Chapter 11: "Revelations and Realisations"

As Tanya and Sokka were escorted through the palace gates, they found themselves stepping into a world of opulence and grandeur. The palace of Omashu stood as a testament to the city's rich history and prosperity, with towering spires reaching towards the sky and intricate carvings adorning every surface. The air was filled with the sound of bustling activity as servants hurried about their duties, their colourful robes in different shades of green adding splashes of brightness to the otherwise stately surroundings.

As they made their way through the palace corridors, Tanya couldn't help but be awestruck by the intricate details of the architecture. Each room they passed seemed more magnificent than the last, with opulent tapestries depicting scenes of battles and triumphs hanging from the walls, and gleaming chandeliers casting a warm, inviting glow. The corridors were lined with marble statues of past rulers and heroes, their solemn faces watching over the passers-by with an air of silent vigilance.

Their procession was led by a group of guards, their armour polished to a shine and their expressions stern and disciplined. As they moved through the palace, many of the courtiers and servants stole glances their way, whispering amongst themselves as they caught sight of Tanya and her distinctive golden hair.

Finally, they arrived at the throne room, a vast chamber filled with ornate furnishings and golden accents. The walls were adorned with intricate mosaics depicting scenes from Omashu's rich and storied history, chronicling the city's rise to prominence and its triumphs in battle. The floor, covered in plush carpets woven with intricate patterns, bore the marks of countless feet that had tread upon its surface over the years.

At the far end of the room, bathed in the warm glow of flickering torches, sat King Bumi, the enigmatic ruler of Omashu, atop his imposing throne. He was an eccentric figure, with wild, unkempt hair that seemed to defy gravity, and a mischievous glint in his eyes that hinted at a keen intellect and a playful spirit. Despite his unconventional appearance, there was an undeniable air of authority about him, and Tanya couldn't help but feel a sense of pressure in his presence.

King Bumi's robes were a testament to his regal stature, richly embroidered with symbols of power and authority that gleamed in the torchlight. Instead of a crown, he wore a headdress adorned with two giant pheasant feathers, a nod to the ancient traditions of the Earth Kingdom. It was a striking accessory that added to his commanding presence and served as a reminder of his status as king of Omashu.

"Ah, welcome, welcome!" King Bumi boomed, his voice echoing off the walls of the throne room. "I wasn't expecting you, my dear princess." His eyes twinkled with amusement as he regarded Tanya, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Tanya blinked in surprise at being addressed as a princess, her mind reeling with confusion. She glanced at Sokka, who seemed equally taken aback by the unexpected title.

"You're a princess?" Sokka whispered to Tanya, his voice barely audible over the hum of conversation in the throne room.

"News to me," Tanya replied back, equally perplexed. She couldn't recall ever being told that she was royalty, and the notion seemed completely foreign to her. Had she been missing something from her memory?

As they stood before King Bumi, Tanya couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. She had come to Omashu seeking answers, but it seemed that all she had found were more questions.

"Your Majesty," Tanya began, her voice steady but her brow furrowed in confusion, "I think you've mistaken me for someone else." She shifted uncomfortably, feeling Sokka's presence beside her like a comforting anchor amidst the storm of uncertainty. "My name is Tanya," she continued, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability as she gestured to herself with a small wave of her hand, "I come from a humble village, not from any grand palaces."

"Oh? You're from the Han clan, aren't you? No, of course you are. No one else would have that golden shade of hair," muttered King Bumi, his voice tinged with amusement, as he leaned back in his throne, a playful glint in his eyes.

Tanya's brows furrowed in confusion as she shifted uncomfortably, exchanging a puzzled glance with Sokka. "Yes, that's right. I'm Tanya Han," she confirmed, her voice tinged with uncertainty, her hand nervously playing with the fabric of her cloak.

"Well, there's your answer," replied the King, his tone cryptic, as he leaned forward, his headdress catching the light and casting shadows across the room.

As the silence stretched on and Tanya and Sokka exchanged baffled glances, King Bumi seemed to suddenly realize something. With a booming laugh that filled the throne room, he exclaimed, "You really don't know, do you?"

Tanya's eyes widened in surprise, her confusion deepening as she tried to make sense of the situation. She glanced at Sokka, who shrugged in response, equally bewildered by the King's reaction.

"You... you really don't know, do you?" the King repeated, struggling to contain his laughter. "Oh! Oh! I can't believe I live to see the day that a scion of the Han clan not knowing her history!"

Tanya shifted uncomfortably under the weight of King Bumi's laughter, her confusion deepening with each passing moment. She had always known that she was from the Han clan, but beyond that, her knowledge of her own history was shrouded in mystery. As the King's laughter subsided, he fixed Tanya with a knowing gaze, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"The past has a curious way of resurfacing when we least expect it," he said cryptically, his words echoing through the chamber like a haunting refrain. "You may not have been born into royalty, but the blood of kings and queens flows through your veins nonetheless."

King Bumi's words hung in the air, leaving Tanya grappling with a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. As she stared back at the eccentric ruler of Omashu, a sense of disbelief washed over her. Surely, this must be some kind of mistake.

"Okay, let's think straight," Tanya muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with frustration. "This old mummy must be senile," she murmured, her words barely audible as she grappled with her thoughts.

Trying to make sense of the situation, Tanya struggled to reconcile the image of King Bumi, with his wild hair and eccentric demeanour, with the idea that he held the key to her mysterious past. It seemed utterly absurd that someone who appeared so eccentric could possess any semblance of wisdom or insight.

"You see, my dear," King Bumi continued, breaking Tanya from her train of thoughts. His tone grew more solemn as he leaned forward on his throne, his piercing gaze fixed on Tanya. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, shrouded in an aura of mystery and gravitas. "There are three royal lineages that can claim rulership within the Earth Kingdom."

Despite her doubts, Tanya's heart quickened with anticipation as she listened intently, her eyes locked onto the king's. She could sense that this revelation was of utmost importance, that it held the key to unlocking the secrets that currently plague her.

"The Huang Dis," King Bumi declared, his voice resonating with authority, "who reign over Ba Sing Se, and are acknowledged as the supreme overlords of our vast kingdom." His words echoed through the chamber.

"And then there is my Tudi clan," he continued, his expression grave as he mentioned his own lineage. "We have ruled over Omashu since its foundation."

"The Hans," King Bumi intoned, his voice tinged with melancholy, "were the rulers of Tienhaishi." Tanya's breath caught in her throat as King Bumi mentioned the third lineage, the Hans, who were the rulers of Tienhaishi. A wave of emotion washed over her, mingling with the anticipation and uncertainty that swirled within her mind.

"It was located at what was previously known as the Yue Bay near the Mo Ce Sea. The City of Tienhaishi was said to have been the grandest city in the world." As King Bumi spoke, images of a bustling metropolis filled Tanya's mind. King Bumi's words painted a vivid picture of a city alive with energy, its sprawling streets teeming with life and its towering structures reaching towards the heavens.

"Do you know how it was destroyed?" King Bumi asked, his gaze piercing as he awaited Tanya's response.

"My parents just told me that it was destroyed because of a catastrophe," Tanya interjected, as she recalled the information passed down to her by her parents.

"Bah haha! Are you sure you're not a princess? Sounds like your parents coddled you like one," King Bumi laughed heartily, the sound reverberating through the grand chamber and causing Tanya's irritation to spike. She clenched her fists, feeling a surge of frustration at the King's light-hearted response. Despite her efforts, she struggled to maintain her composure in the face of the King's jovial demeanour.

The sight of her trying but failing to contain her annoyance seemed to only amuse the King further. His laughter echoed off the walls of the throne room, filling the grand chamber with his boisterous mirth. Tanya's visible frustration only seemed to fuel his amusement, and he leaned back in his throne, wiping away a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye.

"It's not always that an old man gets this much fun," King Bumi said, his laughter subsiding into a warm smile. "But let me continue the true story which is known to us here in Omashu."

He cleared his throat before delving back into the tale. "The real reason why the city was destroyed is tied to why your hair colour is blonde. The last king of Tienhaishi married a spirit, and not just any spirit, but the guardian spirit of the Earth Kingdom, Lady Tienhai. To be with the king, Lady Tienhai assumed a mortal form. In that form, she succumbed to the fragility of mortals and passed away."

King Bumi's expression grew somber as he recounted the tragic events. "The other spirits blamed the king and the people of Tienhaishi for her demise and attacked the city. It was only with the help of Avatar Yangchen that the city was successfully evacuated before it was destroyed."

"It is well known that the distinct feature of the children born from their union was golden blonde hair, an indication of their inheritance of Lady Tienhai's spiritual powers," King Bumi continued. "For generations, the descendants of the Han clan carried this trait, a reminder of their connection to the spirit world."

"Not only does it grant the Hans reverence of the people of the Earth Kingdom, but also tremendous bending powers," the King added, his eyes seeming to search Tanya, piercing her soul with their intensity.


The conversation with the king continued for several more minutes, during which he offered condolences for the loss of Tanya's parents and expressed genuine remorse for the destruction of her village. He spoke of the challenges faced by Omashu's defences, which were stretched thin due to increasing attacks and raids from the Fire Nation. Despite his eccentric demeanour, the king's genuine concern and sympathy were evident, and Tanya found herself appreciating his kindness in the midst of her own turmoil.

However, when it came time to introduce Sokka, Tanya hesitated, unsure of how to define their relationship. Was he a companion, an acquaintance, or perhaps even a friend? Reflecting on their journey together, from their chance encounter in the woods to their shared travels, she settled on introducing him as her partner. It seemed like the most appropriate term given their collaborative efforts, although the true nature of their relationship remained somewhat ambiguous.

The king's reaction to her introduction of Sokka was a bit strange, but she quickly brushed off his reaction, attributing it to his eccentric personality. Trying to understand his personality would just drive her to the deep end. It was better for her sanity to ignore the old man's unpredictable reactions. With a polite nod to the king, she redirected the conversation back to more pressing matters, determined not to let his quirks distract her from her purpose in Omashu.

Upon hearing that they were searching for Sokka's friend Aang and his sister Katara, the king's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Aang and Katara, you say? Excellent! You will meet them soon. They will be joining us for dinner as well," he declared, his tone brimming with excitement.

With a grand flourish, King Bumi extended his hospitality to Tanya and Sokka, recognizing Tanya's royal lineage. "And to you, Princess Tanya," he added with a nod towards her, "I offer the same warmth and hospitality. Consider my palace your home during your stay in Omashu."

As if on cue, a servant appeared at the king's side, ready to escort Tanya and Sokka to their rooms. "Please, allow my servants to show you to your chambers," King Bumi said, gesturing towards the servant. "Prepare the finest chambers for our guests," he instructed the servant, emphasizing the importance of Tanya's status. "See to it that they are provided with all they require, and treat them with the utmost respect befitting their status"

The servants nodded in understanding, their expressions reflecting their readiness to carry out the king's commands. With a final bow, they dispersed to fulfil their duties.

"Please, follow me," the servant said, gesturing for Tanya and Sokka to proceed. "Your chambers await." Without a word both followed the servant, eager to experience the luxury and comfort that awaited them in the palace of Omashu.


The distance from the throne room to the guest quarters gave Tanya sometime to contemplate the recent events. The revelation of her family's origins left Tanya reeling, her mind swirling with unanswered questions. She struggled to reconcile the image of her seemingly ordinary upbringing with the extraordinary legacy King Bumi had unveiled. As memories flickered through her mind, it became increasingly clear that her parents had kept the truth hidden from her, but the reasons behind their secrecy remained a mystery. "Most probably due to some misguided belief that she was safer not knowing," her mind told her. "Logically, that's what adults tend to do with children."

Satisfied with her own answer, Tanya continued to analyse her situation. Perhaps for any other naive young girl, the revelation of royal lineage and descent from a powerful spirit would be cause for unbridled joy and celebration. But she was no fool. As Tanya delved deeper into her thoughts, the weight of her ancestry bore down on her with increasing intensity. Her consciousness stretched beyond her current life, reaching into the recesses of memory that spanned multiple lifetimes.

As Tanya grappled with the implications of her lineage, her memories, while still incomplete, sent out waves of uneasiness. She was slowly beginning to understand the significance of these warnings. The preciousness of her bloodline came with inherent dangers, ones that she was only now starting to comprehend.

Though she couldn't recall experiencing this exact situation before, her memories were lucid enough to remind her of the fate that often befell those of noble birth, especially women in the upper echelons of society. They were often regarded as mere pawns in a larger game of power and wealth, subject to being used as bargaining tools by their families. The greater the lineage, the higher the value, and Tanya feared that she was no exception.

It wasn't just the lineage of kings that coursed through her veins; she was also the descendant of the revered guardian of the Earth Kingdom, Lady Tienhai. This dual heritage bestowed upon her a significance that extended far beyond her own existence. It meant that anyone who sought her hand in marriage could lay claim to not only the legitimacy of her blood but maybe also the loyalty and reverence of the common people.

"Maybe that's why my parents kept it a secret," she mused silently, her thoughts racing as she wrestled with the implications. "Were we actually in hiding?"

The conclusion stunned Tanya, like a bolt of lightning striking her core and igniting a firestorm of conflicting emotions within. Any thoughts of benefiting from her newfound status were overshadowed by a tidal wave of apprehension as she considered the potential dangers lurking in the shadows.

"Dammit," she muttered inwardly, her heart sinking with each passing second. "Did I make a mistake in coming here?"

In the intricate dance of politics and power, Tanya saw herself as a pawn. She was acutely aware of the predators that would no doubt be circling around her, drawn by the scent of her lineage and the promise of influence and authority it carried. To them, she was not a person but a prize to be won, a trophy to be displayed for all to see. She was a sheep surrounded by wolves, a lone figure adrift in a sea of ambition and deceit. In the eyes of those who sought to exploit her, she was nothing more than a piece of meat waiting to be fought over and consumed.

Lost in her thoughts, Tanya absentmindedly brought a hand to her mouth, biting nervously at her nails as she wrestled with the weight of her newfound knowledge. Her mind raced through all possible solutions to her current dilemma.

"Tanya, everything alright?" Sokka's voice cut through her preoccupied thoughts, drawing her attention back to the present moment. She mustered a reassuring smile, though she kept her face impassive, concealing the turmoil swirling within her.


After leaving the throne room with Tanya, Sokka couldn't shake the bewildered expression etched on his face. The encounter with King Bumi had been nothing short of surreal, leaving him feeling like a mere spectator in a grand play unfolding before him. Yet, despite the initial confusion, Sokka found himself oddly intrigued by the history shared by the eccentric king, especially when it came to Tanya.

As they traversed the labyrinthine corridors of the palace, Sokka's mind buzzed with questions and speculation. In a way, it did answer some of his earlier inquiries regarding why Tanya's hair was blonde. Her bloodline connection to the spirits seemed to provide an explanation. It also possibly accounted for the ethereal glow that enveloped her at times, especially under the moon's gentle gaze. Under it, she seemed to emanate a radiant aura, her essence intertwined with the celestial energies that surrounded her, and he couldn't deny the allure of her presence.

Suddenly realising the direction his thoughts were moving in, Sokka's mind raced with alarm. "No, Sokka! Bad Sokka! You're crazy!" he scolded himself internally, shaking his head vigorously in a futile attempt to dispel the unwelcome thoughts. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks as his imagination conjured images he knew he shouldn't entertain. "She'll kill you if she caught you thinking about her that way," he chided himself, the gravity of the situation dawning on him.

Sweat beads formed on his brow at the mere thought of the consequences of his wayward musings. The fact that the beautiful petite blonde could kill him with just a flick of her finger was enough to persuade him to move on to other thoughts. Sokka stole a furtive glance at Tanya, his heart pounding in his chest as he wondered whether she had caught on to his inner turmoil. However, it was clear that she was grappling with the weight of recent events. He noted the furrow in her brow and the tension in her posture, and Sokka couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her predicament.

Unable to help himself, Sokka broke the silence, his voice cutting through the tension. "Tanya, everything alright?" he asked, his concern evident in his tone. His question was met with a reassuring smile from Tanya, though her face remained impassive, concealing the turmoil within. Sokka couldn't help but wonder what thoughts lay hidden behind that serene facade, but he knew better than to pry further. Instead, he offered a small nod in acknowledgment, silently respecting her need for privacy in that moment.


After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at their destination—a grand chamber adorned with elegant furnishings and intricate tapestries. The soft glow of candlelight bathed the room in a warm and inviting ambiance, casting dancing shadows against the walls.

"Here is your room, my lady and my lord," the servant announced, bowing respectfully before stepping aside to allow Tanya and Sokka to enter.

Sokka's brows furrowed in confusion as the servant addressed him as "my lord," a title he had never expected to be bestowed upon him. His expression shifted from curiosity to bewilderment, his eyes widening slightly as he exchanged a perplexed glance with Tanya. The revelation that she was considered a princess made sense, but why was he being referred to as a lord? Sokka's mind raced with questions.

"Just call me Sokka," Sokka said to the servant with a smile.

The servant appeared visibly startled, as if struck by a sudden jolt. "Forgive me, my lord, I dare not!" she pleaded, her voice quivering with trepidation. "How could I dare address my lady's consort so informally?" she stuttered, her eyes darting nervously between Tanya and Sokka.

In that moment, a palpable tension filled the air, engulfing the room in a heavy silence that seemed to stretch on indefinitely.

Sokka's expression shifted from confusion to surprise, his eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. His eyes widened slightly as he exchanged a quick glance with Tanya, seeking confirmation of what he had just heard. "Co...co...consort?!" A blush crept up his cheeks, turning his face a shade of red reminiscent of a ripe tomato, betraying his embarrassment at the unexpected turn of events.

Quickly trying to clarify the situation, Sokka opened his mouth to speak, "I'm no..." but was swiftly interrupted by Tanya's hand, which slapped over his mouth, silencing him before he could finish his sentence.

His eyes widened in surprise, eyebrows shooting up in disbelief as Tanya's hand muffled his words. He blinked rapidly, his mind racing to process the unexpected turn of events. A rush of heat flooded his cheeks, turning them a shade of red that rivalled a sunset, betraying his embarrassment at the situation.

"Mmmphhh…" Sokka mumbled beneath Tanya's hand, his attempt to speak thwarted by her firm grip. He shot her a bewildered glance, but her smile remained unwavering, a sharp glint in her eyes promising pain if he didn't cooperate.

Shooting the servant what she hoped was a sincere smile, Tanya said, "Thank you for showing us the way." Without waiting for a reply, she swiftly dragged Sokka into the room and closed the door behind them.


Author's Notes:

I finished writing this chapter right after finishing one of my assignments. I hope it keeps everyone happy until at least next week since I have another assignment in need of attention ~sob~ T_T

Currently the timeline is at Book One (The Book of Water if I'm not mistaken). I know many were waiting patiently for Sokka's eventual reunion with Aang and Katara, and their reaction to Tanya. We'll get there soon. Hehe.

How surprised were you with this chapter? Truthfully I was so tempted to take up the suggestion that Tanya was the grandchild of King Bumi but that would have strayed too far away from the lore that I had in mind and well, I just loooooooove giving people surprises.

Hopefully we get some action in the next chapter. ~praying~

Antark, thank you for worrying about me. I tend to lose sleep if I can't get an idea out of my mind. So writing actually helps me rest believe it or not. But I'll make sure to pace myself.