Author's Note: It has been a shamefully long time since I've updated…but I have renewed motivation for this story. I have big plans for Zuko, and it would be a shame for him to miss them! So I give you, Chapter 4.

Reviews are appreciated :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.


Two Months Later


Katara paced restlessly at the main gates to the palace. This was the day the five Northern Water Tribe benders would arrive, as promised by Chief Arnook. Her eyes drifted out to the bay as she searched for a ship. After two months of preparation and patience, the time had finally come for the people of her tribe to learn waterbending, and her heart swelled with pride and joy; her people had come so far from the simple village it had been years ago.

"Master Katara," a timid voice spoke from behind her. Katara turned to look at the source of the voice, an older woman with graying hair who was a servant in the palace. A small knot of worry rooted itself in the teen's stomach. The look on the woman's face couldn't possibly be a good sign.

"We've just received a messenger hawk, my lady," the woman informed her, "from Chief Arnook. I'm afraid the waterbenders have been delayed in their departure."

Disappointment washed over Katara. After all this waiting… She let out a quiet breath and fog billowed in the chilled air. "Spirits," Katara muttered quietly. She attempted a smile. "Thank you, Lina. You are dismissed."

The woman bowed respectfully and scurried back to the palace. After a pause, Katara followed, stepping into the arching doorway and striding purposefully through the wide hallways. She entered the communications wing of the palace, signified by the silver banners which hung from the ceiling. Large charts of the Great Divide, Ba Sing Se, and other major locations were posted on the walls. Tables were set in neat rows to fill half of the room, while the other half held a large, highly-impressive bronze globe, with scaled details of the earth. Workers bustled about, busy with the task of relaying information to and from the fellow nations. A small window with iron bars, which had been slid apart, was carved into the far wall. A large black hawk with a leather pouch strapped on its back sat inside the window.

"Lady Katara," a man with a blue uniform approached her, nodding respectfully. "This is the message we received from Chief Arnook," he told her, holding out a piece of paper.

Katara grabbed the paper and unfolded it. Her blue eyes scanned the page, and with each line her disappointment and frustration grew tenfold. So the waterbenders can't come because of a widespread illness. Figures.


The savory aroma of sea prune stew drifted up to Katara's nose, but it left her feeling sick to her stomach. She poked at the food with little interest.

"Katara, why aren't you eating?" Hakoda's asked from the opposite side of the table. "This is one of your favorite meals."

"I'm not hungry," she said as an explanation.

Her concerned father shared a glance with Sokka, who shrugged, but both men said nothing and resumed their meals.

The family was eating dinner in the palace's more-than-impressive dining room. Gran Gran was absent, due to the Health Committee meeting she was attending, as she had been elected as the president a few weeks prior.

The torches lined along the burgundy, wooden walls lit the space in a warm glow. A rectangular table filled most of the room, along with ornately-carved dining chairs. A centerpiece of silver, blue, and purple flowers sat in the center of the table.

After some time, Hakoda leaned forward and pushed his empty bowl aside. "This is about the waterbenders, isn't it?"

Sokka paused from devouring his soup and looked over at Katara. "Come on Katara, you've been acting dejected all day."

The girl in question sighed. "I know, it's just," she rubbed her temples, "I was so excited for the waterbenders to arrive. I'm disappointed, is all."

"They'll be here before you know it," her father tried to console her. "But I'm sorry they weren't able to make it."

"It's alright," Katara said. "I've waited this long, a few more days isn't going to kill me."

Sokka took a sip of his drink and whispered into the glass, "We assume." His blue eyes widened in mock horror.

Both Katara and Hakoda looked at him.

"Thanks for the input, Sokka," Katara muttered, trying not to smile. She pushed back her chair and stood, smoothing out the wrinkles of her water tribe attire. "I'm going to call it an early night," she announced. "I'll see you two in the morning."

Hakoda and Sokka bid her goodnight as she turned to leave the room.

"Katara," Hakoda called after a moment.

Katara paused and turned to look at him. "Yes?"

He smiled at her. "Try not to worry about this too much, all right?"

"I won't," she assured and walked out the dining room.

Her footsteps echoed off the walls of the palace as she made her way to her room, which was on the upper level of the palace.

Her room, which had a magnificent view of the courtyard, was a mix of blues, silvers, and purples. The floors were a dark, polished wood, and the walls were decorated with various banners and paintings she had collected since the end of the war. Her large bed occupied a space along the right wall, and it was covered in silver, silk sheets and matching pillows that seemed to glow in moonlight. The four corners of the bed rose up in four separate posts, which were carved with beautiful designs and smoothed to perfection. A dark blue canopy draped over the top, and the fabric was tied to the posts so that the bed could be seen. Also on the left wall there was a door, which led to her private bathroom.

The wall opposite the doorway was home to a dark wooden vanity with a large mirror, and a padded chair resting in front of it. There was also a glass doorway with curtains, which lead to a balcony. To the right, there was a stone fireplace, with a mid-sized couch in front of it. The rest of the room was filled with a dresser, bookshelves, and waterbending scrolls that Katara had collected on her travels to the other nations.

Katara closed the door behind her and removed the outermost layer of her clothing, leaving her in a thin, white undershirt. She removed the ties from her braid and ran her fingers through her wavy, brown locks, and unceremoniously flopped onto her bed. The waterbender rolled over to stare at the canopy.

Her mind drifted to the letter she had read earlier. "I am sending the waterbenders with a gift as penance for the delay," Katara recalled a part Chief Arnook's message. What kind of gift? She wondered, curious. Probably a new dress… Katara's mind decided as sleep fought for control.

With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes and quickly drifted into sleep.