WARCHAMBER
Zuko sat with his finger to his lip in sheer contemplation.
"Your answer, Prince Zuko…" the chief of the war chamber asked eagerly.
Zuko cleared his throat and sat back deep within his chair, "Send more troops." He simply stated without hesitation.
The chief stood up baffled, "That's preposterous, my prince! The war is over, there is certainly no need for more troops in Ba Sing Se!"
Zuko shot out of his chair and slammed his fists on the table causing the war pieces to topple, "Last I checked, I was the Prince of the firenation and you were the chief who follows my orders!"
"Yes, I understand. But, we cannot ignore the fact that we need troops for the protection of our own nation!"
"There is more restoration needed in Ba Sing Se than in the firenation!" Zuko, with a quick change in mood, calmly sat back down with a smirk on his face, "Besides, me and my betrothed are the peace treaties to insure peace within the three nations."
"Ba Sing Se has the avatar for restoration!" the chief foolishly persisted and tugged at his collar from the intense heat.
"I am beginning to regret appointing you chief advisor! My decision-" Zuko was cut off by a knock at the door.
He breathed heavily "Come In!"
A royal servant appeared before him, "My lord, Princess Katara would like a word with you."
He breathed heavily again, "Can it wait?" he became more impatient by the second.
"She says it urgent." He continued and quickly left unable to bear the heat being let off by the prince.
"If you would excuse me," Zuko walked through the war chamber doors and right into a nervous, and unexpectant Katara.
Katara bit her lip and lifted her eyebrows and Zuko noticed her un-assurance,
"Zuko…I've been meaning to talk to you." She finally said after a minute of pulling herself together.
Zuko wiped away a stray hair from his face, "About what?"
Katara put on a smile, however, Zuko noticed the slightest apprehension.
"Uh," she fiddled with her fingers and struggled with her words, "ithinkimpregnant!"
The fireprince hadn't understood a word she had said, "This is no time for games, Katara, I'm in the middle of a-" his words fell short as Katara had placed a hand to his mouth.
"I…think I'm pregnant."
Zuko looked in disbelief to the floor and looked up again to find Iroh walking by, he quickly put on a forged smile, "Firelord Iroh! We are in desperate need of your assistance in the war chamber!"
He rushed over to his uncle, patted his shoulder and directed him back into the doors of the war chamber.
The whole chamber was at it again. Half of the room wanted to send soldiers and half didn't. Zuko rubbed his temples.
Katara's last statement continued to resound in his head. He couldn't afford to have a child…not so soon. He wasn't even firelord yet. Maybe it was a joke…a dry, dry joke. Or possibly Katara could have been mistaken, it was only one night. Besides, she did say she thought she was pregnat. They weren't even married yet- only betrothed. People couldn't possibly find out, they would be shunned upon by the royal courts and officials. They would surely say things like, "Water tribe woman are so fast…"
-or-
"It's a shame that the prince has to marry that water girl… my daughter would have certainly waited."
No, if the people had any respect they would hold their tongues…he forgot the people had no respect for the treaited marraige.
Pregnant. The word made his warm body go cool.
He was quickly broken of his thoughts as his commander spoke up.
"Is everything alright, prince Zuko?"
"Yes," he quickly answered.
"Well, prince, after hearing both sides of the argument what is your standing point now?"
Katara stood with her blue eyes wide as she watched the door swing close. Did he hear her? She's pregnant. She could barely believe it, she expected him to be concerned or happy or even disappointed, but she decided that showing absolutley no feeling was the worst.
He had just walked himself back into the war room like she was wasting his precious time. Her situation was unquestionably more important than Ba Sing Se, wasn't it?
"That is exactly why we are sending troops." Zuko wiped a stray hair from his face.
"Unbelievable." The chief mumbled under his breath and shoved his papers and scrolls back into his bag.
"You're all dismissed." Zuko turned to leave himself until he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"What is troubling you, nephew?" It was Iroh, a wave of relief washed over the princes face.
"Uncle, do you remember the celebration after Katara and I were officially betrothed?"
"Yes," the firelord furrowed his eyebrows.
"I have a feeling..." Zuko hesitated for a bit, and then let out an exhasted sigh, "It was a mistake."