XIV/ A mother's concern
The journey after Omashu turned a bit casual and redundant in the following days, even if Elsa found some delight in discovering more of this world she was stranded in. While she still intended to find a way back home, she was also more than ever determined to accompany and protect Aang and his friends with what their experience at Omashu brought her. Bumi's words on why she might be here and his wise advice to the young Avatar gave her enough reasons to help him, especially as she still felt he shouldn't handle alone such a burden.
In addition to the discovery of the world and the sense of protectiveness she felt for her three young companions, the young queen started as promised to teach them simple things on how to interact with powerful people. Considering Aang's position as the Avatar, it might need more, but for the time being, Elsa tried to help them to understand how to deal when interacting with people whose status and position could affect a lot of things and people. Katara was the one that grasped the first about the subtleties due to her eagerness to learn. Aang was more struggling due to him being fun and easy-going, but him being easy in interactions was also a strength. Sokka also struggled, though his determination to be a good leader helped him to slowly grasp what Elsa was teaching them.
Her companions and her finally stopped by a forest. While Appa was resting in the clearing, Aang was lying on the root of a tree spread out on the ground near a raised and grassy plateau. Katara was folding one of their sleeping blankets on the ground and Sokka was sitting bored on the ground. Momo was observing the area while Elsa was checking their supplies.
Katara finished folding the blanket, and Sokka's stomach growled. "Hey, Elsa, when do we eat?" he asked, his tone filled with hunger.
His sister glanced at her brother, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. "Sokka, you just ate an hour ago. Can't you wait a bit?"
Elsa turned her look at the two siblings, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Katara's right. We have to be careful with our supplies if we want to survive in the wild on our journey to the North."
Sokka rubbed his stomach, looking sheepish. "Right, right. Survival first, I guess."
Elsa tilted in approval before adding, "Consider it like a small lesson in how to hold yourself in situations. That can be useful when interacting with people you can't stand."
Elsa's words resonated with her companions, and they nodded in understanding, even though Sokka was having a sceptical look. Katara asked Elsa. "Do we have enough to eat for today?"
Aang stood up as Elsa approached the plateau, a hopeful look on his face. "Do we, Elsa?"
Sokka chimed in eagerly, his eyes fixed on the Arendellian queen. "Yeah, tell us we've got something good left!"
Elsa smiled gently at them, her gaze scanning their supplies. "We still have some supplies left, thanks to our stop at Omashu. But we'll need to ration and resupply in the next town we come across."
Sokka's face fell slightly, but he nodded understandingly. "Alright, rationing it is."
Katara sighed, casting a concerned glance at their dwindling supplies. "I just hope we find a town soon. I don't like the idea of going hungry."
Aang's expression mirrored Katara's concern. "Me neither. But we'll manage somehow, right?"
Elsa nodded reassuringly. "Of course, we do."
The young airbender's expression brightened with determination as he listened to Elsa's words, his eyes reflecting unwavering resolve. Katara smiled at the young airbender before sending a grateful glance at Elsa. Sokka's initial disappointment at the prospect of rationing was replaced by a sense of purpose. He straightened his posture, his usual confidence returning.
Elsa smiled at the three children, sensing their determination and faith. As concerned as she was for their safety and well-being with the stakes that were at play with Aang's peculiar status and the situation in their world, she was also glad of their company. As much as she had been used to loneliness, she also knew how to appreciate companionship. And while they were very young, they were very sympathetic, fun and kind.
Finishing her checking of their supplies, Elsa settled their supplies near Appa and moved to the plateau. Aang used airbending to stand up as she arrived. Suddenly, Momo swooped down from a nearby tree, landing on Aang's shoulder with a playful chirp. The winged lemur seemed to be enjoying the break, his eyes darting around curiously.
Elsa couldn't help but smile at the sight. "Looks like Momo's enjoying the rest too."
Aang grinned, scratching behind the winged lemur's ears. "Yeah, he deserves it."
Katara smiled fondly at the sight while Sokka was shaking his head. "Yeah, he can have fun. But we need to move if we want to join the North Pole and avoid the ashmakers to find us."
Elsa tilted her head in agreement with the Water Tribe boy. "So, what's our next move?" she asked, addressing the group.
Before anyone could answer, the entire earth quaked beneath them. Sokka, ever alert, exclaimed, his eyes widened. "What was that?"
Aang, Katara, and Elsa exchanged concerned glances as the quake returned, shaking the ground once more.
"It's coming from over there!" Aang pointed towards the left side of the plateau, where the woods lay.
Without hesitation, the young Avatar and Katara moved towards the direction of the disturbance, but Elsa reached out, a note of caution in her voice. "Wait, let's not rush into danger."
Sokka, remaining on the plateau, added, "Shouldn't we run away from huge booms? Not toward them?"
But the quake returned once more, prompting Aang and Katara to press on, shortly followed by Elsa and Momo, with Sokka trailing reluctantly behind.
As they approached a fallen tree at the entrance of a ravine, they witnessed a young boy bending boulders into the air with impressive skill. Elsa's eyes widened at the sight. Seeing earthbending at work was unique. She noted that the young boy seemed to be very focused and not as attuned as the Omashu guards or even King Bumi.
"An earthbender!" Katara exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening with fascination.
Aang, always eager to make new friends, yelled out, "Let's go meet him!"
But Sokka, ever cautious, interjected, "He looks dangerous, so we better approach cautiously."
Elsa nodded in agreement with Sokka's assessment, not entirely convinced by his reasoning but appreciating the sentiment of caution. "I agree. We should…"
She interrupted herself as she saw Katara moving past the fallen tree into the ravine, excitedly addressing the earthbender. "Hello there! I'm Katara! What's your name?"
The young boy, startled by their sudden appearance, gasped in surprise, dropping the boulder he was bending. In a panic, he fled, triggering an avalanche of rocks to block his escape route. Elsa looked at what happened, the young boy's reaction reminding her a bit of how she was when she accidentally revealed her powers during her coronation day. It was obvious he didn't expect someone here, but his reaction suggested more.
She followed Sokka and Aang who quickly joined Katara.
"Nice to meet you!" the young Avatar said in his shining voice.
Elsa shook her head at the airbender's answer, wondering how much he had noticed how the boy reacted to their sudden presence. She looked at Katara who stood stunned and a bit dejected by the earthbender's reaction.
"I just wanted to say hi," she said, shrugging.
Elsa offered a reassuring smile. "He must have been surprised. Your sudden appearance might have startled him," she said, even if she had her suspicions about other reasons why he reacted that way.
Katara's expression softened as she realized the unintended impact of her approach. "You're right. I didn't mean to startle him.
Elsa looked at the young girl with a comforting glance. "It's alright. Just remember that not everyone is used to unexpected encounters."
The young waterbender acquiesced with a reverent smile at her. Aang suddenly suggested optimistically, "Hey! That guy's gotta be running somewhere. Maybe we're near a village? And I bet that village has a market!"
Sokka's eyes lit up at the words. "That sounds good to me! That means more supplies," he said enthusiastically
Katara and Elsa exchanged amused glances, shaking their heads at his antics, but agreeing with the idea.
"That's good with me," Elsa replied, thinking of the need to resupply.
"Let's go find out," Katara said with a smile.
With newfound determination, the four companions and Momo set off in the direction the earthbender had fled, hopeful for what they might find in the nearby village. After a short walk, they found themselves in a quaint mining village.
As they entered the village, Elsa used her powers to change the appearance of her dress through the pattern of the surrounding grass and pulled her hood over her head, partially concealing her distinctive appearance. Katara and Sokka strolled through the mining village's streets, taking in the sights and sounds, while Aang struck up a conversation with a shopkeeper under a terrace, Elsa standing nearby.
"Great hat!" Aang exclaimed, trying on a straw hat displayed on the shop's counter.
Elsa approached him, understanding what he wanted and sensing that having a hat could help disguise his identity, especially considering how recognizable he could be. She glanced at the shopkeeper, whose gaze lingered on her. She knew that even with her hood, her appearance was unique
"Let me help with that," she said to her friend.
Aang smiled at her with gratitude and joy. Turning to the shopkeeper, Elsa noticed he was gazing at her and was aware that even with her hood covering her head, her appearance was unique.
"How much for the hat?" she asked, trying to keep her tone casual despite the merchant's scrutiny.
The shopkeeper quickly composed himself and replied. "Ah, a dozen copper pieces, miss."
Elsa glanced down at her pouch, checking to see if she had the currency they had been given when they left Omashu. While she knew they must be careful with how they would expense the coins the old king gave them, it was one case where it could be useful. Finding what she needed, she exchanged the coins for the hat.
The shopkeeper answered her, "Thanks miss."
Elsa nodded while noticing the tense demeanour of the merchant, which troubled her. Turning on Aang, she said with a warm tone, "It's yours."
His face lit up with excitement. "Thanks, Elsa!" he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Sokka suddenly approached them. "Aang, Elsa," he began, "Katara just saw our earthbender friend entering a shop just down the street."
Elsa's eyebrows furrowed in concern as she processed Sokka's words. "We should go check it out," she suggested.
Aang, still wearing the hat and looking pleased with himself, nodded. "Yeah. Let's go check it out!"
Following Sokka's lead, the trio hurried towards a dark, wooden building with an open door. Elsa trailed behind them, her senses on high alert, knowing how not really discrete and subtle her companions could be.
As they entered the shop, they saw Katara facing the earthbender boy, who was standing close to a counter. Behind it stood an older woman, her expression one of concern and alarm.
As she was about to enter, Elsa heard, "Uh, you must have me confused with some other kid."
Aang spoke up, his voice filled with innocence. "No, she doesn't. We saw you earthbending."
Elsa noticed the young boy's stance and the way he shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, but the older woman's horrified expression made her realize something was amiss and that her friends might have been unsubtle.
The female shopkeeper swiftly moved to slam shut the window and the door to the small shop, her actions speaking volumes. Aang, Katara, and Sokka exchanged puzzled glances at this sudden reaction, but Elsa's mind raced with possibilities. It was obvious to her that this woman was afraid and more particularly frightened of her son being seen doing earthbending.
"They saw you doing what?!" the woman exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic as she turned to her son.
"They're crazy, Mom! I mean, look at how they're dressed," the young boy retorted, trying to downplay the situation while looking at her friends and her.
Aang glanced at his conical hat, confusion evident on his face. Katara nervously adjusted her dress, while Sokka raised an eyebrow and smoothed out his sleeve. Elsa looked at her dress and was aware its style might be unique. She was however focused on the demeanour of the two earth people as her initial suspicions fortified with the female shopkeeper retorting, "You know how dangerous that is! You know what would happen if they caught you earthbending!"
As the woman's words echoed in the small shop, Elsa couldn't help but wonder who she meant by "they." She suddenly heard heavy knocks on the door and a demanding voice outside. "Open up!" it said.
Sokka peeked through the window's blinds, his voice tense. "Fire Nation! Act natural!"
Elsa's heart raced as she processed the implications. They had stumbled into something dangerous, and it was clear that they needed to act quickly. Suppressing her own concerns, she took a deep breath and assumed her natural posture, trying to appear calm and composed despite the tension in the air. She exchanged a brief look with the boy's mother, silently conveying her readiness to assist.
The female shopkeeper quickly moved to open the door, allowing a Fire Nation officer and his men to enter. The man's sour expression sent a chill down Elsa's spine as he glanced around the shop, his gaze lingering on each of them. She exchanged a quick glance with Aang, Katara, and Sokka, silently conveying the urgency of the situation.
The tax collector's sour expression sent shivers down Elsa's spine, and she fought to maintain her composure as he glanced at her, assessing her with a critical eye. She resisted the urge to shrink back under his scrutiny, reminding herself to stay strong for her friends.
Meanwhile, Aang, Katara, and Sokka attempted to play it cool, but their efforts fell short as they struggled to maintain their facade of innocence. Aang's toothy smile faltered as the barrel's lid spun, dunking his hand into the water and causing him to stumble. Katara, with her mouth stuffed with berries, looked like a deer caught in headlights, while Sokka eyed an apple with feigned nonchalance.
As amusing as the situation would have been in other circumstances, Elsa couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness towards her younger companions. Despite their best efforts, they were out of their depth, and she knew it was up to her to guide them through this dangerous situation. Thinking of her lessons, she considered adding subtlety and discretion in such situations would be necessary.
"What do you want? I've already paid you this week!" the female shopkeeper's voice held a hint of defiance, but Elsa could see the fear underlying her words.
The Fire Nation tax collector's arrogant demeanour only fuelled Elsa's unease as he turned his glance on the shopkeeper. "The tax just doubled," he declared, his voice dripping with malice. "And we wouldn't want an accident, would we?" With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a ball of fire between his hands, causing everyone in the shop to instinctively back away.
Elsa's grip on her powers tightened, but she forced herself to remain calm, not wanting to attract any unnecessary attention. As despicable and dangerous as this man was, she knew that acting now could put everyone in danger. She observed the scene unfolding before her, her senses on high alert.
The earthbender's mother reluctantly opened a small chest and passed a meager handful of Earth Kingdom currency to the tax collector, her expression filled with resignation. Elsa felt a surge of anger at the injustice of it all, but she suppressed it, knowing that any rash action could jeopardize their safety. She noticed how angry the earthbender boy was as he was glancing with contempt at the man while leaning on the counter.
"You can keep the copper ones," the tax collector remarked, dropping four copper pieces to the floor. Elsa's jaw tensed, but she maintained her composure, no matter how awful and cruel the man was to this woman. She disliked the situation but was aware that rushing into action would endanger her friends and the people in the village.
As the tax collector turned to leave, he stopped by Elsa, assessing her with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Quite the... interesting person you are," he remarked, his tone laced with thinly veiled threat and something revulsive in his tone.
Elsa met his gaze with steely resolve, refusing to show any sign of weakness or to show her disgust. "I'm just passing through," she replied evenly, her voice betraying none of the turmoil swirling within her.
The man frowned upon before chuckling ominously. "A word of advice, dearie," he said, leaning in closer. "You'd do well to stay out of trouble. Fire is sometimes so hard to control and Earth would soil a beauty like you." With that, he straightened up and exited the shop, leaving behind a tense atmosphere.
Elsa inwardly seethed at the man's audacity but kept her calm as best as she could. She knew that acting impulsively could put everyone in danger, and she couldn't afford to let that happen.
As the door was closed behind the Fire Nation men, Elsa let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. The encounter had been tense, and she could sense the fear and anger radiating from her friends. She turned to face them, taking in their expressions. Aang looked shaken, Katara's eyes blazed with fury, while Sokka looked darkly at the door.
"Nice guy," he sarcastically said.
"The gall of this man," Katara exclaimed in an outraged voice. Elsa looked at her with a concerned glance, not wanting to attract so quickly again the attention of the Fire Nation men.
"Calm down, Katara," she said in a concerned but appeasing voice.
Katara relented, but her eyes were flaming in justly anger.
Sokka turned his glance to the shopkeeper, "How long has the Fire Nation been here?"
"Five years," the older woman replied, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Fire Lord Ozai uses our town's coal mines to fuel his ships."
Elsa's heart sank at the revelation and a mixture of anger and sadness. Thinking that those people were suffering abuse, suffering and oppression for so long fortified the disgust, anger and sadness that were storming inside her when witnessing the tax collector's actions.
Hearing from Sokka and Katara tales of the brutality of the Fire Nation's oppressive tactics was one thing. Fighting Zuko and his men on Kyoshi Island was already a revelation for the young queen, but witnessing the Fire Nation's oppressive methods firsthand was a stark reveal of how far they went.
She glanced at Haru, noting the anger and frustration in his eyes. "They're thugs. They steal from us. And everyone here's too much of a coward to do anything about it," the young boy exclaimed, his voice filled with resentment.
Elsa couldn't help but sympathize with his frustration. She understood the urge to fight back against injustice. The way the Fire Nation was abusing these people made her think of what she found out about her grandfather's actions with the Northuldra with how the dam was cutting off their culture and ties with the spirits.
"Quiet, Haru! Don't talk like that," the female shopkeeper interjected, her tone laced with worry.
Elsa felt a pang of empathy for Haru and the woman who was likely his mother due to their interactions. She couldn't blame the woman, considering how dangerous the men of the Fire Nation seemed. It was a blatant mirror of what she feared when She remembered the damage Zuko and his men did on Kyoshi island and it was in a fight. She dreaded to imagine what people having control of fire could do if they abused it. It was a blatant mirror of her fear when she was afraid to hurt people with her powers.
"But, Haru's an earthbender? He can help!" Katara exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with hope and incredulity.
"Earthbending is forbidden. It's caused nothing but misery for this village!" Haru's mother interjected, casting a meaningful glance toward her son. "He must never use his abilities.
Elsa's heart sank at the mention of forbidding bending. She remembered her own struggles with her powers, how fear and suppression only made things worse. She could see the conflict between Haru and his mother, the desire to fight back against the Fire Nation tempered by the fear of reprisal. Her formal suspicions on the fear and protective instincts she had observed found an obvious guess on the reason why, thinking back to her own personal experience.
"How can you say that? Haru has a gift! Asking him not to earthbend is like asking me not to waterbend. It's a part of who we are," Katara argued passionately.
Elsa understood her friend's sentiment, as she knew how much fear and suffering she had to deal with when she had tried not to use her powers and to conceal them. But she also saw the pain in Haru's mother's eyes. She sensed fear and she thought of how afraid she was to lose Anna because of her own powers. She suspected more than ever why the woman didn't want her son to use his gift.
Haru's mother shook her head in dismay. "You don't understand," she muttered, her voice heavy with regret.
Katara was about to protest further, but Elsa intervened, placing a hand on her shoulder. She turned to the shopkeeper, her expression gentle yet resolute. "I think we do," she said softly, her voice tinged with sympathy and carrying the weight of her own experience. "You're afraid of losing Haru to the Fire Nation, aren't you?"
Katara's eyes widened in realization as she looked at Elsa, her expression softening with understanding. Aang glanced between them, a flicker of concern crossing his features, while Sokka's gaze softened with empathy.
The female shopkeeper's eyes welled up with tears as she nodded, admitting the truth. "Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "They took my husband when he tried to fight back. I can't bear the thought of losing Haru too."
Katara's eyes widened in realization, her hand moving to cover her mouth in shock. Aang's expression softened with empathy, while Sokka's gaze turned somber, understanding the gravity of the situation. Elsa felt sympathy and sadness for the woman before her. She could understand her disarray and her desire to protect her son, but her personal experience reminded her that such protectiveness shrouded in fear could backfire. She hesitated to comment, thinking it wasn't her business, but at the same time sharing in one way or another her experience might offer some thoughts and perspective for those people.
"I understand your desire to protect your son," she finally said gently, her voice filled with empathy. "But forcing him to hide who he is won't keep him safe. It'll only make him feel trapped and powerless."
Elsa felt the weight of Aang, Katara, and Sokka's glances on her as she spoke. Haru's mother looked torn, her eyes flickering with a mix of fear and resignation. "But... he's safe as long as he doesn't bend," she murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Safe for now. But what would happen to him if something were to occur to you?" Elsa questioned gently, her voice tinged with concern. "How long can he keep it hidden before the Fire Nation finds out or does something that would make him reveal his gift?"
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed Elsa's words. Aang, Katara, and Sokka glanced at her, their eyes reflecting curiosity and admiration for her wisdom.
Haru's mother's lips trembled as she considered Elsa's question, her eyes filled with tears. "I don't know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I can't bear the thought of losing him too."
The young queen's eyes softened at the woman's disarray. "It's up to you," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "But if you want your son to be truly safe, he must learn to master his gift and use it responsibly. It's far easier to hide a personal gift you master than one you try to reject. Without control, not only will he be unhappy, but he might find himself in more trouble."
Haru's mother hesitated, her eyes filled with uncertainty and fear. She looked at Haru, who was standing silently nearby but looking at Elsa with intrigue and reverence, and then back at the young woman. The weight of the decision she had to make was evident in her trembling hands and furrowed brow.
"Elsa's right. You may think that earthbending caused problems for your village," Katara suddenly intervened, her tone earnest, "but it's the Fire Nation that struck you first. They're the ones causing harm and oppression."
Tears welled up in Haru's mother's eyes as she considered their words. She looked at her son, who was watching the exchange with a mixture of anticipation and fear.
"I'll... I'll think about it," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Haru glanced at his mother, a mix of hope and apprehension in his eyes. Elsa smiled encouragingly at him, offering silent support. She then looked back at his mother, understanding well how hard it must be for her to take such a risk. She hoped her words could help this family.
She then glanced around the shop, her eyes lingering on the various supplies neatly arranged on shelves. She knew her companions and she needed to resupply and with what happened some moments ago, she felt this family needed some help to assuage their suffering. Turning her gaze back to Haru's mother, she said softly, "I'd also like to buy supplies for my friends and me."
Haru's eyes widened in surprise, and Aang, Katara, and Sokka exchanged glances of appreciation for Elsa's gesture. Haru's mother hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.
As Elsa and Katara began to gather supplies, Haru watched them with a mixture of curiosity and gratitude. Aang and Sokka joined in, picking out items they would need for their journey.
Once they had gathered everything they needed, Elsa presented the items to the shopkeeper and paid for them. Haru's mother accepted the coins with a grateful smile, replenishing the chest where the Fire Nation tax collector had taken their money earlier.
"Thank you," Elsa said sincerely, meeting the woman's gaze. She then turned to her friends. "We should head back now."
Aang's eyes were first on Haru and his mother with concern and sympathy but he was also eager to continue their journey. "Yeah, let's get going! I can't wait to see what's next."
Katara nodded in agreement, her determination shining through, even though she glanced at Haru with a sympathetic and concerned glance.
Sokka, ever the cautious one, scanned through the window of the area for any signs of danger. "No Fire Nation nearby. We can leave."
As Elsa was about to lead the group out of the shop, Haru's mother called out, "Wait!"
Elsa turned her gaze back to the woman, curious about what she wanted to say.
"I... I wanted to offer you all a place to stay for the night," Haru's mother said hesitantly, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and concern. "You've helped us more than you know, and I can't thank you enough."
Elsa's heart swelled with appreciation for the woman's kindness, but she hesitated, not wanting to impose on their hospitality. "That's very generous of you," she replied, her voice warm with gratitude. "But are you sure? We wouldn't want to intrude."
Haru's mother smiled softly. "It's the least I can do," she insisted. "Please, consider it my way of saying thank you."
Elsa glanced at Aang, Katara, and Sokka, seeking their opinion. Aang's eyes sparkled with excitement, his youthful enthusiasm evident. "I think it's a great idea! We could use a rest and a safe place to stay."
Katara nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting a mix of relief and gratitude. "Yes, it would be nice to have a comfortable place to sleep for the night."
Sokka, ever the cautious one, scanned their surroundings once more, his brow furrowed in thought. "I'm okay with it," he finally said, a bit uncertain but looking at Elsa with trust.
Elsa turned back to Haru's mother and gave her a warm smile. "Thank you so much for your generosity. We would be honoured to accept your offer."
Haru's mother's eyes sparkled with gratitude, her smile widening a bit, despite the concern and wariness that plagued her.
Aang grinned excitedly, while Katara and Sokka nodded in agreement.
"Just one thing," Aang added, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "We'll need to bring some companions with us."
Elsa chuckled softly, knowing exactly what Aang meant. "Of course," she replied, her smile warm. "We wouldn't dream of leaving without them."
Haru's mother turned to her son, her expression softening. "Haru, why don't you accompany them to bring their companions? Make sure they find their way safely."
Haru's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly nodded, a sense of responsibility settling over him. "Sure, Mom. I'll make sure they get back safely."
Katara smiled gratefully at Haru's mother. "Thank you. We really appreciate it."
As Aang began to move, guiding Haru alongside Sokka towards where they had landed, Katara and Elsa followed closely behind. The young queen couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Haru's mother. Despite her fears and concerns for her son's safety, she was willing to trust strangers and offer them shelter. But she felt her words and her gestures also helped to assuage the fear of this woman. Thinking she had to deal for years with the fear of losing her son and the abuse of the Fire Nation both impressed her and saddened her, reminding her of the burden she had felt when she sought to conceal and control her powers.