THE WINDOW

CHAPTER 3: The Rumor and a Mystery

I woke to a snowy morning here in the Southern Water Tribe. The Hundred-Year war finished because I had help from 'Team Avatar'.

Right now, Toph was the head general of Ba Sing Se. Zuko, along with his wife Mai, was the good ruler of the fire nation. Suki was back at Kyoshi Island, and I came with Sokka back to the South Pole.

He was on top of the bunk bed in the apartment we were sharing (I didn't want to stay in the castle, much to Queen Renee's disappointment). Anyway, the snow had ceased and the sun was shining brightly outside. I quickly put my yellow and red clothes I usually wear. I took my staff, and walked out the door, leaving a snoring Sokka in the apartment.

I was greeted "Good Morning" by passing villagers. I waved and smiled at their bright faces. I walked around for a good while, when I reached the market. I hated the market; they always had meat instead of vegetables. Not a good liking to a skinny vegetarian like me.

As I walked across the busy place, a shopkeeper's words rang in my ears. He said, "Yeah mate! They say that since a young age a princess had been stuck in one of the castles three towers. You have to believe, I mean the Queen is allowing fewer peasants clean the towers." He was talking to a man who was buying one of his fish. "Eh! I do not believe in that nonsense!" the man said snorting. He walked away.

I quickly went to the shopkeeper, curiosity taking over me. He raised an eyebrow and said, "What do you want? The best today is the freshly caught Tuna." I shifted a little bit backwards in disgust. "I hate fish," I snapped. "Why?" the shopkeeper asked, confused. "I hate meat," I said. He laughed. "Fish isn't meat. All kinds of meat live on land."

I quickly changed the subject.

"No sir. I am nit here for your fish. But I want to hear more about the princess rumor you just talked about," I quickly said. He smiled. "Finally, someone who'll listen, listen well boy. Now, in the castle's three towers a young princess is imprisoned. She'd been imprisoned there since she was fourteen. Two years ago. Now, as proof, fewer peasants were allowed to clean either tower."

He had finished talking when I heard Sokka's voice, "Hey Aang, buy me some fish will you?"

Later on, I went to the Queen and asked, "Queen Renee may I have your permission to roam your palace?" She replied, "Sure, anything for the Avatar."

I quickly took the opportunity. I first went to the first tower. I climbed the old creaking stairs leading a long way up. I had finally reached the top, out of breath, I heaved the door open. And, I found nothing.

I sighed in frustration.

I went back down. And to another long flight of stairs, this time, in went swirling upwards. Halfway there, I felt the urge to stop. But I had to continue. If a princess was stuck there, I have to free her. I quickly went up the stairs until I reached an iron door. I heaved it open. For a door it was too heavy. And, once again, I found nothing. After that I went to the third tower. Luckily, it had a short flight of stairs. I arrived there in no time, and I found a rusty gold door. I opened it and to my frustration, no one was inside. I walked towards the window, sighing in frustration. The shop keeper was wrong. But he was also right. Fewer peasants were cleaning the towers. I had passed through unpolished stairs, cobwebs on the walls, and there was the rusty, old, door. But, what if I was looking in the wrong tower?

I looked out the window. I sighed.

Suddenly, wind passed around me and I heard a girl's voice, sweet, and beautiful.

One step closer

I heard. I followed the voice taking a step forward, almost falling off the window. And I saw it, an ivory tower! Just in the middle of a forest.

I quickly ran out of the castle, to the shopkeeper. I said to him, "You were right! No, wait, you were partially right." "So there is a girl locked in the tower?" he asked excited. "No, but if you are looking out the window of the third tower, the wind will come to you and you will hear a woman's voice. She says, one step closer, and if you do take a step towards the window, you see a tower in the forest!" I replied. He looked at me shocked…

But I wasn't paying attention to him.

I SHOULD GO INTO THAT TOWER.

Hey, how was it?

I am sorry for any grammatical error. And Katara's P.O.V will resume in the next chapter. =)