Chapter 27:
Freya sat within her room, her legs crossed, her eyes closed but her expression was annoyed. She took a deep breath and released it slowly, trying to calm herself but her annoyance easily returned. The usual bowl of water sat before her, swirling and waving it's way around.
Zuko had not come to see Freya since then. She'd mostly stuck to her room, avoiding the prince and left only for showers and food. She had left occasionally at night when no one was up but a few guards to get some fresh air. Her bending she'd left confined to her room for the minute.
She'd expected Zuko to send someone to either take her to the cells or station someone at her door to keep her in. But he'd done nothing. He hadn't given any indication to show he even acknowledged her existence.
Freya frowned and she lost her concentration and posture. Her mind was too clouded for meditation. The girl clutched her legs to her chest.
"I did the right thing." she mumbled to herself "Keeping Aang safe." she nodded to herself. "And yet I feel so bad."
I guess that's because this is his ticket home… "Though I don't know why you'd want to go back to that…" she grumbled to herself. Freya shook her head. Of course I know why he wants to go back. Freya looked at the port hole in her room, beyond it was the sea, dark with the night that had pressed in. Freya heard the crew up on deck, music was playing as they had music night, something Iroh implemented and Zuko ignored.
The girl got up from her spot and decided to take that as time to go and get some dinner without running in to anyone, Zuko was more than unlikely to leave his room during music night in fear of someone dragging him up to join in.
She moved through the hallways towards the kitchen which she found empty, the cook being up with the rest of the crew on deck. Freya began to hum to herself as she moved through the kitchen, making herself some food as she stood at the stove and fried the ingredients. Freya plated up the food before sitting herself down at a table to eat it. She sat pushing the food around her plate for a few minutes, not actually eating it.
"My mood hasn't even increased a little bit." she whispered to herself. And what's worse, is I know why. she scowled before groaning, pushing her plate away and lying her head on her arms in the bench.
Freya began to move around the kitchen again, now baking with more purpose. She found a mixing bowl and several ingredients went into it before she mixed them together, added some more and turned on the oven. A baking tray was found and soon Freya was rolling out some dough and cutting it to put it on the tray.
The cookie dough was put into the oven and Freya sat cross legged before it. Her amber eyes stared at the oven as the cookies rose ever so slightly and she was determined to wait until they were finished.
Freya found a fancy plate and began to pile the warm cookies onto it before she left the kitchen, having cleaned up her food and put it in the fridge for someone else to eat. She walked through the seemingly empty boat until she stood before the Prince's room.
This is so stupid. He's Zuko, he's not going to want cookies. Freya thought annoyingly to herself Why did you even do this? What are you going to say?
"You're being such a baby." Freya breathed before she shifted the cookies onto one hand and knocked on the door.
She waited.
And waited.
Freya looked confused when there was no answer from the other side.
"He wouldn't be asleep… not as long as music night's happening upstairs… he'd be plotting or mopping…" she mumbled to herself But that could have worn him out. Freya knocked again, this time a little louder, but she received the same result.
Freya ground her teeth. "Could he really be asleep?" she asked herself. He's not ignoring me cause he doesn't know who it is…
Freya reached for the door handle but she stopped and shook her head. She backed away.
He's already mad at you don't burst in and make it worse. she decided and she turned to walk away.
Freya didn't even make it half way down the hallway before she was back in front of the door, with her hand on the handle and forcing it open.
Freya blinked as she looked at the familiar room before her, but it wasn't what she expected.
The room was empty.
Freya took a few steps in, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Where was the Prince?
Freya moved to put the plate down on the table before she looked around, almost as if expecting there to be a note of some sort to explain his absence.
"He's definitely not upstairs…?" she muttered, knowing the boy well enough to know he would not be upstairs with his uncle and the other crew members singing or playing an instrument. And she knew he wasn't in the kitchen.
Freya moved from the room and began stalking through the hallways. She went up to the helm and down to the bridge, she glanced at the deck but of course the scarred prince wasn't there either. Freya continued until she returned to the prince's room.
"He's not on the boat." she realised confused. "He left the boat…?" Freya thought confused. "But what for?" If he was after Aang again, he would have taken someone with him. And everyone on board would know… she believed.
Freya crossed her arms frustrated.
"Here I am, trying to make up with him and he's ditched the boat." She grumbled. "How selfish of him."
Freya walked over to where she'd left her cookies on the table. Majority of them had cooled but Freya grabbed one as she sat down before the plate.
Now they wont be warm. she grumbled to herself as she bit one of the cookies and slumped against the table they rested on.
Zuko moved through the halls of his ship towards his room, a sour look on his face before he slammed open his door.
The boy paused surprised as he noticed Freya. She had her arms under her head and leaning on his table. Her eyes were closed as she slept, breathing evenly.
Zuko looked at her annoyed and moved forwards ready to shout and wake her up, remembering how she'd lost him his chance at the Avatar and betrayed him. But as he approached her, he stopped. Freya had taken a deep breath before humming slightly as she released it. Zuko pursed his lips as he looked at her, his eyes darting to the plate of cookies before her head. It looked like she'd eaten a few while waiting for him.
"Cookies?" the Prince mumbled as he rose an eyebrow. He looked back at the girl who smiled slightly almost smugly, as though she was responding to him.
Zuko sighed as he looked at her before he simply turned to his bed and grabbed one of the blankets. He threw it over the girl before walking away and back out of the room.
Freya awoke to a giant horn sounding and she jumped up with a gasp. The blanket fell around her legs and the girl winced from the stiffness of her joints.
Freya looked down at the blanket that had been on her confused, raising an eyebrow. She looked around to find herself in the Prince's room.
"I must've fallen asleep…" she mumbled. The room was empty beside herself and she got to her feet to stretch, a few of her joints popping as she did. The girl sighed as she ran her fingers through her knotted hair.
Freya looked down at the blanket at her feet and picked it up with a raised eyebrow.
"Iroh?" she wondered. Zuko was much too angry with her to have done such a thing. He mustn't have come home last night, or he would have kicked me out. Freya believed. The girl folded up the blanket and put it on the corner of the prince's bed before she moved to the door and left the room. She didn't notice her plate of cookies she'd made were gone.
Freya walked up and out onto the main deck. She stretched as she breathed in the fresh air. The day was rather grey and the sun was hidden but Freya ignored it as the ship moved through the water.
A few guards were on the deck, moving about as usual but that was all. Freya moved inside and towards the helm to find the old General, knowing he'd probably be having a sip of tea in the helm, getting an update as to where they were and what they were doing. Especially if the prince was still missing.
Freya moved to the door and heard the voices from inside as she did so, the metal ship carrying the sounds down towards her.
"We haven't been able to pick up the avatars trail since the storm," Freya noticed Lieutenant Ji's voice. "But if we continue heading north east—" the Lieutenant cut off as Freya walked into the helm. She was surprised to find Zuko standing beside the Lieutenant beside the map. She blinked staring at him.
But then… he'd let me sleep? He must have come into his room? Freya turned from the prince as she noticed what had caused the Lieutenant to stop speaking. A shadow was suddenly cast over the helm and a boat rocked up beside the small ship.
"What do they want?" Zuko questioned
"Perhaps a sporting game of Pai Sho!" Iroh smiled. He was sitting at his Pai Sho table with a few others playing the game.
"Who are they?" Freya wondered as she moved to the window. Zuko glanced at her, hie eyes narrowing slightly but she ignored him as she frowned at the ship.
"Actually Freya, it's probably best they don't know you are here." Iroh suddenly said. She looked at Iroh before understanding.
More Fire Nation soldiers obviously. You're a prisoner walking around freely, you don't need to cause any more trouble.
"Probably a good idea." she mumbled.
They watched as a few planks were placed between the two ships, angled down because of the size difference. Freya moved quickly after she watched a few soldiers move from the ship and she ducked into a small space, keeping quiet to listen.
The soldiers stalked past her and into the Helm where Zuko stood brooding, his arms crossed over his chest.
A poster was exposed when the soldiers took their place before Zuko and Freya rose an eyebrow, being unable to see what was on it from her position.
"The hunt for the Avatar has been given prime importance." Freya's eyes widened as the Herald lowered the scroll to address Zuko further.
A wanted poster… she realised
"All information regarding the Avatar must be reported directly to Admiral Zhao."
Admiral Zhao? Freya questioned.
"Zhao has been promoted? Well, good for him!" Iroh grinned before he moved a pai sho tile and smiled at his opponents. The man hit his face.
"I've got nothing to report to Zhao." Zuko said as he avoided the man's gaze. Freya rose an eyebrow at him, noticing his lack of hospitality. "Now get off my ship and let us pass."
"Admiral Zhao is not allowing ships in or out of this area." the Herald admitted
"Off my ship!" Zuko shouted as he pointed at the window. The soldiers turned and retreated at this, moving off down the hallway and back to their ship.
Freya peaked out from her spot before she moved back into the helm.
"Excellent!" Iroh suddenly grinned before he learned and collected all the pai sho tiles as one of the men hit his head. "I take the pot. But, you're all improving. I'm certain you will win if we play again." He smirked cheekily at his opponents.
"Don't fall for it he's baiting you." Freya smirked and Iroh grinned at her as the others rose an eyebrow.
Freya looked at Zuko who was staring out the window as the old men began another game despite her warning.
She frowned and moved over to him.
"Who's Zhao?" she wondered
"He's a soldier of the Fire Nation." Zuko replied angrily
"I got that much…" she mumbled, trying to keep the sarcasm from her voice.
"He's the commander of a Fire Navy Fleet." Iroh spoke from behind them and Freya turned to him.
"Hence commander." she realised earning a nod.
"He was commanding the blockade to the Fire Nation," Zuko admitted and Freya's eyes narrowed slightly. That was the last time she'd been with Aang, Katara and Sokka. "He's after the Avatar, to gain the glory of turning him over."
"So he's the one that didn't care about sinking your ship." Freya remembered. Zhao must have been the one who ordered the ships to fire on her, Aang, Katara and Sokka on Appa as they crossed the line. They didn't even care about Zuko below them.
Zuko's lip curled.
"Being Admiral he has the power to hold us here." he snarled.
Freya looked at Zuko before confusion grew in her face.
"But what would be the point in keeping you here? I mean sure you both want the same thing but if Zhao doesn't know—" Freya cut off and Zuko turned to her as her eyes widened. His expression grew intense before Freya pursed her lips and sighed.
"He doesn't want you returning home, does he?" it was more of a statement than a question. Freya peaked at Zuko and he turned back to the window.
"I'm surprised." Freya turned to Iroh as he smiled at them "I was under the impression you two weren't speaking, what changed?" he peaked at them knowingly and Freya tilted her head slightly as she frowned.
She didn't know what had changed, for some reason, Zuko had left her asleep, covered her in a blanket and was now accepting her existence. Why, she had no idea.
Freya glanced at Zuko before she turned and left the helm without waiting for a reply to the old general's question. Freya bit her lip as she walked down the halls.
"Zhao wants the avatar and he's for some reason not allowing Zuko to leave…" she whispered "What would the point to that be if he had no idea where Aang was." she frowned. Simple, he knows were Aang is… or he has an idea and doesn't want to give Zuko the chance to hear anything about it. "So he's confined the prince."
Freya stopped. She knew if Zuko had caught onto her train of through he'd do storming to find out what Zhao knew, something that wasn't good for the prince.
"But Aang's also in trouble… Zhao's got everything he needs." Freya whispered. Now what?
