Disclaimer: I don't own A:TLA.
Thanks to CJ-T-Bone, PlotbunnyChariot, 4minute, I'Mpossible12, LovinZuko and Rainproof Coyote for your reviews.
Thank you 4minute for the suggestion. This is your prize for guessing correctly. I can only hope that I did your suggestion justice! I am very sorry that it just ended there!
This chapter is in Katara's POV and is based on Young and Beautiful by Lana del Rey!
As I gaze out of the beautiful carriage window, my mother scolds me for not sitting up straight.
"Katara, your posture is appalling. Please correct yourself; you are a lady of rank and nobility. We will be arriving soon, do you really want your acquaintances to see you slouching like a common peasant, rolling around in the mud…"
At this I tune out of our 'discussion'. However, I fail to see what we were 'discussing' as I was silent. A word didn't pass through my lips. But I digress. It isn't worth the hassle and overall aches if I were to question my mother. And that isn't to say that she is a nasty person. On the contrary, to be quite frank with you. However, we do have our differences and we tend to argue when we have been in close proximity for an undisclosed amount of time. My father is fond of saying that we are too alike. And I for one could not agree more!
Three months ago, it seemed like my season would never come. But then that was the old year, 1824 and everything seemed magical. Now that it has come, I am beginning to regret my excitement. If my mother is this short-tempered now, I don't want to imagine what she will be like once we arrive at our London residence. She is far too unpredictable. One moment, she is an utter delight to be around and the next she is complaining about my posture of all things.
I have only recently turned eighteen but I am more mature than the other debutantes. I am not bragging. I have to be mature because I saw terrible things when I was younger. My mother was becoming very ill and I feared that she would pass away. She was sent to a health centre in Switzerland and she remained there for three years. Every day I woke up forgetting my mother's absence. I don't argue with her because I don't want her to have a relapse.
The clear blue sky is like a metaphor for the vast range of men I will soon encounter as part of the season festivities. I need to find myself a respectable man in which to wed. But I have another prerequisite; I must love the man I marry. I refuse to become some old hag because my husband is an abusive alcoholic. Love is essential. My mother was lucky. My father and she fell in love with each other, as opposed to the custom of arranged marriage which I honestly despise. We, and when I say we I mean women, don't get very much freedom, especially when you compare our freedom to the freedom of men. My brother, Sokka is the perfect example of this. On occasion, I become overwhelmed with a sense of jealousy but then I realise that nothing will change for the forseeable future and it is best to make the best of things. Although it breaks my heart to admit defeat.
"Darling, we have arrived. Come now, while our friends receive us."
My mother seems in a much better mood. That is some relief. As I take a quick glance out of the carriage window, I notice my father standing tall and smiling. He is a general in the army and I don't see him often but when I do, I couldn't ask for a better father. He is loving and kind… and he appears to be holding two bouquets of flowers.
"Oh papa, mother you need told me papa would be here to welcome us!"
My mother spares me a cursory glance, but her smile is genuine.
"I wasn't aware! You know that your father is a spontaneous creature!"
That he is. He once took the train from where he was stationed in Paris to visit my mother in the health centre in Switzerland. Obviously, I wasn't there. My nannies were taking care of me. However, the story has been told time and time again. I love it!
The door is promptly opened by the coachmen and I smile at them as I walk carefully down the narrow steps. I am polite at all times as is expected by a lady of rank, as my mother would say. However, not all young ladies are as polite as I am. For instance, Azula is quite vindictive and you wouldn't want to offend her in any way. Her sense of humour is…undesirable. It is quite scary.
I lose my footing and my first thought is, 'How embarrassing. My very first day in London for the new season and already I have managed to make a fool out of me.' However, I am spared the inevitable humiliation by a young gentleman. As I glance upwards, I am quite surprised. This fellow is very tall, much taller than I expected. His hair is black and shaggy, yet neat at the same time. Quite contradictory statements, I know. But it seems like his mother has gotten a comb and had quite the fight to regain control of his hair. To be honest, I find his hair quite whimsical and in every sense of the word adorable. His molten gold eyes shine with genuine concern and his pale skin is almost as pale as the moon itself. A scar marks the left side of his face. I am glad. Otherwise, he would be too pretty for me and a husband can never be prettier than the bride, well at least according to my fanciful mother whom adores analysing every aspect of society. Quite a lot of the time, she disapproves of this shallow society of ours, but she diminishes any trace of this disapproval for my sake.
If it were announced that a ranking member of the aristocracy disapproved of the way society ran, anarchy would rule in my mother's opinion. She is quite the drama queen.
The young man gently kisses my hand and I blush immediately. I was so lost in my thoughts that I was completely unaware of all the recent shenanigans. Not that I disapprove in any form. In all actuality, I am pleased and I can't keep the broad unattractive smile off my face. It seems quite bizarre, but according to my debutante handbook, and I quote, 'Young ladies are not permitted to show any form of enjoyment. This is deemed unattractive and you will forever remain a spinster, if you do so.'
To be quite fair, this seems rather over the top. Well at least in my humble opinion.
"Hello, Lady Katara, my name is Zuko. I am an heir to the throne."
Oh my, not only is he an extremely attractive young man, he is also the heir to the throne.
Zuko is beginning to look rather anxious for a reply. I will spare him any further mortification.
"Oh hello, kind sir or should I call Your Highness? I don't believe we have had the pleasure of meeting one another before?"
A lovely smile appears on his equally lovely face.
"No, I don't believe so My Lady. And as to your question, sir is perfectly fine. I don't think so; however I believe you have met my darling sister Azula?"
What? How could that cruel creature share genetic traits similar to Zuko's? I try to hide my dismay; however Zuko seems to detect my discomfort.
"Yes she is quite the…unusual creature. Anyway, I am not here to discuss my sister. I have come to ask you a question. Would you care to be my escort for the season?"
Yes! Yes! A million times yes! I have only known him a few brief minutes yet I like him. I really do. He is a kind soul, especially when you compare him to the rakish men who would rather spend time with the undesirable i.e. prostitutes or other such scandalous and improper beings. I shudder inwardly. If you are seen with one of those men, you are deemed a mistake.
"Yes of course, Your Highness. I would be delighted to!"
I notice Zuko's glance.
"Oh sorry, you would prefer not to be called Your Highness. I do apologise."
"That is quite alright, dear lady. You are very different to the other debutantes and only in a good way."
My blush soon becomes apparent; it spreads quickly down my neck.
"Thank you kind sir. I do appreciate your kind words. But for now, I must change. Would you care to join my family and me for a cup of tea?"
I am beginning to perspire. As my mother says, men sweat and women perspire. And it is all down to Zuko here. He is very attractive and kind. The girl who marries him is lucky indeed. And now I will look forward to the balls and recitals, because I will have Zuko by my side. Lucky me.
My husband was always the charmer, even back then. He is still my beloved and that won't change. I love him and he loves me. He is the king and I am his queen. Our children run around the palace grounds. Zuko and Katara. Katara and Zuko. It seems strange to believe that before marriage, there was just Katara. Myself.
I hope that the last paragraph didn't confuse you and I also hope that I didn't bore you! The last paragraph is set in the future and I really shouldn't write the rest of the story in the present tense. Can you forgive me?
If you can, please leave a review in that lonely review box! Also, favourite and follow! Much appreciate! I need feedback, I thrive on it. I am sad like that.
So, question: Were you bored? Confused?
For those of you who haven't, please read and review my other fic Mysteries :)