Hey lovely reviewers! Thanks for all the lovin'! We appreciate it greatly. Now, we proudly present to you, chapter 4!
Chapter 4: Enthralling
In a frantic search of what seemed to be a dream and reality, Zuko pushed through the crowd unconsciously, as if in a haze.
He brushed aside officials, couples, and personnel of superior hierarchy to reach the beauty he couldn't get enough of. His eyes, always intense, never seem to leave the enthralling beauty. His hands reached out to touch her, but as he pushed forward, he was pushed back, farther and farther from her. Away from the beauty that he longed to know what name belonged to those pretty eyes.
Slowly, the lights dimmed and the room became mono-chromatic in rich black. A single spotlight then fell on the master of ceremonies, who welcomed all.
"Goodnight ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Grand Fire Nation Ball, as you all know you've been specially invited from the honourable Ozai himself, who has seen to it that this ball is in honour of his son, Prince Zuko."
A vast spotlight then fell on the oblivious Prince. Zuko, whose back was to the crowd, froze on hearing his name.
And here I am thinking, be sure to make eye contact and be polite, when hell, uncle never mentioned a thing about spotlights. Really, I should have never trusted uncle, much less my father. Oh great. This is going to be one of hell-of-a night.
Turning around, he gave an uneasy smile and raised his hand so people could make him out. The crowd immediately clapped for the young man. He nodded his head in affirmation, but was subdued by all means.
"Modest as ever… come on Prince Zuko, let's hear how all of this makes you feel." the master of ceremonies remarked.
Zuko, inside, felt like falling to the floor, not to mention how angry he was about the stupid master of ceremonies.
I can clearly see some people will suffer my wrath, not that I didn't warn them, say what, more fun for me…
Zuko approached the stage, a path being opened up from crowd. People clapped while others pat his shoulder in a congratulatory manner. Zuko could only spare himself a smile as he approached the stage.
Climbing the steps, he cast the master of ceremonies a nasty look, one his audience never caught but thankfully his intended target got. Knowing that he had the upper hand, he took the mic and looked onward at the crowd.
So close to his first word, a bunch of young girls screamed at their royal highness. Zuko smirked and then laughed. Zuko fixated the microphone on the stand and tried again.
The squeals and shrill cries of young girls fill the room and Zuko, whose tentative ears that were very much irked by the high-pitch onslaught, couldn't help but be docile to his popularity.
Raising up a hand to quiet down the screaming girls, he finally had himself a little silence. A few mutters traveled in the crowd, but the point was, he could talk now.
"Good night ladies and gentlemen." The Prince said, as his deep, and brusque, masculine voice aired the room.
A few girls screamed, but Zuko returned to his little chatter.
"Tonight is a night of nights. I know tonight seems to be a night dedicated to me from my humble father, but tonight, ladies and gentlemen, is a night for all."
He paused to the cheers of the crowd.
"Let tonight be a night to dine, feast, make new friends and start something new and…amazing."
He paused to search for those entrancing blue eyes in the crowd. As expected, she was gone. Her strange anonymous character excited him. Who was she? His mind thought.
Not sure, he returned to his conversation.
"So enjoy my friends, because tonight is our night to kick it up," he said, placing the mic in the stand.
Coming down the stage, a group of young women gathered around him, throwing him against the wall. Feeling pinned and immobilized, he saw his uncle look on at him.
"A little help would be nice." Zuko's pathetic words were to no avail.
His uncle hinted his brows, "Can't help you when the ladies love you Zuko. I think I've said enough."
He walked away, laughing at Zuko.
It was so cute to see Zuko pinned to a wall by some fifteen girls all wearing enticed, exuberant faces of joy. He tried to pipe down their screams, but all that ever seem to do was make them scream some more.
He would have to make sure before the night was over that his ears was not bleeding by any chance.
"Now, now, ladies, I think we should all sit."
"Oh Zuko!" they serenaded.
Oh boy…this night just keeps getting better and better.
It was the firm jerk away from the wall that made Zuko realize he was moving. Moving how, he didn't know. Alongside him were the girls who were dragging him to an empty chair.
Resting him upon the chair, they began their train of questions and girlish chatter. Zuko felt a headache coming on.
Who knew the female gender could be so…annoying.
For an hour flat, his eyes raced from the clock to the conversation of the girls. He heard things that he shouldn't have and he wondered if the girls even give a hoot that he was male. In fact, he was starting to think they took him as a girl to share girlish-muses with. Gosh, now he felt scared for his life.
"This is the good part Zuko," said the girl to the side of him, who was attentively listening to the story of one of her friends. Zuko could do nothing but sigh and shrug to himself.
He actually thought tonight would be something a little special to him. Yes, he knew he condemned the idea of coming all together, but showing was a sign of respect and honour. Honour how? He didn't know. He just knew, as much as he should have been here, he didn't want to be.
It seems all that happened tonight was not in his favour, even the intervention with the pretty blue-eyed girl was not meant to be. He sighed when he thought of it.
He had never seen eyes so blue, so exotic, and yet… so mesmerizing. He prayed silently to see her again, but looking at the odds, it seems his chances of that were already gone.
His eyes tiredly settled on the girl who was telling a story of a journey she made into the West. Zuko had no choice but to listen to her, and it was then he realized he would go insane and start laughing senseless.
Oh yes, just a matter of time before I turn into a nut.
Zuko could see a group approaching his posse and was surprised to see his father, uncle, one of his father officials and a woman. Arching a brow, Ozai cleared his throat.
The girls who had been engrossed in their story-telling stopped. Seeing their royal highness, they bowed.
"Ladies, would you give master Zuko a minute of your time?" asked Ozai.
"Of course Lord Ozai!" they chirped.
Graciously, Zuko left the circle, feeling like all the blood from his limbs had left.
"Ah, Master Zuko, long time no see." said Rein, his father's official.
"Ah, Rein, yes, it's been long. Where have you been? Away I see."
"Yes, I was in the North, you know, I was doing some business there my lord." he said.
"I see, and who is this beautiful woman?" It felt sour sayingnit, but Zuko had to conduct himself with much respect for himself and everyone around him.
"Oh, my apologies my lord, this lovely woman is my wife. Her name is Iris." he said.
The woman lightly bowed at the Prince.
"It is a pleasure madam." he returned the gesture.
"Indeed."
"Well, since we've gotten everyone to know each other, I'd like you to meet someone Zuko."
"Oh?"
"Rein and Iris have a daughter whose become a potential candidate if not the best nominated candidate as a wife for you." said Ozai.
Zuko was a bit baffled. He hadn't even properly exchange introductions and here he was having to swallow potential spouses.
"Really?" Zuko wore a confused look.
"Yes, I'd like you to meet Zuko, Lady Camille."
Behind Iris and Rein was a stunning red head woman, who wore a golden gown. Her skin, the colour of her dress, sparked that she was a healthy and magnificent young woman.
Her eyes slowly averted to her prince and graciously, she walked to him. Bowing her head with her eyes never leaving his, she whispered, "A pleasure to meet you, my lord."
Zuko by all means, stunned at such exquisiteness at such an age, bowed all the way for the beauty.
"I've heard much of you, master Zuko. My father tells me great things of the Emperor-to-be. Is it true my lord, that you indeed, are the best fire-bender that lives?"
She slowly batted her eyes. Her amber orbs radiated warmth and good nature. She seemed to be a bright-spirited girl, excluding the annoying voice and attitudes, which in his book, was a major plus.
"Well," he scratched his head and gave a fine blush, "I don't know about the best, but I am pretty good." he gloated, giving a toothy grin.
She giggled, covering her mouth most gracefully.
"Master Zuko, forgive me, but would you like to dance with me?" she wore a worried expression, as if she almost knew the answer.
Zuko hadn't dance all evening, and dancing really wasn't something he did, much less enjoyed; but seeing the look in her face, he cringed.
"I understand if you don't want to." she whispered tentatively.
"No Camille, I would love to dance with you…"
He placed out a hand, and gently her small hand nestled on the top of his.
Ozai whistled at his orchestra and had them play something romantic for the couple. The maestro nodded and orchestrated a beautiful symphony.
The dance floor was cleared and the duo came to the center. A single blue spotlight fell on the couple, and in a split-second, the music began. In fluency, they worked the floor, gliding the tiles easily, making the entire congregation stare on at the couple.
Beautiful, thought Zuko, becoming mesmerized by her eyes. She was so beautiful, and everything about her was amazing. From the voluminous locks to the amazing parting lips, Zuko felt himself grow weak.
Amazing, he thought, he hadn't had a great fancy for women, because for one, he knew that just getting the right one was a task in itself, and two, most women were cheap.
But feeling the mood and holding this precious lady close, he felt as he danced in harmony with her, there was peace. For once his brain wasn't going off in code-red, and his conscience wasn't saying something foul as it usually did.
For once there was homogeneity and sweet solidarity. Something that he would search the ends of the earth for, the odds it should present itself so freely and unbound to him, on such an auspicious occasion.
They surfed the floors, humouring the next in a way only fit for teenagers. Zuko embraced every moment with the beauty. Every minute seem to ache as something more.
Maybe I'm getting weak and growing too fast. Maybe… it's just how she makes me feel that I can't help it.
He didn't want to sound weak, and by accepting these new emotions, would he? Frowning to himself, Camille touched his cheek, her beautiful face cocked to the side and gave a comforting smile.
"Are you okay?"
And through those sparkling eyes, he found that a man without emotions is a sad man. He loses the very best things, and he didn't want to grow up to be like that. He wanted to feel what it would be like to get his first slap, or his first kiss, or better yet, how it would feel to intake love at a first.
Smiling he said, "It's nothing, my fair lady…" he spun her around in a circle only to collect her in his arms.
"So sweet…" she whispered.
The night was becoming filled of yawns and tiredness, but in the center still clinging close was the couple that had stolen the night. Zuko held Camille close to him, dancing effortlessly with the beauty. By this time, all main officials were at their chambers, and guards were out on their posts.
Zuko heard a yawn from Camille and immediately stopped.
"You should get some rest Camille."
"Hmm…" she rubbed her eyes, "only if you promise me you'd try to get some yourself."
"Me? Sleep, ha, I don't need it." he said.
She leaned forward to plead with innocent eyes.
"Please?"
Feeling like a sucker, he gave a small nod.
"Thank you, master Zuko" she smiled. "For everything."
She trailed off into a whisper and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Good night."
Their fingers, for the first time, had let go of each other. His eyes, never leaving her frame, followed her all the way up the stairs.
Zuko sighed with a contented smile on his face. Tonight turned out to be better than he expected.
Taking a seat on a chair, he ordered his masseurs to come massage his feet. Leaning deep within the chair, Zuko kept reflecting of the night he had with Camille. It sounded like a fairy-tale, and almost too good to be true, but it had happened. He met the perfect girl and best nominee as a wife.
She was full Fire Nation breed, and she was quite the educated young woman. She was his age, and she could speak four languages.
Amazing, he thought.
She was shy but he could see beneath that was a pretty, sweet girl.
"Zuko?" called his uncle.
The Prince's eyes fluttered open. He was about to look up at his uncle when he paused to stare at the young woman by the balcony. A haunting lady stood by the balcony, her dress of blue sparkling under the richness of the moon.
It was as if he feared she would see his unruly gaze, and in that moment of her frame going admist into the wind, she turned and the mask that he once remembered re-welcomed the same soft-docile blue eyes he had longed.
The spectacular beauty was now glowing and… and leaving? With brown locks and a dress of sapphire, the young Prince allowed his eyes to take in the sight before him.
"Beautiful…" the words escaped his lips unknowingly.
"Zuko?" called the voice.
Zuko blinked back and now peered at his uncle in a confused look.
"You were day-dreaming, miboy."
"Was I?"
"Yes. Zuko, your father has requested you go to bed, it's late, and there are many suitors to meet tomorrow."
"What about Camille?"
"Camille, like you, is being courted by many. If you don't oblige to her soon, she will marry some other prince."
"What?"
"Now, now, don't sound alarmed. It seems Camille has a real liking for you. Who knows, the girl might even choose you. That is, of course, if you choose her." his uncle said.
Zuko nodded.
"Well off to bed, tomorrow's another day."
Zuko left his masseurs and began walking away. It was at the balcony he turned to see that the mysterious beauty of blue eyes had left.
Smiling that all had turned out to be all right, he heeded up the stairs where unknown to him, blue eyes for the first time that night had engaged on him.
Good night, handsome stranger… thought the blue-eyed lady, resuming her nightly watching on the lone balcony.
Etherealstar's authoress notes: Yay, I wrote the chapter and included my best friend Camille, I hope it makes her happy. I want to say thanks to .Lady.Meister. for being so patient with me and my icky finals, and because they're done, I think I'll be hitting the fanfiction on time once again. Thank you for reading the chapter, and have a wonderful day, friends. Take care.
.Lady.Meister.'s authoress notes: AWESOMENESS! I seriously -hearted- this chapter. The writing was incredible and beautiful. Oh, and who liked Camille? I know I did… And, not to worry, my lovely little reviewers, this is a Zutara. We decided to put in Camille for some extra fun, and also cause we gave Katara Haru- So, you'll see in soon time how everything will turn out- Oh, and we're really sorry for the long wait- Finals are a real drag. See ya later! I –heart- you all!