Disclaimer: If I owned Avatar, this story would already be animated!
Oh, about the contest, well, in the long run, the judge and I can't choose between all the entries, so we decided to make everyone who participated a winner. I'll just take bits and pieces of your suggestions like kayko15's necklace thingy which was a great idea and fits the story. Suckish since there could only be one winner, but we really couldn't decide, so sue us. But killthe impartial judgefirst, okay? I still need to finish this story.
Chapter 14: Her Answer
The sun was way up in the sky when Katara chose to wake up from her deep slumber. She rolled on her side, enjoying the silken feeling of the sheets and the odor that emanated from them that smelled of sandalwood and smoke. It reminded her faintly of her own father and the times when she would bury her head at his neck, taking in the same scent that now passed through her nostrils.
She snapped her eyes open when she recalled whose bed she was currently sniffing and rolling into: Zuko, Arrogant Bastard Number One.
Katara sat up and found herself in the middle of the large bed. The heavy curtains were drawn, so it was still dark inside. She took a look at the clock on the bedside table and saw that it was already nearing noon! Damn it all, with all the surprise and exhaustion she felt with Zuko's 'proposal,' she had slept in! And when she promised Jing that she would visit early in the morning…..
Why did they have to make their beds so comfortable? She asked furiously as she scrambled from the bed and ran to the bathroom where she cleaned up and put back her robes. She fixed the bed though it took up a lot of time and effort because of its size, and laid her borrowed dressing gown neatly on top. After that, she broke into a run towards the building where her room was located, making servants and other people she passed by stare in bewilderment and amusement.
Once inside her room, Katara put on a fresh new set of robes and reapplied faint makeup, which were just a thin layer of powder and a pale, glossy lip rogue.
She proceeded to the infirmary while twirling her hair in its customary bun, almost tripping in the hem of her robes in her haste. She made sure that her comb was secure and wouldn't fall off before she knocked on the clinic's doors with the heavy brass knocker.
"Good morning, Jing, I'm sorry I was la—" Katara said cheerfully as she came in but stopped dead on the doorway as she saw Zuko and Iroh sitting on stools beside Jing's bed and having a lively conversation.
"What are you doing here?" Katara asked as she pulled up a stool and sat, though she made a point of staying far from Zuko.
"They were nice enough to offer me a visit," answered Jing with pleasure as she grasped his aged hand, "especially Zuko here. Ah child, why didn't you tell us the wonderful news that Zuko already proposed to you?'
Katara refused to look at Zuko and see that sly smile that curved his lips. She swallowed before replying, "He just asked me last night when you were already asleep. I couldn't just wake you up to tell the news now, could I? You needed your rest first of all." Her smile betrayed the anguish and fury she felt at that moment. How dare Zuko put her on the spot? Now, Jing would positively pester her about accepting his proposal!
"Yes, but I thought that she would accept once I asked her," remarked Zuko playfully. "But it seems that she's taking her time to think. Think you could persuade her for me, Mr. Jing?"
Jing and Iroh laughed, definitely enjoying themselves and not noticing how Katara winced in her seat.
"The decision lies with her, not me, though I think a marriage would be a wonderful idea."
"Mr. Jing!" spluttered Katara. "It all happened too fast, so I wasn't able to reply quickly."
"So, does that mean you have an answer now?" There was a hopeful glint in Zuko's eyes that was laced with mischievousness. Katara looked away.
"No, I still don't," admitted Katara slowly.
Zuko gave a mock sigh. "Ah, the mind of a woman, so complex and confusing!" He faced the two elderly men. "I thought that if I already told her how I feel about her then she would accept it and we would already be betrothed today!"
Katara stared at Zuko, her glare speaking volumes. What a lying bastard!
Zuko gave her another of his impish smiles, knowing that he was going to win this one.
Katara stood up, finally deciding that she can't stand another minute of this torture.
She cleared her throat. "Mr. Jing, General Iroh, I wish to be excused with Zuko. He and I need to talk some things over," she said with as much calm as she could muster, even with her rage at boiling point.
Zuko grinned and stood up from his seat. Jing and Iroh gave him large thumbs up and he waved back, but Katara wasn't witness to any of this as she was already out the door, fuming like hell.
"First of all, you are a lying and devious asshole," Katara began bitingly. They were in the east gardens, the same place where they fell victim to their hormones and the Amore root's poison. "You never told me anything about love or any of that crap, and you also had the impudence to seek help from my advisor!"
Zuko was still smiling and it drove her nuts!
A silence stretched between them as Katara stood, flaring before him while he leaned against a tree with his arms crossed.
"Well, have you got anything to say for yourself?" demanded Katara when Zuko wouldn't speak.
"Only that you would be an excellent Firebender with that temper of yours, but I'm sure that fate has made you a Waterbender for a purpose," he said finally, shrugging.
"Don't give me that bullcrap!"
"I had to lie for them to support me that's all, and I hardly think that they would encourage me in this marriage if they knew that we married out of politics and not love."
"And who in hell told you that I was going to marry you?"
"Katara, we already had this talk before. It's not as if you have a choice in this. Just agree with me and I promise you that you will be happy for the rest of your life."
"You call being forced into a marriage and having no choice in the matter happiness? Then you are one sick fucker, that's what you are."
"Enough of that vulgarity!" he roared. "You're a well-bred leader in the eyes of your people so act like it!"
Katara hadn't expected this diatribe from him and it caused her to splutter like a fish out of water.
"Listen here, woman," continued Zuko, his voice not losing that sharp edge, "I'm getting tired of this, all of this trashing around and you insulting me to the marrow of my bones. Answer me, yes or no?"
Katara remained at gaping at him. She felt that her vocal chords had stopped functioning and her brain was totally ransacked. She opened her mouth a few times and tried to reply but not even a sound could come out.
Zuko sighed and approached her.
"Look at me, Katara," he said, taking both of her hands in his and cupping her chin with the other, making her look up into those devastating golden eyes. "I know this is a hard decision for you, and even I am unsure of all of this, but I need to think of other things besides myself."
Katara turned her head to one side.
"You told me you want to marry for love, right? I think the reason we are both hesitant in this is because we want that, and since I was a boy, I wanted to marry the girl that I love and make her my queen. I'm afraid we can't hold on to our petty dreams; you're a leader yourself, you must know what sacrifices must be done for your people."
The tears she had been fighting against fell steadily down to her cheeks as she finally admitted defeat. He was right; she can't think selfishly. She had a job to do, and who knows, she might even enjoy being in his wife…and possibly fall in love with him?
"Don't cry, Katara," he whispered soothingly, letting go of her hands only to embrace her, not knowing what else to do to comfort her.
Katara buried her face in his armored chest, letting the tears flow along with her confusion, anger, and sorrow.
I'm sorry if I ever hurt you, but I have my own reasons for doing this. Please forgive me.
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Zuko and Katara sat on the concrete bench a few feet away from each other. It's been minutes since Zuko had let go of Katara and had her sit on the bench. After offering her his handkerchief, which she accepted, he sat down, putting lots of space between them.
"I've decided," announced Katara strongly, holding back a sob. "Yes, Fire Lord Zuko, I will marry you and make the union of our nations legal and known."
Zuko didn't even try to hide his glee as he moved closer to her and took her hand. He kissed the coolness of the back of her hand and looked deep into her eyes.
"I promise you that you won't regret this decision."
Katara breathed deeply.
"So, what are we going to do now?"
"I will make the announcement of our engagement seven days from now in our engagement party as it is the custom here. Two weeks after that will be our marriage."
"That's kind of fast, don't you think?" asked Katara as she let Zuko help her stand up and lead her to the infirmary where they could tell the good news to Jing and Iroh.
"Fire Nation people are not known for their patience, my Katara."
Katara sighed at his use of ownership. It was something she needs to get used to—the feeling of finally being possessed by a man.
"And we could spend the seven days before the engagement party as time to get to know one another. I'll give you a grand tour of the palace, as you need to get used to it for it will be your home from now on, and also of Shenhoun. Maybe even of the whole Fire Nation," Zuko was saying a bit animatedly though his face registered nothing short of impassiveness. Katara hardly heard him, so preoccupied was she with her own thoughts.
They were only a few meters from the infirmary's door when Katara stopped in her tracks.
"Zuko, this may come late, but I want to ask you something," she began.
"What is it?"
"What if your people don't accept me? As you've said before, I'm the first Waterbender to be married into Fire Nation royalty. I'm not sure if your people can take the shock. Also my people; some of them would consider it betrayal. Racism is still present no matter how much we try to ignore it. And to tell the truth, Zuko, you're not the first man to have proposed to me."
The Fire Lord stared at her thoughtfully, scratching his chin. "You have a point there, but honestly, it's not something I really considered that much when I asked you to marry me. I'm the one marrying you, not them, but I'm sure in the end they'll realize what good this marriage will do for them. And I don't care that others proposed to you; what's important is I'm the one you chose. That's enough for me. As for your people, I realize that we have done so much to them, and you, their great leader marrying off one of their tormentors—their king nonetheless—would stir up some rebellion. So, I leave it up to you to explain things to them, let them see what good this will bring them, and I'll do the same with my subjects."
Katara nodded and made her way to the infirmary. But as she was about to turn the knob, something struck her:
"Zuko, what reason are we going to tell Mr. Jing and Uncle Iroh? We can't tell them this is all in the name of politics!"
"Then we'll just tell them that during these past few days we've fallen hopelessly in love with each other and are very much eager to get married. I'm sure those two will jump in joy, finally accomplishing what they wanted."
"Huh?"
"Didn't you notice it all, Katara? Me going to the North Pole, the Amore root in our teas, and some other things…. Mr. Jing and Uncle made all of those happen; I think they're desperate to have grandkids, so they thought they'd play matchmaker to us. Their plan didn't work, I've seen through it and avoided it, but they win because we're getting married anyway. I guess that they thought we make a good couple…."
"Those two…." Katara was breathing furiously. Who else knew of this plan? And Jing and Iroh weren't the only people who thought that she and Zuko made a good couple. There's King Bumi, Meng (mainly because if Katara ends up with Zuko, she'll have Aang for herself), Jun (who she talked with during the ball), and other leaders of the council, after all, the two were the only singles in the whole council.
"Relax, Katara. Come on, we have to act like a happy, lovesick couple for their benefit."
Zuko took her hand and laced it with his. They took deep breaths and forced happy smiles. Needless to say, the aged men jumped up in delight when they announced that they were getting married in three weeks, and possibly have kids by the end of the year.
"Mr. Jing, I thought the doctor said that you were in complete paralysis?" asked Katara as Jing danced around the room with Iroh.
Jing and Iroh stopped waltzing in the middle of the room.
"It must be the medicine the doctor gave me!" exclaimed Jing. "It's a miracle! I'm cured! We should celebrate!"
Zuko and Katara shook their heads, their suspicions of the old men's conspiracy finally proven. They went out of the room, still holding hands and not noticing it.
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At dinner, both teenagers tried their damnedest acting like a couple in love. They sat beside each other, feeding each other and canoodling all the while. The smiles of Iroh, Jing, servants, and guards stretched to their ears. Zuko and Katara fussed over each other, finally ending the straining dinner when Zuko gave Katara a small kiss on the cheek. It cost him all of his sanity and pride to do it, but he did, and the reaction was instantaneous: Iroh and Jing squealed in pure pleasure but Katara looked taken aback, even afraid of his action. He gave her a knowing wink and she frowned.
After the eventful meal, the teens excused themselves, saying that they wanted to go to the gardens to talk (and maybe kiss some more, thought Iroh and Jing). They did, but they didn't talk and only stared up at the stars. When they felt that their necks were stiffening from looking up too long, they decided to go to bed, for tomorrow Zuko promised that he will take her touring around the palace grounds.
"Zuko, why did you kiss me during dinner?" Katara finally voiced as they stopped in front of her bedroom door.
"I just wanted to make it look like we really are in love, and I think that's what people do when they're in love: kiss and stuff. Admit it, my acting's excellent," Zuko said, smiling a bit though grimly.
"Oh, I see. By the way, Zuko, will you send some of your men to tell Aang and Sokka of our engagement? I want them to be here for my wedding. After Gran-Gran and Jing, they're the only family I have."
"Of course, you can expect them to be here shortly."
"Thank you."
One word: Silence. A silence that spoke uncertainty and embarrassment on both sides.
"Well, good night Zuko," Katara said, opening her door.
"Good night, Katara. Pleasant dreams." Zuko turned on his heel and went for his own room.
What Katara didn't know was while he was walking along the moonlit hallways, a lot of things were on his mind.
You half-expected her to give you a good night kiss, didn't you? The nasty voice was back in his brain.
NO! I was still hesitant about all of this…. I don't know if this is the right move….
This is; you are sure of that. You are smart, Zuko, and you know what's best.
Yes, yes, I am right about all of this. But I can't help feeling guilty about all of this. I couldn't stand seeing her like that. She looked so sad, but she chose to marry me for the good of her people. I really admire her for that….
Ha! You're falling for her, and you're half-expecting that during this marriage, she'll fall for you too!
Maybe you're right—hell, I don't know a damn thing anymore! But it isn't hard to fall for her, and I'm very lucky to have to marry her.
Let's just hope that she doesn't have any dark desire to escape and run away.
Ugh, that's what I'm afraid of.
But if she gives me one more reason to, I will fall for her. And that's what I'm really afraid of….
Wow, I got some few reactions on how Zuko became a bastard last chapter…. But fear not, all things are done for a reason. Reasons which will be up by later chapters. Anyway, REVIEW, please. I think I'll post up another chapter before this goeson hiatus for a week or so, but only if you give me lots of reviews to make me happy. Writing and your reviews are the only things keeping me from going to breakdown and land in the nut house for good.
I may rewrite this chapter as I think it is very crappy (crappier than the last, in fact) but I wanted to get ot over with, so blame my writer's blocks and I think my brain is overloaded from all that studying...
Next chapter: The Engagement
Rienne ;p
