Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorite or alerted! You guys are amazing seriously. I love you alllll. Here we are! Chapter 3! :D This chapter we meet Katara. And I know I said Zutara would start…but I haven't gotten that far D:. I promise next chapter! I just thought this one was long enough. I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. D: I hope it is good enough. I'm sorry for all the dialogue but when you have three characters it is hard not to get the point across but by talking. The other chapter was just Zuko and was easier. I hope everyone was in character! Cause I know I have some fan favorites in here. Let me know what you think! I'm on the fence about this one.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, that belongs to some very smaaaartt people. And Aladdin belongs to Walt Disney. As he lies frozen somewhere.
Chapter 3: The Princess
Katara saw the whole thing from a balcony that jutted out of a hallway on a high level of the palace. She groaned at the sight of another pigheaded prince coming to woo her. She slumped against the window sill in defeat. Her ice blue eyes were weary and annoyed. Katara would rather freeze every part of her body with her own waterbending and be thrown into a pit of rabid sabertooth moose-lions than meet another so called suitor. She heard the palace gates shut. With a jump she stood straight up and began to hurry to her room. Katara had every intention to lock herself in there for the rest of her life.
"Princess!" a female voice called from nearby.
Katara froze in place, her whole body cringing. It was one of the many maid servants who worked and lived on the palace grounds. Katara saw her when she poked her head around the corner. She had cropped auburn hair and a sweet face. She was the one assigned to Katara by the General to help her ease into the palace life.
"The General would like to see you," the girl grinned. "I think there is someone her to see you."
Katara had to subdue a repulsive shiver. "Tell General Iroh I will be right down," Katara put on her best smile and nodded to the girl.
The maid winked one of her hazel eyes at Katara before disappearing again.
Katara's body filled with dread again. She started to follow the maid but once Katara descended a few of the grand staircases to reach the ground level where the visitors were met, the brunette took the opposite hall, the one that lead out to the royal gardens. She slipped outside and breathed in the fresh air. This was the closest she had to freedom, and she was still surrounded by the high, garden walls. Katara sighed and walked over to an elaborate fountain that was a centerpiece of the landscape. She sat down on the ledge and dipped a hand into the water. She made it gently swirl around her fingers. The kingdom treated her like a spoiled princess, not as a girl who can take care of herself. Her father had even made her brother come along to protect and look after her. Then again, the more she thought about it the more she realized her father sent her brother to make him feel important and not sulk at home all day while she went to the royal palace. Katara gave a small smile as the water crawled up her arm. She missed her home and her family; while it was nice to at least have Sokka and be allowed to wear her Water Tribe attire, Katara just wanted to go away from this place.
"Princess, there you are," a kindly voice snapped her out of her mind's wanderings.
Katara looked up to see an older, stout gentleman walking towards her. He had a smile that she could see through his grey beard and his brown eyes twinkled in the Earth Kingdom's bright sun. Despite seeing a fancy man in a large hat trailing behind him, Katara could not help but feel at ease when General Iroh was around. She hastily stood up and curtseyed.
"General Iroh," she greeted respectfully.
Iroh chuckled and waved off her formalities she was taught. "Princess, how many times have I told you to call me Uncle?"
Katara was so glad she was placed in the care of someone who was as laid back as her own culture. Royalty is not much in the Southern Water Tribe.
"I have someone I would like you to meet," Iroh warmly said while gesturing to the man behind him. "This is –"
"I am Prince Orion of the Earth Nation," the prince cut off Iroh and stepped grandly in front of him.
Katara smiled politely, but her right eye twitched.
"I will leave you two to get to know each other then," Iroh slowly backed up giving Katara an apologetic look. He hated to leave such a bright and brave girl with these men but it was what the Earth Kingdom and Katara's father asked of him. He turned his back on the pair and headed back inside the palace. Iroh had every intention to go down to the servant's kitchen and make himself up nice a cup of tea but as he was on his way he saw the back of a young man. The boy was on his tip toes to look stealthier. His hands were tightly holding the corner of the wall. Iroh walked around the boy dressed in blue to see what he was looking attentively. Cleaning and dusting the hallway that lead to the ballroom was the hazel eyed girl.
Iroh looked over at Sokka. He had hearts in his eyes. Literally.
"Why don't you go talk to her?" whispered Iroh.
Sokka jumped and screamed, his limbs flailing as he fell backwards.
The girl turned around to see what the commotion was but the brunette warrior was already out of sight around the corner.
Iroh waved kindly to the girl, who waved back, before turning around to face Sokka. "Talking to her would save many heart attacks," Iroh pointed out to the disheveled and panting boy.
"Easy for you to say!" Sokka whispered hastily in case she could hear them. "You are practically king of the world."
Iroh let out a deep bellied laugh. "Come walk with me, Sokka."
The boy hung his head slightly, but walked away from the cleaning maid.
"Suki is a nice girl I am sure if you talk to her instead of stalk her you will find much more gratitude in your relationship with her," Iroh told him.
Sokka didn't say a word. He just trailed his fingers lightly against the highly decorated wall. "Is Katara with another prince?" he changed the subject from his love life to his sisters. Not that he cared much for that either.
Iroh sighed. "Yes, I had to leave Princess Katara with yet another suitor."
Sokka looked over at the General. "She hates all of them, not that I can blame her," he added. "Hey, isn't there a prince in the Fire Nation you can hand pick for her?" Sokka was as much of a fan of the Fire Nation as most people but Iroh had been nothing but kind to them since they arrived. He figured if a prince came picked by Iroh he wouldn't be so bad.
"If things were only that easy." Their walk had led them back near the gardens. Sokka peaked out of a window to catch a glimpse at Katara and the Prince whom he had seen out of the corner of his eye. "We once had a wonderful prince," Iroh continued sadly. "But the Fire Lord did not think so; he banished the young boy to the far end of the nation."
The sadness that had filled Iroh's voice made Sokka want to ask who this Prince was but an earthshaking scream split the air cutting him off. Fearing for his sister, Sokka darted out to the door that led outside only to be hit in the face with said door as Prince Orion stormed through. He was drenched to the bone and fuming.
"That Princess is infuriating! I was nothing but perfect to her and she completely freaks out on me!" the prince adjusted his sopping wet hat angrily. "Have fun finding her a match!" he snapped and stormed out.
Sokka slowly stood up, rubbing his face where the door had hit him. He was a little delayed but nevertheless going to protect his sister. "What did you do to her!" he yelled out. The prince was long gone.
"I don't think that was her who screamed," Iroh told him softly as he made his way outside. Sokka was still rubbing his sore face but followed.
Katara's long thick hair that ran down her back was facing them as they walked towards her.
"What happened?" Sokka asked still angry at the prince.
"Oh he was the perfect gentleman. A little proud perhaps, but certainly nice and kind enough," Katara replied hastily without turning around.
"What seems to be the problem then, Princess?" Iroh asked gently, sensing her hostility. He did not want to end up soaking wet, chances are neither did Sokka.
Katara spun around, her eyes fierce. "Because it was all so fake! I saw him practically run over two children and not even care! He has no decency for the people who have nothing and those are the people we should care most for! I hate this!" Katara's body shook with anger. The water from the fountain began to get turbulent. "All day long I have to sit here and listen to these princes and pick one that is less evil than the one before."
"Princess," Iroh soothed, taking a step forward. "I know this is difficult but not all royalty is horrible. You will find a man who is genuine."
"Besides, this is what dad wants," Sokka piped in.
Katara shot him a look of loathing. Sokka swallowed hard, suddenly regretting his comment. "Yes, because I'm so happy he is running my love life for me," she growled at her brother.
"Well he is our father! We should do what he wants!" It was out of his mouth before he could stop himself.
His sister stood up slowly. With a few waves of her arms, a thick stream of water was rushing towards Sokka's head. Before it could come near him, a shot of fire met it, casing the water to turn to steam.
"Now stop this, both of you," Iroh interrupted firmly. "Sokka, your father should be honored but you cannot blame Katara for being angry at having her life run for her," he told the boy who had been slowly taking steps back to the door. "And Katara, do not take your anger out on your brother. I will do my best to filter through these princes first to make the task easier for you."
She turned her back to the both of them again, he eyes gazing at the high walls. "I just want to be free to do what I want to do," she said softly. Katara felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
"Don't we all, Princess," Iroh agreed gently. "Now, come inside and we will have some tea together. Doesn't that sound nice?" he added happily.
"I will join you in a moment," Katara answered with a nod.
Iroh respected her privacy and turned away. "Come, Sokka! We will invite that girl you follow around," he said with a wink before dragging the boy inside.
Katara didn't watch them leave; her eyes stayed firmly on the vine covered walls. She needed to get out. She felt so condemned, so confided. She needed to just take a breather outside the pressures of the palace. Katara glanced behind her. Everyone was inside. There was no one watching her. No one would know where she would be; the palace was so big, they would never even be suspicious of her flight. She was about to scale the wall that instant but something held her back. Katara looked down at her blue and white water tribe dress. She would stick out like a platypus-bear in a group of turtle-ducks. The thought of escape was in her mind now, and she wasn't about to back down. She hastily scanned the garden looking for anything to cover herself up. She couldn't risk going to get changed without someone noticing. In a stroke of luck, laying down across a bench on the other side of the garden was a brown cloak. A gardener must have left it out while he was tending the flowers. Katara quickly ran across the neatly trimmed grass and wrapped the cloak around her shoulders. She pulled the hood gently over her thick hair. A smile tugged at her lips. She wanted this adventure, just as a girl, not as a Princess. Grabbing on to the ancient vines, Katara quickly heaved herself over the wall. She jumped down, landing firmly on the ground. Thankfully, she was in a back alleyway that surrounded the castle walls so no one could climb in. Katara breathed in the dusty hair with a grin. She began to walk towards the sounds of people as the sun slowly went down behind her.
What did you think? I hope I did all the characters right and the writing of it was good :/ I promise. Zutara next chapter! Please review to let me know what you think! Got two more special characters to introduce in the next chapter or the chapter after that. :D I love everyone who even just reads my story. You guys make me check my blackberry every time it goes off in hope of a review! ^^
-Lyssa :D
