Chapter 19
Katara stood by the entrance of the Jasmine Dragon, fidgeting nervously, unable to decide whether to enter or walk away. It had been roughly a week since she had returned to Ba Sing Se, and she was still as confused and uncertain as before. She was no longer as badly tormented by feelings of guilt as before speaking with Aang, and that brought a measure of relief. Some of the guilt and anger with herself had transformed into slight annoyance with Aang for his much too forgiving and passionless response to her betrayal. It didn't even make much sense to Katara herself, but now she was angry at Aang for not being angry at her, and yet she couldn't help feel that way.
It didn't take Katara long to realize that she was in over her head and desperately needed some advice to be able to sort through this mess. She had looked at her options, but found them limited. Sokka was the last person in the world she would ever consider for relationship advice. Toph was... challenging to talk to, most of the time. Hakoda, her father, was all the way back with the Southern Water Tribe, not to mention preoccupied with his own budding relationship with Malina. And even if her father was nearby, Katara could not imagine such a conversation with him. The very thought of it made her embarrassed and uncomfortable. Really, this left only Zuko's uncle Iroh as the only reasonable and mature person she could turn to. Even if she didn't know him all that well, there was just something very disarming about Iroh's manner. They all had taken to calling him Uncle Iroh, even though Zuko was his only blood relative among the group.
Still, now that she had come all the way to the Jasmine Dragon, Katara still hesitated, standing on the threshold and unsure of whether to enter. One of the servant girls apparently had become annoyed with her just standing there, so she turned to Katara with an irritated look on her face. "Don't just stand there, either get in or out, girl!" Katara winced at all the commotion she had caused inside the tea shop, turning to leave, but then stopping when she noticed that the altercation had alerted Iroh and the old man was already hurrying her way, no doubt having recognized her.
"Ah, Katara, so good to see you!" Iroh exclaimed, quickly catching up to her. "Come right in, come sit with me," he urged her.
Katara still hesitated, fidgety as she nervously rubbed her elbow. "I... looks like you're very busy tonight," she tried to find an excuse. "I'll come back some other time."
"Nonsense, I will personally find a table for you," Iroh urged again, placing a firm hand on her shoulder and guiding Katara inside the shop. "Let us sit down and enjoy a cup or two together, shall we?" With no room to make any more excuses, Katara allowed herself to be led to the back of the dinner room where Iroh seated her at a small and remote table, then setting up a folding shoji screen to provide them with even more privacy. One of the servants came over, but Iroh did not ask Katara for her order, instead giving the servant quick and quiet instructions before sitting down with Katara.
"I have just the perfect tea in mind for you, Katara," Iroh smiled at her. "Let me know if I made the right choice once you've tasted it."
"Thank you, Uncle Iroh, you are too kind," Katara smiled back at him.
"Like I've said in the past, the doors of this establishment will always be open to the heroes of the war, and good friends of my nephew," Iroh spoke. He seemed happy to just make small-talk while waiting for Katara to get to the point, but now that she was here, she suddenly didn't know how to approach the matter at hand.
Sensing her hesitation, Iroh eventually decided to take pity on Katara and resumed the reigns of the conversation. "Speaking of my nephew, he actually came to visit me a couple of days ago," the old man mentioned casually. Katara froze immediately, a tingly sensation running along her back. Zuko was here, in Ba Sing Se, and I missed him?
"Then... you must have spoken about some... things that happened recently," Katara managed to get the words across her lips.
"We did," Iroh nodded with a supportive smile. "I believe you will find me very well informed about all the recent events."
Katara groaned and buried her face in her palms. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?" she muttered.
"Because you are growing up and realizing that life is far more complex than you thought before," Iroh smiled, accepting the tray from the approaching servant, picking up the teapot to pour himself and Katara a cup of steaming brew, releasing fascinating floral aroma.
"This is wonderful," Katara exclaimed, having taken her first sip of the tea. "I don't recognize the flavor, what's in it?"
"A very special mix of jasmine oolong, both soothing and fortifying," Iroh explained. "I thought it was just what you needed. Was I correct?"
"Absolutely," Katara nodded. "Your powers of perception remain frighteningly impressive, Uncle Iroh."
"That is a very kind thing to say, Katara," Iroh chuckled, but then his expression quickly grew more serious. "You know, Zuko would have loved to meet you, but he was under the impression that you were at one of the air temples."
"I... was supposed to be there," Katara replied. "But after speaking with Aang, we decided that we should spend some time apart. Well, Aang decided that, and then he sent me back to Ba Sing Se so that I can think about our future without any distractions."
"And how is that going for you?" Iroh smiled encouragingly. "It seems like you have some big decisions to make."
"It hasn't been going well at all, or I wouldn't be here right now," Katara admitted. "I'm just as stumped as before. I've realized that I need the perspective of someone else, someone more experienced and wiser."
"Ah, you are looking to get in touch with Bumi, I see!" Iroh's eyes brightened. "I'll reach out and tell him that you wish to meet."
"What?" Katara blinked. "No, that's not what I m-... oh!" she then realized that he had made a joke. "Iroh, you are terrible! You know I meant you!"
"I'm sorry, Katara, I should not have teased you," Iroh apologized immediately. "Whatever insight I can provide, it is yours. Now, how can I help you?" he asked with an encouraging smile, trying to lessen her embarrassment.
"Zuko... did he also tell about what happened... between us?" she whispered. Iroh nodded gently. "Then you probably understand the choices before me." Another nod. "Iroh, I need you to tell me more about life in the Fire Nation. What would await me if I tied my fate with that of your nephew's? I need to know, if I am not to make a mistake."
"You are wise and mature beyond your years to even ask such a question, Katara," Iroh replied earnestly. "I am still impressed, even if I shouldn't be surprised, considering what I know about you and your past." Katara lowered her eyes, feeling her heart swell at Iroh's kind words.
"I will try to explain as best I can," Iroh continued. "But you must understand that if you were to become the Fire Lady at my nephew's side, your life would change completely."
"Change does not frighten me," Katara nodded stubbornly. "Right now, I would welcome most changes."
"I do not believe that mastering the royal etiquette and diplomatic protocols would pose any challenges to you," Iroh said. "The ceremonial part of the royal obligations is not very exciting, but it can be time consuming. I have always imagined you as someone very practical, so I wonder whether you might find the royal ceremonies particularly tiresome."
"That shouldn't be a problem for me," Katara smiled. "Just because I've had a difficult upbringing and I've spent much of my recent days living on the road, it doesn't mean that I don't enjoy the finer aspects of life, be it arts and culture, fancy dresses or fine foods, or just being girly and getting pampered in a spa. I'm not one of those savage barbarians who scowls at luxury, it's actually the other way around. I love these aspects of court life, as long as I know that the servants tending to my whims are generously compensated for their efforts."
"I understand," Iroh nodded. "If you were to become the Fire Lady alongside my nephew, I am certain that he would give you free choice to decide whether you wanted to support him more directly and become involved in the day to day decision making for the realm. Alternatively, you could instead forget all about the politics and simply enjoy an uninterrupted life of leisure and luxury. Or you could become a great patron of arts and culture, devote yourself to humanitarian efforts, or... you could start a family and devote yourself to your children." Katara blushed deep scarlet at that last comment.
"Hmm, I... no, I could never just sit idly by and do nothing," Katara shook her head with determination. "I would like to involve myself actively in the decisions that affect the Fire Nation and the entire world. And I think Zuko would appreciate that about me."
"I think he would, and yes, I expected you to give this exact answer," Iroh smiled knowingly. "But with it, comes my greatest concern for you, Katara. Politics... it is a dangerous and dirty game. Are you absolutely certain you are suited for it? Being good at politics requires great moral flexilibity, and from what I have come to understand about you is that you can be very uncompromising when it comes to what you believe to be right and wrong."
"I'm not sure I understand, Uncle Iroh," Katara bit her lip in frustration.
"I'll try to give you some examples, but this is the gist of it," Iroh moved to explain. "Sometimes, what benefits the nation as a whole, can feel morally repugnant to you. Would you be able to go against your principles, if it were for the good of the Fire Nation? And then there is the dilemma of the lesser evil. Sometimes, you will have to decide between two bad outcomes, and you will have to make peace with a decision that has bad consequences for some of your subjects, just because the alternative would be so much worse. Does that sound like something you could endure, Katara?"
"I... I'm not sure, but... I believe I could," she replied thoughtfully. "I mean, Zuko is doing all those things right now, isn't he? And he's making these decisions and shouldering all that responsibility alone, isn't he? I could... I could help him share the load."
Iroh looked touched at her response, dabbing at the corner of his eye with his long sleeve. "You truly are one of a kind, child," he smiled warmly at Katara.
"Thank you," Katara blushed. "As for having to make a decision between two bad choices... I do have some experience. During my last visit to the South Pole, I learned that my people were rebuilding under the guidance of the Northern Water Tribe, but in the process, they were rapidly abandoning their cultural heritage. In response to this, a Southern resistance had formed, working to violently expel the Northerners and pleading with me to join them. I was torn because neither choice appealed to me, but in the end, I refused to join the resistance, no matter how much I disliked this Northerner forced progress that eroded the very cultural roots of my tribe."
"Yes, I can see that as a good example, and that must have been difficult for you," Iroh nodded in sympathy. "But there will be much harder decisions for you to make as the co-ruler of an entire nation. Let me give you one example, Katara. Has Zuko said anything about the forces within the Fire Nation that oppose his rule?"
"Yes, he mentioned some things," Katara nodded. "He said that some of those rebels want to see Ozai back on the throne, can you believe that?"
"I can, and therein lies a difficult problem," Iroh explained. "Blood ties are considered the most important when it comes to legitimacy and royal succession. In a way, those who claim that Ozai is still the legitimate Fire Lord, are not entirely wrong according to our own tradition. To these loyalists, Ozai is the legitimate ruler of the nation simply by virtue of being alive. If something were to happen to Zuko, spirits preserve him, then Ozai would be restored to the throne, with Azula next in line. If all Zuko, Azula and Ozai were to perish, then I would have no choice but to take over as the ruler."
"Either Ozai or Azula on the throne would be a terrible blow for peace," Katara nodded firmly. "We need to make sure it never happens."
"And that is what some of Zuko's advisors are constantly badgering for him to ensure," Iroh nodded. "They want him to make sure that Ozai and Azula can never take the throne."
"By... what means?" Katara shuddered.
"By the means of execution," Iroh replied. "That would put me next in line after Zuko. A much safer choice, they say."
"I completely agree, but... they want Zuko to kill his own family?" Katara exclaimed, her heart racing from the horrific thought. "That's monstrous! I'm glad he hasn't agreed to do that!"
"It seems like the logical, emotionless choice to many," Iroh remarked, carefully observing her reaction. "But I agree... I am relieved that he has not followed through on this advice. However, some of his advisors will continue to pursue this agenda, of that I have no doubt. And perhaps other circumstances might change and force Zuko to agree to it, we can't be sure."
"We mustn't let that happen!" Katara exclaimed passionately. "To make such a decision would destroy him! He's done so well to restore his own honor and that of the whole nation, we can't let him slide back to his old ways!"
"You are very passionate about this, Katara, but what if executing Ozai and Azula brought the Fire Nation a lasting peace?" Iroh asked. "What if your moral inflexibility of right and wrong stands in the way of making the best decision for the nation?"
"I don't believe that for a moment," Katara shook her head resolutely. "There has to be another option. Killing someone, executing your own father in cold blood, it can't be the best choice, it just means that you haven't tried hard enough to find a better course of action."
"Can you think of a better choice in this situation, Katara?" Iroh asked, appearing a little dubious.
"I'm not sure... I would need time to think," Katara replied. All those advisors can't come up with a better idea, and Iroh expects me to come up with one on the spot? Well, I can't just give birth to a great idea like that! She jumped suddenly, blushing fierce red. Wait... give birth? I... I think I've got it! "Actually... I think I know how Zuko could solve this problem," Katara managed, feeling slightly embarrassed of what she was about to suggest.
"Please, enlighten me," Iroh gave her a curious stare.
"You said that blood is the most important aspect of royal succession," Katara said thoughtfully. "In that case, Zuko needs to start a family of his own. He can then choose his own children for succession and Ozai's claim will lose all power."
Iroh gave her a poignant stare of disbelief. Then he broke out in laughter. "Katara, my dear child," he finally managed once he had stopped laughing. "I don't know what I was worried about. And I don't want to influence your decision when it comes to my nephew or the Avatar, they are both fine young men, worthy of your love and affection. But let me tell you one thing that you just made me realize, Katara. You would make the finest Fire Lady I could possibly imagine."
"I... thank you, Iroh," Katara blushed heatedly. "That is very sweet of you to say. You have certainly given me a lot to think about. And thank you for the tea as well, it was delightful." And thank you so much for making me aware of what this burden of ruling all alone has been doing to poor Zuko! I can't believe he has been saddled with decisions such as these all alone in that royal palace with nobody for support and to lean on! That is... that is so sad and heartbreaking.
"Yes, I see you enjoyed the tea," Iroh smiled at her. "Come now, I will have the servants prepare more to take with you. Like I told Zuko when he came to visit me... the key to making the right decisions is to always have an ample supply of tea!"