Book 4 Air
Chapter 31 Scrolls
The morning light shone over the Earthern lands as Aang slowly awoke from his bumpy ride which suddenly hauled against the weight of the ostrich horses stomping their hooves on the dry soil. Rubbing his right eye, Aang turned his attention, glimpsing out the window. The scene of tan walls towering high from his view, which was blocked from any light or blue sky above peering his eyes. Once the door opened, Aang slowly made his way out, slightly stretching from the small space he had to endure from the long night of traveling.
"Avatar Aang, welcome to the outer wall of Ba Sing Sa. Come you must be wearily from your travels." A young woman said as she led the airbender to a small building just a few yards away from the huge green metal gates blocking off the countryside.
Once inside Aang noted the rather cramped furniture and small stove in the two room hut.
"Please make yourself comfortable. This is a resting stop for travelers. I am sorry for its poor condition; we rarely have any visitors after the war ended." The girl said with a bow.
"Oh no, it's alright. I'm grateful." Aang said as he nodded his head.
The woman smiled faintly, her eyes appeared heavy as a slight darkness hung underneath her lids. She seemed exhausted, Aang grew concern.
"Are you alright? You don't look so good…" Aang said as he observed the girl more closely.
"Oh, no…I'm fine…" the young woman said slightly embarrassed.
"So what's your name?" Aang asked trying to make conversation.
"My name is Jin…" the girl said as she flipped her braid behind her neck.
"Do you live here?" Aang asked.
Jin lightly chuckled, "No…No. I live in the third district of Ba Sing Sa. It was only recently I move out into the countryside to make extra money. Ever since the war ended, my family has to readjust to the changes. We had fewer customers which led me to find another job. It's been so hard lately. Hopefully now that you're here, our people can get the money they need." Jin said with a smile.
"Money?" Aang asked.
"Yes…The Dai Li used to offer payments to the citizens with low incomes, in support from the king. My mother used to receive a daily amount; it was enough for us to afford some beard and milk. After the Fire Nation took over, they actually doubled our amount due to keep as inns for their troops. A few soldiers actually stayed in my house. It was so frightening. Now that both the Dai Li and Fire Nation are gone, our people are in great debt. The King hasn't done anything to help. Our crops are dying, our animals stopped breeding. I-I just" Jin said as she started to get emotional from the stress.
"It's okay Jin, I'm here, remember? I'll talk with the King and we'll figure out a way to help your people and the rest of the Earth Kingdom." Aang said with reassurance.
Jin nodded her head as she wiped her tears away, "Thank you." Jin said softly as she bowed her head.
Aang smiled lightly thinking to himself, 'I had no idea it was this serious. I hope I can convince the king to help.' Aang thought.
Walking down the hall, Katara tried her best to avoid running into the Fire Lord. Yet she knew in time she will have to face him.
Casually swaying her arms as she walked, Katara smiled lightly. She loved her new outfit. The long sleeves flowed elegantly against her body. Decorated with delicate cherry blossoms in shades of pink and lavender with silhouettes of a pagoda lanterns detailed on the bottom. Katara felt her mood lighten as the soft textures tickled her arms.
As she continued down the hall, Katara noticed a door slightly open. Curious she peeked in. Her eyes widen as she opened the door, it was a massive library. Collections of scrolls in racks of golden sills and piles of books documents towering along shelves. A long narrow oak table with cushioned chairs centered in the room. Two huge stained glass red floral windows from the far end of the room lit up the room brightly. Next to the windows was a large fireplace mantle designed with engravings of swirling patterns and painted gold leaves on the corners. The flame glowed a soft hue in the room, making it very warm and welcoming to any who entered.
Slowly walking in, Katara stepped by the table. Tracing her fingers along the rough surface as she turned to one of the papers lay out on the wood table. Leaning over she read the characters written in narrow columns. Small notes and reports of meetings and generals were named on the thin rice paper. Particularly not interesting the waterbender, Katara turned and looked along the many racks behind her.
'It's been such a long time since I've read any thing…' Katara thought to herself.
Living in the Water Tribe, it was rare for a woman to have ever learned how to read. But thanks to her grandmother, she was able to learn the basic symbols and read fairly well, considering her strict traditions. Katara loved reading. It was a favorite past time she used to do while in Ba Sing Sa.
Reaching out Katara picked a scroll and opened it. Reading along the symbols, a small character caught her attention; it was the symbol meaning waterfall. It was a statement based on an old legend. Once more about dragons and the elements. It amazed Katara, how similar and how often water was mention in the history of the Fire Nation. The sun and skies mentioned with the mystical wonders of ancient times. It intrigued Katara greatly.
Through the vineyards and the olive groves of the village, in the valley of the proud castle of the lord; tiled roofs of their vassal, ran the nation whose majestic course could not, it seemed, conceal a dragon. And, however, in its depths, close to the small town of Su where the curve of the river is directed towards the sea, was hidden the cave of Wei.
By late afternoon of summer, under a burning sun bathing the city and the fields, a young woman went at the edge of the river to wash there the swathes of her new-born baby. While rubbing her linen vigorously, she threw a distracted glance on gleaming water, and saw floating on the surface, not far from bank, a cup engraved with gold in which shone a pearl.
The young woman did not see the trap. Without taking time to think, she tightened the arm to seize the object but the cup scintillating at the sunray deviated out of her range. Again, she leaned very far ahead, stretched and, as one could envisage it, lost balance abruptly.
As she falls in water, an invisible claw seizes her wrist. The young woman tried in vain to get released. The irresistible grasp dragged her downwards. Right before she sank, whereas she felt her skirt fill up water, she had a last vision of the ground with the scattered linen drying on grass and her crying baby, then the beast engulfed her.
She returned to her senses in a crystal cave. Beyond the translucent walls, several long algae undulated, as rocked by the breeze. Fishes slipped by among grasses. Close to her was posed the gold cup containing the pearl which she had wanted to seize. Then she saw her kidnapper. Enormous, the dragon with the shining scales contemplated her, lying close to the cup.
Fascinated by his emerald glance, she tried to rise and felt her memories of her life of the surface to be erased: her child, her husband, her house of village, the fields, the silver olive-trees all around the sunny city, all this faded and grew blurred, like the memories of dreams. She did not heard nothing more in her head except the words of the dragon whose voice had resonances of a gong. She could only subdue to the will of the monster.
Wei had taken her because she was young and robust and because she nursed herself her baby. The dragon needed the milk of a mortal to nourish his own young, a fragile freshly hatched creature. Thus, taken with the snares of a magic spell, the young woman became the slave of dragon.
Katara became so interested in the story; she was unaware of the person who came in and was watching her. Two molten eyes intently gaze at her with amusement. 'She can read…How interesting…' Zuko thought as he stepped closer to the girl.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Katara?" Zuko said with a low silken voice.
Katara jumped then froze as she dropped the scroll. Chuckling lightly Zuko leaned down and picked up the cylinder paper. Glancing over the letters, his eyebrow lightly arched. "The Cave of Wei…Ahh, quite an interesting story you have found." Zuko said as he rolled up the scroll then placed it down on the table.
Katara remained silent as she lowered her head.
'Tsk, look at him…Acting all calm and relax…Like nothing happened.' Katara thought to herself as her lips pouted upward.
Zuko noticed the girl's discomfort and facial expression; honestly it was rather cute in his eyes.
"So how often do you wander in the palace before you end up finding me?" Zuko said as he stepped closer to the girl.
"What do you mean?" Katara said as she took a step back.
"I have found you in the most unlikely places. My mother's garden for one, and now this room. Tell me, are you stalking me, Katara?" Zuko said with an amusing smirk on his face.
Katara glared at him, "No! I just happen to run into you!" Katara said embarrassed by his words.
"I was actually trying not to see you today, but I guess that can't happen, now can it?" Katara said angry as she turned her back to the Fire Lord.
Zuko chuckled, she was quite the spitfire. Her body language and words were not acceptable in the presence of his title. Yet he let it go, she was after all a Master in her own right. Thus they were equals.
It excited Zuko. She was a challenge he hoped to beat, and win. Pushing and pulling, back and forth between their insults and strong egos.
But Zuko didn't yell back, of course she stung his pride, yet it wasn't the point. They needed to talk. They needed to make amends before continuing any further.
Before he spoke he thought of a better place. Somewhere she can calm down while he explained his reasons.
"Come; let us go to the garden. We need to talk." Zuko said, almost demanding her.
Katara huffed as she turned around obeying the lord. Walking out of the library and down the hall, they said nothing. Both thinking deeply about what's to come.
Stepping along the hard floors, a small delicate hand traced over the doorway as Toph walked in her room. Everything was in its place as she had last left it. Feeling her way to her bed, Toph sat down.
She was grateful to be back home, talking with her parents. Telling them about her adventures and travels. Yet somehow she felt kind of empty inside. Like she was missing something. Leaning over Toph gilded her fingers along her nightstand, feeling for the necklace she used to wear in her youth. The chain felt cool against her fingers as she picked it up. Holding it in her hands Toph remembered when she first wore it. It was the day I met Aang and the others in the courtyard. Running her fingers over to the center where a golden water lily was, its petals blooming along the metal she felt the grooves of the trinket.
A light frown formed from her lips, 'Aang…' Toph thought.
She couldn't help but miss the goofy airbender. He always seemed to be there, by her side. She missed his kind words and sweet gestures. 'Actually now that I think about it, he's been real nice to me lately…' Toph wondered to herself as her cheeks tinted lightly from the memories.
Placing the necklace down, Toph then reached up and removed her hair bun. Letting her hair fall down she then fell to her side and lay on her bed. Her black hair fanning out against the soft silk pillows, the blind earthbender started to daydream.
As for the story of "The cave of Wei." It was partly used in the real legend of "A Stay at the Waters Kingdom" I have no ownership of the paragraphs I have used based on the myth. Everything else is mine of course. I hope you liked it, please review and let me know what you thought about it so far. I also know this was rather short. Next chapter will continue and explain more about Katara, Zuko, and Toph's ordeals. Again review, and thanks for reading!
