Hello everyone! To start off, I wanted to answer iRanNoodle's question regarding how Anahi could pass up as a person from the Water Tribe if she was originally from the Fire Nation. This was a REALLY good question and to be honest, I hadn't actually taken that into consideration when I was writing this. Anahi does look different from the other members of the Water Tribe, like say, her adoptive brother Naheel. Her skin and eyes are lighter whereas his are darker. So Anahi's physical differences from the villagers in her hometown along with her mentality of not feeling like she belonged there sort of made her stand out. This is sort of why she doesn't really have a lot of friends besides Naheel.
Kita, Anahi's birth mother is pure-blooded Fire Nation, and had been forced into exile from the Fire Nation when her family discovered she was pregnant. Therefore, she had to have been traveling quite some time before she reached the water tribe. She would have had to have spent some time in the Earth Kingdom to get to the southern water tribe and be nine months pregnant and ready to have her baby by the time she met Sukah and Nasuh (Anahi and Naheel's parents). Kita would have worn typical Earth Kingdom clothing, not clothing from the Fire Nation, which would have made her sorely stand out. Sukah and Nasuh would have been more initially receptive (albeit a bit confused) of a traveler from the Earth Nation coming into the Water Tribe than the Fire Nation. In the case with baby Anahi, Sukah and Nasuh weren't about to abandon or just give away a helpless newborn, and failing to find another option without cruelty, they took in Anahi.
I hope this could provide some clarification! After thinking this over, I added a little flashback scene for support. Thank you for your question, that really made me think about this story! Thank you to everyone who continues to read and support this fic! I know it's been a long time between updates but I've been insanely busy, so please forgive me. Enjoy!
The sun was sinking into the sky, and I was helping the housekeeper Naora with dinner when Etka came home. He had returned to work a while ago, and was frequently gone throughout the day, so I continued to practice on my own and help out Naora when I could. She passed me the spoon for the pot of spicy chili and I began to stir as she pulled the bread from the oven. The rich, steamy aroma filled the kitchen, and I smiled contentedly.
"The Captain should be home soon," Naora commented neutrally.
"Good," I smiled over at her. "I'm hungry." She gave me a knowing look, breaking the bread.
"You know, the Captain likes you a lot," She added, and I felt my face grow hot.
"Well, I should hope so," I smiled at the floor, then made myself look up at her. "I've been living with him for nearly half a year now."
Naora laughed chidingly, and returned to fixing dinner, and under her breath, I heard her mutter, "That isn't what I meant." Embarrassed and flustered, I finished helping Naora with dinner, and nearly dropped the ladle into the bowl of chili when I heard Etka open the gate to the house and take off his shoes.
He had a strange look on his face when I greeted him in the dining room, and looked almost nervous, like he was waiting for something to happen. "How was your day, sir?" I asked, setting down a bowl of chili before him and taking my seat.
"Fine," Etka smiled into his food and didn't meet my eyes. "And yours?"
"Is everything alright?" I asked him, swirling my spoon around my bowl.
"I think I've found a way to get us in to see the Firelord," He said, swallowing a nervous bite.
"What is it?" I leaned in eagerly and Etka sat back, looking uncomfortable.
"Well, it would require us going to a formal ball that the Navy is hosting," Etka looked up at me expectantly. "Admiral Chan will be attending, and he would be able to get us into the Royal Palace."
"That's great news, sir!" I exclaimed. "When is it?"
"This Saturday evening," Etka said bashfully. "So if you wanted to go with - with me, you would need a dress..."
"Of course," I smiled, toning down my excitement at this perfect opportunity for his sake. "I mean, I've never been to a ball before, I don't know how to really dance - "
"It's alright, I'll show you," A grin broke over the Captain's face and he leapt to his feet, grabbing me by the hands and pulling me with him. We hurried out into the courtyard, and both paused, standing closely together. I looked up at him in anticipation, and Etka took my hand, holding it out to our side. "Put your other hand on my shoulder," He said, his voice quieting. "And I'm going to put mine around your waist, okay?"
"Okay," I breathed, looking down as he placed his hand on the curve of my hip, and then up at him again.
"And then just...dance," Etka said softly, his voice dropping. He stepped to the side and I followed him, dancing a silent beat. I didn't speak, and realized that I was holding my breath, standing so closely to the Captain. Etka was looking down, watching our feet step to counts of four. "There you go," He said, looking slightly embarrassed and let me go. "Just follow me at the ball and you should be fine."
I looked up at him, and my eye caught the inside of the kitchen, where Naora was standing, giving a knowing smile. Heat blossomed over my face and I fumbled over an excuse to leave before exiting the courtyard and taking my refuge in my room, embarrassed and confused. The Captain was just my teacher, my mentor and nothing else. And this ball was only to get us into see the Firelord, nothing else. Etka wouldn't have asked me to go if it weren't, right?
These questions frequented my mind for the past several weeks, and even as Naora and I went shopping for a dress, I couldn't help but get the sense that she was seeing something that I did not. I remembered crying in the garden after Etka had found out my secret, and how he held me close till I was calm, told me that he would protect me...
"Anahi, are you alright?" Naora asked, frowning at me. I snapped out of my thoughts and smoothed down the dress I was currently wearing with my hands. The shopkeeper was standing off to the side, looking me up and down.
"This one," I said, giving a smile, and diverting the subject as quickly as I could. "I like this one the best." It was passable. The top was made of a sheer, pale red fabric that covered my shoulders, and was intricately adorned with woven threads of gold that spread down my chest and down the body of the dress, which was a dark, warm red, the color of blood.
"It looks exquisite on you," The shopkeeper said, smiling warmly. "He must be a lucky guy." I felt my cheeks burn as red as the color of the dress, and ducked my head, muttering a lame excuse.
"We'll take it," Noara intervened, and I scrambled to change out of it, already embarrassed enough. If the shopkeeper, who didn't even know Etka, guessed that we were in a relationship together, what would everyone at the ball think?
"Thank you for going with me," I told her, as we exited the shop together and began to make our way back home. "This kind of thing isn't exactly my forte."
"You looked lovely in that dress," She smiled warmly. "I thought so."
"Naora," I asked her, trying to conceal my concern. "What is my...expectation at this party tonight?"
"Expectation?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Anahi, I don't think that the Captain would ask anything more of you than a dance or two."
"Are you sure?" I persisted, nervous at the thought of hundreds of military officers, all together in one room. What would they expect of me? "Have you ever been to a ball before?"
Naora gave a dry chuckle, smiling sadly to herself. "No, Anahi," She said, and I felt embarrassed. "I'm sorry I won't be much in advice, but if you're worried, just stick with the Captain, you should be fine." When I was still quiet, she reached out and took my arms, gently jostling me in an attempt to make me smile. "Try and have fun," She said lightly, as we reached the gates of the Song household. "You're very lucky to get to go to one of these things. You'd have to know someone very high up to get to even attend."
I smiled in relief at that and looked up at the sun in the sky. It was already well past noon, which meant that Etka would be returning home soon. "I'd better go get ready," I told her, taking the dress up in my arms and, bidding her goodbye, went into my room and flopped down onto my bed in exhaustion.
"This is just to see the Firelord," I mumbled into my pillow, emitting a heavy sigh. "This doesn't
mean anything." Pushing myself up, I caught sight of myself in the mirror, my face plain, my hair flat and dull. How on earth was I going to manage this ball tonight? I was totally different from all of these people, and it still seemed that wherever I went, I didn't belong. I ran my fingers through my hair and began to braid. My mind travelled back to many years ago, when Naheel and I were still children...
"They're whispering about you, you know," A boy Naheel's age approached me with a smug look on his face, and cocked his head over to a cluster of girls, giggling amongst themselves and stealing glances my way.
"Whispering why?" I asked, feeling my heart grow heavy in worry, and the boy smirked.
"They're saying that your mother cheated on Nasuh," He said, taunting me. "That's why you look so strange. They say it was even an earth bender!"
"That's not true!" I exclaimed, defensive and hurt. My mother would never!
"Then why are you so pale and tiny?" He snorted, and I felt tears of anger and shame boil up under my eyes. "Earth Kingdom bastard."
I punched him hard in the face, and he staggered back, crying out loudly. The group of girls all gasped, their conversation abruptly ending, and the boy shouted loudly, holding his nose. "She hit me! She hit me!"
"It's not true!" I cried, a tear rolling hot and fast down my cheek. "What you're saying...it's not true!"
I turned and ran as fast as my legs could carry me, all the way back home, where I found my mother inside preparing dinner. "Anahi!" She gasped, looking up as soon as I can running in. "What on earth happened?" She put down her spoon and knelt before me, and cradled me in a hug as I gave my tearful confession.
Her face changed then, and she dried my tears with her fingers. "Anahi," She said firmly, in a voice that made my gasping tears stop at once. "You are my daughter. And you are your father's daughter, and Naheel's sister. They cannot ever take that away from you."
I finished braiding my hair, looping two strands from each side into a bun in the back and leaving the rest to fall neatly down my shoulders. What were my parents doing now? Were they sick with worry? Or did they have a small sense of relief that such a burden of harboring me was gone? I knew they loved me, and my discovery of my past hadn't changed that, but it would be so much easier to not have the constant questions, the skeptical looks...
Sighing, I put on my dress and smoothed it over before stepping outside and seeing the Captain already dressed and waiting for me. His hair was tied back in a sleek topknot and wrapped in gold cord, and his robes were floor length and shades of earthy red and black. He looked striking handsome, and I instantly felt self-conscious.
"Anahi," He greeted me, a smile creeping across his face. "Are you ready to go? I've arranged for a carriage to take us."
"Yes, I'm ready, sir," I answered, following him outside the house and climbing aboard. The Captain instructed the driver to take us to the ball before taking his seat back inside the carriage beside me.
As the carriage bumped and rolled along, we sat in an awkward silence, until Etka cleared his throat and spoke up, looking like the air inside the carriage was too warm. "When we get there, just follow my lead. Be extra formal to the officers who are attending, and let me do the talking to get us into the Palace."
"Alright," I said, glancing briefly out the window and then back at him. "And sir, I can't thank you enough for this opportunity. I hope that everything will go smoothly."
Etka smiled humbly, closing his eyes for a moment. "Don't thank me yet, I haven't done anything," He chuckled drily. "And Anahi, please. Don't call me sir any more, just Etka."
"Just Etka?" I repeated, surprised at this sudden informality.
"It would seem strange if my date were to be calling me sir," He replied with a smile, and I felt my stomach flutter. "And besides," He added, leaning his head to look out the window. "I think we've passed the point of student and teacher."
I had no idea what to say to this, and stared at my lap for the rest of the carriage ride. If we weren't student and teacher, what relationship did we have?
What was I to him? More importantly, who was he to me?
The carriage stopped, pulling me from my thoughts, and Etka got out first, holding the door open and politely offering his hand to help me down. Wide-eyed, I stared at the towering mansion before me, decorated with large, glowing red lanterns up the steps towards the entrance. Around us, other couples were strolling inside, some greeting others and making polite small-talk.
"Anahi," Etka murmured, and I looked over at him to see his offered arm. "Are you ready?"
I slid my arm around his bicep, and took a deep breath. "Yes," I murmured back, and together, we entered the mansion.
"An Admiral is hosting this party," Etka explained, and as we drew closer to the ballrooms, I could hear the fast paced music, and sounds of people dancing and talking. "I'll introduce you."
"S - Etka," I quickly caught myself. "I don't know anyone here."
"Then make friends," He grinned down at me, pausing before ballroom. "You won me over." I felt my stomach turn over, and my face grow hot. Etka and I strode through the open doors, and I was immediately taken aback by the sheer splendor of it all.
The red walls were adorned with hundreds of small yellow lanterns, creating a look as if the stars themselves had come down and settled in this very spot. Tables were off in a corner, and while there were some couples sitting, the majority were on the dance floor, whirling and dancing to a rapid beat. Finely dressed, high-ranking men and women were laughing, talking, and enjoying themselves.
"Would you like to find our seats first?" Etka asked, and I nodded, letting him lead me over to the clusters of tables.
"Captain Song!" We both heard the voice of a young man cry out, and turned to see a man with his hair half done up in a knot and the rest spilling down his back moving quickly through the tables to reach us.
"Captain Zhang," Etka's face split into a grin, and by their mock-formality with each other, it was apparent that they were familiar.
"Glad you finally showed up," Captain Zhang grinned, his eyes then falling on me. "Well, Etka, are you going to introduce me to your lovely lady friend here, or will I have to continue to guess?"
Etka chuckled and extended a flattened palm towards me. "Izo, this is Anahi," He said with a smile, and then looked over at me. "Anahi, this is Captain Zhang Izo."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," I smiled politely, going to shake his hand, but the Captain took it up instead and pressed my fingers to his lips.
"The pleasure is mine," He looked up flirtatiously behind my hand, and I struggled to hold back a giggle, surprised at his ridiculous formality. "Now, where which tea house have you been hiding in all this time? I've never seen you before."
I paused, stuck at this question. I couldn't just tell Zhang Izo that I was from the Water Tribe! Before I could flounder an answer, Etka spoke up. "Actually, Anahi has proven to be a very powerful firebender. I had taken her in as a student, but she's as good as I am, if not better." He smiled over at me and I scoffed.
"I haven't surpassed you," I chided him teasingly, and turned my attention back to Izo for a moment. "He flatters too much." We all laughed together, and I felt myself beginning to relax.
"Come, let's go find our seats," Etka turned to me, and I let go of his arm, following him amongst the throngs of people to a circular table with name cards written in stunning calligraphy. Izo and his date, a young woman with her hair piled in an intricate updo, were seated with us also, and I smiled politely, remembering what Etka said about making friends.
"Sojin, this is Captain Song's date, Anahi," Izo introduced us, taking a seat beside her. "Anahi, this is my wife, Sojin."
"It's lovely to meet you," Sojin smiled warmly at me. I bowed to her before taking my seat, and noticed that she was obviously pregnant. I felt a sudden swell of self-consciousness. Here were Etka and I, sitting with his friends who didn't look all that much older than him and were already married and expecting a child. Looking around the room, I saw the majority of the guests were older men and women, all married. I knew it wasn't true, but it seemed like Etka and I were the only ones who weren't married here, or at least together.
"When is the baby due?" I asked pleasantly, and Sojin beamed, placing a hand on her swelling stomach.
"The midwife says I have about four months to go," She said with a quiet pride. "Izo thinks it's going to be a boy, but I'm pulling for a girl."
"That's so exciting," I smiled. "I'm happy for you. I'm sure you'll both be great parents."
As Sojin and I made casual small talk, discussing baby names and things like that, I noticed that Etka and Izo were engaged in a much more serious discussion. Etka's fingers were arched and he was tracing them along the table, pointing out different places along an invisible map. I realized he and Izo were making plans of battle, and my heart sank.
Sojin caught on to how I was feeling and reached over, touching her husband's arm with a playful pout on her face. "Not here, Captain Zhang," She said languidly, drawing out his name. Izo looked up and smiled at her, relaxing his hands. "It's a party, remember? Ooh, look! I think the food's being served now!"
Waiters dressed in robes of pale yellow began to enter into the dining area, carrying towering stacks of food on wide dishes. Most of the couples dancing had returned to their seats now, and a few more people joined our table to enjoy their meal. Etka and Izo immediately stood when an older couple came to take their seats with us, and bowed low. I locked eyes with Sojin, and we did the same until they were seated.
"Commander Lu," Etka smiled warmly, with reverence. "What a pleasant surprise to have you and your husband sit with us."
"The pleasure is ours," A woman spoke with white hair wound tightly into a bun and lines creasing her eyes and mouth. She looked over at Etka and Izo kindly, and I wondered if she had been their commander at some point.
As Izo and Etka spoke with Commander Lu, Sojin and I made ourselves busy with the many courses being laid out on our table. There was more food than I knew what to do with, and I made sure to try a little bit of everything.
"Our son is on a mission down South, near where you had been deployed, Captain Song," Commander Lu's husband was speaking now, and my ears had caught his mention of the South. "The plan is to secure the lower Earth Kingdom villages and move up the interior."
"I've heard their villages are small, and far apart," Izo mused, then cracked a grin. "It should be like taking candy from a baby." There were laughs all around from everyone except me. My body was cold and I felt like I was going to be sick. Talking about conquest and murder like it was nothing?
I felt soft fingers brush against my arm, and I saw that Sojin was trying to get my attention. She silently cocked her head towards the doors, and I shyly nodded. Pushing back her chair and standing up, she pulled me to my feet with one hand and laid the other apologetically over her belly. "Please excuse Anahi and I," She smiled to our table, and looked down and gave her belly a quick pat to explain herself.
I quickly followed her out of the dining room, glad for an excuse to leave that conversation. My blood still ran cold in my veins, and the thought of villages burning, people screaming as loved ones died hadn't escaped me. Sojin pulled me into a bathroom, and leaned against the tiled walls. "I noticed you looked upset when they were talking about taking the Southern Earth Kingdom towns, so I thought I'd pull you out before things got too intense." She smiled and I said nothing, looking at my hands. "Izo is fine at home, but once you get him with his comrades, the war is all he ever talks about." She reached over and touched my arm consolingly. "Is there something you want to talk about?"
I realized that Sojin was looking for an explanation, and that telling her I was worried about the safety of Earth Kingdom peasants was not going to suffice. Then, something dawned on me. "It's just," I gave an apologetic smile. "I worry about Etka in these type of things. He doesn't talk about his last employment, but I just...I worry something will happen to him." Etka vs the Innocents? Whose side was I on? "Forgive me, Sojin, I just...I wish this war would be over."
Sojin's face relaxed and she gave a knowing chuckle. "Oh, Anahi, I completely understand," She jostled my arms in an attempt to relieve my distress. "I feel the same way. Whenever Izo would leave I would spend so much time worrying whether or not he was alright whenever I couldn't go with him. But you've got to trust that Etka will come back to you. I can tell he cares about you an awful lot."
"You can?" I asked her curiously, and Sojin winked at me.
"These things are obvious," She said knowingly. "I could see he likes you from the minute you both arrived. Just look at his eyes." Sojin smiled at me comfortingly. "If Etka is deployed, if he's deployed, he'll do everything he can to come home. I know it."
"Thank you," I said gratefully, but my heart was still uneasy as we entered the dining room again. The music had started up again, and while some people remained at their tables, the majority were out on the dance floor again, dancing and twirling to a lively beat.
I saw Etka excusing himself from our table's company, and make his way over to Sojin and I. Sojin excused herself as Etka drew closer, and lowered his voice to a murmur. "Anahi, I'm so sorry," He breathed, standing close to me so no one else could hear. "I know that was - "
"Are you going to be deployed?" I asked him abruptly, my voice completely betraying my now-realized fear.
Etka's face fell, and he sighed. "I don't know yet," He murmured. "I've been lucky to have these six months at home with - with you." My heart skipped a beat, and I folded my hands together. "Maybe if there's a way that I can get out of it, pull some strings - "
"I just don't want you to get killed," I breathed, and Etka's face changed. He opened his mouth, like he was about to say something, but the voice I heard instead was not his own.
"Captain Song?" A young man called, and we turned to see a lieutenant in a loosened tunic hurry up to us. "I'm sorry to interrupt. This next dance calls for ten couples. Would you and your date mind dancing this one?"
I glanced up at Etka, surprised and uncertain. He masked his expression with that of politeness, and smiled down at me. "If Anahi would like to, then I shall as well."
I was caught off guard, my face flushing. "I - I don't really know any dances," I gave a half-hearted mutter, when Etka took my hand.
"We'll talk later," He said, smiling encouragingly. "It will be fun."
"If you say so," I tried to lighten my mood, following Etka onto the floor.
"I'll do all the work," Etka grinned, as we got into lines of two facing each other. I felt a little less embarrassed after just confessing to him that I was afraid of him dying now that we were on the dance floor, and I glanced at the other couples to see what to do.
The beat started, a steady, heavy drumbeat. The women held out their palms straight in the air, and I mimicked them. Etka stepped forward, pressing his hand against mine and turning a slow circle around the center. Suddenly, the drums paused, and then the sound of an erhu came flying through the air. Etka switched directions, his hand sliding around my waist and pulling me sharply close to him. I cried out in surprise, bursting into laughter as I grabbed his hand and he spun me out in unison with the other girls.
The drum beat picked up, with the erhu soaring out above, and the dancers all moved into a large circle. The man beside me reached for my hand and I gave it, and to my shock he spun me and lifted me around the waist, hoisting me into the air in one easy motion before setting me down, only to have it done by the next man in the circle. The women around us were flying in the air, soaring like birds to the beat of the music in unison, and I exhaled as I reached Etka at last and felt his strong hands wrap around me. It was beautiful.
The couples resumed a standard dancing position, and I felt Etka's hand go down to the small of my back. "Lean back," He said, and I did, trusting him to support me as the music swelled and he dipped me, leaning low over me. I locked eyes with him, and we both began to laugh, as Etka pulled me to my feet again. My worries of battles fought and lives lost dissipated, and Etka lifted and twirled me midair two more times before setting me down, and bowing to the other couples, as the dance ended and the room filled with applause.
I beamed up at Etka smiling and laughing. "That was crazy!" I scolded him, and he gave a shy chuckle, as the next song began, a slow number played on strings. "You made it sound like it was going to be some simple little jig!"
"I told you I'd take care of you, and I did," He teased, and I sighed, resting my hand against his shoulder as the beat slowed down.
"Yes," I smiled down at the floor, my heart racing from the last dance and now from being so intimately close to him. "You did."
We were silent for a while, dancing contentedly to the gentle music, and I was aware that the atmosphere had changed from playful fun to a much more quiet, serious nature. "Anahi," Etka said softly. "I - I meant to tell you earlier. You look beautiful tonight."
I felt my face turn red, and I gave an embarrassingly girlish giggle. "Thank you."
"Anahi, while you were with Sojin, I was able to talk to Admiral Chan and get us into the Imperial Palace in two weeks." Etka continued and my mouth fell open in shock. "We will have an audience with the Fire Lord."
"Etka, that's wonderful!" I exclaimed, but he pressed on diligently.
"Anahi, you realize that this could go very badly," He continued, turning us slowly to the gentle beat. "I've told you this, but I just want you to know that I'll protect you. If he turns on you..."
"Etka, he could kill you," I murmured, my face falling.
"I just need to make sure that you're alive, that you're safe," He said, his voice low, as the song ended. I lowered my hands from his, looking up at him with baited breath. I felt Etka's arm slide by mine, and he tipped his head over to an exit. "There's a garden out there. Let's talk alone."
I walked with him, my heart racing, and we stepped outside into the cool night air. You could still hear the music and conversation from indoors, but it was still far more quieter out here. Under the silvery moonlight, Etka paused, and I turned to him. "Do you realize what you're saying?" I asked him.
He looked down at me, his eyes nearly pleading with me to understand. "I'm deeply in love with you," He confessed, and before my mind knew what I was saying in reply, my heart spoke in its place.
"I'm in love with you too," I breathed, and suddenly, all of my worries came freely spilling out. "And if you have to leave, I'm terrified of something happening to you, somebody hurting you, somebody k-killing you..."
"I won't let that happen," Etka promised, his hands gently finding my face. "Anahi, I am wherever you are."
He bowed his head and kissed me, and I felt all of my worries slide away under his touch. Under the moonlight, I slid closer in his arms, kissing him back. Only one word came to mind, finally.
Etka pulled away, a dreamy smile on his face. "You don't know how long I've wanted to do that," He murmured, making me blush shyly down at his arms around me. I wanted him to never let go.
"How much longer must we stay here?" I asked. "I want to be alone with you."
"Stay?" Etka repeated, his face lightening. "We can leave right now if you want."
"I'd like that," I smiled warmly, and he released me, his hands lingering for just a second longer.
"Come with me," He said eagerly, sounding five years younger than he was. "I'll get the carriage ready right away." I slid my arm into his, and we re-entered the ballroom, trying our best not to break into a run and remain composed. We bid Izo and Sojin goodbye again, before stepping outside of the mansion, where hundreds of coaches and carriages were standing and waiting.
I followed Etka, my heart beating out of my chest as he signaled to our carriage driver and helped me in. Riding off away from the party, it was not long before I found myself wrapped in his arms again, my lips locked with his. Finally.