A woman stood, her long black hair and long red sleeves rippling in the air. She watched him as he struggled toward her. Her face was as pale as a ceramic, her lips as red as blood, and her eyes as dark as coal. It hurt to look at her. The severity of her face was as blinding as the sun.

Zuko could feel the sweat on his body as he reached out. The woman, unmoving but floating, beckoned to him. She called him.

"Please help me." He whispered hoarsely. The woman stayed quiet and only regarded him.

"Who are you talking to Zuko?"

Zuko's arm dropped, then he lowered his head.

Of course the spirit wasn't real.

"Now Zuko, it seems you've been keeping secrets."

Zuko turned and sat up in his bed to look at Xianji. No matter the hour, she always looked freshly pressed. The lines of her robes were crisp and her face was fresh, with only a hint of cosmetics. It must have been well past midnight and she could have been bringing him lunch. Zuko questioned if she slept.

"I've told you everything." He said, his voice low. Xianji smiled and put her hands in her sleeves.

"Maybe you just forgot." She said with a smile, tilting her head and making the crystals braided in her hair clatter. "Let me remind you."

The sound of bells made Zuko wince and he only looked back when they stopped. The servant carrying the tea tray was normal.

Prince Amaqjuaq was not.

Zuko felt the blood drain from his head and he sank back against his pillows, his mouth open in shock.

"The prince and I have had wonderful conversations." Xianji said and patted Amaqjuaq's arm. "I can see why my mother wanted me to marry him."

"What." Zuko started but couldn't go on. He knew what had been said. What Xianji now knew.

"I had always wondered why you were in the Poles, even after our delightful chat. What could possibly pull such a responsible and diligent Fire Lord away from his throne, right after his sister had died under such mysterious circumstances? I mean," Xianji paused, raised a thin hand to her mouth, and laughed briefly. "No monarch would ever do such a thing!"

"None of this changes things. None of it matters." Zuko replied.

"Oh it most certainly does, Fire Lord. It changes things quite a lot." Xianji looked up at Amaqjuaq and examined him. She looked like a doll next to the prince, but Amaqjuaq's eyes were glazed and distant.

"Before, I thought there was only some troublesome mice in the halls. But now, knowing that the Fire Lord's lover is out there, well." Xianji looked back at Zuko. "We can't have her come dashing back in here and ruin our wedding can we?"

"You can't touch her. You know you can't." Zuko said with urgency.

"Oh Zuko, you should know by now that we can do anything we want. We just have to wait for the right time. Afterall, isn't that what you did with Azula? Waited for the right time?"

Zuko clenched his jaw, feeling the tendon roll.

"Amaqjuaq would be an agreeable husband I think. And once everyone is safely wedded, I think my mother and I would agree that the tea would no longer be necessary. Everyone is far too honorable to cause a fuss over some marriages." Xianji stated.

The servant stepped forward and Xianji waved her on.

"Have some tea, Zuko. We have to talk about your little girlfriend." She said.

A/N: Balanced will return on AUGUST 15 for Part 2! The whole thing will be written and post weekly, so no more waiting a year to read it all. In the meantime, I'll be posting one shots here, drabbles on Tumblr, and There is no War in Ba Sing Se will still be updating weekly! Thank you for reading, I love you!