A Proposition

There could be no mistaking her. Though she had grown into a young woman since last he saw her, Zuko remembered clearly her dark eyes so full of compassion and fierce bravery. Her dark hair was pulled back; the two strands that framed her face were carefully pinned to the side as they had always been. Her face was wiser. There was something else different about her, but he could not place it.

Zuko only stared at her in surprise for a long moment. Since the defeat of his father Ozai, Zuko had not seen Katara or her brother. He had heard that the pair of them became great leaders, claiming allegiance with both the Northern and Southern tribes and traveling between them. However, when representatives from the Water Nation came to him, they were always elders.

"To what do I owe this honor?" Zuko asked, finally composing himself. His composure was shaken again when she sank into a deep curtsy.

"Fire Lord Zuko," she began. Zuko stepped forward as though to lift her up, then stopped short.

"Please," he begged. "That is not necessary." Katara slowly lifted her head to meet his golden gaze.

"I have a matter of grave importance to address with you, Lord Zuko. I wonder if we could speak in private." At her words, Iroh rose to his feet at once.

"I will prepare a room for you, my lady. You must be very tired after your long journey." Iroh chuckled to himself at the terrified look on his nephew's face before exiting the room.

Zuko swallowed hard as Katara gazed around the room, her eyes finally resting on him.

"Please have a seat." He offered his Uncle's vacated chair to her and she sat. Rather than sitting across from her, Zuko hovered behind his chair. Katara smiled wearily at him.

"It has been a long time Zuko," she said. "I trust that now, in this time of peace, you won't try to blast me out of the room?" She chuckled at the alarmed look on his face.

"Of course not." He answered. Despite her jest, her voice seemed fatigued. "Why have you come here?" He asked, thinking a moment later that he sounded terribly accusatory. The weak smile fell from Katara's face.

"I have come here at the urging of my people." Katara's eyes dropped to the table before her. "I'm sure you know that there has been difficulty uniting the nations under this new peace." Zuko nodded.

"I was just speaking with my Uncle about that when you came." Zuko watched as Katara seemed to sink deep into her own mind. Finally, slowly, she rose and stepped closer to him. If he had wanted to, he could have reached out and touched her. She looked up, directly into his face, unflinching and determined.

"Zuko…I have come here because my people want true peace between the Nations. They believe a union between the two of us may be what the people need in order to accept this peace." For a long moment Zuko only stared into her eyes, so close to his.

"A union?" he asked, sure she could not mean what he thought she meant.

"It would not be so terrible," she answered quietly. Though she spoke calmly, Zuko thought he saw some fear behind her resolve.

"It would mean a new beginning for our people," Katara went on. She hesitated, looking down at her feet. "Please know that you may name the terms of this arrangement, and I will negotiate fairly. I would not even have to live here with you, as long as we made some public appearances together…" She trailed off, then took a deep breath before looking back up into his face. Zuko could not trust himself to speak.

"You need not decide this moment. Think about it. Could we meet again tomorrow?" Zuko nodded hastily, his voice still eluding him. She made a small bow and turned to leave the room. Zuko stood staring at the place she had stood long after she was gone.

: ) Is it getting good yet?