Spoils of War
Chapter 14
Hina walked up too Katara and smiled warmly, she knew there was no reason to worry about her safety; the girl would not attack her. She looked Katara up and down, surveying her grandson's choice; she was very pretty, sapphire eyes burned like blue fire, a thousand emotions played behind them. Love, hate, anger, joy, and more than anything strength, the kind of strength someone only gets from loss. Kataras eyes burned with that strength, they reminded Hina of Zukos eyes, eyes that fought so hard to not betray the emotions swirling beneath them.
She was wrong to think of Katara as a choice, no, he had not chosen her. Neither of them had had any choice in the matter. She could tell that they had fought it, just by looking in those eyes, they had convinced themselves the only passion they had for each other was hatred and that the only desire was to defeat the other.
Hina walked out of the room without even talking to Katara, she didn't need to. Azula and Zuko were waiting for her, Zuko trying to hide his desperation and failing miserably while Azula was trying to hide a look of triumph. Azula was sure that anything her grandmother found (that could destroy Zuko would be reported to her, Hina was the high priestess of the Fire Nation and she would never betray her country. What Azula didn't realize was that Hina had no loyalty to the Fire Nation; it was the people she served not the Fire Lord. She stayed out of politics and refused to aid the government in anyway, truth be told she was much more powerful than the Fire Lord would ever be.
"She's strong, the baby should be just fine" Hina said to Zuko and Azula "though you might want to consider a taster."
"A taster?" Zuko asked
"Yes, to make sure no one will try to harm her or the baby. She is carrying the Fire Princes son and that makes her more vulnerable than ever."
"Really now grandmother, who would try something like that." Azula said defiantly (as she made plans in her head)
"Any of the citizens of the other countries and ambitious family members, after all, it does state in the laws of succession that only a man can take the throne. Thus Zukos child would be the most vulnerable."
Hina had made sure to put emphasis on "Zukos child", that's why Fire Lords usually married women of the temple, that way their daughters held sway as well. It kept the power of the royal family everywhere, and convinced the kingdom that they were following the laws of succession.
A dark look crossed Azulas face, that had always been a problem. The laws of succession had haunted her for as long as she could remember. She knew her father intended to have her succeed the throne, but the people might not follow her. She knew the council of generals would insist on her marrying some inbred third cousin and hand her power over to him so she could concentrate on the arduous task of having children.
She suddenly realized what a mistake she had made, she had become overly secure in her position since she had taken Ba Sing Sei, not only had she given her brother the means to produce an heir but it had been with the daughter of the chief of the Southern Water Tribe! Something like this could end the war, it could force treaties between The Water Tribes and The Fire Nation. Azula was in trouble, her father most likely had figured all of this out by now! Ozai knew how much stock Zuko put into the actual well-being of the Fire Nation citizens, he didn't want to control them, he actually wanted to serve them!
Azula excused herself and hurried to her quarters barking at the guards at her door to summon
Lady Tai Li and Lady Mai. She had too fix this! Hina clucked silently, she knew exactly what Azula would do and she had plans too make as well.
"Zuko" She said "Which cell is your Uncle Iroh being kept in? It's been so long, I would really enjoy having tea with him"