Wednesday: Phoenix Queen
Ozai came himself to give her the announcement.
She sat among the plants in her garden, thinking on the cold dry Northern Earth Kingdom climate and the humid heat she'd been used to in the Fire Nation. Other plants, hardier plants, grew here, and she'd familiarized herself with new poisons and new fruits as she'd settled here. Even the soil itself was different—rockier, sandier, with woodier plant material mixed in it, much like the people that still didn't quite trust her. She lived here now, yes. But she'd never quite belonged here.
So she couldn't say she was unhappy to see Ozai again. He'd come to visit her before, sparingly, once every one or two years, and he'd always come dressed like an Earth Kingdom commoner to throw off everyone else. But not this time. This time he was in full regalia—new regalia—full of red and gold that grabbed at one's attention and made Ursa sure that there was a full courtload of servants and the fanciest palanquin one could imagine just around the bend in the road. She'd heard of his dramatic entrance into the Earth Kingdom, burning everything in his path, but of course he hadn't even tried to touch the tiny village in the far north where she lived.
"Hello, darling," Ozai said, just like every other time he'd come here. Like there was nothing out of the ordinary about this visit.
Still, Ursa found herself struck by a sense of finality. Perhaps soon she would leave this little cottage and her little garden full of foreign plants and this little town full of foreign people for the last time, finally reunited with her husband. This wasn't her home, she was sure, but still—was she ready to leave? She'd built a life here, after all.
"Hello love," she answered, sitting back on her heels from where she'd been kneeling in her garden.
"So," he said, "there's something a bit different this time."
She looked him up and down. "I noticed."
A little sheepish chuckle, a noise reserved solely for her, escaped his nose. "Yes, I suppose I'm dressed for the occasion. Well, since you're probably wondering what it is," he continued, stepping through the gate to walk over to and kneel beside her, "I suppose I should tell you." He cupped her cheek, so familiar, so gentle. "Come with me, darling. Be my Phoenix Queen."
His eyes were almost pleading. Ursa stared into them, relishing the sight and sound and smell of her husband, so rare and so beloved in her life now. They'd been apart for so long. But she loved her little house here just like she loved him. "I don't want to leave this place," she said, her voice dropping to a murmur.
"You don't have to, love," he whispered back. "Not forever. This can be a vacation home, like Ember Island without everyone watching." Yes, that sounded nice. He'd always loved coming here to this seaside village with its crisp sea air.
It sounded perfect to Ursa. "Yes, I think that would work. But I need time to pack. Give me a few days."
"Of course, love," Ozai said, standing up and kissing her forehead. "I have lodgings in town and I can send servants to help if need be. I can't wait to have you home with me."
"And I can't wait to come home, darling," she said back, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It would be so good to finally have her life back.