Chapter III: Safe and Calm
Zuko and Katara went out to the deck, where Aang was waiting for them. Zuko asked the boy:
"So, what's the trouble?" He asked with ambivalence. He had a rough day, and this unfamiliar ice-berg boy asking too many questions was getting to him. Katara was his only source of calm, so he held his composure.
"Oh, I was wondering if I can fly my bison around once it rests." Aang said smiling, to which Zuko nodded affirmatively. Katara and Aang both got excited:
"Well, looks like we can now take air trips anywhere we wish to go!" Aang said, bowing to Zuko several times thanking him. Zuko did not seem too amused. He just switched between looking at Aang, the bison and Katara.
"Let's go back to the interior. My uncle wants to talk to you two." He said and went back in to the ship, the two soon followed. Katara and Zuko sat near each other, while Aang sat near Iroh, eyeing the two. Iroh put out new cups for everyone and poured his tea in each of them.
"Ah, we are all set. We were interrupted the last time after the arrival of our Air Nomad guest. Let's have our tea party, shall we?" Iroh said after sipping some of his tea. Everyone began sipping their tea as well, as Iroh gave them a moment to get used to their setting.
"So, Aang, is it? How did you end up in that iceberg?" Iroh questioned, smiling, remaining sincere. Aang calmly replied:
"I have no idea. I was just flying on my bison, and suddenly got hit by a wave. Now I am here!" Aang said smiling. Iroh and Zuko looked at him puzzled. Something was not right here:
"Where do you come from, Aang? We haven't heard of Air Nomads in quite some time, not since the war started." Zuko asked in a slightly friendly tone. He was curious to know if there were any Air Nomads left and if so, attempt to bring him back to them. There was an uneasy feeling within him, that there might not be any others left.
"What war?" The question that came out of Aang's mouth startled everyone at the table. Katara spat out her tea notwithstanding the utter shock she felt, Iroh nearly dropped his teapot and Zuko spilled his tea.
"Y-You mean you are not aware of the war that has been raging on between the Fire Nation and the whole World?" Katara murmured, her voice shaking, her eyes wide. Zuko was about to add something, but his uncle shook his head in disapproval, so he held back.
"A hundred years? This can't be… Last time I checked all four nations lived in peace…" Aang grabbed his head looking around. Katara interrupted him stating disdainfully, yet quietly:
"Then suddenly the fire nation attacked… A hundred years ago, Aang…"
"It looks like the young Air Bender was trapped in the Ice-Berg for One Hundred Years… This is highly unusual. I would have said impossible, but here you are." Iroh scratched his beard, still with a puzzled look on his face.
"What of the Avatar?" Zuko suddenly asked, which startled Aang, but he retained his composure. Katara grabbed Zuko's arm to stop his inquisitions. "Zuko." She whispered to him with a bit of worry. Aang was worried too, but Katara's voluntary presence on Zuko's ship made him feel comfortable being here. He decided not to inquire about why she was here with them, if they were at war with each other.
"The Last Avatar I've heard about was Avatar Roku, and then afterwards… nothing…" Aang responded looking down at his tea, his smile wiped from his face and his mood generally changed. He continued with a tint of sadness:
"I come from the Southern Air Temple. It should be in the same direction you are sailing."
"Yes, young one, and we were about make a stop there to regroup." Iroh smiled sincerely, but soon his smiled faded as well as he poured himself some tea:
"One thing to remember though: you might see something you might not expect. Are you sure you are prepared?" He asked Aang looking him directly in the eyes. Aang did not understand him or did not want to understand him. He did not know, but he tried to pretend that he had everything under control:
"I am ready to face whatever there is… even after one hundred years…" Aang also tried to look at Iroh with the same serious look, but it was visible that the boy was getting nervous. Iroh noticed this and offered:
"Why don't you go get some rest, Aang. It has been a long day. We can discuss more tomorrow."
The airbender reluctantly agreed. Zuko looked at both Aang and Katara:
"We don't have as much room on the ship, so I've arranged some extra cots in my room for now." Zuko explained looking down. He was feeling a little awkward about having both Katara and Aang in his room, but arranged it anyway as a gesture of good will. His pursuit of the Avatar felt off the list of priorities for some reason, and that reason was no other than Katara. Her presence there on his ship, alive and well made him feel unusually calm. He has not felt this calm in a while. It was as though when she died in his vision, a part of him died as well and came back to life the moment she saw her. Iroh stood up and gestured Aang to follow him so that he could show him Zuko's room, leaving Zuko and Katara at the tea table. There was a silence that lasted for about half a minute.
"Katara," Zuko suddenly put his arm around her shoulders. "I am glad you're alive…"
Katara's eyes filled with tears, as she looked down on the floor, avoiding looking at the prince's face. She murmured, barely audible:
"I am glad to see you again as well… I wish it was under better circumstances where that whole debacle in the village just didn't happen…"
"Well, at least it wasn't as bad as that cave…" Zuko tried to be positive, Katara nodded feeling a bit relieved. He was right, the cold, the sickness and the helplessness she felt in that dream felt too real.
"They'll come around eventually, Katara…" Zuko whispered in her ear, causing the girl to suddenly blush. She felt a warmth within her. How could she? She barely knew Zuko, and she barely interacted with him, but something made her feel safe and warm. She felt that despite the sorrow she experienced, her place was with him. This man was a Prince of the fire nation and was searching for the Avatar, and she was feeling safe with him. Unable to cope with that thought she removed his arm from stood up and said:
"I am going to bed as well. I am exhausted. We'll speak tomorrow… I have a few things to ask you…" She said quietly and went the same direction as Iroh and Aang. Zuko did not protest, surely Katara was very tired. He decided to stay up for a while longer, and go on a stroll around his ship before heading to bed himself, since he wanted to wrap his head around everything that had happened today.
Katara saw them in one of the rooms chatting away. It had one big bed in the middle and two cots on each side, which she guessed Zuko asked his crew to put there. She once again only got a glimpse of the conversation:
"You're safe here with us, Aang." Iroh reassured Aang as Katara walked in. Both greeted her with a smile:
"Ah, Katara! Decided to pay us a visit?" Iroh asked.
"Oh, I am just sleepy. It has been a long day for me, even if its still light out." Katara explained as the man exited the room:
"Well, I'll leave you to it. May tomorrow bring more peace to both of you." He said and left the two of them in the room. Katara took of her coat, revealing her kimono. Aang looked at it and asked in somewhat sad, almost quiet voice:
"How long have you been away from your tribe?" This question caught her a little off guard, but she decided to spill the truth. She had been barely controlling on what she was saying or doing. Everything was instinctive, some of the things she did were completely against her upbringing and even experiences, and yet she was feeling that she had made the right choice by ending up on this ship. She took off her shoes and lied down on one of the cots.
"Not long, around half an hour before they found you…" She responded which surprised Aang, his eyes widening and his jaw dropping:
"You acted as though you were here longer. I could not tell… How did you end up here?" The Air Bender asked sitting down on the other cot.
"It is a long story, Aang. I've met Zuko in a vision…" She tried to explain as her voice gradually reduced, as she realized how nonsensical it sounded. Aang noticed her voice reducing, and he understood why, but he had strange and bizarre visions himself. He decided to encourage her:
"Come on, Katara, tell me the rest. I believe you. I've had the strangest visions myself…" He confessed, which made Katara put her head up and look at him, with a genuine smile:
"Thank you for believing me… My village had a hard time…" She sighed, Aang did not want to press her on that story. He just responded with: "Of course…" She continued:
"It felt very real. I was wandering around some place in the South Pole. I felt very sick and cold. Then I see this light, and I approach it and I find myself near some fire nation guy. At this point everything was going wrong: I was lost in the wilderness, I was so sick, I felt like I was dying, and I was captured by the enemy… Basically, the guy, who is obviously Zuko, took me to the cave, warmed me up as best as he could and we chatted for hours. Zuko turned out not to be as bad as I thought he would be, being from the Fire Nation and all. Then, well, I woke up from the vision. According to Zuko I apparently died… He was very disturbed by that scene. The moment I woke up, my brother ran in to my tent, informing me about a Fire Nation ship docking at our shore. I put on my coat and come down to the shore and there he is, Zuko… standing there…" Katara suddenly stopped, her voice started shaking.
"So, what did you do?" Aang questioned, finally lying down and looking up the celling.
"He stretched out his hand to me and I took it and then I hugged him." Katara barely managed to tell. She then suddenly raised her voice, picturing the scene in her mind. Aang could hear the sorrow in her voice:
"They thought I knew him before this… It was instinctual… I just felt a strange connection to him. I did not give it all a second thought…" She cried out all of a sudden.
"I see…" Aang sank deep in to his thoughts, drawing conclusions: "So, this is just my guess, but your village did not understand your explanation... It does sound like nonsense, but I had very vivid visions that felt very real, and I've met…"
"You're spot on, Aang. The question is, why me and Zuko?" Katara wondered, the same thing that Aang did, why them?
"Maybe it is fate or maybe a coincidence…" He thought for a little bit. He suddenly had an idea that got him excited. "Hey, Katara, we can maybe quickly fly back to your village and take Zuko with us, and explain the whole situation. I can try and convince them!"
"Aang, that's so sweet of you, but it is going to take me a long while before I can muster up the courage to look at their face." Katara became annoyed and fearful all of a sudden, Aang decided to back off:
"At some point then, Katara." Aang said and decided to switch the topic to something else. He decided to tell her about his mentor and fatherly figure Monk Gyatso. She listened to him attentively with interest.
Meanwhile Zuko collided with the Lieutenant on his way out on the deck. He eyed Zuko head to toe and said:
"You've been treating the two guests we have with particular respect. You must remember, your majesty, that we are at war. These people are our enemies, and I do not believe that it is a wise decision to host them as our guests." He grumbled angrily at Zuko, who gave him a death stare. "Also, what are we going to do with that bison thing?"
"Don't question my motives, Lieutenant. I know what I am doing." Zuko replied with a semi-threatening voice, causing the Lieutenant to clench his fists but bowed down to Zuko and muttered angrily:
"Yes, your majesty…" The man said and passed by Zuko. Iroh watched their conversation from the side and approached Zuko:
"You know, Zuko, I stand by your choices. Treating them two like your guests is the best decision you could have ever made." Iroh told his nephew, to which Zuko simply nodded. Both him and Iroh walked towards the bison, who was lying there and snoring peacefully.
"What kind of creature is this even?" Zuko asked his uncle while putting his hand on Appa.
"A flying bison, Zuko. I thought they were extinct around the time the Air Benders were all killed. It seems like it was preserved in the ice for as long as Aang was. Keep in mind, Zuko, the young Air Bender is your guest first, everything else second. Treat him with dignity and respect. We will figure out who he is in no time. Even if he turns out to be the Avatar, we need him cooperating with us, not against us, Zuko." Iroh went on to advice his nephew, who listened closely, but again did not react, which made Iroh a little concerned about him.
"Zuko, we've talked about this half an-hour ago. It is important to be patient and in control of your emotions in situations like these. Give the boy a chance, he might not even be what we suspect him to be. Your great-grandfathers decision to wipe out the Air Nomads was reprehensible. You must not make the same mistakes." Iroh suddenly became serious, but Zuko did not respond once more. Iroh decided to step up his persuasions:
"You realize the moment hostilities begin the girl is going to abandon you…" Iroh warned. Zuko wanted to keep the neutral expression on his face, but his eyes widened, and a blush appeared on his face. Iroh did not press on:
"Think before you act, Zuko." Iroh finished and went back in to the interior of the ship to continue drinking his tea and playing a game of Pai Sho. Zuko went out to the front of his ship and blasted fire from his hands in to thin air, grunting from frustration. He was conflicted. Aang could definitely be the Avatar, in fact, all the evidence was pointing towards that direction, yet he was cautioned by both his uncle and by the fear of Katara disapproving his desire to still pursue the Avatar. He wandered around the ship for a little longer, but by the time the sun set he also decided to head back to his room. He lit a small flame in his hand as to shed some light on the room. Aang and Katara were fast asleep. Zuko fell on his bed and joined them. The night went without any visions or any dreams, for which both Zuko and Katara was a blessing.
Ironically, Katara was the one to wake Zuko up, early in the morning. He opened his eyes slowly and saw her staring at him. He felt an immediate calm overwhelming him once again, and he could not understand why. Was it her smile? Was it her eyes? Was it her overall presence? He also noticed that she was in her kimono, and not her coat. Before he could react, he heard her soft voice ask:
"Zuko, wake up, let's go up to the deck." She said pulling him by the arm and nervously looking around both at the door and the sleeping Aang. Zuko did not ask any questions, got up and followed her up to the deck of the ship. There was no one there, the sun just started to show itself. Appa was already woken up and looking at the two with interest. Katara went up to the nose of the ship, which was hidden behind the bison, which made Zuko even more curious what she was planning on. Many thoughts ran through his head, but he could not decide on one of them. He hurried, since he was curious to find out what she was wanting. By the time he reached her, the girl was looking out at the sea sadly.
"Zuko, that vision…. I think clearly there was something out in this world that wanted us to meet. Otherwise it wouldn't have happened. I do not why yet, but it's clear to me that everything had to play out this way… I know it is not an ideal situation, but… Aang told me to be honest with you, and I will be. I did not tell him this, and I am telling this only to you… Keep it a secret…" Katara suddenly stopped and her gaze became even more deeper as she stared at the sea. Zuko gave her time to muster up what she wanted to say. He did not say a word. He was there to listen. Katara took a deep breath:
"Although, you are the Prince of the Fire Nation, and I thought you were the embodiment of all the evil that I saw in the world… I do not know why, I feel safe around you, because I feel like I've seen the real you in that cave… If only people in my village could understand…" Her voice cracked as she explained. Zuko embraced her in response, holding her tight. Katara wanted to whisper something in his ear.
They were interrupted by Appa's loud roar and movement, letting go of each other. The bison went towards the door leading to the interior as though he recognized the footsteps of someone. Needless to say, Aang immediately came out of that door. Appa started licking him with affecting.
"Haha, Appa." The boy laughed and look both at Katara and Zuko, who were standing there, watching him and the bison quietly.
"Hey, guys." He greeted them, smiling. "Want to fly around?"
To be continued…