Escape

tradition

The best thing about banquets was the food, there was no question about that. A large arctic hen, nearly three times the size the ones that we usually ate, sat at the middle of our table. Bowls of sea prunes, snow crab meat, noodles, cuttle-salmon filets, and even seaweed cookies surrounded the main course. My mouth flooded with water, but we had to wait for everyone else to arrive, as well as formalities. Mom and Dad were speaking with some of the other councilmen and their wives, seemingly about our honored guests, who were seated with Chief Arnook at the head of the room. I presumed the Avatar was the one dressed in orange and yellow, with blue arrow tattoos on his head and hands. Shockingly, he was just a kid, probably no older than twelve or thirteen. If Avatar Roku died over a hundred years ago, and this was his successor, then where had he been this whole time? Why hadn't he defeated the Fire Lord yet?

His companions, a girl and boy that favored enough to surely be siblings, were dressed in Water Tribe clothing. I was just starting to wonder about their place in all this when the chief stood and the room fell silent.

"Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe," Arnook gestured to his left. Oh, so they were from the Southern Tribe? "And they have brought with them, someone very special, someone whom many of us believed disappeared from the world until now...the Avatar! We also celebrate my daughter's sixteenth birthday. Princess Yue is now of marrying age!"

Princess Yue, along with two guards, entered from the hall. She was radiant as ever, her white hair standing out in a room of brunettes. She dressed in purple, the color of royalty. That would be me in a short time, bring presented as a prize for whomever could win the favor of my parents. The thought decreased my appetite, but only just.

"Thank you, Father," she spoke clearly. "May the great Ocean and Moon spirits watch over us during these troubling times."

"And now," Chief Arnook continued, "Master Pakku and his students will perform!"

As everyone began filling their plates, Master Pakku and two of his students took the stage in the middle of the room. Three large blobs of water rose and began circling each of them before combining into one large mass. Their movements were in perfect sync and they seamlessly guided the water around each other. It was one of the most amazing displays of waterbending I'd ever seen.

"Kailani, aren't you going to eat anything?" Mom elbowed me from my right. I had forgotten about the delicious meal in front of me until she said something.

"Oh, right," I laughed as my stomach growled. I started grabbing food from the table: some hen, steaming sea prunes, crab, and a hunk of crusty bread. Everything tasted delightful, though one look from Mom reminded me of my etiquette. Rule one of dining with royalty: Don't stuff your face. I took only small bites, even though I could shove the entirety of a hen wing into my mouth. 

It was easier to pace my eating when I distracted myself. I watched the remainder of the waterbending performance, which had now divided into each person showcasing their abilities. I recognized some of them, like variations of the water whip I struggled to learn. It was beautiful to watch, but tended to only make me more depressed, so instead, I focused on the Avatar and his friends.

The boy from the south was in conversation with Princess Yue. Whatever he said was making her laugh and blush slightly, that much was apparent. His sister and Aang were just as entranced by the bending as I was. They were the only attendees around my age, and as the conversation between my family and the council men (Earth Kingdom economics, if you're wondering) drifted my way, I wanted nothing more than to sit with them instead.

"I think I'll congratulate the princess on her birthday," I whispered to my parents. They didn't give any indication of hearing me, so I left. Not everyone can just approach the princess, but through my father's position, I'd been afforded the opportunity several times. The Avatar had disappeared with Chief Arnook and Master Pakku, leaving me a spot to kneel beside them. I bowed and addressed all three.