The White Assassin

Ch. 8 - Song

We were all crowded around a fire to try and fight off the strong breeze, blowing a cold wind. Aang was resting in a tent wrapped in blankets and cloaks, trying to keep himself warm. The rest of us were trying to figure out a plan for where to go to next. "Now that we got Aang back, what do we do now?" Toph asked. We looked at each other and started to ponder. The main reason we ventured together again was because we all wanted to save Aang. Now that the mission is over, what is there to do?

"You know how you guys wanted to take down the Fire Lord?" I asked. They all nodded their heads. "I think we can do it if we try our hardest." I state. They all look at me in a state of shock.

"Is this the same Hale that called Aang a 'kid' because he wanted to take on Ozai?" Sokka asked. I giggled and nodded my head. I put my hand up to signal I wasn't finished.

"I believe we can all do it with the right training. We aren't physically capable to take on a lord, we need to practice." I said. They looked at me like I was crazy at first and then began to think about it.

"It makes sense." Toph said. "But where are we going to get the training we need to be able to defeat the fire lord?" She asked me. Now see that was the challenging part. I only knew of one place and I vowed to myself that I would never return. However, it may be the only chance that we get to finally take down the fire lord once and for all.

"I have an idea, but I'm not sure how Toph will think about it.." I said. She looked at me with an expression of confusion. Sokka and Katara did as well but they were even more dumbfounded. Toph then realized what I was talking about and she held a look of anger.

"Absolutely not!" She exclaimed and stood up. Her hands were crossed over her chest and she huffed. "You want me to go back there?"

"I don't like the idea anymore then you do, Toph." I said. She looked at me and I looked at her with a pleading gleam in my eyes. "But if you really want to take down Ozai, then it's the only other option I can think of." I put my hands out in a manner like I was begging for her to accept. She looked at me with a blank expression and then she began to ponder.

"There really is no other solution.. Is there?" She asked me. Her face showed a sign of sadness and I shook my head. She sighed and answered me. "I guess we have no choice." She let her head hang low and I knew she wasn't happy. I wasn't either but I knew people there that would keep our identities unknown and they were teachers of mine. They were our only hope.

"I'm sorry." Sokka stated. Toph and I looked at him and he had a face of confusion. "What exactly is the plan?"

"We'll be traveling back to our home." Toph explained. Katara and Sokka's mouths dropped and I gave them a blank expression.

"You don't mean.." Katara started.

"Yes." I answered her. "The earth kingdom."

It's been a couple hours since the plan had been decided. The route was to get to the kingdom under cloaks and get into the castle. There, we would disguise ourselves as prospering earth benders. I know a couple teachers who are more than just earth bending masters. Some water, others fire but the king and queen don't necessarily know that. The military uses them on special occasions when they go to war so the enemy doesn't expect it. It's a genius plan, however if they gave it away too fast, the whole squad would fail. I have faith that they would hopefully help us, but I wonder if they would recognize me. Probably not. I always wore royal clothes and had dark brown hair. They never saw me where white or have my natural hair color, Lavender. I shouldn't be worried about this right now, I should be worried about a certain someone who has been kept in a cell for months. Probably without good food to fill him up, and restless nights wondering if someone would come to save him. We came, just not fast enough.

I was sitting on the shore of a nearby lake where we set up camp. The moon was hitting the the edge of the lake like a painting. I would never forget this picture in my mind, it was too similar to forget. When I got fed up with my parents, I would escape to the roof of the temple and stare out at the moon. It would listen to me complain about my life and it was the only thing that wouldn't talk back saying my desires were childish. I might have sounded insane but that was a lot for a child like me. Especially living with parents who had my whole life planned out. I would sing to the moon too. It would sway the breeze to the rhythm as I sang, it would blow my hair around and it brought me joy. I miss singing in front of the moon. I miss my home too, somewhat.

I started to sing a song that my mother use to sing to me when I was younger. I remember when she would tuck me in and hum the beautiful melody and I would easily fall asleep.

"Everything's gonna be alright."
She whispers to herself.
She was only 6 years old that night.
As she hid behind that shelf.
Cause daddy had a little too much to drink.
And mama didn't want her to feel the pain she felt.
But she still felt the pain...

Well 10 years they came and went,
and dad was gone.
So she looked for love in other men.
And tried to act strong.
Broken hearts and scars in only places she could see.
Cause she just wanted, she just wanted to feel something.

And as she sat there on that bed,
thinking bout what those girls said,
tears streamed down her eyes.
She cried...

"If there's a God out there
Please hear my prayer.
I'm lost and I'm scared,
and I've got nowhere else to go.
I've come a long, long way.
But I'm not sure I can make it much farther...
So if you're listening, could you give a helping hand.
To your daughter."

Well her path started to change.
She reached out and grabbed God's grace.
And finally, she saw a light.
Until that night...
Where she decided one drink was alright,
and one thing led to another.
Next thing you know, 9 months go by,
she's a mother.

And as she laid there in that bed.
Stroking that small angel's head.
Tears streamed down her eyes.
She cried...


"If there's a God out there.
Please hear my prayer.
I'm lost and I'm scared,
and I've got nowhere else to run.
I've come a long, long way.
But I'm not sure I can be the best mother...
So if you're listening, could you give a helping hand.
To your daughter."

Well that baby grew into a boy.
Who became her pride and joy.
He loved her like no man could.
And her heart felt peace, cause she finally understood.
God's love.

And as she laid there in that bed,
99 years old.
She grabbed her son's hand and said.
"There's something you must know..."

"There is a God up there.
Who heard my prayer.
I was lost and afraid.
And I had nowhere else to go.
I had no clue, what to do
And then He sent me you."

So if you're lost and afraid,
and you feel so alone,
don't worry child,
cause there's a Father who will love you as His own.
Just like he loved his daughter.
Like he loved His daughter.
( )

When I finished singing I heard footsteps from behind me. I turned quickly to see Aang standing there with a smile on his face. I felt my face heat and I turned back around. I hugged my knees to my chest and hid my face. "Was I too loud?" I asked. "I didn't mean to wake you if I was. I apologize." He chuckled at my words and walked towards me. He sat next to me and he gazed at me while I looked out to the lake.

"You weren't loud. I woke up on my own. Stop being so formal with me! We've known each other for a while now." He says to me. I look at me and he was smiling a sweet smile. My face heated up and I smiled back. "Where did you learn that song?" He asked me.

"Before I ran away from home, and before my parents became strict, my mother would sing this song to me. It was about her life before getting married and it always soothed me when I was upset." I told him.

"Your mother sounds like a very caring woman." He stated.

"She was, until my father's words went to her head." I said.

"Maybe she agreed with him?" He wondered.

"She always said: Love is something that you feel, you can't force it." I said. I looked down and felt tears well up in my eyes. "She all of a sudden started to pressure me into marriage and I became frightened. I expected it from my father but not from her. I didn't know what to do."

"Maybe she was scared." Aang said.

"Scared? Of what?" I asked.

"Maybe she was worried about the people, so she wanted to make sure that they had a worthy king to take the place of her husband. She was only trying to protect you, I'm sure she never meant to cause you any pain." He said. I widened my eyes in shock. Could this mean that deep down, my mother doesn't want me to get married but find someone I truly love and become happy? I wonder. "Anyways it's late." Aang said. he stood up and extended his hand for me. I took it and he helped me up. "We should get some rest, we have an earth kingdom to travel to tomorrow!" He exclaimed. I nodded and we both walked towards the campsite hand in hand.