Chapter III: Masquerade

There's a ball that's hit the town,

Coiffed and masked with robes and gowns,

But cloth can't hide the hungry frown,

Of those searching to reach the crown,

So masquerade your power renowned,

And come on down, yes -

Come on down.

There were no knives.

Not of the literal sort, anyway. Katara realised that quickly, and in a way was grateful. From Mai's stories and Ty Lee's overly bright interjections given the subject matter, it seemed that Court dinners were weighted enough without potentially deadly weaponry being near at hand. Especially given the current shaky grip of the Fire Lord. She surveyed the people around her with narrowed eyes.

Three hours hadn't been quite enough to drill everything into her head, but she knew enough to recognise most of the faces. As the Avatar's waterbender and Zuko's guest, she sat up close to the head of the table, trying not to twitch nervously amongst his highest courtiers. Mai sat a few places down from her, her dry voice occasionally weaving above the general chatter. Between them was the Minister for Trade and Economy, Liu, and his wife Kaeda. Across from them, General Sheng sat between Nobleman Chin, the Minister for Culture, Education and Citizenship, and Lord Ren, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. All of them were blooded with aristocracy, and she could almost feel the disdain trickling down their gazes to slime her skin whenever they looked her way.

Katara took a breath. No, she was just imagining things. Chin was noticeably aloof and superior, but she supposed that was just the Fire Nation way. Ren seemed to eye everyone as if they were a number or a tile on a Pai Sho board, so she didn't feel left out at least. Liu just looked bored and jumpy, but perhaps that was because of the contrast he made with his wife. In her beautiful red and gold robes, Kaeda could have been just another of the gorgeous, deadly flowers seated at the table tonight. But Katara could see that the intelligence burning in her eyes was matched by an almost ruthless practicality, untouched by pettiness or short term vindication. She was also probably a decade or two older than many of the younger girls present tonight, and the experience and calculated balance showed. The thought suddenly struck her that the younger girls were likely here to be paraded by their fathers in front of Zuko, and her rice soured in her mouth.

They certainly don't need real knives, do they?.

The thought clung to her stickily like sweat, and she tried to shrug it off. In truth, though, she'd been worried ever since Ty Lee had confided to Mai General Hang's strange interest in Zuko's romantic status. She certainly didn't think that he'd be stupid enough to fall for any of his noblewomen's tricks, but the conversation had brought home the fact that Zuko the Fire Lord had little discretion over his future partner. And that just galled her. Because someone like Zuko needed more than just cold Court games and power shifting. Her eyes raised to look at him. His face was implacable over his formal robes, his hair pulled back from the scar she barely noticed anymore. But she could still see his tense shoulders, and the way his eyes didn't smile with his mouth. Her own lips firmed. He deserved more...

Katara shook her head and got back to studying those in her immediate vicinity. Of course, General Sheng stood out the most. Mai had told her that he was Shen Li's father, but the way in which she'd spoken had made it sound like a warning even through her monotone. Katara shifted uneasily now as his gaze turned on her. There was a smile settled on his hawklike face, and although it looked natural, even kind, her stomach roiled like a sparrow-mouse in front of a bird of prey.

It's just nerves, she told herself firmly. Snap out of it, Katara. She raised her chin a little to meet him, and his smile widened.

"Lady Katara," he inclined his head towards her. "I trust you're enjoying the meal?"

Katara returned his gaze politely. "I am, thank you General," she deliberately lifted her chopsticks to her mouth, bit into something and chewed. Rich sauce flooded her senses, but she barely noticed it. "And you?"

His eyes crinkled up, and he seemed amused. "It is absolutely delicious, as always. But the food cannot outclass the company."

She smiled back at him, warily. Shen Li's father was a broad, tall man; a neat beard lined a strong jaw and his topknot sat above a crinkled, imposing face. He had the look of someone who got his way, and while he exuded friendliness, she couldn't help but be drawn back to his sharp eyes and the different message they spoke. She searched for words. "It must be special to have all the Court dining together."

His smile widened fractionally, "While it is indeed special, I was speaking about you, Lady Katara."

Katara noted out of the corner of her eye that a few of the noble girls had begun to look at her with strange, guarded glances. She could almost hear their thoughts through their eyes. Why is the General so interested in her? Why is she sitting so close to the Fire Lord? What is this peasant waterbender doing here?

She swallowed. No actual knives, she reminded herself uneasily. Perhaps it was because she was tired, perhaps it was because she was on edge, but the thought suddenly conjured up the image of one of the beautiful, deadly noble girls using their chopsticks to stab another's eyes out. For a moment, she choked back a startled giggle of mortification. Her expression must have twisted, because Mai's gaze flicked sharply towards her. With an effort, she managed to compose herself again, just in time to realise that Sheng was still watching her.

"Me?" she stuttered inelegantly.

Katara could almost feel Mai's disapproval slicing through her, like one of the noblewoman's unerring knives. Sheng's amusement had only deepened, and the thought irked her. He's dismissing me, she thought angrily to herself. Toying with me. Dammit, come on Katara. You faced up to Azula on the day of the comet. You can hold yourself together in front of Zuko's Minister for Security.

Her hand reached delicately for her throat. "I mean, I'm flattered, General, but surely..."

He cut across her smoothly. "No need to be modest, my dear. You are, after all, a war hero." Something in his face gleamed. "Indeed, you have won the respect of many of our people, Lady Katara. And in our current circumstances, that is a notable achievement."

Katara's eyes narrowed infinitesimally. He was smiling at her ingratiatingly, but behind that she could still sense the angular edges of a predator sighting meat. What exactly does he want from me?

She noticed Nobleman Chin cease his conversation with his son beside him, his eyes sliding to study the air between her and the General. Kaeda, too, was watching with intense interest. And she didn't have to even turn her head to know that Mai was there, ready.

For some reason, that gave her an odd sense of comfort. That, and the realisation that Mai wasn't her only ally at present. Her adversary's son was poised, despite his relaxed manner at Zuko's left. And she could almost feel Zuko himself, his presence steady, his aura concerned, even as he too went through the motions of eating and polite conversation.

She smiled. She was not alone, and two could play at his game.

"I think it's wonderful that the Fire Nation people are so ready to recognise the people who fought for them, regardless of the situation in which they first met," her smile widened. "Such a trait is most honourable."

Sheng was too much the politician to look surprised, but Katara felt Mai's startled, silent approval and Zuko's hidden smile, and that was enough for her. "I would say the same of the Fire Lord's Ministers and Advisors," she inclined her head towards him. Her own eyes glittered now; not with innocence or vapidity, but with her own sharp, cutting amusement. "The manner in which they have decided to serve their country and dedicated themselves to Fire Lord Zuko is most admirable."

A few seats beside her, Shen Li bent for a moment, as if he'd just choked on his food. When he straightened up, his gaze was bright. But he did not speak. Instead, Kaeda leant forwards from Katara's left, a cloud of light, flowery perfume followed in her wake.

"I dare say that there are many admirable and unadmirable actions that have been done in the past," she arced one perfect eyebrow, her fingers clasped lightly around her spiced wine. "But the future is a different matter, no?"

There was the rustle of expensive silk, and then she held her glass up high at her eye level, as if examining the different facets of colour in the light. "We have a new Fire Lord, a new direction, a new country. What will be the honourable, notable achievements in the future depend upon what we do and who we are in the present, not upon the past."

There was a moment's pause, and Katara quickly glanced around to measure everyone else's reactions in an attempt to calibrate her own. What she saw was surprising. Shen Li and Zuko were exchanging guarded glances, Sheng looked like he was stewing, and Chin and Ren looked like they were keeping deliberately silent by sucking on lemons. Even Mai looked faintly astonished. It seemed that Kaeda's open comment was far bolder than it seemed. At least, that explained Liu's reaction.

"Kaeda!" he snapped. An instant later, he seemed to feel everyone's gaze fall on him, and quickly softened his tone. "I mean... surely this isn't appropriate dinner conversation."

He turned his hungry eyes to Zuko, smiling so that his rounded cheeks creased. "Forgive my wife, Fire Lord. She likes to get ahead of herself sometimes."

Katara saw red. "I don't see any problem, Minister," she interjected sweetly, before Zuko could reply. "Lady Kaeda was only telling the truth."

She realised that she might have stepped over the line only when Liu appeared to ignore her completely. Nothing could hide the darker flush of his cheeks, however. "As I said," he re-emphasised slowly, "My apologies, Fire Lord."

Katara saw Zuko's eyes flicker across his Minister for Trade and Economy, ghost to her for a moment with the barest hint of a smile, and then back to Liu. "As Lady Katara said, there is no need for apology." He picked up his glass carefully and tipped his head towards Kaeda respectfully. "My family's past is chequered as you all well know. I would argue that the same holds true for the Fire Nation. Knowing that the future depends on the present and what we make of it is an empowering statement, one that brings hope for a new dream for our country."

For a moment, Liu looked as though he might splutter. Besides him, Kaeda's face was pale, but vindicated. Chin had reached for his napkin elegantly, his posture dripping with disapproval. Ren and Sheng surveyed the situation like hawks, while Mai had the tiniest dagger curve of a smile. Surprisingly enough, that smile was matched by Shen Li, who had laid delicate fingers around his glass and was taking a sip to hide his shared gaze with Zuko.

Pausing, Katara couldn't help but wonder how she was reading them, even with their Court masks in play. Perhaps it was the time she'd spent with Mai, although she didn't think so. She tried to figure out a reason, to clarify her understanding of the situation, and then gave up and settled for stilling her heart and mentally punching the air. Zuko and Shen Li's reports earlier that day had sunk her low with the weight of what was happening. Seeing Zuko in action, everyone in action... it heartened her a little. Now that she was able to assess the situation for herself, she still saw the grim reality of it. Zuko could not trust his Ministers, and neither should he. But in Shen Li's form, in Mai's constant, sharp presence and awareness, and even in Kaeda's bearing, she found her own small measure of hope.

Somewhere, a bell tolled, and smooth servants appeared and began to whisk away plates and dishes. At the sound, Katara wanted to let her bundled nerves go and collapse with relief. But then Mai's lessons caught up with her, and she looked down at the table with a mixed sense of horror.

General Sheng was scowling behind his pleasant facade. Minister Liu was bright red and fuming under his pasty mask, while beside him, Kaeda was giving her a measured, assessing glance that for all its cool appraisal, could not hide her own hunger. The capstone was the score of noble girls sitting further down the table, who were glaring at her for some inexplicable reason. And it was only the end of the first course.

Katara took a deep breath, and smiled again, her eyes as bright as ever.

She looked amazing.

Zuko carefully lowered his eyes to his bowl and selected a fine cut of duck-chicken. He raised it to his lips, grains of rice sticking to its sides. He'd had a piece of this before, knew that it was one of Chef Lim's most succulent dishes. But there was no way he could concentrate on savouring the taste right now.

He raised his gaze surreptitiously. He'd never seen her in Fire Nation clothing before. Sokka had told him that before the day of the Eclipse, they had tried their hardest to 'blend in', and that had apparently included filching some rather interesting outfits. He'd had to try very hard to keep his face straight when Sokka had described Katara's choice. Dear Agni, she walked around my country advertising she was an available... Best not to tell him. Or her.

Thankfully, by the time he'd finally come to his senses, they were back in their own colours. Zuko was partially grateful for that. There was a very large possibility that he wouldn't be alive at this moment if he'd pointed out exactly what she was wearing while she was still angry at him for his betrayal. Or at least, he might be missing a few vital parts that would have embarrassed him thoroughly at her appearance.

Now, he was startled by the contrasts. Mai and Ty Lee had somehow managed to find a long, dark red kimono, its edges tightened by deep lines of black. Thin lines of gold embroidery lightened the effect, and the entire affair was pulled together by a brighter red and gold sash around her waist. The result was a notable understated elegance that subtly enhanced the richness of her skin in comparison to the pale faces around her, and served as a study in juxtaposition against the blue of her eyes. He drifted his own line of sight up to her hair, recognising his former paramour's exact and scintillating handiwork. Two thick strands of Katara's tresses were caught up in two plaits that circled her head like a crown, meeting at the back in a carefully constructed, looped arrangement so as to create the impression of a topknot. The rest of her hair cascaded freely down her back, and she'd retained the two locks at the front that framed her face, Water-Tribe style. It was a compelling mixture that included enough elements of Fire Nation nobility to match her place so far up his table, but also managed to retain her own individual, unique trademarks.

He smiled and lowered his chopsticks to dip into his bowl again. He hadn't been the only one she'd surprised with her appearance. He'd noticed the prim facades of more than one noble slip for a second upon their entrance, and he felt vaguely amused that not all of them were female. That's right, you old fossils. Try calling her 'peasant' now.

Of course, Katara's stunning appearance wasn't the only reason Zuko was keeping half an eye on her while he exchanged polite conversation. After the rather unexpected, rapid exchange that had taken place not an hour into the night, he had resolved to pay attention. Amidst courtiers and Ministers used to the same play, the same game, Katara was an astute and powerful wildcard that they hadn't expected. And although there had been several attempts to cut her down, to dismiss her, to mock her... she was still more than holding her own, her chin proud and her smile disarmingly bright. Indeed, she was tossing out comments that made him take a second glance at the recipients. He had forgotten how reflective and insightful she could be when she deliberately put aside her own clouding judgements and looked at things with a fresh and deliberate eye. He grimaced a little at the memory of Aang's earnest face. It probably helped that the situation had nothing to do with reading that kind of information.

His palms started to itch, and suddenly he couldn't wait until the dinner was over so that they could return to his office and fully debrief. He had a feeling that it would be surprisingly fruitful - would give him at least some information on his and his Court's current status that right now he sorely lacked. Despite his misgivings about inviting Katara to the dinner, his gut feeling that she would be okay had clearly and irrevocably won. He stifled the sudden urge to grin. Agni, she had done more than 'okay'. She had been thrown into the pit of viper-snakes and had not only stayed alive, she had built grudging respect on her own.

A slight smile curved his lips. He had long ago made the mistake of underestimating the Avatar, and later of his friends. He had sworn never to do so again. And now, as he gazed at his surprising, formidable, amazing former enemy, his mind spun and he thought of other possibilities.

As the gorgeous vista of the North Pole passed slowly by, Sokka sat in the gondola and thought. Hard. His plan, which had begun as the merest flitter of possibility, had grown in his mind until it was one great, incongruous lump. He frowned as he regarded it all; the different ways it could go wrong, the many things success depended upon, the probability of him actually pulling it off. To say the very least, it depended upon his own and other's ability to play the situation far too much for his liking.

Then again, he had pulled off riskier things before. The thought calmed him for a moment, before he remember that that had been when he had been able to rely upon a number of rather formidable allies. At the moment, it was just him and Suki against all the hate that the North Pole could throw against the Fire Nation. He suddenly felt rather small and ineffectual.

Sokka sighed and glanced out of the boat from beneath his lashes. The shadows of the storm clouds dulled the glint of the ice around them. A few stray shafts of sunlight still sparkled the glaciers, but their shimmer remained soft and muted. Sokka kept his head down, glad for the protection of the dark, and the small, inconspicuous boat.

There was only him, Suki, and the gondolier on board, slowly paddling their way towards Arnook's ice lodge. He'd left the Fire Nation crew behind on deck. He, after all, was Zuko's ambassador, as ironic as that was. And he had a number of priorities, the first one amongst them keeping him and Suki alive. If the Northern Water Tribes were in as much of an uproar as they had suspected, then it was going to be difficult enough without bringing an amber eyed escort into the icy streets.

Not to mention, it also tied in neatly with his plan. Sokka's eyes raked the people moving hurriedly along the streets. The air was different than the first time he'd arrived at the North Pole. Suspicion, anger and vengeance hung thickly together, a united feeling that seemed to be equally shared by both the old and the young. Sokka cast a quick glance back to the Fire Nation ship, half-worried that the quiet simmering of war scratching at his skin had already overrun the battle cruiser. Even from this distance, the massive black bulk of the vessel still looked imposing. He hoped it would be enough to keep any Water Tribe with a bone to pick at bay for now, at least until he reached Arnook.

Who am I kidding? he thought with a wry smile. If it'd been me, I'd be on the deck right now waving my boomerang. Just as well they were expecting us.

He took one more glance at the docks, and his eyebrow twitched in realisation. From this vantage point, the many anchored Water Tribe boats that bobbed up and down in the current seemed to stretch out like an armada. He'd been distracted when he'd first gotten off the Fire Nation ship, but now their existence was almost literally smacking him in the face. A sudden thought struck him, and his breath hissed.

"Sokka, what's wrong?"

His heart leapt for a moment, and then fell again. From the other side of the boat, Suki was staring at him with battle written all over her face, her athletic body tense and ready. Any hope that she was asking about his personal, emotional state was dashed by her flinty gaze. He sighed. He'd had a brief daydream, once, about taking Suki through the canals in a gondola. But that had involved wine and furs and kisses and a world and relationship at peace.

The reality right now couldn't be farther from the truth. Sokka sighed and set his shoulders underneath the comforting weight of his parka.

"The boats," he said softly, nodding towards the docks. "Last time I came, there were barely any."

Before she could ask the obvious, he turned to their gondolier, his voice a little louder. "Amak?"

The waterbender turned, his face neutral. His body kept moving sinuously, shifting the water under their prow. "Yes, Master Sokka?"

Sokka waved his hand in the direction of the docks. "Been getting a lot of visitors lately?" he asked lightly. "Or is Arnook expanding his fleet?"

Amak shrugged and turned back to his work. "A little bit of both, actually," he replied over his shoulder. "The Council decided that while we were rebuilding the boats we lost during the invasion, we mights as well build a few more. And some of the scattered villages deeper in the ice have sent contingents to the capital."

Sokka and Suki shared a glance. "I see," Sokka said finally, his voice light. And then, "Any idea how far we are?"

Amak swirled the water one more time. "We're here."

Sokka glanced up abruptly. The grand steps leading up to the Council shone against his eyelids, and when he stood his legs were a little wobbly. Amak brought them closer to the edge, and then Sokka leapt up onto solid ice. He turned to help Suki out, but she had already landed lightly beside him. Their eyes met, hers a silent, murderous challenge, and Sokka felt the wind cut through his parka.

"You all right?" he asked, his throat dried by the cold. He pulled his gaze away as her scowl darkened.

"I'm fine," she turned too and craned her neck up to take in the Council building. He wondered what she saw - whether her own impression of the North Pole was now irrevocably coloured by his story and what had happened between them. "Let's get this over and done with."

He sighed. She was marching up the stairs already, her poise proud and strong. The fleeting image of a white haired goddess spasmed across his eyes, and his heart clenched.

Sokka was not an optimistic person. He was, as he'd always claimed, a realist. And so as he started up after his erstwhile girlfriend, he couldn't help but wonder whether this foray into the ice of the North would end better than his last one.

Because if this was just the beginning, then it sure as hell wasn't looking like it would.

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A/N: First off, I am terribly sorry about the delay. An important law essay bludgeoned me across the head, and then a lot of other work started encroaching upon me. I hope I'll be more frequent from now on. Thanks for your patience!

Secondly, I'm incredibly grateful to all you lovely reviewers who keep giving me feedback and egging me on. Can't say how much you mean to me. :D Thanks again, and I hope to hear more from you!

-Shadowhawke