::~ Revamped as of April 23rd, 2012.

::~

"YOU'RE WHAT?" Katara yelled in the midst of the throne room. She rose out of her seat and slammed her hands on the table. Startled, the men jumped slightly. The woman truly looked murderous. They were scared with good reason, as well. She could make the blood inside you boil or run cold.

"We were considering the betrothal of our Fire Lord to an Earth Kingdom dignitary's daughter, to help strengthen ties-" A man started, only to be cut off by Katara. She raised a hand and looked at him with fire in those icy eyes.

"I heard what you said!" She snapped. She left her seat and began to walk around the long conference room table. Zuko sat comfortably in his chair, with an amused grin. He's seen Katara in this state before, and knows how to handle her. The Fire Sages, and members of the conference, however, did not.

He would let them suffer a bit longer.

"Lady Katara of the Water Tribe, it seems best if we discuss it now-" Started another man. He was brutally cut off as well. Zuko finally decided to do something and stood up from his chair, holding up a hand and commanding everyone's attention. The council members looked up and sat up straight, for the Fire Lord commanded even more attention than the jealous woman. Katara merely raised an eyebrow, as if challenging Zuko to oppose her.

"My betrothal to someone is the least of our worries. Right now, we still have reparations to pay, and a quarter of the country is still in poverty. I highly suggest we pay attention to those problems first." He said, with an authorative tone. After mulling over what he said, Katara;s temper simmered down. She knew that when Zuko said highly suggested something, he usually meant obeyed without question. She sent one last angry glare towards the man who started up the subject in the first place and went back to her seat.

::~

"Uncle, you should have seen them. I think they were going to pee themselves." Zuko said, chuckling between the words. His uncle was already spewing his tea, laughing heartily. It wasn't very often that both men were able to sit down and talk about something other than politics.

"Lady Katara surely is something else, isn't she?" Iroh said with a knowing grin. Zuko nodded in between laughs. He took a swig of his Ginseng tea, and answered, " She sure is. I don't know what I'd do without her."

Iroh smiled and raised an eyebrow, waiting for the meaning of those words to sink into Zuko's brain. Once Zuko realized what he said, he began to stutter, and his eyes widened considerably, even the one with the scar.

"I didn't- I mean't- Don't think-Ugh!" He said, rubbing his temples. "Uncle, stop using that trick. I get headaches already when Toph uses it to get what she wants." Zuko complained. Iroh grinned, not really regretting what he did. If it made his nephew realize where his true future lied, he would do whatever it took.

"She's the very person I learned it from, Nephew. So, about Lady Katara. What do you plan on saying to her, now that she has told you her feelings?" Iroh asked, sipping his tea. Zuko didn't even bother to be surprised that his uncle had known. Zuko swore that man had eyes and ears all over the palace.

"I'm not sure." Zuko said, picturing Katara's cerulean eyes in his mind.

::~

"Stupid council members. 'It is in our best interest' and 'We think it would be best if-' nonsense." Katara grumbled childishly. She kicked a rock that was on her path outside in the gardens. She found herself walking through this same path every day. Why? She wouldn't know.

"Zuko will not get married. He can't!" She said, pouting. Of course it wasn't like it mattered if he got married… okay it did.

She found herself near a small pond. The water beckoned her, and she couldn't resist sitting by it's edge and playing with the small family of turtle ducks.

"He didn't even give me an answer..." She said softly. She tucked her navy blue dress underneath her feet so it wouldn't get wet. Untying her white sash from her waist, she used it to tie her hair up.

"It's so hot," She complained, fanning herself. She saw Iroh come,and smiled at him. He was holding two cups of tea that she politely refused.

"Iroh, do you know why it's so hot today? Hotter than any other day?" She asked. Iroh nodded and cleared his throat. She suspected he was about to tell a grand tale.

"Today, what was recorded in history, the day Oma and Shu met each other in the Cave of Two Lovers."

It's the Hottest day of the year in the Fire Nation,

The Coldest in the water tribes,

The Softest in the Earth Kingdom,

The most Windy in the Air Nomad Temples.

Two Lovers, forbidden from one another

A war divides their people

And a mountain divides them apart.

Build a path to be together

And follow their hearts.

One of Fire,

One of Rain,

Destined to find each other again and again.

Iroh finished his tale with a flourish. Katara grinned. "That was a beautiful story. It sounds familiar..." Katara wondered, gazing back at the pond.

"Let me know when you figure it out." Iroh said, winking.

::~

I took the liberty of continuing the Two Lover's song. I don't know if it actually goes this way, but oh well. Copyright belongs to Bryke. Please read and review!