AN: Dang you are all so lucky...I can't stop writing.

Chapter 29: The Wedding

Three months later…

Katara was the first one awake. She padded silently through the ship, careful not to make a single sound. It turned out that a great deal of fire-benders were light sleepers. Finally, she reached her destination: Zuko's room.

She slipped through the door and into his warm bed by his side. The frigid northern air getting to even her and Sokka, she relished the warmth her fire-bender fiancé gave off. He murmured in his sleep, rolled over, and wrapped his arms around her. She pressed her face into his chest, and smiled. Soon, my love, soon. She thought.

Only yesterday had a soldier declared that they were in sight of the Northern Water Tribe. Katara was praying her father was there, and Zuko was praying that they hadn't come all this way for nothing. He wanted to marry her so badly, to declare to the world that she was his and only his. Katara was just as impatient, she just hid it well.

It had taken them so long to get to the North Pole due to the fact that they would stop at Fire Nation held towns and free them. And every time they left the freed village, the leader or elders would swear to remember their help when Zuko became Fire Lord.

Sokka had turned into one of the best warriors Iroh had ever seen, due to intense training. He'd matured greatly, even learning to curb his appetite when necessary. He led a group of water-benders and tribesmen mixed with a few non-benders from the Earth and Fire Nations. He was rising quickly through the ranks, currently at Captain.

Iroh and Saiza had taken up residence in the Achlys range. Zuko's whereabouts were unknown to the Fire Nation, but Ozai's men were scouring the world in search of the three men. So far, they were safe, and the world had organized into one of the greatest rebellions in one hundred years.

Aang had been made a Commander in the Guerriers Réels, and he worked with a group of about twenty air-benders. He taught them and led them, and together with Jet's Freedom Fighters, they were one of the best raiders.

But the problem was the Fire Lord still saw this as nothing more than a rebellion. No matter how many victories they won, or how many people joined them, Ozai wouldn't take them seriously.

Zuko's ship advanced as far as it could into the frozen ice of the Northern waters. When they could go no further, Zuko and Katara gathered a few supplies, bundled up, and headed off together towards the Northern Water Tribe. It took them the better part of the day to get there.

Once at the great city, Katara was welcomed back with open arms, and it only took a moment for them to accept her fiancé as well. The Water Sage Saikni guessed at her reason for returning, and told her of her father's return. Apparently, he was out gathering wood from a nearby forest and would be back by sundown. Until then, she and Zuko were ushered to a large house, that they had to themselves, where they could get warm.

After a couple hours of waiting and doing nothing, Zuko was at his wits' end. He told Katara he was going for a walk, and she nodded. She was absorbed in a book she'd found, and was barely paid attention.

Hessair met him just outside the city, and they headed out to the Ice Cliffs.

At the same time Zuko and Hessair headed out, a Water Tribesmen was returning. The Paths were slick from the recent snow, and were treacherous. The over-laden sled he stood next to only added to the danger. The polar bear pulling the cart was only safe as long at the cart didn't tip.

Zuko saw the old man returning. The man's path and his own were separated by a sheer cliff about 15 feet across. The man waved a hand in acknowledgement and Zuko returned it. That's when all havoc broke loose.

A rabbit burst from its cover in front of the polar bear, who roared and backed up in surprise. The heavy cart slid over the edge, pulling the bear down with it. The man was knocked over the edge, but managed to find a hold about twenty feet down the cliff wall. Zuko took action.

"Hessair! Get the beast!" Hessair roared his acknowledgement and dove off the cliff after the bear. Zuko looked around, his eyes settling on the rickety rope bridge connecting the paths. In the setting sunlight, he couldn't see Hessair anymore, and he made his decision quickly. Once cut, the bridge would only be a few feet to the upper right of the man.

Zuko ran over to the bridge and cut its ties with a swift swipe of his dagger. Grabbing onto the nearest rung, he jumped off the cliff. The bridge caught him as he fell and swung him into the opposite cliff wall. He hit hard, pain exploding in his side. The man was only about five feet below him.

Zuko took a deep breath and lowered himself down the make-shift ladder, until his whole body hung from one hand, the other hanging by his side. He turned and looked down at the man.

"Grab onto my leg!" The man hesitated.

"But you're a fire-bender! Why should I trust you?" Zuko glared at him.

"Let me put it this way! What choices have you got?" The man looked at him, and then looked down.

"Good point." The man took a deep breath, and then pushed himself up and grabbed Zuko's ankle, letting go of the wall so his full weight was on Zuko.

Zuko hissed in pain. The man HAD to grab his left ankle, which had never fully healed after the battle.

"Both ankles." He managed to get out and the man wrapped his arms around Zuko's legs.

Zuko drew his legs up towards his chest and grabbed the man's upper arm when he came within reach. They worked together until the man had a grip on the bridge as well. Hessair winged up to them, the polar bear locked in his front and back talons. Zuko slipped onto Hessair's back, who had positioned himself perfectly. The man then followed his example and crawled on behind him. Hessair headed back towards the city.

The man smiled at the prince. "Thank you for saving me."

Zuko grinned. "No problem."

"What's a fire-bender like you doing all the way out here? Don't you dislike cold?"

"Loathe it, but my fiancée is from the Southern Water Tribe, and she wants to get married up here."

"Congratulations."

"Thanks, but I still have to impress her father."

"I'll put in a good word for you, don't you worry."

"Thanks, but I will. Can't help it."

The man laughed. "Know how you feel."

Zuko was happy, for he felt like he'd made a friend.

Hessair landed in the town square, and Katara came running out from a nearby house and threw her arms around Zuko as he got off.

"I was worried!"

"Well, if you could've gotten your nose out of that book, you would've heard me say I was going for a walk."

Another woman came out. "She wasn't the only one worried, Atilla. Where have you been?"

"Zuko, you are never going for a walk again!"

The man, now known as Atilla, laughed.

"Well, miss, it's a good thing he did, because if he hadn't, I'd be dead!"

Katara's head jerked out of Zuko's chest. "I know that voice." She spun around and looked at Atilla, and both of them stared in shock.

"Katara?"

"Daddy?"

The two embraced, and Zuko laughed out loud.

"How's that for a good first impression!"

The wedding was set for a week later. Somehow, with much thanks to Akierin and Hessair, everybody got there in time. Iroh, Saiza, Aang, Sokka, Jet, Canace, Suki, and many others were invited to the first fire/water marriage ever recorded.

It took seven professional seamstresses to finish Katara's wedding dress and Zuko's outfit in time.

It took the entire city to decorate the temple where the wedding and reception would take place.

And now, the big day was here. Zuko had nearly had a mental breakdown, and Sokka had been forced to sit on him for the last 30 minutes before the wedding began.

Finally, Zuko stood at the altar, the two Sages beside him. One was Saikni, and the other was Shai Yu, from the Fire Nation. Normally there would only be one, but since the two being wed were from different nations, it was deemed proper to have one Sage from each nation.

Beside Zuko stood Aang and Sokka, and Iroh and Saiza were seated nearby. Zuko had never been this nervous. Then the doors opened, and his jaw dropped.

Katara was dressed in a simple white dress, and it had been embroidered with little silver flowers, but her veil, which covered her face, had been elegantly tooled with thousands of tiny waves and flames. Her hair hung loose and she clutched a small bouquet of flowers, her heart beating so fast she felt like she couldn't breathe, and the walk to Zuko seemed the longest of her life.

And then she was at his side, taking his arm, and they turned to the Sages. Saikni spoke first.

"An unexpected pairing at the least, we were driven to find a way to combine customs for this unlikely marriage. I myself had doubts about their choosing, but one need only look at this couple to see their love for one another."

Zuko smiled and Katara, and she returned it. Shai Yu continued.

"Caught in a dilemma, we chose to abandon custom and ritual for something a little simpler." Saikni now spoke.

"Katara of the Southern Water Tribe and daughter of Warrior Atilla, do you take this man as your husband, to love and cherish, and to care for, and do you accept the responsibilities that come with being a princess of the Fire Nation?"

She smiled at Zuko.

"I do."

Shai Yu spoke for Zuko.

"Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation and nephew of General Iroh, do you take this woman as your wife, to love and cherish, and to protect? Do you accept the responsibilities of taking care of her, providing her with a loving home and all she may need?"

Zuko's eyes said it all, but he smiled.

"I do, with all of my heart."

The Sages smiled at each other, and spoke together.

"Please face each other." They complied.

"With the power vested in us as Sages of the Water and Fire Nation, we pronounce you man and wife. Prince Zuko, you may kiss your bride."

Zuko raised her veil and placed it expertly over her hair. For a moment, he lost himself in her smiling tear-filled eyes. Then he snapped out of his trance and kissed her, pulling her against him as he did so. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and their watching family and friends erupted into applause and cheers.

The reception was more of a drag for Katara. After customs were carried through with, most everybody just sat around and talked. Iroh had dragged Zuko off for some reason, and Katara was left with a snappy old lady who was driving her mad by repeatedly questioning her choice in Zuko.

"I still can't see why you married him, a fire-bender. When fire and water merge, both are destroyed. This is senseless."

Katara saw Zuko come back into the room and called to him.

"Zuko, can you come here?" H came without hesitation, and she led him to the middle of the floor.

"Excuse me everyone, may I please have your attention?" Silence fell and all turned towards Katara. "In case anyone else is thinking about or discussing what that woman has been drilling into my head, my husband and I will do a little display for you."

Mostly everybody was confused, but Zuko was most of all. Katara turned to face him, her eyes blazing. "Zuko, can you make me a flame?"

"Of course." He held out his palm and a flame erupted from it and hovered there.

"Now raise it up so every one can see it." He concentrated and the flame rose up several feet. All eyes were on the flame.

"Now, whatever you do Zuko, do not let that flame go out, do you hear me?"

He nodded, and focused on the flame above them. Katara backed away from him and bended water to her from the nearby fountain. She streamed it up and around the flame, she glanced briefly at Zuko, who was concentrating. Then, she constricted the water stream around the flame, which flickered but did not go out.

The flame was trapped in a water ball.

Beads of sweat broke out on Zuko's brow as he fought to keep the flame alive, and it was maintained. Katara continued holding the water around the flame, but after several minutes she let the water ball fall, and told Zuko he could let the flame go. He did so, and panted from the effort of maintaining the flame.

Katara turned to the woman, but spoke for the crowd. "You see, fire and water can merge and live together, it just takes effort. Zuko and I know that. With our marriage today, we promised to make the effort to maintain our love, our elements. Is this not enough?"

The woman looked at her, frowned but nodded. The reception continued.

When it was finally over, Katara and Zuko returned to their home. When Zuko collapsed on the bed, Katara was content, for a moment, to just hold him. Then he rolled over, and she kissed him. They looked at each other for a moment, and Zuko extinguished the lamp.