Katara found Sokka and Aang up and waiting when she got back, and Toph came up behind her just as she turned to look.
"We're good." The earth bender said, almost grinning. She stamped her foot lightly and a short pillar of earth shot up, grass cushion and all, and she sat, obviously pleased with herself. Aang and Sokka turned back to Katara, who merely shrugged.
"We're good. You know what Iroh told us. Now Zuko's realized it, too, and he's given up on pleasing his father. He came in search of Iroh because he suspected Iroh knew where to find us. He wants to help, and honestly, this could be the solution to a lot of our problems."
"You're sure?" Sokka sounded doubtful, but if both Toph and Katara agreed on this…
"Aang?" Katara looked over at him. He seemed to be struggling with himself…Although, iif he weren't torn on this, I'd wonder if he was even still sane. Aang bdied/b because of Zuko's choice./i
Aang sat for a moment, fear building a strangling web around him until he couldn't seem to move. He felt trapped, like he had so many times in the past few months, but this time it was his own emotions holding him captive. Then the remembered image of twin blades flash by his face, and a blue demon mask replaced the scarred face that watched him so closely. A voice whispered in his ear "...it is blocked by fear. You must let go of those fears..." The air bender took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"I can give him a chance."
Katara let out the breath she had been holding, almost in unison with the boy, and gave him a quick smile.
"The only question now is…when?" Katara said, turning back to the rest of the group.
"And how much?" added Toph. "How's he going to handle this news, do you think? He seemed ready to take on the world tonight, but how's it going to look to him tomorrow? Or the day after that?"
"I think he can handle it" Katara's voice held a note of assurance that she almost hoped no one else had heard. She couldn't keep the image of him…in that strange total silence under the City. She had seen such pain, so much stubborn confusion there, but underneath it all was a strength like nothing she had seen before. She knew he would do whatever was necessary to protect his people, and his friends.
Toph turned towards her slightly. She had heard, even if the others hadn't, and she seemed to have more of an idea of the source of that assurance than Katara wanted her to have.
Toph held up a hand and started counting.
"So, tomorrow we will have a water tribe warrior, a water bending master, an earth bending master, a dead prince...no, two dead fire nation princes and a hundred-and-twelve-"
"And thirteen, as of three weeks ago" Aang chipped in. Everyone turned to look at him.
"Wait, what?!?"
"I'm now officially one hundred and thirteen." Aang blinked at them in amusement.
"But you didn't tell us!"
"I was supposed to?"
"Yes!"
"But…why?" Aang looked truly confused now.
"I don't know if it's just some random Water Tribe thing or whatever, but it's customary to celebrate the day of your birth. You give gifts to your friends and we give gifts to you and we give thanks to the Spirits for another year of life!"
"Oh, I've heard of those…"
"They have those in the Earth Kingdom, too, Twinkletoes. You must just be horribly out of date, what with your hundred years' in an icecube and all."
"Toph!" Katara moved to kick her lightly, but Toph danced nimbly out of the way, laughing.
"No, I really have heard of them, and I always wanted to get to one, but the monks really weren't into just a yearly celebration. We thanked the Spirits every day for the life we had. But that's really beside the point right now. We need to figure out what we're going to do with Zuko."
"And friends." Sokka pitched in unexpectedly. "He brought more than fifteen soldiers with him, and I'm assuming, knowing the fire nation, they're all benders of some level."
"You're probably right…Maybe Zuko will have some ideas there." Katara sat down on her bedroll and realized just how tired she was. She yawned expansively. "Until tomorrow, then, we should get some sleep. I'm going to, at least. You can all stay awake as long as you want- just don't keep me up. You know how I get when I'm tired."
iIt's surprising what things can get you in a good mood /ithought Katara. She was surprised with herself for joking like that. She shook her head as she unrolled her sleeping bag with a quick flick, and let out her braid for the night.
Zuko woke somewhat disoriented the next morning. Uncle was there, brewing what was probably his third pot of tea for the morning, and the old cook sat beside him, laughing at something the older man had said. He rolled over and saw one of the salamanders looking at him…hungrily. He sat up quickly as he remembered the past evening.
"Ah, nephew. You slept in!"
Zuko merely nodded and stood, stretching. He looked around the now crowded clearing, at his loyal men, and wondered iwhat the heck do I do with them now?/i
The Avatar probably would not accept so many, especially after…It was a wonder the boy was still alive after that…Zuko realized suddenly that the boy's life was still in danger. The assassin.
"Uncle. I need to see the Avatar as soon as possible. I have…his life is still in danger." Zuko ignored the iwell, of course/i look on his uncle's face and went on desperately. "There is an assassin…"
"They have already encountered him once, Zuko. With both of us here now, there will be little true danger."
"He will probably think I hired him if he sees me." Zuko wanted to hit himself for the cowardly lie, but he couldn't bring himself to take it back. The man would think he had hired him because, well, he ihad./i
"What a man thinks is his own business. However, if he does turn up, we should keep you out of sight. They think you're dead, and you want to keep the illusion as long as you can, do you not? Speaking of which, we ought to send at least part of these men back soon, or the Princess will be wondering. Oi, Shen, how many of your men can we pretend you lost to the swamps down south?"
"Four or five, perhaps, sir. We don't want to appear ithat/i incompetent, or we might be released from service for just that."
"Good thinking lieutenant. Leave the cook and decide among the rest of you who will stay. The others will need to return to the capitol looking like they just lost their Prince within a week. We need more eyes in the army."
"Yes, sir!"
"Now, my nephew. We have many things yet to discuss. Come with me for a moment."
Iroh led the way into the trees, away from the crew. "How much have you told them, Zuko?"
"I told them that you had escaped, that you had not been…executed-"
"Is that what they are saying, then?"
"-and that someone had helped you. I told them that it was time we helped cleanse the Fire Nation, and they agreed that the war had to end. They are completely loyal, but know only what they need to know."
"You are learning, nephew. That was wise. It is best they still think the Avatar is dead. Now then. We will see them off, and then you and I will go to see the young Avatar. If he will have it, we will add the men who stay to our party, and then we will be able to do some good towards this plan of theirs."
Iroh caught Zuko's sleeve, suddenly very serious.
"Their plan may be…difficult to accept, my nephew. I urge you to think carefully before you react. This could be the only chance to bring balance to this world, and to save countless lives."
Zuko looked at his uncle, incredulous, and Iroh reached up to take his shoulders. "You imust/i promise me this, Zuko."
"Very well, Uncle. I will try."
"Good enough. Just keep things in perspective, nephew. This is your chance to restore honor to your people, your opportunity to end this endless war. Remember that."
"I will, Uncle."
Iroh came to them late in the morning, and told them the arrangement with the soldiers. Four would stay behind (one of them, Iroh beamed, was the cook) while the rest would go and report that there was no body to find, after they had run into the swamps and lost, well, four men. Those who went back to the capitol would doubtless be punished for their negligence, but then they would return to the army, and would be the invaders' eyes and ears in the fire nation. After the men had departed, to travel around and down south to come in from the proper direction, Iroh would bring Zuko alone to meet with them and discuss the plan.
Tomorrow. This might just work, with the help they were finding. The war might actually end, and in only a few short weeks...
Katara couldn't repress the strange sense of excitement she felt when she heard this. Things were going so…right. And Zuko would be joining them.
†††
She should have brought more of the Dai Li with her. These little spiders were proving oh, so useful. One had followed the little stormcrows bearing her brother's belongings and had listened very closely to what they said. They were pathetically shocked at her fool brother's demise. Killed by a snake. And oh dear, how dreadful, how painful, and to die alone like that! Azula couldn't help but laugh. These men would definitely be at her brother's funeral. For of course there would be a funeral, if only to appease the peasantry. Once they had returned, she had sent her little spider back out to find and follow the search party. They would search only so long before returning, and Azula had put long hours into thinking of a fitting punishment for their carelessness. It couldn't be anything…itoo/i harsh, though. After all, they ihad/i rid her of her idiot brother, even if they didn't know it, and she would have rewarded them grandly if not for the circumstances.
Once they returned…Her little spider would tell her all, and then she would be able to sleep soundly, knowing the only thing between her and the throne was gone. It was only a matter of time, now.
"My sister will be watching you. Do not forget that, even for the slightest instant."
Zuko paced up and down the small clearing, his head filled with countless second thoughts.
"Sir, aren't you being a bit…" the man caught himself and nearly choked on his words.
"A bit paranoid, officer? No. I wish I were…" He paused before continuing even more strongly than before. "Azula has agents of the Dai Li under her command, and she iwill/i use them. I only hope that she has not noticed your absence already. Everything you say, everything you do from here on in will be seen. You must not mention my uncle in any way. You may only talk about me as if I were dead. Azula imust not know/i that I still live. I imust not lose/i what advantage I have gained. You men know Azula, and what she is capable of doing. You know that she must be brought down at all costs, but you must remember that itiming is everything/i. I will contact you to let you know when the time is at hand. Until then, I am dead."
Iroh stepped forward. "I regret that I must agree with my nephew. Azula cannot be underestimated. The moment you leave this clearing, we are dead to you. Now go, and go quickly. Azula must not find you missing."
The soldiers mounted their salamanders, the implications of what had just been said weighing heavily on their minds. The rearmost men had the extra salamanders tethered to their saddles- as much help as they would have been, you don't lose a salamander to a bog, and the expensive mounts would be missed.
The remaining men watched their comrades leave with apprehensive eyes.
Zuko waited until the men on the swift salamander mounts were long gone, then took a bracing breath and turned to face the remaining four men.
"I will be gone for a while. You are free to forage or hunt, but be careful and leave no trails. We will be staying here for a while."
Iroh came up behind him, and he turned. "Uncle. I am ready."
His uncle nodded slightly and turned to lead the way.
Toph signaled them when she heard the fire benders approaching. Katara had hidden among the trees to hear most of what they said to the departing men, but had been forced to leave when one of the lizard things had caught her scent and had almost dragged one of the soldiers straight to her. She had had plenty of time, however, to admire the young man's manner as he addressed his men. So royal, even after years of exile, months of being hunted, and now again he was in hiding. Back straight, he put on a strong front for his men, and she could see the effect it had had on them. They were completely loyal, ready to die for the young prince…she had felt the pull of his words herself, had sensed the emotion behind them.
When Iroh emerged from the trees, followed closely by Zuko, Katara, Sokka and Aang rose in unison from where they had been sitting. Toph already stood, near where the fire benders had entered the clearing, and merely waved cheerily to Iroh as he passed. He knew that she could not see a smile, so he waved back once before turning to face Aang.
"Young Avatar, I would like to present my nephew, Prince Zuko, whom I have told you about."
A hundred different emotions flickered across Aang's face, and Katara realized how hard this was for him, despite how he had hoped for this exact outcome, even though he had already agreed to accept the fire bender. Zuko had been the enemy for so long…
Zuko surprised them all then, as he stepped forward beside his uncle and bowed respectfully.
Aang returned the gesture and they rose in unison, eyes meeting as they straightened. Aang flashed one of his wide, mischievous grins and Zuko could not help but smile slightly in response. No one could resist that grin.
"I have come to help in your efforts against Fire Lord Ozai" Zuko stated, formal once more. "It is time to end this war and to rid the world of the corruption that has held the Throne for the past hundred years."
"Well met, Prince Zuko. Your help is very welcome." Aang replied, just as formal.
Iroh nodded his approval and they all sat in a loose ring to discuss their strategy.
