Chapter Twenty-Four
The Woman Called Noriko
The village apothecary was only a block down from the inn, and the walk was pleasant. The street was lined by palm trees, their slender leaves curling over the road to provide them with shade. From here, Katara could smell the salt in the air and knew they weren't far off from the sea. Customary or not, Katara tightened her fingers through Zuko's and squeezed his palm as General Iroh and Captain Ju-long walked behind the pair in silence.
"Have you thought about what you're going to say to her?" Katara whispered.
The lightest shade of pink dusted the sharp bones of Zuko's cheeks. He grimaced and reached up to scratch his single eyebrow. "I haven't thought about it," he said. Katara's eyebrows lifted reflexively as a slow smile spread across her face. She'd never seen him blush before… Well, maybe on a few intimate occasions, but this was something else entirely adorable. The mask of the Fire Lord fell away and gave her a glimpse of the young boy he once was.
Katara hugged his arm and laid her head against his shoulder. "You'll be fine," she said encouragingly.
Behind them, General Iroh cleared his throat rather loudly. "Excuse me, Lady Katara, but you really shouldn't be touching one another so… affectionately in public."
Katara rolled her eyes and shot a look over her shoulder at the lovable man. "Is that seriously a rule? Our ancestors must have been a miserable bunch… What with the no touching, no talking freely, no eye-contact–no alone time… I mean, how did the royals even get to know one another during their courtship if they were constantly being babysat?"
Ju-long snickered as he kicked a rock out of the street. It bounced over the curb and landed in the thick green grass.
"It's tradition," Iroh said simply. "The royal courtship is built on propriety and decorum."
"Yeah, well, there's nothing even remotely traditional about this courtship," Katara said. Zuko's hand tightened around Katara's palm and she looked up to see that his mouth had formed a pinched line. Perhaps she had said too much… She bit her lip and decided the rules of 'traditional courtship' were going to be one of the first she abolished when she became queen. The idea that two people were chosen for one another by bloodline, and were often used as a token-exchange to form an alliance between kingdoms was just ridiculous. Marriage ought to be more than a strategic move for the emerging of royal bloodlines.
Behind her, General Iroh heaved a tired-sounding sigh. But what Katara didn't know, was that Iroh was thinking about how much the world needed her set of ideals.
"There's the apothecary." Katara pointed to a wooden sign on a small, white cottage that was tucked between two hulking palm trees. The front of the building contained large windows that let in a stream of natural light. She shifted her head, studying the feminine silhouetted shape behind the counter. "I think she's here."
Zuko glanced over his shoulder at his uncle. "Perhaps you and Ju-long should wait outside," Zuko suggested. "I don't want to bombard her."
General Iroh folded his hands into his sleeves and bowed. "We'll be waiting out here."
"Ready?" Katara squeezed Zuko's hand.
The Fire Lord didn't reply. A swirl of mixed emotions tangled through his head and tightened around his chest. Was it selfish for him to come, he wondered. If Ursa–eh, Noriko was happy here, he didn't want to cause any upset to her life and complicate things further. There was a part of him that longed for recognition, but ultimately, he just wanted to see her for himself and know that she was okay.
Katara twisted the brass knob and a little bell chimed overhead, signaling their arrival. The woman looked up from her place at the counter and smiled at them.
For a moment, all Katara could do was stare. The woman before them was stunning. Her hair and eyes were an exact match to Zuko's. Though faint smile lines pulled at the corners of her mouth and eyes, Ursa's face was as lovely as a Panda Lily and just as radiant. She looked like royalty, Katara thought… Even dressed in commoners clothing, there was something so entirely elegant about the way Ursa composed herself that screamed of her lineage as former queen.
"Hello there," Ursa bowed, "what an honor it is to receive a visit from the Nation's very own Fire Lord. I'm truly humbled by your presence." She lifted her face and smiled once more at the pair of them. "Welcome to my apothecary, my name is Noriko."
"Thank you," Zuko said. "It's… it's a lovely establishment." He pretended to look around, eyeing the colorful jars and bottles stacked neatly on the shelves and tables before them. The fragrant scent of spices and herbs perfumed the air, but Zuko had picked out one scent in particular that caused years of memories to flood the foreground of his mind.
"You've traveled a long way to visit Hira'a," his mother said. "May I ask what brings you to our village?"
Zuko opened his mouth as if to speak but the words refused to leave his tongue. Seeing her–really seeing her, and smelling the subtle hint of lavender was making it hard for him to think clearly. Luckily Katara was there to save him.
"Well, if you promise to keep it a secret," Katara said, latching on to the first thing that popped into her mind, "we're actually scouting for remote honeymoon locations–you know, away from the hustle and bustle of the Capital City."
"Oh, you're engaged," Ursa crooned in what seemed to Katara as genuine delight. "Forgive me," Ursa bowed again, "it's an honor to welcome you both–Lady Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. I've heard so much about you."
Katara fought the urge to cringe at the title she didn't feel she deserved.
"I believe it is tradition for the royal couple to spend their honeymoon on Ember Island," Ursa said. "It really is quite beautiful."
"So I've heard," Katara said. "The Fire Lord and I are still courting. We haven't announced the news to the public yet, but I realize the fact that I am not of royal blood will cause some upset within the Fire Nation… We're breaking tradition in a lot of ways, and, I want to be able to enjoy our honeymoon without worrying about being watched."
"A wise decision," Ursa said. "However, if I may be so candid, I think it's refreshing to see the two of you together. I can only imagine what your journey must have been like–helping to put an end to the war as you did. You've changed so much of the world for the better. It seems befitting that two champions of peace should continue to lead us into the era of harmony and acceptance."
Katara smiled. "Thank you. I know it won't be an easy journey, but I can think of no other life I'd rather live." She turned her gaze on Zuko and felt the truth of that statement rooted within her bones.
"So," Ursa said, spreading her nimble fingers on the counter, "may I assist you with anything in particular today, or were you just checking out what the village has to offer?"
"Actually," Katara said, "I'm afraid I got a little sunburned on our trip, and the manager of the inn gave me a little bottle of something to help ease the pain–she said it was from here, but there was no label… I was hoping to get more to take on the return journey." It was a lie, but seeing as how Zuko had suddenly gone mute, Katara had no choice but to fabricate their reasons for being here until Zuko found his tongue again.
"Of course." Ursa held up an index finger and walked out from behind the counter. She made her way to one of the wooden shelves along the wall and plucked a little blue bottle from among the surrounding contents. "The medicinal properties in the lotion come from an aloe plant," Ursa explained as she walked towards them. "I've fused it with lavender to help soothe the skin and quiet the burn."
"Thank you," Katara said as she took the bottle from Ursa in exchange for a few copper pieces.
A noise in the back of the shop caused all three of them to turn their heads. Ursa pressed her lips into a tight line. "Won't you excuse me for a moment? I fear my daughter is spying on us." Ursa leaned in to lower her voice, "She's obsessed with the Royal Palace and of course the prestigious life of the Fire Lord." Ursa shrugged and shook her head in a dainty fashion.
"I'd love to meet her," Zuko finally spoke.
"Really?" Ursa frowned ever so slightly. "She'll pester you with a million questions."
Zuko smiled warmly. "That's all right. I can assure you I don't mind."
Ursa gazed up at Zuko, looking into his eyes and for a moment she didn't move. Katara wondered if she could see the uncanny resemblance. Their facial structure was almost identical–surely Ursa had to recognize that… Finally, Ursa pressed her lips together. "Forgive me," she said, "you're so unlike our previous Fire Lord… it's refreshing," she settled on the word she had used to describe them earlier.
"You mean since I am Ozai's son?"
Ursa folded her fingers into her palms. "I shouldn't have–I didn't mean."
"It's okay," Zuko said. "Ozai's rule was damaging to our world, I only seek to restore peace in the wake of his destruction."
Something unnameable flashed across the surface of Ursa's eyes. Her lips parted as she studied his face. "Allow me to go fetch Kiyi. She'll be over the moon to meet you."
When Ursa was safely out of hearing range, Katara turned to faze Zuko and lightly smacked him in the stomach. "What are you doing?" she hissed under her breath. "I feel like I'm making a fool of myself running the show, and now she thinks we're engaged."
"I don't see where that's a bad thing." Zuko grinned. He reached out, covering Katara's biceps with his warm palms. "I'm sorry… seeing her again… it's–"
"–Overwhelming," Katara guessed. Zuko nodded in response. "So are you going to tell her?"
Zuko's gaze dropped to the floor. "I don't know… I need more time."
"Okay," Katara said, "I'll support you with whatever you decide. Just do me a favor and actually talk to the woman."
Zuko bent and planted a quick kiss on Katara's forehead before Ursa returned with her daughter–another miniature version of Zuko, Katara thought–though this one had brown eyes and a crop of hair that tumbled over her forehead.
"Oh my Great Ancestors," the girl let out a shriek, cupping both sides of her face. "You're so handsome! I mean, I've seen your pictures of course, but they hardly do you justice. It's only fitting that the Fire Lord should be handsome–don't you think, Mother?"
"This is Kiyi," Ursa said, grasping the girl's shoulders as she stood behind her. "I can assure you she has better manners than this, but she fails to exercise them."
"And you must be Lady Katara," Kiyi continued. "I can't believe you got to travel with two of the worlds' most powerful men! What was it like? Did anybody snore? How did it feel defeating the evil princess Azula and bringing an end to war?"
"–Okay," Ursa said, cutting Kiyi off, "I think that's quite enough for today." She looked up at both Zuko and Katara and flattened her mouth in a tight line. "I apologize for my daughter's outburst. She knows better."
"How long are you staying in the village?" Kiyi asked, ignoring her mother.
"Only a couple of days," Zuko told her. "We have a wedding to attend on Kyoshi Island in a few days' time."
"Sokka and Suki are getting married?!" The girl's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
Katara couldn't help but giggle. She was used to girl's like Kiyi who fawned over Team Avatar. Katara was never one to draw much attention, but she didn't mind answering the questions. "They are," she answered as she leaned down a little lower, "And to answer your other question–Sokka snores fiercely, but Toph could easily put him to shame."
Kiyi grinned. "Cool." She turned to her mother and looked up into Ursa's face. "We have to invite them to dinner tonight. We just have to! There's so much I want to know about their journey!"
"Oh," Ursa's mouth fell open, "I don't think the Fire Lord and his future bride have the time, Kiyi. You should be grateful they're tolerating your antics as it is."
Katara glanced up at Zuko. "I think we could spare some time, if it wouldn't be too much trouble."
"Yay!" Kiyi shouted. "The Fire Lord and Katara of the Southern Water Tribe are coming over for dinner… my friends will never believe me!"
"Really," Ursa said, "please don't feel obligated to entertain Kiyi's wild notions. We wouldn't want to disrupt your plans."
"It would be an honor," Zuko said.
Ursa smiled. "As it would be mine." She bowed politely.
~xXx~
Noriko swiped the back of her hand across her forehead, mopping up the beads of sweat that had trickled from her hairline. She settled her hands on her hips as she took in one final sweep of her home. The dishes were clean and tucked inside her cabinets, the floors were swept and furniture straightened–not a speck of dust could be spotted on any surface. Noriko was proud of her modest home, but she still couldn't help but feel that it was inadequate for the presence of the Fire Lord.
After Noriko had finished her shift at the apothecary, she walked straight to the theater with her daughter in tow to inform her husband of their unexpected dinner guests. Noren was just as much in shock as she was, but Kiyi, as Noriko expected, was entirely over the moon. It seemed a bit odd that the Fire Lord would even entertain the whims of a teenager and agree to come to a commoner's house for dinner. The story about why he and the waterbender were visiting Hira'a seemed a little odd, too–but who was she to judge?
Fire Lord Zuko was so unlike any previous ruler the nation had ever seen. He would be the first to marry a woman from a different race, and the first to enter a union with one who wasn't born of noble blood. He'd proven to be a good leader thus far; still, Noriko couldn't help but think his methods were entirely unconventional. She surmised that perhaps that was exactly what the world needed.
Noriko leaned against her counter, gripping the edges of her kitchen sink as she peered out into the evening sun. The roast in the oven perfumed the air with a delectable scent, and caused her stomach to grumble in response. She'd told the Fire Lord and his company to arrive at half-past seven–which meant she had about twenty minutes to freshen up before their arrival. She bathed and changed into one of her nicest outfits, and pinned her hair up into an elegant chignon. She passed by Kiyi's room and a blur of motion caught her peripheral. Noriko backtracked and glanced into her daughter's bedroom.
"What in the Four Nations are you doing?" Noriko was sure that every article of clothing her daughter owned was tossed haphazardly onto her bedroom floor in a crumpled heap.
"I can't find anything to wear," the girl replied with a dramatic eye roll. "None of my clothes are worthy enough to be seen by the Fire Lord."
Noriko felt the little vein in her temple twitch at her daughter's words. "You should be grateful you have a roof over your head and food to put in your belly. Your father and I work very hard to make sure that you're clothed, Kiyi. Now I know you have plenty of nice things." She bent to retrieve a violet-colored silk cheongsam from the floor. "What's wrong with this?"
"Nothing is wrong with that," Kiyi said. "I wasn't trying to sound ungrateful; I just want to impress them is all. I was hoping I had something blue–you know, to show Katara that I support the Water Tribe. I think they make the world's most beautiful couple–don't you agree?"
Noriko smiled. She loved that her daughter was such a dreamer who romanticized everything about life. "Yes, I think they're both very lovely and suited well for one another."
"I think it's so cool she's going to be the queen one day." Kiyi took the cheongsam from her mother and placed it neatly back into her closet. "The world has been divided for too long. Their union will represent the merging of nations and eventually, segregation will end."
Noriko lifted her eyebrows. "You've been paying attention in history class."
"It's my favorite subject." The girl shrugged.
Noriko placed her hand on her daughter's head and smoothed out her hair. "Come on. I think I have something blue you can borrow."
"Really?" The girl's eyes lit up like diamonds.
"Yes really," Noriko answered. She led her daughter into her bedroom and opened her closet. She shifted through her wardrobe until she came up with a blue yukata with gold ties.
"That's perfect," Kiyi said, smiling widely as she took the fabric. The girl's eyebrows shifted above her dark eyes in a contemplative expression. "Mom," Kiyi said, "do you know how the Fire Lord got his scar?"
Something primal and akin to anguish tightened Noriko's chest. "His father did that to him in an Agni Kai," Noriko answered. Stories of the young prince who had spoken out during a council meeting had spread through the nation a long time ago. Fire Lord Ozai had given his son a permanent scar and banished him from the palace. Everyone knew how cruel Ozai could be, but that didn't explain the grief constricting around Noriko's heart… She felt for him the way a mother would feel when someone hurt her child. It didn't make sense, and yet Noriko couldn't shake the feeling that Zuko seemed familiar to her in some way…
"That's awful," Kiyi said a moment later. "He must have been so alone."
"Yes," Noriko agreed as the grief tightened even more. "He must have."
~xXx~
Seeing his mother again had brought back a hundred memories from what felt like a lifetime ago. When she smiled, it wasn't the same smile she gifted him with as a boy, but it was filled with the warmth and tenderness that embodied Ursa's character. He saw it more when she turned that smile on her daughter, lovingly caressing the girl's unruly hair. Zuko was at a loss for what to do. He wanted to tell her that he was her son, and yet, she seemed so happy here in Hira'a with her family. He had no desire to disrupt her life or complicate matters. All that truly mattered was the fact that she was alive, healthy, and happy. He told himself that it was enough to know that she existed in his world, even if he couldn't be a part of hers.
"What are you thinking about?" Katara's small hands settled on his hips as she stood behind him. He felt the slight tug as she pushed up on the tips of her toes and delivered a soft kiss to the nape of his neck.
"I can't do it, Katara," he said softly.
Zuko didn't have to explain. Katara heard the heartbreak in his voice and it shattered a piece of her soul. "You don't have to." Katara wrapped her arms around his middle and pressed her cheek to the straight line of his spine. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of him. Katara's heart swelled behind her rib cage, breath catching in her throat. She held onto him as if that could somehow keep all of him together–as if she could absorb his hurt.
"Seeing her again… it's enough for now," Zuko said as he gazed out the window. "She's happy, and that's all that really matters."
"But what about you?" Katara breathed into his shirt.
Zuko shifted, gently guiding Katara around to face him. "I'm a grown man," he said. "The only thing in life I need," he paused, lifting Katara's chin to his gaze, "is you."
Katara pushed onto the tips of her toes as Zuko bent to bring his mouth to hers. He kissed her with emotion, lips conveying all the things that words couldn't. Her fingers tangled in the hair at his nape. She broke the kiss, but kept his forehead pressed to hers with the subtle press of her hand on his neck. "Do you still want to go to dinner?"
Zuko thought a moment before shaking his head. "No," he said. "It will be better for everyone if we go."
"You should deliver a letter at least," Katara suggested. "It would be wrong to disappear without word; especially if she went to all the trouble of hosting us tonight."
"I wouldn't do that," Zuko said. "I'll write the letter myself and have my uncle deliver it so I know it ends up in her hands."
"Okay," Katara agreed. "While you do that I'll start packing our things–unless you still want to stay the night?" Secretly, Katara hoped he wouldn't. She didn't like knowing that the innkeeper was eyeing their every move.
"We'll leave tonight," Zuko said. "I'll call for Ju-long to ready the horses."
Katara nodded, reluctantly released Zuko and started for her bedroom.
~xXx~
General Iroh climbed down from his horse with a great sigh, patting his noble steed on the neck before he ambled up the sidewalk. The letter he held in his hands felt like a ton of bricks. He knew what it meant for Zuko to see his mother again, and what a great burden it was for him to write the letter. In the end, he couldn't say he was surprised… his nephew always did what he thought was right when it came to the well-being of others–even if it broke his own heart.
Iroh lifted his hand to knock on the door and waited half a heartbeat before the woman he'd known as Ursa opened it. She stood with a welcoming smile on her lovely face, a true vision of grace and beauty. "Good evening," she greeted the general with a polite bow.
"My name is Iroh," he said, feeling half ridiculous for introducing himself to a woman who he'd known for a good deal of his life. "I come on behalf of the Fire Lord with deepest apologies. Unfortunately Lord Zuko has been called back to the palace on urgent business and regrets that he can no longer attend your dinner. He wanted me to give you this," General Iroh extended the letter to Ursa, "and thank you for your generous hospitality."
"Oh." A slight frown creased her forehead as she flipped over the parchment, and used the sharp edge of her thumbnail to slice through the wax seal.
Iroh watched as she scanned the letter, her eyes darting across the paper with lightning scrutiny; her lips parted as she read.
Dear Noriko,
I wanted to thank you for your generous invitation to join you and your family for dinner. I realize you must have taken the trouble to prepare a meal, and it is my hope that you will accept this meager letter as a token of my debt. Please, I would love for you and your family to visit Katara and I at the palace upon your earliest convenience. Hopefully I can at least make it up to Kiyi by showing her around. I have a feeling she would like the ponds.
Sincerely, Zuko
Noriko ran her thumb over Zuko's name, noting that he hadn't bothered to sign his title… This struck her as odd, but something else entirely stirred in the depths of her mind, and robbed her of eyesight. Noriko dropped the letter, gasping for air as a trembling hand closed over her mouth. Years of lost memories flooded to the foreground of her mind, blinding her with visions from the past. Warmth prickled her eyes as a tears threatened to spill from their corners.
"Milady!" General Iroh rushed forward to catch her before Noriko collapsed to the ground. "Are you all right? What happened?"
"How could I forget," she breathed and sobbed. "Turtle ducks..."
Hello my lovely readers, and HaPpY vAlEnTiNe'S dAy!
I fear our story will soon be coming to an end... I've reached a point where I'll probably only write 2-3 more chapters - BUT - I want to give you guys a little treat before it's over. Leave me a comment with something you want to see in the story, and I'll see what I can do.
Shout-out to ElinorSinclair and TreasuredHope for the comments left on Chapter 23. Thank you for the kind words. :)
Stay tuned and happy reading,
~Sparrow
