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 creators, Nickelodeon, and Nickelodeon's parent company. I am in no way receiving 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: Whoo-hoo! I've gotten 30 reviews! Victory dance aside, thank you so much for reading (and enjoying!) my story. Major props to rachel115 for the late night writing sessions. Still more talking in this chappie but big action will be hitting in just a few chapters, I promise! This chapter is dedicated to the brilliant Lala-Ness!
And Zuko will make an appearance in this story….eventually….
Book Two: Fire
Chapter Four: Unraveling
Etsu felt as if she were going to die.
Sitting on the ground—in the dirt—in her court finery, Etsu's heart pounded erratically as she gasped for air. Zhao's blow to the face hadn't done much damage, and even though her neck was beginning to ache, his stranglehold really only served the purpose of frightening her. Angry tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
She wished she could die.
An indifferent and disconnected part of herself observed Zhao's march back to the palace halls. Clearly it was far below him to apologize to her attendants as he roughly shouldered his way by them, nearly knocking Yuri into a bush. One of Etsu's tears slid traitorously down her cheek. Upon reflection, she sincerely hoped that Zhao would die, preferably in a long and agonizing manner.
"My lady!" Kohana called out softly, rushing along the garden path. A dutiful Yuri followed in tow, the neutral expression upon her face a sharp contrast to Kohana's worried countenance. Kohana knelt at Etsu's side, placing a calming hand on Etsu's shoulder. "What did you do, my lady?"
Etsu sighed. That did seem to be the question on everyone's mind today. Zhao had the gall to insinuate that she had something to do with Prince Zuko's banishment and now Kohana wanted to know what she had done to set Zhao off. What a lovely day this was turning out to be. "Well, to be perfectly honest, I told him he was a bastard and his mother was a prostitute," Etsu smiled bitterly at Kohana's shocked gasp. "Help me up, won't you?"
Yuri gave Etsu an exasperated look as she awkwardly got up. "Lady Etsu, you were lucky you weren't more severely punished for such language. The Fire Lord will be most displeased to hear you insulted one of his royal Commanders in such a way—especially one of his favorites."
Deigning to not look at Yuri, Etsu lightly felt her neck, hissing in pain as one of her fingers grazed a developing bruise. "It never fails to astonish me that the truth is an insult at court," Etsu muttered, continuing to press on her neck, "and I don't think that Zhao—"
"—Commander Zhao, my lady—"
"—Zhao," Etsu emphasized again, earning herself another baleful glare, "will be tattling to the Fire Lord about this."
Kohana looked thoroughly confused. "But why?" she queried, "The commander could easily report you. It is his prerogative."
"I'm…not entirely sure," Etsu responded, pulling the collar of her robes higher. Hopefully Yuri had something to cover this, or Etsu wasn't going to be able to go out in public for a few days. "He is planning something and I highly doubt that this conversation was mere accident," Etsu speculated aloud. "After all, if he wanted some companionship, there are plenty of them at court that are desperate to be seen in his company."
Etsu immediately regretted her use of words as Kohana blushed a deep scarlet. Personally, Etsu could not see the appeal of Zhao as a spouse, but he did have lands, a high-ranking commission, and the Fire Lord's favor. Kohana was fishing a bit out of her rank but that was the only way for her to actually move up in society. Etsu privately wished her the best of luck. Judging by the scowl on Zhao's face when he noticed her as one of Etsu's ladies-in-waiting, he did not care for the girl.
Yuri shook her head in resignation. "It is the business of men and we have no reason to concern ourselves. It is the natural order," Yuri told her quietly, tucking a stray bit of hair behind Etsu's ear. "And lest you forget, Commander Zhao is the legitimate heir to his father's wealth."
"Only because his father was an impotent sluggard who only managed to sire one son with a whore. Zhao wasn't even raised noble," Etsu muttered, "which, I suppose, accounts for his poor manners and lamentable attitude."
"My lady…" Yuri trailed off, clearly uncomfortable. "I highly suggest that we return to our apartments. It is not safe to talk, where so many ears are present."
Etsu nodded her assent. Giving a final tug on her collar, she opened her fan so that it would cover the lower half of her face and her neck. As she led the way out of the garden, her eyes drifted over the sprawling garden. This was the natural order, not the farce of Fire Lord Ozai's court.
Etsu stared at the scroll in front of her, tapping her chin thoughtfully. The Winter Tea was an annual event that the ladies of the court held every Winter Solstice. As the eminent event of the season, it was a prime opportunity for gossip, gossip, and for a change of pace, gossip. Etsu never really enjoyed the mindless dribble that many of the ladies indulged in, and her appearance at the party was limited to preserve her sanity.
Yet with the episode in the garden, Etsu wanted to avoid putting her personal affairs in the public light. Someone would've heard something by now of her interaction with Zhao. If it wasn't a nosy court lady, then it was a servant. They knew more than many nobles would give them credit for. Etsu was not so foolish.
She rolled the scroll back up. "I am not going to the Winter Tea tonight," she announced to Kohana and Yuri. Yuri just nodded while Kohana's face fell. Etsu felt another pang of guilt. "If either of you wish to attend, that is your own choice," she amended lamely, with a small smile, "I am just not feeling up to the challenge."
"A wise choice, seeing as you've already changed into such casual dress" Yuri said, indicating Etsu's simple three-layered robe. "I will inform the necessary individuals of your absence."
As Yuri bowed herself out of the room, Kohana inched over to Etsu's side. "My lady…what were you referring to when you spoke of Zhao's legitimacy?" Kohana anxiously chewed on her bottom lip, absentmindedly twisting the fabric of her robes.
As a prospect for marriage, Kohana deserved to know the truth about Zhao—as much as Etsu could provide. "Remember that nothing of what I'm about to say is to leave this room," Etsu told her quietly, a stern look in her eyes, "In fact, it would just be best if you never speak of it, to me or anyone else. You would be disgraced in a heartbeat."
Kohana gulped and nodded her head.
"Commander Zhao's father was Lord Huhai of House Feng. He had four wives, divorcing each one when they were unable to produce any children, and many mistresses. Not one became pregnant, raising concerns that House Feng would be dissolved after his death. But," Etsu interjected, "when Lord Huhai was old, around 60 or so, he bedded a local prostitute and managed to get her with child."
"And that child—that was Zhao?"
Etsu curtly nodded. "But he was the child of a prostitute—common born. As desperate as Lord Huhai was for an heir, he refused to legitimize Zhao. So Zhao was raised by his mother in a whorehouse, until his sixteenth birthday."
"What happened?"
"Lord Huhai died," Etsu told her, with a shrug of her shoulders. "As the only child Lord Huhai sired, Zhao had to inherit the fortunes of House Feng. So the Fire Lord legitimized him so the estate could pass to him, and even allowed Zhao to enter the officer corps," Etsu gave Kohana a rueful look, "But even though his fortunes had changed, Zhao still reeks of his common beginnings."
Kohana looked accusingly at Etsu, "That's hardly fair, my lady. He's done so much—he is one of Fire Lord Ozai's favorites and with good reason! Commander Zhao has done so much to advance the war effort, leading several successful campaigns—"
"—that cost our country an unprecedented number of lives and let us not forget all those war crimes that had to be covered up," Etsu hissed. Such horrible tales of cruelty…her father had gone to great lengths to ensure she would not hear of them. Nevertheless, dark rumors were still whispered in the palace corridors—and Zhao's name was connected with the bloodiest of them.
Kohana looked like she had been slapped. Her bottom lip trembled as she muttered subversively, "It was only those dirty Earth Kingdom brutes."
Etsu stood abruptly, her face a cold mask of fury. "Lady Kohana, you are dismissed for the evening. Get out."
Kohana ducked her head and clambered to her feet. She tore out of the room, nearly running into Yuri as she reentered. Etsu resisted the urge to do anything too irrational. It was a sad thing that Kohana had been so deluded by the lies of the court. This war was neither necessary nor honorable. It was a travesty.
"What happened?" Yuri asked, clearly perplexed. "Should I go after her?"
"No," Etsu sighed, "It would do little good to talk to her." Etsu sat back down, rubbing her temples tiredly as she felt a headache coming out. She was glad she had bowed out of the Winter Tea. "Did you deliver my apologies to the proper people?"
"Yes, I—" Yuri was interrupted by a harsh rap upon the door. Etsu smiled in minor amusement.
"And here come the curiosity seekers," Etsu rolled her eyes in an unladylike fashion. She made a quick decision. "I will see no one for the rest of the day, Yuri. Just make something up—any excuse will work."
Another insistent rap at the door. Etsu quickly retreated to her personal chambers making sure to slide the door shut as Yuri went to answer the caller. Despite having shut the door firmly, Etsu could still hear the low murmur of voices, of which one sounded distinctly masculine. Curious…
Suddenly, there was a light tap at the door to Etsu's chambers. Yuri opened the door a bit, poking her head inside. "Forgive me, my lady, but you have a visitor."
Etsu bit back the sarcastic retort that danced on the tip of her tongue. "Yuri, you have your instructions. I am not in the mood for entertaining guests."
Yuri scowled slightly, unable to hide the troubled look in her eyes. "This guest has little time for entertainment. It is your father's advisor, Jiuto of Tyogo."
No. Etsu's mind stopped working. Never, in all the time she had lived at the palace, had Jiuto sought her out. He was Lord Yasou's loyal servant, who—along with the great General Iroh—had been the main negotiator for Etsu's marriage with Prince Zuko. If he had come to call…
Zhao had been right.
Etsu nodded numbly, cinching her robe about her nervously. "I will see him alone, if you please." At Yuri's disbelieving expression, Etsu gave a tight smile, "He is a trusted advisor. There is no need to worry."
"Hardly," Jiuto snorted from the other room. Etsu waved Yuri away before bowing to the man. Jiuto was a scrawny man with gray hair and skin that greatly resembled old leather. He sat hunched over, squinting nearsightedly at her with a permanent frown on his face. He gave an irritable jerk of his head. "Well come on, girl, I haven't got time to play court games."
Etsu knelt opposite Jiuto, keeping a respectable distance between them. "I fancy that we have a more serious game on our hands…one with higher stakes."
Jiuto just stared at her. "I seriously doubt that you'll be laughing long, Lady Etsu. You've somehow snared the attentions of both the Fire Lord and his advisory council. It's all your friend's doing."
"My…friend?" Etsu queried lightly.
"Zhao of Feng and Commander in the Fire Lord's Navy," Jiuto waggled a finger at her. "I never would've pegged you as one to flirt with fire."
Etsu sucked in an indignant breath. "Do not dare to insinuate such abominable things with me. I have met the man only twice, and both occasions were immensely reprehensible to me. More a viper in the grass than a friend." She sneered at Jiuto angrily. "I will not be made a fool of by you."
"I'm the least of your worries," Jiuto frowned at her, "Despite your obvious feelings to the contrary, Zhao has already made an appointment with the Fire Lord on your behalf. He feels that you are, uh, suffering in your engagement to Prince Zuko."
"It is not his business," Etsu snapped furiously. She did not know how he had managed so many undertakings so quickly. The garden conversation could not have taken place more than an hour ago. "You are my father's advisor. You are supposed to protect the interests of my House. If my engagement suffers, then my House suffers. Understand?"
"Perfectly, my lady," Jiuto replied, "That's just the problem. House Reizo is already suffering because you insist on maintaining this damn marriage contract. You should be thankful that the Commander has renewed the Fire Lord's interest in you. Lord Yasou is certainly pleased."
"Pleased with what, exactly?"
Jiuto leaned forward, a conspiratorial air about him. "Your contract is up for negotiation. Commander Zhao wants your hand in marriage."
Etsu felt a cry welling up in her throat. Zhao, that bastard, had actually succeeded. He was going to have the marriage contract terminated, and no one was going to stop him. It was a sick parody of the events two years ago. Zhao was going to win again and Etsu had failed Prince Zuko for the second time.
Etsu promptly fainted.