(Dragonstone: 10/4/298 AC) Cressen III
"I was only absent for a moment before those two boys started fighting again," Tima stated plainly during the personal afternoon meeting she had requested of him.
"Kai and Takkar?" he questioned, already knowing that those two would always find themselves at odds.
"Not only them but the whole class."
"Who started it this time?" he tried hiding his exasperated tone but knew that he failed.
"Most of the students say it was Kai, but you know as well as I, that Chang's runt always talks first, but never throws the first swing," she answered, back straight as she sat in the carved wooden chair, with the golden tasseled, sumptuous red cushions. "When I returned, the only one who stood by his side was the Tyrell girl, and a few others, but the majority of students were part of Takkar's so-called 'Young Dragons,' and they held Kai to be at fault."
"Kai is stubborn, but he does have a good heart," he stated. "His loyalty to Ser Steffon is without question."
"But Takkar is another matter entirely," Tima added in a huff. "Chang may not treat the boy differently from the others, but for some reason, the boy thinks himself untouchable," the statement hung in the air uncomfortably long before he spoke.
"You are their instructor, are you not?" he questioned the young Fire Nation historian, the bones in his fingers aching as they lay upon his desk. "It is not your duty to discipline them when they disrupt your teachings?"
"With all due respect Maester," Tima replied, hands on her lap. "You are the High Educator of the Grand Academy. It should fall to you to put an end to this ceaseless arguing. You act with the authority of the Fire Lord, the Overseer, and Lord Stannis."
"Yes, I am the High Educator, and I am thus charged with making certain the material studied are educational, and the instructors act accordingly. The discipline of the students, especially those with 'the gift' fall to the instructors first, then the Overseer, then the Lady Azula."
The historian shifted in her seat and looked to him. "One boy is the son of a fellow instructor, while the other is best friends with the Fire Lord's son. How am I to proceed in punishing them?"
"Why must we always have this discussion instructor? Out of all the instructors at the Academy, the students of your class always seem to be the most disruptive. Why is that?" He knew she was passionate about her heritage and the history of her home country, but as clever, as brilliant as she was, she was far too timid to assume a hard stance against children. She held her own against adults well enough, perhaps too well, but for whatever reason, children would often take advantage of her soft approach to them. "Chang, Zha-Leng, and Chi-Ha never have problems with their own classes, why do you?"
A small bit of fear, and anger, rose in her eyes before passing. "I will not be harsh with children. That is all. Even if one is arrogant and the other is headstrong."
"If this problem continues," he warned. "Then the Overseer will correct it, and if she cannot, then the Lady Azula will. If you explain the problem to me, then I may be able to help you overcome it without involving the Lady of Dragonstone."
She sighed, "I do not want to give up on them or for them to look upon me with fear. I allow them more freedom than the other instructors, but they…"
"Take advantage," he answered for her. "Of course they do, they are young men and women nearly full grown."
"I do not wish to be like my parents, maester. I will not abandon them for others to deal with," she seemed surprised the words had left her mouth, but once they did, she became resolute.
"You still resent them for what they did?" he asked. He had hardly known the two officers, near Chang's age, disciplined and astute, but rarely did they speak to those not of the Fire Nation.
The torches in his office flared a bit before settling down. "Of course I do! Everyone crows on and on about how lucky I was that my parents were stationed aboard 'the Ozai' with me, but they don't' know," she answered, looking down. "Mother an…." She began, correcting herself halfway through, eyes watering. "Rilla and Pise had no right to toss us aside! They should've taken Rina and me with them to the Stannis Fort."
"It was Lady Azula's command that sent them away," he stated in a soft tone, already having slight regrets in asking for further information.
"I know it was Fire Lord's command," Tima replied coldly, staring at the large twin portraits of the Lady Azula and Lord Stannis mounted behind his desk. "Whatever the Fire Lord commands of her people, we have no choice but to follow."
He remained silent, thousands of thoughts entering his mind on how to reply, but uncertain of how to word them. As good of an influence the Lady Azula had been on Stannis, he knew well enough that she did not accept her own people questioning her commands.
"I know it was to further and ensure our people's futures," Tima continued, a knowing look in her eyes. "But what of mine and Rina's? It's a bitter irony," she chuckled darkly, looking at him. "That I teach about the greatness of what I hold dear, knowing that same 'greatness' led to me acting as a mother to my sister."
"Why do you not write them? Or requested a transfer?" the question seemed obvious, but Tima's expression turned to disgust.
"I don't want to see them, hear them, or even read their words," she hissed. "The last words they left me had me live through months, years, of Rina's cries. I had just begun my fourth year of teaching and Rina had begun to attend her first classes. She looked so happy, so excited to learn, to meet the other children," she sniffled. "She returned home, a smile brighter than the sun, and saw me waiting for her at the door, and not our parents. Her look afterward nearly destroyed me."
"I am so sorry," the words that left his mouth were far more genuine and understanding than she was capable of knowing. "The waters and lands near the Stannis Fort are known to be dangerous. Perhaps they were trying to protect you and your sister?"
"Protect us? That place is evidently not 'dangerous' enough for them have stopped having children. They did not even write to me about having my brother, Zida. I had to learn, through Steffon, of my new brother. They could not even spare the time to tell Rina and me. To the spirit world with them!"
"Is your sister of similar thought?"
Tima hesitated for a moment, deflating at the mention of her younger sister. "No. She still cares for our parents. Far too kind a soul for her own good. She has hopes of transferring the Stannis Fort once she graduates, to see our parents. I pray to the spirits that she does not learn outright how much they do not wish to be with her, or I."
"Then perhaps you should learn to let it be?" he suggested, the back of his mind aware that the room had slowly begun to get hotter.
"No! I will not! She may have forgotten, but I have not. Do you know what is like to answer a child's question, your own blood, about why your parents abandoned you?" Tima asked, hands at her lap once more. "'When they would return?' 'Why did they leave?' 'Do they not love us?'"
"I do understand," he replied. "I've answered those same questioned before, for another child, not of my blood, but a child I cared for as one of my own. But that was long ago, I doubt he remembers. Or perhaps he does? I do not know."
She looked up, from her hand, "Who was he?"
"A frightened boy, a boy with questions, and doubts. Forced to grow up far more quickly than he should have," he responded solemnly, Stannis' young face flashing before him.
Tima nodded her head in understanding, likely having heard the story, and put both together. They sat there in silence for quite some time, contemplating their discussion, and the reason for Tima having come to him.
"I have told you why I am, how I am, with my students," Tima said finally, returning the conversation to the original reason she had asked for the meeting with Cressen. "Do you have any suggestions for assistance?"
"I could have Chi-Ha, or perhaps Zha-Leng, stop by your class every now and then to keep your students in line," he answered, knowing it would be difficult to have happen, but possible if he really wished to see it through.
"No, it would take away from their own classes," she replied, golden eyes unsure as they once again rose to stare at the twin portraits. "I will not have the entirety of the Academy be brought down simply because I cannot keep my students in line."
He turned in his chair to stare at the portraits, first at Stannis' then at Azula's. He analyzed them, thinking to himself on how Stannis' face was rigid and commanding, but whose eyes held a certain softness, despite his stern face. The Lady Azula's, however, was all command, all fear. Her eyes held no softness, despite how beautiful her face was, hers was not a portrait commanding respect and discipline, it was portrait demanding fear and obedience. "Instructor Tima?"
"Yes Maester Cressen?" she answered expectantly, likely hoping for an answer to her predicament.
"Do you have one of these in your classroom?" he questioned, looking towards the portrait of the Lady Azula.
"No, High Educator, I do not," she replied, somewhat confused. "Most portraits are kept in the main meeting areas of the Academy, and on every wall within the Administration building, this office included."
"And in those places within the Academy where a portrait of the Lady Azula is placed, do the children act as they do in your classroom?" he looked to her as she contemplated his words, the realization hitting her shortly thereafter.
Her eyes lit up, "No, maester, they do not." She looked to him, then to the portrait, a frown growing on her face. "But, where would I acquire one? The Fire Lord has not had any new portraits commissioned since the ones sent to the Scorching Bear Academy."
"I could do to part with this one," he suggested, pointing towards the painting. "I do not need a portrait of the Lady Azula to keep me in line. I know where my loyalties lie," he cast a quick glance towards Stannis' portrait.
"But the Fire Lord," Tima stated in a scandalous tone. "She…"
"Can always have a new one made. She does not have the habit at visiting me here often. As a matter of fact, the last time she came here was to see the portrait mounted on that wall," he stared towards the space where the portrait hung. "That was six years ago."
"I am unsure," her voice seemingly shuddered at the idea. "What if…"
"Do not worry," he reassured her, turning back around to look her in the eyes. "If the Fire Lord asks, I will take responsibility." He knew if the Lady Azula ever found out, she would be livid, but in the end, it was just a portrait, and even Stannis' Lady Wife would find it pointless to argue over when another could be made.
"I cannot ask that of you High Educator," she leaned forwards, eyes pleading with him, hands wringing at her dress.
"I do not like doing this, but I could order you to take it," he felt uncomfortable giving commands, as he was trained to give guidance and advice, not orders. "I may not be charged with disciplining the students themselves, but the instructors are to follow my commands. Especially if it contributes to the educational materials being disseminated efficiently and effectively to the student body."
He saw her mulling things over in her mind, seemingly having a debate within herself. "Very well, thank you High Educator," she replied at last, somewhat unconvincingly, he noted. "How am I to transport it?" she looked towards the grand portrait, causing him to turn to face it yet again. "It is fairly large, almost as tall as Clegane."
"That it is," he replied, staring into the painted golden irises. "I will have a few of the Flameguard move it. It should be in your classroom tomorrow before sunrise." He turned to face her, "If your students ever get out of line again, point to the portrait."
Tima nodded, looking to him and reciting the words written in Fire Nation script at the upper left corner of all the portraits of the Lady Azula. "To disobey this portrait is to disobey the Fire Lord, and disobedience is not tolerated." The young historian looked upon the Lady Azula's painted eyes, and bowed her head, presenting palm over fist. "Long may you reign."
"A strange saying," he commented.
Tima looked to him, expression unreadable. "It is an old saying, said for all Fire Lords. The Fire Nation has prospered under their leadership since the start of their rule, and the phrase grew out of the need for the people to see them have a long, fruitful, reign."
"You are the historian of the Academy," he stated, the chair creaking slightly as he edged forward. "I have read the history of the Fire Nation, in so much as your books and stories can convey to a man such as myself, but I have never had the opportunity to speak to someone personally on the Fire Lords themselves. Would you care to enlighten me on them?"
"You have access to the libraries, maester," she replied. "The reigns of Fire Lords Ozai, Azulon, Sozin, Caozun, and Yuzin, are well-known, as is the schism between the fire sages and the royal line. What knowledge could I offer you? Knowledge of Sozin's comet, or Caozun's expansion? Perhaps Yuzin's reformation? Or…"
"You were assigned to 'the Ozai,'" the statement was plain, as it was obvious, and it needed no flair in delivery.
"Yes," she replied cautiously, letting the end of the word linger a little longer than it should have.
"So then, I take it that you met the Lady Azula's father, your previous Fire Lord? Ozai?"
"Fire Lord Ozai," she corrected him. "And yes, I did, but then again so did the rest of the crew," she stated, her confusion evident upon her contorted brow, before the realization set in. "We've spoken on this before haven't we?"
"We have. You were younger, quieter, and more reserved. Distrustful of everyone around you. But those times seemed to have passed somewhat haven't they?"
"Perhaps just a little," the smile was gentle, though it did not reach her eyes. "Is that why you haven't asked the others?"
"Both the Lady of Dragonstone, and the Lady Mai, as well as most of the original crew of 'the Ozai' still shy away from speaking about them to an 'outsider,' as it were," he raised a brow at the quaintness of the word.
The young woman appeared to mull over the idea, before speaking. "We were all brought to his throne room. All three hundred of us, in groups of twenty at a time. Chang, Lee, and Xai Bau were amongst my group when Fire Lord Ozai gave us our, I suppose you could say, final orders?"
"The orders to protect his daughter?"
A slight look over came her, "Yes. We were personally chosen because of our skill, our training, and our loyalty…" a shadow came over Tima's eyes, as she looked to him. "Some were as young as I, others were not." Tima paused, looking towards the portrait. "We were the best, and so long as we were with the Fire Lord, she would be safe from harm," she finished, a slight stutter creeping into her suddenly soft voice.
"Why did you hesitate, just then?" he leaned in, curiosity getting the better of him. He was a maester, after all.
The woman blinked, seemingly at a loss for words. "You have never been brought before the Fire Lord's father. His presence was…different, from his daughter's. His final order was absolute, and it was…" once more the portrait loomed in on her, it's reflection in her eyes, the fear growing slowly within them. The wise historian melted away, a lost child taking her place. She saluted towards the painting once more, hands shaking, and began muttering, "Long may she reign. Long may she reign. Long may she reign…"
"What was his order, Instructor Tima?" his chair creaked, and all other sounds ceased.
The historian's eyes grew wide. "Apologies High Educator, but I must leave," her words were quick, as she rose in a rush, eyes lingering on the Lady Azula's painted image. "Gratitude for the portrait," she bowed, hastily retreating through the door.
"Instructor Tima?" he let out a half-hearted shout, and waited several moments, before acknowledging that she would not return. "How odd," were the only words he could muster, as he turned to gaze upon the painting, watching its still eyes as they bore into his own. "What kind of man was your father?"
