Katara paused outside the door of the courtroom and watched the people making their way inside. Her legs felt weak. An arm encircled her waist, and Toph was smiling down at her. "Hey. You all right?" the earthbender asked quietly.
"I don't want to go in there, Toph." Katara's voice was barely audible. "I don't want to go in there, and rehash all the horrible things that have happened. I don't want to lay eyes on that firebending witch again. I don't want to go through another court case, and then watch someone else die – even if it is Azula! I just want to go home and forget that all of this ever happened."
Toph nodded slowly. Her arm squeezed Katara a little. "You've had a rough week, Princess," she said. "I don't blame you for being out of sorts." They stood together for a moment or two. "Hey," Toph murmured, "I'm going in with you. You know that, right?"
"Yeah. I know. Thanks." Katara managed a shaky smile. She took a deep breath. "I guess we'd better go in."
The court looked much the same as it had when Ty Lee had been the defendant. There were fewer observers, however – Zuko having decided it was safer that way. The two women took their seats and waited for the trial to start.
The Fire Lord entered, and all bowed to the ground until he had taken his seat on his throne. Katara looked at him as she sat down again – there was a painful vacancy on the cushion beside him. He must feel it. Poor Zuko! Katara sighed. Toph's hand found hers and squeezed reassuringly.
Before the trial began, a simple ceremony took place. A soldier escorted Suki into the court. The Kyoshi warrior was dressed in her traditional armor, but wore no weapons or warpaint. She looked pale and subdued as she quietly knelt down – Katara felt a rush of sympathy for her sister-in-law. Zuko rose to his feet and extended one arm in Suki's direction. "Let the records show that Suki of the Kyoshi warriors, wife to Ambassador Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, has been cleared of any and all wrongdoing in connection with the death of Fire Lady Mai." His voice was clear and steady. "Your honor and status in the Fire Nation are unchanged, warrior Suki."
The young woman rose to her feet and bowed, unsmiling. "Thank you, Fire Lord Zuko," she said, her voice hollow. That was all.
"Your name is cleared. This will not be mentioned again." He lowered his arm and resumed his seat. Suki bowed again as her guard melted into the crowd. Turning on her heel, she left the room; she still looked grim. Katara sighed and shook her head.
Then silence fell. There was a breathless pause, and the tension level in the room rose. At last, the door swung open again, and the prisoner was brought in.
Azula had been badly injured when Toph had buried her in stones, and hadn't been healed any more than was necessary to keep her alive. Even so, Zuko was taking no chances. They had chained their prisoner to something like a gurney; her hands and feet were encased in fireproof cloth. Someone had even strapped a muzzle over her mouth and nose. Katara nodded in agreement – she had seen Azula breathe fire before. One of the guards reached down and pulled a lever; the foot of the gurney came down, leaving Azula in something like a standing position. Her sneering eyes met the cold fury of her brother's.
Their gazes locked. Katara watched them both in silence, only peripherally aware of the man who was giving the obligatory announcement of dates, names and titles. If either of the two siblings could firebend with their eyes, both of them would have been reduced to piles of soot. This trial, she realized, would be nothing like Ty Lee's. I wonder if Zuko will be able to hold it together?
Now silence fell. The Fire Lord spoke. "Azula of the Fire Nation, daughter of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai of Sozin's line, you stand before this court accused of high treason, war crimes and murder. You are charged with war crimes in the cities of Ba Sing Se and Omashu; kidnapping Fire Lady Mai in the city of Ba Sing Se; conspiracy to assault Fire Lady Mai in that same city; conspiracy to instigate war between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom; ten counts of terrorism against the citizens of the Earth Kingdom; assault against General Bei Fong of the Earth Kingdom; two counts of kidnapping and one count of assault against Ambassador Katara of the Southern Water Tribe; one count of kidnapping Avatar Chanya of the Northern Water Tribe; one count of attempted murder against the Fire Lord; and one count of murder against Fire Lady Mai. How do you plead?"
Wow. That was quite a list. Katara counted quickly on her fingers. Ten charges, if you don't count all the separate "counts" of things…and really, that's a kind of stripped down list. I could have added a few! The attempted murder of Avatar Aang, for example… She turned her attention to Azula.
One of the soldiers unbuckled the muzzle over the captive's face, and stepped back. The prisoner smirked. Katara felt a grudging admiration for how self-possessed the young woman was. Even injured, in chains and on trial for her life, Azula still looked every inch like the daughter of royal blood that she was. "Well, Zuzu, I really should plead innocent, just to make you go to the trouble of pretending this is a real trial." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "But really, I'm sure we're all tired of the charade. Guilty, my lord."
Katara's mouth fell open as she listened. After everything, Azula was still defiant and sneering and full of contempt? Even after murdering Zuko's wife? And Mai had once been a friend of hers! Could this woman even be human?
To Katara's relief, Zuko did not rise to his sister's bait. "I would order you to have more respect for this court," he said coldly, "but I know it's useless to expect you to show respect for anything." Azula smirked again. "The court finds you guilty on all charges, as per your plea, prisoner. Let the records show it."
"Oh please, Zuzu. Why all this insistence on protocol? I did have your wife killed, you know." The captive's lip curled as she jeered. "Father would have simply struck his enemy down. It's obvious that you're not half the Fire Lord he was!"
A gasp and murmur went through the court at this. Katara quickly looked up at the throne; she couldn't see Zuko's expression through the curtain of fire, but she thought the flames leaped just a bit higher. "Azula of the Fire Nation, daughter of Ursa and Ozai, you have been found guilty of high treason, war crimes and murder," he said, ignoring his sister's outburst. He's grown, Katara thought in awe. "You are hereby sentenced to die for your crimes." He paused, and the waterbender thought a bit of dark amusement tinged his next words. "As a former member of the royal family, you will, of course, be allowed to choose your own method of execution."
"How charitable of you." Azula bared her teeth. "Well, since you're feeling so generous, brother dear, I'll take you up on your offer. The blood of Fire God Agni runs through my veins. I was born in fire, and I will die in the same. I choose the Threefold Cleansing of Agni!" Katara's mouth fell open in shock. She heard Toph whisper a curse beside her. What? The Three…spirits, Azula really is insane!
Ty Lee had once told her about the Threefold Cleansing. It was the punishment reserved for traitors to the Fire Nation. The condemned prisoner would be brutally flogged, then thrown into a hole for nearly a month, and finally burned at the stake. It was horrific. Why in the name of all that is holy would Azula choose that?! Eyes wide, Katara turned her gaze to the throne.
The sheet of flame hid Zuko's expression. He was still sitting on his throne, as straight as an arrow, his hands on the armrests. As she watched, he inclined his head. "Very well." His voice was still steady, but she thought his words were clipped a bit shorter than usual. "Your sentence will be carried out one week from today. I advise you to spend the time in soul-searching, Azula." He gestured, and Azula's guards stepped forward to wheel the captive from the court. The heavy double doors closed on her mocking laughter.
Katara's eyes turned to Toph as people began to leave. "Why would she choose that?" she sputtered. "Is she that insane?"
"No. It felt pretty deliberate to me." The earthbender shook her head grimly. "Azula loves to mess with people. I think she's trying to twist the dagger in Zuko one last time."
"But that's ridiculous," Katara protested. "The Threefold Cleansing is horrific. She might not even survive long enough to be burned at the stake! Why would she put herself through that just to spite her brother?"
"Maybe she feels like this is her last card to play." Toph shrugged as she rose to her feet. "Come on, Sweetness. We'd better go see if the Fire Lord's okay." Nodding, Katara rose and followed.