Past the Abyss & Over the Rainbow<Shai City,NPole>

[taartoq]

It was over, finally over. The Northern Water Tribe had won again, emerged victorious in the face of unfriendly odds, and its fair citizens were now rebuilding their very society. Casualties were dealt with, the deceased given honorable burials, while others helped to restore the city to its former glory. Homes were destroyed, most notably the palace itself, but the men and women of the tribe did their best to adapt. Even the home of two young nobles, the son of Chieftain Attu of the Chulyin family and his fair wife returned to a half-destroyed home. But as they climbed through the wooden gate behind the palace's former site, they had clear intentions.

In his hand he held a basket filled with the finest wares, while his parka soon served no other purpose than to overheat him. As he crossed the bridge, he was soon to remove it. Beneath, he wore a steel blue hanfu with short sleeves and thin silver trim edging the cuffs, thigh-length hem, and lapels, which crossed over in front. He also wore a midnight blue sash adorned lengthwise with a row of pale gold circles, with midnight blue pants that matched the sash's main body. From under the short sleeves, those of his periwinkle undershirt could be seen covering to his wrists, while its turtleneck-like collar covered his neck entirely. In his ears were triangular ivory earrings, while a milky pale blue glass orb hung from the necklace of silver beads around his collar.

He was familiar with this place, the Spirit Oasis. He had been there a handful of times, even after the last siege on the North Pole. Sacred ground, where grass and flowers grew. Perhaps it was like a glimpse of the Earth Kingdom, but it was all he knew of plants like these. And within the pool, there swam the sacred koi, circling each other eternally, representing balance. Gazing upon the two holy creatures, the long-haired waterbender almost allowed a smile to come to his face. Moving to the spirit gate, he left the offering from his wife and himself, then knelt toward the pond and uttered a silent prayer. Taartoq was grateful to the spirits, and knew his wife shared the same notion.

[nekochi]

Padma removed her parka's hood from her head, causing little bits of snow that had accumulated among the warm fur to fall to the ground with a little thump. Though it had been snowing outside, the Spirit Oasis was a holy place and was always blessed with warm weather. She slipped her coat off and deposited it next to her husband's. Her soft leather moccasin boots made no sound as she walked across the grass to join Taartoq. Being a healer, she had learned rudimentry herb lore and was able to reconigize a few of the plants she passed. Here was hou po, used for calming the nerves; calendula, most often used to treat rashes or stop bleeding; ginger, for releaving nausea caused by the motion of the waves or that caused by morning sickness. Perhaps the spirits would not begrudge her taking just a little bit.

She bent her knees under her, as she came to rest on the grass at the edge of the pond, the wide sleeves of her ruqun not quite touching the water as she leaned over the sacred spring and offered up a prayer of thanks. She again moved her arms, the silver of her upper garmet catching the light and contrasting with the midnight blue of her skirt and the alice blue of her waist skirt as she brought her hands to rest in her lap. She was grateful. So grateful that all those she loved most had been spared in the Fire Nation's lastest attack. Her parents, Fahim and Matrika; her brothers, Wahkan, Yusheng, Shiye, and Yahto; Wahkan and Yusheng's wives, Ahnah and Nalla and their children, Nauja, Kesuk, and Buniq; her beloved sister-in-law and her children; her husband Taartoq; and... Their unborn child. "We're so lucky... All those who are dear to us are still living. I wish everyone could have had our good fortune." Her eyes softened in sadness, her gaze upon the constant dance performed by the sacred koi, and allowed herself a moment of silence in respect for the dead.

[taartoq]

Having heard all of Padma's words, in full accord with the thoughts she expressed, Taartoq rose from his kneeling position toward the gate. Brushing back a lock of hair that had fallen over his shoulder, Taartoq slowly paced over to the pool where his wife knelt. Slowly lowering to his knees, he gazed at the pool below. In careful respect of the sacred fish below, his hand never graced the surface of the water, though his eyes followed every inch of their lazy circle. Delayed was his reply, but he was considerate enough to at least offer a retort. "Yes...the spirits of the moon and ocean have blessed us greatly. As for those who have passed this mortal realm...they are at peace forever more."

Bowing his head, Taartoq mirrored his wife's moment of silence for those dearly departed. He may not have experienced the grief of losing a loved one often to death, but he knew that showing respect was a fine course to follow in honoring those passed away. Eyes drifting to the heavens, he calmly said; "Our future generations will tell the tale of our tribe's victories. We can only hope thay will be as grateful as we are today."

[nekochi]

Taartoq's words caused her heart to leap in such a way that for a moment she was sure it would leap out of her chest altogether. And if she hadn't know about the stages of pregnancy and that it was too early for such things she would have sworn the baby had also dealt her a swift kick. "Taartoq... I..." How could she tell him? The very thing she wanted most was what he most dreaded. How could her heart feel so joyous when she knew that the news would cause her beloved, her best friend, nothing but pain and suffering? He had to know. He would find out sooner or later. Better that she told him now. She took a deep breath and began anew, "I'm carrying our child."

There. It was done. And yet, the worst of it was still to come. It would break her heart in two to know that the person whose approval she most wanted would be disappointed in her. She turned her head away, not wanting to see his face drop and not wanting him to see her tears. This was so important to her! Couldn't he see that? She needed his support on this. She knew he would not share her joy, but did he have to see such a sweet and wonderful event as cause for sorrow?

[taartoq]

He couldn't believe his ears. He had no idea, nor had he a clue when it had happened. For a second, he suspected it had something to do with an herbal mixture, which he tried to develop for mental acuity. It was an essential trait in his career, considering the hours he would sometimes spend waterbending small amounts of ink in strokes on a page, scribing different texts so the originals may be kept safe. Focus was required also when he recorded decrees and edicts at certain tribal meetings, since overlooking or misrepresenting a statement made by the chief or chieftains would have dire consequences. He even remembered one herbal mixture he made that kept him wide awake all night. Taartoq was certain Padma was be surprised when she woke to find a life-size ice sculpture of a buffalo-yak in their living room, created from boredom and sculpted with meticulous detail by the archivist himself. Again he echoed in his mind that must have been the case. That, or he had a bit much to drink.

But it hit him like a ton of bricks. Carrying their child? The surprise and shock made him feel so lightheaded, almost as though he would fall over forward. Regaining his composure, however, he shuffled back into his kneeling position and gently put his fingers to his forehead. "Our child? But...you must be joking..."

It happened again. Feeling nasueated and delirious, Taartoq's eyes seemed to roll back into his head as he fell forward, his face splashing into the pool holding the sacred koi. Dark strands of his hair drifting about his lifeless face, he would surely drown unless someone fished him out. It became quite obvious that he reacted poorly to the news.

[nekochi]

"Taartoq!" Padma's eyes widened as she heard a slash and turned just in time to see to see her husband's head become completely submerged by the waters of the Spirit Oasis. It would have been a rather comical sight had the subject not been such an important one. As it was, she was sobbing by the time she brought his head to rest upon the grassy banks of the pond. After making sure he was still breathing, she collected the water from his long silky hair and laid her hands over the spot where his crown had hit the bottom and lessened the swelling that would have quickly turned into a nice bump without her treatment. "Taartoq... Please wake up..."

She didn't know whether to be upset at herself for being so blunt or upset at Taartoq for his reaction at this point. She was worried about him of course and even now prayed he would quickly wake up so she could question him and check if he had the symptoms of a concussion, but he didn't have to act quite so disgusted with her. She placed a hand over her mouth, trying to will herself to calm down. Why couldn't he understand how important this was to her? Didn't her feelings matter at all? No, this was not the time to get angry. She had known how he would react. She just had not expected it to hurt quite so much.

[taartoq]

All he could see floating in the ripples of blue and indigo was one thing. An infant with warm brown skin and closed eyes, which soon opened to show its chilling blue eyes to Taartoq. Filled with fright and anxiety, he soon awoke to see Padma's face. His head laying in the grass, feeling slowly returning to his limbs, he soon became aware of his surroundings. The last thing that happened...no, it couldn't have been. Padma said she was pregnant. Heavy with child...their child! Oh, spirits...what a revelation. Taartoq lamented so many things at that moment, closing his eyes and letting his head droop loosely to the side.

So much responsibility to suddenly consider that it made his head spin. But he felt almost impelled to consider one thing. How must Padma feel? He knew her desire, her strong want to bear a child. Now it would come true. Despite how miserable he felt...Padma must have been overjoyed to know. Was that good enough? Not that he could change things now. He would have to accept the prospect without question. Cracking his eyes open once more, he looked at his wife. While not knowing how Padma would take his tone, he muttered; "The future will be so bright..."

[nekochi]

She couldn't help it. Choking back a sob, Padma pulled him into a sitting possition and put her arms around his neck in a tight embrace, paying no attention to the fact that such a fast movement might make his slightly battered head spin. "Thank you. I know you don't mean it and that you never wanted this... But... Just to hear you say that... It makes me feel so happy because I don't won't to be a disappointment to you and..." She loosened her grip slightly, realizing that she was blubbering and gently lowered his head back to rest on the ground. "I'm sorry. I'm not usually this emotional, but I'm just so happy." She drew the long silver bell sleeves of her top over her small hands and began to wipe away her tears from her bronzed cheeks which shone with a golden radience. Her teeth were precious pearls curved into a smile and her eyes sparkled like gems. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy. She was going to have a child! And even if Taartoq was not happy about it, he had not withdrawn himself as she had expected he would.

"How are you feeling?" She asked tenderly. "You hit your head a little when you fainted. It wasn't bad in the first place and I think I took care of everything when I healed you, but do you have a headache? Are you feeling dizzy or nauseated? What about your vision? Is it blurred at all? Do your eyes feel sensitive to the light? Is there any ringing in your ears?" At some point during this session of questions she had gotten up and taken her huband's parka from where it had been left on the ground. She folded it before propping his head up slightly to insert it underneath and hopefully make him a little more comfortable. Then she sat quietly at his side, smiling down on him and waiting for his answers.

[taartoq]

With the onslaught of questions falling upon his weak body, Taartoq only let a soft moan escape his lips. Turning his head to the side as Padma slid his parka under like a pillow, he once more looked into Padma's eyes. It had been many a day since he had seen her that emotional. He knew the moment would be poignant, but she didn't even act that way when the siege had begun and all civilians were led under the ice. Then again, this did explain all the emotional outbursts she had experienced even in Taartoq's presence. He just assumed it was her monthly cycle, even though she rarely mentioned such things in Taartoq's company anyway. Casting his eyes downward, pointing more at the moccasins covering his feet, Taartoq replied to his wife. "My dearest. I'm fine..."

Letting his eyes close completely, he felt his neck muscles loosen and his head droop back over the folded parka. Though he could feel a hard spot on the back of his head, most likely the plate of nacre decorating the front of his parka's collar, he was comfortable in the warmth of the oasis. Despite any soothing bodily effects of the climate, however, Taartoq's mind was not at ease. It was a familiar feeling, seeing matters unfold without any influence of his own, but not at all comforting. The siege days beforehand was strong evidence of that.

If only the news Padma unleashed upon him wasn't so heavy, so dire in Taartoq's mind...perhaps he could have relaxed. Though even that was a fat chance. With a placid expression, eyes still completely shut, he said; "But one of my greatest fears has been realized. I do hope you understand...I cannot take this matter lightly."

[nekochi]

Padma lay her bronze and VanBAD! brown head next to her husband's and let their hair blend together, two separate waterfalls falling together until it was impossible to tell what water came from the first and what came from the second. Her icy blue eyes gazed lovingly at him and a smile played across her crimson lips. "I know." Just these two simple words expressed so much meaning when uttered between two whose souls were as intertwined as Padma's and Taartoq's had become. She knew that he would understand her words in their entirety. They were an apology, both that she had wanted what she knew would make him unhappy and that she had kept the news from him so long. They were words of understanding and sympathy, a promise to stay by his side and support him and a plea for him to do the same. They represented hope. That someday, perhaps, he might see this as a good thing and not something to dread. "Taartoq, I just want you to know... I've always thought you would be a wonderful father when the time came for us to start our family. Kang and Mituk both adore you and I'm sure that Nauja, Kesuk, and Buniq would feel the same way if they got to know you better." As it was, his relationship with his two nieces and his youngest nephew was almost nonexistent because he didn't want to see their fathers, who had both been cruel to him as a child. Padma understood this, and while she still loved her older brothers and would often visit them and their family, as well as her parents and younger brothers, she didn't try to force her husband to join her on these visits. Only told him of her plans and after asking him politely if he would like to go along, went on her way without another word about it or so much as a reproachful look. "You are a kind and gentle person, even if others can't always see it, and I love you. I know our child will too."

[taartoq]

From where he lay, beside his comely wife beneath the cloudy sky, not a ray of light could be seen radiating from the gray and murky heavens. Rather symbolic, he supposed. Things for him seemed hopeless, as his fear was realized, but Padma's soothing words brought comfort to his aching soul. Touching it was when she lay beside him, a breath away from his soft fallow skin. Yes, though the future seemed bleak and dark, there was a bright and shining light that seemed just out of reach.

The cheerful sunlight was blocked by darkness, but the sun was still there. It would one day shine through, and Taartoq had faith. He knew that, even if he dreaded the thought of fatherhood, it would one day show itself to be a blessing and reward. It would make up for how he felt just then. Resting his hands on his chest, fingers interlocked, a smile widened on his face. A smile of inner peace, contentment. The future may bring its ups and downs, but that moment was entirely serene. Turning his head to wife, grasping her slender hand in his own, he crooned; "The future will be bright. We will make it that way."

[nekochi]

The silence was almost oppressive. It was not that she minded silence so much as what the silence had appeared after. Padma couldn't help feeling both dread and anticipation over Taartoq's words, both wishing that he would linger just a little longer before uttering them and that he had already said them so that the moment could be over with. Yet, when they did come, the words surprised her. Her husband's usual tone was anything but optimistic. As odd as it was, the surprise was a pleasant one. "Yes. We balance each other. Much like Tui and La." At the moment it seemed that even those holiest of spirits were rejoicing in their union. "We can do anything together." Moments like these were both wonderful and disquieting. It seemed odd to find a cynic like Taartoq being so optimistic. As much as she was overjoyed by his shared view of the situation, it made her wonder if it didn't upset their perfect balance somehow to not have him question everything that came their way. Oftentimes his worry would serve the purpose of giving he a new and more practical view of the situation. What would happen to the world if it lost all of it's devil's advocates? But now was not the time for such petty worries. This was a joyous occasion and she would treat it as such.

[taartoq]

Sitting up from his place, settling in a cross-legged position, Taartoq moved his head in a slow circle and let out a deep breath. Relaxed, he casually glanced over to the spirit gate, where their offering had been left. Not surprised that the offering had disappeared completely while their heads were turned, he was certain the spirits appreciated what they had left.

He had never known the moon and ocean spirits to reject an offering, but he imagined the results to be rather unsettling. Not a concept he wished to mull over, but it was a thought nonetheless. Gazing straight in that direction, the waterbender said, palm to the heavens; "It seems the spirits are pleased with our offering. May we...and our child...be blessed."

That last phrase left him feeling odd. It felt so different to now consider a child. Where he had seen empty optimism before, free of worry or concern, there was a flurry of uncertainty kept hidden behind an emotionless face.

[nekochi]

The moment of oneness that they had shared had seemed to come undone just when their locks of hair untangled, becoming once again, the property of two separate hosts. When Padma stood beside her husband she could tell that he once again wore his daily mask, the face that showed her nothing about how he was truly feeling. It was frustrating, but that was the man she had married. It was only in fleeting moments when she wished he could be something else. Turning her eyes to the gate in turn, she was pleased to see that their offering had been found worthy. It seemed even they would forgive her darling's clumsy, blasphemous fall under these circumstances. She placed a hand across her stomach as she watched the koi's swirling dance. In her mind's eye she could see her unborn child, still so tiny, curled up like one half of that symbol of unity. But which one? Yin or yang? Would their child be a boy or a girl? There was so much that remained to be seen. What would the baby be like? Would it have her eyes? Or Taartoq's hair? Would it be blessed with the bending of its mother and father? There was so much she wanted to know. So much she couldn't wait to find out. "We already are blessed." She locked arms with her beloved and rested her head on his shoulder. And in that moment, there were no questions. Everything was perfect.

[taartoq]

"We are, my love," Taartoq said in an undertone, eyes cast downward. As she curled up beside him, her arm entwined with his own, he brought his free hand up to stroke her hair. She was entirely correct, and he recognized this fully. But there was no changing how he felt, at least to a great extent. He may have been sure of his own words in accord with Padma, but the future, delving into fatherhood would still bring its own trials. In all honestly, Taartoq doubted his ability to raise children. But he also knew there was no turning back. In his mind, he realized the fear was completely irrational, but he couldn't convince himself to think otherwise.

"Let us now return home." Raising from the ground, he turned to his wife and forced a small but grin. He hoped it hadn't appeared awkward, but natural. That was up to Padma to determine, however. The two made their way out of the wooden gate and back to their home. Cornerstone of a new family, the structure still needed a bit of reconstruction. But as the rest of the tribe rebuilt their beloved home, the young couple would do the same.

~End of Thread~