Hey everyone! I am so excited, not only is this ch10 but it was really fun to write. I am just as excited as Ty Lee (lol) Well enjoy and I look forward to your reviews.
"I can't believe it! I can't believe it."
Katara watched as Ty Lee bounced around her room. The old women adjusted the Katara's garments keeping her from gripping her spinning stomach. "Ty Lee, would you calm down. You're making me nervous."
"Oh, I'm sorry. But you are nervous? That means you do like him."
Katara looked away trying to hide her blush.
Ty Lee approached her and smiled, "I knew it. So what do you like most?"
"I, I... I don't really know yet. I believe he is handsome and kind despite that he is Fire Nation."
The old women stopped and the Kyoshi Warrior tilted her head to the side. Katara wanted to cover her mouth, but the thought had already escaped. "I mean..."
"Don't worry. I understand and am glad you find Prince Zuko attractive."
Katara smiled, Ty Lee was always so kind. The twins went back to work with, a deeper frown than before and keeping their heads down.
Zuko sat in his room, staring at his hands. "She should be ready, right?" He looked up at Suki who stood at his door.
"Yes, I believe, but I could go check."
"No," He stood up abruptly. "I will go to the back and just have Katara meet me. There is no rush."
"Yes, Prince Zuko." She bowed her head as Zuko left the room. He pulled a hood over his head then followed after him closing the door behind her.
"Don't forget to make sure she has one of these," Zuko had turned to look at Suki and tugged on the golden rim of the cape."
She nodded and made her way down the halls to Katara's room. "Lady Katara?"
Katara was just stepping down from where the twins dressed her. Ty Lee handed her a golden bangle which she wore like a band around the top of her arm and bracelet. "Is he ready?" Katara looked up surprised.
"There is no such, but he said to come to the back of the palace. He is waiting for you there."
"Alright, I only need one more thing." She walked over to the dresser and picked up a box that held her jewelry new and old. "My mother's necklace. I haven't worn it in a while." She pulled it out gently from the pile of gold and jewels and placed it around her neck. "Now I'm ready."
Suki open her mouth to speak, but Ty Lee beat her to it, "Don't forget this." She held out the dark red hooded cape.
"Thank you," Katara threw it around her shoulders and pulled the hood over her head. "I will see you all later tonight."
"Hopefully not."
Suki elbowed Ty Lee then smiled, "What she meant was have a good time."
Katara returned the smile and rushed down the halls.
Azula peaked around the corner and watched the two warriors see the Water Tribe girl off. "So this is what you're up to." She spoke to herself and pulled back into the shadows. "I can't believe your eyes have been captivated by a peasant girl Zuko. No worries, we will fix this." Azula turned and briskly walked to her room. Quietly she closed her door and pulled out a letter she had written earlier that day. She walked to the large bird-cage by her open balcony. The setting sun reflected in the Hawk's dark eyes and she smiled at the resemblance to fire.
"You are my only ally in this prison." Azula opened the cage and the bird walked onto her arm, its sharp talons making a subtle sound while doing so. "You will deliver a message for me," she tied the rolled cream paper and placed it in the mail carrier on it's back. "It seems ZuZu has forgotten who he is and needs a reminder that the Fire Nation always comes first. Deliver this swiftly." She waved her arm up and the messenger hawk took off into the sun.
#
Zuko took Katara's hand as they walked to the palace back gate.
"What, no entourage? No carriage?"
Zuko could not tell if she was genuinely asking or teasing him about their first meeting. "I didn't want to have too much attention on us. Not everyone in the Fire Nation is happy with the decision Uncle and I have made."
"Oh," Katara thought of the men who attacked her. She didn't think that they would want to harm their own prince though. However, Iroh and Zuko were making changes that had been in place for a hundred years. Who would want to stop being on top after being there for so long? "I didn't think about that. Then why didn't we bring a few Kyoshi Warriors?"
Zuko stopped and waited for a guard to turn around before running to the gate with Katara. He slipped through the opened space pulling Katara along. He waited till they were far enough before answering, "I wanted us to have some privacy. That's why I didn't ask them to come. Besides, we would be having too much fun for them to keep up."
"Keep up?" Katara raised a brow, "Zuko, what do you have planned for us?"
He smiled and made a turn that brought them into the town market. "Enjoying a festival."
The market was lit with decorative lanterns, all painted with a red flower. Children ran around playing and there were several booths with games, prizes, and food.
"Wow, I don't know where to begin." Katara said as her eyes scanned the endless activities.
"You can start anywhere. We have the entire night to enjoy ourselves."
Katara's excitement grew and she pulled Zuko along from one booth to another. They tried on a few masks and watched a children's puppet show. Zuko had no idea that a festival would make Katara so happy, but he was glad it did.
They sat at a tea shop, it was one he knew his Uncle visited on his adventures outside the palace.
"What kind of pastry is this?" Katara placed the round stuff biscuit down and grabbed her water.
Zuko laughed taking another bite out of his. "Is it too spicy? I ordered it mild."
"I, I'm not use to your food yet." She picked up the pastry again looking at it's contents, vegetables and meat. "Is everything spicy here?" She took another bite this time her mouth more prepared than before.
"Yes, almost everything is, but do you like sweets."
"Doesn't everybody?"
Zuko called the waiter and whispered something in his ear.
"What did you order?" Katara asked after he left.
"Something that will cool your mouth off."
Katara took another bite out of the biscuit and a sip of water to chase it. Not long after their waiter returned. He carried a plate with a fried ball sitting in a cherry red sauce. He placed it in the center with two spoons next to it and left to serve his other tables.
"Well," Zuko waived for Katara to take the first bite.
She wanted to know what it was first, but didn't want to be rude. Zuko saw her hesitation, though.
"Here," he picked up the spoon, "close your eyes."
She did as he asked. He broke the shell shoveled out a piece and leaned over the table placing it on Katara's tong. He studied her soft lips as they hugged the silver spoon and could feel the light grip in his fingertips.
Katara lit up opening her eyes from the sweet creamy center. "Ice cream?" She questioned and looked where Zuko had broken the ball. "Your people fry it? Thats amazing."
"So you like it?" He broke another piece off and put it in his mouth.
Katara watched thinking of the action as an indirect kiss at first, but pushed the thought away. Its childish thinking that way Katara, isn't it, she asked herself. "I love it." She picked up the other spoon and they both devoured the dessert.
Katara looked up at the stars as they finished the meal with a cup of tea, then was brought back to the world from the sound of music. Around a large bonfire children and couples danced. Katara watched intently before finding her courage, "Want to dance?"
Zuko looked up from the tea-cup in his hand, "Umm," he had not expected that, "I, don't really..." Before he could finish his reply a little boy came up to Katara stealing his opportunity.
"Wanna dance pretty lady." The little boy held out his small hand and Katara could not help but remover her cape and take his hand in hers. He reminded her of one of the children of the tribe when she looked into his eyes.
"I'd love to." She got up and Zuko's golden eyes followed and watched. He was bewitched as the fire's light cupped around her bending and twisting curves. She was becoming more and more beautiful each time he saw her.
Katara danced her heart out trying not to pay too much attention to the eyes that watched her. Though she was dancing with the boy she felt as though she was putting on a show for Zuko. It did not help when the child decided to take a break and she ended up in a group of women. They showed her some Fire Nation dances and Katara was happy that she was catching on and not making a fool of herself. One of the women tied a coin belt around Katara's hips and showed her how to shimmy them.
Zuko laughed, mostly to himself. Seeing her have fun made him do so and mad him feel something he had never felt before.
"What are you laughing at?" Katara raced to him and reached out her hand with a heavy breath, "Now will you dance with me?"
Zuko didn't want to but he placed his hand in hers. He pulled off his cape and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. Dancing was embarrassing for him personally, but it made Katara happy, and he wanted to make her happier than this. They danced in the mix of the crowd at first respectfully apart, but as the night progressed the couple drew closer till their bodies were in full contact. Katara leaned her head back on Zuko's shoulder as she moved her hips against him like the Fire Nation woman had taught her. Zuko slowly trailed his hands down her sides feeling the soft brown skin of her arms and waist. He smelt the scent of her hair, it was of roses. Most likely the aroma was from the baths and oils the palace gave her, but it mixed nicely with her natural fragrance. Zuko closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. He brought her hand from around his neck letting it graze his face before spinning her around.
Katara opened her eyes and caught herself when she looked into his.
"I want to show you something."
She nodded her head, but her mind wasn't there. It was too busy scolding her actions. What was I just doing? She kept asking herself. Her backside still felt the ghost of his warmth and her bare skin felt the touch of his hands. What would Sokka say if he was here? She doubted that he would have approved of their dancing even if they were going to be husband and wife in the end. However she was eighteen now two years past the marrying age, it didn't matter if he would have approved or not. Katara felt a sudden chill, but not from the coolness of the darkness as Zuko led her away, but from the pit of her stomach and the touch of the large hand that gripped hers. It was nerves.
"We're almost there."
"Where are we going? The fireworks are about to start aren't they?" She was looking forward to them. Never leaving home, Katara had never really seen them. Whenever someone from the outside tried to explain what they looked like all she could picture were Fire Nation attacks in different colors.
"Don't worry. We will have the best view. This festival is a fire lily festival. The flowers were painted on all the lanterns, but they bloom only a few weeks a year."
"And you are taking me to them?"
Zuko stopped after their feet entered the grassy meadow. "I've brought you to them."
Katara looked around, but could not see in the night's darkness. "Zuko I can't se-"
"See?" Zuko smiled, then skillfully he moved his arms, bending fire from his fingertips and shooting it into the air above and across from them. The fire started a chain reaction of lanterns lighting around them in rows. They lit up one at a time as far a the eye could see.
"Wow, Zuko. This, this is amazing. It is so beautiful." Katara turned around seeing the many fire lilies glow under the lights. The meadow was vast and it seemed to go on forever with them.
"I'm glad you like them."
"I appreciate the flowers more knowing now that they show themselves so little during the year." She looked up and all of a sudden Zuko's face seemed closer than ever.
Zuko looked into her eyes seeing the fire reflect in the blue. It was the same blue as the choker around her neck. He brought his hand to it and Katara surprised herself by not pulling away. Instead she allowed him to hold the stone in his hand.
"It was my mother's," she explained, "My Gran Gran gave it to her and she to me."
Zuko could see the pain in her eyes as she spoke and began regretting ever touching the stone. "What happened to her?"
Katara placed her hand on his not wanting to ruin the night, but she could not stop her lips from moving. "She was killed in a Fire Nation raid in my village. It was the last one ever made and I was the last to see her. It used to bring me so much pain remembering that day, and still kind of does, but when I feel you hold it," She stopped, trying to find the right words to say, "When you hold it I feel different in a good way. I think of her memory more than of her death."
Zuko brought his hand up to cup her cheek and felt the silk skin beneath as she looked away. "We are supposed to heal the bad scars my family and this nation caused, but I am thankful that personally I am already starting with yours. I am sorry about your mom." I know what it feels like to lose one. Katara looked up surprised, but he shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it. Now wasn't the time. He didn't want to dampen the night with his messed up childhood. "I am sorry the pain we have caused your family and your people."
An unexpected tear fell from her eye. Katara didn't even know that her eyes had become watery. She had been so focused on his apology that she didn't know the effects were showing. Zuko wiped it away with his thumb and took a step closer to her. He leaned his head down and unconsciously Katara pushed herself on her toes. There lips drew closer and they could feel each other's heated breath until Katara jumped away from a sudden loud noise. A snap crackling sound shot off and a screeching red spark soared into the air popping into a star formation. "Fireworks!" Katara turned her head, surprised. They were exactly as described, but nothing like she ever imagined.
Zuko let out a silent sigh at the lost chance. The fireworks couldn't have come at a worst time, he thought. Yet, at seeing her childlike expression he didn't mind as much. "Is this your first time seeing them?"
"Yeah, we didn't have any back home. Look at them!" She pointed and even almost jumped.
Zuko gave a light smile wrapping his hands around her waist from behind. She did not show any signs of discomfort so he pulled her in closer and rest his chin on her shoulder. He took in the soft fragrance of her skin and hair and absorbed the view into his memory, knowing that they would not forget this night as long as they lived.