Ch.5 Hahn's Way
Katara was in disbelief of the situation she was currently in. "I now pronounce Katara of the Southern Water Tribe and Hahn of the Northern Water Tribe as Husband and Wife." Katara shuddered at the memory. She could still taste the arrogant warrior's kiss, and it made her sick to her stomach. They were on a boat headed to the Northern Tribe, and Katara had done everything she could to avoid her "husband." As she stared at the ocean, she didn't realize she had company.
"Ah, there you are, my wife." Hahn's voice shattered her thoughts as though they were glass. She spun to face him. "Let's get one thing straight," she said. She made no attempt to mask the hatred in her tone. "No matter what that council says, you are not my husband." She spit the words out as if they were poison. "Aang will come for me, and the best thing you can do when he does is get out of his way," she continued. Despite what the guards said, she believed in the Avatar. She knew he would come not just for her, but the rest of his friends as well. She pitied anyone who would be foolish enough to stand in his way. Hahn laughed at the threat.
"Aang will come for me," he mocked. He swiftly moved toward her as he spoke. "Do you really think I'm afraid of him? When I last saw him, he could barely bend water." He pulled Katara close to him, and forced her to look in his eyes. Katara struggled, but was unable to pull away. "Besides, my soldiers have orders. If Aang or that pathetic brother of your's show up they are to be killed on sight," he said. Katara laughed grimly. "You have no idea what Aang is capable of," she said slowly. It dawned on her that Hahn was not present that night in the North Pole, when Aang allowed the Ocean Spirit to take his form. The spirit had laid waste to the Fire Nation army.
"I'm warning you now, Aang gets very defensive of me. He's also very angry about this law. He'll have no problem taking his frustrations with the council out on you." She slapped him in the face in emphasis of this point. It seemed to weaken his grip for a moment, and Katara tried to pull free. But it was not to be. The fact that she'd slapped him only seemed to anger him. His eyes narrowed, and his tone got dark. "I will allow you to get away with that just this once," he said. The air around them seemed to reverberate in his anger. Katara shrieked as he increased the pressure on her wrist. "If you ever strike me again, I promise you, you will regret it!"
Katara tried to fight the pain, but her defiance just made him twist. She fought screaming in pain as he held her. "Please stop, you're hurting me!" she screamed. Hahn, for his part showed little emotion. In his mind, she would learn to be obedient to him, one way or another. He noticed the perfect thing to make an example of. As Katara was writhing in pain, he swiftly snatched her mother's necklace from her. Katara immediately stopped struggling.
He let her go as he stared at the necklace. Katara resorted to pleading. "Please. I will do anything that you ask. Just give me my necklace back." She could feel hot tears running down her cheeks. Hahn seemed to consider it for a moment before laughing. It did not sound like a happy laugh. "This is a betrothal necklace," he observed. "No doubt that weakling air bender made it for you," Hahn continued. Katara couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Master Pakku made that necklace for my grandmother," she retorted. She tried to snatch it back, but he moved it from her reach. "Please," she begged. Her voice was near the point of breaking. He smiled, as if he were admiring the craftsmanship that went into making the necklace. "I highly doubt Master Pakku would stoop so low as to love Southern Water Tribe garbage." Katara could hear no more of this. She raised her hands, the water raising with them. She formed a rather large icicle out of some of it. Hahn couldn't help but notice that it was aimed at his neck.
"Give me my necklace back, or I swear you'll take your last breath right now!" Oddly enough, Hahn didn't seem concerned. He merely snapped his fingers, and Katara found herself surrounded by several soldiers. She wasn't in the mood for this. She changed position of her hands, and soon she was using the octopus form. The soldiers were at a loss of what to do. Hahn didn't seem at all impressed. "Subdue her, now!" he commanded.