Responses to Reviews:
RonaldM40196867: I think it does up to a point, until the effects of old age negate it a little.
Zigzagdoublezee: When she got the news it was one of the worst moments of her life. But now she is trying to govern a patriarchal society in someone else's name with a war on. So she has more pressing things to help take her mind off it and worry about something else instead!
As Always, Please Review!
The wind hit Katara's face as she opened the door and stepped out into the blinding morning light.
The South Pole was bustling, people roaming the streets, in a hurry to get to work or to school, or simply taking a stroll before their day could truly begin. In the distance, above the skyline of the city, she could see a forest of masts rising high into the sky from the ships moored at the docks. The whiteness of the snow and ice in front of her was punctuated by the bright colours of shop signs. She took a moment to drink it all in, and then began descending the stairs.
"Wait for me!" A voice came from behind her, and she turned to see Gran-Gran, still pulling on her thickest robes, follow her out of the door. "I haven't seen you for weeks, remember?"
Katara could remember only too well, so she stopped at the foot of the steps and waited for her grandmother.
"Guards!" Gran-gran called as she descended. Katara jumped as two Royal Waterbenders seemed almost to materialise next to her. One of them was carrying a cushion and some blankets.
The other assumed a waterbending stance, and as he moved the snow seemed to come together and rise up, until it took the shape of a chair. The cushions and blankets were placed on top of it, and Gran-gran sat down gratefully.
"I feel like I'm going to need all my energy today," she said. "And being the mother of the Chief has its benefits, you know."
"You say that every time," Katara reminded her as she began to walk, the Royal Waterbenders just behind them, moving their arms to make Gran-gran's chair slide along beside Katara.
"And it's true every time," Gran-gran grinned. "I take it we're going to the training grounds?"
"I'm going to have a word with Pakku," Katara confirmed. "Try to make him see sense."
Gran-gran fell silent for a moment.
"You've already worked one miracle," she said eventually. "I'll have to hope for another."
They proceeded down the Main Street of the city for a while, until-
"Kanna? Kanna! Over here!"
Their heads snapped around. One of the buildings by the road was a cafe, with chairs and tables spread out outside. At one of those tables was a figure in thick robes jumping up and down excitedly at the sight of them, gesticulating wildly at the big mug of hot tea and plate of food in front of her. Steam rose gently into the air from both of them.
The Royal Waterbenders didn't even need to hear gran-gran say it to divert the chair towards her.
"Where are you going at this time of the morning?" The figure, an old woman, grinned as they approached. Then she caught sight of Katara.
"They said you were back!" She bowed.
"Hello Hama," Gran-gran smiled happily, standing up as soon as the chair drew to a stop and hugging her friend. The two of them had been almost inseparable for as long as Katara could remember, and, judging by the stories they told, long before even that. Katara stood there and raised an eyebrow at one of the Royal Waterbenders as the two women began gossiping like there was no tomorrow.
Which, if the Fire Nation had its way, might be accurate.
"I heard the Avatar came here," Hama said, stage-whispering for no reason.
"She did," Gran-gran confirmed. "She's in the Palace now."
"What's she like?"
"Dutiful," Gran-gran told her. "Smart, refined. Stands up for what she believes in."
"And?" Hama asked. "Is that all?"
Gran-gran spoke again.
"Well, she's a Princess of the North," she said. "They aren't often encouraged to be themselves openly. And I've only known her since yesterday afternoon, as well."
"I suppose that's true," Hama said, disappointed. "Where are you headed, anyway?"
"We're on our way to the training ground," Kanna told Hama conspiratorially.
"Again?" Hama laughed. "Has Katara put you up to this? She's obsessed."
"You know about that?" Katara asked.
"My dear, you were not as sneaky as you thought you were," Hama told her, grinning widely.
"I need to learn," Katara folded her arms.
"Well, good luck, that's all I'll say," Hama told her. "Who do you have in mind as a teacher? Master Aklaq? Master Katjuk?"
She leaned in.
"Personally, I'd go with him. He's nice, he is."
Katara ignored that comment.
"We're going to try and get Master Pakku to teach me," she said. "He was the one who was supposed to teach Avatar Yue."
"Oh, Pakku!" Hama turned back to her friend.
"You said he was here."
"I did," Gran-gran looked uncomfortable.
"How's it been?" Hama asked. "You know, seeing him again."
"Again?" Katara echoed quietly. "You knew him before?" Neither of the others responded.
"It's been wierd," Gran-gran confessed. "I didn't think I ever would. I don't think he did either."
Hama picked up her tea and sipped it. Her face went red.
"Tui and La, that's hot," she complained, waving her hand over the top of the mug. Katara saw the amount of steam coming off the top noticeably lessen, and when Hama took her next sip she seemed to have no problems.
"Can we talk about something else please?" Gran-gran asked.
"Was it that bad?" Hama raised an eyebrow.
"No," Gran-gran replied. "But I expect we'll have to face him in a minute. I'd rather not just think of him and only him all day."
Hama leaned back in her chair and regarded them.
"That sounds like it'll be fun," she said. "Can I come?"
"I'll tell you about it afterwards," Gran-gran stood up.
"We've delayed long enough. We need to get there before they begin morning training, or we'll have an audience."
"Let them watch," Hama called out.
"Why, to send a message?" Katara asked.
"No," Hama sipped her tea. "Because it'll be fun."