Chapter 31
They had spent nearly a week together in their igloo by the lake. Zuko would rise first and take his time waking Katara with languid, sensual caresses. Love making, it turned out, was an excellent way to begin the day, and to end it. Everything was slow and peaceful for that week. The igloo had been stocked with ample food so there was little need to stray far. Both had been so exhausted from the physical and emotional stress of the last week, months, years really, that the days of leisurely respite had been ideal.
When they finally came back to the city, they decided against staying in the upper ring. Instead, they moved into an apartment near Anyu's family in the lower ring. It was small and not nearly as nice as the house in the upper ring but it was theirs. Zuko joined Sokka and Tarak, Anyu's father, finding labor during the day. It was lucrative enough to keep them all well fed and Katara realized that Zuko actually seemed to enjoy it. It was a far cry from princely activity but working with his hands to provide for his family satisfied something he couldn't name.
When he came home every evening Katara was there, her touch a gentle reprieve after the days work. Her belly ever expanding as their child grew within her never failed to draw his attention. The two months since their marriage blessing had been simple and after the last several years of fighting a war, it was practically paradise. They were so happy.
At night they lay together in each others arms. As Zuko caressed her stomach, his warm breath tickling her cheek, Katara wondered how long it would last. How long until the reality of their lives came barging back into their home.Not long apparently. Just as she had started to drift off there was a banging at their front door. Zuko stiffened beside her and sat up, reaching back for the handle of the dao swords he had hanging on the bedpost.
"Wake up you two, it's me Sokka. I know it's late but we need to talk."
Katara groaned and pushed herself up in bed. Zuko rehung his weapon and stood before she could swing her legs around to the floor. Zuko frowned at the door and held up a hand for her.
"Stay here, I'll see what he wants." She huffed and ignored him, standing and making her way around the bed. "Katara, I can handle this. You don't need to get up." Katara gave him a condescending look as she threw on a long robe over her night clothes.
"Honestly Zuko, I'm pregnant not ill. Besides, he asked for us both." She yawned as she followed him into the main room and glared at the door. "As late as it is, this had better be important." Zuko sighed and pushed the hair from his eyes as he reached to open the door for her brother. Sokka was not alone. Behind him stood a couple that Katara did not know, though they looked water tribe. Zuko surprised her when he appeared to know them, taking the man's proffered arm and briefly embracing the woman.
"Natuk, Sitka, what are you doing here?" At their grave faces and Sokka's anxious demeanor, he ushered them inside. "You better come in."
Katara looked the newcomers over as she bent water into their kettle, nudging Zuko to light the fire. The man took the fur wrap from the women, revealing a small child strapped to her back. Sokka was naturally the first of their guests to find his voice.
"Katara, this is Natuk and his wife Sitka. We met them when we were stranded at the North Pole. They've just arrived in the city this evening."
Katara smiled politely at them, wondering what they could have to say that was worth interrupting her evening so late.
"I'm pleased to meet the famous Katara at last. I feel I know you from how your husband and brother talked about you when they were with us. It is an honor." Natuk inclined his head slightly and she felt herself flush at his assessment. His wife, Sitka, smiled warmly at her as she reached to sooth the child at her back. "Unfortunately we do not bring good news. We will need to meet with General Iroh and Master Pakku in the morning, but Sokka felt you should hear what we have to say at once." Natuk took the tea from Zuko and frowned into the cup for a long moment before looking up at them again. "Not long after you left us, Chief Arnook held a council meeting. It was decided that the Northern Water tribe will again close itself off to the world. They will not send warriors or ships to help when you prepare to attack the Fire Nation again as was promised. Nor will anyone be permitted to enter or leave the city for the duration of the war. The elders believe this is the best way to protect themselves from the Fire Nation. After what was done to the Air Nomads they are afraid and believe aiding your Uncle and the Earth Kingdom will only incur the Fire Lord's wrath."
Zuko swore and Katara's heart sank, not that she was overly surprised. This tactic had served the Northern tribe well during the hundred year war, though their refusal to aid their sister tribe to the south had yielded devastating results. The sexist old cowards. Zuko seemed to reign in his anger over the betrayal and spoke to his friend again.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You still haven't answered my question though, what are you doing here? Isn't Chief Arnook your family somehow? Why did you leave when they are closing their borders?"
Natuk and his wife shared a look, but it was Sitka who answered.
"We do not agree with the councils decision. For a hundred years we turned our back on the world out of fear, hiding behind our wall while our sister tribe suffered greatly. Now, when our help is needed most they would have us return to those isolationist ways? They are cowards." She turned to Katara. "When your husband and brother were in the north, they stayed with Natuk and I and they became dear friends. We could not turn our backs on them, on the world. My husband is a strong warrior and I am a bender. I don't know how much two people can help, but our two pairs of hands will work however we can to help you bring an end to this war."
Katara was stunned into silence. How much courage must it have taken to go against their entire tribe, their families, to make such a decision. Even after only just meeting, she knew Sitka would be a valuable friend and ally. Katara rose and moved to sit beside the other women.
"We will need everyone we can get. Have you mastered the healing bending? I'm afraid in my brief time in the north I had little time for it myself." Sitka smiled shyly and nodded.
"Yes Master Katara, though I'm afraid that is all I know. I'm sure you remember how it is for women in the Northern tribe." How could she forget. Well then, Master Katara would just have to teach her to fight.
Their guests only stayed a short while longer before Sokka took them to his apartment where there was a spare room. Katara and Zuko made their way back to bed and wondered at the implications of everything they had learned. As they lay together trying to sleep, Katara secretly hoped this news would further delay the inevitable final fight.
The hall in the palace was cool and their footsteps echoed loudly as they made their way to the meeting. Zuko, Katara and Sokka led Natuk and Sitka through the high stone maze. Iroh had called a meeting to discuss their news as well as other recent information. Zuko was anxious about what would be decided. They had already anticipated several more months before making any moves, this could set them back even further. What bothered him most though was his own mixed feelings about that. He knew he had a duty to his country, but he wanted nothing more than to stay with Katara in their apartment and raise their family. It was so much easier than the burden of being Fire Lord. If they even survived long enough for that.
When they got to the meeting, nearly everyone else was already seated. Long wooden tables were sat in an oblong circle, chairs occupied around them. Master Pakku looked up and frowned when he saw who they had brought, but no one else seemed to notice their presence. His Uncle sat with several men he knew to be members of the White Lotus. Hakoda and Bato looked to be in a deep conversation with an Earth Kingdom official, and Toph sat quietly with her feet planted on the ground.
When Iroh noticed them, he stood and motioned for them to sit near him.
"Ah, Katara my dear girl, please have my seat, it is the most comfortable one." He winked at her as he moved to another chair. "Now Sokka, I presume these two new faces are the mystery visitors you mentioned this morning? Hello, my name is Iroh. I am the grand lotus of the Order of the White Lotus. We, and our allies have been working to dismantle the violent government in control of the Fire Nation. I am to understand that you come to us from the Northern Water Tribe?"
Natuk nodded and opened his mouth but it was Pakku who answered for him.
"This is Natuk and his wife Sitka. Natuk is one of our very best warriors, well respected and a good hunter. Sitka is the finest healer we've had in a generation. I wonder, what you both are doing here now? Is it as I feared with the council?"
Natuk swallowed and nodded again, his face grim. "Yes. We left while we still could. With the way communication has been everywhere lately, it was unlikely you would have received word any time soon. I tried to persuade them, but they are afraid." Iroh's face was solemn as he replied.
"Fear can blind good men to the best course and steer them down a path of foolishness. We will have to make do without their aid."
Zuko rolled his eyes at his uncle's bit of sage wisdom and sat in the now vacant seat beside his wife. Katara looked as anxious as he felt so he took her hand and offered her a reassuring smile. At his uncle's nod, he stood again and shared his plot with Lieutenant Jee. It was quiet while he spoke, starting when he had first recognized his old friend on the ice and finishing with Jee's last words to him.
After he had retaken his seat, several people started speaking at once. One older man, clearly Earth kingdom, seemed horrified that Zuko had endangered them all in such a way. Surely, even if he was loyal, he could be made to talk if he was discovered. With whom was this Lieutenant meant to be sharing information? How could he be so sure he could swing anyone to their side? Everyone was silenced when Iroh stood and held out his hands.
"As it happens, King Bumi has passed on our Lieutenant's first correspondence. Although it is not good news that he sends." His uncle leveled Zuko with a meaningful look before sharing the information. "My brother's new bride, the Fire Lady Lei has confirmed her pregnancy. The new heir will be born in the summer."
Zuko's breath caught and for a moment his world spun. Then Katara squeezed his hand and he took a breath. With everything that had happened since he and Sokka had first learned of the new Fire Lady half a year ago in the Earth kingdom tavern, he had forgotten completely. Not only had his father remarried, he was doing everything he could to erase Zuko from history. It wasn't enough that he had tried to have him killed. Now he would sire and name a new heir. Looking at his own pregnant wife, Zuko suddenly felt overwhelming sympathy for this woman and his new half sibling. He knew his father and he doubted this Lei would be leading a long and happy life with her child. He turned his attention back to his Uncle.
"This is bad news for us because the military is fiercely loyal to Fire Lady Lei given her background as one of them. She was a low ranking officer herself and well loved. Now that she is carrying the heir apparent, there has been a swell of patriotism among the ranks. Lieutenant Jee believes it will take some time to have any measure of success convincing his peers to betray Ozai and by extension, the Fire Lady."
Zuko slid forward resting his elbows on his knees and hung his head. What was his father about taking a bride from the military. Surely there had been a reason why he had passed over the many society women that would have been salivating at the chance to be the next fire lady. Looking up at Katara, he suddenly remembered why his own mother had been chosen. Her grandfather, his great grandfather was the last Avatar, Roku. Azulon had hoped that their match would produce strong offspring. Zuko sat up with a bitter chuckle, drawing his wife's attention.
"What's so funny Zuko?"
Iroh harrumphed but answered for Zuko, somehow knowing what he was thinking.
"My nephew's mother, Ursa, though not a bender herself was the granddaughter of Avatar Roku and chosen for that reason." Beside him Katara gasped and gave Zuko a bewildered look. "It would seem my brother has gone in a rather literal direction in search of a more powerful mate. Apparently he went to rather ridiculous lengths to find the best and most skilled female bender in his military. Holding a sparring tournament in fact." Iroh stroked his beard and looked resignedly at his feet. "According to Lieutenant Jee, Fire Lady Lei is fiercely devoted to her sovereign and country. Very patriotic. Knowing my brother and his proclivity for psychological abuse and manipulation, I worry for the young women's health."
Zuko caught Katara's eye and knew she would be asking about his mother later. Before he could think too much on this however, an older Earth kingdom man brought their attention back to the group.
"Perhaps this delay is fortuitous. We have yet to discover the identity of the next Avatar but I doubt that will take much longer to resolve. Without Sozin's comet, Ozai has no more ability to end the stalemate than he had before. I see no reason why we can't simply wait 15 or 20 years for the next Avatar to come to maturity and do what Aang failed to. We don't need to waste ourselves in a fight a stronger Avatar could win with less bloodshed."
Zuko saw red. How dare they plot to use his child in this way, as a weapon against his own family. Fists clenched and face contorted in rage, he stood so fast his chair clattered to the floor behind him. Breathing out a plume of hot smoke, he opened his mouth to scream at them. Before he could get a word out however, the temperature in the room suddenly dropped noticeably and the table in front of him began to ice over. He looked down at Katara and watched her wrap a protective hand around her belly, her face as dark as his own. Her shared fury steadied him somehow as he turned back to the man who had spoken last.
When he spoke, his voice was steel.
"No. I will not allow you to pass this burden on to yet another generation. What a dishonorable coward you are. How many more soldiers lives will be wasted in that time? How many Earth kingdom people will be subjugated while you wait here in safety? How much longer must our people suffer under a tyrant before we act? I am disgusted that you can even suggest such a thing. My father will not spend his time idly you can be sure of that."
The Earth Kingdom man and several others who likely felt the same all looked properly chastened. Zuko felt marginally better at the humbled looks on their faces, but was still enraged that anyone would want to use his child that way. Surely as the Avatar he or she would face danger and hardships, but he would not be personally responsible for those burdens.
"Ozai is my responsibility now. I will not pass that on to my… on to anyone else." Zuko looked back at Katara who gave him a approving smile. He turned around and picked up his chair as his father in law began talking, tuning it out in favor of taking Katara's hand as he sat again. Her skin was still cold as he ran his thumb across her knuckles. While others in the room began discussing other possibilities, Zuko had eyes only for his wife. She reached up with her other hand and cupped his cheek, pulling his face down to hers to kiss him. When she pulled back, a sly smile spread across her face before she turned her attention back to the argument going on around them.
Iroh had just stood again and was attempting to reign in the conversation.
"Please, friends, this arguing will get us no where. I know we are all war weary and worried for our futures without the Avatar. Aang is dead, and we do not have the luxury to wait around for an unborn child to save us. We managed without an Avatar for a century, we will have to do so again."
Hakoda stood and added his voice.
"Whatever we decide, we are not ready to wage any kind of attack just now. It is my opinion that we should spend the next year or so readying ourselves. This would give your Lieutenant Jee ample time to sew unrest and find support within the Fire Nation military and for us to ready ourselves. I am sure Prince Zuko, you would not be opposed to this short interlude?" He cast a knowing look at his daughter before meeting his eye. Zuko met his gaze and nodded. Iroh clapped his hands together and smiled with finality.
"That sounds like a most agreeable solution Chief Hakoda. Does this sound good to everyone?" When he was met with agreement his smile broadened. "Now, who would like some tea?"