A/N:
Hope you guys like the story so far!
Chapter 4:
Katara changed out of traditional Water Tribe attire and into the clothes from the trunk Prince Ozai had given her. She decided to keep on her headdress and jewelry. Only switching into a pair genie style blue pants and a half-cut top. The clothes were a bit revealing but it made sense due to the hot climate here. Already, she was sweating terribly. How did firebenders deal with this weather?
An hour went by of the Princess and her maidens checking out their new scenery. They were all impressed with the finery that the Fire Nation royal family lived. No wonder they were so wealthy as a nation.
As told by the Fire Prince, Katara made her way to the dining room of the Prince's wing of the palace. However; she had no idea where anything was and even more, none of her maidens knew either. Ugh, I'm going to get in trouble! She really didn't want to deal with the Prince's foul mood. She had meet her match. He was not the person to test or get under's skin.
"Where is the dining room?" Katara found a servant woman carrying linens in a basket.
The woman looked at her strangely before hurrying off without as much as a wood. Katara looked after the woman and wondered what just happened. The princess experienced this several times before she finally came across a male she found hiding in the bushes. It baffled her that a man would be hiding in the bushes. Not to mention one that looked so poorly clothed and somehow afraid. Was this man supposed to me here?
Going down the short steps of the outdoor walkway, Katara quietly made her way through the soft green lush grass and sneaked over to the bush. As she approached it cautiously, the princess reached her hand out to pat the top of the bush, giving it a small shake.
"Excuse me, mister." She said in a light voice. "But would you by chance now where the Prince's dining room is?"
The man jumped out of the bush frightenedly and stared at her wide eyed.
So I guess you're not supposed to be here. She could see from his clothes he had no business being in the palace walls let alone in the Prince's domain.
Being that she was after all a warrior princess, the teenager had no qualms about handling criminal-like persons herself. Katara grabbed the dagger she never went without from her back sheath and pulled the bone tooth blade from it. It was an Sabertooth-wolf blade. Personally handcrafted by yours truly. Part of her training meant she had to forge her own weapon and she was quite proud of the blade she had. With no water for her to bend, Katara had to use the dagger as her means to apprehend this man.
"Please, no!" The man fell on his knees and clasped his hands together. "I beg of you, kind lady. I'm merely lost and need to find my way out of this place. Do you know what the prince will do if he finds me here?"
Lost? Katara eyed the man carefully and looked over her shoulder to her maidens that had also removed their weapons. Was it wise to let this man off the hook? For all they knew, he could be a threat or a spy. Those couldn't be allowed. However; the way his eyes watered in fear did grip at her heart. I can't kill this man. She quickly sheathed her blade and commanded her ladies to do the same.
"I don't know how you got lost in here but I'll help you out the best I can. I happen to be lost myself." She offered her hand to the man.
He stared at it cautiously before taking it and raising to his feet. "Thank you. Thank you so much, kind lady."
When the princess turned her back to lead the man out the out from what little she memorized when she was brought to the Prince's domain, her ladies became wide eyed and unsheathed their weapons again. However; as Katara turned around to see the man she was trying to help reveal a weapon of his own, she took action quickly and blocked his attack with her wrist to his as he tried cutting her down with his knife.
"I should have trusted my instinct." She hissed through her teeth as the man put his weight on her and got her to kneel.
The water maidens were about to act but Katara called them off. She preferred handling things herself. It was her pridefulness that wouldn't allow her to let someone else fight for her. She wasn't a damsel in distress.
But it would seem fate believed she was in need of assistance and out of nowhere, a blast of fire shot through the man trying to attack her. The man stumbled back as he held his gut. Katara looked behind her to see a face she was familiar with only this person look much older than the last she had seen them.
"Attacking a helpless woman?! How despicable!" The young male snarled as he walked from the opposite side of the courtyard. He approached the man that did not belong and raised his hand for another attack, but a knife was suddenly buried in the man's throat causing instant death.
Katara walked over to grab her dagger and yank it from the man who attacked glanced from the corner of her eyes at the gentleman that helped her.
"Thank you but I'm not helpless." She said, wiping the blood clean from her blade on the dead man's clothes before sheathing her weapon.
Her savior smirked at her and chuckled slightly, "I know that but it would be nice if you were. Maybe you wouldn't be so ill-tempered."
"I wouldn't be ill-tempered if people didn't call me helpless." Katara countered.
As she and the young man stood face to face, having a standoff and a brief moment of hostile tension, the two of them then burst into laughter before hugging one another. The water maidens were a bit confused.
"You haven't changed a bit, Katara."
"And you've changed a lot, Zuko." She said pulling apart from him to look him over. "You've gotten much taller and a lot more cocky. I can see it in your eyes. No more running to mommy crying that Azula planted your face in the grass."
Chuckling at the memory as he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, "Yeah, well, we were all just kids then. Azula can't do that anymore."
"I'm sure you give her a pretty good fight now." She said as she turned around and walked to where her maidens are.
Zuko smiled as he watched his childhood friend walked to a small group of tribeswomen. Following behind her, he asked her what she was doing here. It was the first she had ever visited the Fire Nation. He didn't think he'd ever see her here.
The fact that her friend had to even ask her meant he didn't know and she wasn't about to ruin the moment and tell him. That was Prince Ozai's responsibility, not hers. She simply told him that his father had showed up at her brother's wedding and she decided to return with him to see what the Fire Nation was all about. Zuko bought this story and went on to ask her how the wedding went. She answered and then ask if how things had been for him the last few years. Seemed Zuko had gotten more efficient at firebending than he had when they were growing up and also mastered dual broadswords, which was quite impressive.
As the two chatted, passing a guard and making him aware of the body laying in the Southern part of the courtyard, Katara remembered she was supposed to be on her way to dinner.
"Oh crap, I almost forgot." She cringed.
"What?"
"Your father told me to join him for dinner. I was already running late when I ran into that guy." She was so in for it. Hopefully, the Fire Prince would be forgiving.
Zuko offered to take her to the dining room and help her explain what happened to his father. She thanked him as he lead her further down the outdoor walkway until they reached the dining room. It was a more traditional part of the domain with sliding wood panel doors.
As soon as the door slid open.
"You're late." Ozai said as he held his chopsticks full of cooked meat to his mouth, sitting at the head of the low table.
Bowing her head apologetically, "you'll have to forgive me, your highness. I got lost on my way here."
Sitting to both sides of him was his wife and daughter. His daughter sat to his right as his wife sat furthest away from him on his left. Katara didn't seem to pick up on the distance as the prince told her to come sit by him. She did so and watched as Zuko took a seat next to his sister, flashing her a silly look.
"I see you and Zuko have reacquainted." Ozai looked between the two of them.
Nodding her head, Katara smiled and told the Fire Prince what happened in the courtyard. He listened carefully to the details as he ate and then gave his input.
"I'll boost security around here. It's been too lax the last few months. But in the meantime, you should carry more than that dagger on you. I'll have one of my servants buy a water pouch for you." The Fire Prince told her.
After further discussion security measures that gathered both Fire Princess Ursa's opinion and Azula's, Katara grabbed her chopsticks and began eating. Of course, it was hard as she struggled to keep down but she ate it anyway. Remembering the prince would waste the food rather than feed it to his servants.
"So tell me, Katara. How is your father?" Ursa asked as the topic changed as she flashed her husband a look.
Just barely swallowing her food, "My father is well but I'm not sure he'll stay that way."
"And why not?" The Fire Princess asked curiously.
Setting her chopsticks down, "Because the Northern Earth Kingdom wants war with my people. It's why I'm here. I wish to ask the Fire Lord for help."
Ursa looked baffled at the young girl and then to her husband as she then narrowed her eyes. Zuko was also taken aback as he looked to his childhood friend that appeared somber.
"Why'd we help your people? Grandfather's already been contacted by the Northern Earth King to marry our cousin to his youngest daughter." Azula spoke up ignoring the looks she received from her father and mother. She didn't seem to care that they were glaring at her. Her amusement was solely directed to the look on the waterbender's face as she looked to her father.
You knew, didn't you? Katara shock turned to disdain as she stood from the table and rushed from the room. Zuko chased after her as his parents scolded his sister and then turned on each other.
"You brought that girl here on ill faith. You know your father is more obligated to the Northern Earth Kingdom than the Water Tribes." Ursa said in disappointment at her husband's actions.
From what he explained to her, the girl was supposed to change his father's mind by either marrying his nephew or their son. Whichever worked best. She didn't understand why he seemed to do all this to help the girl. As soon as word reached his ears of the Northern Earth King's plans for war with the Water Nations, Ozai had taken off to visit the Southern Tribe after being away for two years. They were finally making steps to improve their relationship and he just left like there was no tomorrow, bringing that girl back with him.
Ozai stared down his wife and dismissed his daughter. When she left, he rose to his feet and snarled.
"My father is an imbecile if he thinks we can trust the Northern Earth King! We have a better shot at aiding the Water Tribes!" He has stressed this multiple times to his father but it fell on deaf ears. His father was a fool to think that they had a chance at turning their backs of the Water Nations. The Fire Nation had the largest naval fleet second to the Southern Water Tribe. In an only our naval battle, they would easily be defeated due to the waterbenders they could control the waves and the ocean. Watching how the princess and her few water maidens were able to navigate an entire ship during a storm, Ozai knew the Fire Nation would lose the fight long before the Northern Earth Kingdom did. They were doomed.
While her husband preached of the strategic flaws to siding with the Earth Kingdom, Ursa knew it was more to the story of him wanting to side with the Water Tribe. She knew this was personal. Both his friend and former lover were of the Nation he wanted to defend. Though it was noble of him to want to protect his personal allies, Azulon was Fire Lord and made the ultimate decision. They had to respect his wishes no matter what. Not try and manipulate it as her husband was trying to do.
Shaking her head as she could not stand behind him on this, "Return that girl, Ozai. She doesn't belong here. Not with us."
"She's our son's bride." Ozai's voice went cold. "The girl stays."
And with that, the Fire Prince left his wife in the dining room. There were more important matters he needed to take care of.
….
"I'm fine." Katara said as Zuko walked her back to her chambers with the water maidens following close behind.
"I know but I just wanted to be sure. It's your first time here in the Fire Nation. I know you're here on business but you can still enjoy your time here." The firebender told her as she sent him a hopeful smile.
Thanking him, the princess parted let her maidens enter before her and turned in for the night. She sighed on the other end of the door. So the Fire Lord was likely to side with the Northern Earth King by arrange marriage. She could understand that. However; she could keep the Fire Nation from entering the war regardless of the crowned Prince's marriage to the Earth Princess. If she married the Fire Lord's nephew, he'd become Chieftain with her, making it just as difficult to side against the Water Tribes as to side against the Northern Earth Kingdom.
Fortunately, seeing Zuko again, it made it less an issue for her to complete her mission. If the Fire Prince wanted her to marry his son, she could do that. Zuko had become quite handsome over the years. Not to mention how much taller he was. She half expected to see the boy she remembered picked flowers for her all the time as children. She didn't know why back then he had picked those flowers for her but now she knew he had a crush on her. Out of all the potential suitors she could have, Zuko was the best one. Not only was she familiar with him and his family, they got along perfectly well. Most political marriages had no love in them but maybe that could turn out to be different for them.
The middle of the night, Princess Katara found she couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts about the coming days. War, alliances, her family, and pretty much her own destiny in all this. Katara hadn't a clue what she was going to do with herself. She climbed out of bed and slipped her feet into the comfy slippers the Fire Prince provided her. Her hair swung back and forth as it cascaded down her back. She put on the long robe laying on the back of the chair to her bedroom's vanity and snuck out her room.
The door to her chambers shut quietly behind her as she walked away from it in the hopes to walk off her restlessness. Sure, she didn't know how safe it was here at night or any time of day after that incident earlier but she knew she could handle herself no matter what.
Night was the most serene time of day for her and most waterbenders. The moonlight, chirping and songs of wildlife, the stars twinkling, the calm serenity of the world as a whole. This was her zen. Her peace of mind. She closed her eyes and let herself feel all that was around her, taking each step as if she were trying to savor the taste of honeydew.
"Out past curfew."
The teenager opened her eyes to see the Fire Prince stand directly in front of her with his arms crossed over his bare chest. He was wearing only a pair of night pants and his hair tossed messily to one side. She stumbled back in a moment of shock before regaining herself. Why was he out here late at night?
"Sorry, I needed some air." She told him.
Deciding he'd let it past for tonight, Ozai told her to turn around and they would head back to her chambers. He didn't need her out and about when she had run into some crazed man that snuck into the palace. He promised her safety to her father. He planned to keep it.
Walking by the Fire Prince's side back to her chambers, Katara looked up at him and notice a heavy red scratch mark on his bare shoulder.
"Who scratched you?" She leaned in closer to examine it.
"None of your business." He responded to her.
Rolling her eyes, the teenage girl stopped in her steps and rose her brow when he faced her.
"What?"
"Is everything around here not any of my business? Like the fact no one knew I was arriving with you, or that your son doesn't know why I'd be here. Or better yet, why you didn't tell me or my father that your father, the Fire Lord, was marrying your nephew to the Northern Earth King's daughter." Katara was not about to play games with this man. She knew while he had years of wisdom, cunningness, and deceit under his belt, she wasn't a fool. He was hiding something. "You had a trunk filled with clothes that were ready to be worn by me and I know you had no intention of leaving the Southern Tribe without me. What are you hiding, your highness?"
You're a clever girl. Something he expected of the daughter of Kya. However; he wasn't about to tell her anything that could jeopardize his plans or get her to be against him the rest of her time here.
The Fire Prince looked away from the girl and turned to the courtyard just to the side of them. "I knew of the Northern Earth King's plans. However; I don't believe it beneficial to the Fire Nation to side against the Water Tribes."
"And neither do I, your highness." Katara replied.
"Then you agree that a marriage alliance needs to be forged?" Ozai looked over his shoulder at her.
Nodding her head, "I have a duty to my people whether I like it or not. But I don't like being in the dark. I'll be Chieftain one day and need to be well informed."
"Then you will be from this point forward." Ozai agreed.
"Good. Because I have a question." Katara said as she felt victorious.
The Fire Prince groaned as he forced her to continue walking.
"Do you have a curfew enforced because you don't want to be caught slipping away to the harem or is it just a coincidence?" The waterbender smirked as they reached her door.
Opening the doors to her chambers, Ozai grabbed the Water Princess and shoved her in. He wasn't about to entertain that question. It was none of her business.
….
The Fire Prince woke the next morning with a few concubines in his bed curled against him. As he wiped the sleep from his eyes and turned on his side, Ozai looked out at his window. The women he laid with all moved closer to him, trying to steal his warmth and continue on from last night. It was always the same thing late night to morning. Taking the concubines from the harem and having them in his chambers, waking to their naked bodies around him. Some mornings he'd wake annoyed and dismiss them. And mornings like today, he'd just lay with them. They were all the same women he usually enjoyed. Rarely did he have a taste for something unfamiliar.
As one of the concubines climbed on top of him, Ozai turned on his back and gazed up at her. His hand reached to lay on the side of her face. This one woman was a favorite. She had pale grey eyes that almost looked blue and tan skin that was almost the complexion of the Water Tribes. Her hair was a lot lighter than most Fire Nation people. There was no mistaking his attraction to her was solely because of her slight resemblance to a woman he hadn't yet let go of.
"Your highness, I'm here to serve you." She said in that soft voice of hers.
Moving his hand down from her face to her breasts, "Then serve me."
The woman smirked and the slithered her way down under the sheets. Ozai looked up at the ceiling while the woman performed her services on him, shutting his eyes to imagine it were someone else.
The silhouette of a naked woman lying on her side behind the white veil hanging over her bed drew the prince, who was lost in his surroundings. He carefully made his way to the veiled woman and circled the bed repeatedly until he stopped on the opposite side she faced.
Patting the veiled canopy, Ozai slid himself in and crawled his way over to this woman with her back turned to him. He reached her and grabbed her around her waist. The smooth ebony skin of hers was incredibly soft beneath his fingertips. His hand traveled up her side until he took hold of her breast. They were smaller than he remembered but still enough for him to enjoy. And as he toyed with this woman's breast, eliciting pleasurable moans from her lips, he felt something over her nipples. A piercing of sorts.
This detail went ignored as he curled himself behind this woman and bit into her neck. Her voice cried out as he sucked on the tender skin of her neck, pulling her closer.
"More, My Prince. I want more." The woman called for him to continue. However; he seemed to fade away and so did the woman.
Coming back to reality, the Fire Prince opened his eyes and noticed a pair of gold eyes glaring at him as he looked to the side, wife standing in the doorway.
"Are you finished?" She asked, alerting the five concubines in his bed.
Not quite. He answered her in his head as he dismissed the women. I'll finish later. Ursa watched in disgust as each woman quickly ran past her.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Ozai stared in a mixture of boredom and irritation at his wife. "What do you want?"
"I want to finish talking about last night. I think it's a terrible idea to propose marriage between our son and the girl to your father." Ursa crossed her arms, wanting to stand her ground with him.
Standing from bed, Ozai discarded the sheets covering him and walked over to his dresser for his robe. He knew his wife didn't much like the sight of him naked. Not that he cared. He didn't like her looking at him either. As he grabbed his robe and placed it around him, the Fire Prince brushed past her to leave his room and walk to his sitting room. He didn't much feel like talking on an empty stomach.
Arriving in his sitting room the servants had already brought his breakfast and set it out for him. He took a seat at the low table and picked up His chopsticks. Ursa sat across from him, still holding that foul scowl of hers. Of course, it didn't faze him. A lot of things this woman did didn't faze him anymore.
Pushing the bowl of milk and wheats to his wife, the dish he never ate, Ozai prompt her to eat. "I hate being watched while I eat. Unless you eat too, we're not talking."
"Particular as always." She responded as she began eating what her husband had always refused to eat. Picky bastard.
The Fire Prince waited till he was able to eat at least half of his breakfast before engaging in this futile conversation with his wife.
"I plan on discussing things with my father today. If he agrees, the girl stays. If not, I'll return her. Deal?" Ozai hated nothing more than pointless feuds. Better to strike a truce and be down with it than to drag out what didn't much matter.
Ursa knew it was a losing battle if she pressed him to not go through with it and agreed to respect his wishes of consulting his father about the matter. In the end, Azulon had the final say.
"Alright, seeing as that's sorted out. Leave." Ozai looked up at her with callous eyes.
Returning to cold gaze, "Gladly."
…..
Knocking on the Water Princess's chamber door, Zuko waited till a water maiden answered it and smiled at her.
"Is Princess Katara up yet?" He asked.
The water maiden shook her head, "No, my lord. She's still asleep."
"Well could you give her this?" The firebender handed the water maiden a tray of food he personally brought for her. It was a servant's duty but he figured it was better coming from him. After last night at dinner, he didn't want the princess to feel down about it.
The water maiden gladly accepted the tray and bowed to the firebender before shutting the door. Zuko turned around to leave only to see his father heading his way with a sly grin on his face. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"The servants didn't want to approach her." Zuko said as his father reached him.
Yes, Ozai figured none of the palace servants would want to get close to the Water Princess. The Fire Nation and Water Tribes were not enemies but they were much friends either. The same way tribespeople stared at him strangely, the people here would do the same to Princess Katara. It was expected. However; that aside, he was rather pleased to see his son going out of his way for the princess. It meant good news for him in the context he planned on them wedding.
"I'm going to speak with your grandfather this morning. You'll join me as it concerns you." Ozai placed a firm grip on his son's shoulder as he knocked on the door of the Water Princess's door.
"She's a sleep." Zuko told his father.
"I don't care." He said as the water maiden opened the door and he pushed her out of his way.
Entering the chambers he assigned to Katara, Ozai made his way to her bedroom, passing the water maidens that bowed and looked to him cautiously. Zuko followed closely behind his father. As they reached the bedroom door, the Fire Prince didn't even bother to knock and opened the door.
Knocked out with his arms and legs splayed all over the place, hair messily covering her face, Katara laid snoring. Zuko raises his brow at the strange way the waterbender slept as his father went over to her bedside and yanked the covers off. Seeing the girl laid naked under her sheets, Zuko turned his head.
Keeping his eyes on the sleeping girl's face, Ozai pulled the thin layers sheets over her and shook her. "Wake up!" He raised his voice.
It took several attempts for him to finally wake her, however; when she did wake, she pulled her dagger from under her pillow and grabbed the Fire Prince, throwing him on the foot of the bed as she hurried to straddle him. Her blade going to his neck as she held the covers over her nude body.
Hands raised in a mock surrender, "Lower your blade, Katara."
"Katara!" Zuko looked bewildered as he saw the princess holding a knife to his father's throat.
Slowly waking fully, Katara dropped the blade and climbed off the Prince immediately as she realized he wasn't the attacker in her dream.
"Sorry, I-I I had a dream someone was trying to kill me." She said as she backed herself away, holding the sheets to her body.
Sitting up, Ozai straightened himself out and stared at the teenage girl. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already."
"Well, I didn't know it was you." She said before looking over to see Zuko standing there baffled at what he just witnessed. "Hey, Zuko."
Waving his hand at the princess, "Hi, Katara."
"So what do you guys want? Or better yet, what do you want?" She shifted her gaze back to the Fire Prince.
Standing up on his feet, Ozai walked over to her dresser and looked through it. "I plan on speaking with my father today about your case. I need you to be ready when he summons you. No doubt he'll want to get a look at you before he agrees to anything."
The princess stood still and looked back to Zuko, did he tell him yet? Probably not. She had a feeling Zuko wouldn't know a thing until after Fire Lord Azulon agreed.
After the Fire Prince went through her dresser and picked out what she should wear, Katara was left alone with her servants.
"Is this what the Prince wants you to wear, your highness?" One of her water maidens asked.
Katara wasn't about to wear this. It was a heavy kimono. Blue but a Fire Nation design. She shook her head, she came here to represent her nation and her people, not be forced into assimilating with the Fire Nation culture.
The water maidens followed their lady's instructions to dress her in one of her finer outfits. If she was going to win the Fire Lord over to agree to her marrying his grandson, then she needed to look her best.
…
Knelt at the steps of his father's throne, Ozai and his son, Zuko, bowed their heads respectfully as they addressed the Fire Lord.
"Why have you come here, Ozai?" Azulon's old and raspy voice was anything but kind as he spoke to the son that he didn't care too much for.
Head bowed as he began to reply to his father, "I've returned from the Southern Water Tribe with the daughter of the current Chieftain. She wishes to make an alliance, your majesty."
Azulon raised his brow at his son. The girl wants an alliance with us? The withering old man stroked his beard and looked down upon his son.
"What does she offer?" Azulon asked curiously.
"Her hand." Ozai raised his head.
"To whom?"
"My son, Zuko."
Zuko's eyes widened as his father explained the details of this proposal. She was her father's heir and needed to form an alliance in order to protect the country she would inherit. His father went on to say that he told her he could promise her nothing, that she would have to come before his grandfather to make the request. The young firebender hadn't a clue what to think. Why didn't Katara tell him? Why?
Hearing the case brought before him, Azulon raised his hand to stop his son from continuing, he needed a moment to think. Other than having one of his descendants become co-Chieftain with this girl, how did an alliance benefit his nation? What did the Water Tribes have to offer that the Earth Kingdom didn't? He asked his second son this and received an interesting reply.
"Princess Katara is not only a princess but a naval Admiral. She has training and experience in commanding military fleets. Not only would we have access to their unstoppable navy, we'd have a princess with military knowledge to add to our own. Also, her brother is soon to be Chieftain of the Northern Tribe, which means we'll have unlimited access to the seas and trading routes. Our economy would flourish."
Azulon liked the idea. Everything he's heard thus far sounded ideal and like a great opportunity for his country. However; he needed to see this girl for himself. He hadn't an idea what she looked like or if she was even willing to agree to things his son said she was. The Fire Lord was no fool. He knew his youngest son had a habit for manipulating and deceiving to get what he wanted.
"Have her brought to me. I want a look at this girl." Azulon ordered.
Ozai turned and looked to his servant, hasting them to go and fetch Katara. A few moments later the servant came back and the grand doors to the throne room opened. The three men all looked to see the Water Princess enter the throne room.
Barefooted, the Water Princess walked in with her head held high and her water maidens following closely behind. She was wearing her headdress as her hair was braided into a long fishtail that had a few strains hanging loosely in the front. Her hands and feet were decorated with body art as bangles were upon her wrists and ankles. She wore what was like a silk blue hoister for her breast as a top with crystal beads hanging from the bottom of it. Her stomach bare with her navel piercing exposed. She wore a skirt that draped behind her while it set high in the front, slightly above her upper thigh.
The youngest of the three men's mouth dropped at the sight of her as she came forward, leaving the other two to keep their own composure. Ozai looked away from her when her eyes fell on him. Azulon smirked to himself as he got an even better look at the girl. She's more than I expected. He half expected to see some ugly beast trample into his throne room when his son told him she was an Admirall. But she was anything but. If looks were all it would take to get him to agree to the alliance, she'd be marry to his grandson immediately. However; it would take more than that.
"Your majesty." Katara knelt and then bowed with her maidens following her lead.
Stroking his beard as he smirked down at the princess, "So you're Princess Katara of the Southern Water Tribe?"
Raising her head to gaze upon the wall of fire that obscured the man sitting behind it, Katara smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, your majesty."
"Hmm, my son tells me you seek an alliance. Is this true?" Azulon asked her.
"He offered my father and I an alliance, your majesty. We merely agreed." Her eyes dashed over to the Fire Prince who was now scowling at her.
So it was your idea? Azulon looked back at his son. He knew that bastard thought of it. The Water Tribes were too prideful to ask help from their nation. It didn't make much sense to him when he heard from his son of this deal. But now, he understood. Azulon looked to the girl again and saw her glaring at Ozai. She must also be aware of his son's game of manipulation. She was a clever one then. A great attribute for someone that could possibly be added to his family's line.
You're still playing games with me. Katara realized that she couldn't trust this man. As involved he's been in her life throughout the years, she had never known him outside of her dwelling and therefore did not truly know him. Other than what she heard from others, the Fire Prince she had grown up seeing all the time was a stranger. A stranger indeed. She felt betrayed.
Ozai knew he had pissed off the teenager but that was not his concern at the moment. He needed to see to it that his father approves of this arrangement. She needed an army to fight for her people. He would give her one. Or at least try.
"Tell me, girl. Has my son told you that I've already been offered to marry my eldest grandson to the Northern Earth King's daughter?" The Fire Lord asked.
Snatching her eyes from the Fire Prince, "He's told me no such thing. I had to find out last night at dinner with his family." She said in aggravation.
"Then do you think it is likely that I would want to miss out on the possibility of aligning my nation with one as wealthy as ours?"
The princess reluctantly shook her head and dropped her gaze.
"But fath-"
"Silence!" The Fire Lord's voice silenced and stilled the entire room. "You've tried to manipulate me again, Ozai, and for that I'm sentencing you to house arrest for twenty days!"
The punishment was a bit much but the Fire Prince had faced worse. This was getting off easy. However; his son and the princess found it a bit harsh. Katara suddenly regretted saying anything against the prince now. She hadn't known he'd get in trouble like this.
Fire Lord Azulon returned his attention back to the Water Princess. "Before I give my final answer, girl. Tell me, one more thing. Are you of age yet?"
"No, your majesty. I won't be till this coming winter."
"A shame. I would have gladly taken you for a consort. You'd have your alliance then." Azulon chuckled loud as the princess stared with terror at him. "I gest, girl! You're much too young for me. But I'm sure my revolting son over there wouldn't be above it. He fucked your mother before she was of age. Hell, that bastard used her more than any and every whore in this palace combined. It's a wonder that she was even fit to marry your father. Keep your eyes peeled around him."
Katara was absolutely horrified what she heard. Her eyes trembled as they fell from the Fire Lord and went to his son. The Fire Prince had his head turned away as he clenched his fists on the floor. She assumed he was just as upset as she was to hear this. But even so, she hadn't thought her mother and him had that sort of relationship. Her father always made it sound one sided and as if it was just some friendship that the Fire Prince developed romantic feelings in. To think it took her coming here to discover the truth. She was disgusted.
The Water Princess gathered herself to her feet and glared at the Fire Prince, "I've never been more disgusted in my life. You slept with my mother and remain friends with my father?! You're sick!" She sneered before storming out with her maidens hurrying behind her.
Azulon's laughter grew as she left out of the throne room. Zuko remained in his knees with his head bowed, glancing from the corner of his eyes at his father that was undeniably embarrassed and humiliated by what his father exposed. He hadn't known either that his father and the late Lady Kya had been together in that way. It made sense now why his mother hated Lady Kya.
As his laughter and amusement died down, Azulon grinned at the devastation he caused his second son. "Let that girl know that I've decided to consider the alliance. She's the kind of woman we need in our family. Strong and fiery women breed stronger Fire Nation heirs. Can't have you spineless boys of mine weakening the line. Your brother's just as bad as you are if not worse. I can imagine both your sons are just as pathetic. I want that girl in my meetings from now on. She'll take your spot while you're on house arrest, Ozai."
As much as he was disappointed in his father, Zuko couldn't help but see how harsh a punishment this was for him. Not only was he placed on house arrest and humiliated, an outsider was going to take his place in the meetings.
Ozai said nothing when his father finally dismissed them. When he and his son reached the hallways, guards immediately surrounded him.
"We have orders to escort you to your wing of the palace, your highness." One of the guards spoke up, knees trembling as the notoriously cruel prince stared murderously at him.
Zuko was beyond himself in words as his father was taken by the guards to their wing of the palace. This was madness. And it was all because of Katara. She shouldn't have spoken against his father. She should have at least gone along with it. Now his father was being publicly humiliated by his grandfather.
…
"That lying bastard!" Katara screamed as she threw her things back into her luggage. That son of a bitch tried to play her again. Telling his father that it was her idea! It was his! She wouldn't have dare come up with the idea. Then to find out the true nature of his mother's relationship with him. They were lovers. And not only that but it sounded as if he had continued that relationship with her mother long after her mother married her father. How could he call himself her father's friend when he was sleeping with her mother?!
The princess continued yelling and packing when she heard her water maidens down the hall shouting at someone.
"Your highness, please. Leave."
"Our lady wishes to be alone, your highness."
"Please, your highness."
"Get the hell away from me before I burn one of you to a crisp!" Katara heard the Fire Prince threaten her maidens. "This is my home!"
Tossing the clothes in her hands aside, the princess marched her way to her bedroom door and opened it to the sight of the prince fuming in front of her as he towered over her. She was about to say something when he grabbed her by the throat and forced her back into her room, slamming the door behind them. Her maidens rushed to open the door, banging loudly on it as they yelled for their princess.
Katara found herself being thrown on her bed and pinned down by a furious Prince Ozai. She wasn't all that happy with the sight of him either.
"You ungrateful wench!" He growled at her.
"So this is what you're really like? No wonder my mother left you." She refused to yell at him, he wasn't worth the energy.
"Don't speak of things you know nothing about, girl! And clearly, you know nothing because if you had, you would have minded your tongue!" Ozai tightened his hand on her neck. "Do you understand what you've just done?! I'm on house arrest because of you! And guess who's taking my place until I'm off?!"
"Who?"
"You!" He yelled. "My father decided he likes you enough to think on it longer but in the meantime, you're my replacement!"
"And that's bad for me how?" Katara found it amusing that his father was wanting to punish him and have her step in for him. Plus, the Fire Lord was even going to give it more time to process the proposal. Sounded good to her.
Throwing his fist into the bed just slightly above her head as he continued holding her neck, "Do you even know what it is I do, princess?" He snarled lowly.
"No but I'll figure it out." She replied smugly.
Becoming even more infuriated by her, Ozai pushed himself off of the girl and glared down at her. "You've made the wrong enemy, girl. Now, you're on your own."
With that, the Fire Prince stormed from her room, knocking the water maidens that crowded him away and into the wall.
"Fine! I couldn't trust you anyway!" Katara yelled as he was leaving. I don't need you anyway! I never did! She thought.
…..
Ursa saw her son in the courtyard laying in the grass by the pond, his arm was over his face. She went down the steps to go to him. Wanting to comfort her son who looked in need of it. When she came upon him, sitting just above his head, she poked at the tip of his nose.
Zuko swatted her hand away as he sat up. He turned to her with an unreadable look and she immediately worried.
"What's wrong, my love?" Ursa reached to cup her son's face.
Gazing down, "Father's on house arrest."
I knew something like this would happen. Ursa warned him but he refused to listen to her.
"Father told grandfather that Katara wanted to marry me in order to strike an alliance but Katara told him it was father's idea." Zuko went on to explain what happened and even included what he discovered about his father and Lady Kya.
The Fire Princess listened to her son tell her what unfolded today in the throne room. She was not surprised that her father in law had been cruel to her husband and vulgar to the Water Princess. However; it disturbed her that her son had to be dragged in the middle.
Looking up to his mother, "Is dad having an affair with Lady Kya, why you hated her?" Zuko was suddenly curious.
"I never hated that woman, Zuko." Ursa put on a face of kindness for her son. "And they didn't have an affair. They were together long before your father and I married."
Well that made sense. From what he remembered of Lady Kya, he couldn't see her having an affair.
Standing up, Ursa offered her hand to her son for him to walk with her. "You needn't worry, my love, about that girl or your father. Whatever happens has nothing to do with you. I'll make sure of that."
And she would. She'd be damned before she let her son marry the daughter of that woman. I won't let you continue to win, Kya. Especially not in death.
….
A/N: let me know how you feel!