A/N- This chapter may be a tad rushed, but I spent it looking forward to writing the wedding scene.
"What are you doing here?" The sight of his sister brought Zuko to his feet. In three years, Zuko hadn't heard from Azula once. If she had come to boast or rub his nose in his defeats, why now?
Even from across the room- she smelled like home.
"In my country, we exchange a pleasant 'hello' before asking questions." Within seconds she was standing in front of Zuko, staring him down. Zuko raised himself up to full height. She was nearly the same height as him- but more because Azula was tall than because he was not, though he never saw it that way. Most people that met the royal family, had assumed Azula was the older sibling merely from the way she held herself when Zuko was around, as if she was already queen. "Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"
"Don't call me that!"
"To what do we owe this honor?" Their uncle interrupted before a fight could break out between the siblings.
"Hmm... must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point." Azula had taken one of the shells between her dangerous fingernails and, squeezing them together, shattered it. At that point her expression changed from taunting to something closer to embarrassment- something he'd never seen from her before. "Father... has decided," She nearly spat out the words, "that the entire nation would benefit from your returning home and helping him fulfill a treaty."
Zuko's breath caught in his throat. The words were quickly distorting themselves into 'Father loves you and regrets everything', until Zuko couldn't even remember what the original sentence had been. Everything was spinning through his mind so wild and recklessly that Zuko was unable to process anything. He turned to look out the window.
His father wanted him back... Zuko felt like he was coming face to face with a monster he had only seen in dreams. It didn't make sense and it shouldn't be real. But he had heard it- Azula had said it. The part of Zuko that so desperately wanted it to be true, drowned out any thought that his sister may be lying. All those years of traveling and fighting suddenly meant nothing at all if his father wanted him back. This was that moment that everything in his life would change- he knew it. He would look back on this moment forever, and know that everything was complete.
-
When Zuko stepped into his bedroom in the palace, it felt as if he had never left. The room was exactly the same as it had been all those years ago, as if his father had always been waiting to welcome him back. He smiled at the bed, and let himself collapse onto it. He stared for a long time at the Fire Nation emblem on his ceiling, rays of sunlight streaming in through the window over looking the garden and warming his skin. He had spoken to his father, who had welcomed him back as one would a war hero. Returning to the city reminded Zuko just how much he had missed its flowers that grew no where else in the world, its perfect temperature, the uniquely elegant architecture. Zuko was quite certain that he would never leave that spot.
Only a moment later, of course, he heard his uncle's voice from outside the door. The old man had been suspicious from the moment Azula brought up the offer, but it seemed he had been proven wrong.
"Prince Zuko?"
"Come in." His uncle opened the door, carrying a handful of pastries, and an enormous grin spread over his face. He seemed to be more than happy to have been proven wrong- if only because it made his nephew happy.
"Nephew, if you come with me to the kitchen you can help taste what they're preparing for the wedding." He said with eyes wide.
Zuko flinched- he had been trying not to give much thought to the condition of his return that Azula had told him. If he didn't produce an heir within two years with this woman that was to be his wife, the arrangement was called off and he would once again provided with a ship and sent on his way. Azula had emphasized this to no end, but Zuko convinced himself that didn't mean his father didn't genuinely want him back.
He sat up in bed lifted a hand to his forehead. He didn't know anything about this woman other than that she was the princess of the Northern Water Tribe. He hadn't even been aware that there was more than one- the one that became the moon spirit during the siege. As a child, Zuko had always assumed that his marriage would be arranged, but after he had left home he gave up all thoughts on those matters- on all matters other than finding the Avatar.
"There's no need to be nervous, nephew, I'm sure she's a lovely young lady."
-
It's too hot here. Where is the snow? The buildings are so boring. I want to go home. Rei Lin repeated over and over in her mind. Her ship pulled into the harbor in front of the palace, and she was quite ready to insist that the captain turn it around that instant.
