Chapter 7

Ursa didn't know her way around the Palace, she hadn't been showing around by Fire Prince Oazi yet Rara had giving her precise instructions on how to to get to where her husband-to-be and General Iroh met to hold there talks. She didn't see any guards around the part of the Palace she walked down, she still was wearing her night clothing and she knew she had to get back to her room to get changed for that wedding rehearsal soon.

She eventually found the spot, she could see them just outside the Palace in a plain garden with no flowers but there was a simple fountain, she stood out of site and listened.

" Why did you really ask me to come out here and talk you brother? " Oazi asked annoyed " I know it isn't just to talk to me about what it is to be a good husband I already know my duty."

Oazi hates his brother but not as much as he hated his mother and father, at least Iroh cared about him, taught him and had made him a powerful Fire Bender.

Yet he lived in his brother's shadow, he had a wife he loved and his marriage was to show how the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation could be united, he had a son to continue his legacy and their fathers legacy.

Iroh looked to his brother and watched his son Lu Ten run his hand under the water fountain amused.

" I know your marriage was arranged by father as you have said as much . "

" What of it? Its not uncommon for royal to be married off, it not common to be married to a commoner though… Even if she's Roku's grand daughter and a beautiful woman she is nothing special." Oazi replied coldly

Iroh looked concerned yet disappointed in his brother's words yet he understood. It was unusual yet his father said it was important for the last Avatar's bloodline and his family's bloodline to join as one. Iroh saw issues with it but didn't speak up to his father or Oazi about it.

" I understand its unusual, yet so was my marriage, I fell in love with a stranger and I took the time to get to know her."

" I am trying to get to know Ursa, yet I feel no love for her, not in the way I should." Oazi admitted ashamed

Ursa grabbed her chest in her hidden spot, sure she wasn't expecting him to love her, yet it sounded like he didn't even care about her at all, had he been acting when she saw concern in his eyes when she was in bed from heat exhausting the other day?

Has she been so easily duped? Did part of her want to think that he would love her? She wasn't angry with his words though, love didn't have to exist in their marriage, their marriage had been arranged from the Fire Lord's will and desirer, she guessed the Prince had little choice in it as she had little choice.

She moved off so she could return to her room she should get ready for her wedding rehearsal, she had heard enough, she could act for him if needed, she did wonder if she loved him? Her childhood friend had loved her but she forced away any feelings she might have for him as she didn't want to ruin her friendship. Yet now she was to be with the Fire Prince for the rest of her life and was it possible for them to have what Iroh and Rara had?

Oazi had no idea Ursa had been eavesdropping on his words and she had left without hearing what else he had to say.

" Even if I don't love her now it could happen, yet I plan to be a good husband and I truly plan to devote my heart to her." Oazi explained dignified

Iroh nodded with a warm smile as he put his arms to his brother's shoulder.

" Sounds like you will be a good husband and I don't need to worry about you and Ursa when I return to war in a month." Iroh kindly replied

Oazi grumbled as his brother would be around a bit longer then he would like, he figured his brother wanted to spend time with his family yet keep an eye on him.

Iroh wondered off now as he bent down to pick up Lu Ten and he carried him off with wide smile on his face.

" I'll see you at the wedding."

Oazi stood as his brother left and he knew he should get ready for the rehearsal for his unwanted wedding. Marriage would be hard but he would endeavoured to make things work, he had to spend his life with Usra so why spend it feeling loathing and hate?

….

Ursa had been readied for the weeding rehearsal for awhile, she had been told that she'd be taken to the grand hall when it was time to go. She was bored though so she decided to read he favourite books she had brought with her. The story of 'The Dragon Princess and The Phoenix King' story was a bit how she felt now.

The Phoenix King had asked or the Dragon Princess hand in marriage, all the dragons were against the marriage as they knew the King was using the Dragon Princess for her power to grant a wish but she did not listen and married the Phoenix yet instead of wasting a wish on him she said one thing.

"Gave me your heart and I shall gave you power."

It was power he wanted though, with the force of dragons behind him, they burned down the lands he wanted and he finally had what he wanted.

The Dragon Princess thought he would be satisfied by what he had but he wanted more and more power and she realized what kind of being she had married.

She'd been told by the ladies in waiting that her stuff would be moved to Fire Prince Oazi's room during her wedding tomorrow, she was anxious and nervous about the wedding and the rehearsal was more so she knew how yo act and how to bow just right. Her wedding Kimono hung on the wall ready for her to be placed in tomorrow. She wore a simple formal red silk dress and her hair had been pinned up, a fresh flower had been placed in her hair, she put her book down frustrated as she hadn't been able to read much, yet as she put the book down there was a knock on the door.

She stood up and opened it and looked up as Royal Guards stood ready to escort her to the Grand Hall, she took note of her route as she was learning every nook and cranny of the Palace. The Grand Hall had people hanging decorating, placing out tables and chairs , the people noticed her and bowed to her but went back to work.

She took time to look at the lanterns and flowers, yet she noticed how they began to bow and she noticed the Prince of Fire Lord entered and Ursa bowed too.

Oazi came and picked up her up by her hands, he smiled with a warm smile on his face as he took over to The Fire Lord.

The Fire Lord began to exclaimed to pomp and circumstances of the ceremony, how she would be brought in, how they should stand how he would read the scroll that would untied them as man and wife.

" After I have announced you as man and wife you Ursa will bow toward Oazi and he will place your crown on your hair." Azulon explained

Ursa nodded silently and with understanding, she would not dare interrupt the Fire Lord and she wasn't in the mood to interact with either of these men. She felt a little sour about how they ripped her from her quiet normal life, she could of chosen her husband at home and hell maybe Ikem may have been her husband it if she wasn't so stubborn.

Azulon had finished talking and left the the two of them alone, Ursa breathed now almost as if she had forgotten the process, she was ready to leave Fire Prince Oazi be as it sounded like they would a long day tomorrow.

He caught her hand and she pulled it back to herself in a moment of defiance then remembered that there were servants around watching so she turned and took both his hands and kissed them.

She noticed his intense glare, she could tell she had annoyed him but she felt like a fool for letting him charm her, had her lack of experience in this field of love clouded her?

" Come, my brother has gifted me some of favourite Earth Kingdom tea and some of the cakes his wife could not eat. He wanted us to have a romantic evening tea before our wedding." Oazi explained softly

He kissed her hands gently, he noticed how she smiled, it was a look with enjoyment as his bead caught her soft skin. He guided her to a room and he opened the door into it and Ursa eyes widen with astonishment as she saw a room lit by the setting sun, there was a the sound of flowing water and there was a small pond with amazing flowers around it. She saw how this room connected to the outside of the Palace by a sliding door.

"Outside that sliding door is your surprise for after we are married, yet here is a small example of what I might have in store for you. You like nature and gardening so I had the servants make us a tea room that incorporated both." Oazi exclaimed kindly

Oazi has done this for her? She wonders around smelling fresh flowers and seeing a fire lily skilfully cut from its steam, it was was were the one in her hair had come from.

She looked at the small pond filled with small koi fish and Oazi sat with a smile as he watched her come over to him looking a little guilty. He poured the lose leaf tea though a device that caught the leafs so only the tea poured into two cups.

" Come drink, these loose leafs tea get a bit bitter if they are left to long."

She sat onto her knees and looked into his yellow eyes as he opened a picnic basket and took out the cakes out and placed them on the table diligently. Ursa sipped her tea tasting the fine tea, it was unlike anything she had ever had.

" This is excellent tea." Ursa exclaimed excited

" Now tell me Ursa what's has you snatching your hand away from me? What have I done to offend my wife-to-be"He asked kindly yet with a hint of anger in his tone.