The sun shone in brightly off of the exquisite snow that lay beneath her window sill, casting a warm glow to the frosty room. As the light hit the occupant of the room's bed, she burrowed down deeper into the comfortable pelts that surrounded her completely. All was peaceful, quiet and in order, until there was a muffled knock on the other side of the rich oak doors.
With a sleepy groan the young woman flipped her legs out from under the pelts, and padded to the door, throwing a robe around her shoulders on the way. She opened the door slightly to come face to face with her most trusted maid and friend, Nanai.
"Must you have called on me so early, Nanai? I should still be asleep at this hour," the princess complained. Nanai rolled her eyes in a playful manner that held no disrespect.
"Katara, It is almost noon. The rest of the palace has been awake for almost five hours preparing for the festival this evening," she replied to the princess, who was now feeling very lazy.
"I suppose the time got away from me," Katara explained as Nanai pushed past her, and began her morning routine of preparing her mistress's bath.
"Yes, it tends to do that when one is asleep," she said with a sarcastic hint. Katara merely rolled her eyes, and stepped behind the curtain to bathe.
She eased into the steamy water, letting her muscles relax, after a long workout yesterday. A comfortable silence fell over the room again. The only noise was Nanai's wordless shuffling around the room, cleaning up the already impeccable space.
"Did you hear about the men visiting from the Fire Nation?" Nanai asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes, and no man from the Fire Nation can visit another land without the intent on conquering it before he leaves." Katara replied, a slight acid running over her tounge as she spoke from behind the curtain.
"I've heard the Captain traveling with them is very handsome, and the prince came along." Nanai offered. She was met with silence. "And that they are here to discuss foreign relations with the Chief. Do you know what they plan to discuss exactly?" She heard Katara scoff at the last part.
"As if Arnook would ever clue me in on what goes on behind the doors of the meeting rooms. I haven't stepped foot in those rooms since father died, and mother does nothing to help me. Instead she lays in bed ill all day because of Arnook's child that is slowly killing her from the inside out, just like it's father is doing to the stability of the Northern Watertribe," she seethed.
The new chief and Katara did not ever see eye to eye. He was an egotistical, sexist and power hungry man, and all of the people saw it, but dared not to say anything for fear of what would happen.
"Well, if nothing else, at least there will be someone easy on the eyes sitting at the head table tonight," Nanai said, trying to relieve the darkened mood.
"Yes Nanai, at least there will be attractive men there." She used her bending to make swirls on the water's surface before standing to dry off. Katara wrapped a plush towel around her chest, and stepped from behind the curtain. She bended the water from her hair, leaving behind sleek mocha curls. Nanai had laid out a deep blue formal dress on the bed. After securing her breast bindings, she slipped the smooth material over her head, relishing the feel as it cascaded down her skin.
"I suppose I will leave you to your studies now princess," Nanai bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Nanai. I will see you tonight at the festival." Katara repied as Nanai made her way through the doorway.
After hours of reading and writing studiously, Katara found herself in an elaborately decorated hall. All around her were bright colors, and performers. The smells of traditional dishes permeated the lively space. Katara smiled at the sight of the returning Lunar festival. It was her favorite celebration of the year. Everyone around her was in good spirits, and enjoying themselves, something rarely done anymore
She turned her head to see the beginning of the young Waterbender's routine. They were so adorable, their faces scrunching in concentration. Katara laughed at the sweet sight. Her smile dropped quickly when she saw Hahn coming towards her. Hahn was her step brother, and far too much like his father for her liking.
"Good evening, little sister," he said mockingly.
"Do not refer to me as that." She was quickly becoming very annoyed. He chuckled.
"It's funny, because you think you can order me around," he said, clearly slightly angered.
Before Katara could get her next remark to leave her tongue, the ceremonial drum sounded, announcing the arrival of the Chief. The room became unnaturally quiet, as everyone got to their knees to bow before their chief. Katara followed the suit of her people, but noticed a flash of red before she bowed her head. It was the soldiers from the Fire Nation. Katara's nose scrunched her nose in disgust at the amount of importance Arnook had given the enemy's men. All of them walked with their heads held high, as though they were far superior to the rest. It sickened Katara. It sickened that her nation was graciously hosting the murderers of their great chief, Hakoda.
"Rise, my people, and come to feast!" Arnook said joyously.
Everyone made their way to the long tables arranged around the gathering hall. Katara sat at Arnook's table, at the far end surrounded by several women around her age. At the other end sat Arnook, and three of the Fire Nation commanding officers. They looked so out of place in their red armor, surrounded by people clad in shades of blues and whites.
Nanai had been right when she said the captain was very handsome. He was a tall man with jet black hair, worn in a much shorter style than Katara knew to be fashionable, yet it suited him. His face was set into a hard line, but there was an unmistakable sparkle in his eyes.
Next to him sat an old, rotund man with long, graying hair. He seemed at ease, unlike his counter parts, and was deep in conversation with a young woman sitting next to him. The last of the three intrigued Katara the most.
The young man had raven hair, pulled back into a type of diadem. Everything about him was regal, from the way he sat, to the way he wore an arrogant, unreadable mask, taking in all the sights around him. His face was beautifully flawless, except for an angry scar that ran over his left eye. It intrigued her so much, made her want to know this man better.
After a delicious meal filled with seal, sea prunes, and lunar cakes, Arnook stood raising a hand to quiet his merry subjects.
"This festival has been filled with joyous times. And yet I have more for this country to celebrate. Our beautiful princess, Katara," he said motioning to where she sat, " Is now of marrying age, as of three weeks ago." Katara didn't like where this was going, and she certainly did not like being the center of attention. "The honorable Prince Zuko traveled north to try and make our war-torn world a little better, by the way of marriage."
The whole hall was silent. Not even a baby's cry, or the rush of water was heard.
"My people, I bring you tonight the news of your princess's marriage to the prince, in a great attempt to unify our two feuding nations and end the war forever for the Northern Watertribe!" Katara was stunned to say the least. Her mind should have been filled with a million different things, but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"Why?" she said the first thought that came to her mind. "Why would you do this? I am not even your daughter! It is law in our nation that you may only marry off your daughter!" Katara was becoming distressed.
Nanai came up behind her, and tried to calm her, but Katara shrugged her off. Arnook opened his mouth to retort, but the prince stood, quieting the chief.
"My princess, would you be so selfish as to sacrifice your country to an endless war, instead of having the honor of becoming my wife?" His voice was masculine, and silky. Katara wanted him to speak again.
"You speak of honor, yet you would try to take a woman from her home under the circumstances she never return, and pledge allegiance to your family, over her own?"
He smirked. Zuko liked the fire she held in her heart, how she fought. "By pledging allegiance to my country, you ensure the safety of your own. We are still at war, and if you are not willing to be our allies, then we must assume you are the enemy, and we will fight."
All around the citizens had remained silent, eager to see how this feud would end. Katara thought about what he had said. Was she really being selfish, and a traitor to her people because she had no desire to marry the prince of the ruthless Fire Nation? Did she even have a choice as to what she could do? After all, Arnook had willingly given Zuko the right to her without her knowledge. There were too many conflicting emotions and thoughts running through her head, and she wanted to scream, and make it all go away. If only it were that simple, but her subjects looked to her as the only true monarch the Northern Watertribe had left. Katara had to be the model princess she was expected to be, which meant she needed to keep her emotions in check for the time being, and act with diplomacy.
"My ship leaves at noon tomorrow, princess. I leave the decision up to you whether you are on board or not." Zuko said, walking out of the room flanked by the captain and old general.
As soon as their footfalls could no longer be heard, Katara asked to be excused for the evening, and ran out of the hall. She ran, tears streaking in angry paths down her cheeks, and did not stop until she had reached her room. Katara flung herself onto the bed, her head coming to her chin forming a tight ball enclosing her from the rest of the world and all its problems. The crying continued for what felt like ages, until eventually her body was full of dry sobs, and the tears ceased. She cried out of mourning. Mourning for her home, and friends, mentors, and her culture. Katara mourned everything, because tomorrow it would all be gone from her life. Because tomorrow, she would no longer be Katara, princess of the Northern Watertribe. Tomorrow she would become known as, Katara, princess of the Fire Nation, and fiancee to the crowned prince.
Katara woke sometime later. Out her window the stars were still high above, she realized she should have still been asleep, but she could not find peace of mind again. She grabbed her light dressing robe, and a candle and took to the halls of the palace. Everything looked so different at this hour with long eerie shadows playing on the walls. It was almost as if the palace was mourning the loss of its princess, as well.
She kept on for a while with the mere intent to clear her mind, but then she came to a door that still had light coming from within the room. As she got nearer, she could hear voices. Katara had always been a curious person, and it always got the best of her. She sidled nearer, gently pressing an ear to the door.
"She has a mind, and uses it too!" she heard a man say.
"Yes, that means she will be a handful," another replied, like a new set of chores had been added to an already existing list.
"Zuko, you will have to break her of that, or the same thing to that happened to Liain...," a third trailed off.
Katara couldn't believe these men would sit at all hours of the night and talk about how she needed to be changed, as though she weren't good enough the way she was. Acting without thought, and consumed by annoyance, Katara knocked on the door making her presence known. Seconds later she came face to face with the captain from the dinner.
"Princess," he said unsure. Zuko came stalking behind the captain, pushing him to the side.
"What are you doing out of bed at this hour?" he asked, annoyance in his words. Katara rolled her eyes, making him frown.
"If you must know, I came to tell you I'd be on your ship when it leaves tomorrow," She spoke with more confidence than she really possessed under the prince's hard stare. She pushed past him, and into the room.
"That is good news, that could have waited till morning. Now I will ask again why are you here, Princess?" He was clearly becoming angry at her brash behavior.
"If I am to leave my nation, and become your wife, I will require a few things from you," Zuko raised an eyebrow, she had totally ignored his question. "Firstly I wish to have contact with anyone I want, anytime I want."
"You may have contact, but any letter you wish to send out will be read by me beforehand," he said. Katara rolled her eyes again.
"Do you have trust issues, my dear prince?" Katara asked mockingly.
"Trust is earned, not given, little princess," he said patronizingly. She narrowed her eyes to dangerous glints.
"I also require my maid, Nanai to accompany me," She said sharply. He nodded. That much he could afford to her. It would be hard enough to leave her home, maybe to never return, he wouldn't make her do it alone. Her eyes lightened a bit at this gesture.
"And lastly, I will require a source of water I can keep near for bending purposes." The thought of bending set alarms off in Zuko's mind.
"You will no longer be permitted to bend," He said avoiding her azure eyes.
The look on her face was rather incomprehensible. He took note of this, and gestured to the captain sitting in the corner.
"Lu Ten would you like to explain to the princess what happens when women are caught bending the elements in the Firelord's home?" Zuko's eyes turned a dark amber, far more menacing than the pure gold they had been.
Lu Ten looked cautiously around the room. When his eyes landed on Katara, so young and innocent, he saw his wife Liain. Then he thought of what had happened to her when she was caught bending in the palace. It tore him apart inside, just like it did the day it had happened.
"No," was all he said. Katara was usually a curious person, but something in his voice made her decide not to say anything more in the matter.
It grew quiet, and her mood slowly sunk. Nothing seemed to be working in her favor. She sat and sipped on the warming jasmine brew the old general had snuck her. Zuko finally sat down on the couch next to Katara. She could feel the heat radiating off him in the cool arctic night.
After a while, keeping her eyes open became a much larger task than it had been before. Zuko must have noticed, because he stood and pulled her to her feet.
"Come, it is late, and we are leaving in the morning. You must get rest." Zuko's voice served only to calm her further. She was going to say something snarky, but instead complied with a drowsy nod. His face held a barely there smirk as he led her to the door.
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