Over the two and a half years that Katara had been at the Palace, Iroh had learnt to expect any number of peculiar scenes as he entered the training rooms. As a result, he was amused, rather than shocked by his view from the doorway. He heard an exclamation of surprise escape Ursa as she followed him through the door, one that was quickly masked with a delicate cough. Neither child registered their presence, so both adults stood in silence, witnessing the spectacle playing out in front of them.
A red-faced Zuko stood in front of them, feet encased in ice. The ground within two meters of the prince was frozen solid. Ice crystals were slowly making its way up his ankles. He was sending fiery projectiles at the skipping waterbender's feet, Katara jumping from one foot to the other while trying to concentrate on moving the ice. As the adults watched, Zuko let out a frustrated growl before redirecting his efforts at melting the ice surrounding his feet.
A few moments passed before he loosened one of his feet, kicking it up towards her. She squeaked as she ducked out of the way of the flame, pulling some water from the training jug and dumping it on Zuko's head. Ursa chuckled, and both children jumped in surprise. Due to having one foot still trapped in the ice, Zuko tripped momentarily before regaining his balance. The fight was over.
"Good work, Prince Zuko," Iroh said, applauding as he approached them. "And Katara, your ice creation is improving quickly."
The girl frowned at him. "Sometimes. It doesn't really listen to me though."
"It seemed to be working well there," Iroh chuckled at Zuko's scowl as the boy continued to melt the ice surrounding his other foot. "Don't be like that, nephew; you demonstrated some impressive thinking on your feet." He winked at him.
Zuko groaned at the joke, shaking his foot, before turning to his mother. "Mom? What are you doing here?"
"I was talking to your uncle and he mentioned that he was coming here to tell Katara something, so I thought I would see how your training was going," Ursa said, smiling brightly at her son. "I was impressed. You both have come so far." Her son reddened at the praise.
"What were you going to tell me?" Katara asked.
"Ah, yes. Well, I was coming to tell you that we are heading on a short trip," Iroh said, smiling as the girl's eyes widened. "My son's return has brought a renewed enthusiasm about the war efforts, one that has outshone the Court's expectation. There have been reports over the last year of a growing disillusionment towards the war, and it has been suggested that a brief tour of the villages may be a little less intensive than other proposed measures to address it."
Katara narrowed her eyes at the use of measures, but Iroh did not elaborate. "So, you're saying that we get to go and visit some of the Fire Nation?"
"Both of us will join Lu Ten, and a number of his division, of course."
"Do we get to travel there on a ship?" she asked, unable to hold back her excitement. "When are we leaving? Will I be there for my birthday?"
Iroh beamed at her, and nodded. "Yes, in a few days, and yes."
The girl squealed in response. She turned to Zuko, smile sliding from her face as she saw his reaction. "But wait, what about Zuko?"
Zuko looked up at his mother. "Can I go with them, Mom?"
Ursa sighed, placing a hand on her son's shoulder. "I- I'm not sure if you will be able to go this time. I can ask your father. But Zuko, even if he says yes, your grandfather might not be happy with you going as well."
"But I never get to visit the Fire Nation," the prince grumbled. Small red splotches bloomed on his cheeks as he stared as his feet. "Surely I need to see more than just the Palace."
"Well, there's no harm in asking," Iroh said cheerily. "Your mother can discuss this with your father today," he met Ursa's eyes over the heads of the children, "and if Ozai is fine with it then I can talk to your grandfather."
Ursa had always admired her husband's office. It was a portrait of Ozai's refined tastes, displaying the organised elegance that made up a fraction of the man's personality. Dark shades spanned the room, backlit by the sun as it radiated through ornate windows tall enough to almost touch the ceiling. Ozai sat behind the centrepiece of the office, a solid elm desk that both dwarfed him and magnified his prestige. Brows furrowed, absorbed in the scroll he was reading, he unrolled it a little further. Smiling, she watched him quietly, waiting for him to finish as she lost herself in the moment and the fondness that view brought her.
A few minutes passed like that, before Ozai tensed and looked up at her frowning. Golden eyes flashed as he recognised her, his face breaking into a large grin.
"Ursa."
"Ozai, may I have a word?"
"Naturally. Please sit down," he said, gesturing towards the seat placed in front of his desk. She felt his eyes follow her path from the door, smoothed her skirt and settled into the chair. His scrutiny was expected. This wasn't a common occurrence, and Ozai had a habit of predicting the reason for her visits over the years. Looking up, she met a cheerful grin. He was in a good mood. "To what do I owe this honour?"
"I imagine you have heard that Iroh and Lu Ten are heading a trip around the villages."
Ozai's eyebrows knitted together briefly, before he leant back in his chair. "I heard this morning of Father's plan to send Lu Ten. However, I was unaware Iroh was accompanying him. How fascinating." He leant his face into his right hand, examining at her. Ursa remained silent, not wanting to interrupt to raise her request. Eventually he spoke, amusement threading through his words. "Well, this is all very interesting, but I'm a little bemused as to why you've brought this to my attention. I'm sure I would have heard this later today." He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. "Why are you really here, Ursa?"
She didn't hesitate. "I would like Zuko to have a chance to go with them." Ozai quirked an eyebrow at her words, but Ursa persevered when he didn't immediately respond. "It would do him a lot of good to see more of the Fire Nation, and this seems like a good opportunity when there will be plenty of security as well as his uncle and cousin."
"And the waterbender," Ozai added, his tone mocking.
Ursa controlled her expression. "Yes, she will be there as well."
He sighed, before speaking with a voice filled with pity. "I hoped you wouldn't be as naïve as the rest of them, Ursa." She dug her fingers into the side of her leg, willing herself to remain calm. Ozai rose from his chair and paced towards his window. He continued to speak, gazing out across the courtyard as if he was no longer addressing her. "That waterbender will bring more trouble into our lives that she is worth, and I will never understand how Iroh convinced Father to refrain from burning her to a crisp."
There was no possible response to his words, so Ursa remained still. Moments of uncomfortable silence passed. Ozai stood motionlessly, staring out the window. Gripping the edge of the chair to ground herself, Ursa tried to ignore how the minutes dragged on, and thought about how she was going to break the news to her son. The strumming of fingers against the window sill brought her out from her planning and she couldn't hold back from jumping in her chair.
"Alright."
Distracted, she didn't register if she spoke. She must have made a sound though, because Ozai turned towards her, clearly amused. He waved his hand dismissively. "Let the boy go with them."
She found her voice. "Thank you."
Grinning at her reaction, he walked over to her, extending his hand and helping her up. The gleam in his eyes unnerved her. He seemed more pleased with his decision that she was expecting. Ozai brushed a few strands of hair from her face, before pressing his lips to hers. Strong arms wrapped tightly around her back.
Pulling away, he examined her. "You never know, maybe the experience will be good for our son," he said. She agreed and he smiled, letting her go and returning behind the desk. "Seems like an opportunity to try something different," he continued, grin widening as he spoke.
Ursa nodded in response, before turning and leaving the room. She had the odd sensation that they both weren't having the same conversation.
The feeling of being on the ocean again was indescribable. Katara hadn't been able to control her excitement since the ship launched from the docks at the edge of the Capital. Salty breezes brushed the hair from her face, sending it spiralling around her shoulders. The surface of the water was glistening in the sunshine; cresting swells crashed against the hull of the ship. The ocean was calling to her, welcoming her back into its embrace. Reminding her how it felt to experience her element surrounding her, seeping into her veins.
The picturesque view of the distant horizon put Katara at peace. The moment was heavenly, almost perfect. But there was one thing that was off, continuing to break through the tranquillity with every wretched sound.
Zuko was seasick.
The prince had been leaning over the edge of the ship for more than an hour, becoming increasingly exasperated when it didn't stop. Katara had been confused by his reaction; Zuko had once told her that his family had travelled to Ember Island. Iroh had gently pointed out that this was a much larger ship and that they were travelling farther than Zuko had previously, the oceans more open and turbulent. She had frowned, that wasn't correct. The imploring look from Iroh eventually registered: the explanation helped Zuko feel less self-conscious. Sighing, Katara had nodded in understanding and had done what she could to help alleviate her friend's suffering.
Nevertheless, her sympathy was not warmly received and Zuko had weakly banished her. The prince was unimpressed with her enjoyment of the same ocean that was causing him untold misery. Though she tried not to flaunt her delight in front of his misery, Katara had been unable to keep the smile from her face from the moment she had jumped from her bed. She had startled a servant in the process, unaccustomed to seeing the waterbender skipping through the halls before the sun had finished rising.
So here she was, surrounded by the same waters that could take her home, if the Fire Nation changed their mind about her position. They were expected to be gone for almost three weeks, visiting four separate villages on the islands scattered across the Fire Nation. It had taken two weeks to plan the trip, and the wait had been unbearable. Despite his current predicament, Zuko had been just as excited as her to escape the confines of the Palace and explore some of the islands.
Katara had counted down the days, sharing with Iroh all her plans for the trip and things she wanted to experience. During one of these conversations, Iroh had reminded her that the delay meant that she would spend her birthday away from the Palace, potentially on the ship on the way back to the Capital. With a cheeky grin, he mentioned he had a plan to sneak some musical instruments on board, quietly adding that this information was best kept between the two of them, and certainly not to be mentioned to any accompanying princes. Iroh informed her that even though Lu Ten was an avid musician, he was hopeless at hiding secrets from his cousin. If they wanted to orchestrate an impromptu concert, the utmost discretion was required. Katara had nodded in agreement and stuck out a hand. She knew what was at stake. She would not risk the chance to witness Zuko playing the tsungi horn. Iroh shook her hand, both of them enjoying the resultant suspicion from both Lu Ten and Zuko when they shared knowing glances with each other.
Unable to stop the grin spreading back across her face, Katara leaned against the handrail. This was going to be a good month.
Zuko scowled as he leaned back, a reprieve from emptying his stomach contents over the handrail into the swirling waters below. The same resounding waves that were responsible for his suffering. "Uncle, how long do we have to be on this spirit's damned ship?"
His uncle grimaced, before patting him on the shoulder. "It's going to be a few days till our first destination. This will pass though."
"How long?"
"A day, maybe two. It's different for everyone. You might still get a little after that, but the initial sensation will pass."
"This is so unfair." Zuko covered his face with his hands. "This was meant to be a fun trip. No one else is throwing up."
"It still will be, nephew. I promise you," Uncle said, ignoring the apprehensive expression on the prince's face. "And no one else is throwing up because they are used to this. As you will be one day."
"I guess."
"I know what will cheer you up." His uncle gestured to someone, and Zuko turned to see Lu Ten approach them cautiously.
"How are you feeling?" his cousin asked, a sympathetic smile on his face.
"Miserable."
"I was just about to tell Zuko about your first experience on a ship," Uncle said, grinning at his son. "But I thought he may prefer hearing it directly from you."
Lu Ten frowned. "Oh, I don't think-"
"I'm sure you wouldn't deprive your aggrieved cousin from bonding over your shared experience," Uncle said. Ignoring his son's glare, he continued, "come on, you can only make the boy feel better."
"Fine," Lu Ten groaned. He turned to Zuko, sinking down onto his haunches in front of him. "My first experience on a ship in open waters was when I was 18. I didn't…cope very well with it at the beginning. You won't believe me, but I was worse than you are now. It didn't help that the soldiers inducted the new recruits through some irresponsible methods on the night before we shipped out." Lu Ten hesitated, glowering at his father, who chuckled in response. "I wasn't the only one, but I was definitely the worst. And I was the one that remained there later in the day, when everyone else had retreated back into their beds." He pushed himself back up to standing. "Turns out that fish are attracted to vomit. And my daylong efforts had brought half a school of them," he grimaced, and Zuko felt himself smiling for the first time since they had launched from the docks. "The other soldiers quickly noticed and…started fishing. They dubbed me the Fish Whisperer. Had a ceremony for me and everything. Needless to say, I stuck to rice that night and did not eat fish for the first month we were at sea."
Uncle leaned back his head, laughing heartily, and Zuko soon joined him. For the moment, the nausea had retreated, replaced by an inexpressible warmth and happiness.
"I love that story," his uncle gasped, wiping tears away.
"Always happy to help," Lu Ten said wryly.
Iroh was relieved. By the end of the first day, Zuko's stomach had settled enough to crawl into the bed on the other side of the cabin to Katara's. Despite his first day away from the Palace in years, Zuko appeared to have remained in good spirits. It was hard not to. Katara's enthusiasm was infectious, and once the boy's nausea had receded, even he wasn't impervious to it. As Iroh left their room for the night, he could hear the smile behind the boy's grumbling in response to her chatter.
His nephew gradually improved over the next day. By late afternoon, Zuko joined them in exploring the ship and by their arrival at the first village, he appeared to have adjusted to their temporary home.
Their first welcome was at a large village on one of the more prominent islands in the Fire Nation. The entirety of the village's population were in attendance, their faces alight as they witnessed the arrival of the group and the speeches of both Iroh and the head of the village. Their group remained for three days, days spent talking to the village elders and aiding with abandoned projects and repairs. Despite their cheerful reception, it was increasingly apparent that this bustling village was slowly falling into disrepair. The men and women that remained were either too young or too old. Those that had seen the horrors of war and returned, their minds and bodies not as whole as when they had left, and those that had yet to leave.
Iroh spent one afternoon sharing tea with a soldier named Hotaka, a man he had once fought alongside many years past. The morning had been spent digging a new well within the borders of the village, and both men now relaxed as they watched children playing in the mud surrounding the area. The two soldiers spoke of their time together, swapped memories of battles fought and friends lost, along with stories of the families they had raised in the aftermath of their time together. Hotaka's two sons were both stationed in the navy, one returning recently to marry a girl in the village during a break in his deployment.
As the sun descended from the sky, and the cups of tea turned into flasks of wine, their conversation turned to the omnipresent conflict and with some convincing, the reminisced camaraderie between them drew out Hotaka's opinion on the war effort. But, as always, his words were tainted by the discrepancy in their respective ranks. A soldier could only be so frank to the heir to the Throne, the son of the man who maintained the war. Iroh could sense the underlying bitterness behind Hotaka's words, and both men inevitably allowed the discussion to trail off.
Fires were lit and the village gathered to eat, Iroh and Hotaka sitting further back from the merriment. The atmosphere was relaxed; the hard work of the day completed and the people happy to enjoy the evening. From their vantage point, Iroh could see Katara and Zuko paired together in a game set up on the outskirts of the group by the children. Eventually Hotaka returned to his family, and the vacated seat was filled by one of Iroh's own.
"You seem to be pondering something," Lu Ten asked, taking a sip from his glass of wine. "Care to share something with your most trusted advisor?"
Iroh scoffed. "You're my most trusted advisor? I sense we're all doomed if that's the case," he said wryly, prompting a barking laugh from his son. "But I do want to know your opinion on this."
"Hmmm?"
Iroh pursed his lips as he leant towards Lu Ten. "You've been back for a month, and have sat in on a number of meetings now. What is your opinion on the siege?" He waved his hand. "I know the tactical advantages of winning against the Earth Kingdom's capital, and the spiel that has invaded the war council's discourse. But that wall has never been breached. Seems to me that we also have a lot to lose from this plan. Is this even the right moment to act?"
Lu Ten had raised an eyebrow at the topic's introduction, but by the time Iroh had finished his face had lost the expression. "This isn't like you. I've never seen you this uncertain about this sort of decision."
"Maybe I've never allowed you to see that hesitancy."
"That's possible. But I suspect that isn't the circumstance here."
Iroh smiled. "Did I ask you to study me?"
His son returned the smile, and took another drink. "No, and I am honoured you're asking my opinion."
"You will be Fire Lord one day. This may still be a question you have to face, even though I hope it is one you won't."
Lu Ten watched him for a few moments, before speaking. "The walls of Ba Sing Se have never been breached. But why would that mean they couldn't be? There's a chance to strike a decisive blow, one that would put an end to the suffering that ongoing conflict is causing. The war is draining the villages. You can see it even today." He paused, looking over the gathered group conversing with each other away from them. "Whole generations have been caught up in this. Legacies are now tied to the fate of what we decide. Don't we owe it to them to end it if we can?"
"And if we fail to breach the wall?"
The corner of Lu Ten's lip quirked upwards. "Who says we will?"
"Maybe we won't fail. But that is a consequence that we need to consider."
"If we lose, then we would regroup and decide on a new strategy. We have the soldiers and the artillery to lay Ba Sing Se to siege now. If this actually has a chance – a real chance - of ending the war, shouldn't we take it?"
Iroh leaned back, drank from his glass and smiled. "I'm impressed. You've clearly thought this through."
"I've had a good teacher," Lu Ten replied. "But I suspect you didn't need me to tell you any of this." He frowned at the resulting grimace. "Father, may I ask a question?"
"Please do."
Lu Ten watched the game being played. Zuko was trying to direct a blindfolded Katara through a series of obstacles faster than two other children. It didn't appear to be going so well, if Zuko's red face and Katara's shaking shoulders were any indication. "I'm sure you are aware how Katara is viewed by the Court. I've only been back a month and I've already recognised this hasn't been a popular decision." Lu Ten sighed, turning to his father and smiling. "I like her, I really like her, and Zuko seems like a completely different person compared to when I left. Which I can only assume has been due to her presence, and yours as well-"
Iroh nodded. "I think she has brought him out of his shell far more than I predicted."
"I can see that," his son added. His tone turned serious. "But have you considered that your aversion to Ba Sing Se has been seen as solely due to her presence? That the court thinks you would be an advocate to this siege if she wasn't here, and probably leading the charge."
"Perhaps," Iroh responded. "I can't deny that she hasn't been a factor. However, there are other issues that are disturbing me, affecting my judgement. A series of inexplainable decisions, troop movements that haven't been vetted, and a rise in accidents. Is this the right time to strike at the biggest stronghold of the largest enemy nation?"
Lu Ten faced the rest of the gathering. "I don't think you alone can delay this for much longer."
"No, I think you're right," Iroh said. "There are other advocates for delay, but they are outnumbered. It is likely that we will move within the next six months, a year at the outset."
"With you?" His son glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
Iroh smiled. "I imagine that will be the question keeping me awake tonight."
After two weeks spent in close proximity with Katara and Zuko, Lu Ten was sure of three things. Zuko prized Katara's friendship to a level that Lu Ten had never seen from his cousin; those feelings had developed into a small crush; and both of them were completely oblivious. Lu Ten suspected one more thing – his father knew.
The second village had come with a similar routine. This group started warier than the previous village, but the edge had been taken off by the end of the first day. It was hard, even for the most distrustful citizens, to reject the offered workforce provided by the soldiers.
The children of the village had been tasked with helping carry debris from a broken down hall in the morning, Katara and Zuko joining them. The afternoon had been filled with games, but it was hard to ignore how distanced the two of them were from the rest of the group initially. Zuko appeared to be more accepted than Katara, likely due the presence of his family, not that it made the boy any less awkward around the group. Katara, on the other hand, appeared unconscious of any avoidance of the other children. She seemed to simply enjoy being outside and amongst other people her own age, and by the end of the day, it was clear that she had won over some of them.
However, this isn't what struck Lu Ten. The early reluctance from the others just didn't seem to bother either of them, lost in their own world of being able to finally see outside the Palace walls. He had seen Katara taking charge, leading Zuko through villages and pulling him into games, but also Zuko bossing Katara into playing a game properly, and failing to hide a smile when she dramatically bowed before him. Lu Ten wasn't sure if the two of them were unaware of the people around them, or they simply didn't care.
As the light faded, the villagers left for their own homes. Unwilling to head in for the night, Lu Ten, his father, cousin and Katara set up for a campfire on the outskirts, collecting cast away wood, including broken boards, from their earlier construction efforts. The other members of their party were sitting further away, sharing drinks and stories, raucous laughter reaching Lu Ten's ears. A chill entered the air and Lu Ten leant forward to light the fire.
"That's cheating," Katara's voice stopped his movement.
He looked up at her. "Cheating?"
"Yes, we're in the middle of the woods," she said, nodding. "It's cheating to light a fire with firebending."
Lu Ten frowned. "How is that cheating, it's something I can do?"
"Well, what if you weren't a firebender? Would you be able to light a fire then?"
"But I am a firebender?"
"What if you suddenly weren't? Like you lost the ability to?"
"Why would-" Lu Ten groaned, rolling his eyes. "I'm sure if I lost the ability to firebend, I'd still know how to create fire."
Katara smiled slyly. "How would you do it?"
Lu Ten glared at her. When she seemed unfazed by the reaction, he sighed. "Fine, I don't. I never needed to learn."
"But why would he need to know?" Zuko interrupted. "Wait- why would you even know?"
"Have you ever been to the South Pole?" Katara replied. "There's a lot of snow." At that, his father started chuckling.
Lu Ten looked at the girl curiously. "Are you telling me you know how to create fire?"
"Yes," she said, eyes gleaming in pride. "My dad taught me."
"Oh, well mine apparently left that lesson out." Lu Ten glared at the man in question. His father held up his hands innocently. "I take it you can teach me."
"Of course, my dad said it was an important life lesson. I will be happy to educate you," she said, then stood up, and headed towards the forest.
Lu Ten glanced at his father who mouthed "Humour her". He sighed, and pulled himself up to follow her.
They wandered through the woods, collecting dried leaves and bark from the forest floor. Lu Ten staying silent, listening to Katara chatting away. It was easy to see why his father was so fond of her; the girl had this innate ability to find things to talk about. But this time, she seemed lost in memories, reminiscing about the first time her own father had taught her how to gather and store the dried plants and kindling necessary to start fires. It seemed inappropriate to interrupt, even when listening to her sparked some guilt within Lu Ten. He was aware of Katara's history. It gave him moral pause to see the human result of the Southern Raider's mission – a girl, split from her family, speaking about memories with someone she hadn't seen for over two years, solely due to his Nation's actions. Ever since his father had mentioned that he had brought her in as a ward, Lu Ten had wondered how much resentment a child could wield. After meeting Katara, that notion appeared to be unfounded. Outwardly, she always appeared so cheerful, and eventually he had stopped questioning what might be lying behind that friendliness.
Oblivious to his thoughts, Katara held up a large handful, announcing they had enough. They headed back to the others, placing their findings down in a small mound next to the firewood pile.
Katara grabbed a flat board from the pile. "Do you have a knife?"
Lu Ten hesitated, before pulling out his most prized possession. His father had given him this knife for his sixteenth birthday, hilt made from a carved horn of a komodo rhino, blade effortlessly light.
Katara held the board in front of her, indicating a point in the middle. "You need to create a small notch here,"
He did as she asked, receiving a nod from the girl in response. Katara handed him the board, before placing some of the dried leaves under the notch. She grabbed another thin stick from their collection, and handed it to him.
"You need to place the end of the stick in the notch, push down and roll the stick between your hands, moving them up and down the length of it," she instructed. "When you see an ember forming, hit the board so it drops onto the leaves."
He looked at her sceptically, but she smiled at him. "I've done this before, it does work."
Lu Ten rolled his eyes, but started mimicking the movement. He could see his father lean over and whisper something to Zuko, who grinned. This was embarrassing. Fierce glaring didn't help, sending his relatives into sniggers. Hearing them, Katara spun around and scolded them, before telling him to ignore them. The noise stopped, but Lu Ten could see the truth in their eyes – he was not going to live this down.
Minutes passed, and Lu Ten got increasingly frustrated. The desire to just firebend and end this charade was overwhelming. But Katara looked happy and wistful, and he didn't want to disappoint her, so he kept up the motions hoping this torture would be over soon.
He was starting to wonder how long she would let this continue, when the first spark of an ember surprised him. The second followed a moment later, making him grin proudly. Lu Ten looked up at Katara. Eyes alight, she reminded him to tap the board, which dropped the ember into the waiting dried leaves. The leaves ignited, and he moved them into the pile of tinder. Katara leaned over, and they both blew on the flame. Eventually, the fire started.
"You did it," she said.
"I did. That was strangely satisfying," he responded, before winking at her. "I still prefer our way."
She glowered back at him. "I'd like to see you create water."
Lu Ten snorted, as his father burst into laughter. Katara looked baffled, staring between both of them. He could see the question forming on her lips as Zuko joined in, before the girl reddened in realisation. She mumbled something about boys being rude and made to stomp off.
"Wai-wait, Katara come back here," Lu Ten called after her. She turned back, hands clenched in small fists at her side. A stance reminiscent of one Zuko would commonly take when frustrated or embarrassed. He stood up and walked over; hands up in front of him and apologising. Looking down at the girl, he smiled warmly, heartened when she tentatively returned it. "Thank you Katara, your Dad taught you well."
There was a moment of sadness that flashed across the girl's face, even though she hid it well. But it passed and Katara beamed up at him. "I know."
The last village came with some confusing emotions for Katara. On one hand, she was exhausted. The days had been longer than she had become accustomed to, filled with physical work, games and late nights chatting around fires and whispering with Zuko after the adults had taken themselves to bed. But on the other hand, she felt lighter than she had been in years and she didn't want their journey to ever end.
The political minefield of the Palace felt so far away. In spite of the stares from the villagers, she felt less animosity towards her, largely helped by the presence of three members of the Royal Family. Iroh, Lu Ten and Zuko appeared to be treated reverently by everyone they met. She expected that. What surprised Katara was how natural it seemed to them. Even Zuko was unaffected by actions that bordered on worship. It was a strange feeling, watching her friend turn into this royal persona, one that felt distant from her. The Zuko she knew always returned though. At the end of each day, when they sunk into their own beds in their little cabin on the ship, the façade would drop. Zuko would groan, sharing all of undiplomatic thoughts of the day's proceedings, and they would fall back into their usual selves.
The pretences were a reminder that there were differences between them, ones that would momentarily raise their ugly heads, before blissfully sinking back into the oblivion so she could ignore them. She refused to dwell on it though. The distance from the palace, along with prolonged exposure to Iroh and Lu Ten, had brought more mischief and happiness out in Zuko than she thought possible. She wasn't going to ruin the month by overthinking the significance of their roles.
As usual, they had spent the first morning in the village being shown around and listening as the elders spoke to Iroh and Lu Ten. The discussion took place in front of the collective group, covering the news around the Fire Nation, the village, and the specific things the soldiers could help with while they were there. As luck would have it, their party had arrived early in the morning, the heat not reaching the relentless limits Katara knew it was capable of.
This was always the dullest part of their time in a village. Zuko was standing near his uncle and cousin, while Katara was situated near the soldiers. Standing quietly was definitely not her favourite thing, and she struggled to not fidget. Something else - beyond the growing need to stretch her back - was bothering her though. She had the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. In itself, this wasn't unusual. By appearance alone, she stood out amongst the Fire Nation party. But the longer the talks went on, the more she felt the unsettling sensation of eyes boring into the back of her head.
One benefit of being so far back from the objects of everyone's attention was the ability to sneak some glances around. Slowly, she turned her head, peeking over her shoulder to look at the crowd behind her, hair shielding part of her face. Most of the villagers behind her were focussed on the talks occurring in front of them all. But there was someone, hiding back within the crowd who wasn't. They were just staring at Katara, staring as if no one else existed.
It was an old woman. Long, grey hair fell in front of shoulders covered by drably coloured robes. Piercing grey eyes met Katara's, startling her with the realisation that the woman felt familiar. That made no sense. Katara had never met her, she was certain of it. As she stared, the woman's face broke into a kind smile, lighting her eyes and breaking the tension of the moment. Some of the uneasiness lessened and Katara hesitantly returned the smile. The woman nodded at her, before fading back into the crowd. Katara returned her eyes to the front, trying to focus on what Iroh was saying, but the conviction she knew the woman remained.
They remained in the village for another day. Katara had searched for the woman but unsure whether to ask anyone who she was, had remained quiet. On their last afternoon, Zuko and her wandered off together. They came upon an old man hammering boards against his window, and overcome with curiosity, Katara dragged Zuko over.
"Excuse me sir?" Katara asked.
"Huh?" The man accidentally caught his thumb mid-swing. "Ow, dang blame it!" He shook his hand, turning to glare at them. "What? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"I'm sorry, sir. I was just wondering if you know of an old woman that lives in this village. I'm trying to find her."
The man looked at her peculiarly, before pointing behind them. "You mean like that there woman?"
Katara felt a familiar sensation prickling her spine, spinning around. The woman from earlier was standing behind them, next to a food cart. This time, there was no subtlety. No one else was around. Katara took a deep breath and headed over to her.
"Wait- Katara, where are you going?"
"I just need to talk to her."
Katara walked over to the woman, ignoring the confused sounds from Zuko. The woman watched her approach, giving her the same smile as that morning. Katara tried to restrain her nerves, and returned the smile. "Hi, my name is Katara."
"It is lovely to meet you, Katara," the woman said. "But I know who you are."
The girl took a step back. "You do? Because I feel like I know you."
The woman tilted her head, examining her. "You don't. I can assure you of that. But I've heard about the waterbender living in the Fire Nation."
"Oh." Katara's face fell. This woman wasn't someone that knew her, just a citizen that wanted to judge the Crown Prince's ward.
"Katara, what are you doing?" Zuko came up behind her, putting a hand on her arm. Katara saw the woman tense at the action. She was surprised but the reaction made sense; it likely wasn't standard behaviour to have a prince touch a commoner.
"I saw this woman during the introductions this morning and wanted to meet her," Katara told him.
The prince looked confused. She tried to hold back a smile, watching the question of why overturning in his head, knowing he was struggling not to voice it. Eventually, Zuko settled with a quiet "Oh."
"Do you mind if I speak with her for a few moments?" Katara asked. She squeezed his hand in reassurance. It was obvious that the prince was uncomfortable about leaving her there.
The woman frowned. "Young man, I won't bite. You are welcome to stand over there by the next food stall so you can keep an eye on her if you wish."
Zuko's mouth dropped open. He stared at the woman before looking at Katara. She grimaced, squeezed his hand again, and apologised before saying she'd only be a few moments. He scowled at her, before turning and moping off to the food stall.
"Stubborn firebender." There was a harshness in the woman's voice that hadn't been there earlier. At the look on Katara's face, the woman smiled and when she spoke again, the harshness was gone. "When you've lived around firebenders as long as I have, you'll understand."
Katara bit her lip. Something was off here. No villager that she had met so far would have even considered speaking to a member of the Royal Family like that, let alone speaking about firebenders in this way.
The woman continued. "You're from the Southern Water Tribe, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Were you being taught waterbending before they stole you?"
Katara winced at that word. "No, I was the only one left. There was no one to teach me," she said, watching the woman's smile fade. "I have been receiving lessons at the Palace though."
"What?" the woman gasped. "From who?"
"From a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family," she replied.
There was no hiding the scowl now. A few awkward moments of silence passed, before the smile returned and the woman reached out and touched Katara's shoulder, speaking calmly. "There are some things that you won't be able to learn from firebenders. I have studied waterbending - the spirituality behind it of course - a rare opportunity in the Fire Nation."
"Really?" Katara couldn't keep the excitement from her voice.
The woman inclined her head. "I can pass on some knowledge if you would like, but you will have to promise me something, Katara," she said. The girl nodded vigorously, prompting another smile. "This has to be between us. You can't tell any of them what I tell you, not even your glaring friend over there."
Katara peeked at Zuko, who was indeed glowering at the two of them. She gulped, before looking at the woman. "Why?"
"You're a waterbender in a strange land, you should learn whatever you can to survive."
"Survive? Wha- what can you teach me?"
"Growing up in the South Pole, waterbenders are totally at home surrounded by snow and ice and seas. But as you probably noticed, that isn't the case wherever you go."
"I do feel stranded from water within the Palace," Katara said. "But I've created ice before, which reminded me of home."
"That is very impressive, Katara. But I imagine you had water in front of you when you did?" the woman said, continuing when Katara nodded. "Did you know waterbending masters can even pull water out of thin air?"
"Really?" Katara brightened. "That is amazing!"
"It really is, I've seen it in action. It is terrifying and remarkable all at once."
"I would love to be able to do that."
"You will one day, you just have to learn to control water wherever it exists," the woman explained. "Remember to keep an open mind. There's water in places you'd never think of."
"Thank you. I don't understand though, why would you want to help me?"
The woman's expression turned hard. "You're a child caught up in a spiderweb of lies and manipulation, and probably naïve enough to believe that you can place your hope in these people."
Katara took a step back, grasping her hands together. "That's not true, that aren't all like that?"
"You can't trust them, Katara. Even your friend over there," the woman said, spitting out the last part. "They won't hesitate to use you as a pawn in their schemes."
The girl couldn't move, nodding silently as she tried to process what the woman was saying.
"Just remember Katara, you have water within you. Don't let any of them take that away."
A/N: Ooof, this one definitely took longer than I expected. Thank you all for bearing with me - work and uni conspired against me in the last few weeks.
As always, thank you for reading and reviewing - I've been thoroughly enjoying everyone's theories on how this arc is going to end! Some of you have gotten close on parts of it, and we are almost ready for it all to play out. There's one chapter of indulgent fluffiness after this one - involving a scene I wrote back in May that I am very much looking forward to – and after that, we will be very quickly descending into the political chaos that triggers the events to end this arc with Katara out of the Fire Nation.
I was asked about this at the end of the last chapter and thought it may be useful to mention here - I couldn't find any information on Lu Ten's age so I have put him in his mid-20s here, say 24-25. Iroh was meant to be in his late 50s/early 60s in canon, so Lu Ten is possibly older. But I came the the conclusion that someone that high in the Fire Nation's succession line would be unlikely to not have a wife or child by the age of 30 (and there was no mention of one) so I've gone for a middle ground.