I especially like the last scene in this chapter.
Thank you to those who reviewed. I know since this is an alternate universe there will have to be explanations on many things. That's the fun in reading further; to figure things out :)
Let me know what you think!
Saying goodbye to her mother was harder than Katara thought it would be. But in front of the five other people waiting on her; not to mention the guards that were stationed behind the royal family, Katara bit her lower lip to keep the tears at bay and gave her mother the tightest hug she could muster.
She did not look back as Kya departed to her ship and instead, Katara focused on moving forward. She was told that it would be another forty minutes by foot to make it back to the Palace. But when she was ready to walk back, figuring the exercise would be nice, she was told by Lady Ursa that they had three palanquins to bring them back for their safety.
Katara must have looked unsure because Lady Ursa smiled gracefully down at her. She really was a beautiful lady and her mother was right; Lady Ursa has a kind smile.
Zuko walked to a palanquin without so much as a glance in her direction. Katara doesn't know how she felt about Prince Zuko and the cold welcoming she received. Maybe he was having a bad day?
She hoped that was the reason. Or else living in the Palace would be uncomfortable.
Lu Ten followed Zuko and it was obvious the two princes are very close not just in age but in friendship as well. The crowned prince gave Katara a smile and a small wink as he passed her by. A blush had coated her cheeks at such friendly antics so publicly made, but then they were in the Fire Nation after all. She had learned that their public displays of affection were a little more blatant and obvious compared to the Watertribe, but less so than the Earth Kingdom.
Azula walked past her without so much as a glance as well, but Katara had not been surprised. She was told and warned briefly on the ship coming to the Fire Nation just how cold and menacing Princess Azula could be. She really didn't want to share a palanquin with her.
Lady Ursa must have sensed her unease down at the docks for she patted Katara's shoulder lightly and had said, "I need to speak to my daughter. Would you mind riding with Fire Lord Iroh?"
"That sounds perfect, Lady Ursa!" Iroh's cheerful, deep voice rang out. "It'll give me time to catch up with Princess Katara and hear about how my old friend, Master Pakku is doing."
But now though, they were back in the Palace and Lady Ursa had shown her to her room personally. She had introduced Katara to the two guards outside her room as Si and Rozi. They were to be her personal escorts around the Palace for most of the duration of her stay.
This unsettled Katara at first because she was not used to having guards following her every move. In the Watertribe there was no need for guards to be posted by her side.
But Katara knew it wasn't her place to go against the two guards. She may be considered a princess, but she was still a guest of the Fire Nation. If she was rude and her mother ever found out then Katara was sure Kya might wash her mouth out with soap as if she were a bratty ten year old again who never knew when to close her mouth at the right time.
Katara looked her guads over. Si was in his late forties with short, cropped black hair neatly coiffed to reveal a chiseled, menacing face. He had shining amber eyes, set delicately within their sockets. He stood at attention the moment they came into view, sending his partner a menacing glare.
Rozi on the other hand was younger, only in his mid twenties. He too had black, short hair, but his face was kind and his amber eyes sparkled. He smiled politely and bowed the moment Lady Ursa introduced them.
Next, Lady Ursa called for a servant named Uli and explained how Uli would be Katara's personal lady-in-waiting. Uli looked to be in her mid twenties as well with long black hair, that laid straight against her back and dressed in a red fire nation servants uniform.
Katara didn't miss the way Rozi smiled at Uli or how Uli blushed under the guard's eye, and if Lady Ursa saw then she said nothing as well.
"Uli has been with us since she was a small baby," Lady Ursa explains; snapping Katara out of her thoughts. "Her mother was my lady-in-waiting until a cruel sickness overcame our nation a few years ago."
"I'm sorry to hear of your loss, Uli," Katara says respectfully and offers Uli her condolences.
Uli looks surprised for a moment before a small, kind smile settles on her face. She bows to Katara before speaking. "Thank you, princess. I'm just glad the sickness took her quickly and she did not have to suffer much."
After showing Katara her own bathroom and a closet that is already filled with dresses ranging from everyday clothes to formal ball gowns and even some training tunics Lady Ursa leaves her to give her a moments rest before dinner that is to be served in a couple hours.
"Will you be needing anything else, Princess Katara?" Uli asks when they are alone.
Katara smiles at the woman who isn't much older than herself. "You may call me Katara, if you wish. I'm not exactly used to being called princess everytime someone addresses me."
Uli's eyes crinkled in confusion. "You mean in the Watertribe they do not acknowledge your rightful title?"
"Not like in the Fire Nation. Don't get me wrong, everyone back home knows I'm a princess and I have certain duties that I must complete, but when speaking, we are informal. I wish to be the same with you; especially since we'll be spending time together. That is, if you're okay with it?"
"Me?" Uli asks with widened eyes. "No one has ever asked me if I'm okay with something before. I'm not quite sure I know how to even respond, princess."
"Whatever makes you comfortable, Uli." Katara is bold and places her hand on Uli's in comfort. "What was your job before I arrived today?"
"Oh, I do a little of everything. When Fire Lord Iroh has guests from the Earth Kingdom or sometimes the Watertribe I am assigned to be their servant of their duration of stay, I make sure certain household duties are accomplished like making sure Prince Zuko, Prince Lu Ten, and Princess Azula are where they need to be, I deliver messages, and for a brief time when Prince Zuko's girlfriend, Lady Mai, stayed with us a few times, I would be her servant."
Katara does not miss the way Uli's voice takes a slightly harder tone as she talks about Lady Mai.
"I hope we can be friends, Uli," Katara grins. "It would be nice to have someone to talk to."
"You want to talk to me?"
Katara looks around the room that is hers now. It is quadruple the size of her bedroom back home, and the bathroom is even bigger than her old bedroom. She has doors leading out to an outside balcony that has a small table with two chairs set up around it as well.
"Of course. I'm living in a foreign land, and was given a room the size of eight sky bison, and I don't really know anyone else. How else will I occupy my time here if we don't talk?"
Uli blushes before smiling back at Katara. "If you wish to talk then please know that I can be your confidant, Princess Katara."
Katara figures that she has to pick her battles and if Uli still insists on calling her princess then that's the small price she'll pay if it means Uli will talk to her and help keep her sane.
"However, if you do not need me for anything right now, I must finish my duties before coming back here to help you get ready for dinner if that is alright?"
"Help me get…" Katara looks down at the blue dress she's been wearing all day. "Is this dress not sufficient enough?"
"Usually it would be," Uli goes to Katara's large armoire that is filled with lace and silk dresses. "But tonight Fire Lord Iroh has summoned the whole Royal family for dinner in your honor. We must redo your hair and change into a more formal fire nation dress."
Katara misses deeply how much easier it was in the South when she could just wear her parka to dinner with her family and not have to change outfits at least twice a day.
But she was trained to be gracious and to show her appreciation.
"Thank you, Uli. I did not know that. And perhaps you can help me with one thing before you leave…"
After Uli explains how to reach the library and leaves Katara, it's then that she starts to make her way through the palace. Rozi and Si are trailing behind her, a good twenty feet behind so that they aren't crowding her, but the feeling still makes Katara a little uneasy and so she slows her pace and waits for the two to join her.
If Lady Ursa insists on having Rozi and Si by her side, then Katara will make the best of it just like with Uli.
Maybe it is possible to leave the Fire Nation with friends.
"Princess?" Si asks with a gruff voice. "Is everything alright?"
"I just thought that if you two are set on following me around, the least we can do is walk together. I feel silly with you two trailing behind."
"I don't know," Si trails off. "It's highly unusual for this to happen."
"Live a little, Si," Rozi smiles easily. "We would be honored to walk with you, princess."
Rozi and Katara fall into an easy walk, with Si reluctantly a step behind. Katara figures that with time, she will break through Si's tough exterior.
Wouldn't it benefit her greatly to be well liked by her guards rather than hated; especially if they ever do become attacked?
"Rozi, can I ask how long you've been working for the royal family?"
"Since I became an adult, princess. I'm going on year five," he says proudly.
"And Si? How long have you served?"
"Twenty-five years, princess," he says flatly.
"That is an admirable amount of time. You must be one of the best," she praises and doesn't miss the way a light blush starts to bloom on his sun kissed cheeks.
But she turns around so as to not embarrass him and pretends she doesn't see the affect her praise has on him.
"And Rozi, five years, I hope they have been enjoyable for the most part."
They make it to the library, but before she explores the vast room she speaks, "You two may take leave. I'll be in here until dinner. It makes no sense for you to watch me read and wander around."
Si and Rozi share a look of uncertainty.
"Surely there must be something else for you two to do besides watch me read?"
"Well," Rozi says slowly with some hope in his amber eyes, "Lieutenant Jee is doing a special training today…"
"Great," Katara smiles brightly. "It seems that my wanting to read works in your favor and you two may go now to the training."
"Princess, we really-" Si is cut off.
"If it would ease your mind, come back before I need to get ready for dinner and you two may escort me back to my room. That way you know I'm safe."
"That sounds reasonable, Si."
That is how Katara finds herself spending the next two hours; alone and in quietness while going through various scrolls of stories. She found one particular fantasy story of a person being able to wield all four elements and needing to master them before stopping a tyrant. Although the story is entertaining, she finds herself yawning and her body cramping from sitting for too long.
It shouldn't be that big of a deal if she walks back to her room for dinner by herself. And she's pretty certain she remembers the way. Looking around, she finds ink and a blank scroll on top of the large, wooden desk. She decides to write a note for Si and Rozi explaining where she went and where to find her. She even adds an apology because she knows what they agreed upon.
Satisfied with her note, she leaves it on the first table near the door of the library. She's sure they'll see it, and then she starts to make her way back to her room.
She walks along the red and gold halls, passing by a few servants who all bow to her before scurrying off. They all seem busy with tasks at hand and slightly jumpy if she happens to sneak up on them from around corners.
Taking her second left hand turn, Katara starts to worry her bottom lip when she realizes the hallway that she's in is not recognizable. Pausing for a moment, she looks forward and then back, trying to decide if she should continue ahead or go back the way she came.
But voices, muffled, have her feet moving forward down the hall. She doesn't mean to eavesdrop, but the door to the indoor training arena is slightly ajar, and when she peaks her head around the barrier she sees Lu Ten and Zuko sparring against one another with swords with four other guards or quite possibly training partners watching on the sidelines..
But that's not the only thing that catches her attention. The princes are both shirtless, muscular, and dripping with sweat. It's apparent that they have been practicing for sometime now.
She doesn't mean to stare, but she can't stop herself from comparing Prince Lu Ten's broader frame to Prince Zuko's leaner one. Both males are sculpted to perfection, and Katara hates to admit it but there's not an ounce of fat covering Prince Zuko as he takes the offensive against Prince Lu Ten. Even from where she's standing she can see his muscles straining and the veins flowing through his body becoming prominent as he bests Lu Ten.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again, little cousin," Prince Lu Ten's voice is cackling and all Katara hears is Zuko grunting from the counterattack Lu Ten gave. "You need to let loose and find someone you can lose yourself in...preferably more than once and in many, many different positions."
The men on the side chuckle and some nod their heads in agreement.
Is Prince Lu Ten talking about what Katara thinks he's talking about?
There are a number of pictures that run through her mind when she realizes he's talking about Zuko needing to have intercourse with someone.
Is this how the Fire Nation acts? So brazenly about the act and so out in the open about it?
She is not used to such talk in such open places.
"In fact, I know a little red head that could probably give you a run for your money. She probably would give you a discount because you know me."
"Shut your mouth, Lu Ten."
"Make me!" More clashing can be heard followed with grunts and labored breathing. Katara pokes her head around the side once more and strains her body forward as far as she can to see Prince Zuko swipe his legs in a circle and effectively knocks Lu Ten's feet out from underneath him.
"Maybe if you stopped talking bout sex then you could have anticipated that." Zuko's tone is smug and Katara can't stop the small upturn of the corner of her mouth as well.
Katara knows she shouldn't be in the arena without announcing herself; they are obviously having a discussion or argument that does not concern her. She does not need to hear about the two princes' sex lives. Just hearing them has a hot, red blush painting her face in embarrassment.
Turning around, she goes to open the door to leave, but the creaking of the hinges has her heart stopping.
Pins and needles can be heard as she drops her hands away from the handle as if she were burned.
She knows that when she turns around, Lu Ten and Zuko will be watching her. There is no way they didn't hear the door trying to creak open.
She decides she's going to keep her head held high despite how uncomfortable she feels. She will not make a fool of herself the first day of staying with the princes.
Turning around slowly, she is greeted by the sight of Lu Ten who is grinning brightly and Zuko who has his eyes narrowed. If looks could kill, Katara is pretty sure that she would be buried six feet deep by just Zuko's penetrating look.
"Well, well, well, cousin," Lu Ten practically sings, sheathing his sword at his side. "Look who decided to join us. Aren't we lucky?"
"I wouldn't call it that," Zuko mutters darkly.
Zuko doesn't understand the way his body is reacting to Princess Katara. She had literally been standing in front of him for a moment, two at the most before she said her tearful goodbye to her mother and he stalked towards the palanquin-not waiting to be dismissed.
His heart rate increased tenfold the moment he saw Lu Ten lay a kiss to her hand. And then when she greeted him, with her raspy voice of surprise, he felt flushed and could barely control his shaking as he kept his jaw clenched.
He sat like that, silently seething, the whole way back to the Palace as well. If Lu Ten noticed then he didn't say anything.
His mind did not stop picturing Princess Katara in her own palanquin, lightly fanning herself off to escape the heat. He hated his mind for even thinking about the amount of leg that must be showing when she sits due to the slit in her dress.
Was her skin really that smooth? Or was it a facade and only looked smooth?
He told himself it must be a trick and her skin was probably rough and dry due to the harsh winter winds.
And although the dress that she chose to wear is modest for the Fire Nation, he's not thinking rationally, and instead chastises her silently because she shouldn't be wearing a dress with a slit that long to begin with.
The moment the palanquin had stopped moving he nearly flew from his seat and stalked his way inside. No servant dared to speak to him as he scowled. The scar on his left side made him look fiercer than usual.
Zuko was close to his room, ready to shed the formal clothing and change into sparring clothes, when he bumped into Chy, a concubine of the palace. Her hair was mussed, her lips swollen and smeared, and a smoky, seedy scent covered her body.
"Prince Zuko," she reaches out a slim hand to touch his arm.
He yanks out of her grip. He knows exactly who she was just with and it disgusts him.
Chy is his father's favorite whore.
"Lay a hand on me and I'll be the last thing you touch," he snarled in warning before pushing past her and finally escaping to his room.
But his escape was short-lived as Lu Ten and he made their way to the indoor training arena. They had a few hours before dinner that he was being summoned too.
And the sparring had helped his anger some, but then he heard the door creak and he knew they weren't alone.
Standing before him is the princess he was trying to take his mind off of. The princess that looks as if she's never suffered a day in her life. A princess that is counted as being noble and royal, but yet, her tribe is known for being barbaric in their ways. How could his uncle offer her refuge?
"Did you come for the show, Princess Katara?" Lu Ten asks and although Zuko can see playfulness shining in his eyes, he can also see a darker want and desire as he looks at Katara. "Or are you lost and just happened to get lucky in finding us?"
"The latter, I suppose," she answers softly. "I was in the library and I need to get back to my room to get ready for dinner."
"Don't your guards know the way?" Zuko spoke before he could stop himself.
"Oh, I-" Katara looks down and a blush spreads over her smooth cheeks. "um...I kind of dismissed them earlier?"
Lu Ten doesn't stop the snort from escaping as he chuckles while Zuko blanches at her answer.
She's here for protection and she sends her guards away? Just how stupid is she?
She looks right at him this time and he runs his tongue over his teeth without breaking eye contact. He won't look away first. He has nothing to be ashamed of. She can stare all she wants at his scar and the disgrace it represents.
He's heard all the possible whispers and insults from others. Whatever Katara is thinking, he won't be surprised.
Let her judge for all he cares.
She shifts from one foot to the other; clearly uncomfortable by his stare.
"If you would be so kind to point me in the direction of my room, I will be out of your hair."
"I have a better idea," Lu Ten announces. Zuko doesn't like the sound of his cousin right now. "Have you ever sparred before, Princess Katara?"
Zuko doesn't think she looks like she's ever fought or had to struggle to survive a day in her life.
She looks too perfect and that thought makes him quiver in anger.
There goes the brief peace sparring creates internally for him.
He doesn't stand around anymore as it's clear Lu Ten is more concentrated on Katara than on actually training. He strides over to the bench and grabs a towel to dry his chest off with.
"Um...I have sparred with waterbenders before, and there was this one other time in the North when I had too."
Lu Ten appraises her, "You're a waterbender? Nice!" He has the audacity to put his hands on her shoulders and Zuko sees his fingers tickle the nude skin that is revealed near her neck. His jaw ticks in discomfort. "So no hand to hand combat then?"
"The South has male warriors for combat. It's not believed it's proper for a lady to partake in hand to hand combat."
She looks around uncomfortable and ZUko doesn't miss the way she delicately shrugs out of Lu Ten's hold.
Interesting, Zuko muses to himself, usually any girl trips and falls over their feet to gain Lu Ten's attention.
If Lu Ten notices, he doesn't let it discourage him.
"Would you like to try, Katara," Lu Ten purrs; forgoing the formalities of court life and dropping the Princess title.
A brighter, hotter blush erupts on her face, leading down to her neck as she stutters, "I really shouldn't. I'm not exactly dressed to spar either."
Lu Ten circles around her so he's standing in front of her. But Katara isn't watching. Instead, when Zuko looks up with a quirked eyebrow, he's surprised to see her looking right at him before turning away to focus once more on Lu Ten.
"Sure you can! Everyone has a right to know how to defend themselves. Isn't that right, Zuko?"
Zuko hates the fact that Lu Ten is putting the attention on him again and he bristles stiffly in his spot. Katara's big, blue eyes are on him again, but he refuses to look at her.
She stands for everything he hates in life.
Zuko hates that there are people out in the world who have never had to struggle to survive; whereas he has had to fight tooth and nail to gain even an ounce of his father's attention. Forget praise, because Ozai only has praise for Azula. She was born lucky and Zuko was just lucky to be born. And judging by how Zuko saw Katara interact with her mother, he can only guess that her relationship with her parents is perfect.
He doubts Ozai would even take the time to make sure he was safe if a rebel group tried to assassinate him.
His father would probably be too wrapped up in Chy to even care about his and Ursa's safety.
It might be wrong to blame Katara for everything he's angry about, but for the first time, he's able to channel all of his anger and focus on one person.
"Zuko?" Lu Ten hisses to snap him out of his thoughts.
"Is everything alrigh-"
"If you're going to spar then spar already. I'm bored," he drawls out lazily, effectively cutting Katara off.
He pretends not to notice the frown on her face or the concern in her blue eyes.
"Katara," Lu Ten reaches out and lifts her chin to turn her back to him. "Have you ever hit someone before?"
She nibbles her bottom lip again and Agni, doesn't she know that's annoying?!
"...Yes, I have."
"Like a playful tap of a friend? Or a silly slap on the arm of a boyfriend?"
"Something like that," she murmurs while letting out a small little huff of air.
Zuko leans forward so his elbows rest on his knees and his chin rests in his hands. Katara catches his movement and she can't seem to stop turning her head to look at him. Sick amusement flickers through his eyes as he licks his bottom lip.
"Rule number one," Lu Ten speaks louder as he notices her eyes drifting over to Zuko again. "Never take your eye off of your opponent."
His hand reaches forward and everything happens in a blink of an eye. Katara turns, her head whipping around so fast that the pins holding her curls at the nap of her neck fall and the braids come loose. She catches Lu Ten's right, extended hand with her left and twists to the left as she drops her weight to the side, pulling his cousin forward so she can swing her legs up, wrap around his neck and yank him mercilessly to the ground.
Zuko jumps up, along with the other four soldiers, startled for just a minute as he witnesses the fact that his cousin is on his back, Katara's one leg is under his head while the other is over his neck, caging him between her knees and her chest and side of her body is laying on his arm and holding him down.
Lu Ten taps out right away and she releases him, but neither get up.
His cousin groans.
"You good, cousin?" Zuko taunts.
"I just slipped. I'm good."
"I'm sorry," Katara apologizes profusely. She kneels now, looking Lu Ten over for any serious injuries. "You came at me with your hand and I panicked and I'm sorry!"
"I didn't come at you with my hand. I raised my arm to show you how to block," Everything Lu Ten is saying is a lie right now to save face. He starts to get up too, his pride has taken a drastic hit. "But apparently I didn't need to show you anything!"
Katara gets up as gracefully as she can in her dress with that damn slit up the side. She quickly straightens out the bodice of her dress, making sure they weren't seeing anything they weren't supposed too.
"I thought you said you didn't know any hand to hand combat?" Lu Ten accuses, but Zuko can see his cousin relaxing slowly. It's been a while since someone's kept him on his toes.
"I said it wasn't proper for a female to know hand to hand combat in the South. I never said that I followed that rule."
"Princess Katara! What are you doing?" Uli, one of the servants exclaims as she rushes forward and starts wiping at the dirt that was smeared into the side of Katara's dress. "Rozi and Si are worried sick about your disappearance. Come now, we must get you ready for dinner. Hurry, this way."
Zuko watches Katara get ushered out of the training arena, and he's momentarily stunned at the display she just showed.
Who the hell was this girl?!
But when it was just them and a few servants again, Zuko can't stop the smile and the chuckle from surfacing.
"Don't say a word," Lu Ten warns as he grabs a canteen and gulps water down as if he were dying. "I mean it."
"I'm thinking the princess isn't the type to just fall into bed with you like others. She seems more like the type to kill you instead."
"Is that a challenge, Zuko? You really don't think I can bed Princess Katara?"
"Cousin, she just had you thrown to the ground, close to suffocating you, and had you submitting like a little turtleduck."
"Foreplay, Zuko," Lu Ten says with his usual confidence back. "What she just did, right now, was her way of telling me that she's interested. And you would know a thing or two about it if you'd ever-"
"One more word and I'll have to send Princess Katara after you again," Zuko warns with his own smirk. It's not too often he can beat Lu Ten at his own game.
"Whatever. Just don't be jealous when I make her my princess."
No problem, Zuko lies to himself as they both leave to get ready for this horrid dinner.
So Zuko doesn't like Katara because he's an angsty teenager still who has had to suffer at the hands of his father still. His scar will be explained later. Is it right for Zuko to blame and take his anger out on Katara? Absolutely not, but it's what he needs to do.
I love a good, angry Zuko.
Also, the moment with Lu Ten 'fighting' Katara is inspired by Iron Man 2 with Natasha and Happy in the boxing ring.