Chapter 23

Five freezing days at sea and Sokka realized how long it had been since he had visited either pole. He'd been born on the frozen tundra in the south. The bitter wind and icy seas should have felt like home to him. Instead he was every bit as miserable as Zuko. The firebender was rather at home on the sea himself after having spent so long there, but he did not enjoy the cold. The last time he had been north he nearly died. Sokka was glad Aang had saved him back then but wondered now if they would both die up here after all.

They had been extremely lucky with the Earth Kingdom patrols. On the third night out, they had had to douse their lanterns and sail in silence between two of the large ships. Sokka thought their luck was due to the size of their boat. The sailors would have been searching the horizon for large fire nation destroyers, not small fishing craft.

As the sun began its low arc across the late autumn sky, Sokka began to question their navigation abilities. Before them lay a frozen shelf of ice were more choppy sea should have been. It was nearing the dark months but this part of ocean never froze over like this even in the dead of winter. At least a mile ahead of them, the mountains and cliffs of the landmass where the Northern tribe made its home loomed above them. It seemed they would have to make their way across the ice on foot.

"What happened? The last time I was here you could sail up to the outer wall of the city. Where did all this ice come from?" Zuko punctuated his question by jabbing at the edge of the ice shelf with an oar. Sokka squinted as he looked as far as he could in each direction.

"I have no idea. The snowfall makes it hard to see, the lack of real daylight doesn't help either. I guess we better beach this thing as best we can and continue on foot. I think it's a safe bet that whatever happened wasn't the fire nations doing." Zuko gave him an unimpressed look.

"Gee I wonder what could have given you that idea, certainly not all this ice!"

Sokka, feeling argumentative again thanks to so many freezing days at sea fired back.

"Well mister smarty prince, what's your wise deduction?" Zuko was already climbing out of the boat however and piling their things on the ice. When he cast an irritated glare over his shoulder, Sokka threw up his hands and climbed out after him. "Whatever. Either way this is going to add at least another day to our travel time. What great weather to have for ice crossing. Hey maybe we'll get lucky and we won't freeze to death in our sleep."

"For some reason I'm not feeling particularly lucky."

After an hour of traipsing through the snow and nearly blinding wind in what they hoped was the right direction, Sokka wasn't feeling all that lucky either. He had wind blown tears frozen to his face and his once broken leg throbbed in the cold. At least there was still a sliver of sunlight for his fire driven companion. Just as he was about to suggest an attempt at making camp, he heard a distinctly human sounding howl. Several yards away and in all directions, appearing like wraiths from the snow, came the painted faces of the Northern water tribe warriors. Sokka's initial relief at finding the tribesmen was quickly dispelled when several spearheads were shoved in his face. Both travelers raised their hands in surrender and followed where they were led.

Eventually a series of igloos came into view and they were shoved towards the largest one. Inside, one of the painted warriors removed his helmet and crossed his arms over his chest and stared at them for a long moment before a smirk slid across his face and he spoke.

"Well, well. I heard you were dead. Guess old Master Pakku was right after all. Too bad. What are you doing all the way up here anyway, Sokka of the Southern water tribe? With the traitor fire nation prince too?"

Sokka instantly recognized his voice. Time may have tempered the pain of losing Yue to the spirit world, but Hahn was still apparently an irritating jerk. His next words were dripping with hatred.

"Hahn. Funny I thought you were dead too. Didn't drown after Admiral Zhao dumped you in the ocean after all huh? " Too bad indeed. Beside him Zuko shifted his weight back and forth but said nothing. Hahn eyed him briefly before turning back to Sokka, who spoke first. "How did you hear about our little brush with death anyway?"

"General Iroh sent word to Master Pakku a week ago. My boys and I were with him when he met the messenger from the Earth Kingdom blokade. Pity you're traveling with this fire nation scum instead of that pretty sister of yours. How is Katara anyway?" Sokka ground his teeth. "Since my last fiance up and died on me I haven't had the heart to go after anyone else. Maybe I should write your father and see if he'd be amenable to my suit. If she's still pure that is. I know you southerners like to do things a little differently." Sokka wanted to punch that stupid look off his stupid face and started towards him only to be held back by Zuko. His hand burned hot even through his glove and Sokka's parka.

"Stop it Sokka, he's just trying to get to you." He turned to Hahn. "Katara is none of your concern, Hahn was it? Besides, she's spoken for." Hahn looked at Zuko with a mixture of shock and disgust before looking back to Sokka.

"Please tell me your father hasn't given her to this fire breathing trash?" When he got no response but hard glares, he laughed. "She must have let you fuck her huh? Southern tribe slut. It's a good thing for her you still want her though, no self respecting water tribe man would touch her now that…" Whatever else he was going to say was forgotten as Zuko's fist hit his nose with a loud crunch. Sokka was right behind him. They threw the northern man to the ground and had each gotten in a few good hits before some of the other warriors finally pulled them off of him.

"Don't you talk about my sister like that you creepy fucking waste of seal skin!" Sokka screamed at Hahn. Zuko didn't say anything as two men held him back, but his breath was fire and he glared murderously at a bloodied Hahn. The northerner slowly got back to his feet and started barking orders at the other men, his voice garbled around all the blood.

"Why are you just standing there? Bind the firebenders arms and throw them both somewhere I won't have too look at them until the storm lets up. We can take them with us when we rotate back to the city."

"Uh, Hahn, I thought they were allies? Isn't Sokka Master Pakku's family now? I'm not sure.."

"I'm in charge here aren't I? You saw them attack me. Just get them out of my sight!" He spat blood on the ground and as they were led away again Sokka heard him ask someone why they waited so long to help him. Judging by the snickers of the men that drug them away, Hahn was not as popular as he used to be.

As it turned out, the storm had just started to pick up when they had made it to the ice shelf. According to Sokka, arctic storms could sometimes rage on and off for days. Zuko didn't like their chances if they tried to escape and make it through the white out conditions on their own. So they stayed in the small igloo Hahn had sent them too. They were fed and, despite Hahn's orders, no one bothered to restrain Zuko.

He spent most of his time alternating between trying to sleep and worrying about Katara. Every day they sat here on the ice was another day she would likely spend wondering if he was alive or dead. He wondered how she was handling the pregnancy. Was she healthy? Zuko didn't know much about pregnancy but he remembered his mother saying once how sick he had made her. It would take another month to make it to Ba Sing Se from here. Hopefully they would be able to leave as soon as they'd spoken to Pakku. He missed Katara and the lack of sunlight was grating on him.

Sokka seemed to spend most of his time cursing Hahn. He shared with Zuko about Yue and Hahn and everything that had happened the last time he was in the north. Zuko agreed with Sokka that it was a shame he hadn't drowned.

After a whole week waiting for the storm to let up, the sun finally showed itself and the wind died down. When they were brought out of the igloo they'd spent the last week in, Hahn and the others were gathered and ready to leave. Hahn frowned when they approached.

"Why aren't they bound? I told you.."

"Calm down Hahn. You might have been put in charge of this guard but if we bring these two back to Pakku like prisoners? It won't just be your ass. We aren't letting your personal shit get us all punished." The warrior that spoke was called Natuk and he had already apologized for Hahns nonsense days ago. He shouldered past Hahn and headed out. Zuko, Sokka and the others all followed, leaving Hahn to glower.

Hahn it seemed, was the only one of the warriors with such an unpleasant personality. Zuko actually found most of them good company. They wanted to know about why he had switched sides, what happened to the Avatar and how they were still alive. The half day long march to the Northern tribe city passed quickly and soon enough they were waiting at the edge of a half mile wide moat between the ice shelf and city wall. Two water benders dropped into a stance and a bridge formed over the water. As they approached the wall Zuko thought it looked much larger than he remembered. His amazement must have shown on his face because Natuk laughed.

"Impressive no? We have worked hard to improve our defenses since Master Pakku returned and told us of Avatar Aang's fate. The ice shelf we were just on took every bender we have, even the women, working every night since. There are weak spots throughout in case they try to bring their tanks again, and then this moat as well. We aren't too worried about the Fire Nation just now."

"That's actually why we came. We have information for your chief and Pakku regarding fire nation naval orders." By now they had reached the wall and the benders lowered a section so they could pass through. Zuko was once again awed by the frozen city. Not having to sneak around this time afforded him a better vantage. Looking at all the ice sculpted buildings made him think of Katara again and the knot in his gut he always felt when he thought of her twisted painfully.

Natuk led them to the council chambers where both Arnook and Pakku waited. At their arrival, Pakku stood and crossed to them. Gripping them each by a shoulder he smiled broadly.

"I'm glad to see you both. Iroh seemed to believe you were still alive somewhere and I am very relieved to know he was right. But tell me boys, what has you all the way out here? I would have thought you'd have gone to Ba Sing Se to join your family." Zuko jumped at the implication.

"They made it? Katara's safe in the city?"

Master Pakku and Chief Arnook both raised a brow at his specific inquiry.

"Yes she is." Zuko couldn't hide his relief or the sudden wetness in his eyes. Brushing it away he smiled for the first time in days.

"Thank Agni." Sokka gave him a side hug and explained his excessive concern.

"See buddy, I told you she'd be ok. Gramps, Chief, Zuko here is in love with our Katara. As soon as we get to Ba Sing Se they're getting married. A few months after that, I'm going to be an uncle! Poor guy's been a nervous wreck. Not that I haven't been worried too." Pakku frowned slightly, eyeing them both again. Zuko wondered if he didn't approve, they were much more traditional in the north he knew.

"Wonderful news. I suppose I will be leaving with you then, I wouldn't want to miss that. I'd meant to leave in a few days anyway. Now, I don't imagine you took this two month detour to make a wedding announcement."

Zuko had been so relieved to know his family was safe, it took him a moment to gather his thoughts.

"No. A month ago we were staying in a remote village near the colonies. Thanks to some help from the locals, we learned what the new orders are for the entire fire nation navy. My… my father sent a significant number of ships to the south pole and found it abandoned. He has since ordered those ships and every other not already battling the blockade to sail north and converge on this city. Even without the comet, that could be disastrous. Although, judging by all the new additions it seems like you're prepared. Sokka mentioned something about the sun not rising at all?" It was Chief Arnook that answered.

"You say the Fire Lord has sent them here now? It's nearly winter and for three months there will be no sun at all. He is more fool than I realized. I hope for the sake of their men, that his commanders do not attempt to drive them on through the lasting darkness."

Zuko turned away and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew better than most just how much those men's lives didn't matter. How many men would be thrown away this time?

"The lives of the soldiers mean nothing to those giving the orders. It is unlikely they will give up without great losses." Running a frustrated hand through his hair, he turned back to Pakku. "There's nothing to be done about that. We've warned you, now we should go before we can't."

"Yes. Unfortunately it's already dark. The sunlight doesn't last long just now, as I'm sure you've noticed. At first light we will escort you back to the edge of the shelf. You have a boat of some kind there I assume?" Sokka nodded. "Good. Let's have some dinner before retiring."

Zuko and Sokka followed the older men from the room. Zuko hoped they still had time to get out before it was too late.

At breakfast the next morning he had an answer. Another painted warrior ran into the dining hall and spoke into Chief Arnook's ear before rushing out again. The news was not good.

The first of the Fire Nation ships had converged on the ice shelf. It would be impossible to leave without being caught. They were trapped in the Northern tribe for the foreseeable future.