Chapter One: Precipice

I never thought I would die this way, Merlin thought.

He looked to his left, where Lancelot smiled reassuringly at him. "You ready, Merlin?" the airbender asked, his tattooed hands rubbing together eagerly. "It's almost your turn!"

Merlin tried to smile-he really did-then looked away quickly. Great bounding badgermoles, why had he agreed to this?

Wind whipped his clothes around him. He wore the airbending robes today, feeling slightly ridiculous in the pale yellow and bright orange. Even though it was what everyone else was wearing, he still felt conspicuous. He also didn't understand why airbenders wore such thin clothes in their freezing mountain top temples. The wind was always blowing, and most of them had shaved heads too. For his part, Merlin had barely survived the winter.

Elena pressed up against his right side, pushed by the clamoring crowd of airbenders. "I love the spring equinox!" she yelled into Merlin's ear, her grin ready to split her face in half. "I've never done it here in the south though!"

"They really go all out here, don't they?" Lancelot agreed, nodding in approval. Merlin had never felt so betrayed.

A roar went up in the crowd. Merlin cheered half-heartedly, then Lancelot said, "It's your turn, Merlin!"

A chant went up in the crowd: "Avatar! Avatar! Avatar!" Merlin was shunted forward, swallowing around the taste of bile in his throat.

Before him swayed a giant tower of airbenders, standing on each others' shoulders, arms locked together. It must have been twenty airbenders high. A huge crowd clustered around the tower, supporting the base.

And Merlin's job was climbing to the very top. Without airbending, falling, or otherwise upsetting the tower.

Oh, had he forgot to mention that this human tower was right on the edge of a cliff? Yeah.

"Great spirits," he grumbled, but it was too late. Edwin had materialized before him in the crowd, his scarred face serene in the bedlam.

"Are you prepared, Avatar?"

No, Merlin thought desperately, but seven months of airbending training had, if nothing else, taught him to keep a cheerful smile on his face at all times. "I'm ready!" was the only acceptable response.

Hands grabbed him from all sides, hoisting him up onto the backs and shoulders of the tower's support, a heaving mass of dark-haired and bald airbenders, their faces turned up cheerfully to Merlin as he wavered on their shoulders. He found his balance, muttering apologies for his bony feet.

He heard Elena yell from behind him, "Go, Merlin!" She had wanted to be part of the tower, but had been prevented because of her missing right arm. Merlin had to do this. If not for himself, for her.

Merlin had shuttled from the Northern Air Temple in the fading summer, to the Western Air Temple in the worst of the winter, and now the Southern Air Temple in the brisk spring. Through it all, Elena had been his most constant companion and teacher, her unfailing smile and optimism bolstering him through bruises and disappointments. She only, of all the airbenders, knew of his faltering fear of heights that hadn't lessened no matter how many cliffs the airbenders had pushed him off of. Not even Lancelot had managed to get that confession out of him.

If she could glide on the winds with only one hand, he could climb a tower.

The first airbender in the tower was one of the tallest and strongest, but Merlin didn't know his name. He had his knees slightly bent, which Merlin could imagine was incredibly uncomfortable.

Merlin took a deep breath in. Let it out. Placed his hand on the airbender's shoulder and his foot on his knee and pulled himself up.

The first few were easy, pushing himself up on knees and shoulders and the special belts they wore around their waists. The wind buffeted the tower, and some of the airbenders whooped with joy-or fear, Merlin didn't know. He froze, his muscles trembling with exertion, cold, and anxiety.

"Take your time, Avatar," the airbender he was holding whispered, nodding at him in understanding. "There's no rush."

Merlin glanced down to see if he could pick out Elena and Lancelot in the crowd, but he was too high up. You're almost there, he told himself, trying to control his breathing. He wasn't really, but the thought was comforting.

An especially strong gust of wind swayed the tower, and his foot slipped off of a knee. He almost fell, grabbing wildly for an arm, a shoulder, something to save him-

The Air Nomads around him grunted, muscles straining, hands tightening to keep together. The chain almost broke.

Merlin sucked in a deep breath as he clung on, envisioning himself as a leaf on the wind like Iseldir had taught him. He was weightless and all the cares of the world were off his shoulders. He was completely free.

He reached for the next knee, the next arm, and almost fell again: there was nothing to grab. He had reached the top!

Encouraging whispers broke out around Merlin, and he pulled himself carefully up on top of the tower; it would not do to fall just as he reached the goal. Standing on orange-clad shoulders, he looked around.

Above him: The sky, blue; sun, shining fierce; clouds, white, scuttling.

Below him: The Air Temple, twisting paths, blue roofs, white walls gleaming in the sun. Even though the human tower didn't even reach to the highest spire, the temple still looked tiny from this high up.

Around him: Mountains, sharp raised pillars covered with furry bushes and stunted trees. The sea surrounding the line of islands. It was an usually clear day, the hot sun burning away the almost perpetual clouds and fog.

And, far to the south, a horizon of white barely visible. The Southern Water Tribe.

Merlin watched that line of white for a moment, just like he had every day since he arrived in the south. But nothing had changed in the last couple months. The water stayed calm, blue, and empty.

He forced himself to look down at the airbenders. "How do I get down?" he choked out. He could guess the answer. It was always the answer with the airbenders.

"Jump."

The chorus came from below: "Jump! Jump! Jump!"

The tower of airbenders was trembling from holding the pose. If Merlin didn't jump now, he would be tumbling soon enough. He spied Elena's blond hair in the crowd, with Lancelot's flowing brown locks next to her. He took a deep breath and leaped.

The wind rushed into his eyes, pulling tears out. The ground came up astonishingly fast, and if it hadn't been for the muscle memory ingrained in him for the last few months, he would have become mash on the stones below. He reoriented his body, feet first, arms slapping downward to create a current of air. His fall slowed dramatically, and by the time he landed, his bare feet touched the ground lightly.

The airbenders exploded into cheers. It was such a small accomplishment, but they got excited over the slightest things.

Lancelot rushed over and dropped an arm over Merlin's shoulder as the tower of airbenders disintegrated behind him. "Good job, my friend."

Elena clung to Lancelot's arm. "What a beautiful way to end your time with us, Merlin! You've done so well."

Merlin tried to say something sarcastic, but he was still gasping for breath.

Edwin appeared in the crowd, smiling softly. "I've watched you grow, young Avatar, and I'm proud I've been able to help you pass your airbending training."

Merlin panted and grinned. "Thank you for letting me participate in the celebrations, Edwin! I've never had such an-interesting equinox before."

"We're sad you're leaving tomorrow, Merlin," Elena sighed. "We wish you could stay."

"I wish you could come with me," Merlin said. He would miss the airbenders, it was true, but it had been too long since he had seen his family.

"And travel through the swamps to visit a backwater village?" Elena said teasingly. Merlin poked her. "Besides, Lancelot has only just made a breakthrough on his research!" She snaked a cunning arm around Lancelot's middle, and he grinned at her.

Merlin smirked at the two of them. Although the two had been friends for years, Lancelot had only just started to notice Elena the same way she noticed him. Their romance was young, but they were incredibly cute. Sometimes a little too much so. He pointedly looked away as Lancelot dropped a kiss on Elena's lips.

"I wish we could come, but if I don't get this research done now, I don't know when I will," Lancelot admitted.

"Your research about the Avatar?" Edwin asked, his scarred face twisting in interest.

Merlin winced a little, but couldn't help leaning forward. The Southern Air Temple had an extensive library with thousands of old scrolls that no one read anymore. Lancelot had been searching his way through the library while Merlin and Elena had gallivanted around the Air Temple. Neither of them could read the language most of the books were written in, so they mostly left Lancelot to do the labor.

So far, Lancelot hadn't had much luck with his research, but Merlin lived in a constant state of hope that there would be a breakthrough-and fear of what that breakthrough would reveal.

"You'll have to share what you have learned with me," Edwin said. "But until that happens, I'll just go . . . check everything is well with the flying bison then. Wouldn't want anything to delay your departure tomorrow."

With a last pat on Merlin's shoulder, he moved away.

"And I am starving," Elena said, grinning at Lancelot and Merlin. "Let's go eat."

"Yes, we should!" Merlin agreed. Just a few moments ago, the thought of food had made him feel ill, but now his stomach was rumbling.

Lancelot put his hand on Merlin's elbow as they struggled through the crowd to the feasting hall. "Speaking of my research . . . Merlin, have you given much thought to what we talked about yesterday?"

Merlin tensed, then forced himself to relax. Elena watched, keenly interested, from Lancelot's other side. "Oh, yes. I tried it during meditation today."

The two airbenders nodded eagerly. "Yes?"

Merlin smiled nervously. "Can't say I had any more luck than all of your other suggestions."

Lancelot wilted a little bit. "I really thought that one would work."

Elena elbowed him. "Where are you getting all this information anyway? Some musty old book?"

He grinned and slung an arm around her shoulder. "You'd been surprised how useful musty old books are!"

Merlin started walking a little faster, but Lancelot caught him elbow again. "Look, try it again tomorrow, yes? It might take more than one try."

Merlin scowled. "The banana and onion juice tastes foul. Why don't you try it?"

Elena bit her lip. "Has it improved at all? I mean, you remember what Alator said . . ."

Merlin turned his head away. "I . . . no, it hasn't improved. I've been trying, I swear. I just-"

"I know it must be hard for you, Merlin," Lancelot said, glancing around to make sure there was no one listening in. "I was there on that airship too. I can't even imagine how you must feel, but Alator is right: you must learn how to control it."

Merlin couldn't meet his eyes. What could he say? "I'm trying," he repeated.

Lancelot's eyes softened, and his gripping hand loosened. "I know, my friend. It's just . . . this war is going to happen. I know it will. And I want you to be prepared."

Merlin found it within him to smile. "You're good friends. I wouldn't have made it this far without you two."

Elena grinned and punched his arm. "That's right! Now, let's go eat."

Merlin sighed, allowing the two to lead him by the arm. His problem with the Avatar State was a subject he had been avoiding for months now. Alator had found the whole situation disturbing; according to him, most Avatars had problems entering the Avatar State, which certainly wasn't Merlin's issue.

He shook his head. Despite Lancelot's research, there had been no improvement. Lancelot and Elena never said anything, but sometimes it felt like they were suggesting he just needed to try a little harder and it would all magically work.

"Avatar."

Merlin turned automatically, sighing. Most airbenders were informal enough to call him by his real name, but some of the older monks kept with his title only.

An airbender strode toward him, long, light-brown hair waving around his ears, wearing only loose trousers and a sash thrown over his shoulder despite the chill.

"Alvarr," Merlin greeted. He had only spoken with Alvarr once or twice; he intimidated Merlin slightly with his confidence and intense gaze.

"I hear you're leaving tomorrow," Alvarr continued.

"I don't want to delay," Merlin confirmed. "I haven't had a chance to visit my family for almost three years. Now that I'm done with airbending training, I want to see them."

Alvarr nodded, pursing his lips. "Tomorrow will be the spring equinox, our biggest celebration of the coming of summer. I've seen how you appreciate a good party; surely you'll stay until the equinox is over."

Merlin shook his head. "Edwin warned me that a storm is likely coming tomorrow. I want to make it to Kyoshi Island before it hits."

"It was Edwin who suggested I invite you!" Alvarr insisted. "Perhaps you could stay for just a few days, until the storm ends. Then Elena and Lancelot can accompany you." At Merlin's side, Lancelot and Elena nodded vigorously.

Merlin was still shaking his head. "I'd rather leave tomorrow morning before the storm hits. I've already conveyed my regrets to Edwin."

"A pity. I assume you'll be taking an air bison." Merlin nodded. "I hope goes all well with you, Avatar."

"Merlin," he automatically corrected, but when Alvarr turned away, he found that he felt uneasy, in a way he hadn't in months. Alvarr seemed to be a good man, but he was intense and serious. Besides, Merlin didn't want to upset Edwin, who had put up with the last months of Merlin's training, coaxing out Merlin's inner airbender, pushing him beyond his limits. That human tower had really only been the last in a long line of crazy things Edwin had asked Merlin to do.

"Merlin?" Lancelot inquired, having already turned toward the feasting hall.

Merlin shook his head. It didn't matter. Nothing would stop him from seeing his mother.

After lunch, Elena begged Merlin to come with her and Lancelot down to the airball courts. Merlin reluctantly agreed, hoping his food wouldn't come back up before he'd had the chance to digest most of it.

"Maybe we can get a whole two teams together!" Elena danced ahead of them, twirling with her hands in the air. Lancelot watched her with a soft smile-up until she tripped over her own robes. Then he started to laugh.

She scowled at him as he helped her up. "Stop laughing," she commanded, but her mouth curled in a smile.

Merlin was laughing too, so hard it took him a moment to notice the commotion behind them. All the Air Temples he had visited and lived were always calm, serene places, but now loud voices pierced the air.

Lancelot raised Elena to her feet, clutching her left hand. "What is that noise?"

The clamor arose from the air bison living grounds. Frowning airbenders crowded around the entrance. Merlin, Elena, and Lancelot dashed closer.

"It must have been an accident," the keeper of the flying bison yelled over the commotion. "No one among us would purposely hurt air bison like this!"

The three looked at each other quickly, than pushed through the crowd. A frantic scene met their eyes: bison moaning and growling in the corners, pools of what was obviously vomit on the ground, and scurrying airbenders soothing them.

"What happened?" Lancelot demanded of the keeper, who looked frazzled. "Are they ill?" With a gasp, Elena dashed off to find her own air bison, who was lying motionless on the ground.

The airbender shrugged helplessly, his eyebrows drawn together. "Probably something they ate. It came on fast! They only just had lunch a moment ago."

Merlin's eyes narrowed, and he looked around.

"You were leaving tomorrow, weren't you?" the keeper said, nodding sadly. "You might have to wait a couple days before they heal. But they should be fine! This happens from time-to-time-"

Merlin turned away. Lancelot muttered a hurried thank you from behind him and caught up with Merlin.

"Merlin, don't be so upset! I'll bet those air bison will be fine in the morning!"

Merlin surreptitiously glanced at the edge of the crowd, where he had glimpsed Alvarr. The airbender still watched him; Merlin's stomach dropped when he saw Edwin at Alvarr's side, looking over the air bison with furrowed brows.

"I don't think I can wait until morning, Lancelot," Merlin murmured, ducking into a passageway. "I might not ever leave."

Lancelot shook his head. "Why do you say that? Like us too much, eh?" This with a shaky smile.

"No," Merlin rebutted, glimpsing Elena soothing her air bison's brow with her hand. "I don't think I can stay. There are people here who don't want me to leave."

Lancelot's smile vanished. "What do you mean?"

"Alator warned me about this," Merlin said, clenching his hands, eyes darting. "Before I left the Western Air Temple. He said people would want to control me. Keep me. Lancelot, I don't think Edwin wants me to leave. I think he and Alvarr are trying to keep me here."

"That's a serious accusation," Lancelot gasped. "Edwin has been nothing but kind to you here!"

"They've both been doing all they can to convince me to stay!" Merlin hissed. "And now this with the air bison? Edwin went to go 'check on them' earlier, remember?"

"You're saying he might have poisoned them?" Lancelot's mouth hung open. "For what purpose? Do you think they're working for Cenred or Morgana?"

Merlin had already considered the idea. "No, I can't make sense of that either. But if they can control me, they can control the Avatar."

"That's a lot of power."

"Yeah."

Lancelot braced an elbow on the wall, his normally cheerful face thoughtful. "Merlin, we'll get you out tonight."

"You should come with me," Merlin offered, but Lancelot shook his head.

"I can't take that library with me, and you know how important my research could be. I'm about to make a breakthrough, I know it! Besides, you'll have to use your glider instead of an air bison. That'll be harder with more than one person."

Merlin groaned at the thought of the two-day glider journey. There were islands he could stop at on the way, but all that airbending would still be exhausting. He would have to rest in Kyoshi island for sure. They were said to be friendly with Avatars; perhaps they would help him refuel and prepare for the overland journey to his home village near Omashu.

"Whatever happens," Merlin whispered, "I must get away. Tonight."

When Merlin and Lancelot snuck out, Elena stayed behind to delay suspicion about where Merlin had gone off to. Her air bison would pull through, the keeper had assured her, but her face had taken on an unfamiliar pinched look, almost like she was angry.

The mists returned that night, curling around the Air Temple in a visual of the airbending nation's symbol. It hid Merlin and Lancelot as they crept from the temple quarters, but it also made Merlin nervous. He wasn't familiar with this part of the world. What if he got lost in the mists?

"Just follow the chain of islands up to the Earth Kingdom," Lancelot whispered, his eyes peering left and right in the wide open corridors. "You'll reach Kyoshi Island easily that way."

"But Kyoshi Island broke off the mainland!" Merlin hissed, his hands twisting anxiously on the polished wood of his glider. "It's not part of the chain!"

Lancelot hushed him; Merlin looked around nervously, but there was no one. "The mists will clear the more east you go. It's hotter in that direction."

Merlin nodded, the thought of finally returning to his home state of Omashu filling him with excitement and dread in the equal parts. He longed to see the towering trees, the air so full with moisture you felt like you were breathing water instead of drinking it, the insects, and fields and farms-and his family. He should have returned before traveling to the Northern Air Temple. Three years was too long.

He wondered how tall Will was now. His younger half-brother had been barely 18 when Merlin had left for the Fire Nation after Sozin's Comet, a gangly boy full of anger. Merlin had longed to take Will with him, but it was better he hadn't. Perhaps Will had grown up in more ways than one.

Merlin stepped to the edge of the temple and looked down. Complete blackness lay at his feet, a sheer drop to a quick death below. He snapped his glider open, heart fluttering in his chest. Alator had taught him how to fly at night, using the air around him to sense where obstacles were. It was similar to how firebending worked, but it still made him nervous. These peaks were tall-and solid. If he fell, there would be no one to catch him like there had been every other time.

Lancelot eyed him. "Are you sure you want to go tonight? Perhaps it was nothing with Edwin. You'll be fine, and-"

"No, I have to go," Merlin breathed, still looking out into the dark. "This is a good start. A good way to prove myself."

He looked at Lancelot, who was smiling softly. "You don't have to prove yourself to anyone, Merlin."

"Only to myself."

The airbending huffed out a laugh. "When you get back," Lancelot added, grasping Merlin's arm, "I have something interesting I want to show you in one of the books I found."

"What about?"

"I'm not quite sure, but I think it's connected to the Avatar Spirit," Lancelot said. "You'll have to look it over with me when we see each other again."

Footsteps came from behind them. They turned with a gasp; Edwin stood there in his monk's robes, frowning. "Merlin, what-?"

"Merlin, go!" Lancelot whispered, and Merlin did not wait for a second command. Clutching his glider in hand, he threw himself off the side of the temple, the freezing air stinging his skin. The last thing he heard as he caught the air currents and soared off into complete darkness was Edwin's last, angry shout, "Merlin!"