Chapter Two

Ursa looks out her window over the caldera. She takes a seat on the windowsill and curls up against the wall, hugging her knees to her chest. On the window seat there rests a large bouquet of red roses and fire lilies. When it came there was only a note that said, 'I want to see you again'. Ursa had blushed and hastily taken it into her room. She was still unsure. She wasn't sure if she should respond. She wasn't sure if she wanted people to know that she had attracted the attention of the prince.

"Ursa, I'm coming in," her mother said as she slid the paper door to the side. Ursa turned around to sit properly and rest her arms in her lap.

"What is it, mother?" Ursa asked quietly, but her mother had already noticed the roses. She approached with her mouth open.

"Who is this from, Ursa?" She asked, fingering the note beside it. Ursa swallowed. Before she said anything, her mother had read the note and was looking down at her with furrowed brows.

"They're from Prince Ozai," she said under her breath. The sun had just set and her mother's features were more harsh in the moonlight.

"Prince Ozai?" Her mother looked shocked, like she should be. Her mouth still hung open. She sat on the window seat besides her daughter and looked her over speculatively.

"I met him at the banquet."

"And now he's sending you flowers? Oh my. Only one meeting and he's sending gifts. You must have made quite an impression on him..." Her mother seemed to be thinking to herself for a moment and Ursa looked again at the roses. She remembers the way he felt. He was so warm.

"Well," her mother said before Ursa even knew she was staring, "What happened? I didn't even see you two together. How did you meet?"

"I went out to the garden to get some fresh air, and he found me in the gardens." Her mother liked her lips.

"What did he say to you? What was he like?" She asked. Her family was not high enough nobility to approach members of the royal family directly, so she was the only one who had met him. Ursa breathed a sigh.

"He..." She started, unsure, "He is very handsome." She says, because she thinks of no way to describe him with words. There is something in his eyes, she thinks, something calculating and sad.

"Well, yes, dear. He is. And young," she speculates, "Unmarried too." Ursa huffs.

"What?" Her mother asks.

"Of course he's unmarried, if he was married he wouldn't be sending me gifts." Her mother purses her lips.

"Ursa, you don't know these royal type. Many get married for political benefit only..." she continued, "He could have been married and sent you the roses anyway. Men are like that, if they're infatuated."

"Well he's not infatuated with me, he can't be, we've only met once." Her mother looked up and smiled at her gently.

"I think he is dear. I've heard that Ozai is a man who prefers his solitude. He must be interested in you to send these... and to ask you to see him again! He must like you." Ursa bit her lip. She is still thinking of him.

"Aren't you excited, dear? Do you not like him? This would be wonderful for our family!" Her mother exclaims, touching her leg. Ursa wants to find trouble with that, to think that her relationship should be private, but she doesn't. Her mother is right. It would be great for her family to be tied to the royals again.

"If a prince marries you, my dear, things could be so much better for us. For our name. It would wash away the sins of my father." Ursa nods, thinking of her grandfather Avatar.

"Yes, mother." She says obediently. Her mother shifts closer.

"Tell me about him. Why don't you like him?" She asks. Ursa scowles.

"I do, mother. I do. It's just..." She purses her lips in mirror of her mother and looks at the floor.

"What, child?" Ursa lets out a breath.

"He's intimidating. This whole city is. He's so smart, and well-mannered. Why would he want me?" She wonders aloud, looking up to her mother's greying features.

"Because you are a beauty, dear. I'm sure he can't help but see that. And you are quite well-mannered, no matter that you are not from here." Rina lifts her chin. She inspects her daughter's fair face.

"Perhaps he likes that you are different from the people here. Maybe he likes that you are unique." She smiles a bit, "And of course he is intimidating dear, men like these are. He probably reminds you of Sozin, with that dark hair and those broad shoulders." Her mother is looking out the window now, thinking of the man who killed her father. A silence passes.

"He's so tall," Ursa thinks. Rina stands.

"He would be a good match for you, I think. We'll see, darling. Perhaps you will grow to like him as you get to know him." Ursa makes a noncommittal noise and fingers the hem of her nightdress.

"Perhaps I will."