For the next three days, Elyrie received no food and barely more than a few sips of water a day. Her spirit needed to be broken, she knew that was Zhao's plan. Obedience without question.
After the attack on the village, she was restrained and taken to the harbour. Placed in an empty cell at the lowest deck of the flag ship, she was forced to wait. And so did she, for three whole days.
The cells were small, barely larger than her closet in the Stronghold. With just enough space to pace two steps, she felt like a caged animal. The metal cell was cold and unforgiving, especially so far below the surface. Mentally thanking Uncle for his lessons, she used the fire breathing technique to keep herself warm.
The first hours, she banged on the door of the cell like a madwoman. Screaming and yelling, she banged her fists against the cold metal. Screaming until her voice gave out, she demanded to know what happened to Kun. Her dear friend, who helped her and the townspeople. She had seen him being taken away by other soldiers, but what could have happened to him?
She knew if Zhao planned to punish her severely, she would most likely be receiving very little or no food and water. But what about her friend? Her loyal friend, who risked everything to help her train? It made her insides squirm at the thought of what Zhao was about to do to him.
After what felt like hours, she simply stopped screaming. Nobody could hear her this far below and even if someone heard her, they would not answer her. So she waited.
Minutes.
Hours.
Days.
So far below in the insides of the ship, there was no daylight. No indication to tell what time of day it was, or even to say if it was night or day. She counted the moments the guard comes to get her, which she assumed was in the morning and the evening.
So the only exercise she got, was if a guard brought her a jug of water. And with that, she got the opportunity to visit the dirty bathroom twenty metres from her cell. But not before she was cuffed behind her back, with the heaviest metal cuffs she ever felt to prevent her from bending. She already cursed herself for her stupidity to show her bending to Zhao but what choice did she have? But that knowledge did not make the treatment any better.
The temptation to run is always present, but she resists. Six times she saw the guard and six times, she obliged his requests. It was no use to fight now. Not when she was in the deepest darkest parts of the ship, surrounded by at least a hundred trained soldiers.
She felt dirty, disgusted and tired. She felt weak. She had never experienced something like this. Complete isolation from everything, even basic hygiene and food.
And that was not even the worst part. The worst of all this was that she did not know what would come next. What was Zhao planning to do with her?
If he wanted her dead, she would already be executed by now. Zhao never waited around to show his power, especially not now with the entire navy present. The same goes for imprisonment in the Capital, she would already be sent that way as a traitor if that was the case.
You can spit and fight all you want, Zhao's voice echoed in her head, but one way or another, you shall be my wife.
She was to be kept alive then and be taken to the North Pole, but how long would it take to get there? She knew they had not left the harbour yet, she could feel it in the vibrations of the sea. She knew how a moving ship felt and this was certainly not it.
After losing complete track of time, she heard the metal lock open. Based on the forceful nature, she had no doubt it was Zhao. He expected to see her broken into obedience and shivering.
Very well, then, she mused. She had come to this decision at the end of the first day already. Because the one advantage of solitary confinement is that you have more than enough time to think. And thinking, she did.
For this time to convince Zhao she was broken into obedience, she had to go all the way. The first time, she was sure he was not convinced, especially after the singing on Zuko's ship. He wanted to see her broken, so she was to give him that. Eyes on the prize and beat him at his own game, she repeated in her head.
She didn't even have to feign her exhaustion: she was so hungry, so tired. All the energy had drained from her body. To survive in this situation, she needed to really convince him. So she remained seated on the dirty, cold floor. Her knees pulled up against her chest, she started to shiver and looked down when he entered.
His silhouette was in stark contrast with the light coming from behind him. She had to blink a few times, her eyes used to the complete darkness of the cell.
"Life will be easier for you, if you accept you must be seen and not heard. Because no one wants to hear what you have to say." Zhao blurted out as he saw the shivering girl on the floor. She looked smaller, with her curls undone and the dark circles around her eyes. Her hands trembled and her lips had become a blue-ish shade.
She bit her lip and looked down, feigning humility. Broken prisoners did not respond to such taunts. All she did was nod, which even took a lot of effort. She did not have to pretend she was shivering, because it was so cold in the cells that her breath was visible.
Zhao smirked at the sight of the broken girl. She looked tired and beaten-down. And even if she was not yet completely subdued, he had one more surprise on his sleeve. But that was for tomorrow, he thought with a mental grin.
For now, she could come out of the cell if she behaved.
"Up!" he demanded as he turned around and walked out of the cell,
Leaning against the wall, she tried to stand up. Shaking on her legs, she had to be supported by the guards. One foot in front of the other, she walked the long corridor without help. The stairs were the worst, but she managed with all the energy she had left.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached a room at the highest level. The doors swung open and she squinted her eyes at the bright light of the setting sun that shined through the large windows. The stay in the cell surely deteriorated her eyesight. But after blinking a couple of times, she could make out a filled tub and a large, comfortable bed.
She mentally thanked the one who had arranged this for her, most likely Jin. The guards left her alone and she practically pulled her clothes from her body to get into the warm water and the sweet-smelling soap. Diving under and washing her curls, she started to feel like herself again.
She almost fell asleep in the tub, but was startled by a soft knock.
"Dinner!" she heard an unfamiliar voice say before she heard the footsteps disappear. As if her stomach knew, it growled at that moment. Rushing out of the tub and into her dressing robe, she opened the door.
On the floor was a tray with a piece of bread and a bowl of light soup. The smell alone made her feel weak in the knees.
Picking up the tray, she sat down on the bed and forced herself to eat slowly. She knew if she stuffed everything in her mouth now, it would only come back up. So she practiced her discipline, or what was left of it anyway.
She had just enough energy left to place the tray on the floor before she fell asleep.
She had been tired, beaten-down and hungry.
But broken? Never.
"Jin has been send away. I have assigned a new handmaiden for you when you return to the Capital." Zhao said the following day when he woke her up past noon with a forceful knock. His hands placed behind his back, he observed her reaction. He did not want to take another risk by letting her out, only to see her turn against him again.
At that moment, Elyrie felt her anger resurface. She wanted to claw his eyes out. To burn him to a crisp. To pull out those stupid looking sideburns until she wiped that arrogant smile from his face.
But again, she did not move a muscle. This is exactly what he wanted, to isolate her from everything. Making her feel alone in the world, completely dependent on him.
So she only nodded, still looking down. She did not dare to ask about Kun, not yet.
"Very well", Zhao said after a few more seconds of silence, "Clean up for tea in an hour." And with that, he left and slammed the door behind him.
Elyrie let herself fall back into the soft pillows. She had slept well into the day, that is how exhausted she was. Snuggling back into the soft blankets, she sighed deeply and started to think about her situation.
She knew she had nowhere to go now. No connection who would take her in after it had become public she left the Admiral of the Fire Nation Navy.
She might as well be banished.
She sat up right. Could she do that? She could join Zuko as a banished Fire Nation citizen. Technically not banished, but a frowned upon citizen. Would they take her in?
Uncle certainly would. But then, they would return to the Fire Nation if they captured the Avatar. If, not when. She was not sure they would ever be able to capture Aang or that she wanted to be part of that plan.
Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she pushed the blankets back and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She would not think about that now, she would do that tomorrow. For now, she had to made it through tea.
Looking in the large mirror, she saw her curls sticking out and her pale face drained from every hint of colour. Well, this might take some time, she mentally sighed before tying her hair back into a bun.
"I am devasted to hear about Prince Zuko. Just devasted." Zhao said.
Something inside Elyrie splintered. She heard the words, knew their meaning and yet, they meant nothing.
Nothing.
Her mind was empty, her voice gone. No thoughts, nothing to make sure she grasped the meaning of the words. She felt her knees weaken, almost giving in. Her head began to spin. She needed all her strength to remain standing upright.
"I-...I am so sorry for your loss" she said to Iroh, her mind working on autopilot. She felt empty, nothing seemed to make sense.
Iroh rose from his seat and walked to the trembling girl. Placing a hand on her cheek, he tried to give her a reassuring smile but she did not look at him. She stared, as if she was unable to register anything.
Zhao hit his wicked smile behind his cup. His fiancée may have been broken into obedience, but this would be the final blow to crush her spirit completely. And then, she finally be the obedient, dutiful woman she was suppose to be.
"Would you please escort her back to her room?" General Iroh asked to the soldier standing behind him. Elyrie felt herself shake her head as she stumbled backwards, but the soldier placed his hand on her back to steady her. His touch was gentle and surprisingly tender. She would surely have fallen over if he had not caught her in time
"Please excuse me" she managed to say as she walked outside.
The soldier followed close, no doubt to catch her if she would faint. She felt like fainting but forced herself to remain standing. She did not remember walking back to her room, but somehow she made it.
When she reached her door, she leaned against it and grabbed her midriff. Catching her breath, she opened the door and absentmindedly thanked the soldier.
Then she closed the door and fell down. She caught herself when her legs gave out and leaning on her arms, she felt her breathing being shallow as if she had run for miles and miles.
Her throat hurt from the tears she had held back and she coughed a couple times to try to relieve the pain. To no effect.
She placed her hand in front of her mouth to stifle her cries, but allowed the tears to flow freely.
Dead. Gone.
Fully dressed, she made her way to her bed and laid her head down, feeling her tears continuing to stream down her cheeks.
She cried herself to sleep that night.
On the other side of the door, Zuko leaned against the door and listened to her soft cries. Placing his forehead against the wooden door, he closed his eyes and felt guilt taking over him.
"I am so sorry." he whispered.