So this is my first story, something I wrote in between classes and tweaked a little recently. It centers around Soah, a girl who lives among the Fire Nation nobility and how she came to be betrothed to Zhao.
I appreciate constructive criticism, this isn't the best piece in the world and could use some work. If readers like and enjoy it, I may write more. All I ask is that whoever reads offers at least one little bit of constructive criticism. Reviews are wonderful and welcome. Maybe if my audience likes the idea, more will be written based off of your writing suggestions.
Zinnia and Sato had only one child, they named her Soah for her mother thought she was the most beautiful creature in her life. Being an ancient noble family, Soah was watched carefully so she would not embarrass her father and disgrace him. Sato spent most of his time at the Fire Nation Palace, serving the Fire Lord directly.
When Soah turned five, she revealed to her mother that she could fire bend, most women in the Fire Nation had much more freedom, mainly due to the war and the shifting need for a police force on the home front…Sato however, being a traditionalist, would not allow his daughter to openly fire bend. Instead, he hired a private tutor to teach her control and basics. And that was that.
Sato's family lived very comfortably. They possessed a large compound near the capitol city, with over 100 different rooms, and over fifty servants, Sato's family was well off. Aside from the main house, there were servants' quarters, extensive gardens and two courtyards. For awhile the compound was all Soah knew, but she was allowed out with her mother to shop on occasion.
Zinnia protected Soah as she got older, Sato's designs that she should marry immediately after coming of age were disrupted. Zinnia would not allow Sato to ruin her child's happiness. Sato allowed this, his wife had always obeyed him and he always looked on the bright side of things. The older Soah was, he hoped the more mature she would be in marriage. But the fear that his child would be too old still lingered. Most men in the Fire Nation's army liked younger girls instead of the older ones. It was this fear that drove Sato to Shelter Soah from most things. Ultimately though, she became a proper noble lady. She knew how to serve tea to the few guests she received, she knew how to embroider, sew and manage a household. Her role as a traditional lady was fulfilled.
But when she turned eighteen, she met her best friend Sanzi.
Sanzi became Soah's link to learning more fire bending, and to the outside world. With Sanzi as her friend, Soah had access to books and texts that her father or mother wouldn't have given her. She became a very intelligent lady. But as Soah and Sanzi grew closer together, there was a new bond, a mutual fondness and liking between the too of them.
Sanzi was the illegitimate child of a nobleman her father, General Hooey he was called, knew, but since his own wife was barren, he claimed Sanzi as his own. It was quite a scandal, but it was soon forgotten when the Fire Lord banished his own, legitimate son, Prince Zuko. It was then acceptable to introduce Sanzi to Soah. Sato's old nose wrinkled at the thought of the two together, Sanzi was a bastard, illegitimate. Soah was pure, a noble through and through, the mere thought of that boy polluting the bloodline was…infuriating. Fortunately for Sato, Sanzi's father did not present him publicly, so the boy could not go to any parties and it just so happened that the Fire Lord was hosting one in honor of his second child, Princess Azula.
Soah did not care much for parties, just based on what she had heard about them and the very few she had been to. But as the daughter of a nobleman she had to endure it. She and her mother had dressed to match almost, with the exception that her mother wore plain, dull reds and blacks while she was dressed in vibrant scarlet and gold. The two stood side by side so others could compare, Zinnia, who had the understated brilliance of a pearl beside her daughter who at that moment was as radiant as the sun. Sato almost beamed with pride, his wife and child were ladies of fashion and beautiful and many people were talking, asking exactly who Soah was. "Surely," They said, "Surely, she is Lady Zinnia's daughter?" High ranking officers in the army and navy noticed her, and high ranking noblemen recommended her to their sons just based on who her family was. The highlight of Sato's night was when the Fire Lord himself had told him that his daughter was beautiful and regal, as fit a noble lady.
Soah herself was enjoying herself by her mother's side, it wasn't until she noticed a man looking at her that she actually became nervous. He wasn't very tall, not much taller than her own father, but he had a very commanding presence. There was a cold and calculating cruelty in his eyes, he was dressed in a soldier's uniform, but she could not tell exactly what branch this man was in. She noticed that he was a great deal older than she was. "Mother..." She whispered. Zinnia arched an eyebrow at her daughter, at first out of annoyance for interrupting another noble woman she was listening to, but then curiosity soon replaced it.
"What is it daughter?" She addressed her aloud to let the women who gathered around them know that the previous conversation was over.
"That man, the older one staring at me…no, not him," Zinnia had already begun to scan the area and had settled on an arrogant younger man who had also watched Soah through out the evening. "That one, over there by those generals." The other ladies gathers also looked with astonishment.
"Why my dear," started the wife of a governor, "That is Captain Zhao. There is a rumor that he will soon be a Commander. The Fire Lord himself has taken a great interest in his career and is recommending Zhao's promotion himself." She stopped to look at Zhao for herself and added, "You should be very honored that he has taken an interest in you." Despite his reputation as being very cold and cruel, he was still a fire bending master, and his influence wasn't to be taken lightly. People respected Zhao, he had rose to greatness in such a short amount of time.
"I.." Soah began, she wasn't sure of what to say.
"How is your child Mai coming along? Any interesting marriage propositions for her yet?" Zinnia decided that the time was right to change the subject from Soah to anything else.
"No, not yet. She isn't a pretty as Soah, but not as old either. But we have hope that maybe one day she'll be happy with some one." Zinnia nodded and placed a protective hand on Soah's shoulder. She did not like the fact that somebody like Captain Zhao had noticed Soah, and she herself was very doubtful that she could stop Sato from arranging a marriage between the two if he knew.
When the family returned home, Soah waiting until all in the house were asleep before going into the garden to meet with Sanzi. The two had been thick as thieves ever since they met and aside from being her sole confidant.
Sanzi was there, waiting as usual. The two made their way deeper into the garden and away from the house so they could bend without drawing attention to themselves.
"How was the party?" Sanzi had been accepted as his father's heir, but he was still socially barred from things like parties.
"Boring. All we did was stand there and talk to my mother's friends."
"Sounds thrilling. I take it your father just filtered about, did some political positioning?"
"You know him too well." Soah smiled as they took the first form in their warm ups.
"Meet any cute boys?" Sanzi teased her relentlessly about that.
"Not unless you count an ugly old man as cute."
"Who was it?"
"They called him Zhao."
Sanzi's concentration was broken for a moment and the form was disrupted. "Zhao? As in Captain Zhao of the Fire Nation Navy?"
"Sounds familiar…" Soah grumbled, annoyed that their practice had stopped because of this Zhao. "Something wrong?"
"No…he's just a bad person. Come on, we're going to run out of night if we keep yapping."
After that, their fire bending practice was more quiet and brutal than usual. Which was just fine with Soah, she needed to vent her frustration anyway. The next day went without incident with that nights practice just as brutal.
Two mornings after the party, Sato found out that Zhao had taken an interest in his daughter. But not from his wife, who had guarded that secret, but from their unannounced visitor that afternoon. Soah had been out until dawn fire bending, so she had come in exhausted, after changing from her bending clothes into her sleeping robe, she had crashed on the divan in her room. She never suspected that her mother would actually be waking her up.
"Soah." She said sternly, shaking her daughter. "Soah, you must get up. Now. And be quick." Soah awoke to her mother's almost frantic voice.
"Mother," she choked out, "I'm not feeling well." Soah voice had been soft and scraggly, the result of practicing simple breaths of fire. She also had a slight fever from being out in the morning dew.
Zinnia placed a cool hand on her daughter's hot forehead. She was almost thankful that Soah was under the weather, perhaps since she could not get out of bed, Zhao would be disappointed and leave. But the realistic part of Zinnia knew that would not be the case. Zhao would play it off like young women get ill all the time and calculate a way into Sato's good graces. Sato on the other hand would blame Soah for being ill. Sato was nothing Zinnia couldn't handle, it would be serving tea to Zhao and explaining that Soah was ill to his cruel face that may just unnerve her. She could not think of such things right now though.
"Shall I order the servants to run you a warm bath dear?" Zinnia asked tenderly.
Soah nodded and asked for a cool drink too.
"I'm sorry Commander. But our dear Soah is ailing." Zinnia said mournfully as she poured Zhao tea. The man had come here to announce two things, his interest in their daughter, and his promotion to Commander. "I do hope you may be able to stay for supper though sir…even though Soah may not be able to leave her chambers."
"I'd be delighted to stay for supper, your home is very lovely, and it isn't often an officer gets a home cooked meal." He said before taking a sip, fully knowing that Zinnia had never personally cooked anything in her life and that he had such cooking almost daily.
Sato however, was not convinced of Soah's illness. "I'm sure we could rouse her long enough to become presentable commander. I do apologize that she isn't apparently well. And we thank you for contributing more guards to look after the compound Commander."
"It is quite alright, I like to perform extra services for the Fire Nation." He looked at Zinnia with a knowing look, he had seen the way she had stared him down nights ago, and placed her hand on Soah's shoulder. "What exactly is ailing her?"
"Sore throat, and a fever. Poor child."
"On second thought Sato, I would like to see if you can rouse her for a short while." There was a silkiness to his voice that Zinnia did not like. "And if you have some ginger tea, and perhaps some miso soup, we shall take it after lunch." Sato bowed, and Zinnia eyed Zhao gravely, she did not like the way he showed his authority in her house, she did not like the smile he was giving her at that moment. "Now, I saw some lovely gardens just outside of one of your parlors coming in, will you should me around them?"
Sato bowed ounce more and stood up. "This way Commander Zhao. The fire lilies are in full bloom right now." Zhao stood and bowed to Zinnia who stiffly bowed in return.
Soah had just gotten out of the bath that her mother had drawn for her. Her voice still sounded too soft to hear, but her fever had gone down. Zinnia was almost disappointed when she placed her hand on Soah's forehead a second time and found that her child was normal.
"You will dress in your day robes. Since you are ill we will not bother with anything more." Zinnia was ordering the servants around Soah to retrieve the clothing and do her hair. "See if you can bend your temperature, you need to look sick my child." Soah had no trouble there, the skin under her eyes was slightly dark and puffy from where she had been awake until dawn, and her scorched throat from breathing fire gave her to needed sick voice. Zinnia didn't trust that Zhao wouldn't feel Soah's forehead to make sure he wasn't being duped, or just to spite her.
Soah's hair was half up, half down. A jade comb held the top up into a beautifully arranged loose bun, while the half that was down was pulled over her should in a recent style called "mermaid." The servants had brought out the day robes, and Soah picked a simple white outfit, made out of a warmer material and trimmed in black and gold.
After she was presentable, Zinnia lead Soah to one of the parlors that faced the gardens, the servants had opened the doors and the scent of flowers filled the room. Sunlight poured in and bathed the room in golden rays. A soft breeze played with the white drapes that hung from the high ceiling. Soah arranged herself in front of a small table on a plush cushion. The room itself was filled with such cushions and a few low divans. It was a very intimate room, and the fact that Zhao had noticed it and picked it made Zinnia uneasy.
The servants were serving Soah the Zhao suggested miso soup when the two noblewomen heard voices in the garden.
"Within three years' time, the Fire Lord will have control of the Earth Kingdom." Zhao boasted.
"This is good news indeed Commander, a glorious victory for our nation." Mother and daughter rolled their eyes at Sato's positioning. Soah had begun to stir the soup before her when her father and Commander Zhao stepped through the garden doors. Soah looked up at Zhao, since she was facing the garden, she had no excuse to look away and ignore him. She made a respectful bow before returning to her soup stirring.
"Commander Zhao, our daughter Soah. Forgive her appearance, her mother was right when she informed us that she was ill." Sato said. "My wife and I will leave you two to get better acquainted." At hearing these words, both Zinnia's and Soah's eyes widened. This was not proper, to leave her hear unchaperoned with this man she had never met. Zinnia cast her husband a hateful glare, but reluctantly stood and went with her husband into the garden. The servants took their cue and brought the tea service in to Zhao. None of the servants fully took their leave, as Soah noticed. Most had stayed to open the remaining windows, some had taken positions just outside the doors. This fact comforted Soah.
"I know this is odd." Zhao said as he poured Soah a cup of ginger tea. "But I heard you were sick, and I wanted to…eh, make sure you were feeling better." He placed the cup in front of her gently. Soah looked at him, Sanzi had claimed this man was a bad person, and her own mother disliked him to an almost disrespectful extent. She did not believe that he just wanted to see if she was better.
"Commander Zhao is most kind." She said softly, he voice almost inaudible, before she took a sip of the tea.
"Quite a cold you have." He stated frankly. Soah looked up to see his eyes locked with hers. She felt like he knew exactly why he voice sounded like this, she half expected him to start out 'I remember one time, I had a cold like yours. I could not speak for days…but then again, it wasn't a cold…was it?'
"Yes sir…it is. I feel…better though. My throat just hurts a lot." He arched an eyebrow. "But the soup is helping it, as is the tea." His eyes narrowed but he said nothing as he watched her take another sip. 'You're just being paranoid Soah, he couldn't know that you fire bend.'
The two sat silently for a few moments, Zhao was about to say something when Soah heard her father say, "Sanzi! Not today!" Soah looked out in the garden to see Sanzi coming up the path and her father coming up the path trying to stop him.
A small giggle escaped Soah's throat, but a glare from Zhao made her heart sink into her stomach. He stood and put himself between Soah and Sanzi.
"Well, General Hooey's bastard, Sanzi…is it?"
"Commander Zhao." He replied, bowing stiffly.
"Commander, I am so sorry for this. This boy just thinks he can waltz over here anytime at all and see Soah."
"It's quite all right." He said gruffly. "But Soah is tired and weak. Quite frankly, she is about to go back to her chambers and rest before supper." Zhao stated. Soah looked to her father who nodded and told Sanzi to go home. Zinnia looked miserable.
"Come child. I'll assist you." Zinnia said walking past Zhao and laying a hand in Soah's arm.
"Thank you mother." Soah cast one last look at a defeated Sanzi, but all she saw was Zhao's indifferent scowl.
When they returned to Soah's chambers, Zinnia dismissed the servants and undid Soah's hair herself.
"Mother…are you alright?"
"No." Soah heard her sigh. "I might as well tell you know dear. Zhao is going to ask your father if he can marry you."
"But…he's an old man."
"He is. He's old enough to be your father. But I rather you hear it from me than your own father." Soah turned around.
"Sanzi…"
"Sanzi is a bastard Soah, your father will never let you marry him."
"But the courtship period…"
"That has already begun as of two nights ago when Zhao saw you, as far as your father is concerned."
"But…" Soah could feel her life end, and that man becoming her future. She felt trapped.
"There is nothing I can do…" Zinnia sighed. She had argued profusely with her husband, but he was firm in this. And as a traditional noblewoman, she had to obey him. "Your father has commanded that you attend dinner, you are to dress your best and…" Soah watched her mother's shoulders sink. "…you are to sit beside him and try to socialize with him. Just agree with everything he says and make him feel special. You…you shouldn't think of Sanzi, or welcome his attentions here." Zinnia knew her daughter's fondness for the boy, but she also knew his status. The poor child would never formally be received by the society that she and her daughter, and now Zhao, belonged to.
At dinner that evening, Sato chatted mercilessly, proud that finally, after four years of being of age, his daughter would be soon married. Zhao sat beside Soah, as if he already had married her, there was an air of possessiveness that surrounded him and scared her. Soah was barely paying attention to her dinner, her mind was trying to wrap itself around the fact that she would marry Zhao. That she would have to stop being around Sanzi. While he hadn't directly done anything terrible to her directly, he was beginning to be a block between her and her friend, and that was reason enough to be somewhat resentful.
During dinner, her father had opened his house to Zhao to stay the night as a guest before he left the following morning. Soah waited anxiously for the lights across the courtyard to go out, around one in the morning, they did. She eagerly slid out into the gardens to meet Sanzi. He waited patiently in the usual spot, and then they set off a ways from the house. Instead of fire bending, they simply sat and talked.
"My mother says I should not see you anymore…that means she probably knows about our bending practices." Soah said sourly.
"You're seeing me now aren't you? By the way, how is your throat?"
"Still sore."
"It gets better with time, the next time you pull out a breath of fire it won't hurt so much later."
"I sure hope not." A small snap towards the house startled them, and they waited a moment before they resumed talking.
"Commander Zhao was here today." Sanzi stated dryly.
"Mother says he will ask to marry me…"
"He's old enough to be your father."
"I'm aware of that." Soah thought back to the conversation with her mother after having tea with Zhao, and then to Sanzi's interruption. "You heard he was in the neighborhood."
"He is a cruel man. I heard a rumor from my father that he smiled when the Fire Lord burned his son and banished him. That he almost danced with glee…you should that he's very…"
"Possessive…" Soah whispered. "He stayed for dinner this evening. He sat there beside me like a proud peacock."
"I wasn't going to say that, but you have the general idea."
"Yeah."
"Are you going to marry him?"
"Do I have a choice…?"
"You always have a choice. You're a capable fire bender, you are intelligent and beautiful and full of life…" Sanzi stopped himself. "You'd be miserable and die if you married Zhao. And you're…you're special to me."
"Sanzi."
"Yes Soah?"
"You're my best friend, thank you."
"Why don't we practice for a bit instead of jawing away?"
"Yeah, let's do that."
The two stood up and took up the first form.
Zhao left the next morning after private tea with Soah. No mention of Sanzi's interruption from the day before was made. But Zhao did make a reference to seeing flashes of light, almost fiery light, in the gardens.
"Did you see them, Soah?" Zhao asked slyly.
"No, I must have been asleep." She stole a short glance at Zhao while taking a sip of Jasmine tea. "Perhaps you were just seeing things."
Zhao calmly sat his tea cup down. "You think I was just seeing things?" There was a cool edge underneath his question. She looked up at his face, his features were stony, calm, but there was a storm brewing in his eyes.
"Prehaps…"
Zhao threw his tea cup against the parlor wall. They were in the same garden parlor as yesterday. Soah looked at the tea and the broken china, Jasmine tea wasn't easy to come by sometimes. She didn't have time to contemplate what her parents would think, a rough hand cupped her chin as Zhao forced her to look at him.
"Soah. Was I seeing things?"
"N-no…No." She tried to move her head away from him, but he held on tightly.
"I didn't think so." Zhao held on a short while longer before letting go. He motioned to a servant to bring him another cup and looked at Soah to pour his tea. She took a deep breath and shakily poured his tea. Zhao watched her steadily before picking his new cup up. "I will return two weeks from now." He merely said before taking a drink. "If you behave, I might bring you a gift." He smiled before getting up. He stopped beside her and knelt down to where he was eye level. "Try not to go outside at night anymore, I don't want you seeing him." Zhao kissed her temple. "And I'll know…I'll know if you do." He smirked and stood up once more. "If I were you, I wouldn't want something terrible to happen to him."
It had been three days since the incident in the parlor. Sato was furious that Soah had angered Zhao. Zhao however, had told Sato that Soah merely made a foolish remark. "A mistake of youth" was how he phrased it. Zhao had covered up for her going to practice fire bending at night, she did not know why, but she would sure she would find out soon.
"Luckily for you, he is still charmed by you, and promises to bring you gifts." Sato looked up from a letter from Zhao. "You turn twenty in two days, he writes that he will possibly surprise you and show up at your birthday party…where I will also announce your betrothal." There is was, 'betrothal' the word that may seal her fate. Soah's mouth was dry and she could not find words to make her disappointment known. "I take you silence as a sign of timidity. Commander Zhao likes that about you. It is your youth and innocence he enjoys, be sure to do everything you can to remain so."
"Yes father." Zinnia looked up from Sato's side, she sensed defeat in her daughter's voice.
Later that night, she went out to the gardens to wait and see if Sanzi had come by. He did.
"At my birthday, they will announce the betrothal." Soah sounded defeated. She had told Sanzi about what Zhao did in the parlor the night after the practiced, his awareness that she was fire bending with him and his threat to Sanzi.
"I won't let him do that to you." Sanzi whispered. "We could…no, we couldn't."
"Could what?" Soah asked, curious.
"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could go to the Earth Kingdom, give up bending, out allegiances, start new. I mean, you're twenty, I'm twenty-one. We could make it work. Maybe hide out somewhere so until this war ends."
Soah thought about it and laughed. "It would prevent me from marrying Zhao."
The two shared a smile and their hands touched.
"Maybe we could." Soah whispered.
"It would be nice." Sanzi kissed her cheek.
Soah was brushing her hair before she went to bed that evening when her mother brought her a letter from Zhao. "The soldier who brought it specifically said only you may read it. And he also brought this." She motioned to a servant who brought forth a lacquered box, with gold engravings on it.
"What is in it?" Soah asked curiously.
"A set of golden combs and pins for your hair, several matching bracelets, rings and a jade pendant hung from a lovers knot. I believe that one is to be worn around the waist."
"Mother…"
"The pendant is a sort of betrothal symbol."
"Am I supposed to wear all of this?" Soah had never seen so much gold before.
"Read your letter and find out." Zinnia said as a matter of fact.
Soah didn't read the letter, and avoided her father's prying questions about it. He took it as a secret between two loves. "Do you remember our first secret?" He asked Zinnia coyly. Zinnia nodded and smiled, there was a time once before when they were actually in love, but it was after the two had been betrothed and married for two years.
Soah hadn't seen Sanzi since the night before last. Soah wouldn't have a chance to see if Sanzi was in the garden, the next day would be Soah's birthday. Shortly after Sato's teasing, a servant came to announce Zhao's arrival. Knowing that Zhao would request to see her, Soah went to her chambers to read the letter. It did not say anything but "Do try to stay inside at night." How could Zhao possibly know these things?
Soah went into the gardens to look at the fire lilies while Sato welcomed Zhao, part of her secretly hoped Sanzi would dare to be in the gardens today, but she knew that he would not. He knew Zhao was coming and as she told him, he knew that coming to see her would be suicide almost. But she still hoped that maybe…
"Soah?" She knew it was Zhao, either addressing or looking for her, maybe both. His voice had begun to frighten her almost, not just his spat in the parlor but his gifts of gold trinkets. Soah began to half think that she would become a vehicle in which Zhao would display his growing power. But still, it was better not to anger him so quickly.
"Over here Commander, by the Fire Lilies." She almost instantly regretted responding to him as he came forth.
"Happy Birthday, Soah." He breathed into her ear.
"My birthday is tomorrow Commander." Soah smiled sweetly, drawing on any charm she had to keep him from manhandling her in any way. "I received your gifts and letter, and I've been very good since."
"Good. I'm pleased with that. No more of those little night time forays?"
"None since I've received your gifts."
Zhao nodded, "I thought you'd enjoy those. I'd like for you to wear some tomorrow too. And at our wedding."
"That would be lovely…" Soah said without thinking. Zhao looked at her in a puzzled way. "Yes…would you like some tea, Commander?" Soah heard the words come out of her mouth before she could think about it. Now she had to endure his presence longer than desired.
"You're very amiable today." Zhao smiled. "Yes. I would like some."
This tea time, Zinnia and Sato were present as well, Sato to monitor how Zhao and Soah interacted and Zinnia to provide her daughter with moral support.
"I'll be assigned to a harbor in the southwestern Earth Kingdom for a while. When I receive my first leave from there, we'll marry." Zhao informed Soah primarily, but said it out loud for the benefit of Sato. "The entire harbor will be under my sole command. My services there may soon gain me the position of Admiral."
Soah could tell that Zhao was boasting. There was a difference between the positioning that her father did and the boasting Zhao does. Zhao was commanding and conceited, her father just wanted to maintain power, Zhao wanted to obtain it. The only similarities between the two were that they were driven to achieve goals.
"Do you see an end to the war?" Zinnia asked.
"Not for another two or three years. We'll have to beat the other nations into submission, and we haven't even begun to chip away at the Northern Water tribe. But, there is a remedy for that."
"I trust in the Fire Lord's plans." Sato claimed proudly.
Soah caught her mother's eye, silently pleading to be excused. It wasn't that she wasn't a loyal Fire Nation citizen, she was just tired of Zhao at the moment. Zinnia was unyielding, if Soah was to be married to Commander Zhao, she would have to silently swallow all he said.
"Soah, you haven't touched your tea." Sato remarked, concerned that she should drink since Zhao had poured it for her.
"It is too cold for her now." Zhao simply stated. Soah looked at him, a very childlike look of confusion. This man who barely knew her, who wanted to possess her had claimed that her tea was too cold. She had no voice at this table. "Is it too cold?" Zhao asked taking the cup away to dispose of the cold tea.
Feeling pressured by both the looks from her father and Zhao, "Yes. It has cooled very much so." Zhao poured her a new cup of steaming tea shortly after that.
Later that evening, Soah waited in the dark for the light across the courtyard to go out. She had went out into the garden for some alone time after tea and left a message for Sanzi. A Pai Sho tile with the symbol for rock –which looked like the earth kingdom symbol- on it, hopefully he would find it and understand. She waited long after Zhao's light was extinguished for the soft steps of Sanzi. He had come to her.
Soah had left her window facing the garden slightly open so he could come in, the window facing the courtyard was closed and the gossamer drapes drawn. Sanzi silently crept in.
"I received your message." He breathed, "Are you sure about this? Once we go, we can't come back."
"Yes. I can't stand Zhao for the rest of my life. I can't be a decoration or a possession."
"Is it that bad?" Sanzi gently cupped her face.
"Yeah." She took his hand. "What do we have to do in order to leave?"
"You want to leave tonight?"
"Its now or never, they announce my betrothal tomorrow…and after that, I'm as good as his."
He was about to respond when he heard a sound from the courtyard.
"Wha.."
"Shh." Sanzi led her to her bed. "Pretend to sleep." Soah nodded and curled up under her blankets while Sanzi slunk to the shadows. They both saw the two soldiers patrol near the windows, another figure behind the two glanced in through the garden facing window. Zhao. Soah saw him gently shut the window and leave. When she was sure that he was gone, she went to the window and drew the drape closed and walked back to her bed.
"Sanzi, did you see him?" Soah whispered.
"Yeah…I saw."
"How are we getting out?" Soah breathed. A moment of silence, "Sanzi, I feel trapped…"
"I'll get you out of here Soah. Just calm down, you can't take anything with you…if we're caught, I don't want you to be in too much trouble. It has to look like I'm taking you." She heard Sanzi sigh.
"You're not taking me, you're going to be saving me. Just…let me change into a night robe. It's better than a sleeping robe." Sanzi knew night robes were for after dinner relaxation. He nodded and fetched it from the closet for her, when he got it, he laid it across the foot of her bed and went to cup her face. Soah started to cry a little, she didn't want to marry Zhao.
"Its okay, I got you." Sanzi brought her into a warm embrace and held her.
"Do you really?"
Soah's eyes went wide at the sound of Zhao's voice. A few servants rushed in and began to light lanterns. Sanzi put himself between Zhao and Soah, as she pulled a blanket over her sleeping robe. "Yeah, I do." Sanzi said bravely.
"Soah, if you were in danger, you should have called the servants." Zhao said smugly.
"Sanzi." Whispered Soah, she knew Zhao would destroy him.
Sanzi took his cue from Soah and darted to the window facing the garden, he swung it open and jumped out.
"After him!" The two soldiers who passed the windows earlier came from the courtyard and chased Sanzi. The servants had already rushed to Soah to see if she was alright. To them, it looked like that Sanzi boy was trying to kidnap her. Zhao had staged it right, Sanzi would not be welcome anywhere. Sato and Zinnia had been made aware of the commotion and soon appeared.
"It was a good thing you have Soah's safety in mind Commander. I never trusted that Sanzi boy, it was the way he looked at her that always unsettled me." Sato said.
Zinnia helped Soah into the night robe that was lying at the foot of her bed. "How on earth did you catch him?" Zinnia added.
Zhao smiled, "I noticed that Soah's window was open in the night and came to investigate when I heard his voice saying that they were leaving." Sato nodded and began to profusely thanking Zhao for saving their daughter from being ruined. Soah dried her tears and looked at Zhao's smug face. He implied that he would do something to Sanzi, and now he had reason to do so, and nobody would stop him.
"Soah, you should thank Zhao." Sato admonished Soah.
"No need, I'm sure she is grateful." Zhao patted her head and left the room.
Soah had been moved to another part of the house, closer to Zhao's room. "To keep her safe" Sato explained. The search was still going on for Sanzi, Zhao had personally seen that guards patrolled the compound. Soah was trapped.
Her birthday passed without joy, the crowd that was invited cheered when her father announced her betrothal to Commander Zhao. The two stood together, she barely out of her teens, he almost twenty years her senior.
As had become ritual, Zhao and Soah had private tea before he left. They were now engaged, the taboo of being alone lessened, not as many servants keep an eye on the two.
Sato had used his wealth and influence to acquire White Dragon Tea from the deepest parts of the Earth Kingdom. He instructed Soah to serve this tea to Zhao in honor of their engagement, and so she did.
Zhao certainly noticed, he wasn't a tea sort of person, but he knew its rarity.
"I made a good choice with you Soah." Zhao remarked. Soah merely nodded and agreed. She was almost heartbroken by Sanzi's forced disappearance. "I'll be gone a year exactly. Then we will marry…maybe even before then." Zhao was baiting her, for what reasons, Soah did not know. She merely nodded and made an effort to be agreeable. "Maybe when your would be…kidnapper is captured…" Soah noticed his wording, he knew of their plan. She knew how he had now, the two soldiers who patrolled with Zhao were left by him to watch her. And prior to their engagement, Zhao had also sent guards to the compound to guard allegedly guard her father, a favorite of the fire lord. That was how he found out she could fire bend and that Sanzi was her tutor. Somehow she even knew he had been watching her in the gardens as she planted the pai sho tile. "Maybe I can bring him to justice. I take it very personally that he tried to take something that is mine." Soah stiffened at "something that is mine." But she kept her cool mainly because of her grief. She noticed his cup was empty, so she went about refilling it.
Later before Zhao left, he left her the pai sho tile with the rock symbol on it. A part of her desperately hoped it was a replica, pai sho was a universal game, there were many more rock tiles than the one she had possessed. But there was no way of knowing. Perhaps Zhao had just wanted her to feel grief, if that was the case, it certainly had worked.