I exhaled my stale breath… in and out…inhale and exhale….in perfect timed rhythm.
I had just stood up, but now that all of my saddened memories were flooding back, I could care less about being strong and standing tall.
Slowly walking toward the closest wall, I turned, leaned myself up against it, and slowly slid down until I became planted upon the cold wood floor.
The panels rubbed against my back and thighs as I moved into a comfortable position, crossing my arms over my knees, tucking them close to my chest, leaning my head back upon the wall, closed my eyes, and began to sink back into my memories.
~
A squeak and a giggle, mixed together in perfect harmony, rose out of my mouth as two hands grasped me waist and pulled my off the floor.
“Now remember, when heating tea you must do it veeeeeery precisely.” My uncle’s hazy voice echoed across the kitchen hall with a amused undertone.
His warm hands grasped my waist, swinging me through the air.
Suddenly, he stopped, and moved toward the open tea pot, steam seeping out of its edges.
“Noooo! Not the tea pot of doom! Show mercy!” I playfully yelped, covering my eyes with me little six year old hands.
But he showed no mercy, until I began to squeak and squeal, trying desperately to wiggle out of his grasp when I felt the wisps of steam against my pale face.
Playful fear clutched and my heart, but I trusted my uncle, Iroh, not to drop me into the tea pot, which I didn’t think would really be possible considering my size…
I was suddenly was pulled back, and quickly set on the floor.
My head span as I rubbed my strands of black hair out of my face, which had brushed them selves there when I was flying around in the air.
“What’s the matter Uncle?” I asked, looking up at my Uncle’s red Fire Nation coat which flipped and flowed as he poured our tea.
The warm water swished around in the tea pot, making my mouth water at the sound.
I loved tea, a lot, more then normal six year olds….but not as much as my Uncle.
“Uuuuuncle!!” I whined, wanting my tea faster. “Come on, tea doesn’t stand still, you know.”
I crossed my arms tightly across my chest, my little fire nation attire creasing and wrinkling. I grunted, crawled to my knees and then onto my feet.
My leather boots rubbed against each other as I struggled to stand upon my feet. I had dislocated my ankle a couple of years before, and I had always had a problem with my ankles.
“Oh no,” Iroh mumbled. “Tea doesn’t stand still!”
I grunted. “That’s not what I meant.”
I tapped my foot against the ground, silently asking him to hurry up.
“You’re more like Lou-Ten then you think, young Princess Triss.” He whispered, half to himself.
The tea slowly poured out from the tea pot, colored red with gold dragons, into two solid gold cups. Small enough for my little hands, everyone says.
A smile spread upon my face.
“Uncle?” I asked as was walked over to the cushions laid upon the floor, and sat upon them, sipping our tea.
“Peeeeeeeeeeerfect.” Uncle Iroh whispered as he drank his tea. “Hmm?”
I looked down toward my feet, and placed my cup upon the table placed before me.
“You say I’m like Lou-Ten…..though that makes me wonder….why? Where is he? I never see him.”
I gulped, knowing that I probably shouldn’t have asked that question.
Everyone knew that Lou-Ten has been dead for two years by that point, and Iroh was still taking his death rather hard….but I wanted to know exactly how he died.
Raising my head, black strands of hair falling slowly out of my bun from underneath my little crown, I explored his expression.
His face was somber and solemn, looking down at his hands, which held his cup of tea.
Suddenly, the cup fell to the floor, shattering into a million pieces.
The tea leaves laid across the floor, like tears against a snow covered face. The water seeped into the dry wooden floor, trickling all around.
The noise of the shattered gold cup shocked me; gold didn’t shatter so easily, did they?
Did Uncle Iroh…..purposely shatter it or…..what?
“Uncle…..I didn’t mean to…..I was just curious….and…..” I cursed myself for asking that question as my eyes watched four servants clean up the shattered gold cup from the wood floor.
“He died in battle….though I have no real idea how.” He replied, lifting his eyes to look straight into mine.
His soft brown eyes seeped into mine, as if trying to dissect their very meaning. Shivers ran up and down my spine, shaking my knees out of their comfortable place.
“I’m sorry I asked.” I mumbled as a tear fell down his eye, and he slowly evaporated it.
“It’s nice that we’re Firebenders. No one can tell if we’re crying or not.” I smiled, trying to amuse the situation, attempting to lift the veil of sadness.
“Emotions or something we don’t show….us Fire Nation folk. And tears are the most emotional sign….” He muttered, creating a flame within his hand, moving it closer to me.
My eyes fixed themselves upon the flame. Its color….its heat….it’s perfect brilliance. Completely transfixed, I felt my breathing slow, and my eyes dilate.
“Grasp it.” He cooed.
And I listened.
Reaching my hand out, I spread my fingers and called upon my chi.
My hand on top, his on the bottom, both of our hands sustained the small flame.
Drawing his hand back, I was left holding the tiny heartbeat. Its life flowing into me, I left alive and bright.
“I have to go, but please, ask the flame all your questions. Give it your emotions….your element is the only thing that can give you what you want, without giving it to someone else."
I looked into his eyes and he stood up, fixed his coat, and walked slowly away.
“Oh, and Triss,”
I looked up from the small flame, a smile painted upon my face
He smiled wide, imitating my expression.
“You make good tea.”
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
About Me Avii at her Finest by ~ForeverWriting on deviantART Recent Posts• The Forgotten Princess: Chapter VI: The Death Game• The Forgotten Princess: Chapter V: The Finding • The Forgotten Princess: Chapter VI: Invisible Tears • The Forgotten Princess: Chapter III: Cry • From Avii, on behalf of Katara • The Forgotten Princess: Chapter II: The Tree of Elements • The Forgotten Princess: Chapter I: Stop and Start • DOUBLE TAG! • StarWars: The CloneWars part I and II • I've Caught you Look'n! • I steal everything, don't I??? :D • I'm a stealer! Links• Journey Home• Do You Wish To Know Me? • The Past • Scrolls You May Write to Avii Free Counter  Create your own visitor map!    Create yours at BlingyBlob.com! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Myspace Layouts  Myspace Layouts  Myspace Layouts  Fantasy Icons  Myspace Layouts  Myspace Layouts      
   
   
    Heart Icons  Myspace Codes  Myspace Icons  Myspace Codes  Myspace Stuff  Myspace Stuff  Sayings Icons  Myspace Icons  Sayings Icons  Myspace Stuff   
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
