At that moment, a soldier entered. "Commander Zhao, we have an urgent message from the colonies." Zhao looked away from Zuko as he stood up. "Very well." He turned back to Iroh and Zuko "Please finish your drinks, my fiancée will entertain you for the time being." He left with a nod to Elyrie, who in turn nodded back. After he had closed the door behind him, Elyrie smiled broadly and said to Iroh. "I hope the tea is to your satisfaction, General?". "It is delicious, thank you very much. But I would wish you to call me 'Uncle' again, as you used to do." He replied with a tender smile. Elyrie sighed, "It does feel more natural to do that, but I am afraid it would go against de proper etiquette", she said mockingly. Iroh laughed and looked at Zuko at this reply. Zuko cocked an eyebrow at her sudden twist in behaviour. As soon as Zhao had left, she seemed to have dropped her mask and looked like a little girl again. Her eyes twinkled as she turned to him. "I would love to hear about your travels". She looked at him and he suddenly realised this was the first time she saw him with his distinctive scar. He looked away self-consciously as he mumbled something about the Air Temples. When he looked back, she continued to look into his eyes. She had not flinched or looked at his scar, he realised. Like she does not notice it. Normally people look at his scar, then away before trying to hold eye contact. Even worse were the stares people gave when they thought he did not notice. The only other person who looked at him like a normal person, was Uncle. He thought about the little wink she gave, as if he was a normal man. It made him feel.. good?
Iroh resumed the conversation about the war effort. Elyrie was glad, since she would love to discuss her interests with the kind General. He would certainly not underestimate her regarding politics or warfare. As a noble woman, she had the possibility to study unlike most women. Her father always taught her to make the most of what you got and since she had been blessed with a keen mind and natural curiosity, she eagerly studied. She remembered her fathers proud smile when her tutor told him she was an excellent student and had a talent for languages and history. After that, her father began to tutor her on political subjects and philosophy. Those hours in the library seemed like a lifetime ago now, she thought melancholically. She continued her speech about the situation in the Earth Kingdom and the colonies, discussing the domineering attitude of the Fire Nation in those regions. Iroh looked at her and realised she had been listening to Zhao's war councils. She listened and learned, even though she was not suppose to as the fiancée of the commander. Zuko noticed it as well, as well as her softer view on the citizens. She spoke passionately about the situation for the normal citizens and how the Fire Nation drained the resources, which led to shortages. Iroh smiled, knowing she was a compassionate person and would love to be able to help. If she had not been engaged, she would have been a fine diplomat. Or even a Fire Lady, he thought absentmindedly as he looked at his nephew.
Zuko had joined the conversation and discussed the unwillingness of the Earth Kingdom citizens to surrender. Elyrie listened and asked if the people of the Earth Kingdom were as unwavering as their element. Zuko talked about the small villages he visited and how even the poorest people had a strong sense of pride. As a Fire Nation Prince, he was not very well received but looking back, he admired their pride and loyalty to their own country. Elyrie listened and smiled, unable to help herself. It seemed like no time had passed between them. They could speak as freely with each other as they used to. She preceded to pour another cup of tea, wanting to hear much more. But when she reached for the teapot, Zhao entered the room again with two guards. Elyrie froze as she noticed the smug look on his face. Something is wrong, she thought.
Zhao stepped into the room and looked directly at the young Prince. "I have received fascinating news" he said. "I interrogated your crew and they confirmed that you had the Avatar in custody, but let him escape." Zuko raised his head in alarm. Iroh sighted. Elyrie looked at Zuko, confirming what she already thought. The message from the colonies had been a lie, so he could slyly go behind the Fire Prince's back, she thought. Zhao always thought a step ahead when he felt he could gain something from a situation. The crew was already questioned during their tea and he discussed a code with his officers, she mused. "Now remind me, how exactly was your ship damaged?" Zuko refused to look at Zhao, who came closer. Instead, he looked at Elyrie and met her blue eyes. He saw compassion in them, but also curiosity. He sighted, looked at his cup and told the whole story: how they noticed a ray of light at the South Pole, how he saw the Avatar playing with a waterbending girl, how he invaded the village and was surprised to find the Avatar being a teenager. Elyrie cocked her eyebrow at this information, since she had long believed the Avatar to be an old man by now. She never believed the Avatar had been in hiding during the Hundred Year War, since it was his duty to restore balance to the world. He must have been around nineteen years old when he disappeared, she quickly calculated.
Zuko grudgingly told his story to Zhao; he told about the attack on his ship where the Avatar, a teenage boy, brought half an iceberg down. Even worse, he had him in captivity but the young monk escaped within hours of his capture on a flying bison. Zhao frowned at all this information, torn between disbelief and enthusiasm. The greatest threat to the Fire Nation was no more than a boy, he though smugly. "So a nineteen year old boy bested you and your firebenders. You're more pathetic than I thought." Elyrie stared at the Commander with disbelief. He had no right to call Zuko pathetic, since the Avatar was known to have enormous power and ability regarding bending. He was, and still is, the greatest threat to the Fire Nation, she thought to herself. She looked at Zuko, whose jaw was clenched as he listened to the Commander. "I underestimated him once," Zuko said, "but it will not happen again."
"No, it will not." Zhao said without looking at him, "because you won't have a second chance." Zuko's eyes widened in disbelief. "Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for five years, and I –". "And you failed!" Zhao said, raising his voice. As he said it, he turned around with a quick firebending motion to strengthen his words. "Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a boy's hands. He's mine now." Zuko lunged at him in anger, but two guard quickly seized him and held him down. "Keep them here." Zhao said and he motioned to Elyrie to follow him. Elyrie quickly looked at Zuko, who stared full hatred at the commander. Iroh gave her a quick nod, so she rose and made her way to the door. As soon as she had left the table, Zuko made a swift kicking motion. The table was flipped and broke, along with the teapot. Iroh sighted and said "More tea please."
Elyrie followed Zhao. "What are you planning to do now?" she asked softly while keeping up with him. Without looking at her, he answered "Capturing the Avatar will bring great glory, so I will be the one who seizes him and delivers him to the Fire Lord." "I am sure you will capture him within a few weeks." Elyrie said timidly, completely playing her part as praising fiancée. "You must already be on his trail, aren't you?" she added softly. Zhao turned around, smiling arrogantly. "Of course! A flying bison is not that hard to miss. The last hour I received a hawk about a great flying animal flying north. The first stop must be a small island, not far from the Southern Air Temple." Elyrie looked down with a small smile and softly praised his intelligence and cunning demeanour. "My search party is almost ready, so please start to pack your belongings." She bowed and made her way to her room.
Jin, her maidservant, was waiting for her in her room to help her pack for the journey. Elyrie smiled at her and gathered her things as quickly as she could. After half an hour most things were packed, but asked if she could be left alone for a moment. The darkhaired girl nodded and left the room, with closing the door after her. As soon as the door was closed, Elyrie grabbed her atlas and started to look through the pages. She found a map of the Southern part of the Earth Kingdom. With her finger on the page, she scanned for a small island which matched the location that Zhao had described. After a few minutes, she concluded that he meant Kyoshi Island. It was not far from the Southern Air Temple and lay far out in the ocean of the Earth Kingdom. She took a small piece of paper and wrote it down neatly. She folded the paper and hid it in her bracelet. After she had put away her atlas, she heard a knock on the door. "Enter" she said, quickly checking her bracelet. Jin entered the room and said "Commander Zhao requests your presence in the sitting room, my lady." Elyrie thanked her and quickly made her way back to the sitting room.
She returned to find Zuko and Iroh sitting in chairs. Zuko had his arms crossed and stared broodingly at the ground. Iroh drank a new cup of tea and looked up when she entered the room. Zhao quickly followed her and said: "My search party is ready. Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to you ship and you'll be free to go." "Why?" Zuko asked angry, "are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?" Zhao laughed mockingly as he looked at the young prince. "You.. stop me? Impossible" he said. Zuko stood up and told Zhao not to underestimate him. Elyrie looked at the two men with an uneasy feeling. This can not end well, she thought nervously. "I will capture the Avatar before you" Zuko continued while he looked at Zhao with disdain. "Prince Zuko, that's enough." Iroh said calmly as he rose from his seat as well. "You can't compete with me." Zhao said condescendingly "I have hundreds of warships under my command and you're just a banished prince. No home, no allies. Your own father doesn't even want you." "You're wrong" Zuko snapped, "Once I deliver the Avatar to my father, he will welcome me home with honour and restore my rightful place on the throne." Elyrie noticed the slight tremble in his voice, as if he was trying to convince himself of his father's love. "If your father really wanted you home, he would have let you return by now. Avatar or no Avatar." Zhao said coldy. Elyrie hated to admit it, but she agreed with Zhao on this point. She knew the Fire Lord was a cold man with ruthless ambition. He had cast away his son without a second thought, as if he meant nothing to him. She never said it out loud, but she was convinced the Fire Lord was not capable of loving his son. "In his eyes, you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation." Zhao continued. "That is not true" Zuko said. "You have the scar to prove it" Zhao added cruel. "Maybe you'd like one to match!" Zuko roared, finally losing his temper. Elyrie's blood grew cold when she heard those words. "Is that a challenge?" Zhao asked with a small smile. "An Agni Kai. At sunset" Zuko said while staring at the commander with hatred. Elyrie looked at the commander with fright, hoping he would refuse. "Very well." Zhao said, crushing her hopes. "It is a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle and my fiancée will do." He turned around and left the room.
Elyrie's hands were shaking as she looked at Iroh. He had the same worried look in his eyes as he said "Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you duelled a master?" Zuko continued to stare in front of him, completely ignoring his surroundings. Elyrie looked back at him and met his golden eyes, which were filled with hate and determination as he answered "I will never forget."