Chapter III.
"What do you mean, we've been moved to different rooms?" Sokka raged at the palace servant.
"The king said he was moving you to new chambers." The desperate servant exclaimed. The girl looked ready to bolt from Sokka's glare.
"Come on Sokka it isn't a big deal." Katara said taking the Blue Spirit mask off the wall. "It's not like we have a lot of stuff to move."
Sokka grumbled, but gathered his things as the serving girl excused herself from the room. The two siblings finished gathering their meager supplies and left to go find their new rooms. The two took the directions they were given and stopped outside two large sets of doors on either side of a grand hallway. Katara looked at Sokka in confusion. "Are you sure we didn't take a wrong turn? These are the corridors usually set aside for royalty."
True, Aang had been given rooms in this area, but Sokka and Katara were certain there had been some sort of mistake.
"You're here! Excellent." Chief Arnook said behind them.
Katara turned to see Chief Arnook leading four guards. He walked up to the two young siblings and motioned them forward. "Katara, this will be your room on the right. Sokka, your room is on the left."
Chief Arnook motioned for the guards, who dutifully took up posts by the doors. Katara looked at Sokka who was just as confused and stunned as she was.
"Uh, what's going on here?" Sokka asked.
"Well, it occurred to me that something you said when you first got here was quite correct." Arnook said smiling.
"That being…" Sokka offered.
"Well, your clan is all that's left of the Southern Water Tribe is it not?" Arnook asked seriously.
"Yeah..." The two siblings said in unison, confused.
"And your father that went off to help Earth Kingdom with what was left of your warriors, he leads them does he not?" Arnook continued.
"Yeah…" They both replied, still in unison and still confused.
"Then, since your father leads all that remains of the Southern Water Tribe and you, Katara, are the last waterbender in the tribe, that makes you the prince and princess of the Southern Water Tribe." Arnook said with aplomb. "As such, you should be treated as royalty here."
The look Sokka was giving Chief Arnook was the same one that you would give to a man who had just told you that sharks only smiled because they liked you. Katara hoped her own expression was more polite.
"I'm sorry, and the part I was right about…?" Sokka said dumbly.
"You are a prince." Arnook said simply. "Here, you two get settled. I will be waiting in the grand hall when you're dressed."
"We're already dressed." Sokka said looking to make sure his clothes were indeed still on his body. After what they had just heard, Katara wouldn't have been surprised if they had been naked.
Katara curtsied to the chief and looked at the door. Sokka followed her into her room. The two of them stood there looking at the elegant finery draped around the room. Sokka let out a low whistle. "I wonder what's in my room." He said to no one in particular.
Katara looked around the room until she found clothing lying on the bed that looked remarkably like the clothing that Princess Yue had worn. Katara gazed at the beautiful gown until she heard someone enter the room.
"I'm sorry your highness, I didn't realize you had company, would you like me to come in later?" A young Water Tribe girl asked.
Katara looked at her in astonishment. It took her a moment to realize that she was talking to her. "Oh, uh, no. Please, come in."
The young girl curtsied and entered the room. "Chief Arnook asked me to help you to get ready. He'll be expecting you and Prince Sokka in the main hall."
"There isn't some girl in my room to help ME get ready is there?" Sokka said alarmed.
The young girl laughed as if Sokka were joking. "Oh no, your highness."
"That's good." Sokka said with relief.
"YOU have a manservant." The girl replied.
Sokka looked out the door across the hall and Katara could see an older gentleman dressed in fine servant's clothing standing ready to assist Sokka in his room.
Katara looked down at the dress. "This is for me?"
"Yes my lady. I can get one of your other dresses if you like. I simply thought you would enjoy this one." The young girl said bowing.
Katara looked at the expensive looking wardrobe in the corner of the room. It would probably hold all her tribe's belongings. She really didn't want to think about how many gowns were in it. "This one will be fine. And you are?"
"Nerise your highness. I'm to be your servant while you are here." Nerise said bowing.
Sokka just shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe this."
"Your highness?" Nerise asked looking up toward Katara.
"Yes?" Katara said after a moment of figuring out that she was the one being addressed.
"We'd best hurry to get you dressed. The chief wants you to join him in the grand hall." Nerise said politely.
"I have to go train with Master Pakku." Katara said trying to edge away from the gown.
"Master Pakku is going to be in the grand hall today." Nerise said respectfully. "The chief said something about sending a contingent of men to restore the southern tribe."
Katara stared at her in utter shock. She had heard Pakku mention going to see her Gran-Gran, but it had sounded like a personal trip instead of a royal mission. "I think I better get to the grand hall." Katara said dumbly.
"Yes, your highness, now about your gown…"
Arnook looked out over the audience in the grand hall. He had all the appropriate people in place. He waited until the two young siblings were escorted into the hall before putting his plans into motion. Katara looked regal in the clothes left by Yue. He had never been able to give his daughter the dress Katara now wore, but he decided that Katara did the gown justice.
He stopped the report that one of his generals was giving him and greeted the two of them. "Please, Katara, Sokka, sit here with me."
The two looked ready to bolt any minute from fright. Arnook did not envy them their position, and after today, life was going to be a little more… interesting for the two.
"Please, continue general." Arnook said as he looked over his audience from the corners of his eyes. All the pieces were now in place. Master Pakku looked on with suspicion. He was the master of his element, just as Arnook was the master of his. Pakku controlled water, while Arnook controlled people. Move just right and those with the talent could move the water around them. A good ruler with the talent could do the same with people. Move here, and they would think one way, move another and they would think totally differently.
The general droned on about something that Arnook could care less about. He only let the old man report to him out of respect for his age and position. His decision had been reached days ago and was already in motion. At heart, the general probably knew this too, but certain respect had to be observed.
Arnook watched the merchants gathered in the main hall. He had hand picked them for this moment. All of them had extensive ties to the Fire Nation. Arnook suspected at least two of them of being spies. Right now he needed those spies. They had to see what went on here today and they had to believe it. The future of his people rested on it.
"Thank you general." Arnook said as the man finished his report. "Please see to the details. Next, I wish to speak to Master Pakku."
"Yes?" Pakku said stepping forward. "What is it? I need to get back to training the Avatar."
Arnook smiled at the master of water. He was always as direct as a tidal wave, and often as gentle. No wonder the girl's grandmother had run away rather than marry him. Such men were often the hardest to control, but the easiest to direct.
"It has come to my attention that you are planning to go to the Southern Water Tribe as soon as you are done training the Avatar." Arnook said impassively.
Pakku was immediately on the defensive. "Yes, I know I need to stay here…"
"Quite the contrary Master Pakku, I think it is a wonderful idea." Arnook said smiling. He was rewarded with a look from Pakku that resembled someone catching a boomerang between the eyes.
"I…" Pakku started.
"I am having men readied for your journey, Master Pakku. I want you to carry ships, warriors and benders to our sister tribe. There may even be some here in the north that might like to settle there as well. You will lead them south on their way. We must see to it that our sister tribe is defended until their chief can return from the war, since Prince Sokka is staying here and helping us." Arnook said pressing on.
"Warriors? But what about the Fire Nation?" Pakku asked incredulously.
"I don't think the Fire Nation will be much of a problem anymore. Ozai has his own problems." Arnook said confidently. Katara and Sokka were sitting slightly beneath him and he gave Katara a significant look. He then measured the reaction of the merchants. He definitely had their interest.
Pakku hadn't missed the look either. He was one of the craftiest men in the northern tribe other than Arnook himself. He knew enough about Arnook to recognize a plot brewing when he saw one. Katara sat blissfully unaware looking at Pakku dumbfounded.
"Of course, Chief Arnook. I will start south as soon as I am able." Pakku promised. Arnook couldn't help but smile. Pakku was one man he could always count on.
Arnook coughed and Pakku stepped away from the raised platform on which Arnook and the two children were sitting. On cue, the messenger came running into the room. "CHIEF ARNOOK! CHIEF ARNOOK!" The messenger cried skidding to a halt on the ice.
"What is it boy!" Arnook said with mock anger. "Don't you know how to knock?"
"I'm sorry sir, I bring dire news about General Iroh and Prince Zuko!" The messenger said prostrating himself on the ground.
"Well get up and let's hear it then." Arnook commanded disdainfully.
"I don't know, it's fairly sensitive…" The messenger said looking around the room.
"OUT WITH IT!" Arnook bellowed. "If it was so important that you interrupted my business then spit it out!"
"Yes sir!" The messenger stammered. "General Iroh and Prince Zuko have been captured by the Fire Nation."
Most people in the room took this as news that fish had returned to swimming, but Arnook jumped to his feet. "Why? What have you heard?" Arnook demanded. He acted as if he had forgotten everyone else in the room, but secretly he watched the merchants for their reaction. They were studying him closely. Good.
"The charge is treason!" The young boy recited.
Arnook looked down and sighed with deep gravity. "What have they said? Have they given any details?"
"No sire." The messenger said desperately.
Pakku stepped up on cue. "What is he talking about Arnook? What's going on?"
"Some things are best not discussed in an open audience." Arnook hissed. This time he did look toward the merchants. They had all taken on the appearance of studied stupidity. Arnook knew however that he had them. By morning they would be making polite inquiries amongst their sources about whether or not there was some sort of alliance between Iroh and Arnook.
Arnook pressed his advantage, prodding the men a little more. "Send a messenger to the Earth Kingdom and let them know what's happened." Arnook ordered.
The momentary twist of the head from the merchants told him that this too had been absorbed. An alliance between Iroh, the Earth Kingdom, AND the Water Tribe would mean business opportunities and information that could be sold for those who had it.
"There is more sire." The messenger said as rehearsed. "Prince Zuko is to be tried for assisting the Avatar."
The gasp that escaped from Katara couldn't have been more appropriately timed. The merchants looked at her, as if for the first time. Arnook knew what they were seeing, because it was what he wanted them to see. They didn't see a young girl, or even a waterbender. What they saw was a young woman dressed as a princess. More importantly, what they saw was a young woman dressed as a princess with a betrothal necklace around her neck.
These details didn't escape the notice of the merchants and it didn't escape from Pakku either as he turned to Arnook with appalled shock as realization hit him. Arnook merely gave him a wink only he could see and went back to his element.
"Don't worry my dear, I'm sure Zuko is alright." Arnook said in a comforting voice to Katara. For her part she was too stunned to speak, and Arnook hoped it stayed that way for just a while longer. This was taking all his concentration and he didn't need another variable.
The merchants were openly shocked now. They looked at each other, not believing what was being played out in front of them. They would be talking after this and they were going to be learning. Sokka's joke had already started to get around the palace about Katara being engaged to Fire Prince Zuko. This rumor would fuel these men, and turn them to Arnook's will. Those among them that had ties to the Fire Nation knew that all was not well at home. They knew that some of the lords and people had grown tired of the Fire Nation conquest.
Without someone to lead them, the rebels would be dealt with. However if a Fire Prince led them, a Fire Prince who had allied himself with the Water Tribe AND the Earth Kingdom, a Fire Prince who was apparently engaged to a Southern Water Tribe Princess, a Fire Prince who was now being held for assisting the Avatar against his father's will, these rebels and dissidents would be a force to be reckoned with. Ozai was about to have his hands full if Arnook had anything to say about it. All he had to do was influence the right people.
"There is evidence," the messenger continued, "that Fire Prince Zuko is the Blue Spirit who has helped the Avatar escape from Fire Nation twice already."
Arnook watched as the two siblings glanced at each other and immediately started looking uncomfortable. Arnook hadn't believed this part of the report when he had heard it that morning, but now looking at the two siblings, he began to wonder. The merchants had also not missed the exchange. They were now glancing at each other as the reality that Arnook had manufactured began to register to them.
"What evidence do they have?" Katara asked quietly.
Arnook had not expected this. He had hoped to get his over with and everyone out of the room before the siblings would have a chance to speak. He gave a quick nod to the messenger, who then continued.
"He has an Avatar bracelet your highness. An ivory bracelet." The messenger stated.
Katara's hand went to her mouth as murmurs raced through the court. Katara was obviously upset, and Arnook fully understood why. He cursed himself again for involving the girl in his plans, but if it meant securing the safety of his people, he would have given Yue to the Fire Prince.
The messenger was in on Arnook's plans, and must have assumed that Katara was too. Arnook could only look on in wonder as his plan set to work. "I'm sorry my lady." The messenger said to her. "If it helps, they say that when they took him away he was given the chance to destroy the bracelet to prove his loyalty, but he refused."
"He… refused?" Katara said in disbelief. She then lowered her face into her hands and softly began to cry. "They're going to kill him, and it's all my fault."
The look on Katara's face tore at Arnook's heart. He cursed himself again for involving the girl. He looked to the messenger and nodded before looking around the room. "This is not the place for such discussions. I'm sorry gentlemen," Arnook said turning to the merchants, "I'm afraid you will have to come back tomorrow. More pressing business presents itself."
The merchants merely nodded and gave signs that it was no trouble. By tomorrow, Arnook knew that they would have the entire story, at least the parts he wanted them to have. They would believe that Zuko and Iroh were in league with the enemies of the Fire Nation. They would believe that Zuko was going to marry Princess Katara as part of the bargain. They would believe that Iroh and Zuko were planning to overthrow Lord Ozai. There would be just enough truth here and there to make his lie believable. What he hadn't told them, they would imagine for themselves.
As they left, Arnook looked at the square outside. The wind was changing, blowing smoke back out to sea from the fires his people were using to cook their meals. He hoped that the wind would carry with it the threat of the Fire Nation blockade. Pakku just looked at him as everyone left. He then shook his head and shivered. Pakku could bend water, but Chief Arnook was bending the world.