"Nana", a gentle voice said, tugging gently at the elder woman's long kimono sleeve, looking down at her expectantly. His amber eyes blinked once, twice, thrice before a small frown slowly began to creep onto his lips.

"Nana", he said, his frustration beginning to show, his brow furrowing up, a pout beginning to form. "Nana!"

His shout made her glance up at him for a moment before looking back down, placing the silken crimson and gold slippers onto his small feet, again giving him another side glance as she continued her task. She had been the caretaker of two generations of Fire Lords and had dealt with absolute volcanic meltdowns. Even though she was wrinkled and thin, she still had enough strength to stop a four-year old throwing a tantrum. Her grip tightened just enough as he began to kick his feet, his frustration growing as he continued to be dressed like some fancy porcelain doll. When he started to flail his arms, his entire body heating up with threats of letting off flames, her dark brown eyes snapped up, throwing a smoldering glare at the little boy. He continued his tantrum before slowing as she felt her frightening gaze upon him, his limbs slowly ceasing their angry movements. He still wasn't done asking questions though.

"Nana…"he murmured softly, obviously ashamed of his actions. "Nana…why am I being dressed up? I look silly Nana!"

"Calling the clothing of the nobles' silly, are you?" she questioned in her crackling voice, her tone serious. "Well 'silly' or not, you are going to wear them Prince Iroh, and it does not matter whether you like it. You are a prince. You will be wearing clothes like these for the rest of your life. You either get used to it now or you will feel silly many days."

Iroh's brow furrowed together, understanding what she said but it didn't quell his want to be in his looser clothes, to be training, to be doing something other than being a glorified doll. The young prince sat fuming, ever so tempted to throw the worst tantrum this woman had ever seen. Sadly he didn't realize that he was practically done with this 'torture'. He was dressed in a long sleeved silken blouse, a deep blood red with crimson cuffs. The blouse was held closed by a golden ribbon, a simplistic one looped bow the ends streaming off to the right. Up the middle of his left sleeve was a dragon embroidered in gold thread, climbing down the sleeve and ending at the cuff, mouth open in a roar. The pants were the same color, baggy yet tightening about the ankles, again with the same blood red silk and dark crimson ankle cuffs. The slippers, of course matched, and he presented the image of the highest class. Nana, whose actual name was Nariko, was now standing behind the young boy with a course brush, brushing the boy's soft, black hair upward, securing it with a golden ribbon. It gave a nice contrast to the deep red of the outfit, again representing one of the colors of the fire nation. His hair was placed into a small top knot, she tying it tightly so it wouldn't slip out. She couldn't risk him looking messy, especially with whom they were meeting today. Miniature fireballs growing in the antsy little boys hand were quickly swept away by the older woman, the balls being crushed into small puffs of smoke before setting the boy down on the ground from the pedestal she had been preparing him on.

Yellow eyes stared into sienna, the younger pair obviously expecting some sort of retribution for the pain and suffering he had been forced to endure. Staring right back, the contest lasted for an unwavering minute or two before the woman sighed heavily, reaching her hands deep into her right sleeve. There was a hidden little pocket there, simply for the purpose of holding small necessities; thread and needle, a silk tissue and of course, small treats for the prince. Slowly drawing her hand from the silken encasement she had a small, delicately wrapped piece of candy. Iroh's eyes lit up, a wide grin spreading onto his face, looking up at Nana with a pleading stare. How this little boy could get addicted to such a candy, she would never figure, but if it made him more complacent, then she could not complain. Gently laying the candy in the young boy's out stretched hands, he gave her his biggest grin before quickly ridding the candy of its troublesome wrapper. The candy had a soft light green hue, the soft taffy-like candy being a dear favorite of the prince. Grinning wide, he quickly placed the candy in his mouth, humming contently as it began to melt on his tongue. He looked up at Nana with a look of pure adoration, the older woman shaking her head slightly. Who would've thought it? A little boy who absolutely adored green tea candies, normally a treat too bitter for children. Yet here he sat there too happy for the small piece of candy. He gave a satisfied smack of his lips as he finished off the treat, gaining a scolding stare from Nana. He smiled sheepishly at her, Nana holding her hand out for the young boy to grasp, Iroh gladly placing his hand within hers. The two walked in slow precession, she because her feet couldn't move as fast as they did when she was younger and he because of how short he was. He was an adorably proportioned boy, or at least in her eyes. He definitely inherited his body shape from his grandfather. He had a square face, hidden beneath a layer of baby fat, his cheeks holding a healthy rosy hue to them. His body was very proportionate, wide set yet not appearing fat or overweight, just childish, a normal layer of baby fat on his frame. His black hair and golden eyes seemed to be something most all the citizens of the Fire Nation had, but it was not unusual to see someone with the other colors, most commonly hazel if not golden. Nana always compared Iroh's eyes to yellow-orange topaz or amber for they always glittered with lively energy, something that had been scarce in the time of wars. Children grew up too fast, especially princes, but he, he had not been as tainted, not yet at least. He was quick-witted, friendly, yet a determined little soul, extremely focused on bettering himself. She absolutely adored that about him, she wanted to preserve that, but she knew deep in her heart that that endeavor was one she would never be able to reach. All the Fire Lords she had watched over had turned away from their morals, away from their innocence, and towards a side at which she had never seen any of them return. Sighing softly, she smiled down at the little boy, knowing that she could at the least enjoy him as he was now.

Continuing through the double doors and down the marble floors of the palace, they began to near their destination. They dropped at a grand door, taller than any man quite easily, gold-trimmed dragon doorknobs were much larger than need be but they were there for show. Two guards stood on either side, some of the best fire benders in the Nation's army. They were placed as the top line of defense between the royals and any man foolish enough to attempt to infiltrate the palace. Nana, gave a short bow to both of them before releasing Iroh's hand and moving back and away from the boy, her body now bowed deeply. Iroh looked at Nana in confusion before feeling a soft, warm hand reach down and grasp his. Looking up, he looked into the face of his mother, Fire Lady Ilah. Her features were soft, gentle, but there was a hidden strength behind those beautiful golden eyes. She had a beautiful heart shaped face with hair swept up into an intricate style, a golden and red fire blossom comb holding the style together. Her face was done in a respectful yet beautiful make up in order to show her high class yet her modesty. She was dressed in long flowing kimono of red-pink with flowers and blossoms of contrasting colors perfectly embroidered into the cloth. The warm smile his mother was giving him made him relax; squeezing his mother's hand gently. It wasn't often he saw the woman personally but when he did, she absolutely poured love from her expressions. A soft clearing of the throat made them both straighten up, Fire Lord Azulon, making it clear it was almost time to enter the room. With his long thin face, long black hair and long, thin mustache and beard, he gave off the look of a serious, distinguished male that would not take anything lying down. His deep colored robes with the upturned, sharp appearing shoulder padding made him look all the more threatening. Clearing his throat again, the two soldiers began to pull the doors apart. Placing his hand lightly on the small of his wife's back, Azulon began to lead Iroh and Ilah into the room and into one of the most important meetings in this young boy's life.

A/N: Wooow, man, I am so shocked that I wrote all this. Aya~! Well, this story is about Iroh/OC, explaining his young life, his arranged marriage, their relationship and so on and so forth. Thank you so so so soooo much for reading this first chapter, I'm so honored! Now Iroh is wearing a Hanbok, or at least, the way I designed the Hanbok, if anyone would like to maybe correct what I wrote, I'm open for messages. I just hope you enjoyed the first chapter and there are more to come! Thank you so much!

-Suzuka