Chapter 58: To Whom We're Bound
Contrary to expectation, Yue didn't panic upon learning of Akluviq's arrival. She was surprised, yes, but it was as if she had been preparing herself for a moment like this, hence she didn't express alarm to the extent that those who had surrounded her did.
"The chief and chieftess are honestly terrified that you will be the one to break things off, Princess," Ivaneq said. "They believe you're not showing any interest in taking your relationship to the next level."
"The six-month rule also says it's inauspicious to not have the marriage consummated within six months," Aput noted. "And the two of you only have until the Winter Solstice— that is, the end of next week— before your six months are up."
"And after hearing their concerns, Akluviq promised your parents that he would act in their stead to personally organize everything and make sure the Consummation Night is arranged. Tradition sets aside two additional nights afterward, so I'm guessing the Solstice will be the final day."
"You make it sound like it's a cut-and-dry deal," Sokka frowned, "The classic, 'If you don't fuck, you're fucked' argument."
"That's not exactly the case. It's just a belief among the elders that the marriage will face a lot of hurdles and won't be smooth sailing if the couple isn't timely…joined…"
"Do you really believe in all this nonsense?"
"Nevermind our beliefs, isumataq, the chief and chieftess believe this and so does Akluviq," Zhi said, "Enough to the point where he's coming down here with his wife to oversee everything. It's the same as the birth chart deal."
"What must we do then, Princess?" Ivaneq asked. "Where should we all go from here? You don't seem stressed out or excited about the prospects…"
"Well that's easy, Ivaneq, you can just say it happened already," Yue gave Sokka a look, "Only if you don't have a problem with saying that, that is."
"No, no, I think that's the way to go about it," Sokka agreed, turning back to Ivaneq, "They might be skeptical but…you can just…I dunno, make up some story, I guess. How you as a good friend and assistant could tell that…things definitely happened…"
"Yeah, get creative," Yue said in a matter-of-fact manner, "You've seen a few plays, haven't you? The common tropes? People in an arranged marriage getting to know one another…"
"Stormy blizzard nights, warm fires," Sokka supplied.
"Unresolved sexual tension, unconfessed feelings…"
"Somehow ending up in the same room…you know, things of the like. They weren't even here to check, so it's not like they can confirm that's not what happened…"
Ivaneq furrowed his eyebrows, "Well even if we weave a theatrical production of this degree, that's not going to stop him, per se. If he believes it, then in his eyes, the consummation may have happened and may count for the requirement, but he would still not understand why it would be a problem to have a traditional one organized. If you've already 'done things' anyway, why would you feel repulsed about a ceremonial consummation?"
"You do have a point," Sokka admitted. "What if he still wants to go through with it? Or what if he's really that skeptical?"
"That's also easy," Yue said without a blink, "I'll just conveniently 'have' my cycle next week."
"Ah, the classic weapon," Sokka smirked, earning a grin from the princess.
"So either way, you're both asking me to lie, then?" Ivaneq asked.
"What else are you expecting? For me and Sokka to really do the deed?" Turning to Sokka, "Say, isumataq, you wanna have sex with me?"
He nearly choked on his own spit, every drop of blood seeming to rush to his face as he gawked at her. Their friends exchanged knowing looks and teasing giggles.
"Oh be quiet," Yue frowned at them, handing Sokka the cup of water sitting on the table beside them. "Don't you see that look of absolute horror on the poor thing's face?"
"Oh, I wouldn't call that horror, Your Highness," Zhi nearly smirked, earning a glare from the flustered prince.
"Princess, I don't mean to suggest anything of that nature," Ivaneq interrupted, clarifying his earlier statement, "I'm only saying I personally don't feel good about lying to the chief and chieftess of the nation."
"They're my parents," Yue said, "And as their daughter I'm asking you to lie to them. This is a teeny tiny lie, besides."
"Teeny tiny, huh?" Sanka raised a brow. "What I don't understand is that you both agreed to a marriage fully knowing what it entails, but if you're so disgusted by the idea…"
"We're not repulsed by it," Sokka said, "We just don't think it's the right time."
"Exactly," Yue followed.
"Well it doesn't have to result in a pregnancy, obviously," Amka followed, "As long as penetration happens—"
"Okay, that's enough," Yue cut her off. "These are things to be discussed in private."
"Yeah, we're not going in depth about the process right now," Sokka spasmed.
"We're all family here, Your Highnesses."
"Ah, virgins," Ping smirked, shaking his head.
"All consummation is," Zhi drawled with more excitement than was probably necessary, "is a different kind of massage. Just one that brings more pleasure! What's so horrible about that? You're married, and you care for one another, yes? It's not like you don't tolerate seeing each other's faces or anything. You're practically living side by side on a ship these days. And the Spirits know just how touchy-feely the two of you get sometimes."
"We're not touchy-feely!" they squeaked simultaneously, but even then, they couldn't help the wave of crimson that colored their faces.
"Look, I'm not suggesting anything," Zhi held his arms up, "I'm only saying it's inevitable. You need to start your life together at some point. If you really do feel repulsed by each other and can't ever see yourselves consenting, then maybe you should let Akluviq kno—"
"For the last time, we don't hate each other," Yue insisted. "We're being cognizant of the situation. I know you all know the situation we're in."
"And we also know that we're only three months away from your coronation, Your Highness."
"And the crimes out there don't matter?" Sokka flared.
"The situation has improved extensively with both of your tireless efforts," Ivaneq said. "You don't have to be on edge with adrenaline as much, Your Highnesses. At least, not with regard to crimes. We've seen a rise in women's defense; Princess Katara has been doing a phenomenal job of teaching these women, and in just a few days, we have the swearing-in of the new security personnel— the first-ever group to be comprised entirely of female waterbenders."
"It is exciting, no doubt, but that doesn't erase what is still happening," Yue argued. "We still have a considerable number of domestic violence cases and…"
"Kuunnguaq, the eternal truth is that shit is going to keep happening no matter what you do," Amka told Yue. "There's no such thing as a utopia. At least, not every day. The tribe really has been doing great compared to six months ago, and this is supported by statistics."
"We're not forcing Her Highness or you into anything," Aput said to Sokka, "Even if we do want to see you both that way because you both deserve the best, that is, each other. But what we are doing is giving you a heads-up. Akluviq is a skeptical man, and the main function of his job is to make sure the leaders of the tribe are securing heirs or are in the process of securing heirs or are on the pathway to secure heirs. Especially in our case, Princess, and it's not because you're a woman. We need more of your noble bloodline. We can't have any threats to the royal bloodline by impure lineages like Khasiq's. And frankly, we are all worried about that, too."
"If you are that desperate for heirs, wait a few months," Yue said. "My parents will return, and each will be holding a child in their arms. Aren't my siblings my blood, too? They're not from me, but they're still of my blood."
"Water Tribe law isn't just law, Your Highness," Ivaneq said. "It's law and tradition. The Heir Policy doesn't require you to rear children in emergency circumstances, but a marriage is quite necessary. And Water Tribe tradition requires that you put forth your best good faith effort in settling down with your husband. Just as we have a Tui and a La, we must have a chieftess and a chief. These criteria would be the same if you were a man and Isumataq Sokka was a woman."
"And another thing," Ping pointed out. "If you keep this up, Akluviq is going to think you two married each other just for the position or something—"
"We'll figure this all out later," Sokka cut them off. "Let's get back to it. We got plenty of things to do."
Sheens of sweat shone on bronze skin as his body sliced the air in a backflip. He ended up on his feet, huffing out an exhilarated laugh as she charged at him. He dodged her kick and tried to respond with his own only for his leg to be caught in the vice of her strong grip mid-swing, resulting in a slight tug that made him fumble forward. She caught him in her arms, their faces centimeters apart, his wide-eyed look momentarily lost in the baby blue seas of her eyes. Surely his pulse had to have stopped; he was too numb to tell for himself.
"At my mercy yet, isumataq?" she smirked only to yelp as his arms circled her waist and hoisted her up. He gently pressed her against the pelt carpet, his hands pinning her wrists down, a wink playing at his eye, "Out of ideas, Princess?"
Flashing him a lazy grin, "Fine, I'll give you this one."
"I'm glad you see things my way, Dronningi." And he let go and stood up, extending his arm out to her, "Massage?"
"Maybe later," she took his hand only to pull him back down, and as he fell on his back, she swung her leg around him, straddling him and pinning his wrists down, his La pendant dangling from her chest, teasing the white conch at his neck.
"Hey, that's foul!"
"We didn't establish any rules," she blinked with fake innocence, "Did we, Prince Sokka?"
Indeed, it was a silly way to go down, but he'd never regret seeing the grin of victory on her face. "I guess you can make that argument."
She beamed, getting off of him but rolling back down on the pelts, panting.
"Eh, I'll win the next one," he grinned, "And I'll win it fairly."
"We'll see." Raising her eyebrows, "Massage?"
"Maybe later."
They lay on the warm fur pelts, stilling to catch their breaths, brushing at the sweat on their necks and foreheads.
"At any rate, they all raised many points that Akluviq will raise," Yue admitted, referring to their earlier conversation.
"Yeah," he nodded, "We need to ready our defenses."
"You know how that process goes, right?"
Blinking, "How what goes…?"
Chuckling at his coloring face, "Don't panic, isumataq, I'm not asking you about what happens in the bedroom. I just want to know if you're aware of the process of getting to the bedroom."
"Oh…well, I mean…" he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck, "It's usually after the reception. At moonset, a group of men sit the guy down and tell him…you know, about the process… I assume it's the same way for the girl. Everybody then gathers around the fire for a ritual, and everybody has a quick spiel about how perfect the people are for this arrangement, blah blah blah. And then the guy picks her up and takes her inside and everybody cheers 'em on like hooligans."
"Yep, that's pretty much the way it is here."
"Oh! But the best part is the feast!" the prince widened his smile, "The food is great! I mean, we didn't have much of a feast for a lot of weddings 'cause of the economic situation, and everything got worse the last ten years, but I remember being really little, and we were at a wedding once. I remember stuffing my face." Frowning, "But they saved all the good stuff for the couple! And it pisses me off every time I think about it! We didn't have another feast like that ever!"
She giggled, sitting up, "That's because the food that's reserved for the couple is usually made with libido-increasing ingredients."
Blinking, his entire face turning crimson, "H-Huh?"
"All the food they eat is made from natural aphrodisiacs," Yue explained. "All those sea-onions and seaweed-chillis, fresh undersea kelp soup seasoned with Arctic garlic. All the flavor is reserved for the wedding couple. Generates plenty of heat in the body."
"Those are aphrodisiac foods?"
"Not normal amounts, but if you have a bit more than usual, typically you'd find yourself in the mood. I mean, not always, but there are definitely some properties…And it's not so much that the guests can't have them, but no matter who does or doesn't have sex that night, the wedding couple needs to."
"Oh…fuck…"
"Yes, that's what it's for."
He flushed even further, earning a laugh. "The point I'm trying to make is that in our situation, I don't know if Akluviq is going to plan a feast, but he might as well. I really don't know about a reception; we haven't had one, but it's been six months; a bit late if you ask me. I do know that the ritual and all other preparations will likely be arranged."
"I'll be careful not to eat what they give us."
"That's not necessary," she chuckled, "Enjoy your meal as much as you want. I'll have an herbal drink ready for us to drink afterwards. It'll subvert the effects."
"And this'll go on for three days, huh? Er, three nights, I guess. It'll probably end on the Solstice."
"Yep," she smiled, "Nothing very interesting about the Solstice, is there?"
"Nope," he grinned, "Not that I know of."
But even with so much happening on the Solstice already, Akluviq was bound to be adamant.
"As everyone's been saying, saying no to this would probably do more harm than good," Sokka said.
"Don't worry. Even if we're in a position we can't say no, it's not like Akluviq and team are going to come inside and see what we're doing, right? We would just have to stay in the same room for the night for these three nights, and as long as we don't come out, their imaginations will do the work for them." Blinking at him, "Would you be okay with that?"
"Are you okay with that?"
"I mean, we are mature adults, not horny teenagers or anything. And we trust each other. Granted you could always come out as a serial killer and pull out your ax in the middle of the night, or I could finally reveal to you my true self and drag you down to a Spirit World prison for being a disbeliever."
"Right, those are always possibilities," he laughed.
"But it's just for three nights. Think of it like a…like an indoor camping trip. Only we don't have separate tents…"
"Yeah…" clearing his throat, averting his gaze, "You take the bed, and I'll take the floo—"
"No can do. I expected that we were going to have an issue on who will take the bed, so to make it fair, we can have sleeping bags and several pelts handy. Or I'll slice the bed in half if I have to."
"Sleeping bags it is, then."
"I'll find a way to smuggle in some," she said.
"Actually, we can just let Aang and Katara handle all that," he suggested, "They'll obviously be involved with the arrangements. Or they'll at least want to be. They can always slide the bags and pelts under the bed real quick. No one knows that they know about this, right?"
"You're right, you're right."
"I'll have 'em smuggle in some board games and a pai-sho board, too," he smiled, "We'll make it fun."
"Yes!" she clapped, "That's a great idea!"
"But for this to really work, we'll really have to posit ourselves as a couple. If we wanna nail the point home. By that I mean, if we don't act excited about this or something, he won't believe any of our shenanigans."
"Oh yeah, for sure. They're most definitely looking for a show." Crossing her arms, "So let's put one on."
"Ow…ow…oww…" Sokka waddled over to a pelted seat nearby and nearly fell into it, wincing his entire way down. He kept a hand over his tender spot and rubbed the area, his struggle inviting an amused Katara over. The waterbending master waved at her fiancé, who had kept a group of children occupied with his marble trick while occasionally casting her a wide grin.
"Settle down, Katara, there are babies here," Sokka reprimanded.
"I'm just waving, we're not making out or anything," she frowned.
"Well you might as well be, Madame Oogies—yeaoww!"
Rolling her eyes, "Way back when, I told you not to start the yakhorse games, but nooo, you were like, 'I'm gonna put smiles on their faces, woman, just watch me!' And ever since, they've been riding your back all day long, three to four people at a time. Look at you now."
"Eh, it's fine, honestly," he leaned back against the chair, "Poor kiddos. Don't have moms and dads to regularly pamper them."
"They look forward to you and the princess, though, isumataq," the guardian of the orphanage smiled, joining the Water Tribe siblings, "They always ask about the two of you. The smiles on their faces over the gifts you bring, the attachment they have with every morsel of love they're given…" Sighing, "You're the only parents they've ever known. This much is the truth."
Katara beamed at her brother and sister-in-law and looked around at the building. It was amazing how the building, which was near-empty a couple of months ago after a few weeks of operation, was now filled with toys and games, occupied by children running around with new clothes every week and high spirits. Yue and Sokka had spent a considerable amount of time and expense here whenever they could, and although the princess's travel project had taken away a huge chunk of her time, she had managed to spend an hour or two in the children's company. Now that the last of her travels was successfully completed, and thanks to her diligent efforts in updating different laws and executive orders, she dedicated most of her time here now. She and Sokka even cooked for the children some days as they did today, finding satisfaction in personally providing them warm meals.
And it was quite rewarding. The way Yue's heart would swell with love and affection as the children who had grown close to her naturally took to addressing her as anaana. The love she showered them with, the lights that lit up their eyes when her generous arms spilled forth new toys and enclosed around them in warm hugs.
"Anaana, look what I did, look what I did!"
"I'm coming, love!"
Katara's smile widened; she turned to her brother, not at all surprised as he took to watching the princess play with the children surrounding her, laughing and clapping excitedly at some simplistic move a toddler had made in a "game" of sorts. The Southern princess was even more surprised to see her brother's smiling lips tinged with specks of moisture that rolled down his cheeks, "Are you crying?"
He snapped out of the trance he was in, "No!"
The master waterbender bent a thin slate of ice and showed him his reflection.
"Fuck," he whispered, drying his face.
"Settle down, Sokka, there are babies here," she repeated his words.
He held back a sniffle, turning to the princess again, "She's just so beautiful, you know?"
"Right."
"Ataata?" a boy tugged at his sleeve.
"Hey, buddy," Sokka beamed, bending down in spite of his back.
"Can you open this?" the boy held up a packed toy.
"Sure thing, buddy," the warrior opened the box, smiling as the boy's grin widened. The child took the toy and ran back to the group of children he was playing with.
And although Sokka didn't notice, Katara definitely noted how Yue looked at her brother in that moment. A positive beam, rare in every sense of the word. And before he could look at her, she turned away, returning to what she was doing. Katara broke into a pleased smile and tugged her brother, "Hey, Sokka, go now! Do it now!"
"Do what?" he drawled.
"Confess your feelings," she whispered, "Go!"
"Now?" he frowned, "Are you out of your mind?"
"There's no greater chance than this," Katara said, kneeling beside him, "Women like Yue are highly attracted to men who are great with kids. You didn't see it, but I saw her look at you earlier. Sokka, I know that look."
"You're overthinking it," he said. "I hang out with kids all the time in front of her, and I don't see any change."
"'Cause you're an oblivious nut-brain," she said, annoyed, "I'm telling you, there's no greater opportunity than this. You're surrounded by kids who like you and have completely worn you out. It's all in the biology! She'll be all over you if you propose now!"
"I can't do it in front of all these kiddos—!"
"Alright, kids, it's time for lunch!" the guardian announced, nearly trampled over by the excited group of children.
"Now's your chance, go!" Katara pushed her brother.
"Are you sure—?"
"Go, you idiot!"
Grumbling, he got up from the chair with great difficulty, earning the princess's attention.
"How's your back?"
"A little better, no worries," and he proceeded to kneel down and help pick up the toys flung across the room, "Let me help—"
"No no, I got it. Have a seat—"
"Eh, it's not that bad," he brushed it off.
"I'll massage it later," she smiled, and he felt a tingle shoot up his spine. He could feel his sister's stares burrowing into the back of his head, and as he turned, he saw that she had called Aang over, whispering something in his ear. The couple then flashed him thumbs-ups and toothy grins.
Sokka cleared his throat, looking at the dronningi, "Uh…Yue…"
"Hm?"
"I…I, uh…"
"Sokka, I told you to go have a seat, I'll take care of this—"
"No, it's not that. I just…I…" He looked back at Aang and Katara, who were urging him on with their grins intact, "I…Yueiloveyou!" Spirits take me now…!
Yue blinked at him for a moment, observing his anxious look before giggling, "It's okay, relax. You said it well." Handing him the toy in her hand, "Iyua'leviyuu," she corrected. "'Give it to me.'"
He gawked at her for a long moment as she went back to what she was doing, and after he managed to recover, "O-Oh…hehe…that's how you say it…"
"That one's a hard one anyway, don't worry. Angkaran's tougher than Nagaran. Some of the words can be cryptic sometimes."
"Yeah," swallowing, "It's certainly difficult."
Aang and Katara collectively facepalmed.
Katara brushed away the moisture brewing in her eyes, smiling excitedly at the scroll she held in her hands. Aang rubbed her back, his arm wrapped around her, "Happy?"
"Yeah," she nodded, the warmth of his fingers brushing her tears away as he kissed her temple. "Everyone sounds so happy for us."
"Yeah, but you know it took a while to get there," Sokka said. "Pakku put up a fight for sure. 'Ugh, he's a monk! Ugh, he's an Air Nomad! Ugh, he's two years younger than Katara! Ugh, he's bald—!'"
"Okay, that's enough," Katara frowned, "Don't pounce on Aang like that."
"I'm only imitating Pakku, I'm not actually thinking those things," he defended, joining Aang's good-natured laugh.
"Aang's perfect because he's all those things."
"You love him because he's bald? How shallow—ow!" His sister jammed her foot against his, held back by her boisterously laughing fiancè.
"I'm saying he's perfect the way he is!"
"I know that, Katara, geez! Just tryin' to make you laugh!"
"He's just messing with you, Sweetie," Aang drew her close and kissed her cheek several times, bringing a smile to her face, "But he's right, too. I can clearly see Master Monkey-Feathers putting up that exact fight."
"'Cause Pakku's a bigot," Sokka kept rubbing his foot and wincing.
"Well everything's gonna be okay," Aang assured, pulling his fiancèe into his reassuring grasp, "I know how heartbroken you were that they weren't writing to you, Sweetie. It's not fair for them to treat you and Sokka like that. But I know things are gonna start looking up. Today they finally wrote to you. Tomorrow they'll write to Sokka. I just know it."
"What are you talking about, Aang?"
The trio widened their eyes and gawked at the entrance to the leisure chamber, finding the princess standing there with a worried look on her face.
"Yue," Sokka scrambled up, ignoring the throb in his foot, "You're ready to go now—?"
"No one's answering my question."
"We have been getting letters," Sokka attempted to explain, "They don't know what they're blabbering about, don't listen to them—"
"Sokka," Yue frowned, her look indicating that he stay silent as she turned to Katara, "You haven't been getting letters from your parents? What's going on?"
"Ukuaq, it's really not as bad as it—"
"Don't lie to me," Yue insisted. "Now I understand why you and Sokka have been so disappointed whenever I ask you how your family's doing. They really haven't been writing to you? Not a single letter in these six months?"
"They really have been getting letters," Aang explained, "The letters are just not addressed to them."
Sokka frowned and shook his head at his brother-in-law, but Yue glared at him, causing him to melt and fumble, "Y-Your Highness, I'll explain everything. It's not as bad as it sounds. They're writing to Aang, yeah, but they're still asking about us, obviously!"
"Is that true?" Yue asked Aang, who attempted to nod but found that he couldn't with her scrutinizing look, "Aang, please tell me the truth. If it's not that bad, why would Katara be so upset?"
"I just got a little emotional over the wedding, that's all!" Katara tried to cover it up, but Yue wasn't convinced.
The monk sighed, giving Sokka an apologetic look before admitting, "The thing is…I've been writing to them and specifically updating them about Sokka and Katara. I mean, Sokka's right, that's why they write to me; to know how Sokka and Katara are doing. But they're just not expressly asking and…"
"Oh Spirits…" Yue turned to Sokka, "And you hid this from me?"
"Your Highness, I—"
"You've been lying to me. Both of you!" she addressed the Water Tribe siblings, "I thought you were in contact with your parents!"
"We are," Katara tried to reassure her.
"Yue, I'm sorry, but I didn't tell you because I didn't want you feeling bad," Sokka said softly, "I didn't want you to think this was your fault or anything—"
"Why would I think that? I know that's the truth, there's no need to be thinking about any of this when it's so clear-cut!" she said, glaring at the ground, "I thought everything would be okay when I send you and Katara back to the South after my coronation. I thought they'd tolerate you being here as long as you went back safe and sound. But now I can see how serious they're being about this…"
"That's not true, Your Highness, please," Sokka attempted to convince her, "This isn't even about my parents being angry or anything! This is all Pakku's doing. He's a piece of shit! He's the type to enforce silent treatments and stuff, that gaslighting asshole—"
"Sokka, please. I don't want you to still cover things up."
"I'm not, that's the truth—!"
She stopped him, holding her hand up, "Forget it. I need some time to myself."
"Yue…"
"I'm not mad, I just need some time for myself—"
"Why, so you can think of ways to send me home?" Sokka demanded.
"Well if you know that's the case, then why ask?" the princess shot back.
"Your Highness!"
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, "I can't take this anymore, Sokka. If it's going to be this risky for your relationship with your family, I…I can't go through with this." Gulping, "I'm ending our arrangement."
Sokka felt a great weight crashing on top of his chest, "Y-You want to end this? You want to end us? After everything we've been through?"
Katara and Aang shared tensed looks, expecting a blurb of confession with how intensely he was spilling his heart out even without express words.
"I'm just now starting to see how out-of-hand this is getting," Yue turned away, her sternness melting into longing, "When Akluviq gets here, I'm telling him everything."
"Yue—"
"Ukuaq—"
"I'm not going to be persuaded otherwise," Yue told the monk and the master waterbender, "I'd never forgive myself if your relationship with your parents is in any way adversely impacted because of me. And Aang, this could impact you, too. They wouldn't want their son-in-law interacting with me, either, would they?"
"Okay, you're taking this too far, Princess!" Sokka exclaimed, "Just relax and take a deep breath, and everything will be okay—"
"I'm thinking everything through," Yue said. "We need to end this. I think it's far better for me to be known as a power-hungry bitch who would marry just for the position than be a wrecker of families—"
"Why would you say that about yourself?" Sokka questioned, panic lining his gaze, "No one's gonna think that about you! I suggested this idea to you, I'll scream it to the world if I have to—"
"Well I accepted, didn't I?"
"Yue, please, what you're not about to do right now is put your position at risk because of Pakku's dumb antics!" Sokka followed her as she tried to leave, "Akluviq's not gonna be happy if—"
"Sokka, that's my fight," she told him. "And you don't need to concern yourself with it."
"I see we're back to the 'I' and 'you' language," he huffed, grasping her hand to stop her.
"Well that's how it should be," she let go. "You're not really my husband, are you? For you to be this worried about my future and well-being?"
He froze, gawking at her, his dismay consumed by waves of heartbreak. Aang and Katara widened their eyes at the outburst, continuously looking from her to Sokka.
"All you have is gratitude because I helped the South. Your real matter of concern here is the South, and because I tried to help what you love most, you've tolerated all the yakshit here and even agreed to being my bodyguard, which no other world leader would ever do." She clutched the side of her tunic, "I don't want you to keep being inconvenienced here, Sokka. You're not my slave or anything. We're equals, and you have a life of your own. So go live it. Go be where you want to be the most. I'm not worth you being cut off from your bloodline." Flashing him a perturbed look, "And let me reiterate to you that I went the first twenty-three years of my life without that gratitude of yours. I can spend the rest of my life just fine without it."
She stormed out from there, leaving behind the aghast trio. The Southern prince bit his bottom lip as he flopped on the pelts, scowling at the ground, fear and yearning circling in his broken gaze.
"Oh Sokka," Katara sat beside him, her hand on his shoulder, "It'll be okay, just give her space. We can talk to her when she calms down."
"We should've been more discreet," Aang sighed.
But Sokka didn't budge from his shaken form, "So she just wants to end everything. Just like that. It takes, what, seconds for her to cut off everything we have?"
Her heart lurched at his quivering voice, "Sokka, I really don't want to be that person right now, but…You saw this coming, didn't you? Even if not now, you knew there was going to be a conflict at some point."
He swallowed, his eyes starting to simmer with moisture.
"I know she was being harsh with you, but the thing is—"
"She was being harsh on herself, Katara, and no matter what I'm doing, I'm still failing to help her feel good about herself." Glaring out of the window, "Said she's not worth my time. Well I get to decide who's worth my time and affection!"
"She only said those things because she doesn't know for sure that you're in love with her," Aang said. "You need to tell her how you feel, Sokka."
"I've been trying!" he said, exasperated, "But there's always something in the way or… there's a translation issue… I mean, I already make it obvious!"
"Even if it's obvious, it's not helping that you two always joke around and dodge the real matters of discussion. So sit her down and talk it out with her. Eloquently and sincerely."
"Yeah, it's high time you properly proposed. Tell her that you really and truly want to be her husband. Come on, Sokka, everyone knows she has a thing for you. It's just a matter of verbalizing it. And frankly, there are just too many things getting in the way of her saying it."
Sokka took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "You're right…but what if…what if even then, she choses duties over…? What if she's just thinking about sending me away now, but when I propose, she really sends me away? Katara, I can't let anything get in the way of what we already have. 'C-Cause she said she'd never be with me to Mom and Dad…"
"Oh my Spirits, you're still holding onto that?" Katara said, aggravated, "Sokka, she told you herself that she didn't mean it!"
"Well it's a matter of pride." Shaking his head, "Even if she did have feelings for me, she would never admit to it because of our family. And it's not so much that my feelings have to be returned. I just want to be next to her somehow. I'm only terrified that she wouldn't want me to be next to her, either…"
"Sokka, pride isn't the only thing on the table. There's also love," Aang said. "Your parents may piss her off, but you don't. You make her feel happy, and everyone can see that."
"Sokka, when you're proposing, make the point that it's not fair for the two of you to ruin your lives and companionship over a couple of old people," Katara said. "I know Mom and Dad would want you to be happy deep down, and they're only being held back by Pakku and his useless emphasis on tradition. But if Pakku was willing to step down a little bit to agree to our wedding, then he'll agree to yours. And even if he doesn't…his disapproval shouldn't be binding on you."
"It's all about reassurance," Aang added. "Yue has seen a lot of cases— too many cases, actually— where women have been neglected and abused and abandoned, and over half of these cases involve domestic abuse and violence even on part of disapproving in-laws. Even stellar men have failed when it comes to treating women, sometimes, thanks to circumstances. Now she knows you're not at all like them, but it's very likely that she's looking for some form of…security. No offense, but your parents' behavior didn't help things at all."
"I know," he mewled, consumed by guilt.
"But it's not too late. If you're really serious about this, you need to reassure her you'd never let disapproving family members get in the way…and that she shouldn't have to worry about anything."
Sokka nodded, submitting himself to the resolve that would either make or break him. "Fine…but if things go wrong, it's your responsibility to convince her to let me still stay here."
"Things won't go wrong," Katara said firmly. "No one turns away true love given to them on a golden platter. It's what we all need the most."
"Yue, I love you."
The pale face in the mirror, ridden with a cold sweat, stared back at him, "Why the fuck do you look like you dread saying it? You look like a ghost!" he scolded himself, sighing. "Be romantic, Socks. Don't blow it!"
But the truth was that he was too stressed out to really focus. The fears of rejection were abundant, clouding his mind and filling him with anxiety. He took several deep breaths, deciding that writing the material down would help him…well, materialize his affections. He reached under his pillow, grabbed his journal, and flipped to a blank page.
Yue, I'm sorry I was speaking harshly earlier, but I was afraid you'd send me away and…the thing is, I can't just leave, and you can't expect me to be okay with leaving. The truth is that I've gotten so close to you. I've gotten so attached to you, and I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep this to myself. I feel like we had moments, Yue, and I have so many feelings. Too many feelings. I've never had these feelings about anyone. Yue, I go to bed at night dreaming of our future together. I dream of us having a family. I dream of the faces our children would have. I dream of us growing old together. I dream of us doing all the things I used to tease my friends about. And it all makes my heart feel like it's getting bigger and bigger and about to burst. I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I'd pass out from joy. Or sometimes, from the fear that none of my fantasies would never come to be.
"Okay okay, get to the point, that's two whole pages already," Sokka sighed, turning to the next page. Yue…These six months have been amazing, and they only kept confirming how I felt the moment I read your letter for the first time. I felt appreciated. I felt loved. I-I've spend all of my life caring for the South, and even then…I never felt so loved and cared for. Your compassion, the way you treat me and the way you treat those around you with so much love. The way you love the North, the way you take on the role of a chieftess like the champion you are. You inspire me. You…
His hand flew to his head as he sighed, "I'm blanking out…"
"I'm not worth you being cut off from your bloodline."
He felt a jolt in his heart. Yue, you might think I was joking around every time I suggested we settle down, but really I was trying to tell you how I felt. And I know that's cryptic for anyone to pick up, but those things came from the bottom of my heart. You think you're not worth my attention and pampering but if only you knew. You might be thinking I'm ready to get out of this arrangement and that it will give me freedom. But it won't. I want the freedom to be bound to the person I love. I want the freedom to be bound to you. And I can't prove all this with science or logistics, but I can definitely keep on showing you for the rest of our lives together. If you accept me. And if you still don't want me as your husband, that's perfectly okay! Please, at least consider having me around as a friend. I won't get in the way of your goals and aspirations. In fact, I'll do everything I can to make sure you meet them. I just want to be where I can see you and…take care of you…
"Five pages…" he placed the journal aside and fell back against the pillows, rubbing his face, "Ugh… I have zero eloquence…"
A knock at the door interrupted his musings. He quickly closed his journal and cast it back under his pillow, "Yeah?"
"It's me, Ping."
"Oh, Ping. Come in."
The assistant stepped inside, bowing, "Prince Sokka, you have a message from the Earth Kingdom. It was addressed specifically to you and Avatar Aang."
"Aang's with my sister somewhere," Sokka said. "I'll take it."
Based on the seal atop the scroll canister that was handed to him, he noted the urgency of the message. He unfurled the scroll, skimming over its contents. His eyes widened, "Shit…"
"Is something wrong, sir?" Ping asked.
But Sokka didn't answer, re-reading the scroll to make sure he was reading the contents correctly. Despite his shakiness and a look that spoke of how intensely he was calculating several things at once, he flung himself out of bed and threw an overcoat over his thin tunic.
"Prince Sokka, where are you going? What's wro—?"
"Where's Appa?"
"He should be at the stables, sir, why—?"
Sokka ran out of his room and dashed his way down the steps, exiting the estate. He ran all the way to the stables in the palace with Ping at his heels.
"Prince Sokka, wait!"
Sokka panted and nearly collapsed on top of the Avatar's sky-bison by the time he reached him. "Appa, I need your help, buddy, it's very important." Reaching into his tunic, he fished out an apple and fed it to the bison, rubbing his fur and subsequently being licked from head to toe.
"Prince Sokka, what in the world is going on?" Ping panted as he finally reached the warrior.
"Nothing, I just have to take care of something. Tell Aang I'm borrowing Appa. I'll be right back."
"But sir—"
"It's highly important," Sokka climbed on, grabbing the reins, "Ping, listen to me very carefully. When Aang gets here, tell him to watch Yue for me. And until he gets here, I need you and all trusted guards to be in her company at all costs. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"But where are you—?"
"Appa, yip yip!"
The bison groaned and took off, and a highly confused Ping looked on, watching the duo disappear as quickly as possible.
By nightfall, Yue paced back and forth in her study, ridden with worry and guilt. Even the sound of footsteps that seemed to head her way sent her running to the door. Every assistant who came to check on her was faced with the same question: Is Sokka back?
And the responses she would get were all the same. Not yet.
"He'll be back soon," Aang assured her, "Don't worry, Yue."
"He's been gone for several hours," Yue went back to her pacing, "What could possibly be the problem?"
"I don't know. He took Appa and left. Ping had no idea what to make of it."
"But he never just leaves…"
"Ukuaq, it's okay," Katara walked up to her sister-in-law, "He should be back."
"He's been gone all day—"
"Exactly, he should be on his way back now."
But that didn't help the princess calm down. She took her seat on the pelts nearby, hugging her knees to her chest, "I was being so stupid."
"No, no, it's not you," Katara sat next to her. "Sokka wouldn't do something like this to get back at someone. He must have a good reason—"
"He would've told me…" Because rom every reaction he had for every minister's blurb at meetings to the wart he'd had on his throatal flap six years ago, he told her everything.
"It's not you, I promise," Aang said. "Ping very clearly said he read the letter that was addressed to me and him, and he took off. Sokka had also told him to make sure you weren't left alone. It could be something very important, but it's most definitely not a scheme to get back at you. Sokka would never get mad at you."
"But I wasn't exactly a pleasant person to be around earlier," Yue mumbled, "I might've sounded like I don't appreciate everything he's been doing—"
"Yue, you were looking out for him. For us," Katara insisted, "And he knew that."
"But I was still acting stupid."
"Oh my goodness, Yue, he's not upset with you, I swear in front of the Spirits!"
Aang stepped over to them, kneeling in front of them as he faced the Northern princess, "Yue, Sokka respects you too much to be mad at you or to throw a tantrum just to piss you off or make you anxious. That's just not who he is. Every little thing he does, he does it keeping you in mind, keeping your physical and mental health in mind."
Yue nodded, feeling her eyes boil and simmer, "I really shouldn't have said what I said to him. Because the truth is that I would've gone insane if it wasn't for him. These six months had the potential to be literal hell for me…but he carried me through them. Sometimes literally. There were times I just didn't have the energy to go the entire mile, and he took it upon himself to carry me through it…And I felt like I was asking too much from him. He's my best friend, I can't… I can't eat his life away from him like a parasite, and that's why I—"
"Yue, don't say that. The only reason he was upset was because you were being hard on yourself. It's not an inconvenience for him to be here, and it's not gratitude. It's something more…" and the Southern princess left it at that, concluding with, "Trust me, I know."
"Fine," she huffed, impatient, "I won't end it. I won't end the contract, so please, just…just tell him to come back, please…"
"Ukuaq, I promise I have no idea where he is. He'd never leave to just prove a point."
"Then why wouldn't he tell me? What's going on?"
"He likely didn't want to worry you about whatever it was—"
"Well it didn't work!"
A knock at the door interrupted them, prompting Yue to scramble up to her feet and run to the door. It wasn't Sokka at the door, however, but Ivaneq, who prefaced with saying he didn't hear any news about the Southern prince but that she had a visitor who was adamant about seeing her.
"A middle-aged man. Seems poor. No weapons on him, he's clear. He's distraught because his daughter was taken from him."
Feeling her maternal instincts tug at her heart, "I'll be right there." Turning to Aang and Katara, "I'll be back. Please be on the lookout for Sokka."
"Sokka told me to be next to you at all times," Aang said.
"I'll be fine," Yue insisted. "I can take care of myself. Please, just let me know when Sokka's here."
"I'll be with Her Highness," Ivaneq said, "Don't worry."
The lone, rugged man who was seated on the pelts in the audience hall kept his gaze low until he heard the crack of the door. With tear-filled eyes, he looked at the veiled princess, frozen for a moment, and as she stepped closer, he rose to his feet.
"P-Princess…"
"Please, be seated," Yue said softly, closely followed by Ivaneq. "Your name?"
"Inuqiq."
"Mr. Inuqiq, I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter, good sir, but I assure you we will do everything we can to find her."
"Actually, I know where she is, Princess." Drying his eyes, "I just need your help getting her back."
"Oh…" Taking her seat across from him, "Has she been seeing anyone?"
"She didn't elope, if that's what you're asking. She was taken from me."
"Oh dear," Yue shook her head, "I'm so sorry. Was it a kidnapping? Did you see who it was that took her? How long has she been missing? Where did you find her?"
"She has been missing for over twenty-three years," the man said, rousing curiosity, "She was only a few minutes old when she was taken from me. The moment I learned where she was, I rushed here. Because only you can help me with this."
Yue, pondering the details, nodded slowly. "Yes…of course. Please, tell me everything you know in detail."
Feeling Ivaneq's stare bearing down on him, the man said, "Your Highness, I'm sorry, but…may I speak to you about this in private?"
Ivaneq raised his eyebrows in suspicion.
"There are some details I'd like to share…they're quite sensitive… I don't feel comfortable talking about them in front of…" sighing, "If my wife was still living, she would've been able to speak with you about these things, but…It's hard for me as a father, you know…?"
Softening her eyes yet fearing for the man's daughter, "Oh… of course, sir," turning to Ivaneq, "Do you mind waiting outside?"
"Your Highness, Prince Sokka told us to—"
"Please try to understand, Ivaneq. The poor man needs to speak his heart."
"I will plug my ears if I need to, but I need to keep watch, Your Highness."
"I'm no threat, sir, I assure you," the man held up his hands, a helpless look in his eyes.
"Please, Ivaneq, the man feels uncomfortable. We need to honor his request."
Ivaneq sighed and nodded, "But I'll be right outside. Holler if you need anything, Princess." He bowed before leaving the princess and the visitor to their conversation.
"Spirits forbid, but…was your daughter harmed in any way?" Yue asked him carefully.
"I wouldn't say she's harmed. Not physically, anyway. But she was taken from me." Wincing, his voice heavy with pain, "The couple that took her was brutal. Merciless."
"So it was a couple who took her?"
"Yes…but they're rather influential, you see." Shaking his head, "There was nothing I could do all these years."
"Is the couple still here in the North?"
"I don't know, but I know she's right here. Very close to me."
"I'm guessing she's not with them?"
Shaking his head, staring at the princess, "Not at the moment."
"You mentioned there was sensitive information you wanted to share…" she hesitated before, "What is it?"
The man took a deep, ragged breath before whispering, "My daughter…she is what this society calls the Akna."
Yue stared at him, unable to believe his words, unable to believe she heard him properly, "W-What?"
"Yes," tears slipped from his eyes, "My daughter was the baby found at the Moon Temple over twenty-three years ago."
Yue did not say anything for several moments, her eyes wide as she stared blankly at the man. Years' worth of curiosity, search, frustration, a need to befriend the mysterious Akna of the North who was so reverentially worshipped by Osha and the angakkuit, who was so vehemently cast aside by society for the rebellion she displayed upon birth, the questions she asked without asking.
"A-Are you sure…?"
"Yes," Inuqiq blinked, more tears slipping as he stared back.
"I…I don't believe it…Are you really sure?"
"There is no way I can prove things," he choked. "All I remember are the faces of my wife and infant daughter from that Solstice night… All I have to show you is twenty-three years' worth of pain and suffering. The longing I've experienced, the years that went by without my daughter's company." Shaking, sniffling as he dried his eyes, "I wanted to see my deceased wife in her. I wanted to raise her and be her rock…just as she would be mine. She is all I have left in this world. But I had no idea who to turn to because everyone cowers at the mention of her!"
"But you…" pointing an accusatory finger at him, "You abandoned her…!"
"No," he insisted, crimson-eyed, "I told you before that she was taken from me."
Finding some ground after processing his words, "Sir you don't understand, I've been looking for the Akna my entire life… She fascinates me. And now that I finally found a clue…I'll do anything…Tell me everything."
He tearfully told her of the night his wife went into labor. After ten years of trying for a child, they were about to be blessed with one. Ideally sometime before the solstice. But his wife was past her due date. The man had to leave town for an urgent matter that was beyond his control, that would've put his job at risk. Leaving his wife in the care of his relatives, he had left early the day before the solstice. A robbery had taken place at their home sometime afterward, and the relatives had abandoned his wife in the struggle that followed. She had managed to escape but was unable to find shelter, subsequently getting lost in the blizzard by the time her water broke.
"She had nowhere to go," the man kept drying his eyes, "So she found shelter at the Moon Temple. Spirits know how long she was there. I came back that very night and saw no one home. I wandered the blizzard for hours…and then I came upon the Moon Temple. I went inside to pray but found her. We made it through until midnight struck, and by the grace of the Spirits, we were blessed with a baby girl."
And then it happened, he said, speaking of the horror that took place afterward. The man and woman had barely recovered from what happened, were just then starting to get to know their beautiful infant daughter when the doors of the temple had burst open. A man and woman had burst in, snatching the child out of their hands.
"I put up a fight, but I was powerless," the man shook his head, losing himself to tears again. "They knocked me out. My wife was in no condition to escape after just giving birth…but those bastards… I was barely conscious when I pleaded with them to spare her… those heathens, they had a dagger with them…" He broke into sobs and buried his face in his hands as Yue continued to listen, utterly horrified. "T-They dragged her away and took me with them. They threw us in the ocean. Somehow I made it out alive, but I couldn't save my wife… dear Tui and La, give me the strength!"
Yue didn't say anything for a few minutes, processing what she heard while the man gathered himself together.
"Society has declared my precious girl an outcast simply for existing, and as a father, that… that cripples me. My wife and I knew the moment she was born that people wouldn't be happy if they learned of our baby's birth. We thought that no one would ever know. But those horrible people had caused a scene. They made it seem as if we abandoned our daughter. They wrote a note and placed our baby on the sacrifice altar. And after they fabricated everything, they left and came back…made it seem like they found the child…"
Yue, somehow finding the story familiar and for more reasons than simply hearing of the events from Osha, asked with utmost gentleness, "Why would they go after your child…? Were they your adversaries? Was it revenge?"
"No. They needed an heir. They were willing to do whatever it took to keep the throne."
"The throne?"
"Yes…" looking at her dead in the eyes, bursting, "Chief Arnook and his wife stole you from me, paniga. You are my daughter…You are my daughter, Princess! Those monsters you call your parents…they're criminals!"
Yue shot up from her seat, simultaneously unable to feel her legs as she gripped the pelted chair hard, eyes widened to impossible widths.
"If I had told you this first thing," the man also stood up, surprisingly gentle in his demeanor, "You would have driven me out. You would've said I was crazy. But the very reason I'm here is for you, paniga. I'm here for justice."
Yue backed away, pale, shocked beyond her wits as she kept staring at the crying man. "You're mistaken, sir…M-My father is Chief Arnook of the Water Tribe…I'm not…I can't be…"
"I can still remember holding you in my arms for the first time," the man continued. "Your mother and I had never held anything or anyone with such care…You were so small…so vulnerable, paniga…"
Yue shook her head, "My father… my father would never hurt…"
"I know you wouldn't believe it, but the Spirits are witnesses to this truth. You are my flesh and blood. You are the Akna. And I have spent my entire life trying to reach you…"
"But…ataatiga…" My father…
"Would a father abandon his child the way that man did?" Inuqiq demanded. "Would he lock his child away from the world the way that man did? No father would do that!" Taking a cautious step forward, "But I'm your father, paniga… You have no idea how long I've been waiting to tell you this…!"
"You're confusing me with someone else! You haven't even seen me—!"
"But I've seen the chief and chieftess that night as they snatched you away from me! As they killed your mother and tried to have me killed!" He tore off his sleeve, showing her his arm, which was heavily scarred by merciless lashes of a spiked whip, sending horror racing through her.
"Think about it, paniga," the man nearly begged, "Have those people you call parents ever really shown you love?! Have they ever let you do what you want? Every decision they took on your behalf was really to benefit them! Because you're not theirs! You're nothing but a pawn to them! A means of securing the throne!"
Yue felt her world spinning at the man's outbursts, daring to look at him as he stretched out his palm.
"Come home, paniga," he quivered, "Enough of this throne, enough of these heathens. Leave all of this behind..."
"No…no…" she vehemently shook her head, "This is my home!"
"You are my daughter!"
"No!"
"Get away from her!" a voice bellowed, and the next second, a hand reached forward and grabbed the man by his shirt, literally throwing him across the room.
"Isumataq!" Yue finally breathed, finding herself in his arms the next moment, his chest pounding against her as he hugged her.
"I'm here," he whispered, shooting a death glare at the man he'd yanked against the wall. Ivaneq and, surprisingly, Osha, hurried into the room followed by Aang and Katara.
"I'm not an imposter, and I'm not insane!" the man cried, pointing at Yue, "She is my daughter! My only child! The last reminder of my wife I have left on earth!"
And Sokka's horror knew no bounds as he saw the sheer doubt and insecurity cross over the princess's face, as if her entire life was on the verge of turning inside out.
"The chief and chieftess are truly horrible people! They wanted an heir at any cost! So they wouldn't lose the throne! They stole my precious daughter from me and tried to have me killed! I even have the scars to prove it, you have to all believe me!"
Osha, her eyebrows raised the entire time, asked the man, "You were certainly asking her many questions earlier about ideal parents and whatnot, but if you really are her father, answer just one question for me."
The man turned to her with crimson eyes as she reached into the folds of her robe. Moments later, she held out a string of wooden beads, catching the surrounding spectators by surprise.
"Do you know what this is?"
The man squinted at the necklace, noting the contents on the center pendant. Aang was especially surprised, having noted that it was an Air Nomad artifact.
"A necklace…it doesn't look like it's Water Tribe."
"Where do you think it's from then?"
"I…I'm not sure…it's made of wood, so…Earth Kingdom…?"
Osha gave a dry little smile before holding the necklace out to the others, "Look well, everyone. This here is an Air Nomad pendant belonging to high-ranking monks. It belonged to the Akna's father. And that can only mean one thing: the Akna's father is a high-ranking Air Nomad." Casting a glare at the man, whose blanched face gawked back at her with wide eyes, "This man is an imposter! Arrest him!"
The revelation, as much as it stunned the audience, released the monster that was lying dormant inside of the visitor. A maniacal yell left the man's mouth as he quickly struggled out of the rushing guards' grip and charged towards the princess. Sokka sent his hand slamming against the man's face, knocking him down, and the man tumbled onto the ground, drops of blood leaving his mouth as he tried to claw his way back up.
"Let's get out of here," Sokka pulled the princess along, leading her out of the room, leaving the people behind them to take care of the situation. Yue finally let out the breath she didn't know she was holding, still reeling back from the events that transpired as Sokka's warm hands enveloping her close to him.
"The Akna's father was an Air Nomad," Osha explained as Katara, Aang, Sokka, and Yue huddled near her. Aang, who was holding the beads that Osha had held up earlier, was studying them as if trying to decipher something, such as which of the temples— which of the monk-housing temples— this could be from. Whether the Akna's father was someone of high influence, whether he could figure something out.
"I don't know which of the male temples he's from, but I do know that he had been traveling the world when he fell in love with a Northern tribeswoman," Osha continued. "They were deeply in love and promised to stay with each other for the rest of their lives."
The monk had apparently promised the woman that he would marry her, and he gave her the beads as a token of his love. As a betrothal necklace of sorts. They had become one in flesh. Eventually, he found out that he was promised into monkhood by his spiritual teacher without his consent. He had to chose between love and religion.
"He ended up marrying the woman anyway and stayed with her. He went into hiding in the North for several months, but ultimately he found it difficult to stay. He missed his community and was ridden with guilt for betraying his guru. Thinking religion was ultimately more important, he broke it off with his wife and left to pursue his monkhood. He left all material possessions behind and was initiated. Shortly afterwards, the woman found out she was with child, but because she had broken things off with her family for that man, she found that she couldn't go back as easily."
In her embittered, heartbroken state, the woman had tried several times to kill herself and her child, but one way or another, she and her child were saved. When she was nearing nine months, she went home, hoping she would get assistance, begging her parents to accept her again, relaying to them how wrong she was in trusting a man who shouldn't be trusted.
"But they had disowned her for conceiving out of wedlock," Osha said. "That, too, conceiving the child of someone who wasn't a tribesman. She told them she would abandon the child and marry the man they chose for her. They told her to come back after she had really done so; they were not willing to accept her again until the child was born and thrown away." Turning to Yue, "Yes, there was a blizzard that night, and yes, the Akna's mother had gone into labor that night and sought refuge at the temple, but she ultimately abandoned the child. She saw the child as nothing more than a parasite thanks to the man who ruined her life. That's why she wrote that note, relinquishing her rights as a mother." Frowning uncomfortably, "Her rage and heartbreak was such…not only did she want that child out of her life, but she wanted that child dead. That baby would forever remind her of that man and his betrayal, and the way she would get her revenge and get her family back was to let it starve to death."
"Oh Spirits," Aang shuddered, "That poor child…oh, Spirits…" he turned to Katara, comforting her as she dared to steal a quick look at Yue before sinking into Aang's arms.
Yue shivered as well, not taking note of the additional layer of awareness in the air. She merely acquiesced as Sokka's grasp gently tightened around her, holding her close to him. She closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart, wrought with the haunting image of an abandoned child by the altar, screeching for love and nourishment. She felt the isumataq nuzzle his chin against her, his warm hand slowly rubbing her back as she held her hand over her heart as if the gesture would help bring down her racing pulse.
"They're all monsters," Sokka grimaced, unwilling to imagine the scenario.
"And that monk for sure would've been outcast for what he'd done," Aang frowned.
"Where did that woman go?" Yue asked. "Back to her parents? I assume she married another man that her parents chose…"
"I assume La dragged them all to his hell," Sokka huffed, "and continuously tortures the shit out of 'em every day."
Osha took a deep breath and shrugged, "I don't know. I doubt even the Spirits know."
Yue slipped out of Sokka's grasp and sat up, eyeing Osha, "I can take the truth. Tell me. Am I that child?"
"Yue—"
"Have I been living a lie this entire time?" Yue ignored the worried prince as she demanded Osha, earning tense looks from Sokka, Aang, and Katara.
"Would you really believe what an imposter said?" Osha asked her calmly, watching her expression unfold. "What reason would you have for believing him? Because he said your parents didn't care? Because your father was never there?"
Yue turned away, the frown on her face melting.
"Your parents are not perfect, Tuiup Paninga, but that does not preclude them from being parents. So don't waste your time with irrelevant thoughts. There is a whole nation that is relying on you. You are Arnook's rightful heir, and you are the princess we all need."
The shamaness stepped past the palace gates, turning to the prince who had accompanied her with her scepter. She took her scepter from him, "I will take it from here, isumataq."
He nodded, his eyes glazed, "Thank you. For earlier."
Osha turned to the entrance a little ways away and waved at the Northern and Southern princess and the Avatar. She then turned back to Sokka, "She has to know one day, but that day is not today."
Sokka gulped, frowning, "What would be so earth-shattering about her never knowing? What crime would it be if she lived a happy life."
"You won't understand," Osha simply told him before stepping into the snow and heading back to the Moon Temple. Sokka scowled at her but calmed himself for the princess's sake, taking a deep breath as he walked back. He was faced with the trio's inquisitive stares.
"Care to tell us where you wandered off to with no explanation at all?" Katara glared.
"That letter was addressed to me, too," Aang said. "What was it about? Why didn't you tell me? Was it that bad?"
"I just had something to do in the Earth Kingdom," he said, softening his eyes even more as the princess shot a glare at him.
"Fine, I'll say it, but let me preface it by saying everything is perfectly fine," he said, exercising as much gentleness as he could. "Aang and I got a letter from the Earth Kingdom saying there was a horrible earthquake in Nan'an and that hundreds of families had been impacted."
Yue grew pale again, a look of horror stretching across her face.
"Mother and Father are safe, I swear," Sokka whispered, his hands settling on Yue's shoulders, "They're safe, Yue, I promise. That's why I went. To check on them. I was afraid they were hurt, but it turned out the letter actually meant to say Nanaam. There was an error in the calligraphy because Nan'an and Nanaam both sound similar, and I was being an idiot because if this was in Ba Sing Se, the letter would've specifically mentioned Ba Sing Se, but it didn't!"
Yue continued to stare at him as if lost in inner conversation with herself.
"Nan'an's completely okay. In fact, Nanaam is a completely different province three thousand miles east of Ba Sing Se," Sokka said.
"So the chief and chieftess are both okay?" Aang asked.
"Yes. I went and personally saw Mother and Father. They've never been better actually!" Looking back at Yue, "Father looks great and fit. You wouldn't even recognize him actually. And Mother was practically glowing. They wanted to see you really badly: I told them you were safe." Grasping her hand, "I'm sorry, I would have told you, but I didn't want you to panic gor no reason if it was a false alarm. That's why I left as soon as I heard. I didn't even leave the letter here 'cause I didn't want you worrying. I wanted to tell you after confirming."
"So…you went all the way to Ba Sing Se to check in on them?"
"What else was I supposed to do? I wanted to tell Aang, but he wasn't there, and time was of the essence—" he quickly found himself cut off by the princess's arms that wrapped tightly around him. Katara and Aang shared a brief look before deciding to give the two space, subsequently leaving the room.
"Yue," Sokka whispered, "Hey…Nan'an is safe. Yue, Father and Mother are safe. Really. It was a false alarm—"
"I thought you were mad at me and left," she mumbled into his tunic.
"What?" Giving her an incredulous look, "Why would I be mad at you?"
"I didn't mean what I said earlier…I'm sorry…"
"You're still thinking about that? Dronningi, I forgot about that ages ago." And upon noticing her slightly shaking form, "Hey…did you really think…?"
And although Yue tried to cover up how worried she had been, it dawned on her just how much she had taken to relying on him. Just how much she truly didn't want him to leave...in spite of the inevitable...
He brushed her curls aside, his voice dropping lower, taking on a teasing turn, "You think I'm that shallow, huh?"
"No, I…I thought I…"
He cut her off this time, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I put up a mad fight, Princess. I'm not leaving you."