Ursa trembled like a leaf from the uppermost braid of her elaborate hairstyle to the tiny red slippers that had been a gift from the Fire Lord's family.

Her mother did everything twice, smoothing Ursa's hair, arranging her bangles, tying and retying the sash of her gown. Worry folded her face into tense lines.

Auntie Bao was rougher in her anxiety. She smacked Ursa to stand up straighter, pinched her wan cheeks to give them color, and droned instructions in a long, endless hiss. "Keep your gaze on the floor. Only reveal your hands to pour the tea. Don't use too much force in your bending. Don't trip! Bow to the Fire Lord and the Prince. You are lucky the Fire Lord's wife is passed, may her spirit burn forever. Even the Fire Lord is not as fearsome as a mother-in-law."

Even Lien was subdued. She squeezed Ursa's hand. "Good luck," she said, and she gave Ursa a little push towards the door.

It was time to face her husband's family.

Through the gauze of her red veil, she could see Fire Lord Azulon and Crown Prince Iroh on raised pedestals above the men of Ursa's family. She would not meet Ozai until the ceremony, but meeting the elders of his family was even more important.

Realizing she had stood at the threshold for too long, she hastened to pick up the delicate porcelain tea pot with lily fingers and glide to the pedestals as quickly as she could. She exhaled with relief when she made it without spilling a drop, careful not to make a sound. With perfect posture and graceful fingers, she prepared the tea and promptly extinguished the flame. Fold like a lotus, she reminded herself as she bent to press her forehead to the floor at the feet of the Fire Lord. She poured Azulon his tea. Keeping her eyes trained on her feet, she saw nothing but felt the heat of the Fire Lord's hand as he wordlessly accepted the cup.

In the silence of the hall, the only sound was Azulon sipping his tea and Ursa pictured pursed, disapproving lips curled in disgust. Without looking up, she moved to the right and poured tea for the crown prince.

Ursa bowed once more and was about to back out of the hall when Prince Iroh broke tradition and spoke to the bride-to-be. "This jasmine tea is sublime! Welcome to the family, Lady Ursa!"

Involuntarily, Ursa glanced upwards and looked Iroh full in the face. She froze, horrified, but Prince Iroh only smiled kindly. Despite everything she knew about the royal family, there was no mistrusting that face, and the smile Ursa returned with was genuine.