Chapter 2: tradition
The best thing about banquets was the food, there was no question about that. A large arctic hen, nearly three times the size the ones that we usually ate, sat at the middle of our table. Bowls of sea prunes, snow crab meat, noodles, cuttle-salmon filets, and even seaweed cookies surrounded the main course. My mouth flooded with water, but we had to wait for everyone else to arrive, as well as formalities. Mom and Dad were speaking with some of the other councilmen and their wives, seemingly about our honored guests, who were seated with Chief Arnook at the head of the room. I presumed the Avatar was the one dressed in orange and yellow, with blue arrow tattoos on his head and hands. Shockingly, he was just a kid, probably no older than twelve or thirteen. If Avatar Roku died over a hundred years ago, and this was his successor, then where had he been this whole time? Why hadn't he defeated the Fire Lord yet?
His companions, a girl and boy that favored enough to surely be siblings, were dressed in Water Tribe clothing. I was just starting to wonder about their place in all this when the chief stood and the room fell silent.
"Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe," Arnook gestured to his left. Oh, so they were from the Southern Tribe? "And they have brought with them, someone very special, someone whom many of us believed disappeared from the world until now...the Avatar! We also celebrate my daughter's sixteenth birthday. Princess Yue is now of marrying age!"
Princess Yue, along with two guards, entered from the hall. She was radiant as ever, her white hair standing out in a room of brunettes. She dressed in purple, the color of royalty. That would be me in a short time, bring presented as a prize for whomever could win the favor of my parents. The thought decreased my appetite, but only just.
"Thank you, Father," she spoke clearly. "May the great Ocean and Moon spirits watch over us during these troubling times."
"And now," Chief Arnook continued, "Master Pakku and his students will perform!"
As everyone began filling their plates, Master Pakku and two of his students took the stage in the middle of the room. Three large blobs of water rose and began circling each of them before combining into one large mass. Their movements were in perfect sync and they seamlessly guided the water around each other. It was one of the most amazing displays of waterbending I'd ever seen.
"Kailani, aren't you going to eat anything?" Mom elbowed me from my right. I had forgotten about the delicious meal in front of me until she said something.
"Oh, right," I laughed as my stomach growled. I started grabbing food from the table: some hen, steaming sea prunes, crab, and a hunk of crusty bread. Everything tasted delightful, though one look from Mom reminded me of my etiquette. Rule one of dining with royalty: Don't stuff your face. I took only small bites, even though I could shove the entirety of a hen wing into my mouth.
It was easier to pace my eating when I distracted myself. I watched the remainder of the waterbending performance, which had now divided into each person showcasing their abilities. I recognized some of them, like variations of the water whip I struggled to learn. It was beautiful to watch, but tended to only make me more depressed, so instead, I focused on the Avatar and his friends.
The boy from the south was in conversation with Princess Yue. Whatever he said was making her laugh and blush slightly, that much was apparent. His sister and Aang were just as entranced by the bending as I was. They were the only attendees around my age, and as the conversation between my family and the council men (Earth Kingdom economics, if you're wondering) drifted my way, I wanted nothing more than to sit with them instead.
"I think I'll congratulate the princess on her birthday," I whispered to my parents. They didn't give any indication of hearing me, so I left. Not everyone can just approach the princess, but through my father's position, I'd been afforded the opportunity several times. The Avatar had disappeared with Chief Arnook and Master Pakku, leaving me a spot to kneel beside them. I bowed and addressed all three.
"Happy birthday, Princess Yue," I turned to the other two. "Welcome to the Northern Water Tribe. My name is Kailani, daughter of councilman Puriq."
"Thank you, Kailani. Your well wishes are greatly appreciated," Yue returned diplomatically. She was no doubt going to have half of the tribe chasing her hand, and not just because of her status.
"I'm Katara, and this is my brother Sokka. I apologize in advance for anything stupid he might say." Us girls giggled, but her brother let out an indignant "hey!" before biting into a cookie. I let out a laugh and touched the fabric Miki had fastened around bunches of my hair. "Please, have a seat. Aang left to speak with Master Pakku about starting training."
I sat beside Katara as Sokka told Yue stories of their travels. I could have stayed there forever.
The worst thing about banquets was the day after. Yue's party lasted late into the night, even after she had left. Everyone had eaten their fill twice over and spent the rest of their time talking about politics and gossip until after moon high. Katara and Sokka had so many stories of their travels from the Southern Water Tribe to the North. Stories about pirates, a fortuneteller, a banished prince, and a Fire Nation admiral kept me glued to my seat for hours. It was only when my mother came to collect me that I realized how late it had gotten.
The next morning, I didn't want to get up. But it was my day to assist Yugoda with the beginner classes, and she liked to start as early as possible, for whatever reason. I bundled up in my warmest parka, said good bye to my mother, and started navigating through the capital's many streets and walkways with a warm cup of tea in my hands. The sun had just risen over the tops of the glaciers and yellow-orange rays of sun light reflected off the icy walls and ground. There was something so beautiful about it that I could hardly look away. Yugoda was waiting for me outside.
"I heard there was some party last night. How was it?" she queried as the younger students began filing in. Each of them walked over to the wall to set down their bags and take a seat around the small pool in the center of the room.
"Oh, just the usual. Food and politics. You didn't miss much," I recounted. That's what royal dinners usually were like. But last night was so much better than gossip and brown-nosing. I had heard the most amazing things from Katara and her friends. It made me want even more to leave the North Pole and travel outside of my village.
Yugoda began the lesson with a review of simple bending movements like streaming and manipulating the water. She lectured and demonstrated while I examined and corrected technique. A few still had some issues with it, while others were beyond proficient. My class might be gaining members soon, I thought while watching as Jun-ki streamed the water and gloved her hands perfectly. The main lesson today was focused on healing intermediate burns, since ironically enough, I had burned my arm while setting the water to boil this morning.
"The first step to healing burns is prompt action," Yugoda began as she pulled up my sleeve. "The sooner you can treat it, the better off you'll be."
That was all I heard before my mind started wandering back to last night. A story that I had loved in particular was about a group of kids and teenagers living in a forest of the Earth Kingdom. According to Sokka and Katara, they were a bunch of orphans with a vendetta against the Fire Nation. Granted, their leader tried to flood a small town to rid it of the soldiers that had infiltrated. But being able to live independently and do whatever you wanted? That sounded like heaven. The Avatar and his friends were so lucky to be living life without ridiculous rules and stupid traditions.
"Kailani!" Yugoda lightly smacked me on the back of the head to get my attention.
"Huh? I mean, yes?" I asked, feeling the world around me rush back in.
"I was just asking if you'd help me with the mannequin?" she lifted an eyebrow skeptically.
"Oh, right. Sorry," I felt my face grow warm from embarrassment as the girls giggled. Just as we set down the practice dummy, someone entered through the door way. It was Katara, and she didn't look too happy.
"Uh, hi. Are you Yugoda?" Her eyes flickered toward me for a second, and I saw her mood lift only slightly. Typical of Yugoda, she answered with a question of her own.
"Are you her for the healing lesson?"
Once again, Katara let her head fall and her frown deepened.
"I guess I am."
"Well good! Kailani here has just finished helping me with a beginner demonstration. Perhaps she can get you started on the more advanced techniques? I'd hate to bore you with this kid stuff."
We set up in a corner with the spare mannequin that had seen much better days and a bowl of water. The mood in the room was considerably darker than before my friend's arrival, though I wasn't sure why.
"Hey," I murmured. "What are you doing here? And why do you look like someone just stole all of your seal jerky?"
My joke went over like a snowball in a fire.
"Master Pakku refuses to teach me waterbending. I can't believe I traveled all the way from the South Pole just to be turned down," she sighed at the end. I knew exactly how she was feeling. The disappointment was palpable.
"I understand. I would have warned you, but I didn't know you were going to try and learn as well as Aang. I'm sorry," I sheepishly apologized while starting to guide the water through the channels. "Maybe you can learn a little something about healing?"
It turned out that Katara did have some healing experience, but not a lot of knowledge to back up her technique. We talked about chi and chakras, and how to focus energy on injured areas. When we finished, we met up with Yugoda. I was almost as surprised as Katara was to learn that her grandmother had left the Northern Water Tribe because of an arranged marriage.
It's possible, I thought on the walk home. I could leave, too.
Author's Note: The first few chapters are not the easiest to write, so if they sound a little rocky, that's why. I don't like rehashing canon word for word, but there is some background that's necessary to really set up the story in the direction I want it to go. Let me know what you think!
