A/N: I own nothing you recognize.

I do want to give a big thank you to the people who have liked and followed this story, and an extra huge thank you to the people who commented (a whole seven comments!). I don't think I've ever gotten that many on a chapter before! Holy crap, thank you so much!

Here's the next chapter!

XIV. The Letter

The next morning, Zuko was awoken by a shrill scream coming from the next room. He jumped out of bed and threw open Lian's door to find her sitting upright in her mountain of blankets and pillows, her dark gray eyes wide and a horrified expression on her face.

"Why in Agni's name are there frogs in my room?!" she shrieked when she saw Zuko standing in her doorway. Her expression darkened when she saw him fight to contain a laugh.

He cleared his throat and asked, "Do you remember anything from yesterday?"

"Not a thing," Lian admitted, rubbing her forehead. "I just feel like I've been run over by Liling." Her expression turned worried. "Why?" she asked slowly. "Did I do something...embarrassing?" she asked.

"Nope," Zuko said quickly, and he could tell she didn't quite believe him, but was grateful she didn't push. Honestly, he wasn't sure who should feel more bashful about what she had done: her or him.

"Just get those things out of here," Lian grumbled, shooting the two-legged, half beige half dark red frogs a dirty look.

Figuring he might as well get the frogs out before she asked more questions, Zuko quickly scooped up the small amphibians and took them up to the deck. He looked around uncertainly, and that's when Iroh found him.

The old general raised an eyebrow when he noticed the two frogs in Zuko's hands, who seemed to have been content to stay in his warm grasp. "Where did you get the frogs?" he asked.

"It's a long story," Zuko sighed. "Now I just don't know what to do with them."

"Well, we have no plans to leave for a few hours," Iroh said. "If you wish to return them to their home, you have the time."

Zuko just hummed in response before turning for the skiff bay.

He returned just before midday, and as he stepped into the tower on his way to lunch, he ran into a soldier, a squawking messenger hawk on his shoulder.

"Prince Zuko!" the soldier exclaimed, coming to an abrupt stop and saluting.

"Where are you in such a hurry?" Zuko sked, giving the soldier an inquisitive look.

"Letter for Lady Lian," the soldier explained. "I need to get it to her before the mess hall opens; I don't want to miss out on the hot food!"

"I can take it to her," Zuko offered.

The soldier's amber eyes widened. "Thank you, Prince Zuko!" he exclaimed with a bow. "Thank you!" He quickly handed Zuko the rolled letter and the messenger hawk before taking off in the opposite direction.

Zuko sighed and glanced down at the letter as the hawk settled on his shoulder. He recognized the red wax seal as belonging to a family in the royal court and he frowned. He hadn't realized Lian had remained in contact with anyone from the royal court.

The events of the previous day came to mind, when Lian had hallucinated a conversation with someone named Ryu, and Zuko wondered if the letter was from this Ryu person.

Before he could give into the temptation to break the seal, a door opened further along the hall and Lian stepped out of her room, probably on her way to lunch as well.

She noticed Zuko in the hall, though the messenger hawk quickly stole her attention. Her eyes brightened and she hurried toward him.

"Anything for me?" she asked, though the anticipatory look in her eyes told Zuko she was expecting a letter.

"Uh, yeah," he said, handing her the scroll.

"Thanks!" Lian said brightly. She turned back to her room, glancing over her shoulder to ask, "Will you let Iroh know I"ll just be a few minutes?"

"Sure," Zuko said, though Lian had already disappeared into her room, followed closely by the slam of the heavy metal door. He sighed and glanced at the hawk. It squawked again as it flapped its wings a little, and Zuko turned toward the bridge to drop it off.

Now safely in her room, Lian let the corners of her lips quirk upward in a silly, happy grin. She broke the wax seal on the scroll and sat on her bed to read Ryu's letter.

Ryu had been one of Lian's only friends at the palace, along with Lu Ten and Akaia, before the latter turned out to have a mean streak that could give Azula a run for her money.

Well...no one was as cold and calculating as the princess. But Akaia certainly ranked up there.

He was two years older than her and the son of an ambitious nobleman, and as such, had quite the reputation within Caldera City, the enclosed portion of the Capital City that housed the royal palace and all of the most important government buildings. Ryu was the second of two sons who was always trying to prove to their demanding father he could keep up with his older brother, Ryo, who was five years older and could do no wrong in their father's eyes.

When Lian had come to the palace, Ryu had sensed a kindred spirit, given his own mother had died just days after his birth due to complications during the delivery. A friendship had blossomed, and even now, despite the fact Lian hadn't been home in two and a half years, they had kept in touch.

Dear Lian, he started.

I have received more letters from my intended. Mostly about how working with the Yuyan Archers is going. It is interesting, I suppose, but honestly, not nearly as lively as hearing about how your training is going, with both fire and knives. Is the kuani still your preferred weapon? After fire, of course.

Father was asked by the Fire Lord to oversee a government installation in one of the newer territories, and he decided to take me and Ryo with him. He says that because of our position, we are more valuable to the Fire Lord as secretaries of sorts to him rather than out on the front line. I am grateful, of course, of the continued luxury I have, but I can't help but feel I should be doing more for the Fire Nation, you know?

It is quite beautiful here, though. Rolling hills with purple mountains in the distance; plenty of rain, making the grass incredibly green. The trees here grow short and wide, and according to one of the locals, it's because the earth about ten feet below the surface is very rocky and doesn't allow for the trees' roots to dive deep into the ground. I think we would have had lots of fun climbing these trees if they were at the Capital.

How is life on the ship? Still as interesting as the last time? And how are the hunts, both yours and the Prince's? I hope both are going well.

There were a few dots of ink just under the line, and Lian could tell that he had hesitated before writing the final sentence.

I hope you return soon. I'm sure the turtle ducks miss you.

Lian rolled her eyes fondly.

Yours,

Ryu.

Once she had finished reading his letter, she walked to her small desk and pulled out a sheet of parchment. After dipping her brush in the ink well, Lian started her letter.

Dear Ryu,

Those letters you receive must be riveting. Tell me, seriously, how is she? It's been years since we last spoke, and I can't help but be curious how time has treated her.

As much as I would love to go into an in-depth discussion of my latest training routine, I am writing this letter before a meal, and I must make this quick. But yes, you remembered: I do prefer the kunai above the jian or karambit, not that both don't have their uses. And of course, nothing can beat firebending!

I'm glad you're at least somewhere pretty. Most days, I only see a gray ship and open water, not that the ocean does not have its appeals. But spirits, I miss land! You'd think I was an earthbender, wouldn't you, the amount of time I spend complaining. But I don't think I would ever want to become an earthbender. They're just as monstrous as the other nations make the Fire Nation out to be!

Her brush stilled as anger coursed through her veins, leaving a fiery trail just under her skin and the desire to let out some steam. To compensate, Lian set down her brush and pushed away from the desk a little. She closed her hands into tight fists, the fire that wanted to stream from her palms quickly being tamped down and escaping through her clenched fingers as dark smoke.

Lian took a deep, calming breath before picking up her brush again.

The past two days or so have been more of an adventure than we've had in a while, but not by much. The ship weathered a massive storm, and I became sick as a result. Iroh believes it is because I spent most of the day before last in the rain, but I couldn't help myself! I do feel so trapped aboard this ship, that it just felt good to feel the wind on my skin and to feel free, just for a little.

Of course, that resulted in me spending most of yesterday in bed with the most horrific fever and the strangest dreams, or perhaps hallucinations; I am still trying to figure out what was real and what was fantasy. For a minute, I almost believed Iroh hadn't killed the last dragon! I saw it fly around Zuko's head, as real as you or me. You will laugh at how out of it I was, I'm sure.

It was her turn for her brush to still as she pondered if she should recount one very vivid memory of what had transpired the day prior. A few drops of ink dropped onto the parchment as she thought. She finally settled on givng Ryu at least an abbreviated—a very abbreviated—account of what she could recall.

I saw you, too. I don't remember what scenario my fever-addled brain conjured, but it was nice to see your face again, though I'm sure the face I saw is the face I left you with, not the one you have now. It has been nearly three years, after all. I'm sure we've both grown much since we last saw each other.

Both hunts are still on-going, but I've had several breakthroughs in mine since we last spoke. Hopefully I will have better news the next time we speak.

"My Lady!" a voice called from her door just then. "Lord Iroh is inquiring if you will be taking your meal in your room."

"Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes," Lian said. "And that he can start without me.

"Yes, My Lady!"

Sighing, she turned back to her letter.

I'm afraid I must run. Perhaps we will see each other sooner rather than later. What colony is your father stationed?

Yours,

Lian

Finished, she pulled a second sheet of parchment and carefully laid it on top of her letter. Lian smoothed the parchment over the letter and pressed down along the length of the stacked parchments, the blank one on top acting as a blotting sheet to absorb any extra ink. Once satisified the letter was dry, Lian carefully peeled the top parchment away and laid it aside as she began searching for her wax and stamp.

Finding the tools, she rolled up the parchment, melted a few drops of wax onto the center of the seam, and then stamped it with her seal, the design something Iroh had assisted her in designing.

She quickly left her room and headed to the bridge, where she found Boran and Jae.

"Lian," Jae said in surprise when she burst onto the bridge. "I thought you would be with Lord Iroh and the prince for lunch.

"A letter came. I wanted to respond as soon as possible," she said, her eyes searching for the messenger hawk that had delivered the letter. Finding it perched on one of the levers, she quickly went to it and placed her letter in the scroll canister on his back. She took the hawk out out to the observation deck and let it fly off her arm.

"Must have been important," Boran said with a knowing smile.

Lian rolled her eyes. "Believe what you want," she shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Boran laughed. "I'm sure, My Lady."

"I'll see you two later," Lian smiled before descending into the main body of the tower. Her steps were light as she made her way to the dining room, and a small smile was still on her face as she sat down across from Zuko.

"You're in a good mood," he observed as Iroh poured her tea and she filled her plate with food.

She just shrugged. "It's a beautiful day."

"It is indeed," Iroh agreed. "Perhaps some training on deck after the meal is in order. I'm sure Lian is eager to get moving after feeling so ill yesterday."

Lian nodded in agreement while Zuko looked dubious. "You don't think she should take it easy, Uncle?" he asked. "I mean, just yesterday, she was seeing dragons!"

"I feel fine," Lian assured. "And Iroh's right; I'm ready to get moving!"

"It's settled," Iroh grinned. "Zuko, will you be joining us?"

"Yes," he nodded. "I'm feeling a bit peckish myself."

The trio lapsed into silence as Lian dug into lunch, Iroh sipped serenely at his tea, and Zuko stewed over the fact Mai had never sent him any letters. Then again, he hadn't sent her any since he left...

On their way to the deck, two soldiers that Zuko recognized as Riku and Hu talked jovially with Lian, and he realized with a start that with all her talk about not having many friends back at the palace, she was certainly doing better than him at the moment. Bitterness began to swirl in his stomach as he watched Lian and her friends take up arms and begin to spar, Lian using her jian against the soldiers' own swords.

As it was the last time Lian and Riku had sparred with weapons, they used the blunted versions to prevent any accidental cuts. The silver blades flashed in the late afternoon sun as Iroh sat to observe and Zuko stood off to the side watching.

Riku had the height advantage over Lian and Hu, and Hu had the muscle advantage while Lian's quick feet was her advantage in sword fighting. Because of the universal length of the swords, she was unable to get in close as she preferred to and was able to with shorter bladed weapons, like her knife of choice. However, that didn't stop her confidence in sparring.

Unlike it had been when she had sparred with her kunais, Lian was at the disadvantage because she had less time practicing with the sword than her sparring partners. But she took the chance to learn from them, nodding along as they showed her a particular block or thrust that worked best for the jian blade.

"You're in a particularly good mood," Riku commented to Lian as they and Hu took a break from sparring. Lian tried to hide her smile by bringing the drinking ladle to her lips, but it was no use.

"Letter?" Hu guessed as Lian passed him the ladle.

"Maybe," Lian shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant, but the grin that refused to leave her face told her friends all they needed to know.

Riku and Hu laughed as Lian's face flamed in embarrassment. Across the deck, Zuko looked up from practicing his firebending forms as the three continued to carry on. He quickly turned away when Lian's gray eyes flashed his way and he took a deep breath to re-center himself.

He didn't understand why a letter had him so hung-up, and it bothered him beyond explanation that it did. His mind drifted to Mai as he dropped his form to grab a sweat towel and wipe at his forehead and neck.

As the daughter of nobility, Mai was often given access to the palace, and more specifically, Azula and by extension, Zuko. She had already been quieter than out-spoken, opinionated Azula, and that was something Zuko had liked immediately. She was pretty, of course, and every bit a proper young lady. Ursa seemed to have approved of their match, though Azula always did everything in her power to humiliate her best friend and her brother whenever they were in the presence of each other.

Just days before that fateful war meeting was Zuko's first kiss with Mai. It had been a quick, spontaneous peck on his part, and a rare smile had crossed her lips before her name had been called. Zuko had gone home on cloud nine, only for Azula to bring him crashing back down with a snide comment with how emotionless Mai was.

The day he kissed her had always been the last time he saw her before his father banished him to find the Avatar. The first few months, Zuko's biggest regret had been not spending more time with Mai before his exile, but she had eventually faded to the back of his mind as his quest to find the Avatar became his sole focus.

So why, oh why, was he suddenly thinking of her again? As Zuko idly watched Lian and Hu spar, bright flames brusting from their fists and feet, he wondered how Mai was, what she was up to, what she looked like now. It had been nearly three years since he had last seen her, and he wondered how much she had changed; wondered how much he must have changed in her eyes.

Looking at Lian, Zuko tired to gage if that's what Mai would look like now. They were the same age, Mai just a few months older than Lian, but Zuko realized he had never paid enough attention to what Lian had looked like before they mysterious light show at the South Pole that he didn't have any frame of reference. For all he knew, Lian had always looked the way she did now.

Given Hu's height advantage, it was easy for him to look over Lian's shoulder to see the prince watching her with slightly out-of-focus eyes. He smirked.

"Care to tell me why the prince is watching your every move?" he asked as Lian spun out of the way of a fire punch.

"That's not going to work," she replied, raising an eyebrow as she delivered her owns series of short, quick fire punches that Hu had to weave and duck to avoid.

"I'm not trying to stick you," he grinned as he caught her wrist and twisted her around, pinning her arm behind her back and forcing her into a position that made her face Zuko. Lian watched as the cloudy have over Zuko's golden eyes cleared and he quickly looked away.

"That was mean," Lian scolded as Hu released her and allowed her to turn back to him. Behind her, Zuko stood and quickly strode to the tower, presumably to go to his room. "You don't know he was looking at me. He could have been daydreaming and his eyes just happened to be on me at the moment you saw him."

Hu raised an eyebrow as Riku joined them. "Since when did you care if one of us teased Zuko?" he asked. "Just a few months ago, you would have made some comment about it."

"Whatever it is you're implying, I promise you, it's not like that," she said. "It's not like I'm some love-sick palace girl who wants to marry Zuko and become First Lady of the Fire Nation."

"No, you're just love-sick over a boy who's already betrothed," Riku shrugged.

Lian slugged him in the arm with a scowl. "I'm not love-sick," she snapped angrily. Her expression quickly turned downcast as she said heavily, "But I do like him...a lot. I can't help but think what might have happened if I hadn't insisted Iroh take me along."

She groaned and rubbed her face in agitation. "I mean, do I really think I would have gotten the chance to marry him if I had stayed? No, because I know his father thinks I'm just a peasant who doesn't belong in the palace, and thus has no reason whatsoever to marry his son, even if the son I would want to marry is the one he thinks so little of."

"Chin up, Little Sun," Hu said as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I know Ryu is older than most to get his betrothed, but that must be a good sign, right?"

"How?" Lian grumbled into his chest, her own arms going around his middle to return his hug.

"It means that something has prevented his father from making a match sooner," Riku stepped in. "So, maybe Ryu can find a way to keep pushing back the wedding until you get back to the palace."

"And then what?" Lian knew at this point she was just being childish and was fishing for answers, but she was too despondent at the moment to really care.

"You can prove you're every bit a lady as whoever his father has betrothed him to," Riku said brightly. "By the way, do you know who it is?"

"Yes," the young ward muttered, rolling her eyes as she unclasped her hands so she could stand beside Hu and face Riku. "And you'll die when I tell you."

Riku gasped, somewhat dramatically. "No!" he whispered, sounding scandalized. "That little..." He couldn't even finish his sentence as he shook his head. "Honestly, I can't believe it."

"Honestly, I can," Lian shrugged. "Her father is well connected, and his father is politically ambitious. With the support from the Colonel, Ryu's father will have much more pull."

"Well, you could beat her in your sleep," Hu shrugged as they started walking toward the tower.

"Hm, as tempting as that sounds, I hope it doesn't come to that," she said thoughtfully. "She was always...intense."

"That's one way to put it," Riku snickered.

"Can we talk about something else?" the firebender requested. "Or better yet, let's go back to sparring; I like things I can hit."

The two young soldiers laughed but acquiesced. They picked up their training swords again and started to fight.

That evening, as Lian lay in bed, close to falling asleep, there was a quiet knock on her door. She was so close to sleep, in fact, she almost thought she had dreamed it. The second knock, though, was definitely not a figment of her imagination.

"Coming, coming," Lian muttered, dragging herself out of bed to open her door. Her weariness disappeared in a flash, though, when she saw who was standing at her door.

"Zuko," she said in surprise.

"Um..." The prince looked nervous and uncertain, rubbing the back of his neck and refusing to meet her eyes. "Hi?"

"Hello," Lian said with a little smile, her tone light with amusement. "How can I help you?"

"Uh..." After a prolonged pause where Zuko found his shoes very interesting, he finally blurted, "Never mind! Sorry for bothering you!" He turned on his heel and marched back to his room—which was next door—and slammed his door shut behind him.

"Ugh, stupid, stupid, stupid!" Zuko growled to himself as he paced his room. "It's just a question! How hard is it to ask a stupid question?!"

He continued to mutter and grumble over his breath, completely unaware Lian could hear everything.

She chuckled under her breath as she settled into her bed again, Zuko's muted voice fading into the background as she finally drifted to sleep.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

I've got a question for you, if you've made it this far: at this point, are you more interested in a Lian/Ryu endgame, or a Lian/Zuko endgame? Let me know, because honestly, I'm kinda torn now! I need help!

Questions, comments, concerns, wanna talk? Drop a comment or shot me a DM! I'm all ears. To everyone out there, be safe. All my love to you and anyone in your thoughts.

Until next time.