Chapter 11:

I watched intently as people from all over the country filed into the ballroom. I knew I needed to calm down and relax, I had done this before, so why was I so nervous? Men walked in dressed in suits or robes and women walked in wearing colorful and extravagant dresses.

I looked down at my own dress and I held back a smile. I fitted in here with everyone else, I was dresses like all the other girls. After a while, I was told to begin playing. I positioned myself comfortably before I began playing. My cramped fingers moved slowly ad cautiously first but then began to relax and feel more comfortable.

I barely noticed when Prince Zuko entered the ballroom, okay so maybe it was a lie, but I didn't notice as much as I would have. Soon the dancing had begun, first a few nervous girls stood on the sidelines waiting to see who Prince Zuko would dance with first.

He held out his hand gracefully in front of a girl with brown curly hair and large brown eyes. The girl's face warmed up and she took his hand with her cheeks turning redder by the second. I wished the piano was facing the other way so I didn't have to watch him dance with all of the girls.

When he began dancing, other nervous couples took up the space and soon everyone was dancing. There was a faint smell of cinnamon in the air, from the candles that were lit along the outer sides of the ballroom.

The ballroom was decorated beautifully with roses and candles. I watched as Prince Zuko asked another girl to dance. Where was Princess Mai? Wasn't he supposedly getting engaged to her?

I stared down at the piano keys when I saw Prince Zuko's head whip around as he caught my eye for a second. I tried to keep my fingers steady as I played. He hadn't tried to catch my eye for the whole week. When I looked back up, he was dancing with a new girl.

I bit the inside of my cheek. I felt strange and cautious suddenly, I was the only girl in the entire ballroom who wasn't wearing makeup. I didn't want to wear makeup, I was afraid wearing it would change the way other people felt about me.

I suddenly heard a voice behind me,

"So you're the royal pianist?"

I whipped my head around, making sure to focus on the keys while I looked at who had spoken. It was a short girl with short black hair, tied into a bun with a headband. She had an extremely pale face and light green eyes that looked slightly glazed over.

I turned back to the piano, "Uh, yeah…" I said quietly.

I had a hunch she was blind and it was determined when I saw her wave her hand around and then grab a chair. "Do you mind if I sit here?" She asked me.

"Uhm, no I don't." I replied as she took a seat beside me. We sat in silence until I spoke up, "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Depends what it is."

There was something about the bluntness of her voice that made me smile. "Why aren't you dancing?"

She laughed. "I don't do great in crowds." She bit one of her fingernails.

"Well isn't Prince Zuko supposed to be finding a wife?" I asked her. Surely she would want to be one of those girls dancing with him.

She laughed once again, "You're not serious are you? I can't imagine myself dancing with sparky over there!"

I gave her a sideways glance, "Sparky?"

She groaned loudly, "You know how hard it is to talk to people like you?"

I just smiled as she spoke up again. "I guess you call him Prince Zuko, anyways me and Sparky go way back. I knew him when I was a child. We're just friends. My parents made me come because our families are friends and we have to come to everyone of these balls they throw."

I raised an eyebrow. I couldn't imagine anyone being friends with Prince Zuko. What would it be like to be friends with him? Did he act differently? "So what's your name?" I asked the strange girl.

"Toph."

"Just Toph?"

"Toph Bei Fong." She spat out 'bei fong' as if it were an insult. "What's your name?"

"Katara Tryon." I said softly.

I craned my neck to see who Prince Zuko was dancing with. I saw Toph roll her eyes from the corner of my eye.

"What?" I asked her.

"Do not tell me you like him too."

"Like who?"

"Do not play dumb, you know I'm talking about Sparky."

I felt my face go warm. I did not like Prince Zuko. "I do not." I said fiercely.

Toph just shrugged. I stared down at the keys once more. I didn't like Prince Zuko. He was too arrogant. I peeked up at him and saw that he was dancing with Princess Mai.

They moved in graceful strides. Her hand on his shoulder and his hand around her waist and their hands joined together elegantly. They were dancing very closely. I could see Prince Zuko's lips moving, he was saying something to her but I couldn't make out what it was.

Princess Mai was wearing a long fancy dress that hugged her slim body. It fit her perfectly, as if every seam was stitched to fit her. Prince Zuko was wearing his long red robes. The clothes he wore were always intricate and layered.

"So why do you call him Sparky?" I asked Toph.

She just shrugged and picked at her fingernails. "I'm not sure, but it just sticks, does it not?"

I laughed; it did stick. The rest of the night passed by in a blur. Soon everyone filed out and I felt as if I was in a daze as I stood up from the piano bench and stretched out my sore muscles.

Toph soon left and she said she would see me in the next ball, and she was right. It never occurred to me that all of this would be happening again. I made my way up to my room and I fell onto my bed in exhaustion. I hadn't done much, but I was still drained.

I forced myself to get up and change out of the dress and into my nightgown. It was my best nightgown, silky and white. I finally fell into my bed and pulled the sheets up to my chin again.

I believed Aang now. He was right, Prince Zuko was most likely going to marry Princess Mai. I didn't feel jealous or angry. She was good enough for Prince Zuko and I was just glad I could be a part of all of this. Suddenly I heard a knock on my door.

I bit back a groan, why did people always have to disturb me right before bedtime. "Come in!" I called out loudly.

The door opened and the mail carrier stood at the doorstep. "Mail." He said briskly. I quickly got up and tugged at my nightgown and held the letter in his hand. "Thank you." I said as he left and I shut the door.

It was from mother. I quickly jumped back onto my bed and held the letter in font of the lantern so I could see it better. I opened it cautiously and then opened it up. It read:

'Dear Katara,

We are so pleased after reading your letter. I am honestly so glad you are finally doing what you love. We all miss you dearly and we wait until you can come and visit us. We are all well, I am getting much better. The doctor's said I was recovering. I don't know when this letter will reach you but I hope you have fun at your ball. We miss you so much and we all love you.

With love,

Your Family.'

I held the letter and I blinked a few times. That was it? I sighed. If they were going to send me a letter, why couldn't they at least say something more? I could hear the fakeness through the letter and I sighed and set in on my dresser. I then closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.