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CHAPTER XII - AN UNLIKELY PROPOSAL
- WINTER, LATE 192 AG -
The capital of the Air Nation, the Central Air Temple – Meelo hadn't stepped foot in the capital since the announcement of his new commanding rank, well old rank, now. But he had recently acquired another rank, the highest rank in the Northern Air Temple, it's leader – the Patriarch.
Patriarch Meelo happily rolled his predecessor, Master Bumi out of the airship and looked around at his childhood home - although it had changed considerably over the many years.
"I love the capital!" he said to the dark-skinned man to his left. "We should visit more often, Ren."
"This place is a prison," Ren replied.
Ren was Meelo's captain. He was a few years older than his Patriarch, but didn't seem to mind serving under someone so young, as long as they were one of Tenzin's children.
"Oh, don't be like that," said Meelo, taking a deep breath. "Just smell that fresh sea air."
"I'd be able to if they weren't polluting it." He pointed in the direction of the Republic which was obscured by the fog glowing in the moonlight – likely due to the pollution.
Opal and Kai stepped out the airship, laughing at the exchange. They were the Matriarch of the West and Patriarch of the South – Bumi had helped them along in his livelier years, they proved to be capable leaders.
"Alright, let's go."
. . .
Pema sat at the end of the rectangular table, waiting for a servant to wheel a cart over. Jinora sat on one side with Ikki sitting on her right and Rohan standing behind her to her left. Ren was the other captain - though he was the only one in uniform - also standing, behind Meelo, who sat opposite his siblings. Bumi had been rolled to his right, but the two chairs to his left were still empty.
A servant set a fancy glass and jug of wine on Pema's side of the table before leaving. Her children stared at her as she poured herself a glass.
"What? It's not a formal meeting," she said before taking a sip. "Where's Kai and Opal?"
"They should be here any minute, Matriarch," reassured Captain Ren, glancing at his watch.
"Wait," said the other standing Captain with a blushing grin, remembering the nature of their relationship. "Did they go somewhere to… you know…"
"Oh my," said his mother.
"Ugh," said Ikki.
"Kai, Opal," greeted Jinora loudly, as if to alert the others of their appearance. "Please, sit."
Kai bowed. "Chairwoman, Vice Chairwoman, Captain, Matriarch-"
"Please," interrupted Pema, squinting her eyes slightly. "It's not a formal meeting."
The five leaders of the Air Nation sat.
"It's been a while since we've all been together," Jinora smiled warmly. "You must have some important news."
Kai and Opal held hands and gazes before turning back to Jinora.
"Yes," Opal said.
Kai placed a decorated card on the table for Jinora to read.
"That's the invitation we're planning to use," he said, his excitement apparent. "Well, it's not final but…"
It was adorned with the symbols representing the Southern and Western Temples and the Beifong Family, although the symbol of the flying boar seemed slightly out of place.
Ikki leaned closer and Rohan edged forward to inspect it as well. Their mother read it sideways, from her side of the table.
Please join us in the marriage of Matriarch Opal Beifong of the Western Air Temple to her fiancé Patriarch Kai of the Southern Air Temple.
"You guys are getting married!" blurted Rohan.
"Wow," said Jinora. "That's… That's great! I'm so happy for you two, congratulations."
"But you guys lead different temples," Rohan pointed out.
"Matriarch Pema and the former Chairman were in a similar situation," said Kai. "But they made it work."
The mention of Tenzin still left a morbid taste in the air. Kai had only realised the atmosphere he had created after the fact.
"Wait," Ikki noticed something and broke the silence. "There's no date here."
"Yeah, and no location either," added Rohan.
"Well…" began Opal. "with your permission, we'd like to have it here, in the capital, if that's okay with you…"
"We're looking at some time in the coming weeks," announced Meelo, stealing attention away from the couple. "A date that suits the capital, of course."
You can't have a wedding in the winter. Pema wrinkled her face as she noticed the lovers avoiding eye contact with anyone else. Why is Meelo sailing this ship?
"Well, Meelo, the thing is, traditionally, weddings are usually arranged for autumn," informed Ikki, before their mother could let him know in a less joyful manner.
He knew that, but fall had just passed, the Patriarch didn't have time to wait for another three seasons.
"And tradition is very important to me, but-"
"Yes," barged the unconvinced mother. "I assume that's why you left your esteemed grandfather's home of the Southern Air Temple in favour of your uncle's mighty North." She gestured her glass of wine at the crippled man as she mentioned him.
"Mom!" Ikki scolded. She always tried her best to keep things friendly, even if she didn't trust Meelo very much.
"No, it's fine, Ikki." said Meelo. "Mighty? I think I like the sound of that."
His mother rolled her eyes.
"Hhh.. ghh…" added Bumi, attempting to smile.
"So does Uncle Bumi!" said Meelo, slapping his uncle's shoulder. Kai and Opal were visibly uncomfortable. The stoic Captain Ren had expected something of this nature. "By the way," started Meelo again. "I don't think Matriarchs of the Air Nation traditionally drank during meetings, friendly or otherwise."
Pema conceded into her glass.
Jinora sighed. "Rohan," she called. "Our soon-to-be wedded guests of honor have had a long journey. They must be tired. Show them to their room, please."
If that upset Rohan, he didn't show it as he led them out.
Meelo forced himself to maintain his light-hearted expression. "So… A winter wedding! A little uncommon but I think that's good, it's unique!"
"Why are you pushing for this?" asked Pema. "A Matriarch and Patriarch can't arrange their own wedding?"
"Don't you see, Mom?" Ikki folded her arms. "The North has good relations with the West and South independently, so Meelo wants to bring them together – the three of them."
"It can be the five of us," said Meelo. "It's not like I set them up or anything, there were talks of marriage for months, c'mon how long have they been seeing each other?"
"What's the rush?" asked Pema again.
"That's what I'm not getting." Ikki leaned in a little closer to Meelo. "What's your game here, Meelo?"
Meelo shrugged with his arms and shook his head. "It's just a wedding, Ikki."
Ikki exhaled. "What do you think, Jinora?"
Meelo scoffed. "Do you just flip and flop whichever direction your big sister tells you to?"
Pema almost choked on her wine.
Ikki's face heated up. "Wh-wh-wh-"
"No, Meelo," Jinora said, annoyed. "She follows the orders of the Chair. I suggest you do the same. Your little stunts stopped being funny a while ago."
"I still think they're funny," said Rohan, walking back in.
Jinora sighed.
"What is that, like, your fifth sigh today?" said Meelo, causing Rohan to laugh. Even Pema chuckled.
Ikki didn't. "You were at least somewhat polite until Kai and Opal left."
"You mean until Jinora kicked them out? Well, I don't wanna air out all our dirty family laundry out in front of everyone, do I?"
Pema scoffed. "That's rich."
"No, Mom," Meelo's eyes shrank. "You saying 'That's rich' is rich."
Ikki had to snort at that one – Meelo wasn't even trying to be funny it was just true.
"C-can we get back to the main topic here?" Pema had no witty retort. "If you must have your wedding in the winter, it won't be here."
"I'm sorry, Mom," Meelo raised an eyebrow at his mother. "Are you the Chairwoman here?"
"Ooo…" said Rohan, covering his mouth.
"Alright," said Jinora. "If you must have your wedding in the winter, it won't be here."
Meelo turned to his mother again to see her victorious smile and turned back to Jinora.
"Still have feelings for Kai?" joked Meelo.
Everyone apart from her at least smiled – they could remember a time where Jinora would've glowed red and flustered. It reminded them of how human she used to be.
Jinora didn't react, however – she was ready to cut to the chase, it was getting late, anyway.
Meelo dropped his smile for the first time since he landed. "We need to show unity. You caused a rift between the Temples, I'm trying to close it."
"You're blaming her for this?" Ikki defended her sister.
Meelo continued. "Years of building armies - time and money and blood and sweat – for what? To throw it away? To sell off our arms for a fraction of the price we invested?"
Jinora scoffed. "Is that what this is about, Meelo? You want me to reinstate the Unified Forces? You want your title back? You wanna be Commander Meelo again?"
"No, Jinora, take from me what you want, just don't destroy the future of this nation."
"Aren't you overreacting, Meelo?" said his mother.
"Am I? You prioritize pacifism, but I say we should prioritize safety, closeness and growth. The Temples' differing opinions of how to cope haven't been healthy for our community. Even within a temple, there are dozens of on-going discussions and plenty of discourse. Mom, the East hasn't been as collected as it usually is, right?" She looked away and took another sip, the room could interpret that as a reluctant agreement. "In truth, none of the temples are at a hundred percent right now. We need to start taking steps towards bringing the Nation together again, sooner rather than later. A wedding of a Matriarch and Patriarch held in the capital would be the beacon of unity we need – how will it reflect on you if you refuse?"
Ikki opened her mouth, but nothing came out, so Rohan opened his.
"He has a point. Some people feel like they've been working towards something that was snatched away from them."
"Rohan," Jinora said quietly. "I told you to leave for a reason."
"Hey!" Meelo exclaimed, genuinely shocked at Jinora's cruelty. "You can't talk to the greatest airbender of recent history like that! Out brother has every right to be here!"
"And where were you while I trained him? Sucking up and leveraging power in the North!"
Meelo couldn't deny it, luckily his brother held no hard feelings. "Stop it," said Rohan. "You didn't do anything wrong, Bro, we just missed you is all."
"Whose side are you on, Rohan?" asked Ikki.
"Whoa, Ikki, there aren't any sides here." Rohan noticed them all still observing him. "…Are there?"
"Actually," Ikki glared at the three opposite her. "There are."
Captain Ren gave the Vice Chairwoman a look that would've started a war in other parts of the world.
"No," Jinora closed her eyes in defeat. "There aren't."
"What?" Ikki didn't like this.
"As much as I hate to admit it," Jinora said reluctantly, her eyes still closed. "Meelo is right. My years of mistakes won't be undone overnight, but we have to start somewhere."
"Jinora, he's clearly up to something, there's something he's hiding from us." Her sister remained silent. "Mom?"
"Enough, Ikki," She sounded defeated, also. She set her glass down. "The Chairwoman has made her decision."
"Meelo," Jinora opened her eyes. "If Ikki's right-"
"She's not."
"If… Ikki's right, you and your captain need to remember who you're loyal to. Who all five temples are loyal to. Wedding or no, good relations or no, you answer to me."
Captain Ren fell to a knee to display his fealty.
"Of course, Chairwoman."
Of course, Chairwoman… How many times had Jinora heard the phrase? She couldn't escape the memory of the first time. She ruled with an iron fist but the rumours still haunted her, the horrible rumours claiming that she had killed her father to gain the Chair.
I didn't kill him, but I may as well have.
LAST YEAR
The Chairman had bottles of ice water and small bags of food rations hanging off of his waist. He leaned on his glider, soaking in the midnight rain, facing east-by-southeast. He had secretly been preparing for a long journey – one he would likely not return from.
The pitter-patter of the rain didn't disguise the sound of Jinora's feet landing atop a rock behind him. She was untouched by the rain, her umbrella of air shielding her. Looking down on her father, her expression was disdainful.
"You're not taking Oogi with you?" she said, finally. "Where are you going?" She didn't hear a reply, only the sound of the rain. "Where are you going?" she repeated, more sternly. He was silent. "I asked you a question."
"I can't tell you, Jinora. I have to leave."
"Are you coming back?" Again, no answer. "What about everyone else? What about Mom? What about-"
"Don't try to stop me, Jinora,"
"…I can stop you…" She could have, but then she wouldn't have risen to the Chair.
"But, you won't." He turned to display his fatherly smile.
"After everything… After all our disagreements? Our arguments? Our fights? You're just gonna give me the Chair? You're just gonna give me the Nation?"
He turned back towards his destination. "I have… no regrets in how I raised you… how you turned out… I know that you'll make a fine leader… I love you, Jinora. And I trust you."
"I love you too, Dad." Jinora was shielded from the rain, but her face was wet. "But I hope you know what you're doing. When you come back, the Chair won't be yours anymore."
"Of course, Chairwoman," Tenzin opened his glider. "I wouldn't have it any other way." He flew. "I'll be looking forward to see how you handle things when I return," his voice echoed.
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