Title: "Lady Behind the Fan"

Summary: A young lady from the court of the Fire Nation must balance duty, honor, and love to find herself and her prince. Arranged marriage, court intrigue, and one flying bison served together for one not-so-typical romance.

Disclaimer: I in no way own or claim Avatar: The Last Airbender as my original work. It is the property of its creator (Mike DiMartino), Nickelodeon, and Nickelodeon's parent company. I am in no way receiving any compensation for my work and it is written for the sole purpose of recreational enjoyment. In short, I'm just borrowing the characters for a little bit. I promise to put them back where I found them after I get done playing with them.

Author Notes: Since I still haven't got any betas to read this, I'm going to thank Ping and Horatio. Who are they? They're my absolutely adorableMallard ducklings that my sister and I got for Easter. squeals with joy Also, a major thank you to first reviewers. Oh, and thanks to the Henchman—er, Henchwoman. No, it's not another duck. But she is cute and mildly fluffy.

Book Two: Fire

Chapter One: My Place

"Our king, the great Lord Ozai, wants to begin negotiations with you. He has expressed interest in your daughter as a suitable candidate," Lord Iroh stated genially as he tucked his hands into the sleeves of his robes. Despite his rotund and amiable appearance, the man's weathered face was quite serious. His eyes were shrewd and calculating, though there was something else there in the muddy yellow eyes. Aversion to his task perhaps?

From behind a column, a curious pair of golden eyes peaked out. Little Etsu, dressed in immaculate robes of silk like a miniature adult, crouched in her hiding place as she watched the man. She frowned a bit. Did the old man not realize that there were many daughters in the House of Reizo?

"I am certainly honored by your royal brother's interest in my family, Lord Iroh. But what candidacy do you speak of?" Dressed in somber black, Lord Yasou of the House of Reizo leaned forward in his seat. He smiled slightly, "Really, Iroh. Is such formality necessary?"

"If it'll keep me from saying some rather unspeakable things about this business, then yes," Iroh sighed tiredly. He readjusted his hands, stubbornly staring anywhere but at Yasou. Quite suddenly he asked, "Did you know that my nephew has just recently celebrated his tenth birthday?"

Birthday? Etsu blinked in confusion. What did his nephew have to do with anything? She looked over at her father as he scowled at no one in particular.

"So that's what this is about. Too busy conquering other nations to think about forging alliances with them through marriage," Yasou spate out bitterly. "Ozai is damn fool, Iroh. I won't barter my children like he is so willingly to do so."

Iroh didn't look any less upset. "It is the wish of Lord Ozai to plight a troth between his son and your daughter," Iroh again stated, his strong voice stinging in its anger. He sighed again and looked up at Yasou. "It is an immense honor," he said softly, "to sacrifice one's own interests for one's duty. We don't have to like our duty, but it still—"

"—is our duty. Yes, I know," Yasou stood and walked towards his friend. Gripping Iroh's shoulder, Yasou gave a curt nod. "I have raised my children according to the old ways. They will understand." Yasou released his grip on Iroh and turned to resume his seat. "I shall send Keiko to court immediately, so that Ozai may—"

"Not Keiko. My brother intends for your oldest to marry Zuko," Iroh corrected, almost hesitantly.

With all the grace befitting a daughter of a Fire Nation lord, Etsu fell over. Loudly. Iroh's head snapped around, as did her father's. Etsu quickly clambered into a kneeling position and bowed her head to the floor, her face burning with embarrassment.

"Forgive me, my lords, for my crime. I did not mean—"

Suddenly, Iroh laughed. It was a warm, deep laugh of amusement. "So that's where the little imp was hiding," Iroh chuckled as he stepped forward, easily picking Etsu up off the floor and onto her feet. "Etsu, right?" Etsu nodded, still fearful of retaliation. "You're as lovely as your mother. You must be at least eight by now."

"N-Nine, sir. I mean, my lord," Etsu stuttered, blushing hard. She felt like she could die, she was so ashamed of herself. Cringing, she looked at her father. He looked livid.

"How many times must I tell you, Etsu? Your place is with the women, you must be silent unless spoken to, invisible until noticed, and obedient to my rules," Yasou ordered in a deadly voice. His eyes were hard as he looked at her. "You must learn your place."

"Yes, Father," Etsu bowed her head, fighting back the prickling tears. She felt the eyes of the two men upon her.

"I know my place."

Etsu jerked awake, staring into the blackness of her room. She had not dreamed in such a long time, and it was a shame she had to dream about that. Her face still felt warm from the embarrassment after all these years. But she had learned her place, especially after living at the Fire Lord's court. She, like all the other women before her, was simply a face behind a fan. Not even a lady, just a face.

"Lady Etsu?" a voice whispered, gently placing a hand on Etsu's arm. "My lady, it is an hour before sunrise. You must get up if you wish to make it to court at the appointed time."

Etsu sat up, looking at the figure beside her, before answering, "Good morning, Yuri." Even in the darkness, Etsu could see Yuri's smile. Yuri was slim and small-boned while Kohana was stubbornly round of face and thick of build. Etsu was built along the same lines as Yuri, though Etsu was of nobler parentage and had the porcelain doll features of tiny hands and moon-pale skin that was so desirable among court women.

"Kohana will be here in a few moments with your robes, my lady. I've brought the wash basin and towels for you," Yuri continued in a soft voice as she moved about the room, lighting the candles as she went. Blinking owlishly in the light, Etsu threw back her covers and walked over to the basin. She soaked one of the towels in the warm water and buried her face in the damp warmth. After a quick wash to wipe away any vestige of sleepiness, Etsu patted her face dry, turning as she heard the door to her room slid open.

Kohana, looking still very much asleep, had her arms laden down with Etsu's court dress. She yawned wide as she laid the clothes down. "I've gotten your robes with the snowstorm motifs," she said blearily, indicating the swirling snow patterns on the outermost layer and the various shades of blue and white.

Etsu nodded her approval of Kohana's choice. "We going to have to get started if Yuri is to have any time to arrange my hair and fix my make-up," Etsu reminded gently as Kohana sat dumbly and stared at the outfit. Yuri giggled quietly as she exited the room, heading back to her own apartments to dress. Kohana gave a tiny groan and lurched to her feet, bringing the first layer with her.

Fourteen robes later, Etsu stood in the middle of her private apartment, resplendent in the beautiful silk. Kohana, now a bit more awake, smiled happily at the job she had done as she sipped her morning tea. The outermost layer, a frosty blue, was elaborately embellished with snowstorm imagery, appropriate for the Winter Solstice. The crest of the House of Reizo was interspersed in the design, reminding all the courtiers of Etsu's regal heritage.

"I believe I'll be able to finish in plenty of time, my lady," Yuri stated as she stepped back into the room, dressed in more modest robes of dark midnight blue and carrying a gilded box. Etsu knelt slowly, taking care not to wrinkle her fine silk robes. Kohana downed the last dregs of her tea before leaving room so she could get dressed, with Yuri standing behind Etsu with a brush at the ready.

Exercising a great deal of patience and persistence, Yuri twisted Etsu's knee length hair into an intricate hairstyle of elegant knots and buns. Yuri opened the box she had brought with her, revealing hair ornaments of breathtaking detail and worth. Silver hair sticks, with sapphires cascading from the end of them, were added to the Yuri's artwork, complimenting Etsu's winter outfit. Moving around to kneel in front of Etsu, Yuri quickly delved back into the box and removed a sizeable make-up case.

With the precision of a veteran, Yuri covered Etsu's face in white powder, adding to her already pale skin. A viscous red paint was daubed on her lips, providing a shine, and heavy black kohl outlined Etsu's golden eyes. Etsu wrinkled her nose as she fought the urge to water at the eyes from the stinging black powder. Yuri managed to rub on the barest hint of blue onto the eyelids just as Kohana returned, dressed in blue robes identical to Yuri's.

"Lovely," Kohana commented appreciatively as she twisted her own hair into a simple knot. Yuri bowed her head in thanks before arranging her dark hair into a similar style. All the ladies at court admitted that Yuri was the finest hairstylist and that no lady-in-waiting could best her. Etsu stood as slowly as she had knelt, balancing the weight of the hairstyle and its ornaments perfectly. She turned to her window, noting the sun was barely five minutes from rising.

"Quickly, Lord Ozai will be holding court as the sun rises," Etsu ordered briskly, reaching for her fan of midnight blue. Yuri and Kohana already had their fans of frosty blue in hand, presenting a perfect complement to Etsu's appearance. Etsu exited her room with the two ladies in tow, and opened her fan with a flourish. The three women shuffled as gracefully as possible towards the court, their gait prohibited by the immense weight of their robes.

Their fluttering feet carried them steadily towards court, as the sky continued to brighten in the east, illuminating the corridors of Lord Ozai's palace. The corridor ended abruptly, bringing Etsu and her entourage into the Great Hall. The swish of silk was gobbled up by the immense size of the Hall. Great columns of black marble held aloft the gilded ceiling decorated in murals depicting the strength of the Fire Nation. Between each column were statues of all the preceding Fire Lords, made of the same black marble. At the far north end of the Great Hall were a pair of towering gold and steel doors embedded with fire rubies.

The doors were open and Etsu glided forward, her slippered feet making very little noise. She could see within the actual court chamber, noting that only a few nobles—namely the older ones—had managed to make it up for the earliest session of court. Etsu smiled grimly. This would make it all the easier to approach Zhao and avoid Lord Ozai's ire. Etsu continued her walk towards the doors, making sure that her eyes were lowered as was proper and her fan sufficiently cover the lower half of her face. Her stomach felt like it was a bundle of knots as she approached the guards. The white-masked Firebending guards performed a stiff bow of the head, acknowledging her presence yet enforcing the guiding and founding principle of male superiority of the Fire Nation.

Regardless, Etsu assumed her place as the highest ranked lady at court. She knelt gracefully, spreading out her robes to display her wealth and status, situating herself two places to the left of where Lord Ozai would be. She heard a rustling of silk behind her as Yuri and Kohana took their seats just behind her, with Yuri to the right and Kohana to the left of Etsu. Etsu lowered her fan to her lap, keeping it open but not actively moving it. Her other hand was pressed against her stomach, trying to keep the butterflies down in her stomach and not anywhere else. Etsu took a calming breath as she prepared to play with a very dangerous form of fire.

All of a sudden, gong was struck, echoing loudly through the Great Hall and the court chamber. On cue, all the courtiers bowed their heads to the floor as the sun burst out over the eastern horizon. The sharp clack of men's shoes resounded across the room, and Etsu peeked one eye open in time to see blood red robes pass in front of her. The feet broke step in front of her for only a moment before moving onward towards Lord Ozai's seat.

"Arise, my people, and greet the sun in its fiery glory," Lord Ozai intoned in a powerful baritone voice, his hands lifted above his head. Even as his hair grew grayer, Lord Ozai was still a fearsome character. He was much more trim that his brother, Iroh, and incredibly hot-tempered. No one dared break the laws of etiquette and courtly manners in his presence. Ozai held his hands for one more wavering moment before dropping them to his sides and waiting for the traditional response to the morning invocation.

In unison, Etsu and the rest of the courtiers raised their heads and responded, "May our great nation burn with new hope in this new day." Satisfied, Ozai seated himself, swiftly scanning the room's occupants. Moving from right to left, he noted his subjects and their positions, ensuring that no one was out of place. His eyes stopped on Etsu.

"Why, this is a surprise. My dear Lady Etsu, I am most pleased that you have decided to join the court today," Ozai gave a small smile as he stared down at the young woman. His eyes turned hawkish, almost as if he expected to swoop down upon his prey. "But do tell, what troubles you that you attend the court so early?"

Etsu forced herself to breath and her hand not to tremble as she answered in a soft, serene voice, "I came to ascertain the truth, my lord King. Rumors abound in the palace about Fire Sages and one whose disgrace must not be mentioned," Etsu fluttered her fan slightly, squashing down her mutinous heart that railed against her declaration about the prince. "I know my Lord Ozai and his royal commanders will only let truth prevail in the Fire Nation."

"It is true that I am an honorable man," Ozai inclined his head towards Etsu, his chest puffed with pride. He fixed her with another penetrating gaze, "Be sure, my dear Lady Etsu, that no crime will go unpunished while the sun shines upon this nation." Etsu nodded briefly, keeping a tight grip on her fan. Her insides squirmed as she let the message sink in. Did Lord Ozai—?

"Lord Ozai!" a voice bellowed from the Great Hall. Etsu looked over the top of her fan at the approaching figure. Swaggering with all the might of an egotistical tyrant, Commander Zhao strode, the sun glinting off of his armor and his boots clunking noisily. Scurrying behind in his wake were armed guards escorting several Fire Sages, all looking the worst for wear. At the golden doors, Zhao executed a bow to Ozai, bending himself to the proper distance that a royal commander should make to his royal master.

"Lord Ozai!" Zhao announced again, clearly making sure that everyone in the room—and probably the whole palace—was aware of his presence. "I, Commander Zhao, bring before you these traitorous Fire Sages who conspired not only with our enemy, the Avatar," Zhao paused, apparently to savor the moment and to drag out the drama he was adding to this situation, "but also the treasonous Crown Prince-in-Exile, Zuko!"

While gasps and exclamations erupted in the chamber, Etsu sat perfectly still, allowing her fan to move at the same slow speed. She could feel the burning gaze of Lord Ozai on her, waiting, watching for a reaction that would betray her. Her eyes began to burn from the kohl again as she struggled to not blink. She could not, would not, give Zhao or Ozai the benefit of a reaction. Zhao smirked confidently as his gaze swept the room before resting on Etsu. Despite the hand pressed firmly against her agitated stomach, Etsu felt horribly ill as Zhao stared at her.

Zhao just smiled.