Suki walked stiffly in her uniform. Xianji moved gracefully beside her, but Suki fought the urge to look over. Over the past week, she and Sokka had only been poisoned three times between them and luckily never at the same time. But this was the first instance of Suki being close to any of the important people while not being drugged. She had to be convincing, and staying as still as possible would be her best bet.
"Have you met our guest before Suki?" Xianji asked suddenly.
"No your highness." Suki answered sharply.
Mai had been enough of a surprise; Suki didn't know how to feel about the Prince of the North's arrival. She had tried to meet with Sokka beforehand, but after two of the Kyoshi Warriors had disappeared, she was being watched closer.
Xianji smiled but looked frustrated.
"All of this would be different if he had accepted my proposal." She muttered. Suki felt a shiver start at her neck and she flexed as many muscles as she could to keep from shuddering.
Xianji would have been a nightmare for anyone she married.
The Earth Kingdom princess was not as bold as Azula and so she did not meet with guests in the throne room. Instead, Xianji entered the only slightly less subtle war room.
As she sat at the head of the empty table, Suki walked to her side and watched Xianji motion to a servant. The man ducked out of a side door and Xianji folded her hands in her lap with a sigh.
"I heard this was the room that got Zuko into a lot of trouble." Xianji said. Suki didn't move or respond and Xianji didn't press her.
"Families are so funny. Did you know I spent twelve years in Ba Sing Se?" Xianji looked up at Suki and then scoffed, clearly not expecting an answer. "The Dai Li told me it was because I was so precious to the Earth King, being his niece. But he never saw me."
Xianji looked back at the empty table and was quiet for a moment.
"I was a hostage, to make sure my mother behaved. But my mother had taught me to be obedient." She said.
Xianji went quiet again and Suki glanced quickly at her from the corner of her eye. She was looking down at her hands.
"There was one night, when I thought I would meet my uncle. At his bear's birthday party." Xianji said softly. She then shook her head and looked up. "I actually met-"
The main door opened and Xianji turned away. Suki blinked, trying to figure out what she had just been told.
A different servant had opened the door and the man who entered the room was the largest Suki had ever seen in her life. His hair was shaved on the sides with the top long and tied up; a more severe version of Sokka's haircut.
"Prince Amaqjuaq, welcome." Xianji said and opened her hands.
"Thank you Princess, but where is the Fire Lord?" Amaqjuaq asked. Xianji lowered her hands and frowned.
"The Fire Lord is unwell and is resting. But as his bride-to-be, how can I assist you?" She replied.
"This is a matter of the council, of which you are not a member." Amaqjuaq said. "I will speak to the Fire Lord and no other."
"I'm afraid that's not possible. You see-"
Amaqjuaq slammed his hand flat on the table, making Xianji jump.
"I don't care what's possible. I will see the Fire Lord or else you will have an army of Waterbenders in your harbor by sunset." He said, his voice booming in anger.
"Are you threatening the Fire Lord, sir?" Xianji asked casually.
"I do." Amaqujuaq said and Suki stiffened. "The day he did not produce my own bride-to-be to confirm her health, he incurred the wrath of all three tribes."
From this close, Suki could see the muscles in Xianji's jaw shift as she clenched.
"You are engaged to Master Katara?" She asked.
"I am." Amaqjuaq said and bared his teeth in a menacing grin. "We didn't want to outshine your own engagement by announcing ours so soon after."
Xianji's jaw shifted and then she brightened.
"I could only imagine how fraught I would be if my precious lord was to go missing. I will go and talk to Zuko but first," Xianji stood and gestured to the servant still at the door. "Would you like some tea?"
A scream froze in Suki's throat as she saw Amaqjuaq force down his anger. He gripped the back of a chair and stood up straight, looking very much like a polar bear dog on its hind legs.
"That would be nice, thank you." He said with restraint. Suki continued to scream, begging the prince to look at her.
"I won't be but a moment." Xianji said and stepped away from the chair. "Suki?"
Suki held her breath, hoping to hear the simple command to guard the prince.
"Come with me, I'll need your help rousing the Fire Lord." Xianji said and continued to the door. Suki walked silently after her, trying to catch Amaqjuaq's eye. But he turned away, pulling out the chair and taking a seat.
He looked frustrated and tired.
He looked sad.
As Suki passed him, she briefly closed her eyes.
He wouldn't look so the next time she saw him.