Rays of sunshine broke through the grey clouds and entered the cabin of a small Fire Nation vessel. Zuko leaned on the table on which a map of the Earth Kingdom was placed. He followed the captain's finger as he demonstrated their route. They had left the Phan Hue Harbour, but still roamed the coast near the Pohuai Stronghold as they tried to find any clues regarding the whereabouts of the Avatar.
"We haven't been able to pick up the Avatar's trail since the storm," Captain Jee said while trailing his fingers over the map. Zuko pinched his nose as he tried to clear his head. The loss of sleep last night had taken it's toll on him. Insomnia had plagued him for the longest time, but the unrest of the unfolding events added insult to injury.
"But if we continue heading northeast-" Jee continued, before he stopped himself. While he was pointing in the direction of the North Pole, a large ship pulled over next to theirs. A shadow was cast over the map, which made Zuko look up. Instead of seeing the endless blue ocean with the rising sun out of the captain's window, he saw the distinctive metal plates. The plates used on Fire Nation ships.
Zuko let out an irritated groan. "What do they want?" he growled under his breath, fairly sure the ship belonged to Zhao's fleet. He was in no mood for Zhao and his animosities.
"Perhaps a sporting game of Pai Sho?" Iroh said enthusiastically while rubbing his hands together. As his nephew was busy worrying about the Avatar, he had played Pai Sho with a few crewmembers in the same cabin. Zuko had refused to participate, but it had not stopped him from playing.
After a few minutes, the four soldiers from the other ship walked into the cabin. Without saying as much as a greeting, the first soldier rolled out a piece of parchment. Zuko recognized the wanted poster for the Avatar. He had seen many of them since it had been common knowledge that the Avatar was alive.
"The hunt for the Avatar has been given prime importance. All information regarding the Avatar must be reported directly to Admiral Zhao." The soldier said in a pompous voice while looking at Zuko.
"Zhao has been promoted?" Iroh said while moving the stones around the board, "Well, good for him!" As he made his move, the engineer slapped his hand against his own forehead. Iroh chuckled. When do people finally learn Pai Sho is more than a mere game, he mused to himself as he waited for his opponent to make a move.
As he looked over, he noticed that Zuko did not react to the news of Zhao's promotion. "I have nothing to report to Zhao." Zuko said in a hateful tone while looking away from the soldiers, "Now get off my ship and let us pass."
"Admiral Zhao is not allowing ships in or out of this area –" The first soldier tried again, before he was cut off mid-sentence by Zuko. "Get off my ship!" he yelled as he finally lost his temper.
Their arrogant attitudes disappeared quickly. The soldiers did not dare challenge the banished Prince, not after the Agni Kai with the Admiral. Without saying another word, they quickly made their way to their own ship.
"Excellent!" Zuko heard his Uncle say after the soldiers had left. He turned around as saw a happy smile on his Uncle's face. "I take the pot!" Iroh happily exclaimed as he pulled the mountain of chips to him. "But you are all improving!" he added as he started counting the chips, "I'm certain you will win if we play again."
Did he not just hear the entire conversation? Zuko fumed as he walked out of the cabin without saying another word. Furious, Zuko stamped onto the deck and tore off his armour. In his tunic, he blasted flames into the sky, kicking with a ferocity that was able to burn the Admiral to a pile of ashes had he been nearby. Firebending took a lot of energy, but Zuko was too furious to calm down.
After more than an hour, he still was blasting flames high into the blue sky.
"Is everything okay?" he heard the voice of his Uncle behind him, "It's been almost an hour and you still have not given the men an order." Iroh looked at his nephew, who was out of breath. He had been up here for more than an hour, which surprised him. With the news of Zhao's promotion, he had expected his nephew to set course right away.
"I don't care what they do!" Zuko yelled, his back turned to the older man while aiming another flaming fist at the sky. Iroh approached his nephew. He had known him all his life and he knew about his fiery temper. Yet this was one more ferocious than any other he had ever seen.
"Don't give up hope yet. You can still find the Avatar before Zhao." he said, trying to reassure him. But when Zuko turned around, Iroh felt his chest ache. He could read the desperation, fear and pain in his eyes when Zuko turned around, finally facing his Uncle
"How Uncle?" he yelled, his voice filled with despair. "With Zhao's resources, it is just a matter of time before he captures the Avatar."
Zuko turned back to watch the sun over the sea. "My honour, my throne, my country" he whispered, almost to himself. "I'm about to lose them all."
He stared over the ocean, his mind racing. Zhao promoted to Admiral, all the Fire Nations resources available to him and the hunt for the Avatar has prime importance. Soon, Zhao would capture the Avatar and claim all the glory and honour that comes with it. Everything Zuko had worked for those long years, given at that unimaginable bastard in a whim. Honour, glory, Elyrie, Zuko repeated in his mind and felt his heart ache at the thought of Zhao's bride-to-be.
Sneaking into the Stronghold had been easy, but seeing her was harder. He had to know what Zhao planned to do with the Yuyan archers, as Elyrie had hinted on the ship. The famed archers are valuable to capture a bender which was lighter than air. In an effort to find out Zhao's plans, Zuko had disguised himself and sneaked into the fortress.
He had been listening when the promotion was announced, inwardly cursing at the Admiral. But the girl next to him was what truly made him angry at Zhao. The girl who left in the morning, was a different girl than the one he saw that night at the watchtower. Her face seemed like a mask and her movements were calculated. And her voice was formal and regal. Not the sweet voice that sang lullabies. She had switched back into her role as a noblewoman with ease.
Nobody had noticed him, but she did. She had sensed someone staring and had been looking for the source. He cursed himself for his foolishness. He had lingered too long, wanting to see her for a few minutes more before he returned to his ship. Wanting to see her sapphire eyes, to make sure she was alright.
And now, her fiancé is about to become the most famed man in the Fire Nation, he thought between gritted teeth. In his anger and desperation, a plan began to take form in his mind.
Zhao had wasted no time in preparing for his hunt for the Avatar. Mere minutes after he had been promoted, he had send scouts and archers through the parts in which the skybison was last spotted. And after that, he had celebrated the whole night. Elyrie was informed of all this in the morning in her own room by Jin, who had trouble sleeping because of the loud cheers from the celebrating soldiers.
"Jin, please, you need to sleep." Elyrie said when she saw her friend with shaking hands pouring her tea. "No Miss, I need to help you get ready for-" Jin began before a yawn interrupted her, as if to prove Elyrie's point.
Elyrie chuckled and gently instructed her to take a nap here, since there were no obligations or visits today. "I have a day off, so you should get one too." she ordered gently to her maidservant, "My room is quiet and no one will disturb you."
Jin only protested a little, but gave in after a few weak attempts. Elyrie smiled when she heard the soft snoring after a few minutes. Making herself comfortable, she curled up in one of the large chairs in her room. With the open balcony doors, she could see the sun starting to climb as the day began. It was unusually quiet in the Stronghold, no doubt the result of the grand party from the previous night. Elyrie grinned at the peaceful morning as she opened her book and began to read.
Hours passed in this way, with Jin sleeping and her reading. Around noon, Elyrie looked up from her book. With a loud noise, she heard the large metal gates of the Stronghold open and close for a single rider. Wiping her hair out of her face, she closed her book and walked to the balcony. Leaning over the railing, she followed the rider with her eyes. It must be important, she thought as she saw the man race towards the Pagoda Tower.
The commotion also had woken Jin up, who came to stand beside her lady. "What could be the problem?" she asked Elyrie as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
"No idea." Elyrie answered as she saw the messenger disappear into the Pagoda Tower. Then, she turned around and smiled to Jin. "Hungry?" she asked with a mischievous wink.
They did not have to wait long for the news. Barely a half hour later, the two women ate their lunch in peace when Kun came knocking at her door.
"I am sorry to disturb your lunch, Miss, but I have important news. I am here to inform you that the Avatar was captured and on it's way to the Stronghold." he said, slightly out of breath. The Admiral had ordered him to inform his fiancée straight away, so she could prepare herself.
Elyrie's eyebrows shot up so high at the news, she was sure they disappeared into her hairline. Already? She mentally groaned. You have to be kidding me. Zhao had not even left his bedroom this morning, sleeping off the alcohol and yet the Avatar was brought to him on a silver platter with all honour an glory that came with it.
Outwardly, she forced a bright smile and informed Kun of her happiness and content at the news. Jin quickly began to change her into more formal dresses and styled her hair into a traditional Fire Nation topknot. It was a good thing Jin worked fast, since less than an hour later, another soldier informed her that Zhao requested her attendance at the upper level of the Tower.
Elyrie briefly looked at herself in the mirror before she left her room. Her hair was styled like Fire Lady Ursa used to do, with a small topknot and the remainder of her hair down. She sighed and followed the soldier as she was escorted to the top level of the Pagoda Tower, where they kept the Avatar prisoner.
When she arrived, she saw four soldiers guarding the metal doors. Zhao was waiting at the door with a smug smile on his face. Before Elyrie could say anything, he said "I told you it was only a matter of time."
For the second time today, she forced a smile and bowed her head in respect. "Indeed you did." was all she managed to come up with as she saw the soldiers part for the Admiral. The metal door swung open and Zhao smugly entered the room, his every step filled with the arrogance befitting a bully.
Elyrie followed silently, both feeling curious and guilty. Curious because she had never seen the Avatar up close, only glances and far away. She wanted to see him so badly. But her guilt got the upper hand when she looked inside the room. And what she saw, broke her heart.
The Avatar, who must be around seventeen years old, had his bald head bowed with the signature blue arrow contrasting against his pale skin. He was chained on his wrists and ankles. His grey eyes were filled with raged when he looked at the Admiral and he struggled against the chains.
"So this is the great Avatar. Master of all the elements." Zhao said as he approached the chained boy, his voice full of arrogance, "I don't know how you've managed to elude the Fire Nation for a hundred years but your little game of hide and seek is over." He circled the Avatar, as if to size him up.
"I've never hidden from you!" the Avatar responded angry as his eyes followed the Fire Nation Admiral, "Untie me and I'll fight you right now!"
Elyrie was impressed with his courage. Even in this hopeless situation, he had the spirit to fight and protest.
Zhao turned back to face the Avatar. "Uhh, no." was his simple response. Then, he bowed forward and held his face a few centimetres form the Avatar's.
"Tell me, how does it feel to be the only airbender left? Do you miss your people?" he asked in a cruel tone. Elyrie felt nauseous as she saw the enjoyment on his face. Unimaginable bastard, she mentally cursed. But again, on the outside she kept her hands clasped together and her back straight, her face revealing no emotions.
"Don't worry, you won't be killed like they were." Zhao continued in the same sadistic manner, "See, if you die you will just be reborn and the Fire Nation would have to start searching all over again. So I'll keep you alive, but barely…" he finished with an ominous voice.
But what he did underestimate, was the willpower of the Avatar. The boy inhaled and blew out with such force that Zhao was knocked over. As if he weighed nothing at all, Zhao was thrown to the floor of the cell. Angered and humiliated, he tried to stand up with as much dignity as he could manage. Elyrie bit her bottom lip until she tasted blood in an attempt to hide the smile.
"Blow all the wind you want, but your situation is futile." Zhao spat at him in an angry tone, "There is no escaping this fortress and no one is coming to rescue you." And with those words, he stormed out of the cell.
Elyrie followed him, but looked over her shoulder to the lonely figure, chained and alone as the doors slammed shut. She felt her chest constrict at the thought what Fire Lord Ozai would do to him when he was to be his prisoner. And Zhao was right, escaping from the Stronghold was nearly impossible. There has to be a way to help him, she mused. She knew Zhao's favourite form of torture was deprival of food. He would nearly starve the boy in the hope of weakening his immense power.
When she walked back to her room alone, a plan began to form in her mind. Her dresses were large enough to smuggle food into the cell. Nobody would suspect the demure fiancée of the Admiral to be the one rebelling against the strict orders. She grinned, thanking the gods that she was finally able to reap the fruits of her patience and timid facade.
"I wish to see the Avatar" she said in a commanding voice while holding a plate with a piece of moldy bread on it. The guards looked at each other in confusion.
"But my Lady, Admiral Zhao -," the first one began, but she interrupted him quickly. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to give me your names, so I can talk to the Admiral about you" she said with a raised eyebrow. Her words did not miss their intended effect. The guards quickly straightened themselves and opened the heavy metal door for her. Without giving them another look, she entered and waited until the door had closed behind her.
The Avatar was chained, his clothes torn and burned. He looked weak and hungry. She carefully approached him and he lifted his head, defensively.
"Please," she began, "Don't be afraid." She placed the plate on the floor and lifted her hands to show him she meant him no harm. Nevertheless, he looked cautiously at her. "I brought some food for you" she added while switching to the Air Nomad language.
Aangs eyes snapped open and looked at the young woman in front of him. He was sure he misheard her. "You can speak my language?" he asked in return, also switching to the Air Nomad language.
Elyrie nodded hesitantly. "I studied it for a few years. It is a great honour to meet you, Avatar." she said as she bowed before him. She spoke with a slight stutter, as if it had been a long time since she had practiced it. He also noticed her accent, but that was to be expected. She could have never learned the language from a native speaker, since the language was nearly extinct.
As if he had not been surprised enough, he saw the girl pushing the plate aside and reaching for something inside the flowing fabric of her dress. His eyes widened when she revealed a small basket, filled with apples, bread and a waterskin.
"I am sorry this has happened to you." She said as she reached for her basket. She took out a shiny green apple, cut in pieces. "I thought you might be hungry." she added. Aang nodded dumbfounded and she waited. "May I approach?" she asked again. He nodded again and she made her way towards him.
She gently fed him the apple slices and gave him sips of water. She also broke pieces of bread and gave it to him. Aang ate as much as he could, for only now did he notice how hungry he was. He studied her as she broke pieces of bread. She was young, only a few years older than he was, he estimated. She had very delicate hands with long nails, and long, soft curling auburn hair. She reminded him of Katara in a way. Her motherly concern and compassion was something she shared with the waterbender. Even their eyes looked alike, although Katara's eyes were a lighter shade of blue. The girl's eyes were darker, almost like sapphires.
"You are very kind." he said after he had finished the food. He meant it. When he was captured, the last thing he expected in a Fire Nation fortress was kindness. It made his heart soften a little bit. She smiled at him. She had a lovely smile, he noticed.
"Thank you. My name is Elyrie." The girl introduced herself. "I am Aang." he replied.
Elyrie noticed he had kind grey eyes, the signature colour of the Air Nomads. She was glad he had introduced himself. With a name he became more human to her instead of the vision she had held the past weeks. He was, after all, just a boy trying to do what was best.
"I wish I could do more for you." She said sadly as she wiped the last crumbs of her sleeves. She had barely finished her sentence when a loud call echoed through the entire Stronghold. Elyrie knew what it meant.
"I'm sorry, but I need to go. It is time for dinner." she said in an apologetic tone. Zhao had ordered her to look her best at dinner and stand beside him as he gave his grand speech this evening. Elyrie had gritted her teeth at his commanding tone but obliged nonetheless.
"What is your connection to Zhao?" Aang asked curiously, unable to place the girl into this Stronghold. She was certainly no soldier, but maybe she was Zhao's younger sister or niece. Even though they lacked family resemblance, it was not impossible.
Elyrie twisted her engagement ring a few times before she answered. "I am his fiancée."
"You are Zhao's fiancée?" Aang repeated, his voice getting higher. He had assumed she was some niece, maybe even a daughter since the age difference was so obvious. "How can a man as cruel as him be engaged to you?"
She shrugged. "Fire Nation tradition" she replied simply, her face remaining impassive. "But I really need to go. I promise I'll be back soon!"
After dinner, Elyrie had a few moments for herself and she knew just what to do with them. She hummed as she walked through the corridor. The sound echoed off the walls, which gave a wonderful acoustic effect. She had requested a dress with large sleeves, so she could smuggle more food from dinner into the cell. She had picked up a few extra cookies and bread as well, which she hoped would be enough. Her long dress hindered her in her walk, but she knew it was necessary. Zhao planned to make a grand speech, declaring the victory of the Fire Nation by capturing the Avatar. And his blushing bride-to-be just has to be present, she thought. She rather stayed in her room, but some things are just inevitable.
When she reached the upper level of the Tower, a load croak echoed through the corridor. Elyrie raised her eyebrows as three half frozen frogs made their way towards her. "What the…" she began when she heard a yell.
"My frogs! Come back!" she heard the voice yell. "My friends need to suck on those frogs!"
What the hell is happening here? She thought as she made her way towards the sound. She did not know what she expected to see, but it was certainly not this.
A mysterious figure was all dressed in black, except for a blue mask. She had seen that mask before. It was used for the blue dragon in the play 'Love Amongst the Dragons'. She had seen the play almost every year at Ember Island with Zuko and his mother. Fire Lady Ursa loved it, she remembered, even though the Ember Island players were not the best actors in the world.
She lit up her hands, feeling the warmth spread through her hands. The figure stood a few metres away and did not move once he noticed her presence. She took her fighting stance, waiting. She saw Aang behind him suck in his breath. Then, the figure drew his two curved swords and slowly moved forward.
"Please, she helped me. Don't hurt her." Aang pleaded behind the masked figure. Elyrie met his grey eyes. Then, she looked back at the masked stranger. The masked figure did not respond as he moved closer to Elyrie. Elyrie did not move and looked defiantly at the masked man. Again, she lit her fingers on fire, ready to fight if he as much lay a hand on her.
They stood there in silence as Elyrie observed the odd situation. She watched the pair and it was clear the masked figure was helping the Avatar to escape. She scanned her surroundings and saw no guards. Nobody knew she was here and nobody knew the Avatar was out of his cell, otherwise the alarm must have sounded.
Zhao was about to give his grand speech a few floor beneath them. The only reason she was here, was to bring Aang some more water and food. All the soldiers were present at the speech, except the ones guarding the Avatar. She made a decision in a split second
Zuko felt his heart race as he saw Elyrie standing there, blocking their way. The mask hid his terrified expression as he pondered what to do now: he did not want to hurt her, but he had to get the Avatar out. Her blue eyes looked determined and he feared he would have to fight her to make his way outside. Please, he mentally pleaded, step aside.
Then, as if she could read his mind, she pointed with her slender fingers to the left, to the nearest exit. She took a step back as they passed. "The south side of the fortress is the least guarded. The Admiral is giving a speech in a few minutes." she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Aang mouted a quick "Thank you." to her and she saw the gratitude in his eyes. The masked figure did not look back and she watched the pair disappear into the dark corridor.
Now, let's hear that speech, she thought with a grin as she made her way down to the grand balcony.