VI/ Solving misunderstandings
While it wasn't the first time Elsa was bound as she remembered the metal bounds to her hands when she woke up in the dungeons of her castle during the events of the Great Thaw, it was the very first time she was blindfolded. It was strange, especially as she was guided by one of the warriors, something that only was due to her willingness to surrender and her fighting skills.
The rocky path beneath Elsa's feet felt treacherous as she was led forward, her hands bound and her vision obscured. Each step she took was tentative, relying on the guidance of her captor to navigate the uneven terrain. She couldn't help but feel a sense of vulnerability, knowing that she was entirely at the mercy of those leading her.
As she was led along, Elsa's mind raced with thoughts of her friends that were moving alongside her, blindfolded and bound. She strained her ears, hoping to catch any sound that might give her a clue as to their well-being. But all she heard was the rustle of leaves and the faint sound of distant voices.
Suddenly, she felt herself being stopped and bound to a large pole. She could sense the presence of someone on either side of her, their presence looming ominously in the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest as she wondered what fate awaited her and her friends. A part of her was wondering if this was the opportunity she had been waiting for to free her friends and herself.
Then, a voice cut through the silence, rough and commanding. "You four have some explaining to do," it declared, sending a chill down Elsa's spine.
Before she could respond, the voice of the warrior leader addressed her directly. "If you answer all our questions, you may be released. But if you don't, we're throwing your friends back in the water with the Unagi."
Elsa's mind raced with the implications of the threat. While the name was unfamiliar, she assumed it was the giant creature she had fought. She knew she had to tread carefully, not only for her own sake but for her friends as well. She couldn't bear the thought of her friends facing such a fate, her mind flashing back to the harrowing battle on the bay. But just as she was about to answer, Sokka's voice rang out, challenging and defiant.
"Show yourselves, cowards!" he shouted his words a sharp contrast to the tense atmosphere.
Elsa's heart sank at the Water Tribe boy's reckless outburst, knowing the danger it could bring. She clenched her fists, restraining the urge to use her powers to break free. She couldn't afford to escalate the situation any further, not when the lives of her friends hung in the balance.
A gloved hand, the forearm dressed in a leather band with a gold insignia on top of it, removed the blindfold. Elsa blinked against the sudden light, her eyes adjusting to the sight before her. She saw the five girls in green kimonos and white and red face paint standing in front of her.
"Sokka," Elsa murmured, her voice low but urgent, hoping to temper his aggression.
The Water tribe boy, however, seemed undeterred, his gaze fixed on the female warriors with suspicion. "Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?" he demanded, his tone accusatory.
"They're the ones who ambushed us, Sokka," Elsa spoke up, hoping that would stop him to make a bigger misstep that would worsen the situation.
Suki stepped forward, gesturing heavily with her clenched fist. "That's right. There was no man. Now tell us, who are you and what are you doing here?" she demanded in a firm her voice.
Sokka stared at the warriors in disbelief, then amusingly glanced at Aang as if seeking confirmation. "There's no way that a bunch of girls took us down," he mocked, his skepticism evident.
Elsa's heart sank at Sokka's words, a mix of frustration and resignation washing over her. She knew his sexist attitude could only complicate matters further.
The warrior leader's expression hardened as she grabbed Sokka by his collar, her voice dripping with anger. "A bunch of girls, huh? The Unagi's gonna eat well tonight," she retorted, her grip firm but controlled.
Katara leaned forward in her bonds, pleading and apologetically. "No, don't hurt him! He didn't mean it. My brother is just an idiot sometimes," she interjected, her voice filled with concern for Sokka's safety.
The warrior leader released Sokka, but still stared at him in dismay, her disappointment evident. Elsa couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the young woman, knowing the weight of responsibility she bore.
Elsa's gaze flickered between her friends and their captors, her mind racing with worry and uncertainty. She knew they were in a precarious position and she needed to prevent it to worsen.
"We didn't mean to trepass on your island. We didn't know it was inhabited," she said to the female warrior, albeit she also sent a glance at the old man she suspected to be the leader of the island or at least of a village.
The female warrior looked back at Elsa, her gaze unwavering. She exchanged a brief glance with the old man. Both of them seemed to be assessing the situation and Elsa's sincerity.
The old man, his weathered face etched with skepticism, stepped forward. His voice, though gruff, held a hint of vigilance. "And for which reason did you stop on Kyoshi?"
Aang, who was feeling guilty looked up at the top of a nearby pole as his eyes widened with realization. "This island is named for Kyoshi? I know Kyoshi!" he exclaimed, his voice eager with recognition.
The man scoffed, his expression humorless. "Ha! How could you possibly know her?" he challenged, his gaze fixed on Aang.
Elsa followed Oyaji's line of sight and spotted the faded statue of a tall woman holding two stretched-open fans. She recognized the clothing style of the female warriors and wondered if it was in memory of this person.
"Avatar Kyoshi was born here four hundred years ago. She's been dead for centuries," the old man continued, his voice stern and unyielding.
As she heard those words, Elsa's mind reeled with the revelation that they were standing on the island named after an Avatar. She wondered if that could help them, considering Aang's status.
Aang's pensive expression deepened, and he spoke in a soft, calm voice. "I know her because I'm the Avatar," he revealed with a small smile.
Elsa held her breath, hoping that Aang's revelation would help diffuse the tension. But the warrior leader, remained unconvinced, shaking her fist to emphasize her words. "That's impossible! The last Avatar was an airbender who disappeared a hundred years ago," she protested, her skepticism evident.
Aang smiled sheepishly, his gaze shifting between the warrior leader and the old chief. "That's me!" he declared, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.
Elsa felt once again sympathy for Aang due to his peculiar situation of being the last of his kind and finding himself one hundred years after his time. But she doubted it would be enough.
Her concerns were confirmed as the chief's anger flared, and he angrily pointed at Aang, his gaze fixed on Suki. "Throw the impostor to the Unagi!" he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The female warriors immediately retracted their metal fans from their belts and slid them open, ready to counter any sudden attack. They moved threateningly forward, surrounding the bound friends with their weapons at the ready.
Elsa was deeply worried by how the situation was turning and was tempted to use her powers to free herself and her friends. But that wouldn't solve the fact they would face angry villagers and she wasn't keen to hurt them, understanding they had entered their homeland without permission. She knew they needed to find a way to prove Aang's identity, but time was running out.
She suddenly heard Katara urging with nervousness, "Aang ... do some airbending."
Turning around as best as she could, the young woman saw the young Water Tribe girl looking with pleading eyes at the airbender. Aang, catching Katara's gaze, blinked in surprise, then looked back at Elsa with a questioning expression.
Understanding Katara's intent, Elsa acted. "Aang, do it," she said softly, her voice carrying a sense of urgency.
Aang, realizing what Katara and Elsa were asking, took a deep breath, centering himself. With a determined look on his face, he bent over slightly, gathering the air around him. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he pushed himself off the ground, leaving a large dust cloud as he shot into the air. Stretching out his ropes, he used one of the outstretched fans of the statue to snap them in half, freeing himself from his bonds.
As Aang tumbled elegantly over the statue, the spectators erupted into a chorus of exclamations and gasps. "Wow! Did you see that? Airbender!" they exclaimed, their voices blending into a cacophony of excitement.
Elsa's eyes remained fixed on Aang as he landed gently on the ground in front of the surprised crowd, his robes still fluttering in the air. The village leader and the female warriors stared at him in shock, their expressions mirroring the astonishment of the villagers who had gathered around to witness the spectacle.
"It's true ... you are the Avatar!" the old man exclaimed, his voice filled with awe as he addressed Aang directly.
Elsa couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her at his words. Perhaps now they would be able to resolve the situation in a peaceful manner.
Aang, however, seemed eager to further impress the crowd. With a serious look on his face, he turned to Elsa, Sokka, and Katara, who were still tied up in the background. "Now ... check this out!" he said, pulling his marbles out from underneath his robes.
Performing his trick again, Aang let the marbles spin around really fast between his hands, grinning and blinking like a fool as he looked at the crowd, hoping to impress them further.
Elsa couldn't help but smile at Aang's enthusiasm and his playful demeanour. She was amused and relieved to see how the little trick he had shown on Appa before their arrival here was helping them. As the crowd cheered, she felt a sense of gratitude towards him for his quick thinking and bravery.
Then, suddenly, a young man in the front of the crowd emitted a high-pitched squeal of excitement. He wildly tossed his hands up in the air, admiring Aang's display. But his excitement quickly turned into overexcitement as he started to foam at the mouth and faint, falling toward the ground.
The rest of the villagers continued to cheer, seemingly unfazed by the young man's sudden collapse. Elsa watched with a mixture of concern and amusement as the scene unfolded before her eyes. She shook her head at the overexcitement of the man, a bit disturbed by him foaming.
As the cheering subsided, the village leader stepped forward, his expression now softened by admiration for Aang's airbending display. "Suki," he called out to the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, "release the captives."
Suki nodded in acknowledgment and swiftly gestured to her warriors to free Katara, Sokka, and Elsa. The ropes binding them were quickly unraveled, allowing them to move away from the pole.
Once freed, Katara let out a relieved sigh, rubbing her wrists where the ropes had left marks. "Thanks," she murmured to the Kyoshi Warrior who had untied her.
Sokka, though visibly relieved to be released, maintained his sullen expression, shooting a glance at Aang before muttering under his breath, "About time."
Aang, his eyes wide with gratitude, hurried over to his friends, a bright smile illuminating his face. "Are you guys okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
Elsa, feeling a wave of relief wash over her at the sight of her companions freed, nodded with a small smile. "We're fine, thanks to you," she replied, her voice warm with appreciation.
Oyaji, the village leader, approached Aang, his demeanor now welcoming and respectful. "Avatar," he began, his tone filled with reverence, "please accept our humble apologies for the misunderstanding. Allow us to offer you and your friends the hospitality of our village."
Aang's eyes lit up with excitement at the invitation. "Thank you," he said gratefully, bowing slightly in acknowledgment. "We would be honored to accept."
Katara, her relief palpable, smiled warmly at Aang, her earlier worries now replaced by gratitude and excitement for their upcoming stay. "This is amazing," she exclaimed, turning to Elsa and Sokka. "We get to stay in the village!"
Sokka, though still nursing his wounded pride, couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of exploring a new place. "Yeah, great," he muttered, trying to mask his enthusiasm.
However, Sokka's sullen demeanor didn't escape Elsa's notice. She exchanged a knowing glance with Katara, understanding the root of his behavior. It wasn't easy for him to accept help, especially from someone he perceived as a rival. But she hoped that with time, he would come to see her as an ally rather than a threat.
As they made their way towards the village, Elsa couldn't shake off the sense of responsibility she felt towards her younger companions. Despite the age gap, she found herself naturally falling into a protective role, her maternal instincts kicking in.
As they walked, Suki, the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, approached Elsa, her steps confident yet graceful. "Excuse me," she said, her voice carrying a tone of respect mixed with curiosity.
Elsa turned to face her, her demeanor calm yet guarded. "Yes?" she replied, meeting Suki's gaze evenly.
"I'm Suki, leader of the Kyoshi Warriors," she introduced herself, her stance relaxed yet alert.
"Elsa," Elsa replied, reciprocating the gesture. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Suki."
Suki's expression softened with sincerity. "I apologize for the misunderstanding," she said earnestly. "I hope you understand that we were only acting out of caution."
Elsa nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Of course, I understand," she replied graciously. "You were just defending your home. I'm just glad that everything turned out alright."
Suki's expression softened with relief at Elsa's understanding. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I appreciate your understanding."
Elsa's gaze then drifted to the warriors behind Suki, her thoughts lingering on the one she had frozen during the skirmish. "Is your warrior alright?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
Suki followed Elsa's gaze and smiled reassuringly. "Jie? She'll be fine," she replied. "Just a bit cold, but nothing serious."
Elsa nodded in relief, grateful that she hadn't caused any lasting harm. "I'm glad to hear that," she said sincerely. "I do not like to hurt people with my powers."
As they continued to walk, Suki fell into step beside Elsa, her curiosity piqued. "Your control over ice and snow is quite impressive," she remarked, her tone respectful yet inquisitive. "I've never seen waterbending before and what you did against the Unagi or Jie was extraordinary."
Elsa offered a small smile, though she couldn't help but correct Suki's assumption. "Thank you, but it's not waterbending," she explained gently. "It's a different kind of power."
Suki's eyebrows raised in surprise, her interest piqued. "Really? I've never seen anything like it," she admitted, her tone filled with genuine curiosity.
Elsa nodded, understanding Suki's fascination. "It's... a complicated story," she replied evasively, not wanting to delve into the intricacies of her powers just yet. She might have revealed them to Aang, Katara, and Sokka, but she knew she couldn't tell everyone about the nature of her powers, considering they were similar and yet very different from bending. With the reputation the Fire Nation seemed to have, she wasn't keen to be targeted because of her uniqueness.
Suki respected Elsa's privacy and changed the subject. "Well, regardless, your skills are remarkable," she complimented, her tone sincere. "You handled yourself well during the ambush."
Elsa's lips quirked into a small smile, appreciating the compliment. "Thank you," she replied graciously. "But your warriors were quite impressive as well. Swift and efficient."
Suki's chest swelled with pride at Elsa's praise, her posture straightening slightly. "Thank you," she said, her tone filled with gratitude. "We take our training very seriously."
Elsa couldn't help but be impressed by Suki's dedication to her warriors. "It shows," she remarked genuinely. "You must be very proud of them."
Suki nodded, her expression softening with affection. "They're like family to me," she admitted. "I would do anything to protect them."
Elsa smiled warmly, touched by Suki's loyalty and devotion. "I understand that feeling," she replied, her voice filled with empathy. "Family is everything."
The young queen also thought of how Anna would have reacted if she encountered Suki and her warriors. She couldn't help but imagine a lively interaction. Anna was always outgoing and friendly, and she had a knack for making friends wherever she went.
Elsa imagined Anna striking up a conversation with Suki, her natural curiosity and enthusiasm shining through. They would likely bond over their shared love for adventure and protecting their loved ones. Anna would probably be fascinated by the Kyoshi Warriors' training and skill, asking countless questions and eagerly sharing stories of her own experiences. Knowing her sister's admiration for Joan of Arc, Elsa knew Anna would likely revere Suki and her warriors and being impressed by their skills, probably trying to imitate them.
She also considered that Anna would have admired Suki and respected her as a leader. She would have seen similarities between Suki's dedication to her warriors and her own sisterly bond. Elsa imagined that if Anna were there, she would have extended her hand in friendship and sought common ground with Suki, recognizing the shared values they held.
As these thoughts crossed Elsa's mind, she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for her sister's presence. She missed Anna's unwavering support and ability to see the best in people. But at that moment, Elsa was grateful to have met Suki and to witness the strength and loyalty she possessed.
As they reached the village gates, Suki paused to address Elsa once more.
"By the way," Suki began, her tone serious yet friendly. "How long have you been traveling with the Avatar?"
Elsa hesitated for a moment before answering, choosing her words carefully, not wanting to reveal too much about her peculiar situation. "For some days now," she replied vaguely, not wanting to reveal too much. "We crossed paths when I was... lost."
Suki nodded in understanding, sensing Elsa's reluctance to divulge more. "I see," she said, her tone respectful yet curious. "Well, you're welcome here, Elsa. As long as you and your friends are with us, you're under our protection."
Elsa smiled gratefully at Suki, touched by her kindness. "Thank you," she replied sincerely. "We appreciate your hospitality."
With that, they continued into the village, the warmth of the welcome enveloping them like a comforting embrace. As they settled into their new surroundings, Elsa couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the unexpected friendships she had found in Aang, Katara, and Sokka.