Yes, this is a short one, but it's the second chapter I've done in a day. I promise chapter 19 will be longer (and more entertaining).
Later that day, there was a knock on her door. Katara looked up, but Nira stood and answered it. When she slid the door open, her eyes widened and she bowed. "Princess Zula," she said. "Good afternoon."
Her husband's sister nodded. That day she wasn't alone. There was another girl behind her, that looked a little bit older than Katara, but younger than Zula. She also wore simple clothing and red. Her guess was it was her own servant's cousin. The two servants smiled at each other as Zula went over to Katara.
Instantly Katara got up and bowed politely. "Sit," Zula stated, bowing in reply. "I should be bowing to you."
Katara did so and waited for her to say something. Zula simply sat, and Nira and her cousin came over. "Tea, your highness?" Nira asked politely.
Zula nodded and Nira went over to prepare the tea. For a while, there was silence as the two servants came over and poured tea for both of them.
"You as well, princess?" Nira asked her charge.
Katara nodded. When they were done, Zula spoke. "Hajina, take Nira and leave. I wish to speak with my new sister alone."
The older of the servants nodded and her cousin followed her out the door and down the hallway. When their footsteps couldn't be heard, Zula spoke again.
"I'm impressed," she stated smugly, taking a sip of her tea. Katara looked up with a blink. "My brother is infatuated with you. That must have taken an amount of talent. Nice job."
She nodded in reply. "Thank you," she replied.
That made her look up. "You're too polite to me," she stated.
Katara gave her a confused look. "Pardon?"
"You. Are. Too. Polite," she stated. "I'm next in line for the throne after you – well, if you do not have a blood heir," she said, sipping her tea again. Katara held back a blush, but Zula chuckled still. "With my brother, that shouldn't be too hard, I can assure you."
When she didn't reply, Zula spoke again. "What has your tongue?"
"Oh, nothing really," she said. "It's just, that you say I should treat you like my enemy. How can I if I've only known you for a week at that? And you're my sister-in-law, the closest thing I have to a real sister. I only have a brother, like you."
At this, she seemed interested. "You have a brother?"
Katara nodded. "Yes. Well, he's my half brother, we share the same mother."
She nodded in understanding. "Where is he now?"
The water princess bit her lip. "I'm really not sure. He could be anywhere. We were traveling until I ...came here," she replied, looking in the other direction. "Well, with another friend of ours. Last time I checked, he was in the Earth territory."
Zula nodded. "He is ... older than you?"
"By a year, yes."
Again, she nodded and looked over to the wall. "You get along with him?"
"Most days," she said. "But all siblings fight. It's just the way it is. That's just natural instinct – teasing and fighting with each other. A part of me misses it, kinda." She smiled softly, looking down at the table.
Zula nodded slowly. "The rumors say that my brother and I were born fighting," she said. "That even before we were here, we were fighting. For the longest time we've always fought. For some reason, when we're around each other, a battle field goes up. I never knew why."
"Why were you mad when you saw that his scar vanished?" she asked. "I know you don't like him, but it's just a scar."
Zula gave her a look. "You really don't know, do you?"
"Know what?" she asked.
She sighed. "That scar was a symbol of his banishment. Now that it's gone, he no longer has that scar emotionally," she replied calmly. "You healed it, right?"
Katara nodded. "I did. I don't remember why I did it though. For some odd reason I wanted to be ... nice to him, if that's what you want to call it."
Zula grinned softly. "So, the progressing feeling is mutual."
She looked up with a raised eyebrow. "Pardon?"
"Nothing," she stated. "It was nice of you to do that for him."
For a moment, neither of them said anything. "Zula – can I call you that?" She nodded. "Well, why are you being nice to me?" Zula blinked. "It's not that I don't appreciate it, it's just strange. No offence, but I thought you hated me."
"I did," she agreed. "Before I actually got to know you. You aren't what I thought you'd be. You have a brain – I thought you'd be an airheaded twit. But, you tried proving yourself worthy of your position and you have my brother on a short leash. Not to mention he doesn't mind it." She grinned. "I find those very high qualities."
She looked away, blushing. "Oh," she said. "Thank you."
"Again with the politeness," she commented. "I'll have to teach you a few things."
Katara smiled and laughed a little. Maybe Zula wasn't so bad to have as a sister.
Zula laughed, actually laughed. After talking for a little, the two had finally warmed up to each other. A little bit later, they'd found themselves inside her bedroom. She hadn't used it for two days, but still, it was where she kept her belongings. Nira and Hajina had joined them once again, helping to sort and look at the wedding gifts that were still there.
When Zula saw the gift Katara received from Iroh, she laughed. Even her shoulders trembled with laughter as she closed her eyes. "Uncle Iroh always was one to push things."
Katara nodded. They all sat on the bed, going through things. "You should have seen Zuko when he saw it." She covered her mouth with a laugh.
"Oh, yes he was furious," Nira commented. "Stormed right out of the room and straight to find his lordship."
"Are you ... going to be expecting soon?" Zula asked, not looking at her.
The cousins looked at each other, not saying anything and Katara thought for a moment. It was a bold question, and it was no wonder the servants were a little edgy. "Well, that's the plan," she stated. "I should be within a year."
She nodded. "That would be nice," she stated. "A child around might make things less tense around here. That would be good for us all."
Katara smiled halfheartedly. "It probably would."