Chapter 3

At the palace.

"My Lord." A guard said to Zuko, who was staring out the window of his office. Zuko turned to the guard.

"The boat you asked us to inform you about will be docking shortly. Shall I have the palanquin readied for you?" he asked.

"No Yzak. I wish to keep this as quiet as possible. You and Lin have four Ostrich horses and my cloak prepared and ready to go. I will meet you down by the servant's entrance." Zuko said. Yzak nodded and less than 20 min later they were headed out of the palace. They made it down to the docks quietly and without problems. They waited in the shadow of a building as the ramp was lowered. Zuko scanned the faces of the people as they departed. Zuko could feel his excitement was through the roof. He hadn't even been able to sleep the night before. Then finally he spotted her. Her dark brown hair hung down to the bottom of her back. Her wavy hair was blowing in the wind.

"Wow she has grown." He thought. In the time that had passes her curves had grown very noticeable, even under that heavy water garb.

Mumbling to himself, "Why is she wearing all those clothes?"

Oh how he wished to see her in those white wrappings that she had worn at the beach house. He had to reel his thoughts back to this moment. He watched as she started down the ramp, but something was wrong. Katara's usually tanned skin was pale. He quickly began making his way through the crowd, keeping his eyes glued to her as she began to sway. She reached the bottom of the ramp just as Zuko reached her. She was facing the opposite direction of him. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Katara." He said.

She slowly turned around and in a faint voice she said, "You did remember."

Her eyes began to roll back and her knees buckled. He reached out his hands and caught her.

"Katara!" he exclaimed.

Zuko brought her close to his chest and felt her forehead.

"She is burning up," he said turning to Yzak.

"Yzak and Lin make a way. I need to get her to the palace now!"

Yzak brought his fingers to his lip and let out a loud whistle. Out of the crowd came the special Red Guard. They made a circle around Zuko and his companions and then began to move people to create a way to the ostrich horses. Sometimes he forgot about them. They blended in everywhere and never left him alone, besides in the palace, when only Yzak and Lin were needed. Turning his attention back to Katara he could see that her breathing was very labored. Zuko picked Katara up and held her close. How light and soft she was. He hurried down the makeshift path between the people. He stated hearing mutterings of his name. He finally reached the ostrich horse and handed Katara to Yzak. He mounted and turned to Yzak with his arms stretched out. Yzak lifted her up into Zuko's arms and tuned to his own ostrich horse. Zuko looked down at Katara's face.

"Please be okay." He said as he brushed hair out of her face. Lin had rode ahead to fetch the physician and to bring him to meet them as soon as they arrived. They made their way through the streets and up to the entrance in the volcano, where the heart of the capital was. Time seemed to slow for Zuko. They weren't going fast enough. He spurred his mount to go faster. Finally they reached the gates of the palace. Zuko rode up the steps of the palace to where the entrance was. He reached the palace doors and stopped. Yzak followed suit and dismounted ahead of him. He took Katara and went to carry her into the palace.

"Wait!" Zuko exclaimed. "I will take her. She is my responsibility."

Yzak nodded and handed her to Zuko. They made their way down the hall and into the guest wing. They reached there just as the physician and his two female assistants.

"What happened Your Highness?" He asked.

"I am not sure. As she was exiting the ship she just collapsed."

"I see. We must get her cooled right away. I feel that this is the cause for the problems."

They reached the room that had been prepared for Katara and Zuko passed the sitting room and into the bedroom. He made his way over to the bed and gently laid her down. He looked down at Katara. She had to be okay. After all they had been through, this wasn't the end.

"Ahem" he heard from beside him. "Your Highness. I don't mean to be rude, but you must leave."

"Why" He said in a low voice that was filled with anger.

"… I… I… I have to remove the ladies clothes." The Physician said with a stutter.

Zuko's face suddenly turned red. "Oh, Yes. Carry on." He said as he left the room. Outside the room Yzak and Lin stood guard. "Please send a carriage for my uncle. He is at his tea shop in town. I will also need two guards placed outside this chamber at all times and send for Mia. I will be here for today."

They both nodded and headed to do their assigned task. Zuko sat down on the bench outside the room and sighed. Five Minutes later Mia came running down the hall and bowed.

"You called for me, your Majesty." She said softly.

Mia had served him since the end of the war. She was highly skilled as a maid and even more as a warrior. Being part of the Red Guard she was not only there for protection but she also functioned as Zuko's personal attendant and keeper of the Royal Palace.

Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe is here for a short stay. She is currently in with Physician Tu. I want you to see to all her needs while she is here. I am also going to have you clear my schedule for today and tomorrow. Uncle Iroh will be arriving within the hour and I am going to have him attend to my duties till Katara is on the mends."

"Yes Sir."

Just as they concluded taking. Physician Tu exited the chamber. "Her temperature has dropped drastically. I have ordered my assistants to fetch Master a lighter set of clothes more suited for this climate. They are changing her now. You may go in a few moments." Zuko nodded and the Physician scurried down the hall. Another moment passed and the door opened. He rushed in. The bedroom had been darkened. Little streams of light flowed through cracks in the shades. Katara was laying in the middle of the bed under a light blanket. She wore a red bed shirt and her hair had been braided, to keep the sweat from getting into it. She had a cloth resting on her forehead and some of the color had returned t her face. She was still breathing heavier than normal but at least she was on the mends. He went to her bed and kneeled down, taking her left hand. Her skim was so warm and soft. She let out a small sigh and for a moment Zuko's heart felt a little lighter.

"So that's how it is." The voice startled him and he dropped Katara's hand.

"Uncle! Don't do that!"

"What? Do you think that I would let you risk a young maiden's virtue." Iroh said.

Zuko turned even redder. "I did nothing of the sorts." He said in a louder voice.

"Shhh." Zuko clamped his mouth shut and looked back at Katara. She was still sound asleep.

"Let's adjourn to the sitting room." Zuko said.

He shut the sliding doors to where she slept and they sat down on the cushions around a small table in the sitting room.

"Mia, would you please bring us some tea." Iroh said. Mia nodded and bowed before turning to fetch the tea.

"I was surprised to hear that master Katara was here and unwell. Why wasn't I told of her arrival?"

"Katara wished to remain inconspicuous as possible during her stay here. All she had stated in her letter was that this was important."

"I see. Why then have you requested my presence?"

"I need you to take care of things for the next week or so. I wish to accompany Katara with what she needs."

"Have you spoken with the council on this?"

"No."

"Good. This will keep them on their toes for a while."

Zuko looked at Iroh with a look of question before continuing. "I will have Mia go over the schedule with you. I had her clear everything for today and tomorrow so there will be no worry about that."

"I assumed as much. Now why don't you go and keep Master Katara company. I am sure that she will enjoy having someone she knows by her side for when she wakes up. I will handle everything here."

Mia entered with the tea as Zuko stood.

Iroh stood and walked to Mia. "Mia, let us head to Zuko's study and go over the schedule."

As they left Zuko went back to the bedroom and grabbed a small chair. He brought the chair to the bed and placed it next to where Katara lay. He leaned forward with his elbows on the bed and reached for Katara's hand. He noticed that her right hand and arm were bandaged. He would have to ask the physician about it when he returned. Outside the window he could hear the fountains and turtle ducks in the garden. After a while he began to feel exhaustion setting in. He let his eyes drift closed as his thoughts continued on Katara and what lied ahead.