Chapter 18
"Happy birthday Princess Ursa."
Ursa looked up and saw Azulon standing there. She felt her stomach drop and she quickly bowed to him, as he waved it away.
"Thank you, My Lord," Ursa said. She always felt so awkward around her father in law even though it had been nearly eight months since she had married Ozai. To her, Azulon would always be the Fire Lord, the figure in her life that had always been larger than life. She never knew how to act around him outside of the formal etiquette training that she had had growing up as a daughter of a noble family.
It was her birthday dinner and she was completely overwhelmed by everything that had been done for her today. The servants had decorated the formal dining room and the palace chefs had made all of her favorite foods. Lu Ten had made her several drawings and a card, which she had hung up in her bedroom, and Ozai had promised that she could open up her gift after dinner, even though she had insisted that he didn't need to get her one. Even though her birthday dinner was a private affair because she was still not feeling up to public appearances the nobles had sent her a basket of all of her favorite foods as a present.
Ozai had told her that the public wanted to see her today to celebrate her but she was glad that she was able to bow out. She still wasn't used to being a Princess and the expectations that had been placed on her. She had done a number of public appearances since her wedding and coronation but she had spent most of the time in the background. Her birthday would have been the first time, besides her wedding, that the public was there to solely see her instead of Fire Lord Azulon or Ozai. She was secretly glad that she was given a reprieve due to her pregnancy.
She was used to her birthday being a small quiet affair surrounded by the people that loved her and she didn't want some large flashy event in her honor. She hoped that in the future she would be able to keep her birthday a small affair, and while she was sure that Ozai and Azulon would want their child to have a large party like Lu Ten, she hoped that she could give her child some semblance of normalcy and have a small affair too.
Ursa was grateful that she was feeling up to the small party. She had been looking forward to seeing her parents and her siblings and she had been worried that she wouldn't be able to enjoy tonight because she had been feeling so sick the last couple of days. She hated thinking about her family being in the palace and not seeing them because she felt terrible.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I'm feeling okay today," Ursa replied. "I've been feeling sick but the healers have said that that's normal."
"Good, good. We're looking forward to the addition to our family."
"Me too, My Lord," Ursa replied.
"And how has my son felt about becoming a father?"
"I believe that he's excited and ready to become a father."
"Hm," Azulon hummed noncommittally.
Ursa felt a strange uneasiness in her stomach. She had a distinct feeling that Azulon wanted to tell her something, or say something, but he was holding back. It wasn't often that he sought her out to talk to her, in many ways Azulon seemed completely indifferent to her.
"I think that Ozai's going to be a great father," Ursa said.
She truly wasn't so sure, she had seen the way that Ozai was with Lu Ten but she hoped that it would be different with his own child. He had clearly shown her that he wanted to have a child; he had pursued it for several months before Ursa had gotten pregnant. She hoped that he would be a natural with their child and that it would all work out.
But she had seen how tired Ozai was of his father's doubts and being put down by him all the time that Ursa had wanted to help.
"My son has never been the paternal type. I hope that you are prepared to face the reality of having a child with my son."
Ursa was shocked by Azulon's comment and the frank way that he doubted his son. It hadn't escaped her that Azulon spoke of his two sons so differently. She immediately made a promise to herself and to her unborn child that she would not allow this child to grow up the way that Ozai and Iroh grew up, that she would never treat her children differently. That she would make sure that any other children that she had would feel loved.
She was about to open her mouth when her mother appeared beside her. "Fire Lord," Rina bowed to Azulon. "May I please borrow my daughter for a few moments?"
"Of course," Azulon said, bowing his head to Rina. Ursa was relieved to see her mother for once. "I need to speak to your husband anyways."
Rina smiled and guided Ursa away from her father-in-law. "What was going on over there? You looked upset."
"Nothing," Ursa said, shaking her head. "Don't worry about it."
"Worrying isn't good for my grandson you better remember that," Rina said.
"I remember," Ursa said with a faint smile on her lips.
"Happy birthday, my darling daughter," Rina smiled.
"Thank you, mom."
"Your dad would have been so proud of you."
Ursa felt tears flood her eyes. She blamed the hormones, but she had been feeling the loss of her father more these days than she ever had before. Jinzuk was incredible and she loved him more than anything, but faced with the looming reality that she was going to be a mother soon made her miss her biological father that much more. She had been so young when he died and he had been at war from before her birth but she did wish that she had known him and had memories of him. All she had left of him was a drawing of him after he had been made a Captain, one of the youngest in Fire Nation history.
"You really think so?" Ursa asked.
"I do," Rina smiled, tears in her own eyes. "He loved this nation and seeing you carrying the next Prince would have brought him so much pride. You have done a wonderful job, my daughter, and I'm excited to see you grow and mature. You are going to do amazing things for our Nation, Ursa. I know it."
"Thank you, mom," Ursa whispered. She had never heard her mother sound so proud of her.
"We're all so proud of you."
Ursa reached out to hug her mom and rested her head against her shoulder. It felt so nice to have her family here. She wished that they could spend more time at the palace, but she supposed that she and Ozai were about to start their own family together.
She pulled away and watched as Lu Ten ran with Afiko and Ukano, playing some sort of game. Eska, who had recently turned four was sitting with Mura, who looked surprisingly bored for a girl who had always longed to come to the palace. Ozai, Jinzuk, and Azulon were standing in the corner, deep in discussion. This was her family, good and bad, the only person that was missing was Prince Iroh. He had sent her a letter earlier that morning wishing her a happy birthday, along with a tea set from the Earth Kingdom. Ozai had disapproved, but she had loved seeing the intricate green detailing and she had placed it on her shelves as decoration.
"What's going on with Mura? She looks bored," Ursa commented with a small smile.
"She's been in a mood lately, I'm not sure what's going on with her," Rina shook her head.
"I'll talk to her," Ursa said with a shake of her head.
"Thank you," Rina said, reaching out to squeeze Ursa's hand. "I think that she misses you."
"I miss her too," Ursa said, looking over at her sister, a feeling of guilt in her stomach. She knew that she hadn't been the best sister lately; she needed to try to be better.
Ursa made her way across the room and sat down beside her sister. "Hi," she greeted her.
"Hi," Mura replied.
"I've missed you," Ursa said, reaching out to take Mura's hand. "How are you doing, Mura?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Come on, talk to me. You used to tell me everything."
"I never see you anymore," Mura finally said, tears glittering in her eyes. "I never see you and you don't even know about Kenji."
"Kenji?" Ursa questioned. "I'm sorry that I haven't been a good sister lately. There's no excuse. But I want to hear about what's going on in your life, who is Kenji?"
"He's a boy at school," Mura said, her cheeks turning pink. "He's really cute…but he doesn't notice me."
"You should talk to him!" Ursa suggested. "He's never going to notice you if you don't try to talk to him."
Mura shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know…"
"It will never happen if you don't put yourself out there, Mura. Trust me."
"Maybe," Mura finally said after a few moments of silence.
She smiled slightly and nodded her head. "Okay. Keep me updated, okay?"
Mura nodded.
Ursa glanced up when she saw the servants carrying the trays of food into the dining room and she smiled over at Mura. "Come on, let's go eat."
The servants had outdone themselves, all of her favorite dishes were there and there was so much to choose from. For once the smell of food wasn't turning her stomach and for that, she was incredibly grateful. She filled her plate beside her sister and she smiled at her. When they sat down, Ursa smiled over at Ozai, who was sitting with his father and Lu Ten. She had decided to sit with Mura, figuring that it would give them some more time together.
"I have an announcement to make," Fire Lord Azulon said. Ursa glanced at Ozai, who looked tense. "I just asked Jinzuk to join my team of advisors and he has accepted. I hope you don't mind, Ursa, but I thought that your family would be glad to have another reason to celebrate tonight."
"That's wonderful!" Rina exclaimed.
Ursa smiled over at her mom and then at her husband. She knew that Ozai must have had something to do with this, and seeing her mother and father so happy made her birthday even more special.
"Did you have a good birthday?" Ozai questioned after they had returned back to their rooms.
"I did," Ursa said with a smile.
It had been so nice to get to spend some time with her sister and the rest of her siblings. But she was feeling tired now, not that it took a lot to wear her out.
"Good," Ozai said with a nod. He glanced over at the tea set and sighed. "I don't know what my brother was doing, sending that to you."
Ursa followed his gaze and shrugged. "He knows that I enjoy tea, is all. He was being sweet. You don't have to worry about anything."
Ozai looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn't. Ursa was glad; she didn't want to argue with him over something as dumb as a tea set.
"Well, can I give you your birthday present now?"
"You didn't have to get me anything, that party was everything that I wanted. Spending the night with my family was enough for me. My father's promotion was enough for me."
"I couldn't not get you a present, Ursa. What kind of husband would I be then?" He asked, shaking his head.
He disappeared through the door to the living room and returned a few moments later holding a small box in his hands. He held it out to Ursa and she took it a moment later, looking down at it. She looked up at Ozai for just a moment before she opened it and gasped. Inside was the most beautiful necklace that Ursa had ever seen. It had an intricate gold dragon hanging from the delicate chain.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
"I love it!" Ursa whispered.
"Let's see it on you," Ozai instructed, taking it from the box, he gently pushed her hair to the side and clasped it around her neck. "Perfect."
Ursa smiled. "Thank you so much, Ozai. For everything," She said with a big smile on her lips. "For the necklace and my father's appointment. I know that you had something to do with that."
"You're welcome, Ursa. Happy birthday."
Ozai leaned down and kissed her. When he pulled away, he smiled down at her. "How are you feeling?"
"Good," Ursa confirmed. "I'm feeling really good."
"That's good. Why don't you rest now, alright? I'm going to retire to my room, I'm tired."
"Goodnight," Ursa said with a smile.
"Goodnight," Ozai said.
Walking out of Ursa's bedroom and into the living room, he could see that his own bedroom door was ajar. Ozai narrowed his eyes but he walked cautiously towards the door. He pushed it open and walked into his room. He spotted a figure sitting on his bed.
"I would warn you that I don't take kindly to intruders."
"Is that how you speak to your best friend?" Lee questioned.
Ozai sighed and relaxed. "I didn't know you were getting back in tonight."
"We made great time." Lee paused and looked at him. "Meiko had the baby, Ozai. You have a son."
Author's Note: Well, I'm sure that you weren't expecting that. I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter! I enjoyed getting to see Ursa be a big sister again, I have missed her siblings. The current timeline is that Ursa and Ozai have been married for about eight months at this point, and Ursa is about two and a half months pregnant. Meiko just recently had her and Ozai's baby, since she got pregnant before Ozai and Ursa's wedding. This information is mostly for my own sanity when I lose track of the timeline, but thought that it might be helpful for you to have as well! I hope that you are all staying safe out there and as always, I am happy to hear any feedback that you have!
