I could hear the waves lapping against the side of the boat. It made me anxious to escape the small room that I was hidden in but I knew my safety and my brothers depended on me keeping quiet and out of site. Which meant waiting til night fall to dodge the guards and get a glimpse of the outside again. I felt my mind wandering as I lay back on the single bed. I didn't even notice the door creak open until it was too late.
"Tara! Didn't you hear me coming?!? What if I was an inspector or something?" my brother Lu shouted. Lu short of Lu Ten and I had always been close. He had been sick when I first came to live with my family and I had healed him, discovering there was more to my waterbending abilities then I had ever imagined. He had been named after the son of the great General Iroh. My parents had thought his son would be our future firelord but that had not occurred. Desitinys have a way of changing.
"Lu, I'm tired of staying in hiding! Maybe if we just talk to Zuko he will let me stay?"
"I doubt it. He's still in pain from the Agni Kai with his father. Rather he lets on about it or not I can see it, and it effects his mood."
"But I can help that…you know my abilities.." I pleaded "I can't continue to live off scraps but I have to be on this ship."
"I'm not sure why your so insitent upon that but I'll do what ever it is I can do to help you succeed in what you plan on doing" he hung his head slightly in defeat.
"I made a promise that I would look after the prince."
"He's a prince Tara, a fire bending prince. I'm sure he can look after himself no matter what Ursa told you." My brother looked at me with alook of pure defiance.
I had never shared my conversation with Ursa and this bothered him. Over the years we had become so close and shared everything. Except for that one night. Ursa had came to my mother an old friend in the middle of the night. She was tired and suffering from the same sickness I had healed Lu from. Though my family had told me to NEVER waterbend in front of anyone other then family, my mom had asked me to heal their Lady. As I sat by her bed she had looked at me with a look of recognition. She told me of the fortune teller who she had visited. The one who told her that her son would be a great leader and leader who would preside over a world of peace and who would wed a woman of another nation to show that the nations were joining as one. But not before he went through great hardships and that woman, a water bender who had grown up in the fire nation, would help him through these hardships and walk with him down the correct path, the path to peace. She told me she had laughed at this saying there were no water benders in the fire nation. Yet here I was a waterbender. She made me promise to look after her son. I had shook my head and tried to back away from her but she had grabbed my hand. Her eyes were filled with tears. She looked at me pleadingly. I couldn't refuse. I had promised I would help Zuko. She left the next day leaving a note behind for me.
"I know, Lu, I know. Maybe if we talk to Iroh? I hear he's reasonable and nice. "
"Tara, you are the only girl on this ship. I don't know if it would be a good idea to reveal your presense. Not only that but you're a waterbender. If anyone finds out that there is a waterbender on a ship surrounded by water…" Lu's arms were flailing around as he talked. I sighed.
"Ok, I'll stay hidden until I'm needed. What did you bring me to eat?" I asked forcing a smile on my face. He handed me some bread and fruit.
"sorry it isn't much" He shrugged.
"It's plenty." I said with a smile. I woul d walk the deck tonight whether Lu approved or not. I needed the open air and a chance to try to bend again. All my training was from Lu and my father. Both fire benders. They had tried their best considering our elements were opisite but I still lacked the skills of a true waterbending master. I would practice tonight. I smiled secretly to myself as Lu walked out of the room to resume guard duty.
