By the time they had reached the ship, it was well passed midday. All were hungry and in need for a nap.
" 'Ello, Cian," said Keefe, the day shift guard leader. " 'o's this you 'ave 'ere? I don' remember this one."
Cian smiled at the older man. When he had been a new recruit, Keefe had taken him under his wing. The man was huge, but his eyes and thick high land accent were warm and kind.
"S'ok, Keefe. He's Katara's brother…Sokka, is it? Yeah, he's uh…come to sign for the release of Katara…you know, the law…"
Keefe looked at him for a minute. "Oh…right. Yeah…"
Worried Sokka would pick up on the awkward moment, Katara spoke up.
"Keefe, it was a long hike. Is Zuko available?"
The burly guard shook his head. "Nope, none I'm 'ware of. 'E's been with them two lil' brats all mornin'."
Really? "Could you send someone to find him? In the mean time, we all are really hungry. We'll head down to the mess hall."
"Sure thing, Miss Katara."
They turned and went down the hold to the mess hall. Cian walked ahead of the brother and sister a little ways to give them room to talk. He got Sokka on the ship, now Katara needed to reel him in. He could hear them whispering.
"You lied about being a prisoner still!" Sokka hissed in his sister's ear when he was sure the guard wasn't listening. She turned her face away from him, a sure sign she was lying.
"No, I didn't. Technically, I should still be his prisoner. But he actually…didn't register me."
"He didn't? Why? And why did you lie to me?"
"To get you on the ship, to talk to Zuko face to face! I am telling the truth about him changing, Sokka. I had to bring you here to show you myself."
Sokka was really upset with his sister for tricking him into such danger. He didn't say anything back to her. As they walked in silence to the mess hall, they could hear bits of voices coming from it. Two high pitched childish laughs and one lower talking.
"Katara! You're back!" Bree squealed as she ran to give Katara a hug. "We were just finishing our meal, there's still some left, come eat!"
Katara laughed at the girl. "That's why we're here. I had Keefe send someone to find you that we'd arrived," she said to Zuko.
"Well, you found me." He gave her a slight smile that she was certain Sokka would have seen, but he was too occupied, like Cian, with the remainders of the meal. She felt safe enough to return the look. Sitting down next to him, she used the cover of the table to reach over and squeeze his hand. She'd meant for it to be quick, but he still held it there. A warm feeling came over her. She cleared her throat.
"So, what did you do while I was gone?" she asked the kids.
" Ss'uko ss'owed me ss'ome ff'irebendin' ss'tuff" Ronan said with his mouth full of dessert cake, spraying crumbs everywhere.
"Swallow before speaking. He did, did he? What did you…"
Sokka interrupted her. "Yeah, this small talk is nice. But I want answers…now." He used the deepest, scariest voice he could muster while giving his sister a glare. As young and cocky as he still was, when Sokka got into the right mood this voice could actually be scary.
Uh-oh…Katara thought. I pushed him too far… She swallowed what she was chewing, took a deep breath, and turned to her brother.
"Like I told you before, I …well, Cian, actually…made up that excuse to get you on the ship so you could talk to Zuko yourself. I wasn't making anything up. There really is a chance here that we can end this war once and for all. Zuko…" she trailed off. While she was talking, Sokka was looking at the prince with a mixture of hatred and fear. She could tell her talking wouldn't get through to him. Katara turned to the prince, who was putting on the air he didn't notice Sokka's glare, but she knew he was trying not to laugh out loud at her brothers behavior.
"Zuko can explain all this to you," she finished. Sokka snapped out of his own world and looked at her.
"You think I'm going to believe anything this…this, pompous…jerk…poor excuse for anything has to say?" he asked her incredously.
"Yes, I have suddenly become deaf and did not hear anything you just said," Zuko said to Sokka with humor in his voice.
"Good, I wasn't talking to you anyway! Why do you think I'd trust you? YOU took my sister! YOU have been trying to kill us since that day at our village! It was YOUR people who brought all of this terror, this disaster on the world!" Sokka stood up and punched his fist into the table. Normally, it would've done nothing, but Katara noticed the table slightly crack. He's gotten stronger.
"Talking won't do us any good. What would work is if you and your monster of a father dropped off the face of the earth!"
Zuko looked up at the standing Sokka with a slight smile on his face. "I've suddenly become deaf, remember? I didn't hear anything you said." Sokka's face turned white with rage.
"ENOUGH!" Katara jumped in surprise. She turned around to look at the door and saw Iroh standing there. She hadn't heard the old man come in.
"There is no time for this childish bickering. In a few hours, Zuko needs to report to the Fire Lords palace. The Avatar is still out there waiting. We need to get Bree and Ronan away from here before anything happens." He turned to address Sokka. "Your sister is telling the truth. It is time for this war to end. Zuko can end it with to grace needed to keep the Fire Nation on her feet but put back in balance with the rest of the nations. But if you still cannot put aside your own inbred prejudices, then step aside and let us continue with our plan."
Everyone held their breath. When so much time had passed that Katara was certain her brother had pushed the patience of the old man, Sokka spoke.
"General Iroh, your reputation precedes you. A reputation of ferocity, but also wisdom and genuinity. I don't trust your nephew, but I've heard your word can be held accountable. I will place faith in that rumor on one condition. My sister is far from here when the fighting occurs."
Iroh smiled. "Your father's reputation precedes him as well. I am aware of your and your sister's noble birth, if somewhat a primitive nobility at the moment. You have spoken like a true royal. I accept your terms."
"Wait!" Katara interjected. "I'm happy you are coming to your senses Sokka, but you can't tell me what to do! I will be there to help Zuko."
"You aren't sixteen yet, you don't have a standing as an adult, you need a male relative to decide politically for you."
Her mouth dropped. "Not an adult?" She scoffed. "I was adult enough to share looking after our trip with you, I am adult enough for this!"
Iroh cleared his throat. "How about a compromise? Katara will be with us in the city, but if anything happens to you, the prince, and the Avatar, I will lay my life out to assure her safety."
Sokka was about to disagree, but he saw the look on Katara's face. She could see him battle himself: the over protective side, and the reasonable side. Finally, he nodded.
"Fine, that works too."
Iroh smiled. "See, nephew, how diplomacy can work in ways force can't? Now, we have much to do. Cian, tell the others to be ready to sail on to the capital. Katara, would you fetch the Avatar, I'm sure you can see now we have no means of taking him captive. Sokka, would you care for some tea…"