Chapter 10
"My dear brother, I haven't seen you in a long, long time… what brings you here?"
He heard her pitiful tone when she asked him that and his hands flared up. Zuko narrowed his eyes while Azula stood there with her arms crossed, a smirk spreading across her face.
"Where is she? I saw you with her! Where did you take her?" he yelled.
His jaw clenched and his flames roared furiously. Azula just laughed and took a step forward, her hand facing her brother with two fingers pointed at his chest. The firelight shined on the palace with a dangerous glow.
"Who? That wench? You don't need to know that… besides… you'll have the same fate as her once I'm done with you here…"
She laughed and then sent a blue spark of lightening at him. Zuko jumped out of the way, sending a surging flame straight at her. Azula pushed her own blue flames toward the attack, but to her surprise, she only got rid of half of it. The rest of the flame came at her with a defining force she wasn't expecting. Azula lost her footing as she fell to the ground. Zuko walked up to her with one arm pulled back, and the other ready to strike her down with another attack. He gritted his teeth and squinted at her, his anger for his sister finally surfacing to its fullest. Azula tried to look innocent and she propped herself up with her hands.
"I asked you a question! Where is she?"
Azula closed her eyes for a second, already starting her plan to capture Zuko. She opened her eyes and her smirk disappeared.
"I don't know what the guards did with her… I have no idea Zuko… I'm sorry… it seems like she means a lot to you…"
Zuko pushed his hidden arm forward, sending a burst of flames just above her head.
"Don't even try it Azula! I know you're lying… you always lie! Tell me where she is!"
His face portrayed the deepest hate, but Azula sighed and shook her head.
"Fine, I guess you've got me cornered. She's in the southern group of cells."
Zuko's eyes softened the slightest bit, and then he stepped aside, his arms falling from the fighting stance. Just as he was about to run towards the palace, Azula quickly sent an arrow of lightening at the ground where Zuko was about to step. As he put his foot down, the shock went through his body and he jumped, turning around to face his sister.
"You seem a bit jumpy brother. What's wrong?"
Her smirk was back and the fighting began again. She pulled her arms up over her head and then quickly brought them down in a swift circle. Flames spread around Zuko and then he breathed in sharply, trying to get the fire back towards Azula. But she was faster and she ran past him. Her blue fire hit his shoulder, causing him to fall painfully down into the ring of fire. The heat was greater than Zuko could take and then he felt a sharp jab in his ribs. Zuko cried out in pain and his eyes opened slightly to see her face above his.
"See, I told you that you would lose. And yes Zuko, I do always lie."
His eyes blinked a few times and then he was swept into a deep brooding pitch black.
..:-:..
In another pit of darkness, Katara fluttered her eyes open and immediately took a swift intake of breath. The pain along her back and the rest of her body was immense and almost unbearable. Azula knew how to make people suffer; Katara could vouch for that. With a considerable struggle, she managed to push herself into a sitting position and each time she moved a muscle, she winced painfully. Her strength was decreasing rapidly, but as her eyes started to adjust to the darkness, she realized her vision was back. The rest must have proven useful in getting rid of the intoxication. Mentally, Katara noted that she would never drink wine again.
She was breathing heavily, and her body was telling her that she needed water. Her hands patted the straw that was around her, and thankfully she found a cup not too far from where she was sitting propped up against the wall. But as she put the cup to her dry lips, she didn't feel any cool drops of water come out from it.
"Of course there wouldn't be any water in my cell! Azula wouldn't give me water…"
Katara put the cup down, still trying not to move her back at all. She sat still in the dark cell, and then closed her eyes, controlling her breath as she did so. Suddenly, she heard the soft rush of flowing water and her eyes jerked open. Her arms were weak, but she managed to pull them up. She brought her arms towards her in a sweeping motion, figuring that the water could come to her from the tiny window that let the moon shine into the cell. After a few minutes, she was about to give up, but finally she felt the string of water at her fingertips. A smile managed to spread across her face as she poured the water into the cup. With the remaining water, she tried to heal herself. Katara had to bite her bottom lip as she moved her back from the wall. Her hand reached slowly towards her back, and then she let the cool liquid run down her back. Her eyes closed as she felt her back erected itself as the glow in the cell subsided. Finally, she took a sip of water and exhaled, relieved to be free of pain.
Suddenly, Katara heard guards coming down the corridor and she stiffened. She immediately slouched down and laid herself out over the cup of water so that it looked like she was still unconscious. The footsteps became louder and then she heard a familiar, displeasing voice.
"Take the prisoner to the main interrogation room. You! Open this cell up!"
Katara tried her best to lay there unmoving, and then the door creaked open. Azula stepped in a bit, and lit up the cell with her blue fire. She saw Katara lying there motionless and she smirked. Her entire back was covered in a deep dark color, and to Azula, it looked like one large bloodstain. Satisfied, she turned and then shut the door. Katara jumped as she did it, and then she sighed, relieved that Azula wasn't so concerned about her anymore. The echoes of the footsteps receded and Katara sat up again.
"Who could the prisoner be? Another person… or could it be…"
Her eyes widened and realized it must have been Zuko she captured. Katara closed her eyes, hoping that Zuko wouldn't have to go through the same treatment as she had undergone before. At that moment, Katara yawned and knew she had to get some more rest. Her hands moved around through the straw as she looked for a better place to be asleep. Suddenly she cried out a bit as her hand touched something that had slick jagged edges. She picked it up more carefully, and put it up to the little moonlight that was in the cell. Her eyes enlarged as she realized that it was a green jewel, an emerald to be exact. From the glint and sleek cutting of the stone, Katara could only come to one conclusion.
She had found the Jade Jewel.
Her heartbeat slowed down once she came to terms with the new discovery. Someone must have hidden it in the cell, a previous prisoner no doubt. Why would Azula or anyone look for a jewel in a prison cell? It was the perfect hiding spot, so Katara put it back in its corner, and finally let herself fall asleep. The distant cries of pain weren't audible to her ears, but to Azula it was like a lullaby.
..:-:..
"Come on Zuko… all you have to do is just tell me what you know about the avatar… it's simple, really…"
He breathed heavily and glared at his sister. The two pillars where Katara had been held in between were now holding Zuko prisoner as well. Azula wasn't getting too far with the interrogation, and her failure wasn't pleasing her at all.
"I told you before… I have no idea where the avatar is! I stopped chasing him a long time ago…"
She smirked as she saw the distant sadness in his golden eyes.
"Oh that's right… wasn't it just after uncle died? What a shame… what a shame…"
Zuko growled and pulled on the rustling chains as he leaned forward, trying to reach his sister.
"Shut up! You aren't even worthy enough to speak about him!"
He cried out as she whipped him with a blazing hot metal bar. It was flexible, and left a bright crimson color across his neck. At that moment Azula stepped up to him, his head hanging limp. His vision was coming in and out of unconsciousness, and suddenly he felt Azula's fingers on his newest burn.
"Too bad your wench isn't here to help you… but of course, I don't see how she could possibly do that after what I did to her…"
He gave her one last glare, and then his knees fell to the ground. Azula shook her head and grumbled.
"They are so similar, those two… ha, what a perfect match; the weak, and the weaker."
..:-:..
Katara stirred and her surroundings came flooding back to her eyes. She was still in the dark cell and then she felt some straw in her mouth. Her hands went up to it automatically and she stuck her tongue out in disgust. But that wasn't her biggest concern, because she heard distant footsteps echoing down the steel hallway. The sound grew louder and Katara's heartbeat quickened. She scrambled to get back into her sleeping position, but then the footsteps stopped right in front of her door. Katara shut her eyes close, hoping that nothing would happen, and the footsteps would continue down the hall.
"I can't take this anymore! Just stuff him in this cell, I don't care if there's a special one for him down further in the other wings!"
Her eyes jerked open and her mouth dropped open. Without making the slightest noise, Katara stood up and walked to the wall with the door. She remembered which way it opened, so she stood in a position so that if it did open, no one would see her.
"Princess, are you sure about this cell?"
She turned on the guard viciously, dark circles under her eyes. They narrowed, and she put two fingers to where his heart was.
"Are you deaf? I said this cell! Do it now!"
"Yes, I'm sorry your grace."
The guard looked at the other nervously and he unlocked the door. It creaked open and Katara's heart went wild as she saw a body hit the floor with a loud thump. She stood motionless as the door slammed shut.
"Finally! I can go get some decent rest! What a wasted night! Well maybe it wasn't all that bad…"
Katara didn't move until she made sure she couldn't hear the footsteps anymore. When that happened, she breathed in and sighed deeply. She was wide awake, so she decided to see who the mystery person was. The moonlight that came through the window made the trails of blood glisten on his back. Katara gasped and put her hands to her mouth as she looked up from the gruesome back to his neck, to his scarred face. She shook her head disbelievingly and knelt by his side immediately.
"Zuko? No… Zuko, it can't be you…"
Her fingers ran through his wet hair, down his neck, and then she stopped moving when she felt the cool thick liquid. Tears swept from her eyes and fell onto his bare back, as she stared at his wrecked body in disbelief.
"I'm so sorry Zuko…" she whispered, "… I'm so sorry…"
She bowed her head down to his face and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Her hand rested on his neck, and then she recoiled it, a burning sensation traveling up through her fingertips, all the way up to her shoulder. Zuko's face cringed and he cried out painfully. As she looked closer, Katara saw the bright line, which came down from his neck to his collarbone. She had no idea that he was hurt so extensively. His face still bore the marks of pain and suffering, suddenly causing Katara to find strength in herself. She had healed her back, and she was even more determined to heal Zuko.
Closing her eyes, she concentrated and listened for the source of water she had used before. Her arms reached forwards and her fingertips trembled slightly as she began to feel the water. Time after time, she swept her arms towards the cell, and finally she saw water come through the tiny window, just like the time before. A smile creased her lips but it subdued itself as she put her hand on Zuko's neck. He moaned, his whole body in pain. A bright blue glow surrounded his neck and her hand, until finally it vanished, cooling the heat, and healing his burn. She then turned her attention to his back and washed it of the dark red blood. With one more breath, she put her hands at the top of his neck, slowly gliding them down to his lower back. When the glow went away, Katara let her arms fall to her sides. It had taken most of her energy to heal his back, but she was overjoyed to know she had healed him, his pain vanishing each minute that she was by his side.
After a few minutes had passed, and Katara's breathing had calmed down to a peaceful pace, she saw Zuko's body stirring. His eyes opened slowly, trying to readjust to the dark cell. He saw a figure sitting next to him, and then he pushed himself up off the ground, so that he was sitting beside her. Katara's eyesight became blurry as she sprang onto him, her arms flinging around his strong neck. For a moment he had no idea who she was, but then as he put his arms around her waist, he realized he was holding onto Katara.
"Zuko… I thought I wouldn't see you again!"
He buried his head into her shoulder, holding onto her tightly.
"Katara, I'm sorry, please forgive me…"
She pulled away from him slightly and then pulled his head towards hers. The two kissed each other as if the world was going to end that night. None of them wanted to lose the other again; it had happened once and the consequences were horrifying. Katara pulled away from him and stared into his eyes softly, the moonlight creating dark shadows on his face. She ran her hands through his hair as he put a hand to her cheek.
"Zuko, don't say that, I'm sorry for not listening to you… I got us into this trouble, and you must have gone through a much worse meeting with Azula than I did…"
It was then that he realized he wasn't in any more pain.
"Wait… did you heal me?"
"Of course I did! I had to…"
"No you didn't…"
Zuko pulled her into him and she rested her head on his chest. He caressed her back and then his fingers ran over her tattered clothes.
"Katara… what did she do to you?"
He sat up straight and she wriggled out of his embrace, sitting against the wall next to him.
"It's nothing, really… I'm fine…"
Zuko slammed the ground with his fist and growled angrily.
"I'm going to kill her! I swear I will kill her for torturing you!"
Katara's eyes widened as she saw his fists flame up. The fire caught on the straw and she quickly doused it with a swift movement of her hand. Zuko was still ranting and he was doing so loudly. She pulled him to her quickly, covering his mouth with hers. His inner hate cooled down and Katara lifted her head gently so that he was staring right into her eyes.
"You can't be so loud… she doesn't know that she put you in the same cell as me…"
Her whisper gave Zuko a crawling sensation up his back and made him more alert. He loved staring into her eyes; it melted his fueling rage and calmed his spirit.
"I'm still going to kill her though…"
She smiled warmly and then a smile mirrored hers as Zuko's lips managed to twist into a smile of his own. Katara jumped up all of a sudden, and he watched her scrounging around for something in the corner of the cell.
"What are you looking for?"
"You won't believe what I found… here it is!"
She walked back to him slowly, cupping something in her hands. As she sat down next to him again, he saw a soft green glint on a gem that Katara was holding.
"Do you know what this is?"
He took it into his hands and put it up close to his face. It was crafted with amazing accuracy and precision, its edges sharp, but sleek. His eyes widened when he uncovered what it was he was holding.
"Is this the Jade Jewel?" he asked reluctantly.
"Yes Zuko… it's the emerald that keeps earthbenders from contacting their element in any way that is related to bending."
There was a spine-chilling silence as the two of them just stared at the jewel. The power they held in their hands was incredible, and horrible at the same time. Finally Katara spoke in a hushed voice.
"I think someone was taken prisoner, and they knew he had it. Once he was in here, he hid it, and most likely they…"
She didn't need to finish the sentence; Zuko knew what his nation was capable of. Zuko put the emerald on the ground and stood up. Katara looked up at him curiously and cocked her eyebrow.
"Zuko, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to destroy it."
He put his arms out to his sides, breathed in deeply and then swung his leg. His foot slammed down on it, a fiery trail making an arc in the cell. Zuko felt the jewel under his foot, but when he stepped back Katara's eyes widened. Her fingers took the emerald gently, and she looked at it in amazement.
"It doesn't even have a scratch on it…"
He sat back down and observed it along with her. Indeed nothing had happened and Zuko was confused beyond his wits.
"I don't understand why it didn't break."
"Let me try…"
Katara found the cup of water she put to the side and then made the water slither and she encompassed it around the Jade Jewel. Once it was frozen, she took a step back, and threw it against the wall with all of her might. The impact was enormous, leaving shards of ice splattered against the wall. Both Zuko and Katara looked through the straw to find the pieces of the green stone, but Zuko found it whole and still without a mark on it.
"Your fire bending and my water bending didn't work. What are we going to do?"
Zuko put the jewel into the corner and sighed, shaking his head.
"Zuko? Why did you put it back?"
He turned to her and looked at her incrediously.
"Don't you see? Fire broke the Azure Jewel. Fire is the opposite of water. What is the opposite of earth?"
Katara looked to the side as she began to understand what Zuko was telling her.
"The opposite of earth is air. But the only airbender left is…"
"The Avatar."
At once Katara looked up at Zuko who was looking off with a somber expression through the small window. She glared at him and put a hand to her forehead.
"Zuko, how many times do I have to tell you his name is Aang?"
He was brought back from his thoughts and shook his head.
"Oh… right."
She rolled her eyes and went to go sit back down against the wall. Katara cradled her knees up to her chest and put her head on top of them. Zuko sat down next to her; he needed to be close to her, he didn't want to waste any more time without her. So he stroked her hair and she leaned in to him as he put an arm around her.
"Sometimes I worry about him. I know Aang has already mastered three of the four elements, but I just can't help to think that someone out there could have him locked up."
He shushed her and she closed her eyes.
"…Aang is fine… he's the Avatar, Katara. Would he want you to worry about him?"
She lifted her head up to see Zuko's shadowy face looking down at her gently. At that moment she felt so reassured and comforted by the fact that she was with him. For some reason, Katara knew deep down inside that she felt something deeper than just a liking for him. Over the days she had spent with him, and now remembering what he had done to protect her, she realized how different he was from the time she had first met him.
"You're right… but what about the Red Spirits? Are they all right?"
Zuko's smile turned horizontal and he closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry I'm bringing it up, but I have one question for you to answer."
He opened up his eyes and looked at her deeply.
"Did you do anything of a criminal nature while you were the Red Spirit?"
Zuko was relieved and shook his head.
"No I didn't. I even gave back one time. You know, take riches from the rich and give back to the poor."
Katara smiled, knowing he was telling her the truth.
"So that's why people were thanking me that one time…"
Zuko leaned his head down and kissed her sweetly. Katara's heart melted at his touch and she wrapped her arms around his torso. She felt at ease in his embrace and then she sighed. Suddenly she remembered her horrible experience with the model show all the way at the beginning of last week.
"Zuko, did you do any other acts of kindness? Like, oh I don't know, did you help a girl escape a mob of lust hungry men?"
The hair on his arms stood up straight as he remembered that one night when he had helped the most beautiful girl escape that mob. He felt guilty for thinking that way, but she was extraordinarily beautiful.
"Why do you ask?"
She was somewhat disappointed it wasn't him.
"Oh, well this one time I did a stupid thing and entered a woman parade to get some money and a stranger saved me."
Zuko's eyes widened and his heartbeat accelerated.
"That was you?" he asked in shock.
"So was it you that saved me or no?"
"Katara… you… her… beautiful…"
He was just in so much shock that the woman was the same as the one and only Katara. She smirked in the dark and leaned up to him.
"What was that you were saying?"
Zuko was flushed but she couldn't see it.
"I… I mean, yes."
"What about that other part?"
"Oh… nothing… just that… you'rebeautiful…"
"Excuse me? You didn't say that clearly."
Zuko was getting frustrated and he sort of pushed her away.
"I think you are beautiful all right? Will you get off my case now?"
She smiled and kissed the corner of his mouth. His anger subsided as he heard her soft chuckle. Katara yawned and wrapped her arms around his middle, settling her head on his chest comfortably. Zuko yawned after hearing her, and he leaned back, trying to find a relaxed angle to go to sleep in. The woman in his arms closed her eyes and thought to herself. She couldn't have been happier than she was at that moment. Everything seemed to be all right, even though she was a prisoner of the fire nation, and that was because she had Zuko right next to her. He stroked her hair and she adored him showing her some affection. Zuko knew that he would never find anyone like her again. His mouth opened slightly and he mumbled through a yawn.
"Katara… can I … tell you… something?"
"…yeah?…"
"I…I…"
His mouth closed and his head fell on top of hers. Both of them fell asleep inside the dark cell, holding on to each other, taking in the other's presence. The scene seemed like it was from a fairy tale, the prince and his princess, sleeping together happily.
..:-:..
Dawn came only a couple of hours after they fell asleep. The dark cell was that no longer; instead, a faint glimmer of sunlight came into the prison hold. Both of the courageous fighters were still asleep, their chests rising and falling simultaneously. In the distance, only a few people were moving throughout the secret hidden palace. An ominous figure nodded to a pair of guards and they left the room. In no time, they made it to the prisoner's cell and opened it without making any noise. The two guards saw the pair sleeping together and for a moment they wondered if what they were doing was the right thing. One guard made the first move and lifted Zuko's arm gently. The other picked the sleeping girl into his arms. They left the scarred exiled prince where he laid. The door closed silently, and the two guards left the cells. Katara didn't even stir, her entire body was still in need of rest and so she slept on, dreaming of colorful fields and water falls.
..:-:..
Later on that morning, Zuko stirred as he heard the birds chirping in the distance. For some reason, he didn't feel Katara's warmth next to his body, so he slowly opened his eyes, expecting to see her in the corner. Once his vision became clear, his body went numb.
She wasn't there.
A/N: Yay! You read to the end of this chapter! Thanks so much for reading! Could you tell me what you though of it? I'd be eternally grateful:D
And to show my appreciation, here's a hint for the next chapter!
NEXT: Katara finds out a secret about her past that crushes her.
Oh, and I'm so not telling you anything else! So don't try to squeeze it out of me! Lol xD You'll just have to wait! Until then, have a wonderful day!
-Monika-
