Ch 7
In the rooms of the royal favorite, Lord Ozai's latest mistress, Mei-Lien, a beauty of twenty-two years, nearly her own age, the women clucked like hens, words dripping in innuendo while playing cards. Among them talk of the prowess of the Fire Lord himself; anything from the Agni kai courts to the bedroom. "Look at those legs, those shoulders." "How can he not be a magnificent lover?" "Well of course he is! He's plenty of experience in many a bed." "And other places." Talk shifted then to the prince, choosing to ignore the one woman who had the luxury of a roll with the handsome young man. "Have you ever seen him with a woman though?" "Never." "I hear his taste is for men." "Obviously he's never eaten my fruit." Mei-Lien tossed another pile of coins on the table then laid down her cards, attention turned to Katara, who had remained silent the entire time. "Me thinks our Crown Prince instead prefers the taste of imported fruits. A shame that his hunger must be sated outside his homeland."
Katara called for one card more and pretended to study her hand for a moment. Biting her lip in mock innocence and, in her thickest accent, as she laid down her cards, "Perhaps if the native fruit were not so bitter a prince would be more willing to sample its offerings." Holding back her smile, she gathered her winnings in the pocket of her dress and bid the other ladies a good day leaving some to laugh in appreciation, above all Mei-Lien who clapped in agreement, and others to boil at the insult.
"What are you smiling about?" said prince questioned as he passed her in the hallways.
"Oh just talking about culinary experiences with the ladies," she tossed not wanting to linger with him in plain sight, "Now I must meet Iroh for tea."
He bowed graciously and husked, "Will I see you tonight?"
With no doubt. This imported fruit was in need of a good plucking from her capable farmer.
oooOOOoooOOOooo
Being General Iroh's courtesan, Katara was allowed great freedoms to wonder about the palace. She enjoyed the unique architecture that was a blend of elaborate Earthese and simpler Firish styles. In one great hall were the images of her prince's ancestors- a line of powerful men, and, occasionally, the mother who ruled just as greatly as any son but was nearly ignored in history. Studying one such ancestor, she heard a group laughing at the sultry baritone of the one and only Fire Lord. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched with great amusement as he dismissed the guards with a knowing wink and Katara knew all too well what his intentions were. Her stomach rolled and she felt a bit of bile at the back of her throat. Curious, she thought.
"Ah! Learning about the Sozin the Great, are you?"
"Is that who that is? I had no idea," she feigned. Of course she knew of the Fire Lord Sozin. In her lands, he was spoken of quite often and not in good terms. He had fought against her people in an effort to gain access to their lands to expand his territory. If not for the brutal landscapes surrounding their cities, he might have succeeded.
"Indeed. He is my grandfather. A brilliant man! I hope to follow his lead not like my father who was weak." He turned his head to her and lifted the corners of his mouth in a sneer. "Where are my manners? A lovely bird such as you is not interested in such things. My sources tell me you enjoy reading?" He hardly gave her a moment to respond when he announced there was something he wanted to show her. She listened to him talk of himself and his glorious accomplishments past and future, as he led them to a corner of the palace she was not familiar with. With the overdress of the guards, she safely assumed this was the Fire Lord's private quarters. Nodding to a guard, the grand oak door opened to a room filled with books from floor to ceiling, imported sculptures and art, and lavish furnishings fitting a royal. Despite herself, Katara gasped in awe, breaking from his grasp and pulling first one book then another from the shelves.
"Lovely, isn't it?" he drawled.
"Oh indeed!" she agreed, flashing her well-practiced smile and demure turn of the head.
She felt his gaze on her and finally felt him come up behind her, his musk heavy in his nostrils. Clearly he chose to mask his lack of hygiene in perfumes rather than bathe as those of Ba Sing Se. His arms came around her and presented a small package. She tried to turn to slip from him but he was too close and she knew better. Delicately unwrapping the present, a small book imprinted with tiny writing. Making out the words, Katara gasped again. Ozai grinned vainly, "It is from the great library of Wan Shi Tong. Few remain but I managed to get my hands on this little jewel."
Turning, Katara curtsied. "That is most generous of you, Your Majesty. But I cannot possibly accept something so precious. This belongs in a museum or a university. Not in the hands of a woman."
"You can and you will," his eyes hardened, clearly not used to someone declining a gift, slowly softening to something more akin to lust than to anything else. "A jewel for a jewel. It is an honor to give something that someone should truly appreciate." He ran a finger along her jaw and down her throat, licking his lips like a cat about to devour the mouse. Katara got the roll in her stomach again and to her delight was interrupted by a noise behind them.
Zuko stood in the doorway and it was all it took for Katara not to rush to him. The wounded darkness grew in his eyes and Zuko turned his head. "I apologize for not knocking but Your Majesty is needed in the counsel room."
Ozai sighed overdramatically and turned back to Katara lifting her palm to his lips. "I trust to hear your thoughts on the book next time I see you. It would displease me to find that you did not enjoy what I gave you." With great pomp the Fire Lord left Prince and Lady in the room. Katara looked at the book in her hand, and then to Zuko. What she did not know, that Zuko did, was that this gift as it were was the Fire Lord's token to be the next favorite. Because she did not know this, she couldn't understand the hurt in his eyes, the anger that wafted, and the loneliness as he refused to see her.
oooOOOoooOOOooo
Katara sat atop her komodo-dragon, her dark blue wool riding habit rustling in the early morning breeze, the reins resting in her gloved hands. She had been invited on the royal hunt by Fire Lord Ozai himself, and to a lesser extent, Iroh as well. Try as she might, she could not avoid the Fire Lord any longer and so had accepted the invitation. While the group waited impatiently for the arrival of the Fire Lord, Iroh was off at the front of the group conversing with several other high officials. The little group of women huddled tightly in a pack were too busy choosing which man they would hunt today to pay any attention to the foreigner. Despite being left alone, Katara sat proudly on her komodo-dragon ignoring those that were ignoring her. Finally, Fire Lord Ozai rode out to them. He was the epitome of wealth and power in his gold-trimmed, brown velvet coat with gilded buttons, heavy leather boots, and black hat turned up at the brim. The entourage dipped their heads to their sovereign and laughed at his stupid jokes. As the group finalized the preparations for the morning hunt, the hounds at the heels of the dragons ready for the fight, it was Ozai to notice the addition to their party.
"It would seem we have been graced by the presence of the good prince," he laughed, too loudly in Katara's opinion. The rest of the group laughed along with their Fire Lord. "I do so hope we didn't keep you waiting."
They had been so cautious about their interactions that Katara hid her gasp of surprise and moment of unease as Zuko maneuvered his beast beside her own. The near week since that day in the library had felt like an eternity since she had last been around him. Her pulse raced. He was even more magnificent than his father in his tan coat, breeches and woolen socks. His head was bare, showing off his fine black hair tied neatly at the back. His eyes flicked to hers then to his father. She could see him roll a response in his head but the words never left his lips before Ozai commanded the group on to the forests, "'Tis a fine day for sport," and off they went. The pace was leisurely as men floated between the women flirting openly to those interested. Even Iroh, who rode three ahead of her, would lean down to whisper into one such lady's ear to which she would giggle and bat her eyes. It amused her greatly. Katara managed to keep at the back regardless of how often she was encouraged to come to front with the Fire Lord.
Zuko reached out and grabbed the reins, slowing both of them to a halt. Once the remaining party was far enough ahead, he spoke. "It would seem as though you've impressed my father." She couldn't read his words well enough. Was that jealousy? Sadness?
"Oh?" she replied, smirking beneath her hat. "Is that not a good thing?"
"Those that impress him tend to find themselves beneath him." his words were terse. And words unspoken were crystal clear.
Katara's casual smile faltered to a frown. "I know of your father's reputation and for his tastes." Zuko sucked in his bottom lip, like a spoiled child to anyone who did not know that he did that when he worried. "You would think so little of me that I could be swayed by him?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Then please do tell! Because you make me sound the whore. Bedding my way up. "
"He is the Fire Lord. He gets everything he wants and the way he looks at you…" He sucked in his lip again, fighting the words that wanted to spill out. "He gave you that book, for Agni's sake!"
"'Tis a book. It means nothing."
"It means everything!" His hand shook as it brushed through his hair. Amber eyes darted not wanting to look. "He wants you and that is his way of showing it. He's going to take you away from me, just like everyone else."
Katara grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips. She kissed it before tucking it against her heart. "This is yours. Only you. Since I have met you, it has only been you. As long as you will have me that is the way it will be."
Zuko's eyes finally lifted. "I know."
"Then please… I know what I am. I know the words spoken. I am no different than Mei-Lien. Pleasing the royals to get ahead. But that is not the true me. I speak to him because I have to. I dine with him because I have to. Being a woman, and a foreigner of no significant blood, I have no choice if I want to stay in the palace with you. Do you understand that?"
He nodded.
Continuing, Katara felt the tears well in her eyes, "Do not push me away with what little time we have left to ourselves." Zuko moved to ask what she spoke of then he remembered. His bride. Katara heard the rumors of her imminent arrival. It was a matter of now weeks rather than months. The negotiations now complete. Soon he would no longer be hers alone. And that broke her heart.
The hunt long over, in the privacy of his rooms he showed her how much she meant. His marriage nearing he was to create a crest for he and his new bride. Zuko drew on parchment the design. The letter "Z" guarded on both sides by a "K". "You are my protector. You stand by me and will always be a part of me. This is my symbol. There is no me without you."
Despite herself, Katara laughed. "Won't your bride be upset?"
Zuko smiled his devilish smile, "From what I've heard, I don't think she'll have a clue. Now come and let me mark you with my crest."
"Oh, that's all?" she purred. "Not ever," he replied.
oooOOOoooOOOooo
Within the week, the preparations were made for the arrival of the new princess. Her rooms in the palace were primed for herself and her attendants brought with her from Ba Sing Se. Katara tried to smile on with a brave face but inside she was dying. She had never felt this jealously before and it unnerved her. She knew men visited other women. Heavens above she was one of the other women. But to be so close to the wife, it was just… taboo. It was clearly the nerves of his nuptials that caused her to lose her stomach- meals coming up as soon as they went down. There was no other explanation. And that it was the hottest summer in Fire Nation history, all viable explanations. Surely.
It was as she watched Zuko's carriage roll away to go to greet his bride-to-be at port, the world began to spin then go white then black. Iroh, who had taken her inside to her chambers, pressed the cool cloth against her head. "I don't know what came over me," she blubbered, trying to rise from the chair.
The old man shook his head and laid his hand on top of hers. "How long since you've bled?"
Katara blushed. How dare he discuss woman matters with her! She calculated and as the numbers played, she felt herself go faint again. "Iroh, please. Please do not tell him! Please! I can't burden him with such a thing. Not with his wedding. Who am I to ruin-?" Iroh shushed her as only he could.
"Quiet, child. Quiet. You are not the first mistress to carry a royal bastard. You will certainly not be the last. He will be told. It is up to you to make that decision if the words come from your lips or those harpies in there." His head swung to the ladies of court. Turning back to her, he tucked a stray hair behind her ear and smiled. "I don't think your concerns are nearly as warranted."
Katara glowered. He couldn't understand. She knew exactly what it meant. She would be cast aside as others before. No royal man wanted a woman with bastard. Zuko would find another and she would be left to go on her own again. She was not so much worried about money, which was easy to come by, but that the child wouldn't have a protector, a name to carry him on in life. A name was sometimes all that one had in this world. She prayed he wouldn't be the same, but only time would tell.
