After breakfast, Zuko had some errands to take care of, some training to do, some meetings to attend as the reigning prince of the Fire Nation. Katara had been left on her own after eating in the private family dining hall.
She decided to explore a bit. After only speaking to Zuko for so many hours (nobody else had been at the table), she was feeling lonely and missing Sokka and Aang, though not so much Elsie, simply because she didn't know Elsie. But if Elsie had miraculously showed up, Katara would have embraced her like the bestest of friends.
So it was later that afternoon, having missed lunch and feeling a little faint, Katara was wandering down another (empty) hall, her stomach gurgling. There hadn't been any doors for miles. Only windows looking out over the beautiful gardens. Sometimes she could see members of the court so far below her, but they couldn't help her, and even if they could, she was too shy to call down to them. Those Dragons might not like her interference in their lives.
Ugh. She sighed as she turned a corner and found herself in yet another door-less corridor. Just what I need. Another hall. Ugh. Why don't I have some sort of psychic connection with Zuko? I could just, Hey, I'm lost. Come find me! And then he'd show up and we'd- Oh thank goodness!
Katara ran down the rest of the hallway to a pair of large doors at the end. (Why can't they just build doors on the sides of hallways like normal people? Why are they all at the end of the hall?) She was so thankful, she didn't think as she pulled one back and rushed inside the room.
Stacks and stacks of books on shelves that reached to the ceiling filled the walls. Ladders and staircases and pulley systems were everywhere, making every single scroll and novel available. There were plush cushions and lovely velvet covered couches all over the place. Large windows and many lamps made the room pleasant to read in.
Katara was stunned by the amount of paper in the room. Paper was expensive and hard to come by. That anyone, even an emperor, could afford a library like this was amazing. She walked past a couch to a shelf, her hand reached out.
"Who are you?" a voice asked.
Katara whirled around. A young woman, older than Zuko, was sitting up on a green couch, a book resting against her red satin- covered knees and her matching slippers on the floor. Her black hair was pulled tight in a bun that rested at the top of her crown and her small mouth was puckered in a frown.
"Who just bursts into a room like that; and a library nonetheless?" The girl looked Katara squarely in the eyes. "You should be more respectful of the people who are reading in here."
Katara flustered. "Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized. "I really didn't mean to burst in like that, it's only that this is the first room I've seen in hours and I'm lost…"
The girl's face lightened like someone had taken a cloth and cleaned the anger off of it. "Oh, you're new? A country noble, perhaps?" Her brow puckered as she studied Katara, seemingly taking in her clothing and appearance for the first time. "Oh. No, you're the Water Tribe lady – Lady Katara, was it?"
"Er, yes," Katara said. "But you can call-"
"Well, I'm Lady Shomlen." The girl stood up and slipped her shoes back on, her finger caught between pages to stay her place. "If you're lost I can probably help you find wherever it is you need to go."
"Oh, thank you," Katara let out a sigh of relief. "That'd be really helpful. I haven't seen anyone since midmorning."
Lady Shomlen smiled tentatively. "Well, it is a rather big place."
"Big?" Katara joked. "It's enormous. I've never been anywhere so large in my entire life!"
"But aren't you a lady from the Water Tribe?" Lady Shomlen asked. "Don't they have large palaces and manors where you're from?"
"Well," Katara admitted. "Not really. We don't have all the wood and supplies like you have. Basically all our buildings are made out of animals' skins or ice. Though I hear the Northern Water Tribe has really great palaces and temples."
They began walking down the hall, Lady Shomlen still carrying the book. Apparently, one could just walk out of the library with scrolls or books, either that or it was her own and she'd only gone to the library for peace. Which would mean Katara had disturbed that.
But Lady Shomlen seemed not to mind. She did ask questions at least, and they seemed to come from a natural curiosity.
"Why doesn't the Southern Water Tribe have wonders like the Northern one?" she asked.
Katara bit her lip. "Well," she said slowly. "I guess it was harder for the Fire Nation to reach the North Pole so they didn't have to send all their waterbenders off to war."
"What do you mean – they didn't have to send their waterbenders?" Lady Shomlen didn't sound insulted, rather it was like she had no idea about the war going on between her country and the rest of the world.
"Well, we needed our waterbenders to fight the Fire Army," Katara explained. "So instead of spending time building temples and palaces out of ice, they were off getting killed." Katara began to get worked up. "They had to leave families and homes to go fight some army bent on taking their land. There's no need for it! There's no need for any of it!"
Katara's fists were clenched and she was sure that in a few minutes, she'd have ground her teeth to stubs.
"Ah," Lady Shomlen said sagely. "You lost someone."
Katara looked at her in disbelief. "It's not that," she said. "It's the fact that there's no reason for the Fire Nation to be taking over! It doesn't matter to me that it was my mother or my neighbor's son who died – what matters is that someone died. For no reason!"
"Yes," Lady Shomlen said. "But it's because you lost someone that it hurts so sharply."
Katara shook her head in disgust and turned away. They walked down the hall in silence, Lady Shomlen not saying anything, Katara refusing to look at her.
After a long while, Lady Shomlen broke the void of sound.
"I… I do apologize…" she said. Katara still refused to look at her. "It really wasn't – you must have been so… it must have been bad." She finished lamely. Even Katara in her obstinate state could hear the flinch in her voice at her inability to communicate.
So she sighed in an overly exaggerated manner and jokingly said, "Well, I suppose I do have to forgive you. You are, after all, taking me back to my rooms."
Lady Shomlen giggled.
"But… yes." Katara continued. "It was rather difficult to see both my mother and father leave my life because of some stupid Fire Lord's desire for more land."
"They were both waterbenders?" Lady Shomlen asked.
"No, my father was. He's… he actually might still be alive. I don't really know." Katara looked out the windows as they passed the beautiful gardens. "But my mother was killed in a raid. She's definitely gone."
"Maybe from this world," Lady Shomlen said. "But obviously not from your heart."
Katara smiled at her. It was the first thing she had said so far that showed her maturity. Everything else had sounded like it came from a child, unable to comprehend the tougher parts of life and reality. Now she sounded like the twenty-something woman she was.
"Do you know if you are down this hallway or that?" asked Lady Shomlen. They were standing at a crossroads, one perfect corridor much like the other.
"Are we close?" Katara asked.
"Yes," Lady Shomlen smiled. "You must be placed in the dorming quarters along with everybody else. Even the Fire Lord and the Royal family reside there. It's not like they'd put a lady in the cellars with the servants." Lady Shomlen laughed.
Katara smiled weakly. "Yes, well, I suppose it's closer to the Royal family. At least, it's a fairly short distance compared to what we just walked."
"You must have been going in circles," Lady Shomlen commented as she turned down the right hall. "And it's interesting you're so close to the Royal family."
"Why?" Katara wanted to know.
"Because only those in the Fire Lord's good graces are permitted to live so close to him. The Fire Lord tends to surround himself with those he trusts and believes to be under his influence. It's often said, the more powerful your family, the more likely you are to be dining with the slaves."
"Slaves?" Katara asked, surprised.
"Or the servants," Lady Shomlen shrugged. She didn't recognize the cause of Katara's reaction. "The saying works with either phrase."
"Erm… oh!" Katara pointed gratefully at a familiar door. "There's my room!" She turned to Lady Shomlen and bowed. "Thank you for showing me the way back. I couldn't have done it without you."
"It was no problem," lady Shomlen bowed back. "You may call on me again if you desire company or relief from boredom or even a walking, talking map." Her eyes twinkled on the last few words.
Katara smiled broadly. "Thanks, but how will I find you? I can barely find myself!"
"Just send a servant," Lady Shomlen said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"All right, then," Katara turned, her hand resting on the door handle. She paused, tapped her fingers against the warm gold. "Wait, Lady Shomlen?" she turned around. "Would you like to join me for dinner?"
Lady Shomlen hesitated. Her fingers tapped against the book as she held it close to her chest. "Yes… I suppose I could do that. But only if you would like me to."
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want," Katara assured her. "Come on, let's eat!"
Katara began walking down the corridor, in the direction of Zuko's room and the dining hall she ate her meals in. Lady Shomlen hurried to catch up. When they reached the guards at the doors, they opened them for Katara. One's mouth twisted like he was about to say something but decided against it. Katara really didn't think about it.
They reached the doors of the dining hall and entered.
"Let's not wait for anyone," Katara said as she sat down. "I'm too hungry to think."
Lady Shomlen, however, did not sit down and partake of the food that always seemed to be set out on the table. She stood awkwardly on one foot, shifting her weight back and forth while her eyes darted around.
"Umm, Lady Katara?" she spoke softly. "Where exactly are we?"
"Excuse me," a harsh voice came from one end of the room. Both Katara's and Lady Shomlen's heads snapped towards the doors. There stood Azula, a red dress on with a black sash, her hands resting fiercely on her hips. Lady Shomlen bowed hastily, much deeper than she had to Katara. "What are you doing here?"
"Seeing as how your brother, Price Zuko, has told me I can eat here whenever I like, I decided this would be a nice place to take my meal." Katara retorted.
"I didn't mean you, you little peasant tripe," Azula sneered. "I meant her." She pointed to Lady Shomlen. Lady Shomlen blushed.
"She's my friend," Katara said steadily. She didn't move her eyes from Azula's face. "I decided she could eat with me."
"And who gave you that right?" Azula shrieked, stalking forward. Her hands burst into flame and Lady Shomlen stumbled backwards. Katara, however, remained calm; though she did make sure a water pitcher was nearby. "You're nothing but a toy of my brother's! A little, insolent Water Tribe peasant from a dirty little ice hovel, who my brother and uncle deigned to put in pretty clothes for their own amusement. You're nothing. You're not even-"
"ENOUGH!" roared a voice from behind Azula.
Azula whipped around, dropping her arms and letting the flames go out. "F-father-!" she sputtered.
"Go, Azula," the Fire Lord Ozai stepped forward, his huge body like that of a vengeful god. "You're acting like a child and We will permit no children in Our presence." He used to royal pronoun to emphasize his power. "If you cannot be mature and respectful to Our guest, you will be punished most severely. Now go." He pointed towards the door.
Azula bowed silently and left, slamming the door a bit harshly on the way out.
"Lady Shomlen," the Fire Lord spoke to the quivering girl. Lady Shomlen jumped and bowed even more deeply than before. "You must leave us, as We speak to Our guest about certain protocols."
Lady Shomlen nodded, not even bothering to try and stutter out a thank you or reply. She practically ran from the room, grateful to be out of the presence of such powerful people.
"Lady Katara," The Fire Lord rubbed a hand over his balding forehead. He sat down next to Katara and she felt slightly uncomfortable with his proximity. "There are certain… rules that must be applied when in the Fire Court. One of these is the Royal Wing. It is the part of the palace only those of Royal birth and those invited by one of Royal birth may enter. Even the guards are not allowed past those double doors where they stand watch. You are allowed here because Zuko and I both wish for it." He paused and looked into Katara's eyes. Katara looked away, nervous, then back again, not wanting him to think her cowardly.
"For you to bring another person – and Lady Shomlen, no less – into the Royal Quarters, is a very deep betrayal of the trust We have placed on you. I would not wish for you to betray us." The Fire Lord looked slightly hurt.
Katara's heart melted. He was like Zuko! A good person trapped by the confines of the Fire Court – the procedures and expectations. The Fire Lord could probably no more help the war than Zuko, and yet he must continue or he'd face the same fate as his son.
And he had trusted her. He had given her permission to eat with him, to stay so close to him (didn't Lady Shomlen say the Fire Lord only kept those he trusted most so close to him?) and she had broken that trust. She had ignored the greatness of his invitation and brought somebody he didn't trust – and probably didn't even know – into his personal quarters. It must be so hard for someone of such royalty and responsibilities to get away from the people who bothered him daily with concerns, and she had brought them into his sanctum, unwittingly.
"I'm sorry, Lord Ozai," Katara bowed her head. "I shouldn't have done it. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry." She whispered.
A hand reached under her chin and lifted it up. She found herself looking into tawny eyes similar to Zuko. However, it wasn't Zuko, and who it was, despite his new-found goodness, made her shiver.
"Katara…" The Fire Lord leaned forward, looking into her eyes. They darted back and forth, unable to pick one. It made Katara a little queasy to see him do it, like he was a snake attempting to charm her. He moved even closer. Her chin was still trapped by his hand. "Katara…"
"Father."
Katara snapped back, her eyes widening with the surprise of someone pulled out of a daydream. The tension that had been building unnoticed in her shoulders swept away like a paper boat on the sea shore. She turned her head to see Zuko standing in the doorway, red robes hanging dramatically over his shoulders and crossed arms.
"Ah," Katara jumped up and walked over to Zuko. "Yes, well, it seems it would be better for me to go now." Katara turned back to the Fire Lord and bowed hastily before darting out of the room. "Thank you!"
Zuko gave his father one last glance and bowed respectfully before turning to leave.
"Zuko…" The Fire Lord said softly. "Remember how you got here…"
Zuko's eyes narrowed but he kept the scorn from his voice as he spoke. "Yes, Father. I am here only because of you."
Zuko strode down the hallway and banged on Katara's door. She opened it slowly and peeped out at him. A look of recognition came over her face and she began to speak but Zuko ignored her and pushed the door open forcefully.
"What were you doing there with him?" he demanded. Katara looked up at him, surprised. "Never be alone with him! Ever again! I forbid it as the prince of the Fire Nation! Oh lord."
Zuko stepped forward and wrapped Katara into an embrace. He rested his head on top of hers and stared across the room. Katara stared into his chest, clutching the front of his robes. She didn't really get what was going on. Zuko sighed and she felt a sort of calm take over her, breaking her defenses. She began to cry.
"Uh…" Zuko winced and held Katara awkwardly. "I, um, I didn't…"
"It's not your fault," Katara muttered and shook her head against Zuko's chest. "I just… I was just so scared, and I was so stupid, I didn't even know it."
"You're not stupid, Katara, you're just…" Zuko searched for the appropriate words. "You're just like everybody else. He charms people, Katara, that's what he does. He's the Fire Lord. It's his job to make people like him and want to support him."
Katara shook her head. "But he was hitting on me!"
Zuko didn't know whether to laugh, scream or hug Katara closer. His body did give a compulsory shake and he gripped Katara tighter.
"Yeah," he finally admitted in a dark voice. "I noticed."
"I just understood," Katara continued, lost in her own recollections. "All this time and I just got it."
Zuko clenched his jaw. "Yes, Katara, I understand."
Katara hugged Zuko around the waist and sighed raggedly. "I'm sorry, Zuko. I just should have… I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be, Katara. Not you."
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