Chapter Nine

"What happened when you went to join the army?" Maylin asked.

"They turned me down. They didn't believe me when I said I was eighteen. That surprised me, because my birthday was only a month later, so I would have turned the appropriate age not long after anyway. As frustrated as I was at this, I finally gave in and told them the truth. 'Fine,' I said, 'You're right, I'm not eighteen. But I will be in one month. So why can't I just join now? Why bother waiting for one extra month?' They just looked at me and told me that if I were smart, I'd gladly agree to stay home for another month before joining. But I couldn't go back. Not after I took the money like that from our mother and father."

He sighed, sounding depressed, and Maylin's heart went out to her brother. Even after being a bully to her and Iroh for all those years, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He finally set out to try and make a difference in the world, and the world turned him down.

"Go on," she said soothingly. "I'm listening."

"Like I said before, I couldn't go back home. So I just did whatever I could to survive for the next month. Some nights I was able to sleep outdoors because it was warm enough. On colder nights, I either suffered through it, or found some nice shelter of some sort. For a night or two a nice, older couple let me stay in their barn. That was how it went for a month though. I ran out of money real fast. When my birthday finally rolled around, I marched back to the army services and told them I was now eighteen. They took me, but begrudgingly. I don't think they had really believed me in the first place when I said I was turning eighteen soon."

Maylin nodded, realizing how it could have seemed like a lie. She waited for her brother to continue.

"Everything was going fine at first, or so it seemed. I was always picked on because I was the youngest. Actually, there were other guys there that were eighteen, but they all had proof. I was the one that everyone thought was the guy who lied about his age to get in. They didn't really think I was eighteen. It took me almost two weeks to finally make a friend. And by that time they already had me fighting in battles. It was rough …" he said, his voice trailing off, sounding as if he didn't want to relive those memories. Maylin cringed, sure that he didn't want to recount the war stories. She waited in silence, wanting him to continue when he was ready.

"So one day I had enough. I was being treated like dirt in the army. I was always put in the front lines, most likely in hopes that I would get killed, or at least mortally wounded so they could send me back home. When night time rolled around, I gathered up my stuff and high-tailed it out of there. We were way up north when I deserted," he said thoughtfully. "So it took me a while to get back down here. But I finally made it into this town last night. I was … unsure about going home right away," he said hesitatingly. "I thought maybe mother and father wouldn't take me back. So after wandering around in the alleys for the day, I decided to sleep here tonight. The palace was a peaceful place where I wouldn't get disturbed. At least," he paused, eyeing Iroh. "that's what I thought when I got here." He switched his gaze back to his sister, who was still patiently listening. "And that's about it. I'm still debating whether or not I should go home."

Maylin hesitated, not wanting to tell her brother news he wouldn't want to hear, but also knowing it wouldn't do him any good to lie to him. "Actually … isn't the punishment for deserting the army … death?" She nervously observed the ground, not wanting to make eye contact with her brother.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I think so. But you see," he said, continuing in a slightly louder tone, "that's why I can't go back. By now they already found out I ran away. And if I rejoin the army, they could kill me. But if I go home … well, I don't know what mother and father will think of me after I deserted them like that."

"I'm sorry," Maylin said. "I don't know what I can do to help you." She paused, looking around, wondering how to word what was on her mind. "You see, Father seems like the type to … well, want to send you back to the army if you ever did return home. You know? He's big on honor and stuff like that." She paused. "But then, if that did happen, you'd end up getting killed."

"I know," he said. "I've already run through all the possible options. The truth is," he said, sighing. "there's just nothing left for me. I may as well just give up."

"No, don't do that," she said gently. "I'm sure there's something you can do." She stopped to think for a second. "What about a job? You could get someone in town to hire you. Then you could make a living and start a new life."

"I thought about that," he said. "But everyone around here would recognize me. Besides, I don't really have any skills besides fighting. Who would want to hire me?"

"I'm sure you could find something in a town nearby." she said hopefully. "There's a lot of jobs out there that don't require too much skill. Or you could always become apprenticed to someone and learn a new trade. Either way," she said, getting excited. "you still have a chance for a job and a better life."

"Okay," he said slowly, her words and enthusiasm starting to encourage him. "But what about food and other necessities? I'm sure the closest town I could get to where people don't know who I am is at least three days away."

"I could provide you with some food. And I'm sure Iroh would chip in, too." she said.

Zhou Han raised an eyebrow in doubt. "Are you sure about that? I think he kind of … hates me."

"But he'll give you some if I tell him to," she said, smiling. "I got him to sit thirty feet away over by that tree, didn't I?"

"Yes you did, little sister, you did," he said admiringly. "Why is it that he listens to you like that? I mean, are you two … together? Or something?" he asked.

"Uh, well, not exactly," she said, blushing slightly and breaking eye contact. "We're best friends, you know, and it's been that way for years, but lately --"

"But lately you're beginning to wonder if there isn't something more?" he interrupted, looking at her with a gentle expression on his face.

"Yeah," she said quietly. That was exactly how she felt. "How did you know?"

"You seem to be forgetting that I was a teenager at one point in my life," he said smiling. "Actually, I still am." he said, laughing a little bit. "I'm only nineteen. But I sure feel a lot older than that."

"So … you would approve, though, right?" she asked quietly.

"Of you and Iroh?" he questioned, and she nodded. He sighed, thinking the question over. Even though she really didn't seek for his approval in such matters, she still felt it would put her at ease to hear him say the words.

"Let's just put it this way: I personally don't like him. But he has all the right qualities. He seems to be protective and caring, strong, friendly …" he paused, trying to think of other traits that he would want to see in a man when it came to marrying off his sister. " … intelligent, and most importantly, I think he really respects you as a person."

Maylin nodded, glad that her brother could appreciate and respect her judgment. Maybe he wasn't as bad or bully-like as she remembered him.

"Not that you would have to worry about marriage any time soon," he said. "You're still only fourteen, right?"

She nodded silently. "So does that mean you had your celebration ball?" he asked. She nodded again. "You took Iroh, no doubt … I just wish I could have been there, too." Maylin smiled, pleasantly surprised that her brother had matured for the single year he'd been gone. It meant a lot to her to hear him say that he wished he was there, even if Iroh was the one she danced with.

"You know what just crossed my mind, though?" Zhou Han asked his sister, shifting his weight to a different position. "If you marry him, you'll be the Fire Lady one day. That's a promising future."

"Zhou Han," she said, scolding her brother. "I wouldn't marry Iroh merely to gain a higher position for myself."

"But even so, it's a smart move." Maylin simply rolled her eyes, not surprised that her brother hadn't changed in one aspect; his desire for power.

"Is it okay if I call him back over here now?" she asked, shivering a little bit as a breeze started up. "That is, assuming you're done with your story."

"Yes, I'm done." he said. "You can call him over again." Zhou Han stood up, brushing himself off. "But I'll be going over there," he pointed to a little sheltered looking area that was formed by some bushes and trees. "And see what he thinks about providing me with food and the like for my journey to the next town." Maylin nodded, turning around to motion to Iroh that he should come back now while she heard her brother stand up and start to walk in the opposite direction. Iroh didn't need any motioning, though, for he had seen Zhou Han get up to leave and he was already on his way back.

"How'd it go? What did you talk about?" Iroh asked as he approached Maylin. The girl shrugged, and responded by saying, "He kind of doesn't want me to talk about it."

"Well, you can tell me right? You tell me everything," he said, his voice sounding disappointed.

"Later," she said quietly, not sure if Zhou Han was listening in on them or not. "Let's … take a walk." She said a little louder, thinking that maybe if her brother was listening, he would get the hint and go away. Iroh silently agreed and the two started walking in the opposite direction that Zhou Han had taken. They walked like that in silence for a minute or two, until they came to the flowerbed that Ilah had planted in the corner of the garden. The two sat on the ground, watching the beautiful flowers as they swayed in the wind. Maylin was the first to break the silence.

"He wants some food and money to take with him when he goes job hunting in the next town." She started off. "I can provide him with some, but … if I give him too much, my parents will notice the loss and get suspicious." She paused, looking at him, though he didn't look back. "He was wondering -- we were both wondering -- if you would be willing to give some."

Iroh hesitated before answering. But when he finally spoke, Maylin had to smile at what he said. "Fine. I'll give him some food and money. But only because you asked me to, not because he wants me to."

She laughed, and laid her head on his shoulder. "I figured you'd say that." A second later, she yawned, stretching her legs out on the grass in front of her.

"Are you getting tired?" he asked. "It is the middle of the night … and we've been out here for a little over a half an hour, I'm guessing."

"No, I'm not tired," she said, but another yawn proved otherwise. He gave her a look, and she smiled, admitting, "Okay, I am tired. But I don't want to go back home. I want to stay here, with you." Before he had a chance to respond, a series of shivers went down her spine, and he felt every single one of them, as her body was right next to his.

"You're freezing," he commented, noticing for the first time that night that she was only wearing her night gown. "You should go home before you catch a cold."

"I'll be fine," she insisted, not sure why she so desperately wanted to stay when her body was telling her that she physically couldn't take being awake and outside for much longer.

"No," he said, standing up and pulling her up with him. "You need to get home. Come on, let's go."

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked.

"I'm walking you home," he said, as if the answer should have been obvious.

"I'll be fine," she said. "It's only a five minute walk. You don't need to worry about me."

"It's dark and cold out, Maylin," he said firmly. "There's no way I'm letting you walk home alone."

"Well, what if I told you I wasn't going to let you walk home alone once you've dropped me off at my house?"

"Nonsense, I'll be fine," he said, brushing the subject off. "We should start going now before it gets any later."

"Iroh," she said firmly, looking him in the eyes. "I'm telling you that I will be fine." His gaze remained firm, just like hers, but he knew there was no convincing her.

"Fine," he said. "But at least take this with you so you won't be so cold," he said, taking his robe off.

"But Iroh," she said as he draped it around her shoulders. "You don't even have a shirt on. I at least have this night gown."

"If you can walk home alone tonight, then I think I can make it to my room without a shirt on."

"It defeats the whole purpose of me coming here tonight, though," she said, trying to hold back a smile at the irony of it all.

"No it doesn't," he said lightly. "You got to see me, didn't you?" She smiled, remembering that she did mention how she didn't see any harm in coming to visit him.

"I guess you're right about that," she said, looking into his eyes.

"Be careful on your way back, okay?" he said, and she nodded, wondering when he had leaned in so close to her face. Without saying another word, he gently brought his hand up to her face and pressed his lips against hers. Her heart fluttered, and she kissed him back. After a little bit, they both pulled away, and she glanced at the ground, blushing.

"Bye," she whispered.

"Bye," he whispered back, and she turned around and started on her way back home, hugging his robe tightly around her. She breathed in deeply, smelling his scent on the robe, and a smile erupted on her face. Tonight could not have gone perfecter, she thought. And it didn't even bother her that perfecter wasn't a word.