Chapter Two "Restless Peace"

It was quiet throughout the Earth King's palace as a lone figure made his way silently to the lowest floor. Two men holding pikes guarded a section down a long, bleak corridor. A hood covered most of his face as he walked towards the door. The guards looked at each other and nodded, stepping aside.

When the figure found another guard he said, "I'm looking for someone… someone who was captured and placed here a few hours ago." He came closer. "The Dragon of the West."

The guard raised an eyebrow, but complied. He briefly gave instructions to the figure, and as he finished, watched him walk down the necessary hallway.

The hooded figure closed the door behind him and walked up to the bars of a cell where a man sat with his back to the door.

"I didn't think they would place you here," the visitor stated, but the prisoner didn't show any indication that he heard. His long, gray hair was in tangles and the rips in his clothes were evidence that he had fought a mighty battle. The visitor continued, "…I came to say that I'm leaving in a few days. I'm going back home, and back to the life I had before. With my honor and my father's love back, I'll finally be at peace… But…I'm sorry you can't be at peace along with me back in the Fire Nation…" He lowered his head. "I know you think what I did was wrong, but it had to be done! I miss the life I had, and now I'm finally getting it back! Don't you see it's what I've needed and wanted these past few years?"

Looking up, he noticed yet again the man didn't budge. The visitor's frustration began to grow with every second the prisoner didn't respond.

"Talk to me!!" he shouted, clenching his fists. "Fine! I don't need you! I don't need your blessing! I never should have come to visit you. Sit here for the rest of your life for all I care!" He reached for the door.

"My nephew… peace and prosperity are possessions you find for yourself and not things that can be so readily given."

Zuko turned around to face Iroh who was now turned towards him. His once slightly wrinkled face was now an image of pale, unconcealable pain. The image hit Zuko harder that he thought it would. Iroh's eyes showed both disappointment and understanding as he continued looking at his nephew.

"You may be physically free, but never mentally until you truly reach peace within yourself. Do you think such a hard thing to come by can just be handed to you?" Zuko didn't dare reply, but stayed frozen within the gaze of his uncle. "Zuko, try to understand that I am not angry with you, but only want what makes you happy. If this is the answer, then please enjoy the peace you think it will give you."

Sliding the door open, Zuko looked back at Iroh who sat perfectly still, even lightning wouldn't budge his unbreakable patience that lasted long after his nephew had left. Sighing, Iroh sprawled across the cold metal floor, and waited.

Zuko lay in his temporary room within the Earth King's palace, as conflicting feelings caused him to lose the much-needed sleep he had been trying to get. He sat up and rubbed his face, glancing at the half-moon shining in from the window. Restless, he rose from the bed and made his way to the windowsill. Peering up at the bright moon, he allowed it to illuminate his confused expression.

"Why is it so hard to accept what's going on?" He grasped the sill with both hands as he shook his head. "This is what I've wanted… this is what I've strived for… how could I NOT seize it?"

Looking out at the view of the King's garden, images of his captured uncle began flashing back and forth in his mind. He tried shaking the image away, but it remained. Iroh, sitting there patiently on the floor of a filthy prison cell, hair a mess and rips throughout his clothes. An expression of patience and hurt both entwined on his face. Waiting. Expecting. Understanding.

Before he could dwell anymore on the matter he heard someone shuffling outside his door. It opened to show Azula in the middle of a yawn in an earth kingdom nightgown. She held up a candle with a sleepless, annoyed look.

"Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be trying to sleep... while someone's mumbling to themselves?" Zuko broke from her eyes and continued looking out the window.

"Sorry," he said quietly.

She raised an eyebrow.

"You're still fretting about Uncle, aren't you…"

Zuko tightened his grip around the wood, but not enough for her to notice.

"No." He glanced back at her. "I'm just… overtired."

"You have no need to worry, Zuko. That traitor is being taken to the Fire Nation tomorrow, and will be ensured a safe voyage. Why let him die on the sea when he could rot away in prison? It gives him much more time to think on what he's done…" She glanced at her fingernails, seeming somewhat unsatisfied with something. "Such a shame that his betrayal went to waste."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you were there," Azula replied. "No one could have survived such a hit, not even the Avatar."