Zuko watched his young bride from his bed chamber balcony. She sat beside the garden pond feeding turtle ducks who dared to swim close to the edge. The sun shone upon her soft crème colored skin. She wore a simple but elegant dress of her new country's color. Zuko thought that it complimented her well.
She probably considered him a frigid coward after last night. That he knew. It wasn't because he didn't want to take his wife, or that he thought himself incapable, it was only because she had seemed so afraid, so breakable, and the persona was enough to unnerve the boldest of men.
Aola dipped her slender fingers into the water and swayed them lazily about. Zuko recalled the events of the past night as he witnessed her innocent playfulness.
Zuko had been waiting beside his large, room centered bed when she entered the chamber. Her robe was just barely thick enough to hide the details of her body, yet it revealed the outline of her delicate curves. Her long, wavy black hair fell just past her navel. She was truly a beautiful sight. She slowly approached Zuko, her face to the ground. She stopped but a few feet before him. Zuko lifted her head with a few fingers beneath her chin. Her large hazel eyes met his amber ones. She attempted a smile but her eyes once again dropped to the floor, and she sat at the edge of "their" bed, preparing herself for her duty.
Zuko thought he should say something to ease the growing tension. "You..." he faltered, "You are very beautiful" he said awkwardly, ashamed at his obvious anxiety.
Without moving, she answered in a small, honey-like voice, "Thank you Milord"
The use of his title was both encouraging and disconcerting, for she was now his wife, and they were alone after all. "You need not address me as such" Zuko said after a moment.
This time Aola faced him, raising an eyebrow in question. He continued, "At least, not when yours is my only company"
She nodded slightly and then surprised him by holding out her hand to him. It was a sure invitation, and it was what Zuko had needed in-light of the current awkwardness. He took her hand and climbed onto the bed, laying her down as he did. Despite her prior boldness, she began to breathe a bit deeper in fear as Zuko tenderly kissed his bride's porcelain face.
He eventually moved to her mouth, his kisses becoming exceedingly eager with each passing moment. The more time went by, the faster Aola's discomfort became clear. Her heavy breathing had turned to trembling. Zuko's audacity started to dwindled and ended all together when at last she turned her head as he tried to kiss her.
The entire scenario seemed wrong to him. He felt as though he were raping this girl, not fulfilling his duty to her. Zuko breathed as his heart slowed in his chest.
Aola was frozen under her husband's body. Her eyes were wide in fear. One glance at his wife's countenance rendered Zuko bereft of all former gull. He rolled over and slid beneath the sheets of his bed.
The young woman began to sit up, starring in wonder at her husband as she did. Zuko turned over, hiding his face from her. He felt stupid, and utterly pitiful. But he could not go through with the consummation. Her fear of him was unnerving to say the least. After a few moments, he heard Aola climb under the sheets next to him. With a wave of his hand, the room went dark.
Zuko shook his head at the memory. After a while, Aola looked up from the pond's shining water at Zuko. When she saw him, she cast her eyes back down in surprise. How long had he been watching her? When she gathered the courage to return her gaze to the balcony, Zuko was gone.