DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NICKELODEON'S AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER OR ITS CHARACTERS. I just harvest plum blossoms for Miyuki's dinner.
Author's Pre-Chapter Notes: So, here you have it! Lan Chi's reunion with Zuko! Don't expect it to go smoothly. Thanks to bowow0708 and sunflower13 for their beta reading.
Lunch was a merry occasion; Iroh entertained them with tales of long-ago, and some of the tamer exploits of his travels with Zuko.
Lan listened raptly to every word. She could imagine Zuko in these stories, strong and handsome and brave – as she had known him two years before.
After lunch, Iroh announced that they were leaving with the tide, which was near nightfall, and that implication rushed into Lan Chi's head. She was leaving; she was really leaving. She might never see Ming, Fai, or Changda ever again.
She looked at Ming and Fai, who were talking animatedly with Iroh. They were both so dear to her.
And she had to say goodbye.
Ming noticed her face. "What's wrong, darling?"
Lan smiled sadly and shook her head. "Nothing. I was just – thinking."
Ming extended her hand. "Well, let's go take one last look around your bedroom, and make certain that you've gotten everything that you need."
Lan took her aunt's hand, and they excused themselves.
"So, do you feel ready?" Ming asked as they climbed the stairs.
"I think so. All my luggage has been loaded?"
"Darling, we needed an entire wagon for your trunks and boxes."
Lan smiled indulgently. "I'm not the one who insisted on packing half my furniture."
"Well, don't you want to be surrounded by familiar things?"
"No. I want to be in familiar surroundings."
"You know that you will always have a place here, and that I will always be on your side."
"I know, Aunt Ming. Thank you."
"I just want you to remember that. If you ever have need of me, just send me a message."
Lan stopped on the stairs and gave her aunt a hug. "Thank you."
When she pulled away, there was suspicious wetness in both their eyes. "Let's go."
Lan's departure was difficult, but after many hugs and kisses and promises of letters and visits, Lan climbed into Iroh's carriage. She leaned out the window as the vehicle pulled away, waving frantically at Ming, Fai, Changda, and the rest of the household staff.
After they were out of sight of the house, she settled back against the cushions, wiping tears from her eyes.
Iroh watched her with fondness. "I'm so happy that I could accompany you to Tao Xing."
She nodded, and composed herself. "I'm grateful that you can. But how did you get permission from Ozai?"
"I didn't."
Her eyes opened wide. "R – really? He doesn't know?"
"No need."
"But didn't he – forbid me from being anywhere near Zuko?"
"It's a moot point. He was concerned about Zuko marrying you, and obviously you are no longer available."
"No." She turned to look out the window. "I'm not."
There was silence for a long moment, before Iroh spoke. "Fai told me that you have been a great help to him in his work."
"That was kind of him. All I did was write."
"And I understand that you traveled with him throughout the Earth Kingdom."
"Yes."
"Did you enjoy it?"
She looked at him levelly. "It was very educational."
Iroh watched her for a long moment as she gazed out the window again.
"You're angry with me."
She drew a deep breath, although she did not look at him. "I was very angry with you, Uncle Iroh. After you left me. Again."
Iroh looked abashed. "I am sorry that I could not take you with me. Zuko –"
"Needed you. I know."
"I want you to understand why I did it, Lan."
"I know why you did it. Because Zuko is going to be the next Fire Lord. And because Zuko is your nephew – your blood."
Iroh frowned. "No. That's not it, Lan. Not at all. You -" he struggled to find the right word, "are stronger than Zuko. You always have been."
She shook her head and looked down at her hands. "No." She looked at him. "You're wrong. I'm not. I'm not strong. I missed you more than you could ever know. I needed you as much as Zuko did. But you chose Zuko. I understand. But it didn't make it easier."
Iroh put his hand over hers. "You are strong. You might think that you are not, but you are. You have survived despite everything that has happened to you. No matter what has befallen you, you have gone forward."
Tears formed in her eyes again. "Because I didn't have a choice."
"And that's what makes you strong."
She sighed. "I don't feel strong."
"But you are. You are your father's daughter. Remember that. Never forget who you are."
"I haven't."
"Ozai underestimates you – your resilience. He thought to break you by sending you to the Academy, but you didn't."
"I bent, though, didn't I?" She gave a half smile.
Iroh smiled back. "But you will never break."
"He wants me out of his life – out of Zuko's life, permanently."
"I am so sorry that he did this to you, Lan. You should not be forced to marry someone you have never met. It is not what I wanted for you."
"What we want and what we get are two different things." She looked out the window again.
"If I could change it, I would."
"But you can't. No one can. What the Fire Lord has decreed must come to pass."
"Yes. But you will survive."
She laid her head against the cushions, silent, and then allowed it to roll to the side, and looked at Iroh. "Uncle," she said, finally, "Ozai knew that Zuko planned to marry me."
His gaze was unblinking. "Yes. I know."
She looked at him steadily. "I never told anyone."
"Nor did I."
She was silent again for a moment. "Do you suppose Zuko did?"
"Possibly."
She looked out the window again. "I think he may have told Azula. She said something to me at the palace once. She knew."
Iroh mulled this over for a moment before speaking. "Then it was unwise for Zuko to confide in his sister."
She sighed. "He wouldn't be the first to be victimized by Azula. And surely not the last."
"No." He had something else to say to her before they reached port, and he did not know how to start. "I'm sorry that Zuko did not come with me."
"I doubt he considers fetching me a top priority. I'm an unwanted passenger – an unwanted memory."
"It's true that the only priority Zuko has now is catching the Avatar."
"Chasing the wind."
"It is indeed a pity. Still, I'm glad that he's not here. I wanted to talk to you alone before you saw him."
"Why?"
Iroh frowned. "Zuko is not the boy you once knew. He is much changed."
"I know. The scar."
"Well, yes, the scar. It's quite – jarring. It covers much of his face. But that's not really what I meant."
"What did you mean, then?"
"He's – bitter…and angry. He feels cheated by life. I have tried to temper that side of his personality, but I am afraid I have not succeeded."
"Uncle Iroh, do you really blame him? He's had everything taken away from him." She looked out the window again. "I understand how he feels. It's – paralyzing.""
Do you feel the same for him – as you used to?"
It was time for her to begin her charade. "Am I in love with him? No. I don't think that I ever was. I was in love with the thought that someone found me worthy of love."
Iroh was skeptical. "You once told me you had been in love with him for as long as you could remember."
She blushed at that memory. "Even if I was, all that has changed. I'm not twelve – or fourteen – and I'm engaged to someone else now. Anything I felt for Zuko is long gone."
"Your aunt told me about what happened."
Thinking that he was referring to Zhao's attack on her, her pulse jumped. "Wh – what?"
"The incident at the palace." At her blank look, he continued. "You thought you saw Zuko."
She was relieved. "Oh, that. I was – half asleep. And I was also – distraught. I had just come from seeing Ozai. I was upset. I thought I saw something, but I didn't. Nothing was there. It was – nothing."
"Will you be – uncomfortable seeing Zuko again?"
She looked out the window again. "Don't be silly. Everything that happened was a long time ago." She turned back to him with an overly bright smile. "I'll be fine."
Iroh was silent. Lan and Zuko were very similar. Their words had even echoed the other's. He hoped he had not made the wrong decision, throwing them together like this.
"Prince Zuko, General Iroh has returned."
Zuko laid down the directional instrument he had been using to plot their course. "Thank you, Lieutenant." He stood and straightened his uniform. He had been expecting his uncle and Lan Chi for over two hours – they were late, and he had intended to leave with the tide. They would have to hurry if the ship were to leave port today.
As usual, the garrison had been unable to provide any information on the Avatar's whereabouts, and, since Lao Hai was surrounded by flat farmlands with few places that a man could hide for a hundred years, he felt comfortable leaving the countryside unexplored.
He strode onto the deck and over to the railing facing the dock. His uncle had alighted from his carriage, and extended his hand into the cab. Zuko saw a slender hand take his uncle's, and Lan Chi emerged from the interior.
Red hair. He remembered, suddenly, how he had run his fingers through it, those nights so long ago. He watched as she smiled at Iroh and said something that caused him to laugh. Zuko stepped back from the railing as they walked to the gangplank. He did not want it to appear as if he had been spying, or worse, waiting.
As she crossed onto the ship, Zuko got his first good glimpse of her. She had changed – so much. She was taller, of course, and she was no longer a girl. Her shape had filled out quite nicely, and the traveling robe she wore emphasized those new curves very well. She wore her hair up, held in place with a formal headdress. Her face was thinner than he remembered, but her smile was the same. By the spirits, she was more beautiful than he had remembered!
He pushed those thoughts away. The time for them was past. He was a different person; so was she. And, besides, she was to be married to another man in less than two months' time.
When Lan Chi caught sight of Zuko, she drew her breath in sharply. Iroh had warned her of the changes, and she had steeled herself, but she was unprepared for the man she saw. He was a man now – gone was the boy she had loved. He was at least a head and a half taller than Iroh, and therefore much taller than she. He was very muscular and broad chested. Even beneath the concealing uniform, that was obvious. He also held himself now with an aloofness and a formality that had been missing from the younger Zuko, and she knew that was one of the changes Iroh had mentioned – a change in his entire demeanor.
The scar – she had definitely not been prepared for that. It started almost at the bridge of his nose and covered the entire area around his left eye. It stretched back over his ear, and up onto his scalp. The eye was just a slit, and, even from this distance, she could see there was no eyebrow. Her heart broke for him. His beautiful face, ruined. She hated Ozai more in that moment more than she had ever thought it possible to hate someone.
"Don't let him see it." Iroh whispered to her.
She gave an imperceptible nod and continued towards her host. She noted that he wore his head shaved now, which was startling, but what was left of his hair was long and tied with a cord, swinging freely behind him in the breeze. She remembered his luxuriant, shining hair, and felt another stab of pain.
She and Iroh stopped in front of Zuko, who watched her with a stony expression.
"Prince Zuko," Iroh presented her to him, "you remember my niece, Lady Lan Chi Sun."
They would put on a show in front of the crew. "Of course, Uncle." He bowed to her. "Lady Lan Chi, how are you?" His voice, she noted, was rough and silky at the same time. Very disconcerting.
She bowed deeply, lowering her eyes to the deck. "Quite well, thank you, Your Highness. And yourself?"
She cursed the words as they came from her mouth. How was he? Burned, banished, disowned.
The same thoughts came to Zuko's mind. How do I look? He was tempted to ask her. "Fine, thank you, Lady Lan Chi."
She swallowed audibly. "It has been quite a long time, Your Highness." Shut up, Lan Chi, she admonished herself. Just shut up!
His eyes narrowed. "Yes. The last time I saw you, I think I had two good eyes."
She flushed, but she was angry at the same time. He was trying to discomfit her. "And hair, Your Highness."
A snicker came from Iroh, and Zuko shot him a dark look. "Yes. Things change. I understand felicitations are in order on your upcoming marriage."
Felicitations. The same word Azula had used when mockingly congratulating Lan on her marriage. Did he feel the same as Azula? Hating her, resenting her, wishing her gone? She did not want to believe it of Zuko.
She was probably overreacting. Still, her words in response were cool. "Thank you, Your Highness." She turned to Iroh. "Uncle Iroh, I feel very fatigued. Would it be possible for me to retire to my chamber?"
Zuko took the hint. This conversation was at an end.
"Of course, my dear." Iroh smiled. "How remiss of me. Prince Zuko, could you please escort Lady Lan Chi to her cabin while I see to the loading of her rather considerable amount of luggage." His eyes wandered to where Zuko's men were struggling up the gangplank under the weight of a massive trunk. Several similar pieces still waited on the dock.
Zuko and Lan both simultaneously called the older man's name, and then looked at each other in surprise. Lan recovered first.
"Uncle Iroh, I am certain that I can find my cabin on my own, if you'll just tell me where it is."
"Uncle, I have to get the ship ready for departure." Zuko put in.
"Nonsense." His words were for both. "Prince Zuko, Lieutenant Jee is more than capable of preparing the ship for departure. Lieutenant Jee!" He called. Jee appeared immediately at the railing of the upper deck.
"Yes, General Iroh?"
"Could you please prepare for departure?"
Jee saluted. "Yes, Sir."
Zuko was fuming. "Uncle, I haven't even decided the route we're taking."
"Prince Zuko, Tao Xing is on the other side of the continent. We will have to go south, unless you want to travel up near the North Pole."
"No," he said sullenly.
"I'll tell Jee to go south."
"But, Uncle Iroh," Lan was almost pleading, "I don't want to take Prince Zuko away from his duties. Really, I can –"
"Prince Zuko's duty is to make you feel welcome on the ship! Isn't that right, nephew?" Iroh said brightly.
Zuko's arms were crossed on his chest, a sure sign to Iroh that his nephew was peeved. "Yes, Uncle," he said through clenched teeth. "I will certainly make her feel welcome." He turned to Lan. "Lady Lan Chi, this way, if you please." He indicated that she should move forward. He shot his uncle a murderous glance, but Iroh seemed, to him, oblivious.
"Good boy, Zuko! I will oversee everything up here. Not to worry."
"Thank you." Zuko growled.
Lan Chi looked from one man to the other, and with an inaudible sigh and a slumping of her shoulders in defeat, she turned in the direction that Zuko indicated.
Iroh rushed to the men staggering across the deck. "Be careful with that trunk, men! It is a family heirloom!"
Zuko walked next to Lan, disapproval emanating from him like heat. Or perhaps it was heat. Lan looked at him curiously. The body temperature of firebenders often rose when they were angry, but no firebenders of her acquaintance had ever done so in her presence. It was considered impolite. "Is it getting hotter, Highness?"
Zuko threw her a hostile look. "I don't feel anything." But he consciously began to lower his body temperature.
"My mistake." She said, although, looking in her eyes, he knew that she was aware of his lapse.
He opened the door to the interior of the ship, and motioned for her to pass through before him. She lifted her leg to step over the high threshold, and Zuko followed. She noted that he had to stoop quite a bit.
"You've gotten very tall." She wished she could clamp her hand over her mouth. What had happened to her vow of remaining aloof from Zuko? She had to stay distant, for her own safety. And here she was, commenting on his height, as if they were the greatest of friends.
He gave her a level look. "And you haven't, Cousin."
She blushed as they walked, single file, through the narrow corridor. "You remember that. How silly."
He drew himself up stiffly and stopped. "I'm silly?"
She dipped her head and continued walking. "No. I am. A little orphan girl with no family, wanting cousins, wanting a family, and deciding that she wanted to be a part of your family."
He followed her. "It's not silly." He said quietly. "You are my family."
She turned and looked at him. How perplexing he was. An angry and bitter stranger, but there were still hints of the Zuko that she had known.
"Here is your cabin." They had stopped in front of a door.
He swung it open to reveal a large cabin, with a bank of windows on one side hung with red silk curtains. There was a bureau and a small desk, and a sleeping mat. Of course, the walls and floor were bare metal panels, so, despite the richness of the drapery, the room still looked a bit like a cell.
Zuko stepped over the threshold. "I hope this is comfortable for you." He indicated a door on the left. "That's a, um, private bath. Uncle Iroh insisted that we convert the closet next to this room for your use, and open a door between the two."
She walked across the room and opened the door. This was a windowless room, too dark to see. Zuko came up behind her, and bringing forth a small flame, he threw it to the lanterns on the wall. Light licked around the room, and Lan could see there was a vanity and a chamber chair, and a large, claw-footed tub.
Zuko cleared his throat. "Uncle thought it improper to share a bath with the crew. I mean a bathroom," he corrected with alacrity. "And I, um, I agree."
A small smile came to Lan's face. This was an unexpected luxury. "Thank you, Your Highness. This is very thoughtful."
Zuko bristled. "Well, thank Uncle! It was not my idea."
"I will." She said, without heat. She returned to the main chamber, and Zuko followed.
She turned to him, her hands folded primly in front of her. "I wanted to thank you, Your Highness, for escorting me to Tao Xing, and for allowing me to travel on your ship. I am very appreciative."
"There is no need to thank me. It is – it is my pleasure." She could have sworn he blushed.
"Still, thank you."
"Yes, well, um, you're welcome. And welcome aboard." With that, he turned and nearly ran from the room.
She looked thoughtfully at the empty spot where he had been standing, and closed the door behind him.
Zuko started for the bridge. Stupid, stupid! He hit himself on the forehead with his palm. Improper to share a bath with the crew. Brilliant. He certainly had a way with words. How embarrassing! Maybe he could avoid her until they reached Tao Xing. For six weeks? He doubted it.
This really was going to be a very long voyage.
He came to the door out to the deck, but stopped when two of his crewmen entered the narrow hallway with one of Lan's trunks. He was blocked in. He sighed, and backed up all the way to his cousin's door as the crewmen lurched down the corridor with their burden. He knocked on Lan's door, and she opened it.
"Your trunk."
"Thank you, Your Highness." She moved out of the way so that the men could pass into her room. "And thank you, gentlemen."
One of the sailors pulled at a forelock of hair as a sign of respect, and the other bowed. Zuko watched as they left the room, and followed suit. "I'll leave you to your unpacking, Lady Lan Chi."
She closed and locked the door behind him. She was dying to get out of the uncomfortable traveling robe she was wearing, and take her hair down. The bian fang was giving her a gigantic headache. She pulled pins out of her hair, allowed it to fall down around her face, and ran her fingers through it until it untangled.
She untied her robe, threw it aside, and unwound her breast bindings. She wished, suddenly, for Changda's presence, but realized that she would be on her own from now on. In more ways than simply dressing.
She threw open the trunk that the men had brought, and rifled through it until she found one of her new silk lounging robes to put on. It was a deep, jade green edged in gold, and she loved it.
She ran her fingers over the smooth, cool material, and lamented that the only person who might enjoy it would be her unknown, unwanted fiancé.
Well, this was the plan that she had decided upon, and she was going through with it. Even if she hated it.
Zuko climbed onto the bridge, intending to consult with Lieutenant Jee on the best route to take to Tao Xing. Although Zuko privately agreed with his uncle that they must go around the southern tip of the Earth Kingdom, he wanted to show his uncle that he made his own decisions. He would not be led or told what to do.
He found, however, not only Jee, but Iroh, as well, "Prince Zuko, I'm glad you're here." Iroh smiled. "Could you do a favor for me?"
Zuko's eyes narrowed. "What is it now?"
He indicated a mid-sized wooden box. "This small trunk was in among the larger ones, and I believe it has Lan Chi's personal items."
"So?"
"Could you please take it to her?"
"Why can't you take it to her?"
"I've just set my tea to steep. I don't want it to get too strong, you know."
"Then send one of the men."
"I think it best we also make certain that she is comfortable."
"I was just there! I have work to do!"
"Work? Jee has everything under control."
"I need to plot the course."
"Plot the course? Zuko, we have already decided that we are going south, and, unless you intend to go overland, there is only one course to take."
Zuko gave him a dark look. "Uncle…" he began.
"Thank you, Prince Zuko. I find it so hard, some days, to get up and down that ladder."
Zuko snatched the chest up and stomped from the room.
"Such an obliging young man," Iroh smiled.
Zuko swore to himself as he descended the ladder.
"Lazy old man," he grumbled. "I have things to do. I am not an errand boy."
He grumbled all the way to Lan Chi's cabin, and rapped sharply on her door.
"One moment!" She opened the door a few seconds later.
Zuko couldn't help but stare. She looked so different from before. Her hair was down, loose around her shoulders, and she was wearing a deceptively simple green robe that clung to her body in sinful ways. Without bidding it, he saw himself, in his mind, pressing her against a wall and kissing her.
"Oh, you brought my chest! Thank you, Your Highness." She bowed, and the robe gaped a little.
Zuko made a gurgling noise. "Lan, you cannot answer the door dressed like that." He did not notice slipping into the use of her informal name.
"What?" She was puzzled.
His discomfort stemmed from his dishonorable thoughts, and he spoke angrily. "You're on a ship filled with sailors! You cannot flaunt yourself like this, with your hair down, and wearing a robe like that! It's not – decent!"
She self-consciously pulled her hair over one shoulder and tried to smooth it out. "I – I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a temptation, or flaunt anything."
Zuko bristled. "A temptation? You aren't a temptation to me," he denied hotly. "But you're on board with men – desperate men! I can't let you traipse about the boat dressed like that."
"I'm in my room, Zuko." She dropped his title, too. "That's hardly traipsing."
"Well, you can't answer the door that way! And you didn't even ask who it was before you opened it."
She was angry now, too. "I'm sorry; I was under the impression that I was safe on this ship; that you have control over your men. Was I wrong?"
He did not like the slight to his command. "I do have control over my men!"
"Then there shouldn't be any trouble! No matter how desperate the men may be!" She slammed the door in his face.
Outraged, he banged on the door with his fist. "Open this door immediately! You do not slam the door in my face on my ship!"
The door opened, and her hands snaked out and grabbed the chest from him. The door slammed again.
He stamped a foot. "Fine! Be that way! But I will not see you dressed like that again! Do you understand me?"
There was no response from the occupant of the room, and Zuko thundered away. He went directly to his uncle, who was enjoying his tea on the bridge. "I have to talk to you."
Iroh spread his hands expansively. "Sit down, Prince Zuko. You seem upset. Would you like some tea?"
"No, I would not like some tea! I need to talk to you about your niece right now!" The other men on the bridge turned to look at him. "In private," he said between clenched teeth.
"Of course, of course." Iroh lifted himself off the floor with a grunt, and followed Zuko from the room. Zuko went to the railing and stared out at the port receding in the distance.
"So what seems to be the problem with Lan?" Iroh asked guilelessly.
"I'm worried about her effect on the crew."
"What effect on the crew?"
He whirled to look at the older man. "Uncle, you cannot put a beautiful woman on a ship with two dozen men, and not expect there to be an effect!"
Iroh stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose Lan has become a beautiful woman," he began.
"What?"
"I said, 'yes, Lan is beautiful.' You're right."
Zuko blushed at his own slip. "I did not say that! Well, I did say that, but I didn't mean it! What I meant to say is you can't have any woman on a ship, even an ugly, shrewish one, and not expect there to be problems with the crew!"
Iroh gave him a knowing look. "What kind of problems are we talking about, Prince Zuko?"
"Men looking at her! Desiring her! " At his uncle's blank stare, he threw up his arms. "You know what I mean!"
"I don't know how we would prevent anyone from desiring her, Zuko. The men can desire anyone that they like. They cannot act on it, of course."
Zuko was silent for a long moment, thinking. "Gather all the men together, Uncle. I want to address them."
"Zuko, you cannot be thinking –" He was cut off.
"On the deck in a half hour, Uncle. And make sure Lan Chi is there, as well. I think we should introduce her to the crew – formally."
Lan Chi regretted yelling at Zuko and slamming the door in his face almost immediately. She had resolved to be as unobtrusive as possible on this voyage, and she had already broken that resolution. But he was so infuriating – suggesting that she was being intentionally provocative! Idiot!
Lan began haphazardly pulling clothes out of her trunk and throwing them into drawers, not caring if they were jumbled together or wrinkled. Stupid prince! Stupid girl to aggravate him!
A knock at the door stopped her silent ranting. "Who is it?" she called out. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. It had better not be Zuko again!
"Lan, it is Iroh."
Relieved, she opened the door. "Come in, Uncle."
He came into the room. Clothes were everywhere. "It seems like you have been very busy."
"But not productive," she sighed. "Are you here because of what happened with Zuko?"
"Would you like to tell me what happened?"
"No. He can tell you."
"He did."
"I suppose he said I was parading myself half-naked."
"No, he never said that."
"Well, good. I wasn't. I was dressed exactly like this." She indicated her robe and her hair, still down. "Is this revealing?"
"It depends what you are intending to reveal."
"Are you agreeing with him?!" She was indignant.
"No, of course not. What I mean is that you are an attractive woman. What you're wearing reveals that fact. It certainly doesn't hide it."
"He accused me of flaunting myself! He actually used the word flaunting! And then he said that the men would have to be desperate to look at me."
"I'm sure he didn't mean that." Despite himself, Iroh began to laugh.
"It's not funny!"
"Lan, you have to understand that Zuko is – well, not used to dealing with women. He has lived on this ship for over two years. We're all men. He has no idea how to talk with a woman, or how to act around one. His time with you was long ago, after all."
She blushed, but remained on the subject. "That doesn't give him the right to accuse me of trying to be alluring."
Iroh laughed again. "My dear, you are alluring whether you try to be or not."
"Thank you." She looked bewildered. "I think. Wait, were you agreeing with him again?"
Iroh patted her arm. "I am certain that you were not trying to appear enticing in any way."
She appeared mollified. "Thank you. Would you like to sit down? I can clear a spot – somewhere."
"No, little duck. I have come to warn you, actually, that Prince Zuko intends to have a word with the crew. And he'd like you to be there."
"A word with the crew about what?" She almost didn't want to hear the answer.
"He wants to introduce you."
"To the crew?"
"Yes."
She put her face in her hands. So much for keeping a low profile. She sneaked a look at Iroh. "What if I didn't show up?"
"He'd probably come and fetch you himself."
"Wonderful." She groaned. "Can't you talk him out of it?"
"Zuko takes the leadership of his crew very seriously."
She sighed, defeated. "I suppose I'll put on my most unattractive clothing and go to his little talk."
"That might be best."
A half hour later, Lan reluctantly left her room. She had bound her breasts as tightly as possible, put on a severe, high-necked robe in a bilious green, pulled her hair back, and had replaced the headdress, albeit, because she had no Changda, rather sloppily. She tried to appear appropriately demure and as unappealing as possible as she made her way to the deck.
The men were assembling, and Iroh was already there. He took her hand, and smiled. "Zuko has assured me he simply wants to introduce you to the crew, my dear. All will be well. And may I say that robe is well chosen? I have rarely seen anything more hideous."
"Thank you, Uncle."
Zuko arrived, looking more stern than usual. "Lady Lan Chi," he nodded in acknowledgment.
"Your Highness," She bowed.
After the last man fell in, Zuko began addressing them. "As you are all aware, we have a guest aboard our ship." He stopped and bowed to Lan. "This is Lady Lan Chi Sun."
All the men bowed in her direction. She smiled and gave a small bow in response.
He turned back to his men. "We have sworn to escort Lady Lan Chi safely to the city of Tao Xing, where she is to be married. You may know that she is the niece of my uncle, General Iroh. She is also, therefore, my cousin, and under my protection." His eyes narrowed. "So, if I so much as see any of you looking at her with anything other than the utmost respect and deference, your punishment will be swift and severe. You will be confined to the brig until we reach the next port of call, where you will be put off the ship, stripped of all rank and commission, and left to find your way back to the Fire Nation on your own." He waited a moment for his words to sink in. "Do I make myself clear?"
In unison, the men replied, "Yes, Sir, Prince Zuko, Sir!"
"Dismissed."
Zuko turned to his uncle as the men dispersed. "That should take care of our problem."
"Don't you think that was excessive, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked carefully.
"Not at all." He turned to Lan, who had flushed a deep red during his lecture. "Lady Lan Chi." He nodded to her. "Good day." He bowed and walked off.
Lan watched him leave. "That was one of the most embarrassing incidents of my entire life."
"Only one of the most embarrassing incidents?"
She looked at him. "You forget that the Fire Lord found me in Zuko's bed once."
"I'm so sorry that he overreacted."
"Ozai or Zuko?"
"Both. But, more recently, Zuko."
"I don't know if I can ever show my face to the crew."
"Don't worry. I'm sure that they will forget all about it before long."
"I doubt it." She watched him as he climbed the ladder to the bridge. "I need to speak to him." She started to follow Zuko, but Iroh stayed her.
"You must understand that Zuko takes his responsibilities very seriously, and I am certain he felt he was doing the right thing."
"Uncle Iroh, when I accepted your escort, I promised myself that I would be as unobtrusive as possible so that my presence would not interfere with the running of this ship. Prince Zuko has made that impossible."
"And you think you should speak to him about it?"
"Yes, before he decides that all the men should leave the room when I enter." She walked off without another word, determined to speak to her cousin.
She followed Zuko up the ladder.
"What are you doing?" He asked when she reached the top.
They were alone. Good. What she had to say was for his ears only. "I want a word with you."
"You just climbed a very dangerous ladder, wearing a dress." He frowned at her.
"I survived."
"You've made a spectacle of yourself – again! How do you expect the men to leave you alone if you are determined to continually do things that draw attention to yourself?"
"I don't expect them to, Zuko. You expect them to. I didn't ask you to give them a lecture on propriety. You did that on your own. Why?"
"I just want you to be safe."
"I am safe. And I can take care of myself. I have been doing so for a long time – long before I set foot on this ship. I traveled with Uncle Fai for almost two years, all around the colonies. I can defend myself." She poked him in the chest with her forefinger. "I don't need you to take care of me."
He grabbed her finger, and flung it off. "You are my responsibility while you are on this ship."
Her eyes narrowed. "I appreciate your concern, Your Highness, but it is misplaced."
He grabbed her arm, and pulled her closer. "You will do as I say while you are on my ship. Do you understand me?"
She fumed at his words. "Then let me off at the next port. I am not your possession, nor am I a slave."
"You would know respect if you were."
"Get your hand off me." She said from between clenched teeth.
He dropped her arm as if it burned him. "We are escorting you to Tao Xing. I gave my word to Uncle." He turned away. "This conversation is at an end."
She gave a grunt of frustration and started back down the ladder.
"I am only doing what I think is best for you." His words were unexpected.
Her anger fled, and she stopped her descent. "I appreciate that, Zuko. But please let me decide what is best for me."
"This marriage." His voice was soft, and he did not face her. "Have you decided that it's best for you?"
She looked away from him, as well. "I have decided that it is unavoidable." She climbed down the ladder, leaving him staring out at the sea.
Author's Notes: Well, there you have it! A reunion six months in the making (I first posted the fic in August, 2012, and it's now January, 2013)! I hope that you enjoyed it! They didn't fall into each other's arms immediately, unfortunately, but, as you know, Zuko, for one, is not exactly at one with his feelings!
Please review so that I can reach my goal of being among the most reviewed Avatar stories!
Thank you so much for reading!
