Chapter Two: Betrothed

Thirteen years have passed. The water tribe had finally finished rebuilding itself, and everything returned to the way it did before the fire nation attacked. Everyone was looking forward to the day when Princess Yukino would take the throne and become the ruler of their nation. She was all that they had left of a royal. The perfect princess, or so it seemed.

"You've already mastered waterbending and you're still trying to be greater?" Tsubaki stepped forward as she watched her niece move the water with piece, yet moved her body like a vicious lion. "Yukino, even a lady needs her rest."

"I must be a worthy opponent with great skills." Yukino turned around to face her Aunt. The wind moved swiftly through her long brown hair as the day was nearing twilight.

"Come now." Tsubaki gestured Yukino to come into the icy kingdom. "You must get cleaned up for the King of the Earth Nation. He is very eager to meet you young princess." She smiled. Yukino sighed and walked past her aunt entering the building. As she came near to her room, some of the housemaids began stripping her of her clothing. They entered the bath hall, filled with warmth and steam.

"This way my lady." One of her friends signaled her into the warm bath water. Yukino smiled and walked into the water. She sighed with relief and leaned against the bath wall. "Is the water to your needs?"

"You can drop the act Hitomi." Yukino had one eye closed as she looked over the girl. "You may work for me but we're still best friends." She smiled.

"Just doing my job." Hitomi dunked the princess under water, holding her down there for a second or two. Yukino resurfaced, gasping for air.

"Don't do that!" Yukino whined as soap was poured on her head. Hitomi scrubbed the brown hair and dunked her under water again.

"Your done. See that wasn't so bad." Hitomi held a towel out as Yukino jumped into it. "Now lets go get you dressed." She smiled. A slight moan came from the young princess as she dragged to her room.

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"And over here you'll find a lovely portrait of our beloved princess." Tsubaki pointed at a picture of Yukino. A man grinned, rubbing his beard with agreement.

"She is so young." He finally spoke. "She'll make a lovely wife."

"That she would." Tsubaki smiled. "We're still looking for a suitable man though."

"I didn't mean it like that." The man stepped forward to the picture and examined it. "I meant she'll make a perfect wife for me." He smiled. Tsubaki froze as he said those words. She didn't know what to say, knowing that he is the King of the Earth nation, and that he is sixty years older than Yukino.

"Dinner is now served." A woman approached them bowing as she did so.

"Splendid." The king clapped his hands. Tsubaki was somewhat uneasy as they entered the dinning hall, though the smell of tea eased her a bit. They both sat down with trays of food in front of them on the large table.

"Presenting, Princess Yukino." Hitomi announced after stepping into the room. She held her hands together down in front of her as Yukino walked into the dinning room. The princesses dress flowed gracefully every time she moved. The king was dumbfounded staring at the beauty that stood before him.

"It is a honor to be in your presence." Yukino bowed. Her brown locks fell before her as she leaned over.

"Please. Sit." Invited the king. She moved slowly and sat next to her Aunt.

After several hours of eating the delicious food before them and chatting about war plans on how to defeat the fire nation, they ended everything with deserts.

"Excuse me." Yukino got up out of her chair, bowed and left the room to the balcony. The old man looked at Tsubaki and moved his chair back. He lifted himself up and smiled at Tsubaki. "I'll check on her." He said heading toward the balcony. Tsubaki noticed a glimmer in the kings hand. She sighed knowing that this won't go oh so well.

Yukino spaced off as she stared down at her nation. The moon reflected in the canals.

"Your nation has done a great job rebuilding itself." The dark voice filled her ears. She quickly turned to find the older king behind her.

"It took us many years." Yukino finally spoke. "And this time our defenses are better than before."

"And now they await for the day when you take the throne and become ruler of the water nation." He stepped up closer. "I hear your looking for a suitable man."

"You heard right." Yukino scooted a bit from him, an uneasy filling was crawling inside of her. Suddenly, a necklace was dangling in front of her face.

"From my understanding, when you get engaged you wear a betrothal necklace in your tribe." He wrapped it around Yukino's neck. "Its for the better. For your people and the war." He grinned as he said that in her ear. Yukino's heart raced. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"What about me?" She turned, glaring at him.

"What about you? Don't be selfish now." The king placed his hand on her cheek. "You'll get whatever you want. Our nations combined…I'll be- I mean we'll be invincible." He grinned scooting closer to her.

"Oh really…?" Yukino scooted a bit closer to him as well, she grabbed his beard and began to play with it. "Will I be loved by all…?" She asked innocently.

"Yes you will." The older man moved his face toward hers. "Especially by me." Yukino grinned, her face went from innocent to violent. She moved her hands as waterwhipped in between them, shoving him to the floor.

"I think not. If you think I'm that kind of woman, then you've got another thing coming at you." She was about to unleash her waterbending abilities when her aunt interrupted.

"I believe it is time for you to leave.. Your highness." Tsubaki growled.

"I was just about to leave." The king stood up. His eyes met with Yukino's with a livid look. "Consider my offer. If you know what is best for you. When a princess is born, she is sworn to give up herself for her kingdom, and yousurely arn't thinking about your duty." He turned. His cape whipped around as he left the balcony and exited the icy kingdom. 'no one makes a fool of me.'

"I get this feeling like this won't be the last time we see him again." Yukino sighed as she stared at her aunt. Tsubaki looked over her niece and smiled somewhat.

"Its time for you to sleep. A woman needs her rest." She spoke with comforting words. Tsubaki patted the young princesses back and moved her along the way down the hallway.

Yukino entered her bedroom. The room was empty of no maids. No one but her. "I must leave to night." She leaped onto her bed and snuggled in the soft feathered pillows. 'The prince of the fire nation is picking up soldiers just east of here…' Hitomi had told her earlier. 'If you go there, you can disguise yourself as a fire nation soldier, and travel with the young prince. There is a boat leaving tonight that is headed that way.' Yukino tossed in her bed thinking about the consequences. 'Is this a risk your willing to take?' Yukino looked up at the ceiling. "Yes…" She murmured, sliding herself under the blankets. Tsubaki peeked in and smiled a bit. She closed the door with a sigh. "Good bye… my niece." She mumbled and walked away.

End of Chapter two

Hope you all enjoyed.