"I really am sorry it has come to this," Tenzin says, sitting across from me once more in his office. "I honestly believed your missive would help alleviate some tension from the situation."

I shake my head and sigh. "You've no need to apologise," I reply.

Tenzin spends a moment to rearrange the papers on his desk. "The Earth King and State Council have been informed of your intentions and, within an official capacity, look forward to your arrival."

"And unofficially?" I ask.

"Word travels quickly, Korra," Tenzin says. "Now that you're making your move, there is a renewed sense of tension in the capital."

"I see."

My old mentor studies me after I speak. Aside from my husband and my father, he is the only other man who can read me well enough to see beyond my veil of calm.

"Korra, I know that you are well aware of how delicate the situation in Ba Sing Se is," he begins, "but I also understand how you are feeling at the moment."

"I won't, Tenzin," I say before he can continue, "much as I want nothing more than to physically straighten the Earth King and his Council out right now."

He smiles behind his beard, and nods his head. "Believe me, I understand the sentiment. Still, such feelings can come to the fore when we are physically in the presence of those who have pulled us away from our families, no matter how we try to quell them beforehand. Forgive me, Korra, but I must urge you to exercise your patience and self-restraint."

"I will try," I say, and then give a small smirk, "but I can make no promises, Tenzin."

He looks like he is not certain whether to impress upon me the seriousness of the situation or simply smile in response. Years ago, he would have almost immediately done the former. But I have proved myself more than capable since then, and so now after a long moment, he chooses to do the latter.

I take a deep breath as we rise to our feet. "How difficult will this be, Tenzin, saying goodbye?"

He gives pause for thought. "I prefer not to think of it as 'goodbye', per se," he replies, saying nothing more.

I think this over, and then slowly nod. "I suppose it isn't."

We are both in for a surprise when we return to the room where our families are waiting: Jinora, standing beside a single large bag in formal robes. She is a picture of elegance and grace, holding herself tall and straight as we enter the room. The tattoo depicting the mastery of her element is a vivid blue against the pale skin of her brow. Her hair grew quickly after she was ritually shorn, and she prefers to keep it in a tight, tidy bun at the back of her head.

Pema rises from the couch to stand at her daughter's shoulder as we approach, or rather as I and Tenzin stop still. Somehow, as I look at her, I am less surprised by the second. One look at her father however is enough to confirm that his surprise is better described as shock.

"Jinora?"

The room grows quiet, and apprehension is upon the air. I am perhaps more surprised that my own daughter, sitting in Mako's lap with Jinora's siblings gathered around him, remains silent. Tenzin looks from the packed bag to his wife and then to his daughter.

"What's going on here?" he asks.

"I'm leaving with Korra," Jinora answers, her tone respectful but firm. I fold my arms loosely and hang back as Tenzin steps forward.

"Excuse me?"

"I am twenty years old, father," she says. "I am an adult, a woman, and a master airbender. It is time for me to see the world beyond this island."

Tenzin, predictably, turns on his wife. I might have laughed were the situation markedly different.

"Did you have a hand in this?" he demands.

Pema is not to be cowed. "This decision is Jinora's," she says, meeting her husband's gaze, "and I support her in it."

Tenzin turns back to his daughter. "Jinora, I understand your desires, but I will not allow you to leave on a mere whim. You say you are an adult? Then we must make time and discuss this properly."

I watch with a quiet sense of pride as Jinora stands her ground. I am not ashamed to say that my brash and outspoken nature as a teenager rubbed off some on the shy and reserved young girl Jinora once was.

"With all due respect, father, I believe that I have thought this through more than thoroughly," she begins. "I have been preparing for several years now to take on ambassadorial duties, something which you yourself suggested to me. You have tutored me personally, and when you allow me to, I observe your work in Council meetings. Korra's leaving now presents the opportunity for me to observe both her and the ambassadors of other nations, experience that will no doubt be invaluable for me if I'm to become an ambassador myself."

"Do you understand the situation you would be placing yourself into?" Tenzin immediately interrupts. "The Earth Kingdom is rife with tension, and the capital is on the verge of becoming a dangerous place to be!"

"And I will be with the Avatar herself," Jinora smoothly replies.

The urge to smile is threatening to overtake me, but I refrain from doing so. I turn to look at my own daughter, reminding myself of the moment that Jinora has inadvertently delayed. I lift my eyes to meet Mako's, and we speak without words. He rises carefully to his feet, settling our daughter against his hip as he walks over to me. I wish to leave the family to work its own way through this without my potential interference or influence. Before we leave the room however, I meet Jinora's calm and determined gaze and hold it for a brief second.

I lead my own little family outside afterwards. I can feel my throat growing tight, and a pit gnawing itself into my stomach. Every step is one closer to the moment where I will have to turn and face my family. Each step brings me closer to the moment I quietly dread.

When it comes, I breathe deep and uncurl my fisted hands. Mako's eyes are already upon mine when I turn around, his mouth and brow tight. I look up at my husband, wishing this wasn't so. But it is.

"I don't want to do this," I tell him quietly. "I don't want to leave you. You know that."

Mako closes his eyes and releases a long, audible sigh. I can tell that he's been keeping that one bottled up for a while. When he opens his eyes again, the tightness in his face slowly melts away.

"I know, Korra," he says at last.

"I'm sorry," I begin, but he waves away my words.

"I knew what I was getting into when I fell in love with the Avatar," he tells me. "I accepted that I can't have you all to myself. You have a duty and responsibility to the world."

I place my hand over his as he holds our daughter. "I'm still yours, first and foremost."

"I won't forget it," he says with a small smile.

I playfully lift my eyes to the sky and shake my head. I bring my hand to his cheek afterwards and draw him down to my lips, sharing a brief but nonetheless meaningful kiss.

"I love you," I tell him once we part, "don't you forget that."

He laughs. "Stay safe, babe," he says gently.

"I will," I promise.

"And don't hurt him."

I raise an eyebrow. "Him?"

"The Earth King," Mako supplies helpfully, mouth curved with humour.

It's my turn to laugh. "Oh, I don't know about that," I say. "I already warned him that he would not like the consequences of forcing me to leave my family."

"Now I wish I had read that letter you wrote."

"It was a work of art, I assure you," I reply.

At this point, our daughter calls for attention. We both give it, Mako adjusting her against his hip as I reach forwards to stroke her cheek. Words are difficult to come by, and not for the first time I wish that I could cheat this moment. If she were asleep, I could sneak away, but she is awake and more than alert, her eyes focused on me, and I fear that she will cry when I turn and walk away. I have not held her since we left home. I know that if I have her in my arms, it will only make leaving more difficult, if not impossible. But I can do this. We can do this. We have to.

In the end, I lean forward and kiss her gently on the mouth. I whisper her name, my love and my farewell before I rise again, and when I do I encourage her to be strong and to behave for her father. I smile and take her gurgling as an affirmative response. And then I do what I had sincerely thought I couldn't. I turn and walk away, making for the path that will lead down to the island's pier. I strain my ears with all my might as the distance between us grows, but my little girl doesn't cry. What I hear instead is Mako talking to her, telling her I'll be back soon, so very soon.

I will come back, child. Never forget that I love you.

It's not something I understand just yet, but the further I walk down the path, the easier it becomes for me to breathe and place one foot in front of the other. I had thought it would be the complete opposite. I thought I would be tearing myself apart struggling not to turn back.

The boat is waiting beside the pier, two members of the White Lotus standing dutifully beside the gangplank. I wait at the end of the path, and after several minutes look up to see Jinora and her father walking down towards me. I can see the carefully restrained excitement in Jinora's eyes, and I can tell that she wants to laugh and probably run down towards her newfound freedom rather than walk. However, her father is a rigid presence at her side, and in him I can see the barely restrained urge to grab his daughter and drag her back up the path. Again, I must contain my own urge to smile, at least until the two of them have said their farewells.

"Let it be said that I had nothing at all to do with this," I say as soon as they come within earshot. Jinora gives a small, fleeting smile, and her father merely frowns.

"I am convinced it was entirely Jinora's idea," Tenzin says. "Only her mother knew of her intentions."

Understandable, I think. Pema is the resident secret keeper, after all.

"You're letting her come with me, then," I say to my old mentor.

"I am," Tenzin replies after a long, tense moment, turning to his daughter. "I know that Jinora is a capable young woman, and perhaps this moment is overdue in its coming about. I believe she is ready to face the world, and to represent herself responsibly."

As do I. But I don't say it aloud, otherwise Tenzin will be immediately suspicious.

"I'll keep her out of trouble," I say instead, glancing at the young woman positively brimming with anticipation.

Tenzin's expression grows stern. "I trust that will not be necessary. Jinora understands exactly what her role and function will be when she is with you."

I do not miss his emphasis on the word 'exactly'. Neither do I miss Jinora's struggle to keep her eyes from rolling. I struggle not to smirk.

"Don't worry, Tenzin. I'll look after her," I tell him. "If she misbehaves, she'll be on the first boat straight back home."

"Can we please stop pretending that I'm not right here?" Jinora cuts in then, looking slightly vexed.

At this, I finally do smile.

The two of them eventually embrace, Tenzin offering last words of advice to his daughter. Jinora has no doubt heard them already, but she listens patiently and accepts it with grace. I and Tenzin nod to one another as the young woman hoists her bag up onto her shoulder and, with initially tentative steps, walks towards me, and away from her father. Nervousness filters into her expression and stride, but I smile encouragement. After offering to carry her bag for her, I loop an arm through hers and together we walk towards the pier.

"How long have you had this planned, Jin?" I mutter.

"That bag has been packed for years," she murmurs in reply. "I was just waiting for the right moment to come along."

I chuckle quietly; both of us choose not to underestimate Tenzin's powers of hearing.

In truth, I am glad that she is coming with me. Jinora is the little sister I never had. At the same time she is a friend, and wiser than her years dictate. I will need those things in the coming days, a friend and good wisdom. My mind will often wander, and she'll help keep me focused. She'll help keep me calm when I feel like the boundaries of my patience have been pushed too far.

As we step onto the boat, I relent and pause to look over my shoulder. I have been telling myself not to look back, but I do so anyway. It's too far for me to make out any details at the top of the winding path, but I imagine that Mako is showing our daughter the boat where her mother is. I imagine the sound of his voice and the song of her laughter as he tickles her. I imagine him lifting her little hands to help her wave farewell. Already, I can't wait for the day when I will hold her in my arms once more. I plan to shower her with a kiss for each one that I am gone.

Hopefully, it will not be too many.