Two Years Later
"Shhhh! Katara, you're being too loud," Zuko whispered.
"I'm not," Katara hissed back, returning his glare. "He's not even here yet."
"So? Do you want him to know as soon as he walks into the room?"
She grumbled in agreement, before quietly adding, "I'm not being that loud."
"Katara, if you giggle in the middle of it, you're going to get us caught."
She rolled her eyes at the prince. "It's Iroh. The worst we will get is a stern lecture about interrupting his tea-infused contemplation."
Zuko frowned, and made to say something else when a sound from the other side of the room interrupted him. Eyes widening as they stared at each other, the two children hunched further behind the couch. They listened as Iroh asked a servant to make him some tea before making his way across the room. The couch settled as he sat down. Katara squeezed her eyes shut to focus on not making a sound, feeling the amusement building again. She peeked at Zuko to find him still glaring at her. It almost broke her. Before she could make a sound, a small hand shot out, covering her mouth. The prince's eyebrows furrowed as he signalled her to be quiet. Katara shut her eyes again, Zuko's grumpy face providing a new source of entertainment.
They heard the servant re-enter and the unmistakable sound of the tray being placed, and a teapot being lifted and poured. A few words, before serenity descended. The children waited for a few minutes until they could hear Iroh relax into reading. Then the sound they were waiting for. The teacup being placed back down on the table. Zuko peered around Katara, before nodding at her and removing his hand. Soundlessly, she leaned back and lifted her palm. As she had practised all week, a thin stream of liquid raised from the cup and passed behind the couch to in front of her. The satisfaction from her improved control of the water gave her a little burst of pride, but she had to focus. She peeked at the small bowl Zuko had sneaked from breakfast that morning, and took in a deep breath. This was the trickiest part of their plan. Even while practising, she had struggled to soften the first splash of water into the bowl.
Letting out the air slowly, Katara sent the stream towards the vessel. It wasn't perfect. She tensed, sucking in a panicky breath as she heard the tiny, but unmistakable, clink of the water hitting the sides. Fortunately, the small sound of the tea hitting the porcelain was masked by a shuffling of the papers Iroh was reading. It had worked. Katara grinned victoriously at the prince. Zuko looked like he was struggling to hold it together, but managed to return the grin without making a sound. They returned to waiting, Katara biting her lip and Zuko covering his face with his hands as they waited for the reaction.
"Huh. I could have sw-" The confused sound of Iroh's voice made Katara start shaking as she controlled silent giggles that threatened to reveal their position. The two children avoided each other's gaze as they listened to Iroh lean over and pour himself another cup of tea.
Twice more, they waited till Iroh placed the half-filled teacup down before swooping. Katara coursed the liquid from the cup and to their bowl and waited for a reaction. Zuko maintained his role as the only thing stopping her from cracking and exposing their prank. Inaudibly, they were trying to signal whether to cut their losses and be able to leave without discovery when they heard the door open and Iroh's cheerful greeting.
"Minister Ren, what brings you here? Would you like some tea?"
"No, thank you General. I received some news I thought you would be interested in hearing."
"Good news I hope?"
"Yes, sir. We have had confirmation of the next rotation in the Earth Kingdom. Your son's division is returning to the Palace."
The news that Prince Lu Ten was returning to the Palace spread fast. For the last two hours, Katara had been in etiquette classes with Azula, Ty Lee and Mai. Every time the sternly faced tutor ducked out of the room, the conversation would instantly turn back to the ensuing gossip.
Ty Lee had taken the lead this time. "My sister is so excited; she's had a crush on him for as long as I can remember!"
"Ty Lin has a crush on everyone though," Mai said dryly. She had slumped back in her chair as soon as the tutor had left.
"True." Ty Lee looked puzzled for a moment, before her face broke back into a smile. "But he's definitely the main one. She has a mini portrait of him in her room," she continued, her voice fading into a conspiratorial whisper. "I've caught her kissing it before."
"Well, that is just gross," Azula replied.
Despite her friend's ridicule, Ty Lee persisted, looking at Katara for approval. "Everyone is talking about his return; he's been away for years."
"I know," Katara said, giving her an enthusiastic smile. Ty Lee had always been friendly. She had been excited to teach the waterbender cartwheeling – a skill that Katara had yet to master - and to have found someone willing to having their hair braided. "Hey, maybe you could show him what you've learnt with your chi masters?"
Ty Lee blushed. "Oh, I don't think-"
"Don't be silly," Azula cut in, "I highly doubt he's going to recognise Ty Lee."
Katara watched Ty Lee's face fall momentarily, before the girl recovered and smiled at the princess. "You're right, Azula. He hasn't seen me in more than three years," Ty Lee said, her cheerful voice returning. "I'm sure I'm taller now."
"How are the chi lessons going?" Katara asked, changing the subject away from the discussion about Iroh's son. She was increasingly nervous to meet him, and the more the girls talked about him, the less she could ignore the worry that she wasn't going to get along with him.
Ty Lee blinked at her at the question, before scrunching her face. "Well, I know it's a huge honour and very few people get chosen to study it," she said, before throwing her hands up in the air dramatically, "but it's so boring! All we do is study where the chi lines pass through the body. Everyone said that the masters can do all these cool things with manipulating people's chi, but it all just feels like extra classes at the moment."
Mai sighed at her friend's theatrical tirade. "Didn't they let you in because you could tumble better than the rest of us?"
"Yes. But we don't even get to do anything physical. The masters said we need to understand the inner workings," Ty Lee stood in front of them, motioning her hands towards her body as she parroted their teachings, "before we can learn outer manipulation. But they never tell us when that will be and," she sighed, "it's so dull."
"I'm sure it will get better," Katara said. "Just you wait, maybe one day you'll be able to take down any bender out there."
Zuko considered himself lucky that he didn't have to go to the same etiquette classes as the girls. However, he had been placed in another room to complete some history homework; far from the gossip, but alone.
Being alone. It was a strange feeling. One Zuko was once accustomed to. Where his sister had flourished in schooling, acquiring her very own minions within the first month, Zuko had found it harder to relate to the other boys in his classes. Many avoided him, wary of his family or threatened by his position in the succession line. Luckily, classes had been a temporary addition to the royal siblings' schedule – merely a way to be exposed to the children of ministers and the Fire Nation elite at an early age – and he was able to return to the expected tailored lessons held within the walls of the Palace. This isolation lead to an ingrained acceptance of his loneliness, particularly after his cousin and uncle had left for the frontline of the war.
That acceptance was hard to imagine now. The concept of loneliness had been thrown away two years ago. Now, solitude was unexpected, a foreign sensation that was equally relaxing and unsettling. He didn't miss it.
Despite the circumstances that had brought Katara to the Fire Nation, Zuko couldn't help but see their friendship as a silver lining. He couldn't know if she felt the same and it would be wrong to ask. Surely, Katara would have preferred to have been home with her tribe, surrounded by her family. Never having had met him. He tried to not dwell on those festering thoughts, and the resulting waves of guilt and uncertainty that accompanied them.
Katara's enthusiasm could be exhausting. Her plans often got them both into trouble, and she still found the strangest things funny. But one thing was certain. He knew he never wanted to go back to a world where she wasn't around. Where he would truly be alone again.
Since the news of his son's return, Katara had only seen Iroh in the evenings. The Crown Prince had been rushing around, attempting to prepare things for Lu Ten's return in between the escalation of strategic meetings. He had explained to Katara that the return of Lu Ten's division was partially due to the length of time they had been in the field, but also because of the need to rally them together and prepare for the next planned attack. Iroh hadn't explained what he meant when questioned, just saying that it wasn't set in stone. It appeared that this uncertainty was the cause for his attention being currently pulled in various directions.
Tonight though, he had joined her on the balcony, both sitting in the crisp air. The winter solstice had passed a week ago and despite the sun still holding onto its warmth during the day, the sunsets were often chilly. Just the way Katara liked it.
"I've been informed that a number of the soldiers returning are injured," Iroh said. "It looks like you may be a busy girl in the next few weeks."
"I heard," Katara replied. "Pang said they are trying to clear the wards by the end of the week. Did they say how many?"
Iroh shook his head. "Unfortunately, there appears to have been an accident on the Fire Nation side. Quite a few burns."
"Oh." She had definitely improved, but Katara still found burns made her squeamish.
In Iroh's continued silence, she found herself losing herself in thoughts, pulled back to the memory of her first one. It had been after her eighth birthday, when she had been healing for around six months. But despite her skills as a healer advancing, she had never been asked to treat a burn victim. She had been grateful that Doctor Pang had held them back, but she suspected it was actually Iroh who had influenced the delay. It didn't matter. There was no length in time that would have been long enough. She shuddered, both at the breeze that passed across the balcony, chilling her skin, and the memory of that horrible smell.
The acrid smell of burnt hair and sickly scent of cooked flesh struck her as soon as she entered the room. Gulping, Katara had stepped forward, forcing a wave of nausea down at the gnarly sight. Angry, blistered skin spanned across the man's forearm, puckering skin in sections with others smoothed and raw. The potency of the stench wafting from the soldier laid out on the bed was suffocating, hanging thickly in the air. Katara had turned away before she reached him, squeezing her eyes shut and holding a trembling hand over her mouth.
Disordered, her thoughts split between the revulsion at the immediate assault on her senses and the horror from the memories they evoked. Trauma locked deep down, sealed behind fortifications built of sheer will, emancipated by a sense that she couldn't control. Memories of cold eyes, charred flesh and confused screams. An indescribable body that couldn't possibly be the remnants of the life she had seen moments before.
"Katara? Katara?" Iroh's voice cut through the memory, and she realised a few tears had slipped from her eyes. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Wh-what?" Katara shook her head to clear it, wiping her damp cheeks. "Oh, just remembering something. I'm actually fine."
He looked at her in concern. "I hope you aren't nervous about meeting Lu Ten?"
"No. No, I'm not. Well, maybe a little."
"I wish I could convince you, but I just know that you will both get along brilliantly," Iroh said. "He should be here in time for your birthday too. Turning 10 is a milestone worth celebration, and he has always loved birthdays."
Katara smiled at him. "If he is anything like you, I think we have a chance."
The sun was beating down on the city, the Caldera alive with raucous cheering and waving citizens. A procession involving the entire Royal Family was a rare sight, and the sides of their path were lined with everyone who could make it to the Caldera in time. From her perch in the palanquin, Katara could peer out at the beaming faces. It was in stark contrast to the judging eyes who witnessed her arrival through these same streets. That march felt so long ago, a world away from the life she had now. But she suspected that if the curtains were drawn, and those faces knew who was watching them, some of the animosity would return.
"You didn't answer earlier, Katara." Azula's voice interrupted her observation of the crowds. "Did you agree with Ty Lee?"
"Agree with what?" Zuko asked.
Azula raised an eyebrow, grinning at her brother. "Oh, Ty Lee's sister has this big crush on Lu Ten. She was fawning over how handsome he was, and asking the girls what they thought."
"Yuck! He's our cousin."
"I know that, Zuzu. Obviously, I didn't answer," Azula responded curtly, rolling her eyes at her brother before facing Katara. "But Katara had no excuse for withholding her answer. She isn't related to him. I thought she may want a chance to answer now, away from those gossips."
"But I've never met him."
"That doesn't matter," Azula responded. "The girls showed you his portrait, didn't they? You know what he looks like."
"I guess," Katara said, her voice trailing off. "But I didn't really have an opinion."
"How boring." The princess shrugged and leaned her head back against the wall of the palanquin. "When we first met, I thought you would be more fun than this," she added, before shutting her eyes in a blatant end to the game.
Katara pulled a face at her, before returning to the view. The procession was nearing the port, and she could see hints of the ocean past the waving people and the carved ridges of the buildings set out behind them. It called to her, calming her. She missed this feeling. Growing up so close to the ocean had always given her a sense of freedom. There was no way to look out across the vast tracks of water and feel anything but uninhibited. Free. Living within the Palace had taken that from her, limited the sensation of freedom she had once experienced. She longed for the ability to just explore her surroundings at will, with the only restrictions being the threat of a snowstorm or when a pack of wild snow leopard caribou were passing too close to her village.
Iroh had once been confident that Katara could explore the city, visit Liao and integrate into the Nation. Those hopes had slowly been whittled away, the Crown Prince wary of antagonising citizens that didn't understand why the waterbender's presence continued in their city. No citizen would complain, or even question, their Fire Lord's decision. But after she had raised the request a third time, Iroh had gently explained to her that their silence was not conducive to their acceptance. He thought it was unwise to press the issue.
She had once thought of Zuko as being trapped. It hadn't been easy to accept that she was now as trapped as he was. It had been harder for Katara though. She remembered what it was like to have been free.
Iroh had worked hard to connect Katara to the outside world. Liao was permitted to come to the Palace every few months, and despite their differences, the two girls had become good friends. Liao didn't come from a noble bloodline, and didn't have the same education or standing as Azula and her minions. It had been easier for Katara and her to find common ground. They had bonded over the hopelessness felt in the continued absence of Liao's father and the vast distance between Katara and her family. But, behind that, there was a bond formed over the previous lack of a sister figure. Liao was an only child, and there were few girls left in the Southern Water Tribe and none close to Katara's age. It was an easy friendship in contrast to the cloak of caution that Katara wore around Azula, Mai and Ty Lee.
Zuko often avoided them when Liao would come to the Palace. When probed about it, he offered an excuse about Katara being weird when she was around Liao and he really didn't need to figure out why another group of girls were laughing around him. Sometimes, he would be a reluctant participant in a game when Iroh was also present. For the first year, Liao was always reserved around the prince and often squeaked if he spoke to her. But, they had settled into a polite but friendly existence with each other, albeit one with few words.
Lost in thoughts, it took Katara a few moments to notice the palanquin had stopped moving. Along with the royal siblings, she was soon ushered out into the blinding light. The temperature was not as pervasive as in the summer, but the sun felt particularly harsh for a wintry day. She blinked, adjusting to the light, as she watched swarms of people being held back by a line of guards. Their ogling was not as cruel as what had followed her procession through the city, but their evident curiosity was still unsettling. It was a relief when she heard Zuko huff behind her about staring, and pull her back towards their group.
It was then that she saw the docked ship. Gobsmacked at the sight, Zuko's incessant tugging on her arm was the only thing that kept her walking towards it. She had seen Fire Nation navy ships before, each one an unfortunate reminder of her voyage here, but none of them compared to the size and extravagance of this. It was huge. She could only guess at the number of soldiers that habited this vessel on their journey home.
Each of the members of the Royal Family and Katara were guided to their places, lined up ready to welcome the Fire Lord's grandson home. The Fire Lord himself had a version of his throne set up for him, with the others standing attentively next to him. Iroh was at his father's side, followed by Ozai, Ursa, Zuko, Azula and finally Katara. Katara peeked down the line at them, before being elbowed by the princess. She tried her best to mimic their postures, back straight, chin up, eyes focused ahead on the gangplank. She could feel sweat droplets form under her collar and slowly slip down her back, tickling her skin. The feeling was getting unbearable when she was distracted by the shift in the crowd's mood.
The first figures appeared at the top of the ramp, the Fire Nation flag stretched between them. They stood there for a few minutes, before making a slow and methodical descent down the gangplank. Soon, a procession of soldiers emerged and followed them down.
The marching soldiers set themselves in formal rows, each facing their Fire Lord. A single man stepped forward, making his way towards the throne.
He was tall, with arched eyebrows and sideburns that framed a strong jaw. His dark hair was fastened above his head, his top knot set with a gold band, with an intricate Fire Nation symbol cast in front of it. Head held high, he was the picture of a regal prince. But there was a resemblance, a twinkle in his eye that instantly calmed Katara. She didn't need to look towards Iroh to confirm that this was his son.
Lu Ten stopped in front of his grandfather and bowed deeply, before greeting him formally. The voice that carried down the line towards Katara was clear and authoritative, as the prince politely spoke to the Fire Lord. The next few exchanges were quieter and she strained to hear what was being said. Realising that Azula was glaring at her, Katara found she was leaning towards the sound. She awkwardly returned to her position, just in time to hear a deep, yet raspy laugh burst from the Fire Lord, a sound that indicated the response was often unused.
She stole another look down the line and saw that Iroh was also beaming. Unable to tear her eyes away, she watched as Lu Ten turned to him. The younger prince stepped forward and bowed before his father, before being pulled into an encompassing hug. The crowd behind her murmured, this was obviously not something commonly seen. But the Fire Lord simply chuckled, and Katara couldn't help her mouth twitching into a smile at the sight of the reunited family. As they pulled away, she saw Iroh surreptitiously wipe his eyes before she noticed Zuko trying to signal to her to look ahead.
Grimacing, she returned to her previous position and waited. She could only hear pieces of the conversations as Lu Ten greeted and spoke to his uncle, aunt and then each of his cousins. Katara overheard a comment about Zuko's height and a teasing comment about whether Azula had attempted lightning yet. Even Azula seemed to have grudging respect for her cousin, but Katara felt the air heat up as her hair was ruffled by him. Lu Ten must have felt the change in temperature as well, because he laughed quietly in response before focusing his gaze on Katara. She quickly looked ahead, but it was obvious that he had noticed her peeking at him.
"And, you must be Katara?"
She mutely nodded. He was suddenly standing in front of her, and he was taller than she thought. She craned her neck to look up at him, the sun behind him giving him an ethereal halo.
"I've heard a lot about you from my father. You've definitely been a common presence in his letters," Lu Ten said. "I have to say I've been looking forward to meeting you."
"Oh." His face broke into a smile at her response, and she cringed. Surely, she could think of something better to say. "Uh- I've been looking forward to meeting you too."
"Well, I've heard you've become quite the Pai Sho player. My father has been bragging at his teaching prowess. We'll have to have a match."
"Ok. I think he has overstated my ability," she said, feeling her cheeks warm up. "I never beat him."
He chuckled. "Neither do I."
Lu Ten stepped back, making his way back to his troops. The formalities continued, Katara struggling not to fidget. The dampness of her collar was increasingly hard to ignore, and she was relieved when it was over and she was able to subtly shift her clothing to stop it rubbing,
"What did he say to you?" Zuko whispered, nudging her as they walked back towards the shade of the palanquin.
"Huh?" Katara answered. "Nothing much, he just said Iroh had written to him about me."
"You were blushing."
"No, I wasn't," she hissed back. Zuko frowned at her response, and she could feel her cheeks reddening again. "You sound like Azula, why do you even care?"
"I don't care," he said, scowling and quickening his steps towards the palanquin.
Katara watched as the curtain closed behind the prince's retreating back. That was odd. What had gotten him so upset?