The night had been one of her best nights in the Fire Nation. For the first time her sleep had come to her effortlessly and she had passed out as soon as she had lain down. Her dreams had not been haunted by failure, family, Jet or her part in letting Ba Sing Se fall. Instead, they had been pleasantly filled with midnight pond rendezvous, sweet kisses and-the only thing Katara couldn't quite rationalize- smouldering gold eyes.
All of it left her quite giddy, and when her eyes opened to meet the daylight, she had simply turned on her side, sighed contentedly and smiled at the empty space before her. The waterbender was quite sure her mother's pendent, stashed carefully underneath her pillow, was what was keeping the nightmares at bay.
Xue sat on the bed across from her and raised a neatly trimmed brow.
"You are pretty happy today." Katara sat up but didn't respond to the other girl. Instead, she only stretched and yawned, searching for some garments. She shivered the moment he feet found the ground. It was unpleasant to walk with her bare feet, especially when the ground was cold. It was completely different from the skin boots she always wore back at home.
"Hey, Xue, can you pass me that top please?" The Fire Nation native looked at the crimson fabric next to her and nodded.
"I thought you didn't enjoy clothing this revealing?"
The waterbender just shrugged."It's better than being naked." The other female only giggle.
"That's the spirit!" Xue hugged her and Katara patted the girl's back.
The dining room was bustling with activity. Various women walked back and fro with bowls and chatting, the cacophony filling the room. Katara squirmed uncomfortably under some of the gazes and her partner noticed.
"Some of the girls still believe you are to conceive the Fire Lord's child." The waterbender frowned. Let them think what they want. I don't care.
They both sat down to eat, both trapped in their own thoughts and neither felt the presence that settled beside them.
"I'm gravely disappointed in you, Water Tribe." Lien looked angry. Katara had never seen any expression except elation on the woman's features.
"I told you to meet me up yesterday afternoon!" Her voice was squeaky, as if she was running out of breath. Suddenly the tribes' woman remembered she had promised Lien she would meet her at the fountain for some lessons.
"I'm really sorry. But I was summoned to the gardens by the Fire Lord and...
"Wait." The older woman cut her half way through her apology. "The Fire Lord himself, summoned you, in the middle of the afternoon, alone, to meet him at the royal gardens?" Both Lien and Xue gave Katara a funny look. She didn't see it as a special thing. Well the letter thing was weird, she conceded.
"Lihua better not know about that." The Fire Nation woman mused and then sighed."It's more than enough that you are rumoured to be the mother of his future child."
The waterbender titled her head and crossed her arms over her chest. It would be best if she didn't argue with the older female. They ate in silence, and the tribes' woman had the slight feeling the other two were feeling a bit uncomfortable in her presence.
Lien stood up and looked down at both girls."I hope you do not fail in meeting up with me today."
"I will spend the rest of the morning with General Iroh though."
"Be sure that when you finish up with the man that you meet up with me at the fountain." Lien sighed. "We have much to discuss." Katara nodded. It would be best if she did not go against a person who had been good to her.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
She produced the letter from her top. It had been snugly placed between her breasts. Iroh had asked her to hide the parchment the best she could and, seeing as she was just barely clothed, this was the best she had come up with. The paper was warm to the touch and the Fire Lord's lonely brow had shot upwards as her hand reached inside her cleavage and the Water Tribe peasant presented his uncle's response to hi earlier writing. He had unwillingly-and very begrudgingly, Zuko had to admit he still had no sexual interest in the girl- stared at her clothed chest as her hand pried the parchment away from her flesh. She cleared her throat in embarrassment, his eyes lingering a bit longer than they should. He looked up at her face, her eyes downcast and her cheeks a delightful shade of pink. He took the rolled up paper, his fingers brushing hers and he could plainly see the shiver that gripped her whole.
This woman was very peculiar indeed. He broke the seal and rolled up the parchment, reading through the neatly drawn kanji, his eyes occasionally darting over to the girl.
She stood where she had been moments ago, completely still her eyes on him. It irked the young ruler to no end that she felt familiar enough to look at him as if she was expecting a response from him.
His office is foreign to her, and the tribes' woman gets the distinct feeling not many women are aloud here.
He sat on his desk nonchalantly, never looking her over, never acknowledging the girl standing near the door. Katara shifted from foot to foot, her legs already feeling tired from the immobility. She eyed the man as he dipped the brush in the ink and started scribbling on the parchment. The waterbender tried to read the movement of his hand but only got pieces and fragments. "Wall","She","Be Careful" and "traitor" were the only things Katara could get. The man, suddenly stopped writing and looked up at her and she felt as if she had been caught. The waterbender jumped and shivered, like when she was a little girl and Gran-Gran would find her stealing penguin-seal jerky. The sovereign's eyes squinted, ugly expression wrinkles settling between his eyes, making his scar look a lot more marked than what it actually was.
The silence was complete. Katara didn't know what to do about the situation. She was divided between speaking to the man and asking him to dismiss her and just say where she stood, rooted to the floor. She then remembered her plan. It had been the last thing on her mind lately. She could still get close to the Fire Lord without hurting Ryu, couldn't she?
"It's a lovely morning, my Lord." She started her voice small and contained. He grunted and, appearing appeased, continued writing.
"I'm sure Lord Sheng will absolutely love your lack of respect towards your superior." His tone was detached and Katara boiled on the inside. The waterbender mentally counted to ten and tried again. Perhaps wit would shut him up.
"I'm sure he will. My disrespect doesn't seem to faze you, my Lord." The young ruler frowned and once again looked up at her.
"You mistake disdain for amusement, peasant. You were a gift from my uncle. And I know him all too well to know he will be highly disappointed if I discipline you." Katara took a step forward, openly challenging the Fire Lord. She did not betray her true fear. This man was known to be ruthless. The Firebender smirked at her boldness. There were few people who were intrepid enough to defy him so openly, among them the famed Dragon of the West, Azula and Mai.
Mai. An aura of melancholy pervaded the space and Katara was flabbergasted at this change in mood. She was expecting him to burst from the chair and strangle her or burn her to a cinder. Or even to call in the guards and have her punished for her temper. But what she did not expect was for the man to reminisce about something and close himself inside a thick, impenetrable shell, as if she had the power to hurt him. The healer in her took over and Katara reached the desk before she barely noticed it.
"My Lord? Is everything all right?" She cringed internally, as the rational part of herself chasten her tone, that worried tone she had used whenever Jet had got injured.
The young man looked up at her and suddenly, in a quick flash, he reverted back to the detached ruler he had to be. His brows furrowed in a deep set frown and grumbled an "I'm fine" under his breath.
Katara sighed. This man was frustrating. Every time she thought a step was given forward she would, in all actuality, give two steps back. The man finished his writing and rolled up the parchment. Using a red candle he sealed the parchment with his brand and, outstretching his hand, he produced the document for her to take.
"You know who this is for, peasant. Make sure no one knows you are carrying it."
She nodded and took the piece of paper from his hand, placing it gently between her breasts once again.
The men watched as the paper he had just written on disappeared between her mounds. She was infuriating him. When the Water Tribe woman had first been presented to him, Zuko felt nothing but contempt and disgust. He was her superior, and there was no way he would taint himself with her dirtiness. But, even though he still clan hard to those beliefs, the girl had somehow made herself a bit more acceptable. He found her presence somewhat fulfilling and when she was present he was less lonely. The firebender frowned inwardly. He hadn't noticed he felt that desperate, that isolated.
After Mai had died he had become reclusive, often drinking and burying himself in his work. That was until his uncle had beaten some sense into him. His country was in need of an heir, especially now that they had finally conquered the Earth Kingdom. A child would consolidate his rule and the conquered strongholds would have no choice but to bow down to his house, his blood, his will. He was sure they would bring the Northern Water Tribe eventually. All this, and the fact that he had once more become sexually active, had kept his mind busy, away from the true state of his being.
Lihua was great company. She was cheerful and sweet and made him forget about the castrating life that he had been thrown into after his father, Ozai, had died. And she was pretty good when it came to intimacy too.
Xia was beautiful and very skilful when it came to pleasuring him. She was quieter than Lihua and thus she wasn't summoned as much.
Shuchun was sweet and he always felt elated when he summoned her. But once again, she lacked personality.
Niu was probably the best one when it came to what was expected of the future mother of the Fire Lord's heir, but she was too ambitious and Zuko knew that. She was the daughter of a noble and even though she had been offered as a concubine to Fire Lord Ozai when Zuko had only been thirteen she knew exactly how to press his buttons to get what she wanted. And so, he would avoid her as much as he could outside their intimate affairs.
He knew one of these women would provide him with the child that he needed, but none of them were companions. None of them were Mai.
This Water Tribe peasant, Katara, had brought all the misery he had felt when his wife had died back up. She had made him want his companion back. To talk to her, to ask for guidance when he was lost, to receive care and love and kindness when he needed most, not because he was Fire Lord but because he was loved by her.
When she had started telling her stories he knew he missed having a friend, having someone to talk to. His uncle was great but there were certain things Zuko would never disclose.
And so, this woman's stories were now his company. And that irked him. It irked him he wanted her company even though he didn't care about her. It irked him that he had found use for her when, in the beginning, all he wanted was to get rid of her. Mind you him, he still didn't like her at all. She was too arrogant despite her lowly position, she thought she could defy him and he was sure she was never going to stop fighting his every step. But he didn't want her for her beauty or personality. He wanted her for the simple, warm company she offered.
"You are dismissed." His voice was cold but she didn't care. She bowed low and walked out.
0o0o0o0o0
Lien waited by the fountain, her foot, impatiently tapping against the marble of the floor.
Katara cringed at the look on the other woman's face. She was impatient and probably annoyed Katara had taken so long to meet up with her.
"How long have you been here for?" The waterbender asked, cringing internally when the woman's angry eyes settled on her.
"I've been here for almost three hours. Does old man Iroh take that long to finish?" Lien asked naturally, as if this type of conversation was the bread of each day. The tribes' woman blushed.
"I was with the Fire Lord." The Fire Nation woman's eyes widened and then she nodded knowingly. "He sometimes takes a while to dismiss his concubines. Lihua has spent full nights with him before."
"It's not like that. At all." Katara sat on the fountain's edge and fingered the small waves created by the falling cascade.
"Hmph." Lien muttered. "That's what you think. Men only want one thing from women like us. If he wanted you for other things he would marry you. Now..."She looked at the waterbender and grinned.
"We are going to start your lesson by teaching you how to please a patron on your first visit. Stand up." Katara did as she was told. Her hand was on her hip and she looked pointedly towards Lien.
"See? That's what you do wrong. Not even a wife presents herself to her husband like that. No wondered you are still unmarried."
"What?" The water maiden seethed. How dare she? I will be a lovely wife one day.
"I know women of the Poles marry early. That's one of the reasons we think of you as barbarians. Forcing children into wedlock."
"We are not barbarians!" her voice was rough and dangerous. It was a well known fact the waterbender hated to hear such things about her home. "We do not force children to marry. The girls have to be sixteen to marry. "
Lien raised her shoulders and then dropped them.
"You need to look demure. Press your legs together, look down to the floor and lace your fingers together. That's it." Lien smiled and circled Katara adjusting her posture.
"Only answer with yes and no. Pretend to be shy and inexperienced. Men like that here." The waterbender raised her brow.
"None of the women here are shy and demure. Most of them would slit each other's throats to be with the Fire Lord."
"I will explain that to you later. We have statuses here. Concubines are not in the same level."
The girl nodded. She didn't expect to use any of this. There was no point in disguising who she was.
Lien frowned. "Fine then. What do you know about kissing?" The waterbender blushed.
"I kissed a couple of men before."
"Hm...with your tongue?" She tinted even more but nodded nonetheless.
"Ok...Sit down." She once again did as she was told. She was getting good at obeying orders.
"Now then, touch my hand."
"What? Why?"
"I want to see how engaging you are."´Lien grabbed Katara's hand and petted her, smoothing her thumb across the waterbender's skin. She felt a shiver run up her spine.
"See? This works miracles. A simple touch can make you seem more attractive than all the kohl and red lip paint in the world. Go on now is your turn."
The tribes' woman reached for the other's hand and mimicked her movements. Katara traced familiar patterns on the back of the woman's hand. Water Tribe patterns and symbols. Things she was all too familiar with.
"Good. Never underestimate the potency of a well placed touch. To connect with your patron you must always make physical contact. Touch my leg, grab my knee. Go on." The waterbender once again did as Lien ordered. "Good. When you do this always smile and look away. It will look like you are hesitant to give yourself away and it will make your patron work hard for your compliance." The tribes' woman nodded in understanding.
"Just little gestures, small smiles and the sort are very helpful. Never be flamboyant. Always calm and serene like the waters in the pond. I won't take more of your time today. But I will make you learn other things...more important things. This should help you to start with."
The waterbender sighed. Jet had liked her open approach to life.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Lihua was always the type of sorts to fling herself at the object of her affection no matter who was present. Katara was quite bored with the outcome of things. She had sat for over an hour by the fireplace watching as her partner grabbed the Lord's attention in every way she could. Not that she blamed Lihua for this. It was just who she was. And it was clear to Katara that she held the man very dearly to her heart. The Fire Nation woman was now just a bit tipsy having been drinking plum liquor all the while they were there. It was quite comical how she sat on the quiet man's lap and laced her arms around him, fidgeting from side to side, laughing at nothing at all and telling him how handsome he was. She was paid with small smiles, real smiles that erupted from the sovereign's lips like rain in the desert. His eyes filled up with something Katara couldn't quite place every time Lihua kissed him. He was a perfect gentleman though. With the state the woman was in he could have delved into more devious roads but he just looked like a shy teenager the first time a girl was paying attention to him. The waterbender would even swear she had seen him blush. Sometimes he whispered something in the raven haired woman's ear and she would giggle. Other times she would trace his chest with her palm and he would shiver. The temperature in the room was rising and Katara knew full well where things were heading. Lihua stood up, and as usual went to freshen up- which Katara felt was lingo for getting completely naked and washing herself for the activities- and left the two other people alone in the common room of the Fire Lord's quarters.
The man looked at her and raised his single brow.
"No book tonight?"
"I was under the impression you wanted me here to learn not to read." He frowned. This woman had a sharp tongue.
"I suggest you do not address Lord Sheng this casually. He is not as benevolent as I am." His tone was cordial, as if it was a necessary evil to tell her of the man's temper.
"I'm sure Lord Sheng will appreciate me whether my tongue is sharp or not. It is not my wit he seeks company of."
The sovereign had half a mind to slap her right then and there but thought better of it. His uncle would see her tomorrow-probably use her- and seeding her marked would warrant Zuko with a seriously big tongue lashing. It didn't matter that he was Fire Lord. In private, uncle Iroh would always be uncle Iroh.
"Tell me the rest of you story."
Katara nodded.
"Where did we left off?..."She trailed into her memory.
"The archer had just told his wife not to touch the box." He said impatiently.
"Oh! Right. Chang'e became too curious after Houyi left and opened the box. She found the pill just as her husband was returning home. Nervous that Houyi would catch her discovering the contents of the case, she accidentally swallowed the entire pill. She started to float into the sky because of the overdose. Although Houyi wanted to shoot her in order to prevent her from floating further, he could not bear to aim the arrow at her. Chang'e kept on floating until she landed on the moon. She became extremely lonely without her husband as they never saw each other again. But their love lived on still." Katara smiled to herself. She liked this tale. Remembering what Lien had told her she placed her hand on his knee and adverted her gaze. She felt the Fire Lord jump slightly and then he swatted her hand away from him.
"I have given you no such liberties." His tone was bitter and the waterbender bit her lip in fear of the repercussion of her action.
The man got up and walked to the fireplace standing beside her.
"Is that how the story really ends?" She nodded but offered a quiet "yes" when she remembered her wasn't looking at her.
"I have met the moon, once."
The sovereign looked at her, gold eyes piercing and then she remembered her dream. Katara blushed and looked away.
"She used to be the Princess of the Northern Water Tribe, Princess Yue. I've met her when I was there...studying. My brother fell in love with her." Katara got up and looked at the man."She was born sick and was touched by the moon spirit. That was what we were told at least. When the Fire Nation laid siege on the Northern Water Tribe some years ago, somehow Yue ended up giving her strength to the moon spirit."
"Does your brother look up at the moon when he thinks of her?" Fire Lord Zuko knew all too well the pain of losing a loved one.
"I don't know. I haven't seen my brother since that time. Perhaps he is even dead." The man looked at her and frowned.
"The Fire Nation kills not unless provoked."
"The Fire Nation kills at will. You know no boundaries and you care about no one but yourselves." His hand met her face with brute force. She fell against the sofa, gripping her cheek as the pain pulsated inside her. Her glare was murderous but his matched to boot.
"Do not think the war only takes from your side. It is a double edged sword. A vicious dog which bites only after it's been fed. There have been losses on both parts. The Fire Nation is granting you, barbarians, the opportunity to become as great as we are, to share our wealth and knowledge. To be bigger than what you once were!" His voice was booming through the room, so much so Lihua and the guards shot into the space to see if their Lord needed any help.
"Guards, take this woman to the dungeons. She will spend the night there. Perhaps the cold air and darkness will clear her mind." She felt his words cutting trough like silver. And as she was dragged by the guards she didn't tear her eyes off of him. They were on the same battlefield and it was just a matter of who could withstand the battle the longest.
The cell was cold and dry and dark. She had never spent time in a place like this. It stank of rotting flesh and illness. She could hear moans and whimpers from the prisoners, most perhaps, having lost their minds after years of confinement. She would not cry. She would not waver. She would take this punishment as any member of the Water Tribes would. And when she got out she would plot the man's downfall. Because the Fire Nation wasn't sharing greatness. It was stealing it away from everyone else.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The darkness had become steeper. Somehow he had gotten lost. The path had not been as clear as he had thought it would. It was dark, humid and scary but he had to keep on going. For he could not stay where he was but going back was not a solution. So he kept on threading. His feet burying into the ground with each step. He felt the wind surround him for the first time in years. He had felt none of the elements since the beginning. He knew he was getting closer.
One more chapter. I'm sorry about this but I've been wanting to post it so badly I haven't re-read it. If there is anything that seems out of place or something please be kind enough to tell me so and I will edit this chapter.
First of, I just want to say I'm proud to be part of this fandom. We discover that Zuko is still alive, is no longer Fire Lord and everyone flips out about OLDPEOPLEZUTARALOVE XD. I just love how we never surrender.
Once again, thank you to all my lovely readers and reviewers. You are the ones making this story. I'm really excited to reach the 100 mark in reviews. I will probably leave you all with a little bone from one of my upcoming fics or from Burn of Desire. It's your call. So until the next chapter.
JemiLover101- Thank you. Yes they are both Zutara and one is Au and the other follows canon to a certain point. I'm really excited about them. As of right now they only have working titles. The M one is "Breastless" and the other one is "Journey" but they will probably change. Thank you for your interest. You are wonderful.
Silvermist ink- Thank you so much. I hope you like this chapter as well ^^
Serward907-Zuko is a very private person. I don't think he found it that amusing to have Katara there. In this fic Zuko isn't kinky :P Thank you for your words. Sometimes I worry I'm all over the place with this fiction, but I just feel the need to develop other characters and not just Katara and Zuko. They are not the only two people in the world and their own relationship is dependent on other people. I'm still divided about Ryu. I know how this fic will probably end already. I can change my mind but right now I have already set out the ending for this. Ad will Katara actually kill Zuko?
The last paragraph in chapter 8 if I'm not mistaken is something that will reveal itself shortly. :P But I think some of you already guessed what it's all about.
I'm happy you will read my other fics. But I won't post them any day soon. I'm still planning things for them. Thank you for reviewing. Reviews are what help me write better and improve and actually get some new ideas for this. So thank you once more.
Jmac1220-Katara likes to disobey the rules. And she likes Ryu. He is nice and makes her feel like she has a choice, so they will develop a sort of a relationship. Katara and the Earth Kingdom girls will interact more with time. And I'm pretty sure none of them minds killing Zuko. About Korra: the only thing that bugs me it's that it isn't as subtle as A:TLA when it comes to romance. The canon pairings in A:TLA were rushed in the ending but up until that point it was everyone's game. But Korra immediately falls for Mako without actually getting to know him and I have a problem with that. She is such a cool female she doesn't need a boyfriend to be her main focus. But I'm really glad Zuko is still alive. Old People Zutara anyone?
Crystal1998-Thank you. I love him too
Lady Elisabeth- Love your pen name, by the way ;) Thank you for your kind words. When I started writing I wanted to write something that was a bit more realistic than most concubine fics where she immediately becomes Zuko's favourite and no one can touch her. I've been researching once more and I will present with more information about ancient harems . Thank you for reading this story. It wouldn't be possible without you, readers.
Boothandbones4ever-Zuko is more like using Katara. He is a jerk :P I'm sorry the update didn't come the next day. But they did continued it the next day :P I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Alex Leep-Thank you. She will tell him the ending of that story one day. Perhaps not any day soon but hey...she will finish it :P
AnnaAza-I like Ryu too. I will try my hardest not to break his heart. I already have the ending of this fic planned but I'm unsure on what fate I'm going to give Ryu. But whatever it is I'm sure I will be nice to him because I love him. I actually started rooting for him and Katara to get together :P
They are. They find each other tolerable. About the plan you will have to wait. But it will play an important part of the story.
Gymgurl520-Thank you. Here is the update. I hope you enjoy it and keep reading this fic :D
ArrayePL-Yes there are. Even Fire Nation women can be unhappy if the Fire Lord doesn't summon them. There are a lot of women there. Most are not going to consort with Zuko. And that makes them angry. And then there are the slaves. Some actually find it better to live there and have intercourse with the nobles better than living on the streets or die in the war. Others, like Katara, run from it for as long as they can. Zuko will use Katara as a messenger often. Why, you will have to wait and see.
Zuko is a lonely man. Katara is peculiar and different. And as we all know they have things in common :P
Pinky317-Thank you so much I feel really flattered that you love this story. It makes me feel really happy that you enjoy it. I hope you keep liking it and reading. It makes my day.