Sry for the long wait, if you guys find any weird sentances let me know.

Avatar belongs to Nickelodeon no I, it's a shame.

Chapter 5

Katara walked through the hallway slowly coming upon her destination. She could hear music being played in the great hall just beyond the ancient wooden doors. For a second she thought she couldn't breath and reached over grabbing hold of Mira's shoulder. Mira steadied her " My lady, calm down, take a few breaths." They stood there a moment and Katara took a few slow breaths. " Every thing will be fine."

Katara nodded and let go of her handmaiden. She stood straight with her head held high just like her teachers had instructed her to. " I'm ready." Mira nodded to the door attendant. He bowed and knocked on the door three times. With the signal given loud trumpets sounded off.

" Presenting Queen Katara of the Water Nation!" A loud voice resonated after the trumpeting had ended.

The giant doors opened and Katara made her way through them taking in her surroundings. She was standing on a marble balcony over looking the crowd below. It looked like Zuko had invited every lord and lady of the nation, she could feel herself begin to shake but she took a deep breath and continued to walk. Iroh was standing to her left and he extended a hand to her, she took it and felt better having a person to guide her down the stairs and into the throng. She could feel the people's eyes on her and she couldn't help but blush. She could hear murmured comments as she walked by, she hoped they were all good.

Zuko smiled as they approached. Katara was absolutely radiant walking next to his uncle. The embroidery of her robes glittering from the torchlight as she passed by the onlookers. She seemed otherworldly as if she were the actual moon spirit.

Iroh walked her to the steps leading to two grand thrones one occupied by Zuko the other apparently for her. She thanked Iroh and turned to Zuko who offered his arm to her. He handed her a glass of white wine they stood before the thrones and Zuko proceeded to speak.

" Tonight we celebrate the safe arrival of our guests, Queen Katara and her companions. We also celebrate a lasting peace between the people of the Water and Fire nations, may our lives be long and our cups overflowing." The crowd lifted their glasses in a toast and all drank. " And now eat, drink, tonight is a night of merriment!" Many in the crowd cheered and the music began once again.

Katara made her way to her throne and sat down relieved that she didn't have to stand for a little bit. Zuko sat next to her and smiled. She smiled at him and began to laugh. She couldn't believe she was so nervous. She drank from her glass. She still wasn't used to doing all of this royal stuff yet.

Zuko gestured to a servant. Food was brought over to them and placed on a table between them. " Here, try this you'll love it." He handed her an odd looking fruit. She examined it thoroughly.

" How do you eat it?" he took it from her and peeled the harder skin off and handed it back. " Now eat it." She took a bite and smiled at the sweet nectar that graced her tongue.

" That's wonderful." She ate all of it. " We should import those into the Water nation." A gong rang and she looked up from her food. People were clearing the floor as a troupe of seven men and women came to the center and bowed.

" We can talk business later. Now please enjoy the show."

The man in the center spoke. " In honor of Queen Katara we of the Pai Mei School would like to give a demonstration of the Fire bending discipline." He stood and took a position in the middle of his six companions they formed a ring around him and the dance began.

Katara watched as the man in the center moved deftly avoiding the flames created by the other students. Eventually he was surrounded by flame he stood calmly impassive to the heat liking at his body. He moved and forced the fire upward creating a pillar of fire nearly reaching the ceiling of the great hall. Katara's eyes widened as the fire split into three parts and turned into dragons. The fire dragons flew around the students whose movements synced with eachother. They sent one dragon flying upwards and it exploded like a firework and showered sparks onto the cleared floor. They did the same with the second dragon, the third dragon circled about growing larger with each passing moment. The enormous dragon was sent up to the ceiling and nearly covered the whole surface and it vanished.

The room erupted in a roar of applause. Katara couldn't stop smiling it was one of the most amazing things she had ever seen. She heard a familiar whooping noise and she looked over and saw Aang and Sokka clapping with her soldiers. They were all sitting at a large table covered with food and they all looked very happy. Sokka looked happy stuffing his face with steak, a rare thing in the water nation.

Zuko stood and the clapping died down. " Thank you for the magnificent display. I'm sure Master Mei is very pleased with all of you."

They bowed to Zuko " It's always an honor to perform for the Fire Lord and his guests." They left the floor and Zuko turned to Katara.

" It is customary for the Fire Lord to start the dancing for the evening." He held out his hand to her. " Would you care to dance?"

" I would love to, my Lord." She was escorted down the steps to the center of the dance floor. Zuko placed a hand on her hip and she blushed a little. He looked down and smiled at her. She couldn't help but smile back he was just so handsome. The music began, it was a waltz a very simple one at that but Zuko was a fairly experienced dancer and could make it interesting. Katara was slightly confused by his movements at first but quickly caught on to what he was doing. She followed him easily flowing with his movements and twirled with grace as he pulled her back into his arms. They continued to dance and she noticed they were no longer alone, many couples had graced the floor with their presence. She laughed as Zuko dipped her low, her hair sweeping the floor. The music ended and he brought her back up she blushed and adjusted her tiara. " Thank you for the wonderful dance."

" No, Thank you." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She could feel the people around them staring. She was very red at that moment and really hot.

" Could we get some water?" She was fanning herself with her free hand and felt like she would soon collapse.

" Of course." He led her out of the crowd as another song started. She sat down and he handed her a cup full of water. It was slightly warm so Katara breathed on it making it much cooler. She gulped it down. " Are you alright?"

" Yes, I just need some air." He grabbed hold of her hand and led her out a glass door. He walked her to a bench and let her sit. " Thank you." She undid the tie of her outer robe and slipped it off, she was just too hot to have that heavy thing on. She breathed a little easier and looked up at Zuko. He had a look of genuine concern on his face. She didn't want him to worry about her but it felt nice that he did care. " I'm okay." She took his hand into hers and rubbed his knuckles. " I get embarrassed, very easily."

" Oh. That all?" He smiled " You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You are Queen of the Water Nation, you got to dance with the Fire Lord and you are the most beautiful woman in the room." She met his eyes a little shocked at what he said.

" You think I'm beautiful?"

He sat down next to her. " I think that I have always known that." Out of the corner of his eye he saw something familiar. He looked at her neck and the simple necklace there. " You still wear your mother's necklace?"

" Yes." She undid the tie and held it out. " I have thought about wearing other jewelry but I always feel my best wearing this." She rubbed the cool surface of the carved stone. " I guess when I receive one of my own I'll stop wearing this."

" Is there a significance to them?" He looked at it and remembered the detail of the stone. Up until the Avatar took it back Zuko had kept it with him as a lucky charm but he doubted he would ever tell her that.

She smiled and blushed some more. " Yes. In the Water Nation a man gives a woman a carved necklace as a symbol of their engagement."

" Oh." Zuko looked at the ground. They were silent for a few moments. " Would you like to go back inside?"

" I don't know." She looked up into the night sky and smiled. " I have been a Queen for four years now and yet I still haven't gotten used to it."

" You never really do." He turned to her. " How did you become queen? I mean when your nation was formed did they just pick you?"

" Not exactly." She paused and looked up to the moon. " Yue chose me."

" The princess? The girl who died for the moon spirit?"

" Yes, Yue is the moon spirit now." She smoothed out the robe on her lap and smiled. " After the tribes came together as one the seer Hazuko had a vision that on the night of the winter solstice the spirits would come to us and choose our leader. So we all gathered on the solstice in what is now the capitol. There was dancing, celebrating, we were all happy to be free once again. We waited for a long time and then at midnight she came. We were all amazed she was so beautiful and looked like a ghost before us. We all bowed and paid homage to her. She said that she had chosen the new leader of the Water Nation. When she called out my name I couldn't believe it. She presented me the Ivory crown I wore yesterday and told me that the will of the gods was with me." She frowned a bit. " Unfortunately the men of the council had a fit about the fact that I was a woman. They opposed me to the extent of almost having me assassinated. I was glad that Aang, Sokka, and Master Pakku were there to help me. After I proved myself a good and strong leader the council recognized me as their ruler." She turned to him. " That's pretty much how it happened."

" That's a lot more amazing than being born into the title." He admired her strength and courage.

" You had to work for your title too!" She faced him and held an excited glimmer in her eyes. " I was at the final battle remember?"

He did remember she had been fighting against so many firebenders. He recalled her tired body and the determination in her eyes. She even helped Aang fight lord Ozai by healing the Avatar to he point where she had no energy left. She had passed out soon after. " I didn't do much really."

" No, you did a lot. Sokka told me that you helped Aang strike the final blow. You are a great leader, Zuko. All of your people know it and so they follow you with confidence because you are a great Fire Lord."

Zuko could still see his father, too proud to be beaten, throw himself into the lava pit. He felt a pang of remorse but pushed it back. That monster didn't deserve tears. " Thank you. I think you are a great Water Queen, and far wiser that I could ever be."

Katara looked up as she heard footsteps approaching. " Here you guys are." Aang turned around " I found them Sokka!"

" Oh good." Sokka walked up and frowned. " Could you at least stay where I can see you? I've been looking everywhere for you."

She smiled at her brother. " I'm sorry but as you can see I am perfectly safe." Sokka grumbled a bit.

" You still owe me a dance." Aang said bowing to her. She took Aang's hand and gave an apologetic look to Zuko.

" I'll see you in a bit." He watched as Aang and Sokka escorted her back into the great hall. Zuko gave the moon a last glance and sighed he got up and made his way back. He felt like tonight had determined his fate, he had to be with Katara, he loved her.

Well there you have it, R&R guys cause I love the encouragement. Hope you all like it and flame me if you hate me. Luv you all!