Chapter 4:

A evening party on Zhao's ship

What could Zhao want now? I thought as one of Zhao's hawks flew toward me. I had been standing on the deck thinking when I saw it. I removed the note from its leg and read it. It was an invitation for Prince Zuko and a date to come to his ship for an important announcement.

I quickly found Prince Zuko in his room once again meditating.

"Prince?"

His response to having his peace and quiet disturbed was to throw a large fireball at me. Thankfully I had managed to know a bit about firebending while at the stable. I caught it and was simply forming it into a ball and waiting when Zuko turned and saw me holding it.

"Your a bender? But you're a girl!" he said in awe, then decided he really didn't care. "Well? What do you want then?"

"I have your invitation to Zhao's, er, party. Good luck finding a date." I said handing him the invite and as he was about to ask more questions I left. I knew he didn't care much for Zhao, nor did I, but I didn't feel inclined to listening to his rantings about him.

A few hours later they landed near a small village. This was the village Zhao's note had said his gathering would be held at. Iroh had taken a very long time convincing Zuko that he needed a date for this gathering and was now faced with the problem of finding someone. I planned on picking up a few supplies, and waiting for the ship to leave again.

"Archer!" came Iroh's voice "Would you come here for a moment?"

"Ok...sure, why not."

"All right. I'm having a very hard time finding my nephew a date, and the gathering is in a couple hours. Do you think you could go with him?"

I would normally have quickly declined, but Iroh looked like I was his last hope, and maybe I could remind Zuko of my existence somehow. So I agreed.

"Great! I'm very relieved. Now. To get you into some formal clothes..." he trailed off.

"I'll go get those myself. I'll be back in time for the gathering." I said wondering why I had accepted this invitation.

I walked off to find a clothes shop that sold formal fire nation attire. It would have been hard, except a couple stores had made formal fire clothes for Zhao's gathering on the hopes that someone would need their clothes. I was that someone.

I ended up in a long dark red skirt with my sash tied around my waist. A sleeveless black belly shirt with a high neck that I used to wear when I was younger underneath a dark red jacket with a wide collar. The women in the shop found a long black piece of cloth to tie back my hair, although I made them leave some hair down to hide my face, they said my face was too pretty to hide, I didn't care.

With only a few moments before I needed to be back at the ship I walked around. I saw where I guessed Zhao was holding his gathering through some trees. I finally headed back to the ship. I saw Zuko waiting on his rhino. I whistled and Ealorr, my elk, came cantering from where the crew had let him graze. As usual, he wore no saddle or bridle.

He bent his head and looked at me with questioning eyes. He then snorted at me and waited for me to mount. I grabbed one of his horns and swung up onto his back. It was a bit difficult to ride with a long skirt but I finally managed to shift my position into something like side saddle. Zuko had already set off, not looking at me. I supposed Iroh had told him I was the archer, but I didn't know for sure. With my hair back, clothes changed, and cleaner skin, I supposed I looked quite different.

I cantered up to the gathering building with Zuko in front of me. I didn't realize rhinos could move so quickly. As Zuko swung down from his rhino I let Ealorr walk a little closer. I suppose Zuko remembered he had a date then because he turned an offered me his hand. I didn't know how to swing down while using his hand for support, but I tried it.

"Oof" I grunted when my attempt ended in my falling onto Zuko. As he caught me. My legs buckled and I fell even more. But his arms held me steady. "Thanks." I managed to say when I remembered my manners.

As soon as my legs were back under me he let go and walked into the building. I had to trot to keep up, but I managed to look somewhat together thanks to my long skirt.

"Welcome! Sit! Enjoy the food!" called the greeter as we entered. I wondered how much Zhao had to pay him to make him look happy.

Zuko wandered over to the long table and sat down. I did the same. I bent my head and began examining the floor. But it just wasn't interesting. I glanced over at Zuko again to find him watching the people dancing. Then as I was about to say something a boy about 17 came over.

"Excuse me? I couldn't help noticing you look like you need a dance. Care to join me?" he asked. I looked up and saw a bunch of girls standing behind him staring like he was a god or something.

"No thanks. I'll stay here if it's all the same to you."

"You have a sense of humor! Cute. Come now, you wouldn't really rather sit next to this spoiled prince. By the way he ignores you I can tell he knows nothing of respect."

As flames grew inside me and flicked at my wrists and weaved through my hair as I stood. I was as tall as him even with out shoes, which made a long skirt convenient again. I looked at him. Into his eyes. "You arrogant fool. Prince Zuko knows more of respect then anyone should ever have to know. And I declined your offer once. Do not make me repeat myself." I was thoroughly angered now. And he could tell. Which was good because it made it easier to settle back down. It also helped my situation that Snowthorn then hissed in my ear reminding me of my arm. As the anger in me subsided slightly I felt Zuko put a hand on my shoulder.

"Come on. Let's go back to the ship." it was the first time he spoke to me like I wasn't some fool. As we left I made sure to trod on the boys feet, and it hurt him for he then yelped in pain and hopped on one foot for a while. It was very satisfying.

"Wake up. Come on. Get up." came a voice in my ear. I recognized it as Avari's. I opened my eyes and looked around. Where was I?