Winning Drabble Contest entry! The idea was to take a certain piece of music (search youtube for "Rastrelli Cello Quartett Piazzolla - Oblivion"), and make a fic for it in the following manner:
This time around, you are to listen to the song linked above and take your inspiration from that. Use the song as a soundtrack, acquire a mood from the song and use that, feel an emotion and run with it! I'm open to just about anything here, as long as you incorporate the song in some way, shape, or form. Keep it below 1,500 words. Make it in the Avatar Universe. Other than that, let the song guide you.
Day of Destiny
Ursa woke up on the morning of her wedding, told herself that she was happy, and believed.
The preparations had a kind of unreality to them. Maids came in and dressed her as always, but things were slightly different. The clothes were new, colored white to represent purity, and she wondered why the same color was also a symbol of death. Her hair was placed into a new style, which was odd, because what was the point of not looking like yourself when first seen by your husband? The style, though, was also practical, in that it would better accommodate the crown hairpiece that she would be receiving when she officially became a Princess of the Fire Nation.
Princess Ursa. Fantasy had become reality, and it sounded all the odder for it.
The wedding wouldn't be at the Palace, of course. She wouldn't see her new home until after it had become a certainty. Even in the Capitol, security was a concern, and for all that Prince Ozai was the lesser heir, he was still a popular and commanding figure in the elite society here.
In accordance with tradition, Ursa met her family and friends in her home's parlor, and the whole group formed a quiet parade. The eldest members were at the head, with a descending order; a young preteen girl who Ursa had tutored in the pipa-lute was at the tail. Ursa fell exactly in the middle, as mandated by old beliefs of luck. The line traveled through the Capital, passing by the palace (they all stopped to bow at its main gate), and meandering towards the Royal Fire Temple. They entered on the East side, and Ursa was taken by one of the servants to her place in the courtyard.
The High Sage stood atop a slight platform in the center of the dais. He spared her a glance as she settled at his left hand, but did not speak to Ursa. To occupy herself, she watched her guests stream into the courtyard. Her parents came up to her side to act as witnesses and give their approval. They smiled at her, and that made things a little better.
Soon enough, the groom arrived. He was led by a younger sage, and wearing the blood red most popular in the Fire Nation. Ursa herself felt a smile grow on her face. She had seen the prince before, though she had never before come to his attention, and he was very handsome. As the groom, he didn't have to wear anything as elaborate as Ursa's costume, and looked all the better for it. Even so, he himself apparently liked what he saw in her. He smiled at Ursa, and his eyes met hers without fear. His brother came up to stand at Ozai's side, as witness, as the rest of the guests save one walked into the courtyard.
When everyone was in place, they all bowed to the last empty place in front row of the audience. Observed by no one's eyes, the Fire Lord stepped into the courtyard and took the reserved spot. At his word, everyone else rose again.
Ozai glanced at Ursa once more, and then shifted his gaze forward to the High Sage. Ursa made herself do the same, but didn't hear any of the man's words. She was hyper-aware of the cream of the city's crop standing expectantly behind her, of a handsome and powerful young man standing at her side, of the High Sage of Fire standing before her, bonding Ursa forever to Ozai with a simple speech.
She felt so light, and so warm, and she believed that this was happiness of a new kind.
Ursa took refuge in the proceedings. Although she heard nothing, she had been trained to go through the motions like a dance, the speed increasing with her confidence. As the Sage dissembled, she and Ozai bowed to each other, and accepted with both their hands a single cup of Lily Wine. Ozai drank from it first, and then guided it towards Ursa. She sipped from the cup, her eyes never leaving the prince. The sage said something to Ozai, and in response, he kissed Ursa's forehead and rested his hands on her shoulders. Had she been royalty, and he a mere gentleman, the motions would have been reversed.
She accepted him by lowering her head and taking his hands in her own, and her willed happiness reached a crescendo.
His smile grew warmer, and it seemed to Ursa that the air around him did as well. That would explain why she seemed to feel so hot. The bonding complete, they turned to face the assembled guests, and bowed. Ursa heard none of their applause over the roaring in her ears.
She knew it was time for the next phase, and gratefully sank to her knees.
The Fire Lord stepped forward, and with a formal declaration, handed Ozai a flame-shaped crown of gold. Ozai bowed to his father, and took the crown to Ursa's waiting head. It stabbed into the fountain of hair that had been prepared for it, and her head easily bore the new weight. Ozai took Ursa's hand and brought her to her feet, and the assemblage bowed to their new Princess.
All was finished.
Ozai and Ursa moved as one, stepping with the rhythm of their synchronized heartbeats, moving in a circle through the courtyard, so that all the guests could see them living and traveling as one. Ursa was lost in the movement, in the fading glow of the sun in the sky, in her new husband's warmth and grace, and almost stumbled in surprise when they arrived at the Wedding Table.
Lanterns eased to life around them.
END
