Hey folks! I'm sorry again, that it took this long to post it, but I actually had to go almost three weeks without electricity! No joke here! But I've finsihed the stoory itsellf and will post the remaining chapters in the following days once I ironed out the kinks, so to speak. I think there was something that didn't add up and I dont want that! Again, I sincerely do apologize for the wait and hope you like the rest of the story and enjoy reading it!

The camp

I woke shortly before daybreak to the soft snoring of a huge man beside me. Sleepily I sat up and rubbed my eyes, I hadn't even heard him come into the tent and lie down next to me, which alone seemed to prove my weariness the previous night. Smiling I looked down on his sleeping form, it was strange to watch him sleep, as always. His usually tense muscles were relaxed, his tall frame perched in grotesque forms on the ground, I sometimes wondered how exactly he was able to sleep like this at all.

The stinging of a fresh wound on my shoulder made me focus on the present again and I silently stood up and wandered the short way over to the mirror to change the bandage once more. I worked fast and determined, knowing very well that Chen had an uncanny ability to wake up shortly after I woke up. Though the occasions had been seldom enough (usually one was awake during the other one's sleep) I had seen it in the past days.

And even as I finished dressing, just brushing my hair and braiding it to a ponytail dangling down my back, I heard him shift and mumble quietly. And sure enough, as soon as I set eyes on him, I saw him blink brearily and jawn hugely.

"Good Morning, Chen." I said simply, knowing he wouldn't get back to sleep again now that he saw I was awake also.

"Good Morning." came the mumbled reply, he needed a couple of seconds for his brain to realise that he was really awake and not sleeping anymore. He sat up and stretched his great arms, flexing the muscles to the point where I could only stare at him, drawn in once more by the mere strength he showed so often.

Luckily I caught myself and looked down, before he could notice the blush creeping onto my cheeks.

"Did you sleep well last night? You didn't even hear me come in." he asked, while I could hear him putting on his tunic again. Swallowing thickly to banish the image of his exposed chest from my memory, I took a moment to answer.

"I guess I didn't realise how exhausted I really was. I didn't even dream I guess, at least not that I can remember anyway. I'm sorry I left so early, but I had to think some things through and needed some quiet to do that. I hope General Iroh was kind with you?" I asked, though I knew the answer already. General Iroh was kind with everyone except they had done something to povoke his anger, which was difficult enough.

"We talked for a while after you left. And I think I have to apologize to you now." he announced, sitting up to look at me with serious eyes.

"Apologize to me? Whatever for?"

"For not believing you in the first place when you told me about the General. I had only heard stories of him and what I had heard stood in bizarre contrast with what you told me. Now that I know him a little better, I guess it was just a mask he wore to prevent anyone else from seeing his true intentions."

Dissmissively I waved my hand, I didn't grudge him for not trusting Iroh at first glance. I wouldn't have either, if I would have been in Chen's position so I had no right to be angry at him for that.

"An apology isn't needed Chen. You did what you thought was right and who am I to blame you for that?" I answered truthfully.

"What did you talk about last night? Did I miss something important?" I asked interested, choosing deliberately to ignore the marvelling stare my friend gave me.

"Erm, no. Not really. General Iroh said he would be planning the attack on the city as soon as the other high ranking members of the Order arrive and then they all asked me about you. You were quite the topic last night, though I told them as little as possible. After all, I didn't wish to tell them anything you'd rather keep secret. But to tell you the truth, I think the General guessed a lot. He kept smirking in a weird way, which was rather unsettling." Chen answered, scratching his hand in that uncomfortable pattern I had grown so used to.

But to be honest, I had expected Iroh to be perceptive about me and Chen. While I could mask my feelings and emotions well enough to suit my purposes, Chen had never learned that to the degree I had.

"General Iroh is very smart. I think he has us figured out already. And even though I know he doesn't grudge us for what is between us, I hope he will not tell the other members. I don't know them yet, so I don't know how they would react." I ended thoughtfully, not really knowing what I should say after that.

So, upon seeing that our conversation had died away into a state of slight awkwardness and silence, we decided to see who else was awake beside us.

Without any great surprise we saw that everyone was awake by now and that at least five new members had arrived. Late in the night or very early in the morning it seemed. They were just working to pull up their tents as we spotted them.

While Chen decided to try and be of some use to them by helping in setting their tent up, I just stood and stared. Slowly I looked around myself, taking in all the commotion that circled around me. I don't know exactly how long I stood and stared, it seemed like the whole place was crawling with benders. I could see another Earthbender talking to Chen, while they set up his tent, a Waterbender who diverted a small stream a bit further away from the camp with the help of yet another Earthbender. Master Piandao was a bit apart from everyone else and seemed to be meditating during the stances of his renowned art, the swordfight. I felt myself bound to watch him, not daring to get closer, for I didn't wish to disturb him. I had so far only heard of his skills and now I had the opportunity to watch him closely. It was fascinating, and thats an understatement even. He moved as if his body and mind were in total perfection, as if his brain knew exactly where every part of his body was. He made it almost look easy, but I knew that one had to train all his life to come even close to the level of swordfight where Master Piandao resided. It was said that he had an instinctive knowledge of the arts of Swordfighting and I had to agree with that while I watched.

Presently I was shaken out of my stupor by a shout from a man standing guard on a hill close by, he announced that more members of the White Lotus arrived.

Shaking my head I joined in into the bustle around, lending a helping hand wherever it was required, setting up tents, making sure everyone had food and water enough within their accomodation and before I knew it, afternoon was drawing closer, making the shadows of the hills and trees around lenghten and darken as the day waned slowly away.

I left the campsite to train on my own fighting. I knew I wasn't trained by a master, at least not in the last years, but I needed the excercise.

And while I worked my way through the bending stances I knew and was able to do over and over again, while I didn't allow myself to rest and take a breath, the sun worked it's way westward and vanished behind the hills. Not long after dusk was upon me, Chen came to look where I was and to encourage me to eat and drink a little. And though I felt like I needed even more training, I couldn't refuse. If I didn't eat, my body would shut down sooner or later, which could end in my demise. A thing which I; despite I was prepared for death; seeked to avoid.

The days went swiftly by and every day more and more members of the White Lotus arrived. First I was stunned by mere numbers and the fact that the iniciates all accepted each other for what they were, but then I got used to it. Waterbenders from the Northern Tribe came and brought with them about twenty skilled healers, Earthbenders from all around the country, led by the famous King Bumi of Omashu no less, Firebenders (though not as many as I had hoped) came in and some nonbenders who were renowned by their skills in battle and strategies. All in all about fifty benders and fighters. Now that number seemed small at first, considering the drawn might of the Fire Nation behind the walls, but each one of the members were masters of their element, some were living legends. And General Iroh was there, the famous Dragon of the West. I didn't think many would stand and fight as soon as they realised that it was him leading the assault on the city. He stayed in his tent mostly, together with some other members, I assumed they were working on a good plan for the assault itself.

I for my part did little. I just trained and slept, I steeled my body to the extreme. So much, I was mostly too exhausted to have any energy left to wander the Dreamrealm, many times I was close to passing out whenever I laid myself to rest.

I could feel Chen didn't approve of the actions I took and neither did General Iroh, but I could also sense a growing respect towards me, for everyone saw that I was nearly working myself to death for the cause. And while Iroh for the most part kept silent about it, yet shot concerned glances at me while I ate (which was seldom enough), only Chen decided to approach me openly and discuss that matter.

I was once more training on my bending, when I saw him come up the hill, where I had trained for the past two weeks. Even before he spoke, I could see what he was getting at. He was concerned for my health, even if I was always assuring him that I felt fine. And indeed I did feel good. The training had given me more strength and even my flames seemed to burn hotter, searing the ground ferousiously before my feet.

As I saw him approach I stopped and looked at him, my breathing a little heavier now that I allowed myself to stand still. My legs and shoulders ached a bit, but with every day the pain in my muscles lessened as my body adjusted itself to the intense work I heaved on it every day.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you in any way." Chen said as he drew close enough for me to hear him.

Drawing deep breaths to calm my racing heart I shook my head.

"No, of course not. I was just..." I started, but was cut off by Chen interrupting me.

"Training. I know. And while it's understandable, even admirable what you put yourself through in order to be a reasonable threat in Ba Sing Se, I believe you overdo it a bit. Slowly I'm getting concerned about you."

He was right, maybe I overdid it a bit, and even though in my heart I knew he was right, my mind kept pushing me further and further, relentlessly shoving me on to a point where I sometimes could hardly believe I was still standing. Frowning I stared to the ground, thankfully my heartrate had calmed a bit and I could breathe normally, no longer sucking air into my lungs like a person drowning.

"I can understand your reasoning, but I need the training. I mean, have you seen the others? I'm not powerful enough to fight alongside them and I don't want anyone getting in trouble just because I wasn't good enough." I told him heatedly, hoping he could see my point. However as soon as I spotted his agitated frown, I knew he wasn't.

"That doesn't mean you need to work yourself to exhaustion!" he exclaimed and stared my figure down.

In his green eyes I saw a reflection of the concern I caused in him, hidden under a veil of plain anger. I hadn't yet seen Chen angry and as unsettling as it was, I didn't want to back down because of it.

"Look, I know what you're getting at, but I just think I need more training." I tried to remain calm in the face of his anger, but found that rather difficult. I could feel my inner fire burn brighter at the thought he might think me weak. Though my rational thoughts told me he would never think that, the emotions overpowered them and I saw his concern as proof that I wasn't strong enough. If I was he wouldn't be concerned.

"For two weeks you have hardly been doing anything besides training. Even you need to sleep sometimes, and I'm talking about real sleep, not passing out on a matress after a days work of training. I know you think you're not powerful enough, but from what I see you're pretty powerful. And besides, the General told me that the Comet will increase the bending of every Firebender on Earth, so if you ask me, I think you are a reasonable threat, with or without the Comet to back you up! You need to rest a bit, not for me or because I ask you to, you should rest for yourself. I'm guessing it will be a huge battle and your no use to us half alive, have you ever considered that? You could get killed when you go on like this, not because you are weak, but because you are too exhausted by the training you heaved on yourself. And in my opinion, I would like to see you alive and well after the Comet passed us by." he had started to rant, walking to and fro in front of me.

Giving myself enough time to process this statement from him, I realised he was right in some degree. It helped no one if I worked myself to complete exhaustion and was killed during the battle. Still having my eyes fixed on the ground, I heard Chen step closer to me, carefully, but determined. Before long I could feel his hands gently grasping my upper arms, holding me at arms length from his broad frame.

"I don't think you're weak. I just don't want to see you like this. You barely sleep and if you eat, its not enough to keep you going for long. I don't want to stand by and watch you while you wreck yourself." he said, considerably calmer than before and I looked up into his eyes and could see that same emotion lingering there that I had seen right before he had kissed me. I was unable to speak in the wake of this feeling spreading out from him towards me with a power and might greater than anything I had yet seen.

"I'm not sure if I could watch that. I guess I'm not strong enough for that." he whispered hoarsely and looked long and longingly into my eyes.

Sighing I stepped forward, leaning onto his chest, just enjoying the feeling of complete comfort and safety I experienced as he held me protectively to himself, his chin resting on the top of my head.

Long we stood like that, none of us speaking, just savouring in the peace the other offered us. But we broke apart sometime and I let myself being taken back to camp by Chen, where I ate and slept. I hoped to find a little peace and calmness in my slumber, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. As always, there was something that just waited for the right moment to strike.

I know, it was rather short, but it was some sort of line-filler... So, now we get ever closer to the great battle! Will everone survive or will there be losses to mourn? Well, thats for me to know and you to find out^^