Sorry I've been a little busy so writing hasn't been up on the top of the list. But I'm back and here is the next chapter...
Chapter 11 I Hate You
Amora was pushed into her cell. Iroh helped her to her feet. She stood up shaking. "He's gone!" she cried, "Luk is gone! The only family I've ever known is gone."
Iroh tried to comfort the poor girl. She was in such a state. "Listen little one, everything will be okay," he said softly.
Amora hugged the old man. She couldn't stand the fact that the man she had loved her entire life just put to death the only person who believed in her and her cause. This was what justice was to him. It was madness. Her tears finally stopped. She could see Iroh clearly now. He smiled sadly at her. "Child, I can not take back what has happened and I know that, I just hope that you use Luk's death as the strength you need to carry on."
Amora thought of how she and Luk had once called each other their strength. They had been so close. She thought of something else... her scar. "Your highness, I need you to do something for me."
"What is it child?" he asked.
"I wear the scar 'weakness' on my back there is only a little bit more to add to make it say 'strength'. Will you do that for me? For Luk?" she begged.
Iroh shook his head. "I don't know if I can little one. That is a lot to ask."
He couldn't believe she had just asked that of him. But then again, she wouldn't be wearing 'weakness' anymore. He didn't know if he had enough energy to produce fire, but he would give it a try. He steadied his breathing and produced a small flame. "Turn around," Iroh told her.
Amora took off her shirt and showed him her dreaded mark. The one his brother had given her. He sighed and took the flame and traced the final marks. She squirmed and shifted trying not to scream. The pain became to intense. She screamed. Iroh pulled back. He had finished just in time. Her shoulder was bleeding but it no longer said 'weakness'. It said 'strength'. A word worth carrying. Amora left her robe off. The pain was to much. "Thank you," she whispered before passing out.
Iroh placed his cloak over her. Smiling at the young woman made him think about how much she reminded him of his wife. She was a strong girl and fought for everyone but herself. When she had recieved the letter of their son's death she committed suicide. But looking at this girl he felt she would do no such thing. "General Iroh," a guard said.
Iroh turned to the man at his cell. The guard was looking at him funny. "Yes," Iroh answered.
The guard handed him a slip of paper and then left. Iroh opened it and read the contents. Amora was going to be put to death the next morning and she had been given one request. The letter even said she could go free if she wanted. He tried to wake her up. "Little one," he said shaking her, "Little one there is a chance for you to escape. You must take it."
Amora woke up and looked at him. He handed her the letter. She threw it to the side. "I just want to pretend that Zuko is mine for one night. I know it won't mean anything, but I want to pretend he's mine for the night."
Iroh was shocked. How could she not want to escape? It was her perfect chance. But as he looked at her he realized she didn't want to go through life without his nephew. It was like watching his wife all over again. He couldn't let her do this. "Amora you can make it," he started.
"No," she told him, "I don't want to. There is no one left for me, and there is no point in being here. Ursa is to afraid to tell everyone where she is and I won't betray her. This is just a trick. They want me to go free so they can find Ursa."
She was right. Iroh summoned the guard and told him to tell Zuko that Amora had made her last request. She stood up slowly and pulled her robe back on, covering her scar. Zuko approached the cell. "Come out," he commanded.
Amora walked out of the cell as though she were a queen. Zuko escorted her up the stairs. "What is your last request?" he asked, "Freedom?"
"No," she answered, "To pretend that your mine for tonight."
Zuko looked at her. She wanted him for her final request? Not to be free? Not to die quickly? Him? But why? Almost as if reading his mind she answered all his questions. "Yes I want you. When I'm with you I'm free. Dying quickly isn't an option. I've been dying since we've been separated. You because I still love you."
That wasn't what he wanted to hear. He didn't know what he wanted to hear. 'I hate you.' 'You're a monster.' Something. Anything. How could she still love him after all he had done to her. Killing her brother. Putting her back on trial. Not believing her. There were so many things he could name. But did he still love her? Could he pretend to be hers for the night? Amora kept silent. The two walked to the throne room. The Fire Lord sat at his throne of course. He was a little smug over this final request. He just knew that Amora was going to ask for her freedom and lead him back to Ursa. Then when Mai finally captured Ursa Zuko would be ordered to marry her. It was flawless. "And what have you decided as your final request?" he asked.
Amora didn't look up. She kept her eyes on the ground. "I want to spend the entire night with Zuko."
The Fire Lord felt his smile drop. She had just asked for the unthinkable. Why would anyone give up thier life only to spend their remaining hours in the company of the person who had ordered thier death? "You are giving up your life for one night with my son?" he asked.
Amora nodded. "I want my ceremonial Amo Luminos robes too. I want to be executed in them."
Her request was odd. Was it a trick? "Very well," he said.
Amora was taken to Zuko's room. Her gown was given to her later that evening. She walked around his room. Nothing had changed since she had been here last. The only thing different was his armor. She noticed it was more of a royalty type of armor. It had small black flames winding up the metal. It was silver, gold, and red that gleamed under the flames. She walked away from the armor and went into the bathroom. It was made up of marble and gold. She took a bath and put on her dress. It fit a lot better. After her two years of banishment she had lost weight and her hair had kept growing.
She walked back into Zuko's bedroom. Amora traced her fingers over the sheets. The Fire Nation emblem was shining. She smiled and walked to the other side of the bed. Looking at her reflection she took notice of her face. She wasn't as pretty as she wanted to be. Her eyes didn't sparkle like they used to. She fingered the betrothel necklace. It had never come off her neck since Zuko had put it on. She heard the door open.
Zuko walked in. He took in her appearance. She looked beautiful. He didn't smile. "Why did you pick a night with me?" he asked.
Amora didn't look at him. "I wanted to be in a room with you without being yelled at. Without bars between us."
She thought for a moment. "Why did you hug me after Luk died?"
Zuko looked at her. "I don't know."
"Why did you put him to death?"
"He withheld information about the breakout. And you have done the same."
"But why did I get a last request and he didn't?"
"He did," Zuko whispered.
"Well what was it?" Amora demanded.
She put her hands on her hips. "Well?" she asked.
"He wanted to be marked like you. Weakness," he explained.
Amora couldn't believe it. Luk had been marked with a scar just like hers. He took that as his final request. That was the most nobel thing in the world he could do for her. She looked at her reflection. "Why was I forced to watch?" she asked.
Zuko didn't answer right away. "I wanted you to think about what you saw. I wanted you to pick freedom."
"I didn't. I wanted to be with you."
"You're Stupid!!! How could you do this!"
"Because I Love You!"
"I Hate You!" he screamed.
Amora closed her mouth. Zuko's eyes grew. "I didn't mean..." he started.
She shook her head. "No you said it. You must have meant it."
She walked to the door. Pausing she took off her necklace. "Here, it's never come off until now."
She put the necklace on her bed and walked out. She left the castle and kept walking. Zuko watched her go from his room. Should he chase after her? Did he mean what he said? Did he really hate her?
