Chapter Two:

Duty Calls

ARRAINNE POV:

Flying home from Elua's house I take it slow this time, I want to savor the feeling of the wind on my face; I want to relish in the freedom of flying. Momo flies ahead and then slows down waiting for me to catch up, only to burst forward again; he's itching to go faster. The mainland comes into view and I sigh—back to work. I have to hold up my end of the bargain with Zuko, I have to complete one of the tasks the Fire Sages want. I decide I'll start with the citizens; they have a right to know what happened.

Though it is late, I'm sure the Fire Sages must still be up. I head towards their temple and find the head Fire Sage wandering the courtyard. He's surprised to see me land in front of him, I'm sure I look like a mess from my recent flight. I can see the look of annoyance on his face; I disturbed his nightly walk. "I'd like to find a way to tell the citizens what happened," I say.

His face changes from annoyance to pleasure, finally we're getting somewhere. He smiles and responds, "Any ideas?" I rack my brain for a way to tell all the citizens, but there would be no way to tell every single one of them—I want to answer their personal questions.

"I don't even know what they want to know," I sigh. He has no clue how lost for ideas I am; there isn't a possible way for me to tell the whole story and for the whole Fire Nation to hear it. He seems to be searching his brain as well. Suddenly I have an idea; the old Agni Kai arena hasn't been used and can house the most people in the entire Fire Nation. I explain to the Fire Sage that I will stand in the middle and tell my story; scribes can be there to write it down and distribute it among the Fire Nation and the world.

The Fire Sage scratches his chin and then slowly nods. "That's very clever; I will set it up as soon as possible, probably by next week?" My idea will take care of the citizen problem and the growing fear within me that people will forget what happened. I already know what I'm going to say, I've already told On Ji, Elua and Kaja the whole story. I'll leave out the details between me and Zuko, but I'll start from the very beginning. "The writers' words will be put into a scroll for those in the future to read as well," the Fire Sage adds. I nod my approval.

"Tomorrow," I start and the Fire Sage perks his head up surprised I'm willing to attempt to solve another issue, "I would like to speak to the high ranking Fire Generals." I'll talk to them about how to firebend the original way, the way Iroh, Zuko, and I firebend. He nods in acknowledgement and informs that he'll have them ready in the military training courtyard at noon.

It's getting late and I thank him for his time, as I leap into the air I hear him say something about the new king of Ba Sing Se and that he's getting desperate to meet with me; I ignore him. I've taken care of two problems today already; the third can wait until I've gotten some sleep. I fly towards the palace and quickly find the private courtyard, I think about finding Zuko but his bedroom lights are already off and I'm sure he's already fast asleep with the exhaustion of being the Fire Lord.

I go to my own bedroom and flop down on the mattress; Momo lands next to my pillow and curls up instantly falling asleep. Pulling the covers around me I wait for sleep to overcome me. It isn't long till the morning light coming through my window wakes me up and looking at the sun it's only half an hour until noon. When I gingerly step out of my bedroom, Zuko's door is already open and the room vacant. I don't have time to say good morning, or even see him—he's already in a meeting.

I groan out loud, I'm so sick of all this. Momo peers at me as if asking me if I'm alright, I pet him and scratch behind his ears. There is leftover breakfast still sitting on the dining table and though it's cold I butter a piece of bread, rip off a piece for Momo and eat the rest myself. I open the nearest window and hold my shoulder towards it; he chatters and soars out the window no doubt to find some little girl willing to buy him a fruit.

Walking to the military training courtyard, I focuse on my breathing to calm my nerves. I remind myself that Katara, Sokka, Suki and Toph will be coming home any day now; I won't have to worry so much about my duties and be alone all the time. The generals are already in the courtyard and once they catch sight of me they straighten and salute, "At ease," I announce. They relax their shoulders and wait for me to speak. I can see the hidden annoyance that they're being taught firebending by a teenager, but then again; their Fire Lord is a teenager.

I haven't had any time to come up with anything to say to them, I went straight to bed last night and only woke up a few minutes ago. I clear my throat, "Today I'm here to teach you the true way of firebending," the generals look around at each other, they seem eager to learn. "Throughout the reign of Fire Lord Ozai," the generals stiffen at his name, "The true way of firebending was lost in hate and rage." I pace down the line of generals and I'm surprised at myself for not tripping over my words. "Fire is not destruction, it gives life. Fuel your fire with life, and it will be even more powerful than ever before."

Closing my eyes, I step forward and punch a flame from my fist. It scorches the plant 50 feet away from me to ashes. Glancing back at the generals their eyes have widened from the hidden annoyance to pure astonishment. I smile, maybe they understand. I motion for them to try, and in sync with each other they all punch a flame from their fists. Some are like mine; others are like how Zuko's firebending was pitiful after he joined our side. I praise those who understand and state, "Just practice, and forget all the rage and destruction." I can see the frustration in those who hadn't succeeded and I know that the frustration will just make it more difficult.

I step up to one who is struggling and tell him to lower his arms. He glares at me but I hold his gaze. Some of the other men are glancing at us from the corner of their eyes, but that's okay; they should see this too. "Relax," I tell him. "Close your eyes." He does so and I know he feels ridiculous but it's going to help. "Take a deep breath," I hear him inhale and exhale. "Fire comes from the breath and with your guiding hand it is not destruction. It is life and light. Try again." I step aside and let him assume his stance. When he punches forward he succeeds and I see him smile to himself. I nod in approval and move on. I see others who were struggling relax and close their eyes; hopefully they can get it.

I nod at the Fire Sage, who've been looking on and he smiles at me; he's pleased with my performance. I leave the generals to practice on their own and the Fire Sage joins my side as I walk down the hallway, "Very good way to explain it," He commends. "Now about the king of Ba Sing Se…" I put my hand up and he abruptly stops talking. "I understand. The citizen hearing has been set up for next week and will be announced in the daily newspaper." I wave him off—good I can stall my duties till next week; I did two things they wanted; now they can leave me alone for a few days.

He gives a slight nod and turns the opposite way down the hall. I slouch against the wall slowly sliding down till I'm sitting. Wrapping my arms around my legs, I hug them to my chest burying my head in my knees hoping nobody will come by. I feel like there is a ten ton weight on my shoulders, it's nothing compared to how I felt before facing Ozai; but I thought after the world was saved I could be free. I was wrong; I'm even more tied down than before. I just want to forget my 'duties', I want another adventure and I don't know who to tell.

I hear someone walking down the hallway and I immediately pick myself up from the ground, I don't need anyone seeing me this way. The official passes me and acknowledges my presence with a nod, I nod politely in return. Once he's out of sight, I groan and head down the hallway. Now I don't even have Momo to accompany me.

I decide I'm going to spend the day in the city, I've the entire week spent in the palace and I'm curious about the capital. As I walk down the steps a couple guards stop me. They question me where I'm going and I'm taken off guard; I've never been stopped before. Then again—I never walk anywhere I always fly and there aren't guards to stop me. "I'm going into the city," I state and continue to walk down the steps.

I don't like being stopped, I'm tired of being tied down all the time—I can't walk through the city without being asked of my intentions? The guard grabs my arm and tries to pull me back up the steps but something snaps inside me. Fluidly I swing my glider smacking him in the chest with air, he keels over and the other guard makes an attempt to grab me. I blow him back into the palace wall and don't notice the guard I smacked calling for backup.

Three more guards approach and I bend the water from the flower pots near the wall freezing one of the guards' hands together in icy handcuffs. While he struggles to get free, another guard presses a button on his sleeve and I hear the faint noise of an alarm going off; the warning someone is attacking—even if that someone is the Avatar. The guard recovering from being thrown against the wall hisses into a mouthpiece, "Avatar Arrainne…she's gone wild!"

I whip around to face him but he puts his hands up in surrender—but I bended rock slabs around his feet rendering him helpless anyways. Another guard successfully grab me but I twist around so I'm able to face him and wrench one arm free about to send him smashing into a nearby appleplum tree.

Suddenly strong familiar arms wrap themselves around me, pulling me away from the guard. I strain against the arms but they turn me around and his scent fills my head. Instantly I relax and sob, "I'm sorry Zuko…I…" He hushes me and holds me tighter. "I can't," I stammer, "I feel trapped."

He strokes my hair and murmurs, "I know." The front of his robes are becoming stained with my tears and I push away wiping them away and gently dabbing the wet marks on his clothes. "It's fine I'll change," He says putting his hand over mine; I manage a weak smile. He explains he still has another meeting and hands me over to one of the maids to bring me back to my bedroom. I feel ridiculous that I exploded like that and that I'm being treated as a child now. As I'm being led into the palace I hear Zuko announce, "Those of high rank are allowed to come and go as they please," He glares at the guards who stopped me, "Without question." The guards bow and resume their positions once again. I guess it hadn't been established yet that rules have changed.

The maids bring me to my bedroom and ask me if I want anything but I wave them away; I just want to be alone. When I door swings shut I sigh in relief, I walk to the bathroom joined to my room and shut the door locking it. I'm shocked when I see my reflection in the mirror; my eyes are wild and sunken in from the lack of sleep. I take a deep breath and look back into the mirror, the raging sea in my eyes lulling back to normality. Why am I becoming this way?

I turn on the hot water of the large bathtub and return to the mirror watching the glass fog up and obscure my face. Once the tub has filled, I slip into the silky water and let the heat sink into my bones. Absentmindedly I draw the water off the glass of the mirror and play with it in the air for a few moments before letting it drop into the tub.

I lean my head back and sink deeper into the warm water, letting the steam fill my senses and bring a feeling of calmness to my mind. I promise myself I will be collected from now on; I will handle things with a calm and level head. I don't understand why this seems much more difficult than facing Ozai, it's hardly a task at all.

When the water starts to become colder I let it swirl down the drain and return into my cold bedroom compared to the steaminess of the bathroom. Sitting on my bedside table is a bowl of soup—it's lukewarm. Momo had returned and is chasing a piece of lint around the floor, when he catches sight of me he scampers up my leg and perches familiarly on my shoulder. I offer him the bowl of soup and he gratefully jumps from my shoulder to the table and laps up the broth.

I look out the window to find the moon shining brightly in the sky; I hadn't realized how much time I spent in my locked bathroom. Pulling on my night clothes, a pale orange loose top and matching leggings, I pull the covers around me and attempt to sleep. Sleep would not come. I toss and turn for hours, Momo constantly chatters in my ear in his discomfort. Groaning, I throw the covers off me and sit up in bed.

Momo quickly settles in the newly opened spot where it's warm—I let him be. Instead I open the door slowly and peer down either side of the hallway; nobody around. I tiptoe across the hall and step silently into Zuko's room. I quiet my breathing so I won't wake him and soundlessly slip into the open space next to him leaving room between us.

His bed is huge; it could easily fit four people. Compared to the room, the bed is barely anything. The bed takes up the far wall, another wall has double doors leading to the private courtyard and the one opposite to it has a single glass door leading to a private balcony. Next to the door to the balcony is a wardrobe and in the corner two bookshelves along with two reading chairs. Other than that, the furnishing in the room is scarce.

Just the thought of him being next to me eases my mind into a dreamless sleep. I wake to the touch of warm lips against my neck just below my ear. I turn to face him; he is propped up on one elbow looking at me; his pale muscular chest gleaming in the moonlight coming in from the window. I smile, he looks like himself; his black hair flops around his face and he's free of the heavy robes. I raise myself up to look at him and he says, "You did well today. The Fire Sage told me that you cooperated."

I sigh exasperated and flop back down on my back, "Yeah, having a mental breakdown and beating up some guards is 'well'."

He moves a little closer and I feel his legs intertwine with mine, he shrugs replying, "It was inevitably going to happen," I glare at him and he continues smoothly, "I know you Arrainne, you've never liked being told what to do." His words go to my very core—he's right. I look up at the ceiling and he lowers himself next to me wrapping one arm around me. "You're alright now?" He asks. I nod; he smiles and kisses me lightly on the lips. "Don't worry, Katara, Sokka, Suki and Toph should be home soon. Then we can go visit Uncle." I smile at the thought of going to the Jasmine Dragon with my friends again, I'm ready to leave the Fire Nation for a few days. We fall asleep in each other's arms and it's the best night's sleep I've gotten all week. By tomorrow, I'll be able to start my new outlook on how life is heading for me.

ZUKO POV:

In the morning, I leave Arrainne still sleeping in my bed. After last night's incident, the Fire Sages demanded they hold a private meeting with me as soon as possible. I go to the bathroom and tie my hair into a topknot; the maids have already laid out the robes for today. I sigh; it seems I'm not allowed to do anything without help. I can understand why Arrainne exploded yesterday, she isn't used to this; I'd grown up on being waiting on my every wish.

I head to the Fire Sage temple; they're already waiting for me in the private council room. When I enter they bowed and I'm still not accustomed to the constant bowing. I take my place at the head of the table and wait for one of them to speak. Finally the head Sage stands up and says, "It has come to our attention that Avatar Arrainne is becoming harder to handle,"

I hold my hand up and interrupt him, "Avatar Arrainne is a person, not a pet. You cannot handle a person, especially not the Avatar."

Another stood up and smirks, "Your feelings for the girl are clouding your judgment…"

It takes everything I have not to stand up and scream at him to leave; he has no right to question my private life. Calmly I answer, "Our discussion has nothing to do with my feelings for her. She cooperated with your wishes, did she not?" The Sages fall silent. "A mere slip of character is nothing to base your suspicions on. The Avatar has not needed to be watched in the past, she will not be now; do I make myself clear?" The Sages nod and I take my leave. I know the Sages don't care for Arrainne much; but I don't know what they're suggesting.

Before I'm able to get out the door the head Sage announces, "The king of Ba Sing Se still wishes to speak with her."

I turn and tartly respond, "I will deliver the message." I know it's idiotic, but I can't take back my words. I'm frustrated they're speaking of the Avatar as if she is merely a pawn to be played. She is a bigger part of building the world back than they are whether they like it or not.