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Previously on 'The Throne of the Royals':

"I love you…" I whispered, my lips numb from screaming and crying

"Your execution date is set exactly at the break of dawn three days from now." I gripped my dress as he spoke.

At that time I saw it, Zuko being led in by another soldier.

His golden eyes staring at me with the same intensity that had once rocked me to my very core.

"I-I want t-to-" he yelled, his voice course. "s-see h-her!" He screamed, his face strained as he looked back at me.

"I love you …" He whispered into my hair. I began crying harder. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him but I couldn't stop crying myself.

I opened my eyes after realizing they were closed and the King had crumpled to the ground, the arrow had hit him right where I had aimed, in his neck. He was still pinned to his throne, his body crumpled lifelessly as the blood fell freely from his neck and his mouth. He was gone.

I sprinted and shot the soldier down with the arrow and tackled Zuko to the ground right as the blade fell.

Then I felt it, the cold metal stabbing into my back.

I crumpled to the ground and the last thing I saw was Zuko lunging towards me and then darkness enveloped me.

Chapter 49:

"Katara!"

I whirled around, mother? "Mother!" I yelled. Where was she? "Mother!" I called out again. "Where are you?"

"Katara!"

I gasped as I heard her voice again. "I'm coming mother!" I screamed. I was running in complete darkness, I couldn't see anything. "Where are you, mother?" My voice was pleading with her. Where was she?

"Katara!"

My eyes filled with tears as I stopped running. "Mother!" I roared in frustration. "Where are you?" She didn't reply and suddenly I felt her warm hand on my shoulder. I gasped as tears began falling from my face. "Mother…" I whispered as I lashed out, as I tried to pull her in for a hug.

Mother softly embraced me. "Mother!" I whispered as he wrapped me in her warm hug. I softly began to cry, I had missed her embraces so much. "I love you." I whispered to mother. Suddenly I felt her slipping away from my grasp. I gasped loudly. "Mother!" I screamed as I tried to hold onto her hand in the darkness. "Mother! Wait! I want to come with you!" I yelled desperately.

Suddenly the room turned white and the light blinded me. I collapsed to my knees as I cried out her name over and over again. Why did she leave me again? "Mother!" I yelled as loudly as I could, my tears blurring my vision.

"Katara…" her voice came softly through the brightness. I struggled to look up but I couldn't see her, I could only hear her. "My sapphire…" She whispered. "I love you…"

"I love you too, mother!" I said in anger. "I'm coming! Just tell me where you are!" I called out.

"No, my sapphire…you can't join me right now."

"Why?" I asked, my throat closing up. She was going to leave me again.

"It is not your time yet, Katara. Your time will come but for now, I need you to be strong."

I shook my head, "I don't want to be strong! I just want to be with you."

"My sapphire, I will meet with you when it is your time. Right now, you have a life. You have friends, you have a family and you have so many people who love you…wake up, my sapphire, don't join me yet."

I cried loudly, "No! Mother, I just want to be with you!"

"No, Katara. It is your time to live and love. Wake up."

"But…" My voice cracked. I wanted to wake up, but I wanted mother with me. "Where will you go?"

"I am always with you, my sapphire." I heard mother's warm smile through her words, "I will always be with you, my love."

"Mother…" I whispered in defeat.

"I love you, Katara. But right now, you need to wake up. It is not your time yet. Wake up and stay strong…don't ever forget who you are, my love…Whatever happens, I will always be with you…"

My tears fell again as her voice faded. "Mother…" I choked out and stared up at the blankness of the bright white sky. "Mother!" I yelled again.

"Wake up…" Her voice came, barely audible. I bit my lip. "Wake up…" She said again.

"When I wake up…where will you go?" I asked her.

"I'm always with you…wake up…"

I nodded and wiped my tears away. I couldn't give up now. I had to go back to the people who loved me. Mother would always be with me. She would never leave me.

I opened my eyes, to darkness. "Mother…?" I whispered. Her words seemed to linger in the air around me. "I am always with you, my sapphire." I felt myself smiling but then cringed as I felt an unbearable pain in my back. What had happened?

I heard a faint gasp and someone leaned over. Where was I? Questions filled my head but I pushed them away. I knew I was safe in these warm hands that were caressing my face. I slowly met his golden eyes and I felt his warm kisses. He kissed my cheeks and then my forehead. He kissed my neck and my head and then he took a hold of my hands and he kissed the palms of my hands, he kissed each of my fingers and my wrists. I was melting form his warm lips that touched my skin.

"Sapphire…" he mumbled against my skin and I shivered from his touch.

I slowly leaned over and held Zuko's face in one my hands. I turned his face so he was staring directly at me. Memories flooded through me and I ignored the pain in my back. I ignored all of the questions in my head and I just wanted Zuko with me at that moment. I pulled him towards me and he lied down next to me on wherever I was lying. I pressed his body up against me and he leaned in and kissed my forehead again, sending warmth through my body.

I felt tears begin to fall from my face and he kissed every tear that fell, his lips became wet from my tears. He then kissed my neck and his lips dragged down along my collarbone, leaving burning desire running through my body. He dragged his lips across my jawline and continued kissed my neck. I shook from delight as he leaned in and kissed my ear and traced a line with his lips from my ear to my neck.

I pressed him harder against me and he brushed his lips across my forehead and then kissed my ear again and traced my ear with his lips. A moan escaped from my lips and he kissed me faster and more passionately. I dug my nails into his back, eliminating the space between us. I was out of breath from his kisses but I wanted- needed more. He placed his hand on my waist as he continued kissing me softly, exploring my neck and collarbone carefully. My hands grabbed him and I pulled him to do more.

He slowly lifted his head, he was breathing heavily. A crooked smile on his lips as he looked down at me. I groaned, "Zuko…" I mumbled and I pushed him down against me again. He didn't kiss me he just held me in his arms. I wriggled away from him. "Zuko…" I pleaded. He looked deeply into my eyes and held my cheek in his hand. He brushed his fingers across my lips and his eyes stared hungrily at my lips. I kissed his fingers and he chuckled softly as he pulled me in for an embrace. I shook him away, "Please…" I whispered.

Zuko combed his fingers through my hair, "Not while you're in pain, Sapphire…" He said, softly. I shook my head; I didn't care if I was in pain. "Zuko, please…" I pleaded with him again. He shook his head and kissed my forehead softly. "I can't Katara, not yet…" he whispered against my temple. I sighed and leaned against his chest as he held me. We sat in silence for a long time, I listened to his steady breathing that soon matched mine.

"Where am I…?" I whispered after a long time. Zuko intertwined his fingers with mine. "In the infirmary…do you remember what happened?"

I nodded, suddenly I sat up and gasped from the pain. Zuko sighed and helped me back down in the bed. "Zuko…" I winced through the throbbing in my back. I had so many questions, but I couldn't find myself to ask any of them. "Zuko…" I said again. He leaned back down next to me.

"After you fell…I took you straight to the infirmary and then I ran back towards the riots outside. It was bad, Katara…so many people were injured…But soon the soldiers surrendered and many of them agreed to leave, some stayed and became a part of our army…the riots soon died down after they found out what happened. The King is dead…" he breathed heavily, "Which means, I'm the rightful heir to the throne…"

I swallowed, "But…Azula…"

Zuko shook his head and kissed my hand. "We don't know where she is…as for my mother…her location is unknown as well…"

I closed my eyes, trying to collect myself. It was over. The King was dead and now Zuko was the rightful heir to the throne. I looked up at Zuko. "How is…everyone?"

Zuko sighed, "Many of our soldiers were injured. Suki is in the infirmary as well, but she's fine. Katara…" he leaned in close to me. "You have no idea how I felt…" he shook his head, "Knowing that I could have lost you…" He touched his nose to my cheek.

I sighed deeply. "Zuko…my family?"

Zuko slowly moved away from me. "You can wait…if you want. Should I bring them in now, or later?"

I swallowed hard, "Now."

He nodded and kissed me on the forehead one last time before leaving. I sat numbly on the bed as I waited for Zuko to return. I wondered how long I had been out. Suddenly the curtains that surrounded my bed pulled aside and Jane ran up to me. She fell to the ground next to my bed; her eyes were filled with tears. I awkwardly tried to hug her, but the pain was too intense, I smiled at her. Laura ran in and jumped next to me on the bed. She kissed my cheek. "Katara!" She cried and tears began to streaming down her face. I carefully wiped the tears away and suddenly looked up as Lucinda walked in, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

I swallowed hard as Lucinda slowly walked up next to me. She suddenly collapsed down next to me and wrapped her arms around me. I gasped form the pain, but I didn't care. I felt her tears and I began to cry myself. She finally pulled away and Laura, Jane and Lucinda all sat around me while Zuko stood back and watched with a crooked smile.

Laura began talking, "We lived in Alaric forest for a long time but then Jane told us we had to come back here and we worked as cooks for the Royals."

I smiled weakly. Jane sat down next to me and I smiled wider as I noticed a beautiful ring on her finger. "We found out that you had returned to look for us so we went back, dressed up as cooks and the Royals took us in…a few days ago Aang told us everything…" She swallowed, "That you were here and about your execution. We helped Aang rally all of the soldiers and warriors together to plan an ambush on the day of your execution…"

Lucinda just nodded and smiled faintly at me. I could tell how broken they all must have been after mother's death, but they had stuck together…like a family and I loved them so dearly for doing so. Suddenly the curtains pulled aside and Sokka ran in like a maniac and pushed Jane aside. She gasped and I had to resist rolling my eyes as Sokka flopped down next to me. "Katara!" He yelled as he gently hugged me. I braced myself for his scolding, but it never came. His eyes were brimming with tears as he kissed me on my forehead.

I smiled and motioned towards my sisters. "Sokka, this is Jane, Lucinda and Laura. Your sisters…"

Sokka raised his eyebrows and took a step back to examine them. He suddenly pulled them in for a hug. Jane gasped and Lucinda looked uncomfortable but she offered a confused smile. Laura on the other hand clung to Sokka's waist and laughed loudly as if she had known him all her life.

Zuko was standing, still watching. I met his eyes and he winked at me and I bit my lip to hold back a laugh. The curtain pulled aside again and in came Toph, Aang and many of the other soldiers and warriors. I was surprised to see Toph and Aang holding hands. I raised an eyebrow as Toph ran up to me. "You scared my dress off!" She yelled and then she laughed, "You should've seen Sparky! It was priceless!" I laughed lightly and Aang leaned in and I wrapped my arms around him.

"Thank you." I whispered into Aang's ear. "For everything." Aang pulled back and smiled. Sokka raised his hands, "I have to go check up on my fiancée! Make room!" Everyone split apart as Sokka kissed me on the forehead once more, "Don't think you're not going to get scolded for completely disobeying me." He said. I laughed out loud as he left, and then I winced as laughing hurt.

The rest of the day was spent with my family and friends. Suki was better, her arm was wrapped and she came and sat down next to Sokka on the small couch in the infirmary. Toph and Aang sat together across from Suki and Sokka. I examined Jane's ring and she giggled as she told me about how Philip had proposed to her. I smiled but I wasn't really listening.

Lucinda slowly began talking to me about how she had met this boy in her high school she really liked. Laura scrunched up her nose. "Well I'm never, ever going to get married." She said loudly. I laughed and pulled her up next to me. "What if you fall in love?" I asked her.

She stuck out her tongue. "I will never fall in love." I bit my lip and kissed her cheek. "How about that boy in your class? What's his name? Tom?"

She giggled and lied down next to me. "Not Tom! He's just my friend!"

I smiled wider, "But you're so pretty. He won't be able to help himself in a few years."

Her expression sobered up and she looked around as if contemplating her future with Tom. She turned back to me. "But I don't like Tom."

I nodded, "It's okay Laura. I was just playing with you."

She nodded and then sighed. "Do you love anyone?" She asked me.

My breath hitched in my throat and my eyes travelled up to Zuko. He was leaning against the wall of the infirmary, deep in thought. I smiled faintly as I watched him comb his fingers through his hair. Laura followed my eyes and I quickly diverted my eyes. "Yes…" I whispered. "I do…"

I turned back to Laura who had a dreamy look in her eyes. I raised an eyebrow, "You can't tell anybody." I told her, "it's a secret."

"Will you marry him?" She asked in an innocent voice. I swallowed and looked back at him. I had honestly never thought about that. Yes, I wanted to marry him. I loved him with all my heart. But I wasn't sure if he…

My thoughts were interrupted my Laura getting up form beside me. I stared at her and blinked a few times. "Now, where are you going?"

She held her fingers to her lips, "Shh! It's a secret." She raced off of the bed before I could stop her. I watched in horror as she stood in front of Zuko and rocked on her heels. Zuko gave her a confused look and slowly his eyes travelled to meet my horrified eyes. The sides of his lips faintly lifted and he turned all his attention back to Laura. I groaned as Laura began talking. I should have known.

I turned back to Jane, who was speaking with Lucinda, twiddling her ring with her fingers. Aang was still talking to Toph and I watched as Toph pushed him. I smiled as I watched Aang's eyes light up. He had truly found his soul mate. I then turned to Sokka, Suki had her head on his shoulder and she seemed exhausted. She had taken the makeup off of her face and Sokka was smiling dreamily. I couldn't wait for their wedding.

It seemed everyone had found someone…even me. I looked back up at Zuko as I felt another throb in my back. He was faintly smiling at Laura as she spoke to him. I watched as he leaned back on his elbows as Laura continued talking. His eyes suddenly widened and I froze. What had she asked him? Zuko rubbed the back of his neck and said something which made Laura giggle uncontrollably. Zuko seemed uncomfortable as he stood there.

Despite everything that had happened. I thanked the spirits for everything and everyone. I now looked up into the new King's eyes and his golden eyes flashed with desire as he raised his eyebrow slightly. I laughed and looked down, feeling the heat rush to my face.

Tell me what you thought about this chapter. It's all over. I will post one or two more chapters to finish up the story! But please review and tell me what you thought!