that, okay? They're idiots. That imposter was just using that sentiment against you because there was no other way for him to attack your legitimacy. These are just cheap tactics. Happens all the time."
She didn't seem convinced, prompting him to add, "I mean, it happened to me, too."
To which she looked up at him, "What do you mean?"
"Part of the reason why I couldn't sleep is because of a conversation I had with Grandpa Ingimak," Sokka said. "He told me several things I never knew."
He disclosed to her the details of his household from the decade before he was born. How his father had been a different man back then, how even throughout all the strife, Hakoda and Kya never once let go of each other's hands. Hakoda had been a much more admirable man, and it was a pity how he had regressed to such an extent following Pakku's increased influence.
"It's horrible that your mother had to go through all that she did," Yue frowned. "Justice was definitely not reached…at least, I don't think it did."
"It didn't," Sokka agreed.
"But not everyone is as lucky as your mother. She had a loving husband by her side and was able to conceive eventually. There are women out there who cannot bear children ever or may put their lives at risk by carrying a child to term, and they are constantly ridiculed and looked down. For something they can't help. Or sometimes, infertility isn't even an issue from the woman's end. It's rare, but some women are branded as being barren even if their husband has the bad end of the deal. Because society refuses to find fault in the seed but is ready to blame the soil all day every day. If you know what I mean…"
"Yeah," he sighed, "As a matter of fact, that's part of the reason why people had been pressing me to get married and have kids. Or at least try for them. So I can 'confirm my capabilities.'"
"So the moral of the story is for you to have babies," she smirked.
"Yep," shaking his head, "What do ya know?"
"It's the classic Water Tribe solution for everything," she said, earning a chuckle.
"Yeah, people be like, 'Oh, your family's falling apart? Have a baby!'"
She laughed, pulling her knees up to her chest, her look transitioning into one of contemplation, "But on a serious note…it's strange how there's so much we don't know. How some of those things can drastically change our perspectives…"
"Well what I extracted from all that is that there are gonna be people who do anything to bring us down," he said. "It happens to nearly all rulers in different degrees."
"But there are still things that I can't help but think about…Things I don't have answers for," Yue admitted, realizing the conversation now shifted towards her situation. Glancing at him, "It's interesting to think about. Even though you're supposedly the incarnation of La, the spirit of unpredictability and chaos, you brought with you so much peace when you came into this world. I can just imagine the whole South collectively smiling and laughing with relief and joy when their isumataq was born…" Shrugging, "I'm the exact opposite of that. Even though I'm supposedly the incarnation of Tui, the spirit of peace and order, I brought with me so much chaos when I entered this world."
"That's not true!"
Shaking her head, "My parents had scrambled to keep me alive, and that can't be denied."
"But—"
"Just hear me out. There had been a struggle; I don't know what it is exactly but there had been one. And…I also don't know how anaana managed to be here…how she somehow hid the fact that she was pregnant and then had me." Furrowing her eyebrows, "And why would anaana and ataata both dodge the questions that I have for them? They always say it's too painful to think about those times, that we shouldn't dwell on them, but I have the right to know about my life, right?"
"I have a right to know." That statement clearly resonated with him, especially with regard to his conversation with Old Man Ingimak a few hours ago. Of course she had every right to know. But this wasn't the same as being told of a conflict-ridden past that ultimately resolved with one's birth; telling someone that they were the brunt of a cruel, unfair sentiment…especially after learning of the horrid motivations behind why she was abandoned…
Ignorance is bliss, he swallowed.
"Osha, who has been telling me about the Akna nearly every day of my life, so conveniently decided to tell me now that the Akna's father is an airbender. Why would she hide that from me all these years? Why would she not tell me the full details until now? And…don't you think the possibility of being mixed explains…this?" She tugged up the long sleeve of her tunic and held out her arm, gesturing to the fairness, all of her questions sprawled out in her gaze.
He grasped her hand and held it within his, "You're fair because you're Tui."
She gave an incredulous chuckle, "Sorry but that's based on societal definitions of what Tui looks like."
"Okay, but maybe there's another reason that's scientific. We never know!" he fumbled. "It doesn't have to be what we get from parents and such… I mean think about it. If your dad really was an airbender, that might explain your skin tone but not why your hair's white, right?"
"But…t-that could be anything else. The hair and the skin don't have to go together."
"Yeah, but Yue, these are all assumptions. This is the reaction our adversaries want from us. They wanna shake up our foundations. I know the situation we have is a sensitive one, and a lot of fine details are missing, but that doesn't make you not be the lawful princess."
"It's not about the throne, Sokka," she said, trapping her discomfort, hiding the quiver in her gaze, "I just…I don't want to be a fool, you know?"
"Why would you think you'll be a fool?"
"Because… because it's a matter of pride. I just want to know if I'm surrounding myself with a fake kingdom and fake parents…" With a jarringly bitter tone that caught him off guard, "I mean I already have a fake husband, so—"
"None of this is fake!" he insisted, the drumming in his chest increasing, "Yue, if anything, you're surrounded by people who care about you. That doesn't make you a fool. That makes you loved. Everyone here loves you. From your people to your parents, your friends, me…"
She didn't react any differently to indicate she understood his inclusion of himself in that way. He dropped his gawking gaze, sighing with helplessness and a need to orient himself in a way that didn't give his hopeless yearning away, "I really think you shouldn't be going this far. It's not good for you to be so stressed out."
"Why, 'cause I'll go insane?"
"That's not what I'm saying—"
"Well that can be a consequence."
"Your Highness—"
"Sokka, I can handle the truth. If that's what you're worried about, then don't be."
"There is no other truth, Yue, please," he said patiently. "You're being worried for no reason."
But she was adamant. "Sokka, let me be real with you. Just hear me out." Biting her lip, "If anaana and ataata aren't really my biological parents, I can handle that.
"Your Highness—"
"I told you to hear me out," she said. "Look, if they aren't my parents then I'll handle it. If it turns out that I'm not really a princess…and if I have no way of being the princess of the North, then I'll swallow that, too. Because I operated nearly my whole life without taking these responsibilities. I was still able to push for some kind of change in the people as Kuunnguaq, and worst-case scenario, I'll continue doing that. Sure, having the throne is helpful because I have the authority to immediately change things… I don't absolutely have to have a throne to care for my country—"
"Yue, you're overthinking this," Sokka couldn't help himself, anxiety simmering within him, "I'm sorry, but you are. This is…this is dangerous stuff… You can't be saying this…"
"I'm not saying I'll give up the throne. I'm saying if I can't legally be on the throne, then I will still fight the oppression in my own way—"
"It won't get to that point, though!"
"But even if it somehow does…I'll handle it. I'll be okay with it. It may take some time to process, but I'll make it. But I can't take the throne if I do turn out to be someone that no one in the tribe is comfortable with." Shaking her head, "I just can't… and even if I do take the throne, I will end up like Chief Aklaq—"
"Hush," he cut her off with a hand to her mouth, "No more. I won't have you talk about those horrible hypothetical situations."
Moving his hand aside, "Sokka, I'm only saying I'll handle all of this as long as I'm not separated from my North." And there was great fear and passion in her eyes as she said it. "If I really am the Akna, and if civilization finds me disgusting, I'll live in the forest if I have to. If my friends end up hating me, that's fine, too. I don't care what happens to me, but I can't be separated from my North, I…"
The prince melted at her sincerity, "Why would anyone hate you or think you're disgusting? You're thinking too far, ikkingutima, nothing is gonna happen to you—"
"I can't tell you how many times I wandered the North, Sokka. So many nights of just me walking around this tundra with no restraint. There are places I know inch by inch…" She tore at her lip, "And even though I was by myself every time, I never felt alone. This land has been my constant companion." Shrugging, "If you ask me why I'm so attached, I don't have an answer. It's a part of me, and I'm a part of it…And giving up the throne is a small price I'll pay if it means I can still be here. If it means I can still heal this place in my own way…"
"You're not gonna be separated from the North, not ever! This is your home. And right now, we're sitting in your palace." He held her by her shoulders, reiterating, "You are Chief Arnook and Chieftess Ahnah's firstborn. You're the chieftess, the queen, you hear? The North is yours. Always yours. And all of us, we're yours, too. There's no price you have to pay. I mean…are you really gonna throw away the truth of what you lived, the truth of all these people's love for you…the truth of how many lives you've changed for the better…all for a deranged imbecile's lie? Maybe your parents really do feel uncomfortable about talking about what happened because they were so close to losing you. Maybe they don't want to relive those moments. And maybe one day, when they're with you and they've been with you for a while and they're happy and certain that you won't be separated from them any longer, maybe then they'll spill the details."
"How are you confident, Sokka?" she pressed, "How do you know?"
"Because that imposter's a hater, and I have a very strong feeling that he's one of Khasiq's puppets. And I also know this: Akluviq and the leadership committee are crazy about ancestry and bloodlines. The purpose of that man's job— the purpose of his life, I'd say— is upholding the Northern bloodline. He's visiting here for that purpose. Just think about it. Why is the world so eager for Princess Yue to have babies? So the bloodline will continue. So your bloodline will continue. Yours and Mother's and Father's shared bloodline."
Yue lost herself to extensive thought as Sokka kept emphasizing, "Why would Akluviq and the leadership committee and your parents be so interested in you consummating this arrangement… if Mother and Father aren't your biological parents?"
"Maybe because the leadership committee doesn't know the truth—"
"Akluviq said your parents 'got very lucky with you' even after they had such a hard time getting pregnant. Why would he lie about that?" Of course, the truth of the matter was that Akluviq had been subject to Sokka's death glare at the time, but the dronningi didn't have to know that.
"Then it's probably because there's no other alternative. Maybe they're starting a new line under emergency circumstances? Because Khasiq's the only other option—"
"Well that would've been a possibility but the fact is, Akluviq would've made that clear if it was his intention. And another fact is that he and the leadership idiots aren't righteous enough to accept the bloodline of someone whose ancestry isn't fully Water Tribe."
Which roused Yue's attention even more to his argument.
"If you were the daughter of that airbender, you would have Air Nomad blood in you. And that wouldn't have been acceptable."
Huffing, "Then I guess the other way I could find out is to have a child of my own, and if that child turns out to be an airbender, and the father is not an airbender, the only other ethically sound biological explanation would be that…the man responsible for my birth is an airbender…"
Sokka was already doing his best to not show his exhaustion, but he was charged with more adrenaline after being struck by the princess's rationale because of fucking course bending passes down. Yue was right; what if her biological children carried that element in their blood? They were bound to. And in the event that she had a child who formed mini-tornadoes or rode around the igloo on an air-scooter without reason, certainly she would have an existential crisis at that moment. And not to mention, what of that child's possibility as the next ruler?
There's really no way to hide this, is there? he gulped, masking his current mental train-wreck with, "If that really was an issue, then they would've told us that they're going to make the twins be the rightful heirs, but that's not the case. They're relying on you, Yue. If you weren't favored in their eyes, why would they still press you to start having a family? Won't your siblings have preference? But no. It's all because you are our dronningi. Nothing is going to change that."
Yue, too, felt exhausted to argue by this point, her worries quieting down for the time being.
"The Akna…wherever she may be, she will always have our support," Sokka said. "So just let her be. You've brought a lot of change already, and what we need is more of that change. And one day, when people learn to move beyond the yakshit a dumb idiot wrote several thousand years ago in the name of religion, they'll accept the Akna with open arms. And then, we can find out where she is and bring her out of hiding. And the only way you can do that is to not have second thoughts and not question your path to the throne."
She let out a deep breath, "You're probably right…"
"Of course I am."
She was then surprised by the warmth that took over her face next; his palms had settled against her cheeks, angling her face so she could meet his eyes. "Yue, I promise you, you'll always have everyone and everything. You can have it all, and you will. I'll make sure of it."
I'll make sure of it.
"So don't talk yourself into something that's not true. You should only be thinking about taking that throne and looking to the future. 'Cause in the end, having babies is the end of all troubles."
That managed to bring a laugh out of her, "I suppose so."
"Hey, classic Water Tribe solution," he chuckled, holding his arms out, "Come on, time for a hug."
It was an offer she couldn't refuse; he was snug and gentle, tender in voice and touch, softer than her sheets and fur pelts, kind as the smile of the Moon Temple's sculpted La, which she'd spent entire nights staring away at and describing her woes to. She couldn't help sinking further into his arms, feeling as though that same sculpture was before her, no longer a cold stone but a warm man.
"Seriously, give yourself a break. You've only recently cleared your plate of your travel project. Just relax."
She tucked her head against his chest as he rubbed her back. "Sokka…"
And she surprised herself with how she said it, how her voice dripped with longing. It tugged fiercely as his heart, his other hand finding its way to the back of her head, brushing at her hair, "Yeah?"
"I said some things this morning, but none of that is true."
"I know."
"No, you don't… You don't know how much that kept eating me away inside… Sokka, you carried me through these six months, and that's a fact. You kept me from losing it. Literally." She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent— the smell of food and ocean and home.
"I wasn't angry," he told her. "I was just aggravated that you were being too hard on yourself. You already handle things and process stress by yourself. I felt that you were starting to push me away... But the thing is, I'm here for you, dronningi."
She mumbled in the affirmative, holding him more tightly. He didn't seem to mind, slightly tightening his hold as well.
"Some days I feel so exhausted," she said. "I feel like I'm on the verge of giving up the fight for justice. I'd always had these days. There were moments when I was just so…angry… With what people are doing out there, with what certain men are doing… And it's so easy to spiral into hate when you've been seeing the same things in the same kinds of people over and over…"
"I know, I really do," he whispered, a kiss pressed to her forehead in the throes of concern.
"I would meditate to cope with that. Not on anything calming, though. I'd meditate on what Hama did. I'd meditate on the horrors of that night. Over and over and over…"
"Yue," he gave her a look, "That's really not healthy."
"I know, but I couldn't help it. I felt like I had to remind myself constantly what a monster Hama was…so I wouldn't become one myself…"
"Yue, you could never become like that. Not even in anyone's wildest imaginations."
Shuddering, "That woman went on a murderous rage and justified it even up to her last breath. She lost all sense of empathy for half of the population. I'll never forget the level of calm… the sadistic pleasure she had as she was twisting that poor man's veins… Spirits…"
He drew her even closer to him, peppering more kisses at her temple, "Don't think about it. Just breathe. It's going to be okay."
Her hands quivered against his back, "It's one of my greatest fears…along with losing the North…But ever since I began spending more and more time with you… I've moved away from that. The way you aspire to help bring this change…the way you light up any room you enter… There's just so much I value and appreciate…" About you. Breaking the hug if only to look him in the eyes, "You'll be taking away all the joy with you when you leave. Maybe not now, but one day. But I'll be happy to know that you're fighting this fight from the other side. So keep being you. Please."
He was tempted to pour his heart out, but the weight of the eventful day was too great. He couldn't bear that much adrenalin at the moment. "You know La has a huge thing for you, right? You don't even have to ask. He'll find a way to keep me around."
"That's not something an atheist would say," she remarked, amused.
"Bah. Categories." He held her hand in both of his palms, "All I know is that it's not gonna be the same without you."
They were quiet for a long time, worn by the impending burden of separation, but right now, they had the presence of each other, the promise of warmth and comfort. Yue idly mused that the extent of her reliance was worrisome, but even she couldn't deny that she didn't want this moment to end.
How selfish. She frowned, conceding to the voice in her head, "It's getting late. You should sleep. I don't want to keep you up all night."
"You sure you want me to go?"
"It's not that I want you to go. You've been flying around. You need to sleep."
Smiling, "Just admit I'm irresistible, Princess," pointing to the pelts across the room on the floor, "And I'll sleep right there for the night."
A small grin stretched over her lips, "I think I'll spare you the trouble."
"Seriously, I'll be right here," he said, dropping his teasing tone, "If you want me to."
Swallowing, "We'll have to pretend anyway when Akluviq gets here. Enjoy your freedom while you can."
"You make it sound like I dread every minute of staying with you."
She shrugged, earning a frown. "Well then, dronningi, since you insist. But I'll have you know I'll be here earlier than usual in the morning."
"No need. Get your sleep. I'll come get you."
"Not if I get myself first."
She giggled, lightening the tense air that weighed above them.
"I'll be right in the next room. If you need anything, I'm at your service the next second," he said. "Just think, and I'll be. I'm La, after all."
"Of course…" And yet, in spite of the conversation, her arms were still wrapped around him, and he, too, hadn't let go. She blinked at him as if waiting for him to let go first, "Well?"
Glazed over by an affectionate luster, "Actually, I'll stay a few more minutes."
She went back to resting her head against him, beaming, "Suit yourself."
"What did he say?"
Aang looked up from the scroll and turned to his fiancée, "He said he will look into it. Those beads looked very distinct and specialized. They're the kinds of beads that only monks of the highest orders wear. That's why I sent them."
"Let's say Monk Gyatso really does figure out who they belong to. What would that mean for Yue?"
"Nothing. She doesn't have to meet him if she doesn't want to. If she finds out about the truth, that is." Sighing, "But honestly, I don't know how much longer Yue's past will be kept from her. She's half Air Nomad. She is capable of having children who can airbend. That doesn't guarantee that she will, but the chances are there, and it's not rare for that to happen by any means. At the same time…she was abandoned. Her father doesn't know she exists, and her mother didn't want her alive, even."
Katara was conflicted, "If her dad had been a tribesman, too, this really wouldn't have been an issue. Ukuaq could've passed off as Chief Arnook and Chieftess Ahnah's daughter without any problems at all."
Sighing, "This situation has to be dealt with carefully. I say we try to talk to Sokka about this. See what he says."
They entered the palace and approached Sokka's temporary room, finding that he wasn't inside.
"How early did he wake up?" Katara frowned, looking around, noticing that his space sword and boomerang and overcoat were still in the room, yet the bedsheets indicated that he never slept there. Either that or he made the bed himself, which was a rare if not impossible occurrence.
"Where could he be?"
"Is Yue awake?"
Katara opted to check in with the princess, caught off guard when she heard her brother's snores coming from the other side. She knocked, and when she wasn't answered, she took the liberty to enter. Needless to say that she was surprised to see her brother and sister-in-law cuddling on the same bed, locked in an embrace of sorts in their sleep. The princess was resting her head over his chest, her arms around his middle, and his arms were wrapped around her waist, his face nuzzled against her cheek.
Katara gawked at them for another moment before seeing herself out, breaking into an excited smile. Well then.