Chapter Six - Tala's Secret
When Tala woke up that next morning, Ozai was gone. She was still shocked at her own daring. It took her a lot of courage to give herself to Ozai. And in a way, she felt more attached to him than before...she blushed as she thought of it. She sat up and held the blanket over her. She smiled at the thought again. She was truly a girl in love, and if she wasn't in love with her husband, she was in love with the thrill she got from him. How shallow could she be...she was in it for the love, not for love but for the love.
She saw a robe by her bedside and she put it on as she got out of the bed. She spun around like a lackadaisical girl, like she was five again. There was a huge grin on her face from ear to ear. She walked to a closet where the only thing she found was armor. She put on the armor and looked at the bed. It was messy and there was a stain on the sheets (no need for detail). She quickly cleaned up the stain and made the bed. Then she collapsed on it like an idiot in love. She laughed to herself with her eyes closed for no reason. The sun came through the windows and made a pattern of light along the floor. She danced in those rays of light. She heard someone open the door and she stopped. She gazed in horror. The fire lord was there. He looked enraged.
"You stupid, stupid girl." He stomped towards her and slapped her across the face in the same place he had the day before. "How dare you do this to me? To Ozai? It is deceitfulness Tala and I will not have it under my rule."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh! Now you have amnesia? Do you remember what I talked to about before Ozai took you from that room yesterday!"
"Yes. But does that have to- Ow!" He had slapped her again. "Stop hitting me!"
"I'll hit you if I want! You're taking my son away from me!"
"How?"
"You're filling his head with ideas!"
"Huh-ow!" she was slapped again.
"He wants women to join the fire nation army!" He slapped her again. This time when he slapped her he drew blood. "That is not women's posts! They are meant for having children, and cleaning up messes!"
"No we're not!" Tala shouted as she grabbed his hand as he tried to slap her again. She started to burn him. He laughed.
"Do you think you're puny little flame can hurt me...I am the fire lord! And you're just a slave to my son." He threw her on the ground. She hit the wall. "I told you not to fill his head with thoughts! And you did! I warned you!" He started sending flaming kicks at her as she sat against the wall gasping for breathe. He dealt a hard blow. But she bore it without shedding a tear. "And now you're in love with him even more! You dance around like it's a game to you! But it's not! This is reality not a game! You think you can move me around like a tile on a pi-sho board!" When he kicked her blood came out of her mouth as she coughed.
"Go...away!" Tala said.
"No! This is my house!" the fire lord shouted. "Get out! I give you a second chance, and this is how you repay me! By ruining my son's reputation! He might have been a great ruler if it weren't for you! And your army poisoning thoughts!"
"You're wrong!" Tala shouted as she slowly slid up the wall.
"Oh am I?"
"Yes! Ozai will be a great ruler! I had nothing to do with his army decision! It was all him!" As Tala said this the fire lord grabbed hold of her chin.
"No. You poisoned his mind just like his mother tried to do! This is why I wanted him to stay away from you!" He started to choke Tala. She grabbed her neck in an attempt to stop him.
"GET OUT!" rang a voice form the doorway. It was Ozai. Tala fell down as the fire lord released her.
"Ozai! It's not what it looks like."
"REALLY! THAN WHAT IS IT?"
"I, Uhh...son now come on I am your father...I wouldn't have touched her with out reason...I-"
"GET OUT!" Ozai pointed towards the door. "GET OUT OF MY KINGDOM!"
"YOUR kingdom! I'm still the fire lord here."
"NOT ANYMORE! GET YOUR ASS OUT OF MY KINGDOM!" Suddenly Ozai calmed down. "You have shown far more disrespect to your kingdom just now than any other man...or woman...I have every known. As a father you were supportive, but as a father-in-law, you're abusive. I will not tolerate your abusiveness so long as I am the heir to the throne. And at this time I assume the throne."
"I refuse to give you the authority."
"I don't need your permission." Ozai said. "According to the law, as long as I am twenty, married and have reason to suspect you of treason and I have valid evidence I can overthrow you with a snap of my fingers."
"I am no traitor."
"According to the law, abusing a married woman to get your way is treason...get out."
"But son-"
"I SAID...get out." As Ozai pointed towards the door the fire lord left and was never seen again. Ozai just looked at Tala. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine..." Tala said in a 'I need help voice'
"Good." Ozai left.
"Jerk..." Tala muttered as she tried to stand up. There was a sharp pain in her stomach where the fire lord had kicked her repeatedly. It hurt her badly. A servant came into the room.
"Oh miss Tala!" the girl said getting down wiping the blood off of Tala. "Lord Ozai sent me in..."
"Lord...he was...serious..." Tala hurt when she talked.
"Yes ma'am." The servant nodded. "He told me to tell you that your secret is safe with him."
"Ya...I bet it is..." Tala was being sarcastic. The servant helped her up onto her feet.
"I'm Lacy..."
"Lacy..." Tala thought it was a weird name.
"Yes. I'm your servant...Lord Ozai said he didn't want you to be alone." Lacy had a positive attitude. To Tala, it seemed like she had it all the time.
"Why?"
"He doesn't want anything to happen to you ma'am."
"Yet..." Tala said under her breathe.
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Lacy led her to the bed where she fell onto the covers. Tala closed her eyes and took in a deep breathe the second she hit the covers.
"Hey Lacy..."
"Yes ma'am."
"Am I gonna die?"
"No ma'am you just have a bruise." Lacy was removing her armor so she could look at the wound. "Although you'll have to keep it easy at night."
"What!" Tala glared at her.
"I'm sorry ma'am. It's not my place." Lacy had left the door open a guard walked by. Lacy stopped what she was doing to look at him.
"What?"
"Nothing...it's just...nothing..."
"Is it that soldier?"
"Yes." Lacy blushed.
Tala forced herself to sit up. "Let me guess...he doesn't even know you exist..." Lacy nodded. "And when ever he walks by you drop whatever item you happen to be holding." Lacy nodded again.
"How did you know?"
"It's a girl thing." Tala motioned for her to sit down next to her. "Next time he comes in you're going to talk him."
"No!" Lacy said. "I couldn't!"
"I will then." Tala reassured her.
"No!" Lacy decided to change the subject. "We need to change your clothes. You can't wear armor, you're a lady."
"No." Tala ordered. "I'm not a normal...'lady'...I'm unique and I'll wear what I want to wear..."
"But Lord Ozai said-"
"Fuck Lord Ozai. I'm wearing this...It's quite comfortable actually." Tala and Lacy spent most of the day talking to each other, and getting to know each other a little better. All the excitement made Tala forget about her bruise. She felt like a little girl again. She knew eventually she would have to break away from this fun and see Ozai again.
"Oh my goodness!" Lacy was too good-natured to curse. "You were supposed to be at dinner ten minutes ago!" Lacy rushed Tala from the room and down several corridors.
"How do you know where to go?"
"You get used to it eventually." Lacy shoved her into the dining area as some announced her. As the fire mistress.
"You are late." Ozai said sternly.
"I'm sorry..." Tala said as she sat next to her husband. She hadn't eaten in forever. She saw that Ozai was sitting with a lot of important people and they all appeared to be high ranking military officers.
"Why is she wearing armor?" Said one of the gentlemen.
"Because I feel like it." Tala retorted.
"Why is she speaking?" said another one.
"Because...she has a 'personality'." Ozai said glaring at Tala.
"Is that possible?" Said the first gentlemen.
"Yes General Haiku. It is."
"Obviously." Haiku said. "Make sure it doesn't interfere with this meal again young fire lord."
"Fired." Ozai said.
"Excuse me."
"You're fired, get out."
"Why?"
"Because. You're insulting my family. Only I have the right to do that. Now get out." Guards escorted Haiku out. "Anyone else."
"No sir." They said in unison.
"Now. She will keep her mouth shut; I will deal with her at a separate time." The rest of the meal Tala carried on in silence. After words a guard escorted her back to her room, and she stayed in there alone. In the silence she felt her bruise again. She walked over to her bed and quickly fell asleep. Late that night Ozai walked in. He burned out every torch that lit the wall except the one on the nightstand. He looked at Tala. She was asleep, no doubt. When he looked at her, she was sighing. It was as though she was having a bad dream. She just kept sighing instead of breathing. She looked like she was about to cry. He hadn't notice that last night.
He ran a finger down her soft cheek. She shuddered. He kissed her lips gently, and then he blew out the torch and went to bed. When Tala woke up the next morning, Ozai was still in bed. He was deep in sleep. She quickly got out of bed...she didn't know what to do? She was still in her armor from the day before. Ozai mumbled something.
"Huh?" Tala questioned.
"Come back..." he muttered. "You can't wake up until I say you can..."
"Says who?"
"Get your ass over here." As he said this she reluctantly sat at the edge of the bed.
"You're like a child..." She muttered. Throughout the next few months this was how their mornings were. With each day, Ozai started ignoring her more and more, and she spent most days alone, because Ozai had ordered Lacy to stop visiting her. One day, Tala discovered she was pregnant. She was talking to an older female servant when it happened.
"Oh my Avatar!" said the old woman.
"What is it Kava!" Tala asked shocked.
"You're pregnant!"
"What! How do you know?"
"Come now, you're not drinking alcohol, your boobs are bigger, you can't fight anymore, you've momentarily lost your bending powers, and you've been in a PMS mood the past three weeks."
"And you've noticed this?"
"Yes."
"Don't tell him."
"Tell who ma'am."
"Ozai."
"His Lordship! Oh but I have to!"
"Why!"
"He's been waiting for this day his whole life!"
"What day!"
"The day when his wife is pregnant with a son!"
"How do you know it's a son?"
"Come now, you know it's a son when you loose your bending powers, because it's transferring them to the baby."
"But-"
"And both parents are fire benders. Another sure sign of a male." Kava said. "His lordship is expecting a son!" Rang Kava's voice. Dozens of servants flocked to Tala's presence.
"Is it true?"
"Oh Happy day!"
"Congratulations!" The servants would say and then they'd place her hand along her belly. Suddenly Ozai came through; she couldn't have been more relieved. Suddenly all the servants left. She and Ozai were soon alone.
Chapter Seven - The Final Chapter
"Ozai..." she sighed in relief at having been rescued by the slew of servants.
"How dare you!"
"Huh?"
"How dare you use that tone with me!"
"What are you-?"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I only just found out I didn't-" Ozai had kissed her.
"Do you know what this means!" He thundered when he pulled away.
"No..."
"It means...that...I have an heir...and you're positive it's a boy..."
"No...not entirely..."
"Well you better be..." Ozai left. Tala was alone in her chambers again.
"Was I a cute baby?" Zuko asked stupidly.
"What did I say about interrupting?"
"I thought that-"
"SHUT-UP! The story is almost through!"
That night when Ozai came in, Tala was still awake. "I need to talk to you." He said sternly.
"What is it?"
"It is obvious that you knew you were pregnant and refused to tell me. So-"
"What!" Tala protested. "You have as usual refused to believe the truth and come to the wrong conclusion."
"LET ME FINISH WOMAN!" As Ozai shouted, the baby inside her turned. It knew fear.
"Don't shout! You're scaring your son." She could so use her pregnancy to get him calm, for at least nine months.
"Fine...tell me...everything...EVERY SECRET you've ever had since you meet me, every excruciating detail." With that Tala told him her story. When she was finished Ozai looked at her.
"You've made me out to be a total jerk!" He slapped her, and then he kissed her. "I've done everything I could to make you happy! And this is how you repay me!"
"Make me happy! Name one thing you've done to make me happy!"
"I gave you servants."
"Then you took them away."
"I gave you a home."
"Because you refused to let me go."
"I gave you food; I even cured your hideous scar!"
"Because you didn't want to marry someone with a scar the size of Texas!"
"What's Texas?"
"I don't know!" (couldn't resist)
"I showed you love!"
"As you did every other girl in your life, I just happen to be the one you married!" Tala still was attached to him, because he was her first.
"That's it!"
"What!"
"The day that child is born, you are out of here! Dead, caput, end of your life!" He left. The next nine months were pure agony to Tala. He only got harsher towards her. Despite her real feelings. When the baby was born, sure enough, it was a son. She never got to hold him, because Ozai snatched him away. After the birth she stood in the dungeon awaiting her arriving death. She cried for the first time in who knows how long.
"Tala..." Came a voice, it was Iroh's.
"Iroh..."
"Yes...I need to tell you something..."
"What?"
"Remember that day in the forest several years ago, when you joined the army, and someone caught you as you fell...that was me."
"You...what, how did you-"
"I'd know you anywhere in a heartbeat...but remember...A heart once imprisoned, is now it's own in full measure." And with that Iroh left, and Ozai came.
"Come to butcher me out before you kill me..." Tala said.
"No. actually..."
"What then...jerk?"
"I came to set you free..." Ozai opened the cell door. "I want you to run, run away and never return, and this time, don't come back." He held the baby in his hands.
She started to leave as she glanced at her son. "May I?" She held out her arms, Ozai handed her the child. She held it in her arms. She felt a sensation in her stomach, she was a mother! A mother! After a few minutes she kissed the child and handed the baby to Ozai. She started to leave.
"Tala, wait!" Ozai walked up to her.
"Huh?"
"I want to apologize; I've been a real jerk to you. When you told me your side of the story a few months ago it got me thinking on how cruel I was to you...and I just want to say I'm sorry."
"I forgive you..." She said as Ozai drew her close and kissed her with more passion than he ever had before. He almost felt sorry he let her go. But he watched her leave, and he never saw her again.
"Then after that...I felt so bad that I called you Zuko...her military name..."
"But father..."
"Yes son..."
"You were supposed to tell me who I was named after, not the whole story. Some of that stuff I really didn't need to know."
"Whatever...I tried to entertain you, and you shove me away...typical...come on." He and Zuko left the room. But there was someone else in the room listening to the story. A hooded figure in a cape, and mask.
"Zuko..."
(yes there will be a sequel for Zula...working on it now)