Chapter 1

Fifteen years later...


Naomi sighed, staring out the carriage window. The scenery was actually quite nice in the Fire Nation, but she still hated being here. She'd trained with a waterbending master first, who had refused to teach her after a few weeks, so they'd had a female master from the southern tribe come train her. She'd then been shipped off to the Earth Kingdom, where she'd actually had a master she liked, but thanks to her master's untimely disappearance, she was still a little short on mastering the element. Now she had been shipped off to the Fire Nation to find a firebending teacher so she could train fire until Saidra, her earthbending master was found.


She'd stolen a glance at a few of the interview scrolls, and they all looked the same. Big-headed, small minded idiots with koala-sheep wool where their brains should be. Maybe she was being unfair, as she hadn't actually met them, but that was how she got treated most of the time. Well mainly by her escorts, but she wasn't really allowed to socialize. She wasn't even allowed an animal guide. However, it was still better than being in the Northern Water Tribe, she reminded herself. That fact was easy to know every time the carriage hit a bump. Her betrothal necklace would fly up every time. She still remembered the day she'd gotten it, three years ago.


"Umm, father?" she said. "Why are we in the palace? I thought the chief didn't like me."


"Naomi, it's fine. He just wants to speak with you. You aren't old enough to travel and learn the other elements yet. You aren't going to be sent away or anything." He told her. They came to the grand doors. A pair of sentries opened them. The chief was on his throne, and for perhaps the first time ever, looked happy to see her.


Arrluck, now 19 years old, fidgeting nervously with something in his hand. Naomi looked to Miki, whom she'd become surprisingly close with over the years, and she gave her a pained expression that seemed to say, 'I'm sorry'. The icy doors closed behind us, and we began to approach the throne. We both bowed before the chief, before he commanded us to rise.


"Naomi!" Chief Iluq said, a little too joyfully. "It's been too long. How is your training coming?" he asked, in the same tone, like he was trying to sound like he cared, but was really just making idle chatter.


"It's going well. I am not yet a master, but I am progressing well." She said, letting a bit of annoyance into her voice, so he knew that she wanted him to get to the point. Her father gave her a pained look. Chief Iluq seemed to get the message. He cleared his throat, and straightened.


"While we realize that you are not yet sixteen, we also realize that you will be leaving to learn the other elements soon, so we decided that Arrluk should give this to you now." The Chief said. Arrluk stepped towards her. Her body went numb. No- they couldn't possibly mean-. Arrluk revealed the betrothal necklace in his hand. Naomi stiffened, unable to stop him from fastening it around her neck. The carving was beautiful, but she couldn't appreciate it. She couldn't- she wouldn't, marry him. She snapped out of her shock and her hand went up to the necklace.


"Once you've turned 16, we'll throw a grand wedding here. "The Chief said. "Well? Why so silent?" He asked. "Are you overwhelmed by joy with this news?" The last bit was the last straw. He actually expected her to be excited? She was 12! Her hand closed around the betrothal necklace.


"No." She said. Before she could continue, he did.


"You aren't overwhelmed by joy?" he asked in confusion. That was it. She tore the necklace off her neck.


"No." she repeated. "I don't even know him! We have a seven year age difference! I'm 12! I'm also the avatar! I can't become a meek housewife here! And if I ever want to marry, I want it to be for love!" She tried to head for the doors. It didn't work. Her father grabbed her coat hood, forcing her to stay. Arrluk picked up the necklace and put it back on her while her father restrained her. The chief walked up to her, all joy gone from his face, replaced by rage.


"You don't turn me down, avatar or no. You will marry Arrluk, and if this necklace ever leaves your neck again, you will suffer. He then bent a water whip, and smacked the side of her face with it, leaving a long red mark on one cheek. Her father then released her to go stand beside the chief. Then she had run. Run home, wishing her mother hadn't died from hypothermia during a years ago blizzard. Wishing for someone who would understand. Her father followed her, and tried to explain why the marriage was for the best. She had never spoken to him again.


She still wore the necklace, as she traveled with escorts from the North, but she swore that the minute she learned firebending, she would burn it to ash. If she suffered for it, that was fine. It wasn't like she had anyone she cared about for them to hurt. She curled up on the carriage seat, and fell asleep wishing. Wishing she wasn't betrothed. Wishing she had a say in her own life. Wishing... that she had choices.


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