Thanks guys for all the reviews so far! Thanks to reginastar for pointing out the bad sentence structure! I sometimes don't catch those things so if you guys see any super bad sentences let me know through the reviews. You guys are my editors YAY! Anyway I do read the chapters over at least twice before posting so I can catch any big boo boo's but I admit to being excited to get the chappies out fast for your enjoyment. I do it all for you guys! Anyway enjoy!

Chapter 2

Zuko leaned out the balcony of his room watching Queen Katara's entourage arrive. It was just before nightfall the day before the full moon. Zuko was pleased, he thought that her highness would refuse a meeting for sure. When word came to him a week later he was surprised with her answer, she would be happy to visit to his home. " And so you meet your new love." Iroh said. He stroked his beard and grinned at his nephew.

Zuko smiled a little, uncle would never change, " We don't know what her answer is going to be uncle." Ever since Zuko had completely won over his people Iroh had been urging him into marriage. Zuko had avoided the subject for as long as possible, he didn't want to get married when he first became the Fire Lord, but now he had to admit he was a little lonely. Other than his uncle there was no one to listen to him, no one to be close with, no one to love. Zuko had decided at that point he could not live alone, he wanted a family but to start a family he first needed a wife and since he was royalty the challenge would be all the greater.

Invitations had been sent to prime candidates but none of the Earth Nation Kings wanted to send their daughters to the Fire Nation. Only King Bumi sent his niece and Zuko absolutely refused to marry her. All of the eligible noble women in the Fire Nation were related to Zuko by blood in some fashion so he decided the only place left to look was the Water Nation, Zuko left Iroh up to the task of finding him a suitable bride.

Iroh smiled widely and draped an arm over Zuko's shoulder. " Let us go meet our guests."

Katara could see the Fire Lord's castle from the back of Appa. The castle was huge, at least twice as big as her own and with much taller towers, she should have expected this though the monarchy of this nation is hundreds of years old. Not only was the castle big it was lovely too. It was glowing red in the setting sun and resembled the strength of it's nation; sturdy and advanced for it's time. She could see lush gardens as they past the fenced gates and orchards with apple trees soon to be harvested. She smiled to herself for some reason she had thought the capitol would be far more foreboding like she remembered it during the end of the war but Zuko had apparently turned all that around creating a balanced and beautiful environment.

Aang turned to Katara and saw her smiling at the scenery, he grinned " I remember the capitol was a lot like this a hundred years ago, Lord Zuko has done a great job."

Katara nodded. She thought to herself for a moment. " Aang, do you think Zuko has changed since the war? I mean I remember him being somewhat cruel at times."

Aang looked around. " I think so, I don't think a cruel man would have created a beautiful place like this, do you?"

" Your right Aang." She sighed out of relief and adjusted her tiara, that morning she decided to arrive at the capitol actually looking like a Queen. Her handmaiden had dressed her in an ancient kimono once belonging to the northern tribe's royal family embroidered in silver with the moon and waves drifting up the sleeves. Her hair was put up in an elaborate style with her tiara made of ivory with the symbol of the moon carved intricately into it. All that morning her guard kept telling her how lovely she was and she was quite embarrassed. All she hoped to accomplish was to impress the Fire Lord, she wanted to show him that the Water Nation was not a weak society, she didn't want him to think she was pretty.

As the envoy got closer to the entrance of the castle Katara shook slightly. She could see Zuko standing at the bottom of the massive stairway with his personal guard all wearing ceremonial armor. When Appa came around all of Zuko's guard saluted her, Aang stopped the bison before his lordship. Zuko came forward.

Katara watched him; he had changed over the past few years. He still had the scar on his face but his features had matured with age making him look rather handsome. He held himself with the confidence of a just and good lord of his people, unthreatening yet unafraid. She tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach. This is it she thought trying to calm herself, just act like a queen, act like a queen…

Zuko was nervous, he had never seen a person more beautiful in his entire life. She was the epitome of a loving, strong, even mystical queen. He stepped forward and bowed to Katara who was still seated on the large bison. " I welcome you to my humble home, Queen Katara of the Water Nation. May I help you down from your steed?"

Sokka grumbled something inaudible his hand ready to grab his blade; Katara gave him a threatening look. She looked to Zuko and gave him a smile. " Yes my lord if you please." She stood and walked to Appa's tail. Zuko watched her walk down the beast's tail with grace her head lifted high and the sun making the embroidery of her robes glitter. He offered her his hand halfway down and she accepted it. " I'm afraid Appa is a little too tall to lift me from, sire."

" Apparently so." He looked to Aang and bowed. " It is good to see you again master Avatar."

Aang bowed from Appa's back. " Like wise. Everything looks good here your lordship." He grinned big causing many of the soldiers to smile as well. Aang had a knack for breaking the stress in situations like these.

" Thank you." He looked to Katara " You must all be tired, my uncle shall show your warriors to their quarters and I will show you to your rooms."

The procession broke up Aang, Sokka, and Katara's handmaiden following Zuko, who was still holding Katara's hand, and the water tribe soldiers followed Iroh. Sokka kept twitching and Aang wanted to giggle at him. " Sokka calm down" he whispered to his friend.

" I can't." a vein above his eyebrow twitching, " he's touching my sister."

The four of them walked through many impressive hallways decorated with ancient tapestries and beautiful furniture, most of it in red and gold. The ceilings arched high with light filtering in through stained glass windows. Katara kept looking around at all the interesting things around her, she made a note to herself that she would explore the entire castle. Suddenly Zuko stopped in front of a door." This room is for the Avatar." He opened it and gestured for Aang to go in.

" Wow! That bed is huge!" Aang went in and explored the room he found it had a few adjoining rooms and a bathroom. " This will do nicely, thanks."

Zuko gestured to the opposite door from Aang's room " for your Master Warrior."

Sokka opened the door and saw it was exactly like Aang's room. "Okay, now where is my Queen staying?"

Zuko continued down the hall to a pair of large highly decorated doors he opened them and led Katara inside. " Your room, my lady." She stood there wide-eyed, the room was bigger than hers was at home. It was decorated exquisitely with fine silks, mahogany furniture and a massive wardrobe. The main difference was that the walls were blue and white unlike the rest of the castle, which was red and gold. " I thought the blue suite would suit you quite well, I hope this meets with your approval."

She nodded " It most certainly does." She was still quite dumbstruck looking at all of the beautiful things in the room; she should get the name of his decorator.

" Good." He turned and started to leave. " Dinner will be in two hours, a small affair just my Uncle and myself, you should bring your advisor with you." He looked to Aang "I assume the Avatar is your advisor."

" Yes he is." She bowed to Zuko " Thank you for all your hospitality and I look forward to dinner."

" So do I." He closed the door behind him and walked down the hall. He smiled when he saw his uncle at the other end.

" Well? What do you think?" He had a very satisfied look on his face.

" I think she's perfect."

Katara let out a huge sigh of relief when the door closed. The boys smiled at her. " How do you think I did?"

" You did well. I think the Zuko seemed impressed with us." Aang said cheerfully. He kept looking around the room admiring the space fully. " You should decorate your chambers at home like this."

"Hmph!" Sokka snorted. " Its not that great."

Katara frowned at her brother, what a stubborn git! " Ok, out." She waved them on. " I have to get ready for dinner." Mira, Katara's handmaiden, was already undoing the clasps of the heavy outer robe for her queen. " Aang, I'll meet you at your door when its time to go."

" Ok." They left the room closing the door quietly.

Mira hefted the robe off her highness and hung it up in the wardrobe. " Quite a day my lady." She came back and removed the tiara from Katara's head.

" You're telling me." She flopped onto the bed and stretched every muscle in her body. " Run a bath please Mira. I would like to soak some of these aches away."

" Yes, my lady." Mira searched the adjoining rooms of the apartment and was pleasantly surprised by what she found. " My lady, it appears that I won't need to draw you a bath." Katara got up from her bed and Mira gestured for her to come and look.

Katara reached the door and gasped at what she saw. The door lead to a large outdoor spa with a view that was breathtaking. She could see the stars dancing behind the curtains of steam rising from the pool. " How beautiful." She knelt by the edge and dipped her hand into the water it was warm and inviting. She stood and removed her clothes handing them to Mira. She scrubbed herself with perfumed soap and rinsed the lather off. She entered the pool and savored the warm water easing the weariness of her body. " Mira come join me, this is heaven."

The girl came and sat with her legs in the water. She began to undo the clasps holding Katara's hair. " I will bathe after you are finished and dressed, my lady." She tied Katara's hair up in a loose bun to keep it out of the water. " What would you like to wear this evening?"

" Hmm." She thought for a moment with her eyes closed. " Something simple for tonight. I think, the blue silk kimono with the dark sash should do fine." She swished the water with her fingertips. " No crown tonight, just my regular jewelry."

Mira stood " Yes, my lady." She took Katara's right hand and looked at it. " You should get out, you are starting to prune."

She was dried with a soft towel and her skin was rubbed down with oil that smelled of roses. Mira dressed Katara and fixed her hair simply with half pulled back letting the rest drape. Katara put on her necklace, the same one that she had always worn since her mother had died. She smiled to herself, she wondered if Lord Zuko would remember this piece of jewelry. She was taken from her reminiscing by a knock at the door. "Come in."

A servant came in and bowed. " The Fire Lord is ready for you, your highness."

" Thank you." She turned to Mira. " This probably won't be long, please have my bed turned down when I get back."

" Yes, my lady" She bowed to Katara.

Katara turned and followed the servant. She was a little nervous but she knew she had nothing to worry about. This was just a friendly visit that's all. The Fire Lord was being very kind to them so there were obviously no serious problems but she still had a weird feeling. She felt like something important was about to happen.

WOOO! Long chapter, hope you liked it! Please R&R! Love you all! Ciao!