"This marriage will not be an easy affair," Iroh sighed into his tea as if scolding his foolish nephew yet again.
"You disapprove?" Zuko questioned tentatively. He did not want his uncle to disapprove, but whether he did or not would not change Zuko's decision. The approaching union would commence, with or without his uncles approval.
"No, I do not Zuko," uncle said still addressing his tea. "I think you are making a very wise decision, this union is not only good for you, but for your people as well. It is however a difficult union."
"What Could Be So Difficult About This MARRIAGE! YOU SAID IT YOURSELF; this is a good match for me and my people, AND HER PEOPLE!"
"Yes, I know Zuko," said Iroh trying to ameliorate the fiendish Firelord. "It is a difficult union because of what needs to happen; a private wedding for the respective families, a public wedding in the fire nation, a traditional tribal wedding in the north, and south poles. The dignitaries that need to be invited, the money, the transportation of food and the ceremony preparations that need to be attended to, the water tribe will not let anyone marry until certain customs are observed, a blessing from the Earth King would not hurt your union either. And Firelord Zuko, you have forgotten what the Firecourt will say, an illegitimate Lady of Fire, and the court will want an heir. . . . Zuko it is a difficult union indeed."
"I understand your concerns uncle," said Zuko rising from his seated position. "I understood these implications when I proposed, my concerns lie with Katara. I don't think I was able to express my concerns about our union clearly enough to her, and I hope she will be able to cope with the Firecourt and any rumors about . . . heirs." He paused the idea of an heir from Katara was too much for him. He excused himself from the room, leaving quickly so Iroh couldn't notice the stupid grin rapidly stretching from his good ear to scar. He slipped into the hallway and walked swiftly toward the east wing, he intended to adjourn to his mother's garden. When he heard a jingling, thinking it was his uncle's favorite Fire-court jester, he turned around to tell the fool to 'go away'.
"Well aren't we happy, sparky." said the barefooted girl, with glazed gray eyes. She looked as if she couldn't have been more than 15 years old. "Oh and those 'Ladies of the Fire Court', think that a blind girl is the equivalent of a Squirrel-Cat," she said pointing at her bell embellished feet.
"It's nice to see you too, melon-lord Toph," came his sarcastic reply. Toph smirked at the old Gaang reference. "Iroh's in the study, I'm sure he'd be willing to help you with your jingle-tinkle toes."
"I'm sure he would, but I here on official earth ambassador business, I have a message to relay to you from the Earth King, 'The Earth King would be happy to give Firelord Zuko and Lady Katara his blessing, though he is not entirely sure why the Firelord needs the Earth Kings blessing, he will however be unable to attend the ceremony but warmly invites the happy married couple to hold there reception party in Ba Sing Se.'"
The Firelord sighed another obligation and expense.
"And Sparky, another thing," said Toph focusing the Firelords attention once more. "A message from the southern water tribe, 'reconstruction of the south pole goes well, Pakku and Hakoda have agreed that two weddings one in the north pole and one in the south pole will be necessary, however, Pakku thinks that because Katara is not as a significant figure in the north pole that the private wedding should take place in the north pole. The northern tribal elder wish to have an audience with the Firelord before the wedding, apparently the sprit oasis has been acting funnily, is funnily a word Suki? Oh and there are some issues to attend to in the south pole before u can marry my sister, like u need to become a man, sorry. Oh, and Katara looks forward to seeing you in a month, and stuff.'"
"Thank you, Toph," said a thoroughly exasperated Zuko.
"Well, Now that that's all settled I'm going to be staying until the wedding…um I'll ask Iroh to show me to my room."