since you have all been begging me so much, I'm updating. Here's chapter 5 for you...
Iroh had taken off her ankle chains and let her hands move around, but Katara didn't leave her room. She was too shocked. All that she had taken in was too much. She just wanted to curl up and forget about everything, but she knew that would never happen.
In the last day she'd been kid-napped, told that she was a princess, that the father she knew wasn't really hers, her brother was her really her half-brother, her mother had been lying to her their entire lives and she had to marry Prince Zuko.
She didn't even want to think about it. It wasn't that it disgusted her, okay, maybe it did. But, the major object was that he completely scared her. She did not want to be forced into an arranged marriage, with someone she cared nothing for at that, and then have to be sheltered all day, told what to do, how to act and do whatever he wanted. She just didn't want her life to turn out that way.
Look at her now, trapped in a tiny room with her hands tied. Iroh said she was allowed to wander the lower level. She did want a bath and he said there was a bathroom right next door that she could use, that was off limits to all others. Sitting up, she wiped her tears. She would not cry anymore.
Zuko would be back sooner or later and she didn't want to look like some weak, helpless creature in front of him. She would fight, she wouldn't give into this. Katara knew that she could take control of this. She could refuse to say anything at the wedding ceremony. She couldn't exactly marry him if she didn't say anything to agree to everything.
And she didn't. She absolutely hated the entire ideal. She rose to her feet and over to the door. Surprisingly, it swung open easily. She took a step outside and noticed no one was about, not even a guard. Maybe they did give her some freedom.
She turned to door next to her room and went inside. It was a bathroom alright. It had a small tub and sink, not to mention a toilet, but that was about all the furnishings. There was a small chair in the corner and a cabinet. What shocked her was what was on the chair.
There was a dress, a beautiful one at that. It was blue, with beautiful silks and embroidering, ribbons and decorations everywhere. Every layer was delicate and perfect, all made finely by hand.
With it, was a small box that was wooden, with the royal symbol on top. Inside, she found a comb – to comb her hair – and several others just to put in her hair. There were also several pieces of jewelry, all matching the outfit.
Underneath it all, was a small note. 'Every princess will need these things. Things from the water palace before it was taken over. Thought you might like them, Iroh,' it said.
She smiled. The older man was very sweet. She had no idea why he was there or why he was said to be such a powerful fire bender. He didn't seem as ruthless as they pictured him out to be. After she placed it down, she turned to everything else in the room.
After making sure the door was locked and the curtain to the window was shut, she looked around more. Opening the cabinet, she found piles of fluffy white towels. The surprises kept coming. There was even coconut shampoo and wildflower soaps. She gathered them and put them on the floor near the tub, turning on the water.
Surprisingly, the tap was heated right away. As she filled it, she added some bubbles and it started to foam up.
As soon it was full, she noticed her dilemma. With the chains around her wrists, she couldn't take off her clothes. She pulled on then them, but they wouldn't budge. "Oh, I just want them apart for a moment. I won't run away – especially without any clothes on," she said, mostly to herself.
But when she did, the bands around her wrists, that were really more like bracelets, started to glow. They became warm, but then the chains disappeared. With a little shock, she smiled them. She didn't know how, but luck was on her side.
After undressing and taking out her hair, she slipped into the water. After soaking for a few minutes, she took out the shampoo. She scrubbed her scalp, then rinsed it with fresh water. After, she rinsed the rest of her body and stepped out.
She dried herself off, bending the rest of the wetness completely off her body. When she was done, she went over and put on all of the garments on the chair, also finding a pair of shoes that matched. Then, she began to dress.
Zuko headed into the girl's room, without knocking. He didn't have to, it wasn't like he had to. But when he did, he found the place completely empty. Did she escape? No! She couldn't escape, he was so close.
He stormed out of the room, only to find her standing in the hallway. She was talking to his uncle and her hands were still chained together. But what made him stop short was her appearance.
The blue of her dress exaggerated the matching color of her eyes. It covered her wonderfully the patterns and cuts of it emphasizing her figure. Her eyes and lips were painted in beautiful shades as well. Plus, her hair was neatly done up in combs and held up nicely. On all of her limbs was jewelry, including the necklace of hers he'd found.
"Yes, yes, you look magnificent princess," Iroh commented. "You're much prettier than any other girl I've seen. I hope the outfit I picked out for you is alright."
She smiled and bowed her head. "It's fine, thank you very much for it," she said.
"Oh, I didn't buy it for you," he said. "It was in an old chest I found. They ransacked the Water Palace and that was in one of the chests. Must have belonged to your grandmother or someone."
The girl blinked. "Oh. Well, they're nice," she replied. "What's wrong with these chains though?"
"Special ones, your highness," Iroh replied. "They won't allow you to leave a certain area, yet they let you move around as you please – yet they look so much like jewelry it's no burden to wear them."
She laughed. "Yes."
"Well, since you're already dressed, why not look around a little? You can move around under here, just don't go above without an escort." When he said it, he looked up. "Oh, Prince Zuko, there you are."
"Uncle," he replied, coming over to them. "What were you doing?"
"Commenting on our new princess's outfit," he replied. "You have to admit that it's stunning on her."
"Uncle, I really need to speak with...the princess, alone," he stated, giving Iroh a look. "If you don't mind."
"Of course not," he said, putting his hands up in defense. He started to walk away, turning his back to them as he did. "She is your fiancee."
Zuko burned a hole into his retreating form with his gaze. "Come with me," he said to the princess, heading for the other end of the hallway.
She followed obediently, not saying anything, but you could tell she didn't want to. He led her above, to the deck, where the crew members were doing morning rounds. When she came into view, instantly some stared. Zuko just gave them warning looks before continuing to lead her past everyone. They finally reached the front of the ship, where no one was and he stopped, looking out to the water.
"I'm not doing this to punish you," he said suddenly.
She looked up at him. "Excuse me?" she asked curiously, her expression not annoyed anymore.
"You don't want to marry me, do you?" he asked.
She took a breath to speak, but didn't. She let it out, then answered him. "Not really," she said. "I hadn't planned on it."
"I didn't think so," he replied. "I know you don't, and I know I'm not giving you a choice. Just know, that this has nothing to do with you. If it wasn't for the fact I would be accepted back into the kingdom, I wouldn't do this. This was not my choice."
She blinked, as if she couldn't believe him. Again she looked mad. "And yet you chose to kidnap me," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
He looked over to her with narrowed eyes. "That I did. But would you rather have me capture the Avatar and then give him to my father to be executed?"
Her eyes widened. "That's why you're after him?" she asked, shock in her voice.
"My father wishes that he be born into the fire nation, then he'll have control over him," he explained. "Since you'll be a member of the court, you should know."
She looked away, holding onto the railing on the side of the boat. "I'd rather do this," she replied.
"I thought you'd see it my way," he stated. "Tomorrow we're arriving in the nation's capital. By then you should have everything ready, princess."
He turned to leave, but then she stopped him. "Katara," she stated.
Zuko turned back to look at her. "What?"
She didn't look at him, still facing out towards the water. "My name is Katara. Call me it. If we are to be married, you shall call me by my name," she replied, turning to look at him, a challenge in her eyes. "Zuko."
The look she gave him was piercing. With the sunset in the background, it was almost if her eyes were brighter. They almost looked as if they could see through him. He just took a deep breath. "Very well," he replied, turning on his heel and leaving.