Chapter 8

Behind Walls of Ice

Part 1

Fountains of Legend

The doors were wide open and everyone in the crowd was trying to get a look inside.

We stayed in our formation and walked through the doors. The doors slammed shut behind us cutting off the noise of the crowd. The wall was thick, but I was too focused on what the wall was hiding to really notice.

Inside, there was a large courtyard with many fountains, much like the one in the Square outside. However, these fountains were much larger and were all very different from one another. Some were carved like the Plaza Square fountain - to look like frozen waves and swirling water, but they all looked unique. One had massive waves, another calm ripples, and yet another looked like a water bender was manipulating and lifting it up into the air. Those were just a few. Many more adorned the yard around us.

"Children," Chief Arnook began, "this is the Fountain Yard. I do not think I need to tell you the origin of the name. Already, you can see many fantastically carved fountains. Some tell stories of the past, some explain parts of our history, and others visualize our culture in a very intriguing way. You all may look around freely if you wish. I will call you back in a little while."

As I walked, I began to notice a pattern. The fountains were divided up into sections, the ones that told stories were all in a cluster, and there were fountains of water and waves all around separating one story from another.

I found a section telling the stories of the past Avatars from the Water Tribe. I focused on Avatar Kuruk's fountains since I knew about him best. His first fountain was of him surfing on a large wave. He seemed to be in his early 20's. There were streams of water running down the wave, and there was a mist around the

crest. At the bottom, there was still water.

His next fountain was a bit larger than his first, and he looked in his 30's now. He was with a woman who had long hair carved to look like it was blowing in the wind. They stood next to each other holding hands and looking very much in love and very happy. I smiled. I could almost remember that day, and then I realized that the part of the Avatar Spirit in me was the one remembering. They looked to be at the Spirit Oasis. I noticed there was another side to the fountain. I walked around to the back to examine it. It was also in the Spirit Oasis but it gave me quite a different feeling. The woman was being pulled into the water by what looked like a giant centipede. She had a look of terror, and she was reaching for Kuruk who was scrambling towards her, but they were too far apart. The next fountain was Avatar Kuruk's last and it showed him in a strange rock-like place. He was holding a spear above his head. The fountain was made with many little streams and water spraying in a way that made the mist swirl around Kuruk. It added an aura of power to him. I noticed his eyes were carved to look like he was in the Avatar State. He seemed to be fighting the thing that took the girl in the previous fountain. It was much larger than he was and it had a face that chilled me to my bones.

I walked on. There was a series of fountains dedicated to the Great Civil War. Others were of other significant events of our history. I saw a fountain for Princess Yue, showing how the Moon Spirit had given her life when she was very ill as an infant. That was why she had pure white hair, though the fountain looked incomplete. I saw many fountains of the Moon and Ocean Spirits. There were more fountains of lesser water spirits.

I was studying a fountain depicting many different animal spirits when Chief Arnook called us over.

I met up with my friends on the way, and we all excitedly shared the different fountains we saw. Lamara had found a group of fountains telling the story of how the Air Nomads came to be in Hydronia. Koluk had found a fountain with a very detailed ship going to war. Lina had seen displays of ancient warriors fighting battles.

"Okay now everyone here knows who Hyriu really is correct?" The Chief looked at me. I nodded. "Good now I have some special fountains to show you." He walked toward the Palace Entrance, and on the left, there were more fountains.

"Here we are," Chief Arnook said.

The fountains were from the Legend of Beifen. The first fountain displayed Avatar Roku in the mountains. He had a determined expression. In the crook of his left arm, there was a carving of the sacred jar that held the spirits. There were three mountain peaks carved. On the tallest, a dragon had wrapped itself around the peak. I assumed it was Fang, Roku's dragon. The water sprayed in a way that created a cloud of mist around him similar to the previous fountain I had seen. I thought it was a very creative way of representing the mist which the spirits had been in. On the other side of the fountain, a carving of Roku presenting the jar to the Royal Court resided.

The second fountain displayed a younger Chief Arnook holding up a small baby. On one side of the fountain, there was a likeness of the sun, on the other side, the full moon. Behind Arnook there were two people holding each other, a man and a woman. I smiled as I recognized them, and warm tears fell down my face.

"Who are they?" Lina asked. "The man and woman?"

"Well, uh…" Chief Arnook glanced at me.

"They're my parents," I said, still smiling.

"Oh yes I see the resemblance, now. My goodness, Hyriu you look a lot like your father, except your nose. You have your mother's nose," she observed.

"Yeah Hiko does too," I told her. "We also have her black hair."

"Hmm," she studied the statues' faces and glanced at mine every so often.

"Though, you do have your father's chiseled jaw," she said and then blushed, embarrassed at her word choice.

"Well, thank you," I said, as I stroked my jaw line with my left hand and smiled slyly to further embarrass her. I succeeded.

Koluk and Lamara exchanged looks.

"I'd say Hana has some competition," Lamara stated almost laughing.

"Well wait a minute," Koluk said before Lina could respond. "Was that complement meant for Hyriu, or his dad?"

"Neither, it was not meant to be a complement," Lina said quickly.

"Oh, so now you're calling Hyriu ugly?" Koluk smirked.

"What?! No, I mean-" Lina started.

"So you find him attractive?" Koluk interrupted.

"Ugh! Shut up Koluk. You know what I meant!" Lina shot back.

"Oh, I know what you meant, and I think Hyriu does too," Koluk said sarcastically.

We all laughed, and she pushed past him.

"Why don't we continue the tour and go inside," Wei suggested.

"What an excellent idea Wei," Chief Arnook said.

We walked up the stairs and went through a set of very large and beautiful doors.

"This is the Grand Entry Fourier," Chief Arnook said. "As you can see, there are several passage ways that branch off to many different places. I believe that way leads to the Tea House, which by the way is the second largest teahouse in the Four Nations. The Royal Palace in Ba Sing Se has the largest. Down there are the Ice Gardens, that one leads to the Meditation Room."

Lamara perked up at the last one. "Will we go to the Meditation Room?"

"I am sorry child, but since the palace is so huge the tour will only include the most important rooms. After Master Pakku's performance though you may go where you wish," the Chief replied.

We went through the hallway right in front of us; Chief Arnook had not said where it went. He kept on pointing to other smaller halls and said where they lead off to. Finally, we got to the end of the hall and in front of us was the most beautiful set of doors I had ever seen. They had carvings of old battles, great warriors, menacing spirits, and the most fantastic landscapes.

"Whoa," all the kids said, myself included.

"Yes," the Chief began, "It is truly a wonder to look at. But that is just the door. The room behind it is even better."

The doors swung inward as if by their own accord. As we walked in, I looked back and saw there were two men who had pulled them open.

I turned to look at the room, and I was amazed by what I saw. There were very high walls. The ceiling was arched; it had the most beautiful painting on it. It was split on two sides, one in the Physical World, the other in the Spirit World. On the far end of the room, on the ceiling, there was the likeness of the Spirit Oasis. Around it were painted many mountains and the Northern Water Tribe Capital. After that was the ocean, which took up most of the middle area of the ceiling. On the part in the Physical World were several ships in the water. In the direct middle of the ceiling was a crescent moon reflecting on the water. As I studied it, I realized that is was a realistic version of the Water Tribe symbol of the crescent moon with three waves. The part right above the doors was the same, just in the Spirit World. The mountains were brown and spirits roamed around freely. In the water, in contrast to the ships, were water spirits. It all had a tan light to it. The koi fish in the Spirit Oasis glowed with power.

There were large pillars at regular intervals along the walls. The pillars were designed to look like totem poles. I was amazed at how much detail was put into each one. The fur of the animal heads looked so realistic that if there was a breeze I was sure it would rustle. I saw the snarling head of a tiger-dillo; it looked as if it would snap me up if I got too close.

On the walls between the pillars were wonderfully carved windows. Around the windows, there was a painting. There were warriors, battles on land and at sea, castles under siege, and many other things of that sort.

The floor had no furniture on it of any sort, and for good reason. There were no pictures on the floor, just intricate patterns. Patterns of blue, purple, white, and grey, with some gold along the middle.

At the far end of the room, there was a raised platform with a waterfall and a small pool behind it. There were a series of chairs, one more elegant than the others. In front of the chairs was a type of table. It wasn't really a table with legs, but rather a solid block of ice carved like a counter or some sort of desk.

"This," Chief Arnook began, "is the Royal Courtroom. Where matters of utmost importance are discussed and debated among the Court. Any trails that are very important are also carried out here."

"It's beautiful!" Lamara exclaimed.

"Yeah, this place is incredible," Koluk agreed.

"I wonder, how did they paint the ceiling and the higher parts of the walls?" Lina asked.

"Perhaps they had the air benders help," I suggested.

"I would think that they built a scaffolding of some sort," one of the male court members said. I don't think he was a water bender.

We all looked at Chief Arnook.

"Well I don't know," he said matter-of-factly, then added at our surprised looks, "It was a very long time ago, but I think Sukotto," Arnook motioned to the male court member that had spoken, "is correct."

We walked out of the courtroom and continued on going deeper into the palace.