Wow guys, this is the longest chapter yet! Just shy of 3000 words. I'm really enjoying this story and I'm going to get the next chapter up as soon as I can. I have spell checked and such but if you guys come upon a sentence that is confusing don't hesitate to let me know, it helps make the story better. Thanks to those who have R&R'd!
Avatar the last air bender is Nickelodeons… and I cry every night because of it!
Chapter 4
Katara awoke that morning with the sun filtering in through the white lace curtains of the large windows. She sat up and stretched. She heard a female voice singing in the other room; Mira consumed in her daily routine. Katara slipped out of bed and made her way to the bedroom door. She peaked through and watched Mira sing and dance while unpacking the queen's clothing. Katara grinned. " Good morning, Mira."
Mira jumped and turned quickly. " Good morning, my lady." She bowed and hung the gown she was holding in the wardrobe. " Would you like some breakfast?"
" Yes, some tea and toasted bread with jam please." She looked through the wardrobe thinking of what she should wear this morning. She wasn't quite sure when she would talk to Lord Zuko today but she wanted to look presentable. She pulled out a simple pair of blue dress robes.
Mira brought in breakfast placing it on a table. She poured tea and handed a cup to Katara. " A messenger came this morning and told me there is going to be a grand feast tonight. Many lords and ladies of this kingdom are to attend."
" I see." Katara put her tea down and kept shuffling through her clothing. " I suppose there will be dancing?"
" Yes, my lady."
" Alright." Katara withdrew a gown with a matching outer robe and looked it up and down. " You think this will do for tonight?"
" Oh yes, my lady. I have always thought you very lovely in that." She took the gown and hung it on the outside of the wardrobe.
" Is anything else going on today?" She said putting on her clothes for the day. Mira undid the braid Katara slept in and brushed her lady's hair.
" Nothing that has been brought to my attention." She deftly tied Katara's hair up into a simple style and pinned it into place with a silver clasp that had the cycle of the moon carved into it.
" Thank you, Mira. I won't be gone long. I'm going to find Aang and Sokka." She left her rooms and walked down the hall to Aang's room. She knocked on the door and there was no answer. She opened the door and looked around. " Aang?" He was nowhere to be found. She left and looked in Sokka's room he was gone too. "Where did they go?" She continued walking down the hall passing many doors. She came to the end of the hall and stood in the intersection of the joining halls. " Now I'm gonna get lost." She frowned and looked around. She saw light pouring into the hall further down so she headed that way.
She came upon four large arching windows that looked out upon a lush garden. In the middle was a round fountain surrounded by benches with beautiful rose bushes encompassing the walkways, vines crept up the walls and there were two apple trees covered in ripe fruit. Katara stared at it in wonder, her garden at home was beautiful as well with its own fountain and lovely blooms but this garden was well, stunning. She wanted to see it up close. She turned and looked down the hall where she saw two maids standing together chatting away. " Excuse me." The two girls jumped not hearing Katara approach.
" Your highness!" They both bowed quickly. " Is there anything we can do for you?"
" Yes, actually. Have you seen Master Avatar Aang this morning?"
" Oh yes, my lady!" The younger of the two piped up. " He and your Master warrior went down to see someone." The maid thought to herself for a moment. " A mister… Appa, I think."
Katara smiled. " Appa is our airbison."
" Oh, you mean the large beast you rode into town. Then they would be at the stables." She turned to the other maid. " I'll show her highness where the stables are, I'll be right back." The other girl nodded and went on to her duties. " This way, my lady."
Katara followed the girl who had red hair and looked to be in her early twenties. " May I ask your name?"
She looked back and smiled at Katara. " It's Althea, your highness."
" What a pretty name. Thank you for taking me to the stables. I hate to pull you from your duties."
" It's my pleasure, highness." They turned down another corridor and came upon the large stairs of the entryway. They walked down them and headed opposite of the huge main doors. Althea came to a smaller door and stopped. She opened it and Katara was presented with a vast green field with a few buildings not too far off.
" Are those the stables?"
" Yes, my lady." Althea started to walk in their direction.
" Wait. I can make it there on my own, thank you." She smiled at Althea.
" As you wish my lady." She bowed and started to go back. " If you need any further assistance there are grounds keepers about."
" Thank you." Katara watched her go back in the door. She turned to the green field and took it all in. Wildflowers were visible here and there in shades of yellow and red. Katara picked a few along her way and looked up to the vast sky. She felt like she was in some wonderful dream. She grasped the bundle of flowers in her hand and sighed, what a wonderful place.
" Queen Katara!" Was that the wind? " My lady!" She turned and saw a rhino coming closer. She squinted her eyes to see who was calling her name and nearly dropped her bouquet when she realized who it was, Lord Zuko. Her eyes widened and she tried to find her voice to speak as he came closer, she hadn't expected to face him so soon this day.
" My lord" she managed to spout when he came down from his steed. " This is a very lovely day."
" Yes it is." He pet the flank of the rhino and let it graze on the lush grass. " How are you this morning?"
" I'm well. Still a little shocked but well." She smiled and gazed at the flowers she still held. She blushed noticing that Zuko was looking at her.
She was so beautiful standing there the wind blowing pieces of her hair from her loosely tied bun. Zuko couldn't help but stare at her, she was a goddess. " I hate to ask but have you thought about what we discussed?"
She nodded her head and somehow found the courage to look him in the eyes. " I've thought it over." She paused and squeezed the flowers in her hands. " I think that a union between us would greatly benefit our nations. However, I would like to marry a person that I can truly love."
" I understand." Zuko slumped. He knew it, she was gonna turn him down. He started to sink into a void of despair.
" So, I would like to propose a courtship period." Zuko looked up out of his dark void and stared at her in disbelief. " What?" She said tilting her head to the side confused by the look on his face.
" Did you just say that you want to date me?" She smiled and started to laugh. She sat down on the grass and patted the ground next to her. Zuko sat down with her, the world started spinning.
" I guess you could call it that." She picked at one of the flowers in her lap and smiled. " I think we should get to know each other better before we decide to marry."
" Okay." He took her hand and looked her in the eyes. " I suppose tonight is our first date." She giggled becoming more relaxed with him. " A grand dinner and dancing."
" You dance, my lord?"
" Just call me Zuko, and Yes, I do dance." He took a flower from her lap and studied it. " We have some of these in the castle gardens, have you seen the gardens yet?"
" From the hallway. I would like to walk around them." She looked up into the blue sky and smiled. " They are lovely."
He stood up and stretched. " Then we shall walk them together." He offered a hand to her and she gripped it. He helped her up. " Now we should get back to the stables. I am assuming that's why you came out here, your brother and the Avatar are feeding the bison."
" Yes." She watched as Zuko walked toward his rhino and took its reins. He walked the beast back over to her.
" Stay." He let go of the rhino's reins and reached for Katara. She took his hands and he boosted her up onto the saddle. He hoisted himself onto the saddle and settled himself behind Katara. " Lets go."
They made it back to the stables in one piece. Katara had never rode a rhino before their pace was not as smooth as Appa's, she was quite frightened at first but calmed down when Zuko wrapped his free arm around her. Securely in his arms they pulled into the stable.
" Katara!" Aang waved at her when they came in. Appa was lounging in the corner of the stable munching on the hay Sokka offered him.
Sokka turned to see Zuko sitting behind Katara an arm wrapped around her. Sokka turned away frowning and shaking his head. He felt like this was all wrong, he wanted to kill Zuko.
Zuko got down from the saddle and lifted his arms up to Katara. " Come on, I'll catch you."
She stared at him. " You sure?" He nodded. " Ok." She swung her legs over the side and pushed herself off the saddle. Zuko caught her easily and placed her gently on the ground. " Thank you."
She walked over to Aang. " How's Appa doing?" She rubbed her hands on the bison's soft fur.
" He loves it here." Aang fed Appa another handful of hay. " Your being so spoiled, aren't you boy?" Appa let out a grumble. Aang and Katara laughed. " Tomorrow I'm going to go flying, you wanna come?"
" Sure." She stood there and pet the bison a little longer. " Oh, were you told about the feast tonight?"
Aang thought for a moment. " No, I haven't heard anything about that."
" Well there's going to be dancing and lots to eat. You should wear those robes I got for you."
Aang grumbled. " Fine, but not for very long. I hate those heavy things." He smiled at her. " You'll owe me a dance for it."
" Deal." She looked to Sokka. " You and the soldiers are all welcome to attend, you should come."
He gave her a sympathetic look over his shoulder. " I guess. But I'm not gonna like you dancing with 'that'." He nodded his head toward Zuko who had put his steed away.
She frowned at her brother. " Stop it. I don't want you behaving like that. You will show up and you will be civil." She turned from him. " That's an order."
Zuko watched her talk to her companions, the warrior seemed angry from whatever she had told him. Other than that they all seemed very comfortable with each other the best of friends. Zuko could only hope that he could get that close to Katara. He walked toward them. " You all ready for lunch?"
Katara nodded. " I could eat." She turned to Sokka and Aang. They both stood and bowed to Zuko.
" We would be honored to eat with you, Lord Zuko." Aang said trying to drown out Sokka's grumbling.
" You don't have to bow when were away from the public eye." Aang and Sokka stood up straight. " Come on." He took Katara's hand and they all made their way back to the shining crimson castle.
Lunch had been lovely and they had all gotten along well. Even Sokka acted civil in the presence of Lord Zuko. Katara smiled to her self while soaking in the warm water of the spa. Zuko… she closed her eyes and could feel his tight embrace. His arms were so strong, she began to wonder how much he trained.
" My lady."
" What?" She looked up at Mira.
Mira smiled as if she could read Katara's mind. " It's time to get out now. You must get dressed."
" Oh right." She got out of the water and took the offered towel. " Sorry, I was thinking about other things." Mira still had the knowing smile on her face and Katara blushed. Mira knew everything,
Mira applied perfumes to Katara's dark supple skin and rubbed her hands with oils to make them soft after the bath. " Lets get you dressed." They went into the dressing room and Mira took the elegant gown from the wardrobe. She slipped the white under dress over Katara's head and fastened the clasp snuggly in the back and did the same with the over dress made out of a shimmering light blue silk. " How do you think we should do your hair?"
Katara looked at herself in the large mirror mounted on the wardrobe. " Partially up, and let's put those dangly hair ornaments in as well." Mira nodded and brought the jewelry box out from the drawer in the wardrobe. Katara sat and looked through her jewelry while Mira fixed her hair. She pulled out a crystal tiara, a gift from king Bumi, and compared it to the ivory one she wore all the time. It would match the hair ornaments better so she handed it to Mira who secured it in place. Katara stared at her reflection.
" Lovely." Mira smiled.
Lord Zuko sighed and rested his head against the side of the spa. He watched the sun set behind the columns of his balcony. He watched as the stars started to come out one by one and he started to think of her. He could still smell her, a mix of roses and seawater that was intoxicating to him. He could still feel her soft skin and her hair brush his face, he wished their ride on the rhino had never ended. " Lord Zuko!" he heard the booming voice of his uncle calling, Zuko cursed to himself. He grabbed his towel and made his way towards the door.
" Yes, Uncle?" Iroh turned and gave his nephew a big smile.
" Your guests are already arriving and your not finished dressing?" Zuko gave Iroh an apologetic look and Iroh shrugged. " Oh well I guess everyone is used to waiting on you by now." Iroh was silent for a while waiting for Zuko to finish dressing. Then he remembered something; "I've been informed that the queen ate with you today. That's a good sign." Iroh made his way to the chest at the end of Zuko's bed and sat down. " Has she said anything to you?"
" She has." Zuko grabbed a long sleeved shirt from his closet and put it on. He faced his uncle. " Were dating."
Iroh was confused. " What?" Zuko pulled on a pair of dress pants and tied them with a red sash.
" She asked for a courtship period so we can get to know each other." He sat down on the edge of the bed and started to tie on his best pair of boots. " I thought it was a good idea."
" Well that's a start I guess." Iroh stroked his beard in thought. " You know when I was your age I already had a wife and a child."
" I know." Zuko sat up and sighed. " I just want to take this slow uncle, I think its better this way."
" Whatever you think is best, my boy." Iroh walked over to Zuko's closet and shuffled through the robes.
" I was just going to wear my ceremonial armor tonight Uncle." Iroh shook his head at Zuko.
" Not tonight." Iroh pulled out a robe embroidered with gold. It was simple but grand enough for a Fire Lord to wear. " If you're going to dance with her you're not doing it in armor. Believe me, she'll like you more without the armor."
Zuko put on the robes and had to hand it to his uncle, he looked like a Fire Lord should. " Lets go. I don't want to keep my guests waiting any longer."
Thats all for now! Hope you guys liked it! Luv you all!