At the words of the servant, Katara and Suki froze. "Shit," Katara muttered under her breath before hobbling away as fast as she could. She could make out the faint sounds of Aang's footsteps as they reached the door. Terrified, Katara pushed through it just in time.
After her adrenaline rush, Katara slowly crept up the staircase that led to her bedroom in the palace. Suki led the way. Once they reached her room, Katara laid down on the bed and pulled the heaviest fur blanket over her. "Will you send for a healer?" She asked Suki through gritted teeth.
Suki nodded. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Katara sighed. Did she? She closed her eyes and replied, "Not particularly."
Suki felt bad for her sister-in-law. She couldn't imagine the physical pain that Katara felt, and now she the stress of seeing Aang again added on too. Sensing that stress may not be good for her healing process, Suki told Katara that she would go get the healer quickly and left.
The healer did indeed come quickly. Miki and a young pupil had knocked on her door and awoke Katara. They removed the bandages and saw that the wounds were bleeding again.
Miki ticked her tongue. "You've reopened your wounds." Her and the younger healer began to work on Katara's red skin.
Katara let out a small laugh. "That's what happens when your ex boyfriend suddenly reappears."
Miki gave her friend an empathetic smile. "I saw his flying bison on my way over. Did you see him?"
"No," Katara admitted. "I was actually on my way out of the meeting when he arrived."
"That's probably a good thing, or else you would have bled more. I'm glad you kept your promise."
"Of course I kept my promise. I want to be healed as soon as possible. That spirit has it coming."
It was Miki's turn to laugh. "I don't think you'll be fighting anytime soon, Katara."
Katara rolled her eyes. "I felt fine until I had to stand. I think I sat for too long."
"Well, you're doing amazing. Your recovery is moving a lot quicker than I anticipated." Miki began to rewrap Katara's abdomen. "You should be able to give yourself mini healing sessions to speed up the process in addition to session from other healers."
"Thank the Spirits!" Katara exclaimed, feeling much better. She thanked the two healers. They bowed in return and left her room.
Katara snuggled into her bed and quickly fell asleep, exhausted from the day.
Katara was woken from a dream filled a certain grey-eyed teenager by the sound of her door creaking open. Her back was facing the door, so she remained still. She wasn't ready to begin getting ready for the feast and assumed her guest was a maid.
Instead, no one announced themselves. That's odd, she thought to herself. Servants and guards were required to make themselves known. Maybe they'll go away.
But the guest did not go away. Instead, the took a couple of careful steps inside the room. "Katara?" A voice whispered.
She froze.
Although it was deeper than she remembered, she'd know that voice anywhere. Her mind was transported to the past, full of laughter and kissing. There was one memory that managed to push itself to front of her mind. It was a couple of months after they began dating, and Aang had snuck into her room in the Fire Nation through a balcony. He said he had missed her, and she invited him to stay the night with her. That time was innocent, but their sleepovers matured overtime.
Katara didn't reply. She couldn't. Instead, she laid perfectly still and continued to breathe as if she was asleep. He must have realized that she was asleep and crept back out of her room. Once the she heard the door shut, she let out a sigh of relief.
This was not going to be easy.
The next time she awoke, it was to Mai and Suki announcing their arrive in her bedroom. Three maids followed behind them.
Katara groaned at the intrusion, but Suki wasn't going to let her sleep through the festivities. "Come on, Katara. Don't you want Aang to see you looking like a goddess?!" She had a point, and Katara reluctantly got up.
After being plucked, brushed, and dressed by their maids, the three girls looked like actual goddesses.
Mai wore her hair in her usual fashion, and her Firelady crown between her two buns. Her makeup was a dark smokey eye that complimented her red, black, and gold formal robe. It was common for Fire Nation Royalty to bring formal clothing while traveling in case a party was thrown in there honor, and there usually was one.
Suki was glowing in a dark blue fur dress with emerald green stitching. When her and Sokka got married, a seamstress was hired to create a wardrobe that represented the water tribe and the Earth Kingdom. The same seamstress was hired to create a maternity line. Suki's short hair was curled and left down. Her makeup was simple with touches of shimmering gold.
Katara manages to slip herself into one of her fanciest dresses. She chose a white, floor length gown with light blue wave stitching on the bottom. White was a bold choice because of her fresh wounds, but it was the only formal gown she had with a corset. She hated corsets, but she needed the extra support to keep her bandages in place. This was especially important because the bandages were doubled to keep from bleeding through. Her hair was curled in long, loose waves with her signature hair loopies. Her makeup was natural smokey eye that accentuated her bright, blue eyes.
Once they were all ready, they descended the stairs to the formal lounge outside of the ballroom. They were met by Sokka, Zuko, and Hakoda.
Sokka and Zuko were wearing ensembles that matched Suki and Mai. This was pretty typical of them. Hakoda was wearing a formal, dark blue suit trimmed with white fur.
They were only a little late to the feast, but that was acceptable because the Chief had not arrived yet. The feast couldn't start without him and his opening address.
As they prepared to be introduced, Sokka approached Katara. "Are you going to be okay?"
Katara rolled her eyes at her brother. "I've already been healed, once by Miki and once by myself. I'm fine."
Sokka narrowed his eyes at her and whispered, "That's not what I meant. Aang is already inside."
Katara found herself unable to form a reply. That wasn't a good sign, but she managed to give Sokka a small smile and nod. Satisfied, he took his place next to Suki.
First, Suki and Sokka were introduced, and then Zuko and Mai. Last was Katara and Hakoda. Each pair followed the other to their seats. Hakoda sat in the middle of a long table at the head of the room. Sokka and Suki were seated to his right, and Pakku and Katara were to his left. Zuko and Mai sat at a smaller table with members of the Council and the Avatar.
Katara was careful to not look in that direction, but she could feel his gaze on her. It was hard not to since her father was giving his welcoming address. When he welcomed the Avatar, Katara took her chance and stole a glance at him. He was standing and waving to the rest of the tribe, but Katara saw all that she needed to see.
Aware that her cheeks were flushed, Katara returned her focus to her father as he addressed the spirit and the fact that his daughter was well again. Katara nodded to the crowd as they applauded her. After that, she didn't hear another word her father said. She was too focused on the first look she got at the Avatar in three years.
He had matured a lot since she had seen him last. She expected that since he was no long sixteen. At nineteen, Aang had grown to be taller than Zuko or her father. His shoulders were broader, and his chin was sharper. From the little bit of his face she saw, Katara could tell that he had gotten more handsome. So, all of the rumors she heard around the tribe for years were true. The Avatar was very attractive.
Five courses of dinner were served, and Katara happily chatted with Pakku. Once the meal was over, the dancing began. Some of the first people out on the dance floor were Sokka and Suki. Although, it was usual for pregnant Suki to get tired after a few dances and retire to their room in the palace.
Katara was thinking that was going to be her plan too, but she was going to mingle with some of her pupils instead of dancing. The first person she chatted with was Miki. The two of them agreed to have a healing session once Katara was ready to retire.
Katara was making her way over to her star waterbender when Nuka intercepted her path. "Wow, Katara. You look amazing," he complimented her while looking her up and down.
Katara narrowed her eyes at him and places her hands on her hips. "My eyes are up here, Nuka."
"Right," he smirked, clearly aware of what he was doing. "Do you want to dance?"
Katara opened her mouth to tell him to do something explicit with himself when she spotted a pale, bald head approaching them. She looked back at Nuka and forced a sweet smile. "Sure."
He led her to the dance floor and held her close to him. His hand was on her lower back, and Katara took a step back to put some distance between them. "How are you feeling?" He asked her.
"I'm getting tired, but that's expected after being in a coma for five days."
Nuka seemed uninterested in her answer and more interested on her chest. "I asked your father and brother if I could join in on the search party tomorrow. I think my hunting and tracking skills would be really useful."
Nuka grabbed her hand and spun her around. In the blur, Katara could see orange robes standing awfully close to them. Katara forced a fake smile at Nuka. "I think they've got it pretty well covered. They'll be on a flying bison and all."
"I've never been on one."
Katara resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Nuka. Of course he had never been on a flying bison. There was only one left in the world, and it belonged to-
A pale hand tapped Nuka on the shoulder as the song ended. They stopped their swaying to look at the intruder.
"Mind if I cut in?" Aang asked politely.
Nuka gaped at the Avatar standing before him and clumsily asked, "Um, Katara, do you mind?"
It was perhaps the only time Katara had ever heard him talk to her without being narcissistic. She had to resist the urge to laugh. Katara could feel the stares of onlookers. She wanted to run, but she knew she couldn't. It would be improper for a princess, and it would cause more drama than actually dancing with Aang would. "It's fine," she said trying to be polite.
Nuka bowed to them both and exited the dance floor.
Katara gave Aang a short curtsy. As part of the royal etiquette she was taught, Katara knew that the deeper and longer the curtsy, the more respectful it gester. But she wasn't trying to be polite in all aspects. "Hello, Avatar Aang," she said a smooth voice.
He bowed to her, "Hello, Katara."
As he stepped forward and took her hand, Katara corrected him. "It's Princess or Master Katara."
Aang's face gave nothing away, but he was confused at her proper tone. Undoubtedly, he knew that she was mad, and this was her only was to show it publically. So, he smirked at her as he drew her body closer, but not as close as Nuka did. It was a respectable distance. "How about Sifu Katara?"
Katara gritted her teeth together at his old nickname for her. He was toying with her. "I suppose that works."
Aang gave her a million-watt smile and said, "Then hello, Sifu Katara. How have you been?"
Katara blinked at him for a few seconds as she looked into his grey eyes. "I've been better."
Aang laughed warmly. "What? I haven't stepped on your foot yet. I can't be that bad of a dance partner."
His joke was successful and produced a small chuckle from Katara. "While that is true, that wasn't what I meant."
"What did you mean?"
Katara studied his confused face for two reasons. The first was so she could memorize it and think about it and all the ways it had changed later. The second was because it was a genuine expression. Did he not know about her accident? "They didn't tell you?"
He cocked his head to one side. "Tell me what?"
"The spirit you are here to hunt killed me."
