Chapter 7
Katara awoke to the sound of the door closing. She shrugged it off, and went to go back to sleep, without much success. Out of curiosity, she looked to see who had just left. To her surprise, everyone was still in their beds, sleeping like death. Odd. Ursa and the other women generally left them alone at night. Ursa insisted that it was for their best health.
As she looked around, she noticed a small piece of paper on her and Kya's dresser. Since they had few belongings, she was certain it wasn't theirs. A note? Chills ran down her spine.
She reached over and grabbed it, careful not to wake her mother. She unfolded it and began to read.
Help is on the way, Katara. Don't lose hope. It went unsigned.
A rescuer? She frowned. She couldn't think of anyone that could help them. Another girl? Unlikely. Suki was the perfect picture of obedience, Mai and Ty Lee seemed relatively isolated, and June seemed aloof, hostile even.
Ursa or Menolda? She couldn't see a reason just to leave a mysterious note, even if one of them wanted to help her. So it was someone from outside.
Sokka? No, he would never be so subtle. Besides, he was hundreds of miles away. She puzzled over the paper, rereading the words again and again, to no avail.
Kya shifted in her sleep, and Katara quickly slipped the note into one of the drawers. She felt guilty immediately after. She would keep it a secret.
For now.
The harem rose late this morning, still recovering from the trip they took a few days prior. Ursa made sure that food was brought to them, much to everyone's relief. It had been very… strange to sit with Prince Zuko.
Ursa also announced the two women that would be meeting with Zuko today. Ty Lee and Kya. Katara and Kya shared a look. Ty Lee bounced with excitement to see her old playmate.
While she was waiting, Ty Lee decided to pester Mai for details about the previous night. Mai only told her that they went to the theater, refusing to say anything else.
Katara could fill in the blanks. There were a few rumors, not only from Ty Lee, that Mai had had a crush on Zuko when they were young. Based on her reaction, Katara suspected that her feelings had perpetuated.
Good for her. Someone in this harem should be happy.
Finally, the time came, and Ty Lee was called forward. Her time with Zuko had begun.
Ty Lee met him in the courtyard. He was in the middle of an extensive set of exercises, demonstrating his impressive body with surprising force. Ty Lee knew of his impairment, and she was curious to know of his current training.
Zuko noticed her and stopped, chest heaving. Ty Lee waved cheerily as the guards he had been training with sulked back into the shadows. She was dressed in her athletic outfit, having anticipated this event.
Ty Lee rushed to Zuko and gave him a big hug. "Zuko! It's been so long!"
Zuko's face turned bright pink as he returned the hug. Her personality hadn't changed much either. Her body, on the other hand…
"Hey, Ty." His hoarse voice broke him out of his own thoughts. "Good to see you again." The energetic young acrobat beamed at him with delight.
"So… what are we doing today?" Her eyes brimmed mischievously. "Sparring? Yoga? Other?" she chirped quickly.
Zuko scratched the back of his head. "I thought it best if you decided." She was never at a loss for ideas.
She pondered for a moment, biting her lower lip. After a moment, she commented, "You look really tense."
He gave a short laugh. "You have no idea." It was such a relief that Ty hadn't changed much. She was always easy to talk to, without Azula's hostility or Mai's privacy. She was honest, and considerate. He made an effort to relax his muscles.
Her eyes brightened as an idea came to her. "Perfect! Let's do yoga."
He eyed her suspiciously. "Yoga?" He had never attempted such a thing.
Ty Lee nodded energetically and grabbed his hand. "Come on! You'll love it."
Zuko hesitated, then followed. She led him through the palace, down to the public baths. "This will do nicely," she stated chipperly.
She removed her over-garments, stripping down to just her underwear. Not for the first time that day, Zuko blushed. "Ty Lee, what are you doing?"
She looked at him innocently. "You have to be flexible for yoga." He thought she was plenty flexible before, but he kept his mouth shut. Ty Lee wasn't exactly easy to argue with.
She began instructing him in some of the basics. Breathing, various positions, et cetera. After a long period, he eventually began to relax. The sound of running water, Ty Lee's gentle voice, the heat… He felt peaceful, something he hadn't felt since the day of the accident.
He opened his eyes and started. Ty Lee's face was right before his, inches away. Last night's event with Mai flashed to his mind. "Uhh…."
She elegantly flipped into a standing position. "You were doing great! We'll make an expert of you yet!" She frowned, looking him up and down. "You're tense again."
He stood up. "Ty Lee, thank you. I think we're out of time."
She sighed pitifully. "Alright. Just work on that breathing, okay?" She gave him one last hug before skipping out of the bath-room, stooping only slightly to pick up her clothes.
Zuko groaned and stretched. Ty Lee was going to be a handful.
Ursa burst into the harem, startling Katara as she was rereading the note. She stuffed it away, grateful that Ursa hadn't noticed.
"Slight change of plans, girls," Ursa said, smiling. "The Prince has requested that you all have a visit to the marketplace today."
There were cheers, mostly from June and Ty Lee. Katara just stared.
"Up now, get ready! We'll leave within the hour." Ursa turned back to the harem door and left. The girls scurried to get ready, packing away what money they had.
Katara was relieved. None of the palace merchants had any clothing that she liked, most of it either too expensive or too revealing for her tastes – sometimes both.
When they were ready, Ursa led them out through the palace, several guards encircling the girls.
"We will venture slowly on each street. We will all stay together, with one of you each having an assigned guard." One of the guards stepped closer to Katara. "Don't try to split up, and save your money. There will be many things you will be tempted to buy, if my guess is any good."
Ursa whisked out the door, the company trailing behind her. Katara was immediately blinded by the intense sunlight.
Almost immediately outside of the palace gates, merchants sat, along with quite a crowd of people. They cheered when they saw them coming. The people, from respect, and the merchants from glee.
They began to wander among the stalls, moving slowly. Everybody had to stay in the loose circle, but the girls went as far as they could within it. Katara jingled the few coins within her small purse, keeping an eye out for a clothing vendor.
Kya stayed close by, mostly just watching as the crowds bustled. She had little intent on spending any money, choosing to keep ahold of it, maybe buy Katara a surprise later. She spent her time greeting the crowded people, but was unable to get too close, the guards forming a semi-barrier. Still, she was enjoying her time outdoors. The last few weeks offered few opportunities.
Suki sought out several cosmetics, having little experience with them. Now that she knew what Zuko really was still himself, she committed herself to becoming the highest in the harem, if possible. She looked for advertisements for figure, ignoring that which seemed to stem from superstitions. She also sought out makeup, having some experience with it. She made a dozen purchases, some of better value than others.
June spent her time among the food vendors, taking advantage of her status as a tribute, and receiving a horde of free samples. She bought only the best, eating on the way, and storing some for later. In the midst of all of this, when her guard wasn't watching, she purchased a kitchen knife from one of the food vendors, for an exorbitant price. She was gladly willing to pay it, just to be armed. No one really noticed.
Mai was attracting the most attention, despite trying to keep her head down. Many members of the crowd were whooping at her and laughing. Ty Lee eyed her suspiciously. Mai, in an attempt to appear inconspicuous, purchased some small toys for her little brother, intending on getting some souvenirs. He would love them.
Ty Lee was having a blast. She mingled with as many people as she could, buzzing around, blowing kisses. She bought a bit of everything and even tried some food with June. June, in a good mood, put up with it and even joked with her a bit. She helped Suki pick out the best value products, and talked at length with Kya, who patiently endured her presence.
Finally, a stall caught Katara's eye. A man advertised that he was selling legitimate Water Tribe gear, even daring to wink at her as he said it. Curious, she drew forward, Kya beside her.
Inspecting some of the merchandise, Kya gasped. It was real merchandise, all right. She recognized that pelt.
It was Hakoda's.
Before she could react, a man leaped from behind the stall and raced toward Katara. Before she could react, he picked her up easily and kept running, faster than seemed possible. She gave a strangled cry.
"Katara!" Kya screamed, attempting to give chase. A guard stopped her, other guards already running after her captor.
Katara was slung across his back like a sack of potatoes. She tried to glimpse his face but was only met with the strange blue form of a mask. She cried out, but there was no response.
They zipped past various persons, all stepping out of the way with exclamations of surprise. A guard attempted to intercept her captor, but he gracefully leapt to and ran along the wall, to the surprise of the guard.
A few fireblasts echoed behind them but the guards were left further and further behind. She silently wished for more fireballs but all became silent. She struggled heartily and yelled, but no one answered. Since her captor didn't respond, she continued, beating his back with her arms and kicking out with her feet. The only response was that her ankles were pinned together. What was this guy made of? It felt like fighting a stone golem.
After an eternity, her captor heaved her to her feet, plunking her onto a wooden dock. She looked around curiously. Only a single boat was stationed there, small and light. They were still on the edge of town, and the river wafted downstream through a tunnel to the nearby ocean.
"What is this?" she questioned cautiously. She thought about bolting, but he made no move to further immobilize her. The man just pointed at the boat and gestured with his head.
Understanding struck her. "You left the note?" She aksed. The figure nodded, and once again gestured. In the distance, she could hear guards yell, but they were still quite some distance. Was this it? Could she really just… leave?
She stepped toward the boat. If he really was helping her, she could escape. The guards would be searching locally for a kidnapped woman, not for an escaped one. She noticed clothing in the bottom of the boat. A disguise, more likely than not.
She could go back to the Water Tribe. The Fire Nation would never look for her there, as the man's garb was definitely Fire Nation. She could go home.
She took another step, then stopped. "What about my mother?" The figure's only reaction was to point to the boat again.
Katara hesitated. "I can't," she said sadly. "I can't leave without my mother." She stepped back, away from the boat.
The figure watched her for several more seconds before sounds of the guards could be heard, getting closer. Without hesitation, he leapt into the boat, and pushed off, quickly disappearing down the tunnel.
Zuko sailed skillfully, waiting until he knew he was out of sight. How could he have been so stupid? Of course she wouldn't leave without her mother! He cursed himself mentally.
When he was sure she had left, he leapt from the boat, diving toward one of the pipes that lead back into the palace.
When the boat came out of the tunnel, it was empty.
Kya inspected the note that had been left for her.
Taking a bath. I'll be back soon.
~Zuko
She sighed. When the guards had escorted her to his room, she had anticipated an awkward meeting. Instead, she found only a note.
She had debated over the merits of just going down to the baths to find him but decided that the awkwardness would overwhelm any merits that she would get for it. Not to mention, how uncomfortable she would be.
After a while, Zuko entered the room, his hair still wet, a towel around his waist. "Sorry I'm late," he said, voice tired.
She turned her eyes away, trying not to stare at his physique. "It's fine." She nearly stuttered, feeling the double entendre as it passed her lips. She held back a blush. It had been years since she had seen a man shirtless, and she was appalled at her own reaction. Get a grip!
Zuko went behind the changing screen and changed surprisingly quickly. He came out looking quite refreshed.
Zuko sat on a cushion at the small table, across from her. He clapped, and two servants entered, carrying platters of food on covered trays. They set them down on the table and bowed, exiting.
Zuko lifted the lid off of one and gestured to the meal inside. Kya gasped. Real Water Tribe food! She looked at him curiously. "How-"
He spoke at the same time. "I noticed-" They both paused, and shared a smile. "You first," Kya said, amused.
He shrugged. "I noticed you weren't eating much at the table, and my mother hinted that you might enjoy your own food." He pulled the lids off of several dishes, all traditional Water Tribe cuisine. "I hope you're hungry."
He gestured then for her to speak. "I was just going to ask how you got this." Kya thought of the Water Tribe stall.
He tilted his head. "I don't know the specifics, but the cooks are quite the miracle workers." Kya decided not to voice her suspicions of how the ingredients were acquired.
They blew on their food, it having been baked very hot. At the South Pole, the food cooled far more quickly.
They ate in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. She was very grateful for his thoughtfulness, noting how little he ate. She might not be used to Fire Nation food, but he definitely wasn't used to her Tribe's food.
It was he who spoke next. "You look uneasy," he said, looking at her. "What's wrong?" She was hard to read, and he hoped that his brashness wouldn't make her even more uncomfortable.
She froze, setting her utensil down. "I'm just nervous," she lied, shame filing her breast. In the Water Tribe, there was never a reason to hide something from someone, and even the seemingly harmless pretense of keeping her relationship with her daughter secret gave her an uneasy feeling.
He watched her for several more seconds his eyes calm and sure. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'd rather you not lie," he said casually, turning back to his meal.
Was she really that bad at lying? Anxiety twisted in her stomach. She should tell him. No! Mother said not to tell anyone… But Prince Zuko certainly seemed peaceful enough… Would he do anything? She hoped not.
She took a deep breath. "If I tell, you, will you promise me not to tell anyone else?"
He looked at her intensely, a small smile at the corner of his mouth. "I promise."
She relaxed. He seemed sincere.
She told him of her previous marriage, and of her true relations with Katara. Zuko listened intently, seeming surprised, but not skeptical. When she told him about Granny's warning, Zuko just nodded.
"The law says that any Tributes who aren't virgins are delivered to the tributary processor," Zuko stated, factually. "If anyone finds out, you'd be given to my father, Prince Ozai."
Kya recoiled in horror. "Really?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm. She regretted telling him immediately.
Zuko nodded, his eyes not leaving hers. "But I won't tell if you won't."
She looked at him oddly, pondering at his intentions. It was a massive risk to not tell of it, especially with his father's appetite. She supposed he might be buying her compliance; in which case she would comply. But she suspected that he just wanted to keep his highest figure woman for himself. Either way, she was grateful.
They continued their meal, the silence going from comfortable to meaningful. He now held power – real power, over her. He certainly didn't seem in any rush to use it.
Against her better judgement, she trusted him. In some ways he reminded her of Katara, and that certainly played into it. But there was something else…
It came to her. "I think my late husband would have liked you," she said suddenly. He looked at her in surprise. Then his face became thoughtful.
"What was his name?" he asked quietly. She hesitated for only a moment.
"Hakoda," she whispered. The first time she had spoken his name in more than ten years.
Zuko leaned forward eagerly. "Hakoda? Chief of the Southern Water Tribe?"
Her heart lurched. "He's still alive?" Time seemed to slow.
Zuko's gaze fell. "Not anymore," he said sadly. She eyed him questioningly, and he relented,
He relayed the story of a Water Tribe prisoner that worked in the palace as a janitor. His noble stance was unhindered by his conditions, and he worked harder than any of the others. He had taken notice of Zuko when he was just a small boy. Hakoda quickly befriended him, telling him stories of a land of ice. With Iroh off at Ba Sing Se, Zuko appreciated the company. He eventually fell sick due to the poor conditions of his work, and he died months before the war ended.
By the end of his story, Kya had tears running down her face. That sounded like the Hakoda she knew. An undignified end for a dignified man. If he really liked Zuko, that said a lot for his character…
She mourned. She had held back for many years, quietly hoping that maybe her husband would return to her. She always felt guilty; she knew he loved her, but she never mustered the same feelings. She regretted it, and now her regret was released, married to a different man. I'm so sorry, Hakoda!
She tried to hold back her sobs, but they still came. Zuko watched her sympathetically in silence. After a few moments, Kya felt a strong arm wrap around her, and she cradled into Zuko's embrace, her muffled sobs changing to full crying.
Zuko held back his own tears. Even just seeing how Kya felt for him was enough to make his heart ache. Hakoda hadn't said much about his wife, but he said she didn't love him. Seeing Kya's reaction to his death, Zuko doubted those words.
But it was done. Whatever her feelings were for Hakoda, she was wed to him now. Guilt swept through him again, and he squeezed her tighter. Maybe one day she would forgive him.
They stayed that way together for a long time, even after Kya stopped crying. Kya grew still, and soon Zuko's suspicions were confirmed as she began to snore gently. Zuko smiled. He had made another friend tonight, and (thought he regretted the thought immediately) maybe something more someday.
Maybe this tribute thing wouldn't be so bad after all.