"My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees - my love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath - a source of little visible delight, but necessary."
Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights
Katara, smiling broadly, speeded buoyantly towards the familiar figure. A group of soldiers stepped in her way, but Haru gestured them aside with a quick, decisive sweep of his hand.
Katara surveyed him, head to toes; he was completely different. He had fashioned his hair in a high ponytail, and he wore a robe somewhat reminiscent of that long forgotten opulence. Emerald gems scintillated haughtily on his fingers, and he wielded a long, resplendent sword. Something about his air, a newfound sense of aplomb and intrepidity, echoed in his every movement.
Laughing elatedly, she threw her arms around his neck. The nearest guards advanced in an attempt to intervene, but Haru warningly shook his head.
"Haru," she breathed. "I can't believe it's you." She felt as his hand rested delicately on her back.
"It's nice to see you, Katara," he whispered.
"What are you doing here?" She blinked. "And what happened to everyone else?"
Haru frowned, "I received a report that there were Fire Nation citizens in the area, so I had to check it out."
"Oh!" Katara exclaimed. "There are three of them, but two of them are innocent."
"Well, we only found two: an old man and a teenager."
"They're with me," Katara smiled.
A few of the Earthbenders exchanged bewildered looks.
"What are you doing with Firebenders?" Haru asked, surprised.
Katara shook her head, "It's a long story."
A stout, saturnine-looking soldier jogged over, panting, "Prince Haru, His Majesty means to speak with you."
Katara's brow furrowed. "Prince Haru?"
"It looks like we both have long stories to tell," Haru laughed sheepishly. "Would you like to come with us to the palace?"
"Palace?" Katara's curiosity had reached its zenith. Change was an uncanny thing.
"It's just been finished. You and your friends are more than welcome as guests while we sort everything out." Haru stole a cursory glance at the disheveled campsite. "That is, unless you'd rather stay out here."
Haru held out his arm. Katara looked hesitantly at the somewhat brazen gesture, but she immediately dismissed it as an extension of chivalry (that long-forgotten concept). Gingerly slipping her hand under his arm, they walked gracefully in the direction of the town.
"Where are my friends?" she probed.
"Oh, yes. Release the prisoners!" Haru called behind him. "They are to follow us home."
"Now," Haru turned to Katara. "Tell me all about this long story of yours."
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Zuko felt a quaint sense of emancipation as his bindings were removed. He blinked and tried to gauge where they were headed. Beside him, the Water Tribe boy and the Avatar rode listlessly on the boorish buffalo.
His uncle nudged him, "Who is that man up there with Katara?"
"What man?" Zuko demanded. Realizing his faux pas, he immediately recanted. "What are you talking about?" he asked more casually.
Iroh nodded towards the front of the regiment.
Zuko squinted, but the sun seemed to be sadistically antagonistic that day. "I can't see them." He cupped his hand over his eyes, and he managed to see two nebulous figures, arms intertwined.
Out of the corner of his eye, Iroh could have sworn he saw Zuko's fist subtly clench-just a tad- tighter.
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The palace gradually loomed into view. It was made primarily out of stone, and terra cotta figures danced solemnly around the veranda. Pristinely white flowers thrust their blossoms from a verdant and lush lawn. A fountain purred surreptitiously from afar, and a cobblestone pathway glided to the faraway citadel.
Windows winked with refulgence of sunlight, and precious stones gleamed exuberantly, embedded in the mortar.
"I think the architects overdid it a bit," Haru blushed.
Katara smiled, "It's gorgeous." She stopped to wait for the rest of her company, her hand still resting on Haru's arm.
As Zuko and Iroh approached her, she happily made the introductions.
"Zuko, Iroh, this is Prince Haru. Haru, this is Zuko and his uncle Iroh," she stated complacently.
"Prince Zuko," Zuko subconsciously lifted his head a bit higher.
"It's a pleasure," Haru bowed lightly. Zuko hesitantly reciprocated the gesture.
"A friend of Katara's is readily a friend of mine," Haru grinned and led the group into the edifice.
The foyer boasted of affluent tapestries, sumptuous in both color and texture. A crystalline chandelier hung lazily above them, and twin staircases wound towards an upper level. Candelabra bowed deferentially as they passed through innumerable corridors. The floor tiles were made of a black marble that shined brightly in the candlelight. A faint floral scent garnished the otherwise stagnant air, and the distant din of glasses could be heard.
They reached two large oaken doors guarded by two haggard soldiers. Through an aperture, Katara could hear hearty cachinnation. The tinkle of silverware upon metal plates created a somewhat filial atmosphere.
As the doors opened, Katara recognized the familiar, affable visage of Haru's father. He was dressed in regal raiment, and a golden wreath rested serenely upon his head. Although surprised at her entrance, he held out his arms in welcome, and the servants scurried confusedly away to obtain more platters and dishes.
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Katara gawked at the rich dishes laid before her. The aromas of marinated fowl, freshly baked scones, mushroom soup, and other curious entrees drifted about the room. The vaulted ceilings gave the dining hall a grand ambience, and Katara rubbed her shoes shyly against each other. She felt decidedly out of place.
Sokka was noisily razing any and all of the victuals placed before him. A crisp turkey leg hanging idly from his mouth, Sokka exclaimed, somewhat incoherently, "Bo-y, dis guy shure knowz how to live, huh?"
Katara smiled and sipped the contents of a golden goblet.
"I can't believe that we meet again- and so soon!" The King was quite forward in his welcome.
"We're honored that you even remember us," Katara replied politely.
"Are you kidding? We owe everything to you!" Haru interpolated.
"Yes, you were directly responsible for providing the hope that this edifice is built upon."
Sokka snorted. "All she did was give you guys a pile of coal."
As everyone else bantered and babbled, Zuko glared at the imposing broccoli before him as if the vegetable would suddenly grow legs and begin to assail him. Iroh, on the other hand, could not have been more delighted with the situation; the King was an avid collector of exotic teas, and he even possessed a gargantuan tea storage room.
Suddenly, an emerald-attired man shuffled up to the King. "The performers are ready, Your Highness," the man bowed his head in ceremonial deference.
The King nodded and then, grinning, turned to Katara. "I bet you've never seen an Earth Kingdom tragedy!"
"Oh, you'll love this! It's a classic," Haru joined. In a lower voice (meant only for her ears), he added, "It's a love story about a girl and boy who are forbidden to see each other."
"Why are they forbidden?" she cocked her head to one side.
"Their families hate each other, and they belong to opposite elements."
"Oh."
Servants blew out the candles scattered throughout the dining hall, leaving only enough illumination for the performers.
As the play unfolded, Katara watched as a delicate young girl became gradually smitten with a stoic young boy. After they slowly overcame their initial prejudices, they found themselves implicated in an age-old vendetta. Then, the typical romantic fluff ensued. However, there was a particularly epic battle scene between the families, when the end of the play loomed closer.
Katara watched as the girl jumped upon a table, claiming that she would end her life if the families did not resolve their differences. As the girl plunged a knife into her heart, Katara felt the tickle of Haru's voice in her ear.
"I never could figure out why she did that. I think she was being selfish."
"Selfish?"
"Yeah. It's always worse when one lover dies, and the other is left behind."
"Well, why doesn't the boy just kill himself? I mean, if he loves her that much."
"He thinks her death is all his fault, so he prolongs his suffering by choosing to live. It's penitence, in a way."
"That's ridiculously maudlin."
Haru chuckled. "What would you want your lover to do?"
"I've never had one, so I'm in no position to say."
Haru smiled as the actors slowly exited and applause rang through the grand hall.
"I want to show you something, Katara." Haru stood up and addressed the King, "Father, I want to show Katara the garden."
The ends of the old man's lips twitched into a smile, and he nodded slowly.
Taking Katara's hand, Haru rushed out of the oaken doors, into the labyrinthine corridors beyond.
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Swirls of blooms, sprigs, and all sorts of exotic flora exploded around Katara. Vines stretched invitingly downward from tall wooden lattices; blushing buds yawned as the couple sprinted past them, and the verdure danced hypnotically in their aftermath.
"Where are we going?" Katara called as Haru continued to jerk forward.
"It's a surprise!"
As the flora began to thin out, Katara wondered just what that "surprise" could be. "I thought you said we were going to a garden!"
"We are!"
"You don't make any sense at all."
Suddenly, Katara found herself in a deluge of blue. Squinting her eyes, she saw that a waterfall cascaded gently over smoothly fashioned rocks. Blue gladioli peeked out from under lethargically splayed grass blades. The blades themselves glistened with dew gleaned from the waterfall. Flat, blue-gray stones led up to a carved bench that sat complacently by the falls.
"I hope you like it," Haru smiled sheepishly.
"It's… just wow." Katara stepped closer to the water.
"I had it made for you." Haru took her hands into his. "Just you."
A/N: Cliffhanger…!
If you've seen The Cave of Two Lovers—I SWEAR TO APPA THAT I WROTE THIS LIKE A MILLION YEARS AGO. IT'S BEEN LOAFING ON MY COMPUTER FOR MONTHS NOW, AND I TOTALLY BASED THAT ONE PART OFF OF ROMEO AND JULIET. That is all.
Oh yes—late update, I know. Life got in the way, mkay? (Not to kvetch or anything, but the only reason that this is up is that my prospective prom mancandy asked my friend instead, and I just wrote this while ignoring the casualties of the real world.)
New episodes are so amazing. I hope you guys have been keeping up
Thank you for your wonderful reviews! They are my drug.
Really.