Ch.10 Warm Hospitality
Song
I'm not shackled yet I'm afraid to move anywhere.
I guess it's because in the four corners of this square like room. I see the person I thought was called Tai in the left corner in front of me, Mai in the right corner, if I incline my head a little to the sides I see Shang is directly across from Tai, and finally my only kindred spirit in this metal contraption, Ty Lee. Ty Lee is currently grinning stupidly at Mai and stands on her head with her legs bent in angle above her body. How she can be so relaxed is beyond me, but the others aren't as relaxed. Shang is rotating a sword in his hands while glaring at me, Mai appears to be examining her arrows but I can sense her attention is directed towards Tai, and Tai is picking his teeth with Zuko's dagger. He winks in my direction and heightens my nervousness, so I finger the hem of my perfectly made silk robe I was instructed to wear.
Calm down. I take a breath and examine the table. It's only set for two.
The clicking of heels soon breaks the silence festering in the room. My heart pounds each time a heel hits the ground. She enters the room wither head tilted regally then she brings her gin gradually down as I feel two arms shove me up.
I flush and remain on my feet as Shang returns to his corner.
Azula smiles.
"Can't expect too much from a commoner I suppose. Sit."
I plop in my seat before anyone can force me down
She sweeps her gold kimono perfectly in place as she glides into her seat.
"Very smart. Do you find your accommodations pleasing." The way she pronounces her words is oddly evocative of snake hissing.
Certainly I did. I had awoken to an enormous room with a soft bed with satin coverings. I was directed to a warm bath and then was presented with the robe that I'm currently wearing. The generosity set me off guard.
"I'm fine." I reply carefully.
She nods her head and then laughs.
"I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I am Lady Azula of the Fire nation."
She says gesturing with a perfectly manicured hand.
"My name is Song." I say looking at the food in front of us.
Azula snaps her finger though it frightens me, this is merely an indication for Ty Lee and Mai to fill our plates. I give in to my hunger pains since Ty Lee filled my plate with honey roosted meat and thick noodles mixed in herbs. I eat as slow as my stomach will allow. After I take a break, I see Azula delicately touching her mouth with a silk hanky. I then take a sip of the wine I ignored earlier.
"You're quiet." Azula says suddenly as she gestures for Mai to refill her glass with red wine. She tastes the wine and sets it down.
"How do you and my brother get along?" I choke on the wine I begun to swallow. Azula merely fingers the edges of the glass until an unfamiliar noise reaches my ears. Before I can ponder how I should lie, she speaks up again.
"I see." Her eyes mock me and her fire red lips twist humorously. She continues to move her long fingers around and around the glass.
I open my mouth to protest, but she wags a finger at me.
"No sense in arguing. It's a shame though that you've been separated from good looking men for so long my scarred brother began to look desirable." She sounds sympathetic, but her reappearing dimple implicates her want of a fight. I find myself pitying her need for the upper hand, but her attack on Zuko was ill founded.
The color from my cheeks that rose at her comment slowly lowers and I meet her eyes. She frowns and stops moving her fingers ending the ethereal sound.
"The same could be said of you." I say conversationally, looking towards Shang. He scowls at me. Azula laughs which throws me off because I was preparing for her anger.
"Aren't you precious? Dear no need to be so petty. I wonder though if you will retain that sense of humor tomorrow at your hearing." She looks genuinely curious though her eyes flash with malice.
My hearing? "Am I being tried for being an enemy?" I ask coolly setting down the useless wine I had unconsciously been grasping.
Shang speaks up. "For murder." I suddenly feel dismal at the remembrance of this event, but I watch my hostess keenly.
Azula's face quickly contorts and what had been very beautiful now seem enraged and ugly. My disgust must be apparent because as suddenly as her rage appeared, it ebbed. She beams approvingly at me.
"I'll be your judge." She goes back to circling her glass.
My mouth dries and my head spins from the evil sound. Ty Lee still here, hope's still here. My eyes quickly glance to my right. My contorted sanity savior throws me a stealth wink.
---
Zuko
I lie on the ground and stare angrily at the barren land over the horizon. I can't bring myself to get up though I'm simply exhausted with trying to keep up with those damnable tanks. If only they left tracks!
Nothing more I can do right now. I have to wait for Ty Lee. I frown at my unsolicited logic.
I get to my knees satisfied that my injured leg doesn't throb, and then get onto my run-weary legs. My heart and head still pounds with adrenaline and my eyesight swims from rising to my feet so quickly. I turn towards the forest and make my way back to headquarters.
---
Song
"What am I going to do?" I whisper to Ty Lee as she leads me back to my cell. She shakes her head and puts a finger on her lips. She jabs me into the room and puts on an amusing mock frown.
"Stay in here!" her frown relaxes and she drops her voice until it's barely audible.
"don't do anything. I'm getting help." She shuts the door and I hear her lock the door.
Before I move towards the bed, I hear her sigh.
"Song you must know Azula doesn't keep me in her close confidence. I don't know what she'll do to you, but I can't compromise my position." Her footsteps give away her reluctance and I sit by my door stunned. I hold my face in my hands.
I'm doomed now. A tear willingly rolls off my face down to my scarred leg. I hold back more tears. I am foolish. I was foolish for following father when I was child, I was foolish for trusting 'Tai' or what ever his real name is, and I'm foolish to hope that my feelings could be ever be reciprocated by the stubborn and usually unfeeling Zuko. I shake my head throwing out useless thoughts.
I would even be more foolish tough to resist using that bed. I spread my fingers out so I can see the outline of it in the barely lit room. I wipe away my salty tears and blow my nose onto the sleeve of the silk robe I am wearing.
I laugh sadly at this unintentional insolent act and then change into the simple nightgown laying on the bed. I free my hair from it's braided prison and bury myself in the soft bed. My eyelids flutter closed only to be awakened in what seems minutes later.
"Time for your trial miss." A gruff voice from outside the door calls pounding on the heavy door. My head hurts from the sleep I believe I'm deprived of, but I change into clothes that appear to have magically been placed on my bed instead of the robe with snot on the sleeves.
This time though, the dress and shoes are black. I can't withhold a shudder as the itchy fabric runs over my body. I sloppily braid my hair.
"I'm ready." I say finally not truly caring how I look on this particular day, and the guard comes in, shackles me, and leads me out the door and to the right. As we exit the tank, sunshine graces my body. I feel a tad more comforted by its heated touch as we stride down the plank.
I see a large crowd assembled not far with soldiers, and when I squint harder, I think I see six figures sitting elevated.
I relax my eyes and blow the bangs off my forehead. The guard continues to drag me forward by my left arm. We walk through the crowd of standing soldiers. I'm astounded at the number of masked men present at my trial. Am I that important? Or maybe they like to see people condemned. Most likely the latter.
We push through the center, but none of the soldiers turns their heads to see me. Instead, they face forward towards Azula and her four companions from last night with a new addition that I recognize immediately as Shang's other companion.
Finally, we reach the front and I'm dragged to a chair. I do and Shang comes from his throne like seat and stands across from me.
"Thus begins the trail of Song, nurse of the Earth Kingdom, for the murder of Alabaster four days ago. I was present at the place of his slaughter, but a better-detailed account comes from my other companion Lithe. I call him forward now to recount his experience." He steps aside as Lithe, the man with almond eyes, ambles forward wearing a sad countenance. I flinch because his sadness does seem genuine.
"We found her in a grove. She attacked General Shang with a pan because we had startled her. She then alerted the vagabond Zuko thwarting our mission of a quick capture. Because of her offense, Al went to capture her, but he never came back out. Later when I recovered from being stunned by her partner Zuko, I found that the tent was burned down." He took a sad, sudden gasp of air. "Shang already had pulled him out of the tent, but I saw blood poring out of a wound near his abdomen. Later when Agent Phoebus captured her, I compared the dagger she had in her possession to the gouge in my friend's corpse." He narrowed his eyes further at me. "I had other look at it as well. That must have been her murder weapon." Shang stepped forward.
"Thank you Lithe. The next witness will be Agent Phoebus." The 'Nurse' formerly known as Tai takes Lithe's place and bows to the audience like a skilled performer.
"I was sent to eliminate threats to our nation whenever they fell under my care." He paused dramatically. "I was successful many times, but was foiled by Nurse Song when I tried to depose of former Prince Zuko- who murdered Lord Ozai- ally of the avatar…"
"Song's on trial now Phoebus." Shang interrupts.
"Yes. Yes, I know. I was just making a point." He begins to snarl loathing a break in his performance, but coughs after hearing the tapping of nails behind him.
"Later when I was tasked with capturing her, she bit my hand, hit me with her fists, an ineffective move really" He paused to allow laughter and then continues "and later she threatened to stab me and fellow soldiers with Alabaster's murder weapon!" Shang nods his head apparently sympathetic, but I detect a little resentment as he tells him to sit.
"What will you say in your defense?" He turns to me speaking in a distinctly icy tone.
My heart throbs as I'm ushered to stand before the many rows of men. I discard my fear momentarily and open my mouth.
"I regret accidentally killing my assailant." I say choking up. "I was trying to protect myself." I hide a smile remembering Zuko had uttered something similar to that. The masked faces aren't too hard to confess to.
"What do you have to say about aiding the murderer Zuko?" Shang asks pointedly. I wince and reply
"I am his nurse. I'm supposed to care for him." I look down at the ground wondering if I should say more.
"Anything else?" Shang prods.
I shake my head finally.
"Wait!"
My head darts up. Is it him? I look around for the owner of the voice.
"Who speaks?" Shang demands with an incredulous look on his face. A stately masked man appears down the center and stands before Shang.
"Permission to remove mask?"
The words sir remains unsaid I notice as I eagerly wait for consent.
"Do it then." Shang says impatiently.
The man begins to unstrap it saying. "I am her father."
I knew it was his voice! The tears freely fall when I see familiar hazel eyes. He looks very old now. His hair poking out from his helmet is streaked with silver and his previously tan skin is faded from lack of sunlight. I long to embrace him, but my shackles and shyness hold me back.
Instead, I look at him with amazement while tears continue to weave down my cheeks. He begins to speak on my behalf. I try to focus on what he says.
Something about how I was a good girl before he was drafted into the army and how he was willing to do anything to have me spared and restored to my mother.
Another tear winds down my damp face.
"She's dead." I whisper.
"Speak up." Shang commands.
"My mother is dead." I say louder.
My father hands his head sadly before slipping the mask back onto his face. I see a tear fall to the ground and I wish I could have told it to him better.
"Colonel you may return to your seat." Azula's boisterous voice chimes in. "Song turn and hear my judgment."
I look away from my father's retreating back to see Azula gazing at me.
"Your father's testimony comes too late. You have confessed to the murder as well as assisting my brother, so I find you guilty. As punishment you are sentenced with death." A lump forms in my throat and I begin to sob in front of the huge crowd. This is the worst day of my life.
"Men return to your stations." I look desolately at Ty Lee whose face urges me to look away. I turn to my guard pleading for him to take me away.
"Aren't you curious about how you will meet your end?" An overly sweet voice pierces the air. I face Azula once again this time showing more trepidation.
Her eyes glitter as the sun peaks out of a dark cloud. She excitedly explains.
"I've decided you will die with flames." She says this melodiously then licks her mouth hungrily. I feel faint. The tears cease, and I begin to quake all over.
She looks at her friends surrounding her "Fitting for my nation's killing method." They nod their heads only Ty Lee does not bob enthused like the others. Visions of flames appear before me, and Azula looks back toward me making a tsk noise at my pitiful appearance.
"Phoebus informed me that you have a phobia of fire. Don't worry you won't have to wait long before you face it." She rubs her hands together and allows an excited grin to escape from her mouth.
---
Author's Note
Wow, that's a lot of Song's POV. Do not worry more Zuko POV on the way.
Artemis has been posted if any one still has questions about Sokka's adopted daughter. Thanks to Firework, FireGurl107, Midori Ryuu, Ireth Kalt, storm-of-insanity, sugarland31, sanriochica333, and Minage. I appreciateyour reviews a ton.
Sorry if the portion that deals with Song's father seems like Darth Vader (Luke I am your father). It rather turned out that way.
I thought I liked this chapter, but somehow in the process of typing it and editing it, I've come to disdain it. I hope it won't be that way for the viewers (crosses fingers).