Chapter 25

A month. Four weeks. Thirty days. 720 hours, and counting. That's how long they had been trapped in the North pole. Zuko knew this because he'd been keeping track. It had been three months since he had seen Katara and he was positive that by now she would have given him up for dead. Sokka told him he was being ridiculous but then Sokka was an idiot. If he wasn't feeling like a aardvark sloth because there was no fucking sun he would have gone out and tried to fight his way off the stupid frozen wasteland himself.

Thinking about the fire nation soldiers on the ice made him even more upset. Zuko and Sokka had gone with the warriors several times to watch their progress and every time it had been distressing. Men labored in the dark to break through the ice, one or two falling through at fairly regular intervals. They had already given up trying to March across after four tanks and what looked from Zuko's vantage like an entire unit had been lost. Men were freezing and drowning and suffering. His people. If only Aang had killed his father when he had had the chance, Zuko would be fire lord and this waste of life would have been avoided.

This morning, or night since he couldn't see a difference, as they lay on the ice watching them again he wondered if there was anything he could do. When yet another man fell through the ice he nearly threw his binoculars down in frustration, and would have done if he hadn't recognized someone. Lieutenant Jee, the captain from his old ship was reaching into the water for the fallen man. He had thought all of his former crew dead after Zhao's failed attack here nearly two years ago. Zuko quickly leaned over and spoke in Sokka's ear.

"Sokka, see that man there, the one trying to save the other?" Sokka took the binoculars from him and scanned the dimly lit frozen shore.

"You mean the only firebending officer bothering to help his men? Ya I see him. What about him? Do you know him or something?"

"Yes. That's Lieutenant Jee, he was captain on my ship years ago. I want to talk to him. Maybe I can convince him to talk the other officers into at least holding off until spring."

Sokka turned and looked at him. Even in the dim light, Zuko could see how big his eyes had gotten.

"Are you out of your mind? I know you've been nearly there for weeks but that's a suicide mission. There's no way I'm letting you do that! What makes you think he would even listen to you?" Zuko sighed wearily and yanked back the binoculars.

"I know Jee. He is a good man and has always been loyal to my uncle. He stuck with me all those years despite what a colossal brat I was. He cares about his men and I can't see him going along happily with this ridiculous venture. If I could sneak into his officer tent tonight I could talk to him. I know he'll listen." Sokka still looked skeptical.

"You aren't going alone. I'll come too. But you're gonna have to paint your face and dress like the warriors. If anyone besides him recognizes you we're screwed." They both looked out at the miserable fire nation men and thought through the plan. "I need to know that if he decides not to listen, and you think he might betray you to his superiors that you will be able to kill him Zuko. I'm not letting you take this risk if you can't guarantee that." Zuko scowled and shoved him.

"Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? Do you seriously think you can stop me?" Sokka pushed him back.

"Oh well, let's see. How about the guy whose sister you're marrying, whose niece or nephew you're supposed to raise. The guy whose been trying to keep your ungrateful ass alive long enough to do those things. And yes, a strong breeze could probably knock you over. I know I could stop you right now. Now stop being an asshole and answer me. Could you do it? Could you kill Lieutenant Jee if it came to it?"

Zuko, suitably chastened, groaned and watched his former captain through the binoculars.

"Yes. If it comes to killing him to protect my family I won't hesitate." He saw Sokka watching him out of the corner of his eye for a moment longer before he nodded and made to back up and join the others.

"Alright, we can do it tonight. No sense putting it off. Let's go tell Natuk."

Later that evening he tried to sit patiently as Sokka painted his face. He was positive he looked as ridiculous as Sokka. The stupid look of concentration he had as he attempted what felt like an eyebrow broke what was left of Zuko's will and he batted his hands away.

"I'm sure it looks fine, lets just go already!"

Sokka grabbed his head to hold him in place and glared at the offending side of his forehead.

"No! You have to match! Stop struggling or you'll smudge it! I'm almost… there!" Sokka rocked back on his heels and didn't even try to contain his mirth. "Oh man, I always wondered what you'd look like with two eyebrows. Can you raise one?"

Zuko frowned but apparently the effect was comical as Sokka burst out laughing.

"You look so awesome, I wish Katara was here for this. She'd definitely be all girly and swoon or something. Ladies love the war paint." This Zuko doubted this very much, but he didn't waste time contradicting him.

Natuk had volunteered to go with them in case they got lost on the ice. It was early evening by then and it would take several hours to make it to the edge of the ice shelf. Zuko hoped the soldiers were as deep of sleepers as he had been lately.

Much later, as they approached the camp, Zuko told Natuk to wait for them within hearing distance. As they crept closer, Zuko was thankful for the face paint and water tribe clothes. They would have been nearly impossible to see against the snow in the dark. Finally they stopped outside of Lieutenant Jee's tent and Sokka gave him one last searching look. He nodded at his friend and slipped inside on silent feet. Jee had his own tent, small though it was, and was sound asleep. Zuko crouched beside him and placed a hand over his mouth as he shook his shoulder. The older man was awake instantly and Zuko had to lean into him to hold him still as he tried to speak.

"Jee, it's me, Zuko. Shhh! Stop struggling I'm not here to hurt you."

He stopped struggling but pushed Zuko's hand away.

"Prince Zuko is dead. Who are you and why are you here!"

Zuko raised his hand close to his face and made a small flame. It cast shadows across his face that revealed the twisted flesh of his scar beneath the paint.

"I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation Lieutenant Jee." The Lieutenant bowed his head awkwardly, still lying in bed as he was.

"My lord, how can this be? Your father has been loudly proclaiming your death for months now. Everyone believes you dead. I admit I am glad it is not true." Zuko relaxed slightly and clasped Jee's proffered hand.

"I was nearly killed, the story is partly true, but as you can see the account was greatly exaggerated. I am equally glad to see you. I thought you had drowned when the rest of Zhao's fleet was destroyed."

Jee, still seeming somewhat stunned to see Zuko alive, shook his head.

"The spirits saved me, and three others from your old crew. We surly should have died that day but somehow made it to one of only two lifeboats that made it away. I am sorry prince Zuko, but why are you here. You must have a reason for allowing the news of your death to go unchecked, why reveal yourself now, and here of all places?"

"Can I trust you Jee? I can not allow you to share that I'm alive with anyone. I have too much I have to protect now to risk word getting back to my father. I will kill you if I have too." Lieutenant Jee squinted at him in the dark and nodded solemnly.

"Your father is mad. To kill his own son, and now he throws the lives of his loyal men away here in this dark and frozen wasteland. My fire is yours to command prince Zuko. I would see you as Fire Lord, and I know I would not be alone in this if more knew you lived."

Zuko smiled at the man and thought quickly of everything he wanted to tell him. Having this man's loyalty would be invaluable one day when they were ready to try again at usurping his father.

"I came north with a friend to warn the Chief Arnook of your attack. You will not make it to the wall. The ice is thin and thick by turn and the wall is nearly three times larger than when you were here last. This darkness will last until the spring. If by some miracle you made it to the wall, you would be destroyed. Too many men have died since you've been here already. I need you to try and persuade whoever is in charge of this fiasco to turn around. Even in summer the Northerners are well prepared for you.

"Also, as long as the fleet is here I can't leave. It is imperative that I leave here as soon as possible. This is the most important thing. I am going to be a father Jee. When the time comes, if I fall I will have a legitimate heir. I'm trusting you with this knowledge, no one must know unless I am killed. If I learn that you have betrayed me I will hunt you down and I will kill you Jee."

Lieutenant Jee smiled and nodded.

"Congratulations prince Zuko. Fatherhood is truly a blessing. I know you will be a wonderful father." Zuko's chest squeezed at his words. "You do intend then to challenge your father?"

"I do but it won't be soon. It will take time to regain our allies and plan. I haven't even seen my uncle since before the comet. Right now though all I can think about is getting to my pregnant wife before she has the baby. It may be awhile. Keep track of anything important for me until then."

"Yes my Lord, how can I pass information to you? Where will you be?" Zuko frowned and considered.

"I can't tell you where I'll be. If you have word for me, send it to Omashu. King Bumi will see that I get it." He nodded and opened his mouth to speak but there was a sharp rap on the side of the tent and Sokka's whistled alarm. "I have to go Jee."

"I am thankful you live and honored to have your trust Prince Zuko. May we meet again, and may Agni protect your family."

Zuko nodded at his loyal friend and slipped from the tent. As quietly as he had come, they raced back to Natuk and the city beyond. It was morning before they returned to where they stayed with Master Pakku. Before they went their separate ways to sleep, Sokka stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"I hope you don't live to regret trusting Lieutenant Jee. You told him everything. Now we're more vulnerable than ever."

Zuko had nothing to say to that since he felt exactly the same.

Two days later the fire nation navy began its retreat. Zuko warned Arnook they would likely be back in the spring but the chief was not worried. Even in the daylight, hacking through the ice would be near impossible and would take months. Chief Arnook prepared a small ship to send them and Master Pakku to the earth kingdom. They would sail around the continent, approaching Ba Sing Se from the north. The trip would take two weeks and five more days on foot to reach the northeast gates. Chief Arnook held them back three days to ensure the Fire nation ships were far enough away that they would not be a problem before ordering a channel melted in the ice shelf.

The first time they saw the sun again, a week after setting sail, Zuko felt renewed. The despair and anxiety that had plagued him the last two months evaporated like so much dew the first time the sun roused him from his sleep. As he stood on the deck, basking in the light, his thoughts turned towards home. To Katara.