Just a reminder this is an alternate reality where Zuko was never challenged to an Agni Kai and has NO SCAR and NEVER LEFT TO CAPTURE THE AVATAR
Katara knew when to keep her mouth shut. As she counted the Fire Nation soldiers guarding her, she knew to hold her tongue. She could not fight off the four guards. They had taken her water skin and she was the only one who seemed to be sweating enough in the tropical heat to have something to bend.
Besides, nobody could hear her scream from the dungeons of the Fire Palace. Not Sokka. Not Aang. She could only pray that her brother and the Avatar had made it safely from the Northern Water Tribe. She had not been so lucky.
Master Pakku had been defending the city and Zhao had slain the moon spirit La. Katara had desperately tried to heal the fish spirit, but her bending had not been strong enough. Zhao's soldiers had taken her captive and she had watched the rest of the battle from a ship making a run, full steam ahead, for the Fire Nation.
So, she sat, sweating in her skins, dehydrated and alone, afraid for what fate the Fire Lord had in store for her.
A door creaked open and a light shone into her cell. She looked up from where she was kneeling, hands tied behind her back. She stiffened and her eyes went wide as the Fire Lord strode to stand before the bars of her cell, hands calmly tucked into the sleeves of his robes.
"Ah, little waterbender of the South." He smiled cruelly. "I thought I had wiped away the last of your kind years ago. It seems," he kneeled before her and reached a hand through the bars to her chin, "it seems I was slightly less than thorough."
Katara pulled her head away and snarled, wishing she could send a shard of ice at this monster, slicing the pale skin of his throat for what he had done to her people, to her mother.
"For a master of the ice and snow, you do have a great fire in you." The Fire Lord smiled, pleased. "Of course to call you a master would be….exaggeration." He stood, looming over her. "I would have preferred to have the Avatar in my grasp, or the chief's son. They have true value." The Fire Lord sighed. "Now all I have is a waterbender who couldn't command a tear. Still, you will suit your purpose." And with that, he turned on his heel and strode towards the heavy door.
"Get her out of here," The Fire Lord commanded the guards. "Have her fed, bathed, and dressed. The ball is soon to begin." With a flick of his finger the guards swarmed on her. There was one at her arms behind her back, one to each side and the fourth poised with two fingers ready to block her chi should decide to put up a fight. Katara thought there was no need. She was too exhausted to fight and would go willingly wherever they would lead.
When they arrived at their first destination, Katara was beyond confused. She surveyed the room to find they were in a luxurious bath. Maidservants stood at the ready, waiting for their charge. Katara was released from her bonds and, knees weak, fell forward. When she managed to stand she rubbed her wrists and asked, "Where am I?"
No one offered an answer, but the guards quickly shuffled out of the room with a bow and when the door shut behind them, the bath kicked into gear. One woman was filling the large tub with scented oils and flower petals. Another woman kept the fire beneath it stoked.
Katara felt deft hands make quick work of her robes and bindings and soon she was naked before these servants who still would not answer her questions.
"Who are you? Where am I? Why am I here?"
The women did speak, but only to each other, prodding and ignoring the waterbender in their midst.
"Ugh," complained the one who now held her robes, "Furs?! How absolutely prehistoric. Zara, get her some silk!"
"It's going to take me all night to get the dirt from under her fingernails! And all these callouses!" Katara pulled her hands from this woman's grasp.
Another prodded at her belly. "She's too skinny. What will the Prince think of her?"
"You know young men," said the one apparently named Zara and the rest of the maids laughed.
Katara gave up on asking questions and wondered as to who this Prince was and worried as to what he would do with her. She let herself be pushed and pulled and primped as the maids scrubbed her down with brushes and pumice stones. When she felt her hair being taken from its braid and loops she could have cried. But Katara knew when to keep her mouth shut. She would not show these people weakness. So, she kept her eyes fixed on the bath, filled to the brim with water.
Finally, hair loose and skin red and raw from all the scrubbing Katara was allowed to sink into the bath. She sighed at the familiar comfort of being surrounded by her element. She knew better to use the bath for anything other than its comfort. How unwise she would have to be to attempt to use the water as a weapon. She knew that, even if she managed to escape the palace, she would still have the rest of Caldera City to face. A waterbender stood no chance in the capital of her enemy, this was the eye of the storm.
Katara sighed, sinking lower into the water and considering crying, when the sound of footsteps on the stone floor brought her fully awake and ready. She moved into a bending stance, startling the small maid who had come for her.
"Oh!" squeaked the Fire Nation girl who looked to be only a year younger than Katara. The waterbender let her hands fall and slid back into the water.
"I'm sorry," she said, feeling defeated.
"I've brought you clothes." The maid kneeled before the tub, setting down a towel, folded red silk, and a pair of golden slippers.
"Thank you," Katara emerged from the water and toweled off, noticing the way her wet skin smelled of flowers. The scrubbing had had its desired effect her dark skin was smoother than she ever remembered it being. She caught the maid's eyes. Katara understood that her complexion must seem new and exotic to the pale Fire Nation girl.
"My name is Lyza," said the maid, her chin held low. "Once you are dressed, you will follow me to the Prince's rooms. Food and warm tea will be waiting you."
"I don't understand." Katara slipped into the clothes provided for her. They were soft on her skin in a way she had never experienced before with her furs. So this was silk? Once she had on the loose pants that banded around her ankles and the bra she looked around for the rest of it, but that was apparently…all.
"I am under the strict orders of the Fire Lord to ensure that your stay in the palace is comfortable." She handed Katara the slippers which the water tribe girl thought strange with their pointy toes and a shawl.
"But why?!"
"It is not my place to say." Lyza ducked her chin even lower. "Now, please my lady, if you would allow me to fix your hair."
Katara sat before the servant girl confused and dazed. An hour ago she was shackled in the dungeons. Now she was pampered and had a servant. She swallowed hard.
Katara did not trust that her stay would be comfortable. Not one bit.