Zutara - Healing Chapter 11
I ran to my mother's room as soon as I could, there was a single healer at post on a chair by her bed. When I entered, she stood and bowed to me. I rushed to my mother without acknowledging the girl. Mom's face was clean now and it showed how pale she was.
"What was learned about her health," I asked.
The girl stood next to me and softly gave me all they knew, "Well, she is weak from malnutrition mostly. She has had little food. She also has a few cracked ribs, but I was informed by Master Toph that the guard did attack her. Other than that she has a few scars from whippings, but they are very old. We are sure her body is trying to heal itself, which is hard with so little nutrition and energy, that is why she won't wake. We are attempting to give her some food, but it is hard with her asleep, there are only a few ways."
"So she will live?" I asked the crucial question.
"Well, if we can get her enough nutrition, then yes. The bones are not her largest issue, it is that she is dying of starvation. And was close to death too."
I bowed my head and sighed.
"Do you want me to leave you alone with her?" the healer offered. I nodded. "I will be just outside if anything happens." And she left.
I sat down on the chair at my mother's bedside. I stared at her face and took in the both beautiful and terrible sight. Her cheeks were hollow and she had wrinkles under her eyes. The maids had even cleaned and brushed her hair so it lay out and draped over the pillow. The dim light reflected on it and showed slight bits of silver in the black locks. She had grown so old. She couldn't be that old. But the prison had sure taken its toll on her.
I sat there for an hour, just staring at her face. I didn't move when the healers came in for a routine check up on her, or when they tried to get her to swallow a creamy substance.
Even after they left I did not move. A maid came in once with a meal for me, but when I did not eat it, she simply replaced it with a tray of tea. It took me a long while to tear my eyes away from her face enough to poor some tea. I smiled at the taste of jasmine. If only my uncle could know how much I had actually grew to like tea. I used to hate it, but now it always made me feel good. Even if it did remind me of my lost uncle.
It was silent for a time as I sipped my tea and watched my mother's face. Nothing happened, not that I expected anything to happen. I just wanted to be here. I was still getting over the shock that she was really here. I felt that if I left again, she might disappear, or I would find out this was all a dream. Or a nightmare.
A nightmare.
Have I failed?
I shivered. I had not failed. The firenation was fine and I would have been informed if there was issues. I shook the memory of Katara's voice from the nightmare. I had to tell myself over and over that I did not fail. And mother would be fine. My nation would be fine.
My thoughts were interrupted by another servant, this one a messenger, "My lord?"
"Yes," I replied without shifting my gaze.
"A letter for you, my lord."
"From who," I wasn't really interested.
"Master Katara."
My head snapped around to look at the messenger and the letter in his hand. I reached out, "Yes, give it here." He handed it to me and bowed. "You are dismissed," I practically muttered as I opened the letter quickly.
When I did I saw only a few hastily written words:
"Firelord Zuko,
I am on my way.
Katara."
I took a deep breath and realized my heart was beating in my head at a surprisingly fast beat. The thought of seeing the waterbender again made my blood heat up, but I did not know the actual reason. Was it fear or my attractions to her. I didn't know. But she was coming. She would heal my mother.
More hope filled my brain with every thought. She was actually going to come. I guessed a part of me, though I didn't realize it before, didn't think she would come, for I felt complete surprised. And I was filled with almost excitement.
Some sort of energy filled me and I had to stand. I paced the room a moment, then returned to my mother's side.
I took her delicate hand and said to her closed lids, "Mom, she's coming. She going to heal you."
I wanted to jump with joy that my mother would be okay. I knew Katara would not fail.
"You are going to be okay."
