Chapter Two
Yue hadn't slept well lately. The Midnight Sun was partially to blame, but the main source of her insomnia would lay at the base of her throat: her engagement necklace from Hahn.
She had just awoken. Her skin felt dry and tight on her face from the cold front that had settled on the Northern Tribe. The white-haired princess sat up in the nest of furs and rubbed her eyes. On the small table crafted from ice, which served as a nightstand, lay the ornately crafted proposal token. She shuddered. Yue hated wearing the necklace almost as much as she detested the pompous warrior.
She yawned a little. Outside her room in the glacial palace, people briskly moved throughout the palace. It wasn't usually this busy on a summer's morning. She stepped into the fur boots strategically placed beside her large bed- One could not walk about the palace without shoes, it's floors, walls, and most furniture were carved from ice that never melted. She shuffled sleepily into the hallway, peering out at the bustling servants and noblemen. Servants were heading in the direction of the kitchen, but nobles were seemingly headed for the throne room.
She saw Master Pakku strolling along the white-washed hallway. "Master Pakku!" Yue called, poking her head out of her doorframe.
Pakku stopped and looked down at the princess. "What is it, Princess?" He asked, sourly. She couldn't blame him for his bitter tone. The sun was barely risen.
"What are all the noblemen gathering for?" Yue inquired, jerking her head the way she'd seen them all walking. "Is there an emergency?"
"Not exactly an emergency," Pakku said, stifling a yawn, "But there is big news. I suggest that you get ready for the day. Your father may need to speak with you soon. Good day." He started off down the hall, following the royal subjects.
Yue turned back into her room. She went to her wardrobe, made out of wood to keep her clothes warm, and pulled out a light pink dress, a dark purple robe, a thick blue coat, a pair of gloves, and heavy woolen stockings. One could never skimp on layers up north, no matter how bulky or uncomfortable you may feel.
After she dressed, she sat at her vanity and began to braid and weave her pearly white hair. After securing her royal hair ornaments in customary positions, she was eager to find her father, Chief Arnook.
Yue raced down the corridor to the throne room, but to her dismay, the wooden door had been slid shut and locked. She sighed, pressing her ear up against the cool, shiny pine. She could barely make out the voices of a few men, and she strained to hear more.
"… Firelord and nephew…"
"Arriving soon… tomorrow…"
"Peace-treaty… end of the war…"
Yue blinked. The room fell silent and she heard a muffled statement from her father. What had he said? Were the men speaking correctly? Were the Firelord and his nephew coming to her land? Was the war actually ending?
She staggered back from the door. What should she do? She didn't know how to contain her anxious emotions. She walked down the length of the hallway and back, pacing, waiting for the door to open and the meeting to be let out.
An hour passed, and Yue was close to knocking on the door, her impatience had bubbled up to a low-burning anger. She crossed her arms and bit her lip. Did father not want me to sit in on his important meeting?
She sat on the ground, which thankfully had a small, woven rug covering the hard, frosty ice. She folded her legs and slouched, pouting.
She felt her stomach rumble. Breakfast was probably waiting for her in the dining room… but what if the doors opened and her father saw her? Would he let her in and join?
Probably not… Yue thought and stood, giving the door and long look before sighing. She started walking towards the dining room.
Her closest friend and lady-in-waiting was seated at the long table, working on her sewing. She looked up, "Hi, Yue!" She smiled, nodding politely.
"Good morning, Somma!" Yue said, sitting down across from her friend. "Is breakfast not ready yet?"
Somma looked up from her handy work and frowned, shaking her head. "Nope. I went to go see Luma, the head cook, but she told me that the kitchen was cranking out a lot of food for the meeting your dad's having. We'll have to wait."
That explains all the servants, Yue noted. "Hm…"
"Do you know what's going on in there?" Somma asked, looking expectantly at the princess.
Yue pondered whether or not she should tell her best friend about the shocking talk she'd overheard. "Um… no… probably just… political stuff." Yue said, staring the wall across from her.
"I'm starving," Somma grumbled, setting down the gloves she had been mending. "We should go out to eat!"
"You mean go to the market?" Yue asked, quizzical.
Somma nodded, "Yeah. I went a few weeks ago. They have so much food down there this time of year, Yue! We could be there and back before breakfast could be served."
Yue shrugged. She stood up, "Okay," She was feeling delightfully rebellious this morning, mostly because she was upset of not being allowed into the meeting.
Somma and she were chatting and laughing as they left the palace's great entrace, ambling down the slick and icy steps and a cautious pace. Yue left the palace often, but traveled with an entourage of guards and friends, just in case something bad was to happen.
"Princess Yue!" A voice called out.
The girls turned. A messenger stood at the top of the steps, shivering a little, "Your father h-has requested your presence in the throne room!" He stammered, quickly retreating back into the warmth of the palace, "Please, follow me."
Yue blinked and turned to Somma, "You go, okay?"
Somma nodded and headed down the stairs. Yue trotted behind the messenger, excited to finally be allowed inside the meeting room. Yue approached the door as the messenger bowed to her before walking off. Yue opened the heavy, pine slate of wood, only to find a relatively empty throne room. Her father was seated in his usual spot, in front of the roaring waterfall.
She bowed to her father before he stood up, "Yue, I need to tell you about some very surprising news."
"Of course," She murmured.
"Firelord Iroh has declared the war to be over! He is coming to our tribe sometime tomorrow with his young nephew to sign a settlement with The Water Tribes. Tomorrow will be a day of utmost importance." Arnook announced, smiling fondly at his only child. "Can you promise me that you will be on your best behavior?"
Yue smiled back, "You have my word, Father."
"Good," Arnook laughed and sat down again, "Help your self to some food, Yue. The kitchen staff went crazy this morning, and none of the noblemen touched this feast." She turned towards to table full of food, her nagging hunger appearing again.
"Oh, and Yue," Arnook said, his brows knit, "please remember to wear your engagement necklace."
Yue awoke the next morning to a cluster of maids in her room, all ready to doll her up for the day ahead. She groaned internally. The sun wasn't even up yet. As soon as she stood, dozens of hands pulled off her night robes and began to dress her in formal attire. Yue's hair was brushed thoroughly and yanked back roughly into the complex style she wore every day. She wasn't so rough with her hair as she styled it, but then again, the loopy, braided 'do normally didn't make it through the day when she did it herself. The royal hairdresser knew how to tightly weave and pin the pale, silver strands so that a single hair was smoothed in order.
The princess's face was left without makeup. Makeup and facepaint was reserved for the winter holidays, like the Solstice festival, when people went all out for the parties and balls. Yue didn't like wearing makeup. Women rarely wore it. It wasn't a necessity to them, unlike the women of Ba Sing Se that Yue had met, with their faces caked with white powder and blue eye shadow.
Yue felt the last hair accessory being set in place. Her feet were slid into stockings and fur boots. She exhaled deeply as the women filed out, curtsying to her respectfully. She went and sat on her bed, drumming her gloved hands apprehensively.
"Princess," A voice said. It was her father, she stood and bowed to him.
"Father," She replied, straightening up.
"Firelord Iroh and Prince Zuko have just arrived. Please come with me." He said. Her father looked stressed out as he stalked down the frozen passage.
Yue followed him, passing by one of the few windows in the palace. It was small and covered with a thick leather flap, but gave way to an amazing view of the harbor. She strayed from her father and peered through the small square opening, gazing out at a sight that made her shiver.
A large, black ship was anchored to the docks, a stream of thick, black smoke spewing from the top. Yue gasped at it's ominous appearance, rolling the flap of leather back down over the window to prevent drafts. She jogged back to her original place behind her father. She was lead by Arnook into the throne room, where they took their places on the tiers before the raging stream of water.
Yue sat primly with her legs folden under her, watching the doors. The thick pine swung open, and Yue jumped, expecting an evil-looking man with flames ablaze in his wake. But it was only Pakku, who sat next to her father. The three all waited in silence, before the door swung open again.
"In presence, we have Firelord Iroh," A messenger announced, as a man walked through the doorway.
Yue was surprised to see that the Firelord wasn't covered in gold and spewing inferno. He was a simple looking older gentleman, with graying hair. He wore a layer of red-and-black armor over a simple crimson coat. The only speck of flagrancy in his outfit was the pronged, golden flame framing his small top knot bun.
Arnook, Pakku, and Yue rose to bow at the elderly Firelord. Iroh bowed, strangely, in Watertribe fashion, and not with the standard palm-and-fist Fire Nation salute. Yue admired his quality of being cultured. It was a sign that he knew the world and respected all it's customs.
"And Prince Zuko," the announcer continued. Yue watched intently as a young man marched into the throne room. He was tall and lean, with coffee-colored hair pulled back into a bun, secured with a sort of crown. His skin was a creamy-white tone that lacked flaws, except for one. A very large and prominent scar was gashed into the left side of his face, making one eye seem smaller and less open. Yue's heart stopped when his eyes met hers. The prince's eyes were breathtaking, with fiery, golden irises. She noticed how awkward and distant he seemed, like he was unsure of himself with every movement he made. Like he was caught in a mix of fear and shyness that Yue found absolutely endearing. A small part of his hair, in the front, would not stay pulled back, either. It had strayed towards the front and stuck out a bit, causing a contrast between the dark, richness of his hair and the pale, creaminess of his complexion.
Zuko bowed in the traditional Fire Nation way, which didn't bother Yue. It made her want to giggle for some reason. Everything about this boy was… so different and unattached and inexplicably beautiful. Yue almost forgot to bow to him, and her slip-up made the princess flush.
Chief Arnook welcomed the two men to the tribe. "This is my daughter, Princess Yue, and my trusted advisor and confidant, Master Pakku."
Yue looked up to see the scarred prince staring up at her. She looked away, blushing, only to look back and see that he was doing the same. Her heart fluttered. The necklace that graced her neck seemed tight and choking, somehow, and she wanted to rip it off.