She looks up at me, suspicion cutting through the commonplace boredom in her eyes. She has mostly grown out of the apathetic expression, but some habits die hard.
"What is it?"
The pendant sits in her lap, still in the cloth wrappings. The deep red flame pattern in the middle glints in the lamplight, contrasting the ring of gold on the outside. It is a very handsome piece of jewelry, something I remember admiring as a child
"It is the emblem of the Fire Lady. I know an old man is probably the last person you wish to speak to the night before your wedding, but I wanted to make sure you had this."
She pulls it out of the wrapping and holds it carefully in her hand; with the movement of her arm, I can see the knives tucked away in her sleeve. Even at night, even in the safety of the palace, this young woman is armed to the teeth.
"My mother, Zuko's grandmother, was the last to wear it. It would have passed to my wife Riko, but I was never crowned Fire Lord. And Ursa left before Ozai was crowned, so she never gained the title of Fire Lady. If you choose to wear it, you will be the first in almost twenty five years."
She nods quietly, tilting the pendant, making it glimmer in the light.
"Zuko told me about Roku's artifact. Are you just an expert at finding long-lost treasures?"
"That is one of the advantages of being old. You remember where all the secret things are hidden."
She laughs a bit, perhaps more out of a sense of decorum then an appreciation for the joke. She has learned to soften in the years since the end of the war; with her friend becoming more serious from responsibility with the Kyoshi warriors, it seems as if they have shared their personalities, balancing each other out. She still has the sarcasm and cunning to cut down the most iron of egos, but it tends to stay holstered more often; thankfully, her knives and arrows also stay in their holsters, although the walls and tapestries of the palace can testify to her continuing practice and skill. I believe she has grown into a woman who can lead her people, just as my nephew has grown into the Fire Lord he was born to be.
She is still looking down, brow furrowing.
"…why are you giving this to me? You said it was your mother's, and an artifact. Wouldn't you want to keep it?"
Maybe it is my age, maybe it is my supposed authority clashing against her court upbringing, but she has never seemed quite comfortable with me. I choose my next words carefully.
"…Mai. I have seen my nephew at some of the lowest times of his life. I have seen him hurting more than I could stand to look at, seen him confused and angry and lost. He has suffered many hardships and has struggled through them all to become the man he is today. You can see it in his face, as much as he has grown past it…except when he is with you. When he is with you, he is happier than I can ever remember seeing him, full of hope and love. I am sure you two have your fights, and always will. Believe an old man when he says that no love can be warm and perfect all the time. But you make him happy. And if he makes you happy as well, then I wish you all the love in the world, and will always bow before you as the Fire Lady."
She doesn't say anything, just holds the pendant up, watching it lazily spin for a moment, and pulls it over her head, letting it rest in the middle of her chest. It will look lovely against her wedding dress tomorrow.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome. Please forgive me for my sentimental nature; I should let you get some rest."
"Ty Lee will be here very early. She says since she has no choice in her makeup anymore, I have to let her do mine. And my parents and Tom-Tom are visiting; I promised him I'd show him some more knife-throwing tricks."
"A seven year old with stilettos…I'll certainly be more careful walking the halls tomorrow. Good night, Mai. I hope you sleep well."
"Good night, Iroh."
I stand to leave, but am caught at the door by a hug, quick and fleeting, but a hug nonetheless. I do not think I have seen her hug anyone aside from Zuko and Ty Lee, so I make sure to squeeze back, very aware of the honor I have been given.
Tomorrow will be one more sign that my generation's era has ended. It is their time now, their world to do with as they choose, to guide and lead, to help recover from my generation's mistakes. I could be melancholy to see my age pass. But with people like my nephew and his wife at the head, I cannot help but smile to think of what is yet to come.