Chapter 3
Married
He couldn't belive it. He was married. It might not have been to the girl of his dreams, but still…MARRIED!
Thigs like this didn't happen to men like him. He had greeted the guests with her by his side, as his bride. She shared smiles and hugs with her friends and hand shakes with her enemies.
He had silently wondered at her silent beauty all night. It had been two full moon cycles sense he had last seen her. She looked paler and more closed in now, but still beautiful. He watched her drink her artic plum juice silently.
When the orchestra started to warm up, he led her to the center of the clearing. As he took her into his arms for their first dance, he couldn't help but notice the way his heart was beating. She seemed as if she was made tor his arms.
They led eachother through their homeland traditional dances. He later stood to the side as her brother came for a dance with her. He had never seen her so happy.
.
She was exausted.
There was no other way to put it. She had gotten up early that morning only to go through torture. Than she had to get married to a man she only knew as an enemy. Than she had danced away the night with her new husband and brother.
She felt his eyes on her again. She looked at her husband (scary thoughts) and weakly smiled. She was slumped in a chair, her heavy furs weighing her down even more.
He smiled back at her and helped her onto her feet. She leaned on him slightly and they made their leave without telling a single person.
.
He was nervous.
He led her down multipule corridors and carried her up a flight of stairs. He had spent two moon cycles preparing this room for her. He hoped that she would like it.
And maybe learn to like him.
He opened a door on the left side of the hall, and led his wife inside. She lifted her head off of his shoulder and looked around. She gasped.
Inside was a large fountian. Surrounding it were furs of many different speices of artic animals. Her eyes widened and she knelt on the furs and plunged her hand into the fountain.
"It's warm!" she excaimed happily. Suddenly she turned to him. "Does it get warmer in the winter and colder in the summer?"
He couldn't help but smile. "It does now."
She laughed and laid down. She quietly said, "Thank you. You really didn't have to do all of this for me."
"Yes I did. How else would I keep you from killing me in our wedding bed?"
She didn't look sheepish, as one might think. Instead, she moved her head so she could look at him better. He knelt down and helped her to stand again.
After a few grunts and complaints, both were standing once again. He led her forward towards a door on the opposite wall. As he left, he called the flame from the torches that lined the walls.
She loved the fountian room, but it still seemed like she would be sleeping in a bed tonight.
She looked at the bed and decided that nothing had ever looked more comfortable in her life. She started to look around for her night cloths.
"Your brother was hoping that you would – chicken out – and not need your night cloths. He refused to give me any. I would have bought you some, but I don't really know what you sleep in."
the voice of her husband surprised her. She turned around and saw him leaning on the frame of the door.
She grumbled about brothers who spent their lives ruining yours.
"Well, I'll just have to sleep in my wraps tonight, now won't I?" She reached behind her to untie her obi. Only to find that her arms wouldn't reach. She sighed and hit her head on the wall.
Suddenly she felt a tug on the obi. She gasped silently and turned her head to he husband. His eyes consentraited on ondoing the bow.
When he was finished removing the obi he moved back. She turned around and looked at him for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.
She put her hand on his face and said, "Thank you Zuko."
He looked deeply in her eyes and said, "You're welcome Katara."
Suddenly Aang woke up with a gasp.
