Ch. 16
It was a week before another letter had come for Katara. She was working with Haru and his stone construction and surrounded by a majority of the younger water tribes men. News of her annulled engagement had traveled quickly. A little girl, breathless and pink cheeked held up the thick scroll for her.
"A letter for you Princess."
She was getting used to the title. "Thank you Ahmi." She said taking it and the little girl ran off, pleased to be acknowledged. Her laughing and good mood ceased as she recognized the royal seal in the red wax holding it together.
"I'll be back." She announced to the men around her and hurried off to her father's office. She peeked in and was relieved to see he wasn't there. The door closed and a deep rumbling voice gave her a start.
"What are you going to do with it?" Haru asked warily eyeing the letter.
His presence solidified her resolve. "What I said I'd do. Burn it." She held it to the candle until it caught and dropped it into a stone trash can to let it smolder out of existence.
"You alright?" He asked quietly, watching the flames reflected in her eyes.
She hugged herself for a moment, trying to pull herself together. "Yeah, let's get back to work." She gave him a fatigued smile.
Haru spoke to Sokka, who in turn talked to Hakoda and Kanna and it was mutually decided any more letters from Zuko to Katara should be disposed of without letting her know. After the first, she had been in a concerning depression for several days and no one wanted to subject her to that again.
It seemed Haru and Katara were inseparable. They would work together in the village, he erecting stone pillars and walkways while Katara supervised with the blue prints, occasionally water bending beside him.
Without the reminders of Zuko, Katara seemed to be herself again. She was laughing, training with other benders, healing and leading her people. In their down time Katara would counsel others and chat with Sokka, her friends in the tribe, Aang when he came to visit and Haru. Since Haru wasn't usually much of a conversationalist he would sit around the fire, listening to the happy banter, sketching.
After about a month of continuous hard work, most of their plans had been completed. All the main architecture had been built and requests to repair housing structural problems fulfilled. Now it was just down to the optional extra furnishings and detail. Haru was standing in his room, gazing over the pages and pages of blue prints by candle light.
There was a light knock and Katara came in, her grin falling a bit at his grim frown. "What's wrong?"
He exhaled loudly and crumpled the pages, throwing them into a trash can. "I'm almost done."
Katara scuttled around until she was in front of him, though his gaze was fixed on the balled up sketches. "Is that a bad thing?"
He shrugged.
"Don't you miss home?"
Another shrug.
"Haru." She put her hands on her hips. She waited until he looked at her. "You know you're welcome to stay as long as you want, right?" Her tone softened as she saw the look on his face. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his strong back. "I like having you here. You make everything okay."
She sounded so vulnerable. He had promised to stay as long as he was needed. "Are you sure it's okay if I stay? At least for a bit longer?"
She smiled at him. "Of course." She said twisting in their embrace to look him in the eyes. "My dad and Gran-Gran love you and Sokka is thrilled to have someone to recount the old days with."
He returned the smile as he released her. They could smell fish cooking over the central fire pit. "Hungry?"
She nodded. "Starving." And they left his room, following the aromas. Sokka was already ripping into a piece.
"Ah, ha, hot…" It became a chant as he stuffed the steaming morsels into his mouth at a ravenous pace.
Kanna handed a plate of fish to Haru and then Katara.
"Where's dad?" Katara asked, eyeing his empty seat.
"He's at a meeting with the elders. He'll be back soon." Kanna explained helping herself to food last.
As if on cue Hakoda strode through the front door brushing his hood back. "Evening everyone." He greeted with a paternal smile.
"How'd the meeting go?" Sokka asked between bites.
"Good. We actually discussed your sister."
Katara sputtered on her drink and hastily wiped her mouth. "What about me?"
"The elders and I want to return to some of the old ways. One of the old traditions is all eligible suitors would battle for the Princess's hand in marriage. The winner would marry the Princess."
"What?"
Hakoda held up a hand. "Of course I won't make you marry the winner. I want you happy." There was a warm glow in his eyes. "You can marry whoever you want, but this competition will prove to you and the village that your husband will be worthy."
"Okay…" She was confused. "But why now?"
Kanna intervened. "Katara, you are about to become marrying age next month. And since you are no longer engaged to Prince Zuko," Katara flinched "we thought this would be a good idea."
"But what about Sokka?"
"Sokka is already betrothed to Suki, and a battle to marry him wouldn't be necessary."
"Ya." Sokka thumped his chest with his mouth full.
"What if I don't want to get married?" She challenged, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest.
"Katara…" Her father started in a tired voice.
"You'll get married. You're just a little hurt still." Kanna said.
It was tense and Haru sat back, quietly watching. Katara slumped, knowing it was a lost cause. She exhaled loudly, letting her arms fall. "When?"
"The elders are writing up the invitations for the other nations."
"Other nations? How popular do you think I am?"
"You'd be surprised." Haru said supportively smiling at her.
She glowered at him. "You're not helping." He held up his hands innocently.
"Fine." She relented. "I'm going to go for a walk."
She got up, grabbed her parka and pulled it on as she strode out the door.
"What's her problem?" Sokka asked, watching her go, still eating.
"I'll follow her." Haru said as he excused himself, grabbing his green parka and following her. The green-blue aurora lit the dark night sky and he followed the boot prints to the outskirts of town and the shore. She stood solitary, head lifted to the sky, eyes closed.
"Go away." It was a soft whisper as he neared.
"Why?"
"I want to be alone."
Her voice was so achingly lonely. "Are you sure?"
Slowly her eyes opened and turned to him. Her watery stare and downtrodden expression tugged his heart. "No." That too was a whisper.
Feeling compelled, he stood in front of her, looking down as she stared up at him. Slowly she leaned her forehead against his broad chest. "I'm so… tired." Her hands slipped around his waist, supporting her weight on his sturdy frame. Slowly, cautiously, he wrapped his arms around her as well.
She mumbled into his chest, pouring out her thoughts and feelings. He felt privileged he was the only one she could really do this with. "I don't want to do this. I don't want to be forced to choose. It still hurts. I don't want him to know about this stupid competition. He'd probably get mad and show up." She clung tightly for a moment, overcome with fear. "I don't want to see him."
"Shh…" He crooned into her hair as he bent down. She smelled of lilacs and the ocean, a scent he remembered enjoying.
"This whole thing is stupid." Her voice lost some of its wounded tone and took on more frustration and anger. "I don't want to have to choose. I just want to have fun. Be able to do what I want, when I want, with who I want. I want to be free to travel the world more. I don't want all the responsibility. When did I suddenly grow up?" Her eyes were searching his, demanding answers. "I have to set an example now. Do what I'm asked. Usually I don't mind, but this is taking it too far. As the Princess" she spat the word as if it had tasted foul, "I have to do what the elders want, I have to adhere to ancient traditions that don't make any sense. I'm not some prize to be won." She burst free from him suddenly, sinking into her rant. The frustrations of the weight of her position and all the responsibilities it came with, her recent treachery caused by a scarred prince from a far away land and pining for the old, carefree days pulled her into a pace before him as she gestured wildly.
He watched attentively like a good friend, nodding along in agreement. He had felt the burden of responsibility when his father was gone and he was the man of the house, expected to care for his mother. Being the sole earth bender left in the village. The pressure could be overwhelming. His heart went out to the woman before him, pacing the thick crust of snow in supple leather boots, gesturing wildly, and braid swaying with her movements as she spewed her aggravation into the cold polar night.
Her thoughts were spinning wildly, coming from every corner of her mind and mixing into an incoherent verbal flood. "I'm not allowed any spontaneity anymore. The only travel I could afford before definitely not going to happen anymore. I'm tired of hurting. I tired of my thoughts. I wish there were some way to just turn my brain off. Something stupid and reckless, to distract me. I can't leave though…" She stopped her pacing abruptly and faced him, her face contorted as the gears spun in her thoughts.
"Haru." She caught his attention. He had barely been following the latest stream of conscious and now had no idea what she intended for him. A determined look came over her and she marched right up to him until she was standing, staring up at him, the top of her head coming even at eye level. "Haru." She said again. It almost sounded like a command.
Looking down at her baffled, he opened his mouth to respond when strong gloved hands seized the back of his head and brought him crashing down onto her lips. Thrown off balance, his hands seized her shoulders and then he froze. All brain functions ceasing for a moment. She was warm and soft pressed against him, her lips eagerly searching his, tugging his lower parted lip. She nipped the lip trapped between her teeth gently before releasing him and tracing his mouth delicately with her tongue.
Whatever mental block had seized Haru burst, and nothing came through but pure sensation and yearning. The hands on her shoulders snaked to the base of her neck and her back, pulling her tightly against him under the dancing lights in the sky. His mouth roughly responding to her luring lips. She tasted sweet and he pulled her closer hungrily, exploring her mouth with his until they had to come up gasping and panting for air, their breath steaming in the cold air.
"I'm sorry." He blurted, wide eyed and taking a step back.
She ducked her head, embarrassed. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I just…"
Hope springing into his chest and squeezing his lungs and heart, "Just what?"
She shrugged, still humiliated. "Just wanted to try something different. Find a distraction." She fiddled with her gloves, not looking at him. "I should go…" She turned to walk back to the hut.
"Wait." He caught her shoulder and she stopped. He released her, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable. She closed her eyes, waiting for any of the million awkward questions that could ruin everything between them. The silence stretched on for what seemed like several minutes and Katara's gut twisted in nervous anticipation.
"Did it help?"
She turned to him wide eyed and surprised. "What?"
He was looking at her, a very serious expression on his face. "I said did it help?" She seemed to be in a daze so he painstakingly explained. "You said you needed a distraction. Something to take your mind off of things. Did it help?"
Her face turned a bright red that was visible even in the dim light of the aurora. Sheepishly she nodded her head. "Yes. I wasn't thinking about anything just then." Guilt heavy and real sent her stomach roiling again. "It seems that I've used you again." She couldn't meet his piercing green eyes that seemed to read her so easily.
"But it did help?"
She nodded.
"Good. That's why I'm here Katara. To help you. And believe me," he cleared his throat awkwardly "I don't mind being used in that particular way."
Suddenly the man that was so sure of himself and always so strong and grounded looked nervous and self conscious. She couldn't help but laugh a little at him. "I'm glad. I was really hoping I didn't mess everything up right there. I would have been devastated because you make everything better."
"I'm glad." Feeling emboldened by their recent encounter, he hugged her and kissed her fragrant hair. "Let's go back." He caught her hand and held it as they crunched through the snow back to the hut.
A week had passed and the village was in full bustle. Hunters were busy bringing back tiger seals, turtle seals, arctic hen and all manner of fish back, preparing for the tournament a mere month away. Hakoda and the handful of elders were overseeing the renovations and decorations and many of the tribes women were preparing housing for the dozens of guests they were anticipating from all over the world. Some benders, men from the tribe, Sokka and Haru were busy building more huts as well. Katara was kept busy running between helping the benders, speaking with the elders and her father and spending long hours in Kima's hut.
Kima was an older woman, about the age her mother would have been, and the village's best seamstress. Together Kima and Kanna collaborated on many beautiful costumes and clothing that Katara was to wear during the tournament. There would be a festival before the battle and Katara was expected to perform some traditional dances and be properly presentable as the Southern Water Tribes Princess.
A gypsy woman from one of the Earth Kingdoms traveling circuses had arrived and was currently teaching her how to perform the ancient dances.
"Good Katara, very good." Meena praised in her lightly accented voice. They were in the empty meeting hall, practicing on the wooden stage. Meena had insisted that Katara practice in one of her flowing outfits, for that was what she would have to perform in for real.
Katara sat panting on the floor in a puddle of soft, brightly colored silks. She reached for the canteen on her hip and took a long pull.
"Being a bender makes you a natural dancer too." Meena said approvingly as she helped Katara to her feet. "Now most of the dancers would use colored silk in their performance, but since you are a water bender, you will be using streams of water. Go ahead and get some from that jug." She said pointing to a large painted porcelain pot on the corner of the stage.
Obediently Katara pulled a stream from it and kept it in her hands waiting for further instruction.
"Now I want you to use it as an extension. Arch it over your head… good. Have it follow you as you do your turns. No. Katara, stop."
Katara stopped and looked at her.
"You're too serious. You need to relax. Your movements are too aggressive. Try it again." Katara tried it again. "Better, but it looks like you're about to attack someone, not tell the story of your people. Again. And smile this time." After several attempts and having to be corrected on little things, Katara's frustration began to grow. Meena waved her hands. "That's enough for today. I think you could use a break. Go," she made a shooing motion "and have some fun."
Feeling frustrated and a bit overwhelmed Katara crunched through the snow till she found Sokka and Haru working with several other men. She watched a couple of men struggling with a large slab of ice, so she lent a bending hand, much to their relief.
"Hey Katara." Haru said jumping down from the roof in front of her.
"Hey."
"You alright?"
"Just tired I guess." She said shrugging.
"Tea?" he offered. She nodded. "Sokka?"
"Nah. I gotta help these guys still."
They walked back to the hut they were living in. Katara loaded the kettle with water to heat over the fire in the fire pit in the living room. "Long day with Meena?" Haru asked conversationally sorting some loose tea leaves.
"You have no idea. It just gets so… frustrating." She said biting her lip and turning to him with a tired smile.
"I'm sorry." He said folding her into a hug and bending to kiss her lips.
She stiffened and pulled away. "Haru…" She wrapped her arms around herself.
He sighed loudly. "I know…"
"It's just… it isn't fair to you. I don't know if I can return your feelings just yet. I'm still confused."
"I know Katara. You've told me before and it's alright. I'll take what I can get; I understand and don't want to pressure you. I just want to help. I really care about you."
She always appreciated his cool and rational demeanor. "Tea pot ready? The kettle is." She said changing the subject. He nodded and she pulled the kettle from the flames with a thick hide glove and slowly poured the boiling water over the tea leaves. She inhaled the intoxicating brew, silently wishing it was Iroh's concoction; nothing ever measured up to it. She sighed into her mug. It was going to be a long month preparing for the tournament and she wasn't particularly looking forward to that either.
Sarahplainntall here. Don't hate me! This Karu is only temporary, I promise. Review and let me know what you think. =)