Chapter 14:

My body was slick with sweat when I awoke. I was breathing heavily as I dragged my hand over my face. I squinted as I looked out the window. I was out of the bed quicker than ever as I burst through my balcony doors. I had slept clean through the council meeting, it was already dark. I bit my lip hard. "Damn it." I muttered under my breath.

My father's temper was literally the last thing I needed right now, but I knew at this point, it was inevitable. I pulled on my robe and made my way to the infirmary. If I was going to get in trouble with father, I might as well avoid it as long as I could.

Katara was awake when I entered. "How are you feeling?"

Her head snapped up when she heard my voice. She smiled at me, "Better." Her hair was still falling loosely over her shoulders.

I took a seat next to her on the chair. Her wound had now made the left side of her face swollen and the stitches were still fading into the skin. She looked over at me and met my eyes. "I guess I should say thank you…" She said softly.

"For what?"

"Well…for everything."

I dragged my hand down my face. "Katara-"

She sat up on the bed and winced. "I'm just saying thank you."

"Well you don't need to."

She sighed. "Why do you get angry whenever someone tries to thank you or apologize to you?"

I gave her a look, "What're you talking about?"

"Well," She shifted her weight, "You're angry right now."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are." She gave a small smile, "See you're angry right now."

I scowled at her and she laughed. "See?"

"I'm not angry." I said, surprisingly my voice sounded cold and cast off.

Katara just shrugged and she brushed her hair away from her face. Suddenly a nurse pulled the curtains aside. She looked slightly confused as she looked from me to Katara. She curtsied to me.

"Your majesty, the King would like to have a word with you in the throne room."

I felt my blood run cold and I could feel Katara looking at me. I swallowed hard and nodded at the nurse, feeling my blood drain from my face. The nurse left without another word. I looked over at Katara. "I…should get going." I said to her quickly.

She just nodded, but she looked confused. I opened my mouth to say something but then shut it again. I left without another word and made my way down the corridors. My mind raced with thoughts as I made my way to the throne room.

Fear was written clean on my face. My hands were sweating as I clenched them and unclenched them. I stood in front of the doors of the throne room. The two guards looked at me and then bowed their heads slightly before they went to open their doors.

I walked inside and father was sitting on his throne. I felt my heart race as I bowed down in front of father. I could feel him staring at me and shivers ran through my body.

"Prince Zuko."

I looked up at father and I stood up and met his gaze.

"You weren't at the council meeting." He said. I was shocked because he didn't sound angry.

I swallowed, "I…was-"

"Were you with the girl? The pianist?"

I gritted my teeth together, "Yes father." I replied.

He leaned back in his throne as if deep in thought. "Yes…I heard about her injury…how did it happen?"

I wasn't sure what to make of this. Father sounded so sickly calm, I didn't know what to think. "She…was hit with a sword."

Father nodded slowly. "Who was it?"

I bit my lip, unsure of how to reply. "Chang…it was Chang."

Father slowly stood up from his throne and walked up to me. I felt my breathing quicken. "Well," He started as he began pacing around me, "He deserves some sort of a punishment, after attacking the girl…and you."

I swallowed. I didn't know father even knew about my injury. "Don't you think?"

Yes. Yes Chang did deserve a hell of a punishment. Yes he did. But it was my father offering this, my father who just a week ago punished me for teaching Chang a lesson. "Don't you think?" My father repeated louder.

"Yes. Yes he does." I answered quickly.

My father smiled, his sick, twisted smile sending fear through my veins. "Recently, ambassador Zhao has spoken up against one of my plans. An act deserving punishment."

I nodded, because I knew father wanted me to. So that was it. Father needed a punishment for Zhao and he was going to use his son to carry it out.

"Tomorrow morning Chang will be brought in and he will receive his punishment. In front of his father. I expect you to be there, as the future King, you should learn how to punish others."

I slowly nodded, waiting for him to scold me or do something about me missing the council meeting. Father walked back to his throne. "You are free to go."

I stood for a moment, unsure if I was actually being told what I thought I was. I slowly turned on my foot and walked to the doors stiffly. "And Prince Zuko?"

I whirled around and winced, I knew it was too good to be true. I nodded. "Yes father?"

"You will propose to Princess Mai in a few days. She is your soon to be wife and I expect you to spend all of your free time with her, do you understand?"

I swallowed, "Yes father." Father nodded and I made my way out of the room. Thoughts and questions spiralling around my head. But one feeling was clear, relief. But I was sure in some way or the other; I would get my punishment for missing the council meeting. My hand touched my scar and I winced as I walked back to my room.

I wasn't sure what father had meant by Chang being punished but I knew father was only punishing Chang for a deed his father had committed, treason of some sort. Chang would be caned, most probably. I had never seen anyone be caned, ever. I knew Chang deserved what he was getting but I couldn't help feeling nervous about tomorrow.

I pushed open the door to my room and walked out onto the balcony. Was I becoming like father if I wanted to bring pain on others? But this was different, Chang deserved to be punished. But father wasn't punishing him for what he did; father was punishing Chang for what his father did. It didn't seem fair, but I shouldn't have cared because Chang deserved it.

Father was also doing this, I knew, to somehow teach me a lesson. If I was going to be King one day, I should be able to at least witness someone being punished, especially if they deserved it. But I still couldn't help feeling anxious.

My thoughts drifted to what father had said about Mai. I would propose to her in three days' time. Mai would be my fiancée in three days. I bit my lip. I didn't want to marry her, but I had no choice. Father would have me marry Mai if it was the last thing he did. But how could I marry her when I wasn't in love with her? It seemed just…unfair.

I wasn't even sure if Mai felt the same way about me. She acted as if she liked me, loved me even, but how could I be sure? For all I knew she could be forced into accepting my proposal. For all I knew she knew all about this and her sole purpose was to get me to propose to her.

My head began to throb as I thought about it. Did Mai already know? Had she known this entire time? Were we both being forced into something neither of us wanted? I inhaled sharply as I stared down at the garden. If she knew, why wouldn't she at least mention it? I sighed, probably the same reason I didn't mention the same thing to her.

It didn't matter anymore. In a few days, it would be a done deal.