Chapter 13
Katara
She was late because of him. After he'd left, she'd cried for a good ten minutes, before healing herself with water given to her by Lin. The servants all stared at her as she worked, moving her hands over her face slowly, before spreading the water over her neck and shoulders. Healing tired her, but these wounds were shallow, no deep concentration required. She would be fine once she ate something, which she requested. Gu Zhi brought her a complicated dish, but she nearly spat it out, unused to the level of spice of Fire Nation foods. Gu Zhi nodded, understanding, before bringing her a simple bowl of congee. She ate as quickly as she could, but after all that had happened, she wasn't feeling up to it much.
Katara ran through the hallways as fast as the simple dress would allow her. Whenever she passed a servant they would stop and stare at the Water Tribe Princess, but she didn't care. She had to get there as soon as possible. Gu Zhi directed her outside, to the garden she saw before. It was quite spacious, a large tree provided a large amount of shade, and little turtle-ducks skated across the clear water of the pond. A fence surrounded the garden on 3 sides, with green vines snaking up the pillars and columns.
In the corner of the garden, overturned earth lay in rows with bags of seeds leaning on the fence, ready to be planted by gardeners. Several torches illuminated the path leading from the Concubine's Quarters to the turtle-duck pond giving everything a rosy-yellow color. On the other side of the garden lay a gardener's shed. Judging by the number of maids that were stationed outside, and the large congregation by the tree, she knew that was where she was supposed to go. Running under the torches, Katara made her way over to the tree. Everyone looked up as she approached, her shoes crunching the grass beneath her.
She saw the Fire Lady and Princess Ursa seated side by side, with two other women on either side of them. They were Identical, their hair was piled up on top of their heads and they wore the same kind of dress as Gu Zhi. They were old, 100 at the very least. Across from them, sitting on small red cushions where the 33 other girls that had passed the first test of the Hana Matsuri. Katara wondered if the girls that failed were sent home immediately, or if the Fire Lord gave them food and a warm bed before shipping them off again.
She ran up to the group, breathless, stopping just shy of the last row of girls, when she approached, they all turned to face her, Toph and Suki smiled to see her, Toph even waved in her direction. but most of the other girls gave her scathing looks, as if they couldn't stand the sight of her. Mai sat in front, she didn't turn and look at her.
"Katara," Ursa said, slightly chiding the young girl.
"I'm sorry that I'm so late," she said breathless, as Gu Zhi came up behind her and tucking the loose stands of hair back into her braid. "I-I was..." She couldn't very well tell them that she was late because she was talking to Prince Zuko, if you could even call that a 'talk'. And she definitely couldn't tell them that she was late because she wore herself out healing the bruises that Mai gave her. Rather than concern about her own safety, the knowledge that she'd spoken to Zuko outside of the competition would send half of the girls in this room into a tizzy. "I…overslept." She finished lamely.
"It's quite all right, Princess Katara, we are all late sometimes." The Fire Lady's tone was disapproving but her eyes were understanding. Katara smiled. Relieved.
"A true Princess is never late." The twins said in unison, the deep wrinkles on their faces moving the exact same way. "Lady Mai was the first one here, she knows what it means to be punctual."
She couldn't look at Mai. She didn't even want to be in the same area as her. At the mention of her name, Mai finally turned to look at her. She looked at Katara disdainfully, with cold eyes and a frown on her lips. The bland golden eyes of the Fire Nation girl widened slightly as she took in Katara's unblemished skin. She fought to keep a smirk from her lips.
You didn't break me, Mai. You won't.
"Not necessarily." Everyone turned to look at the Fire Lady as she spoke. "Lady Jin was also here quite early."
Katara's mouth opened slightly as everyone looked at Jin, some with glares, others with minor confusion. Jin's face turned a little pink under the Fire Lady's complement and the weight of everyone's stares.
"How old are you, child?" Princess Ursa asked.
"I'm 17 years old." She said, blushing deeper.
The Fire Lady tapped her chin gracefully. Everything about this woman was graceful, from the way she moved to the way she spoke. "Hm…seventeen. A bit young for Lu Ten, but not unmanageable." The Fire Lady looked over Jin's blushing face as though she were considering the purchase of a vase. "She's more suitable for Zuko, of course. But I suppose if either one likes her, we could have a competition our hands. She's pretty, too, don't you think Ursa? Wouldn't she make a fine bride for Zuko?"
Ursa nodded, chuckling slightly. "Yes, my lady. Zuko would be honored to have a bride as pretty as her."
Katara didn't understand it but she felt a very dull ache in her chest, but it went away as quickly as it came. She also didn't miss how at the mention that Jin would make a pretty bride for Zuko, Mai clenched her hands in the dark skirt that she wore, fingers gripping the material tightly in her manicured hands. Her face was tight, betraying no emotion, but Katara couldn't help but be a bit relieved to have some of Mai's ire taken off her for once.
Good, she thought, let them fight over him. Insensitive as he is.
As if remembering about Katara only then, Ursa said, "Just take a seat Katara," she pointed to the empty cushion next to Mai, "Here, in the front."
Katara walked to the front, feeling the eyes of the girls watch her every move. As she weaved in between the girls, she looked down just in case one of them tried to trip her. She sat down next to Mai, not looking at anyone, especially her.
The Fire Lady cleared her throat. "Like I was saying, today marks the start of your next test in the quest to further into the Hana Matsuri. We—." She gestured to the two women beside her, "Lo, Li, Princess Ursa and I, will be assigning points throughout this week."
The girls began to buzz about themselves, chattering silently in anticipation. Li—or Lo cleared her throat with an 'ahem' and the girls fell silent immediately.
"Lo and Li," Ursa continued, "Are the masters of proper Fire Nation decorum and rules. They know all of the things that a member of the Royal family must do. I hope you will listen to them and understand their guidance."
"You won't see us," The Fire Lady said, "We will be invisible to your eyes, but we will be there, watching. Is that understood?"
Everyone nodded.
She smiled. "Good. Then I must leave you now. I trust that Lo and Li be able to guide you." She rose, and everyone rose with her, bowing as she walked forward, sweeping past them elegantly, glittering fabrics glowing in the morning sun. "Ursa, come. There are many things to be done."
Katara felt that as the two women left the room, she felt all of her hope leave with them. Turning back to Lo and Li, she felt no comfort or cheer from them as it seemed that the frown lines were etched permanently on their faces. She sat down, as did the other girls and they began to speak in unison.
"Your first test," they said together. "Will be cooking. You must cook something that represents a certain aspect of the Hana Matsuri. The decision is your choice, but there is something very important."
"Important?" Suki whispered on Song's other side.
"The Fire Lord will be judging your food." They finished in unison.
"The Fire Lord?" Katara asked, mouth agape.
"Are you hard of hearing, Princess Katara?" Lo asked
"Or do you just like to hear the sound of your own voice?" Li finished.
"Is restraining your tongue so impossible for you?"
"Because a true Princess never speaks unless it is proper."
"Your upbringing must have been truly—,"
"—pitiful.
A few of the girls started to snicker. Katara felt her face start to heat up and she became angry. How dare these women tell her that she wasn't a true Princess? She was just as much a Princess as Song, Azula or anyone else! She opened her mouth to retort that these stuffy old women needed to take their ridiculously tight buns and go throw themselves into the ocean but she felt Song reach for her hand secretively, giving it a tight squeeze. She looked up at the older girl and she shook her head slightly. Song did the same, and Katara was silent her anger hiding beneath her skin.
"If we are done with the interruptions," Lo and Li looked pointedly at Katara, she glared purposefully back at them. "We will get started. Waiting inside of the royal kitchens is a meal that you will have to cook by hand." The two women finished with a solemn look.
"How long will we have to finish the meal?" Song asked.
"You have a maximum of three hours for this challenge. It must be finished in time for the Fire Lord's lunch." They said. "Inside the kitchen, you will find a list of the Fire Lord's likes, and dislikes."
"What happens if the Fire Lord likes our dish the best?" Song questioned them. Katara raised an eyebrow. It seemed that she really wanted to succeed in the Hana Matsuri. She wondered why, but then remembered an old Earth Kingdom law she'd read once in school. Any female relative of the King wasn't allowed to get married to any Earth Kingdom man in order to prevent hundreds of nobles from fighting with each other over her hand in marriage. This law, therefore, helped prevent civil war.
"If the Fire Lord likes your dish, you're immediately moved up in rank." The girls had no idea what they meant and stared at the two of them.
Lo sighed daintily, as though she was irritated that she had to explain this to them. "Princess Katara and Lady Mai have an orange sash wrapped around their waists, meaning they are of the second rank."
Her sister finished, "The rest of you have a red belt, meaning that you're of the third rank."
"If the Fire Lord likes your dish, then you will be moved up to the next rank. In the case of Lady Mai and Princess Katara, they will be of the first rank, and receive gold sashes."
Katara felt the glares on her back again. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They could have their yellow sashes and Princes, she didn't want them.
"The ten worst meals are immediately eliminated. Which will bring the total number to twenty-four of you remaining. By the end of this week there will only be 15 of you left." Lo said, and immediately, the air filled with a buzz as the girls all tensed, competition flooding their veins.
Li continued. "You will follow the path towards the Training Grounds. It will take you to the Kitchens."
"Now go, and please the Fire Lord" The twins said before sending them off to cook a meal that hopefully would pass the Fire Lord's taste test. As the girls rose, Katara couldn't help the question that was pushing at her lips.
"—But what does this have to do with ruling a country?"
The girls all froze, stopping to stare at her, some of them with their mouths open. Katara flushed at their eyes on her, but she kept her eyes level on Li and Lo. They stared flatly at her, emotionless faces betraying only mild irritation at her words.
"Normally we wouldn't dignify such a brazen question with a response—," Li said, raising a thin eyebrow.
"But as you're of a royal house—an unfortunate royal house perhaps—but a royal house nonetheless—." She took a breath and her twin answered.
"So we will explain."
"This test proves that you can care for your people—taking another's preferences into consideration."
"As a member of a royal family, you must care for your people, by empathizing with their lives."
"But surely we don't have to explain that to you." The end of their sentence was punctuated by a distinctly identical sneer on their faces.
Frustrated at their subtle insult, she turned and walked away, frustration boiling under her skin. Suki and Toph followed her quickly, though Suki remarked that Gu Zhi, Jin and Suki's maids were not following behind the three of them. Katara replied that she figured that the maids weren't allowed to help with this task. They walked, towards the kitchen, arm in arm, and talking with them as she walked, she found herself feeling her anger dissipate into the breeze.
"What do you make of the two of them?" Suki asked as they left the garden, voice low, thumbing behind her to point at Lo and Li, still sitting, frozen as statues. Watching them depart.
"The hag sisters?" Toph said, "They remind me of my mom."
Tiang
She watched from her hiding spot as all of the candidates walked towards the Royal Kitchen, searching the crowd of 30 girls, looking for a girl that would be useful to her. She frowned at the ones who were passing. She couldn't use that one, she was too arrogant looking, and the other girl that was next to her was too weepy, it seemed as though she were crying with every step. Finally the end of the line came forwards. The girl Jin had connections to the Bei Fong family and to Omashu. Powerful and wealthy, she couldn't afford to have to get rid of her if things went sour. Besides, she'd heard through the palace walls that Jin was quickly becoming a favorite of the Fire Lady and well…Tiang just didn't like that. No…The Princess Song was much too innocent and good, and relations with the Earth King were much too important…but the girl next to her. What was her name? Diyi, yes, she would be perfect. As the daughter of a minor Earth Kingdom official, Diyi had no royal connections and would be the perfect one to use.
She made herself known to the group, and the ones that saw her immediately stopped and bowed to her. "Lady Tiang." They said quietly, unsure of what she would do.
Those little idiots, she thought to herself.
"You." She said, pointing to the girl she had chosen. "I need your help."
Diyi gulped, but put on a brave face soon after, and stepped forward.
Tiang smiled.
Katara
They continued out of the grounds into another part of the palace. Other girls started to run quickly, even Song accelerated her graceful walk, but she, Suki and Toph continued to walk at a leisurely pace, falling to the back of the line. When they got to the doors of the Royal Kitchen, everyone had already gone inside, and two girls stood outside. One of them looked vaguely familiar, and the other one Katara had never seen before. She recognized the girl on the left as Azula, Zuko's irritating sister. Sharing a room with her back home was awful. She refused to touch anything and claimed that she would catch a disease from the fur they used to warm themselves once the fires went out. She refused to sleep on them, so Katara had to keep the fire lit, all night, burning through her weekly budget of fuel.
Katara and Azula stared at each other for the longest time, trying to read each other's expression, before Katara said, "Excuse me," and tried to enter the doors. Azula moved in front of her.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" The Fire Princess asked.
"I'm going into the kitchen?" Katara stopped in her tracks, but still questioned the older girl, a defiant look beginning to form on her face.
Azula motioned to Toph and Suki, looking bored. "They are allowed." She looked disdainfully at Katara. "You, on the other hand, are not."
"What?" Toph asked, angrily. "Why?!"
"Because I don't like you Katara, and I don't want my uncle to like you either." A smirk pulled at the side of her lips.
Toph stepped forward, challenging Princess Azula even though Azula was a full head taller than her. "What a load of shit—!"
Suki clamped a hand on Toph's mouth, muffling her. "Toph, calm down." She whispered, pulling the 12-year-old back. The younger girl frowned as Suki released her, but thankfully said nothing.
"This is sudden, Azula. What's the problem here?"
Azula folded her arms over her chest, smirking. "You want to know the real reason?" She asked. Katara waited, refusing to let her anger get the best of her. "You're interfering with my plans. You and that thing you call a relationship with my brother. Plus, you attacked one of my friends."
Was she referring to the girl next to her? She'd never seen the girl before. Unless she was talking about—Mai. Katara remembered that Mai had gotten into Azula's carriage yesterday. They must have been friends, that's why she was so incensed about the Hana Matsuri.
"What relationship?" Katara asked her, questioningly. "We don't have a relationship. I barely know him! I told Mai the same thing"
"But see that's the problem." She said, looking at her fingernails, inspecting them even though they were perfect. "The fact that you know him at all, is getting in the way of what I want to happen."
"Let me in the kitchen, Azula." Katara said, as calmly as she could manage. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm not the only girl around his age here."
"You're the only one who has a chance." Azula said coldly. She glared at Toph and Suki. "You two. Get in. Or else."
"Or else what?" Toph said threateningly.
The Princess smiled again and turned to her friend. "Tylee, why don't you show them what you can do?"
Tylee smiled and nodded, turning around to one of the maids stationed by the door. The girl looked scared, trembling before Azula, but said nothing, only hunched over before her princess. Bringing her over, Tylee hit the girl in the arm, and she collapsed onto the pavement, motionless. Suki let out an audible gasp and Katara mouth twisted in disgust.
"What just happened?" Toph asked.
Suki whispered nervously, "You don't want to know."
Azula smiled more, confident that she got her message across. "So are we clear then?" She asked. "Unless you want to end up like her—," She pointed to the maid on the ground. She glared at Katara. "Don't even step foot in there."
Katara sighed, frustrated that she couldn't get past Princess Azula. The girl had just reminded her why she wanted to come to this stupid competition anyway. To prove to people like her that the Water Tribe was a power to be respected, and the only way to do that was to win this stupid competition.
"Go on, you guys." Katara told Suki and Toph.
"What?" Suki asked her in disbelief.
"We're not leaving you." Toph said.
"I don't think she's asking for your opinion." Azula commented. "You should do what friend is suggesting and get inside before you get in trouble."
"You don't control us." Toph said, though her voice wasn't as strong as before.
"I can't control you," Azula said in agreement, stepping close to the young girl, her red lips looking even more menacing under the glint of the morning sun. "But I can make your lives very, very miserable while you're here, and I don't think you want that."
"Just go." Katara all but ordered, exasperated. Suki and Toph started to walk forward, resigned, throwing Azula and Katara cautious glances as they walked. It seemed as if Suki was going to open her mouth to say something, but Katara stopped her. "Don't worry Suki, I'll be fine. I'll figure out something."
"I wouldn't count on it, Princess." Azula said the title mockingly, and then went inside the Royal Kitchens herself, leaving Katara standing in the empty hallway, with an unconscious girl at her feet.
Lu Ten
The Crown Prince walked up to his cousin who was now leaning against a pillar, looking out across the garden. Zuko had a frown on his face and his eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. Lu Ten stood next to him, but Zuko didn't acknowledge his presence until he spoke.
"Hello, Cousin."
Zuko blinked, startled out of his thoughts, turning to him he said, "Oh. Lu Ten." He turned back out across the garden. "Is everything alright?"
"What's got you so upset?" the older asked.
Zuko sighed and pointed. "Katara was attacked this morning in the bathhouse. She had these bruises and cuts all over and she said that Mai was the one who did it. I…I don't want to believe it."
"You might not want to, but it might be the truth." Lu Ten offered. "Why do you think she's lying?"
Zuko shrugged, starting to pace. "I don't know…I just don't think that Mai would do such a thing? She already knows that I like her…why would she have to attack a girl I barely have a connection with. She's never been that…ruthless."
"Zuko her best friend is Azula. She had to learn it from someone." Lu Ten reached and patted Zuko on the back. "Everyone's heard the rumors of what happened at the Southern Water Tribe. That you two argued, went off alone, and now suddenly she wants to come to the Fire Nation as Aunt Ursa's personal bid?"
"But we didn't do anything! You know that! You were there!" Zuko exclaimed, turning towards him.
He shrugged. "I was, but if I didn't know better, I'd believe it too."
"Why do you care about Katara so much, then?" Lu Ten asked suspiciously, beginning to walk away. "If she upsets you that much and you don't want her around, I can just tell my Mother and she'll be on a ship to the Water Tribe faster than—,"
"No, wait!" Zuko grabbed his arm, stopping him. Lu Ten turned around, almost surprised to see Zuko's nervousness on his face. Zuko released his cousin's arm and stepped back, eyes almost worried. "She's here for herself, not because of me. This guy that she liked back home is a total asshole and we agreed that it might be best if she stays away from him for a little while."
Lu Ten nodded skeptically, a grin tugging at his lips. "Right."
"It's the truth!"
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "I never said I didn't believe you, cousin."
Zuko let out a breath. "Okay then". He turned back to the garden, and the pair were silent for a while when Lu Ten clapped him on the back.
He gestured further down the hallway. "I'm going to go and train, do you want to come?"
Zuko shook his head, his eyes not leaving his mother's garden. "What's the point? I can't put it to good use, anyway."
Lu Ten frowned but left his cousin standing there, absorbed by his own thoughts. He continued along the path that towards the training area, just past the kitchen and the prison. As he walked, he adjusted his shirt to give himself more flexibility of movement and swung his arms, back and forth, loosening up his muscles for practice. If he'd had time, he would have changed into lighter clothing for the summer heat, but his dark pants and boots would have to suffice.
Lu Ten walked down the dark hallway only lit by torches when he passed the part that connected to the Kitchen, and there, standing by the door were three girls. He only recognized Song, the sister of the Earth King, but the other two were vaguely familiar to him. They were staring at him as he approached, and he remembered his shirt wasn't properly on. If they were anyone else, he'd have left it off, but these were respectable girls, so he quickly pulled on the light tunic, avoiding their gazes.
"Hello ladies," he said, smiling brightly. Song continued to look at him inquisitively, as if trying to understand him. The other two girls—why in couldn't he remember who they were—they were staring at him with expressions of awe on their face, deep blushes on their skin.
Song bowed first, the other two following her example. "Highness."
Song was beautiful, if he had any opinion of her, and she was intelligent and very demure. She was quiet when they met, and never spoke unless someone else spoke first, but he couldn't tell if that was just the way she was, or if she was just following the rules of royal families. Her eyes were downcast, and she didn't look up at him or stare at him blatantly the way the other two were doing. She also looked fragile, as if she would break or fall over if there was ever a strong wind. Her hair braided in a simple plait away from her face and she wore no makeup, like every other girl he'd seen, and her natural beauty struck him as one of a kind.
"Princess Song." He acknowledged her, and it was then that she looked up in surprise, seemingly astonished that he knew her name, and he smiled encouragingly, locking eyes with the girl. They'd stayed at her brother's palace for an entire week before heading back to the Fire Nation, so of course he knew her name. As her eyes met his, he noticed how brown they were, different than his own, but so similar in kind. He opened his mouth to say something…anything to her.
"I'm Diyi!" one of the two girls next to her exclaimed, butting in confidently. Though her body language was anything but as she twitched, jittery, nervous. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
As if remembering that there were other girls there, Lu Ten cleared his throat, and relaxed his stare from Song, turning to the girl that had spoken with a mixture of calm and mild irritation. Diyi's smile at his appearance diminished. But collecting himself, he spoke courteously to all three of them.
"What are you three doing out here?" Lu Ten asked, knowing they were supposed to be inside cooking something for his father.
"We finished cooking early, and we thought we would take a walk." Song said quietly, and Lu Ten was once again struck by her presence.
"Oh, then would you like to walk with me to the training grounds?" He waited for Song's reply.
"Of course we would!" Diyi said excitedly, smiling brightly.
Lu Ten frowned. He had really meant the invitation for only Song, but Diyi or whatever her name was had to interrupt. He gave the girl a once over. She was pretty too, her eyes were a striking green, and ordinarily he would have been very attracted to her, if not for the fragile beauty next to her. Next to Song, she looked average.
"I would like to walk with you, Prince Lu Ten." She said, looking up at him again.
"Please, Princess Song." Lu Ten said, this time directing the comment only to her. "Call me Lu Ten. It sounds so much more informal that way."
She didn't speak, only nodded, so Lu Ten started to walk down the hallway, Song at his side.
"I-I'm going to go check on my food. Come on, Diyi."
The girl, Jin, started to speak. Clearly, she caught the hint that he wanted to be alone with Song. Jin started to pull the annoying one along with her as Diyi cried out in protest. Jin only dragged her away silently.
And then they were alone.
"It's only a short distance, you won't have to walk very far." He told her, hoping to get her to start talking. "I hope you don't mind."
She raised her head. "I don't mind walking very far." He took that to mean that she didn't mind walking with him.
"How old are you?" He asked, curious to find out about her. "We didn't have much time alone at Ba Sing Se.
"I'm 19 years old." She said, smiling, and he thought that her smile looked so innocent then, "My brother Kuei, is 23."
"Your brother is the Earth King correct?" Lu Ten questioned. She nodded. "He is the same age as me. I think that we would be good friends, if we ever got the chance to meet."
"I think my brother would like you, Prin—Lu Ten." She looked into his eyes, and he barely noticed that the distance between them had gotten so small. If she had been any other girl, he wouldn't have hesitated before kissing her, touching her, but something deep inside of him told him to treat Princess Song different than any other girl. Different than Yue—
Yue.
And all at once, his mind was flooded with images of her. Her flowing white hair, the way she looked in her priestess robes, the way she looked without them. But there was a clear difference between Yue and Song, and he found that interesting. Yue was vibrant and fiery, and Song was fragile and reserved. They were almost opposites, both physically as well as in emotion. Yue was tall, had dark skin and snow-white hair, Song was short, with pale skin and dark brown hair. Yue was voluptuous, where Song wasn't. His attraction for Song was different than what he felt for Yue. He remembered his attraction for the exotic girl and felt it just as strongly as he had five weeks ago. Agni, he missed her.
But then again… he had Song with him now, and Yue was far away.
"Come," he said, taking her hand. "It is not much farther."
Katara
She walked back to the garden, feeling a certain kind of sadness. There was no way she'd advance, but maybe that was for the best? Once everyone else was up to the same rank, they would all be of the same rank, and perhaps the other girls would hate her less. Maybe she wouldn't have to deal with Mai anymore. It was almost sad, the way the girl had to resort to underhanded tricks, to achieve her goals. Katara had never factored in Princess Azula. Although she understood that the princess wanted her friend to marry her brother, something like this had to be against the rules. After all, if Sokka were getting married, Katara knew that she would be happy for her brother, no matter who the girl was.
She entered the grounds, intent on going to the redwood tree and clear out her thoughts. But when she got in sight of the tree, she stopped. There was already someone there, enjoying the wide and cool shade, throwing bits of bread at the ducks, watching with a smile on their face as the ducks gobbled up the little morsels. Katara stopped in her tracks as she saw who it was.
Prince Zuko.
He looked calmer than she'd ever seen him. His eyes looked peaceful and there was no trace of the irritation that clouded them when he was talking to her.
Her dress ruffled in the light breeze, causing Prince Zuko to look up at her. The smile disappeared, and he dropped the bread he was holding in surprise. Katara raised a hand, covering her mouth in shock. "I-I'm sorry." She said turning around quickly, "I'll just go."
"No, wait!" Zuko said, standing. "Please, stay."
She froze in her tracks and turned again, looking at him very skeptically. Regardless of the genuine apology when she told him of getting hurt this morning, she had the feeling that ultimately, she or none of the girls working their butts off in the kitchen, mattered to him. If he didn't want it, why go along in the first place. He seemed to alternate between apathy and sincerity at the drop of a hat.
"Okay…" she said, walking over to the tree. He gestured to himself as she approached and motioned for her to do the same.
"Sit with me, please."
He said, smiling kindly, and Katara was even more wary. But she sat as he requested, and they were silent… the only sound that was made was the sound of turtle duck flippers hitting the water and their constant quacking, but that was low compared to the loud awkwardness that was between them. Katara didn't look at him, and he wasn't looking at her.
Finally, Prince Zuko cleared his throat. "I-I want to apologize."
Katara looked at him, surprise evident on her face. "Apologize? Prince Zuko—,"
"Please, let me finish." He said, and Katara saw that this truly was difficult for him. Once he saw that he had her full attention, he continued, "I've been doing a lot of thinking, since this morning. I admit that when I came to see you, I did so on my mother's request. I didn't want to believe that Mai was capable of it." At her indignant look he stammered, "B-But what I'm trying to say is that I'm genuinely sorry about what happened to you." He looked down, shame and guilt on his face.
Zuko continued, brows furrowing. "It wasn't right or fair to you, and I'm sorry that I said it. You've been hostile to me," She frowned at the perceived insult, but he'd kept his tone light, so perhaps he was joking? He continued, "But you've never been dishonest. Will you forgive me?" He looked so hopeful, that she couldn't bear to say no.
"I—," She began.
"Your face. The bruising. It's gone." His head tilted, and he stared at her, confusion darting over his features.
"Oh." She said and touched her neck where Mai's fingers had wrapped around so tightly. "I healed myself this morning. I was late to the test because of it, it wears me out."
"That's an amazing ability, Princess Katara." Zuko looked almost…awestruck.
"It's fairly common among waterbenders, but it's rare to do it quickly." She couldn't help letting some pride affect her tone. Katara turned, shifting, adjusting herself on the hard ground. "—And I will forgive you, but only if you call me Katara."
He looked at her quizzically.
By way of explanation, she said, "I'm so sick of the Fire Nation formality. Every time I try and do something that I used to do back home, Gu Zhi always tells me that it is not proper."
"I understand." he said, laughing slightly. "Gu Zhi was my nanny as a child. Believe me, I know all about her love for rules."
"Then how do you get around them?" Katara asked.
"It helps to know which rules you can follow, which ones you can bend, and which ones you can break." Zuko smiled, lost in a childhood memory, turning to face her, he said. "Most of the time I just nod my head to whatever they're telling me and then do what I was going to do anyway."
"Prince Zuko, a rule breaker? I never would have guessed." Katara chuckled along.
In truth, he didn't seem like a rule breaker. It seemed like he was a very much a – by the book – sort of person. But he agreed with her.
"No, you're right, that was more Lu Ten's thing." Katara couldn't believe that of Lu Ten either. In the silence that followed, Zuko spoke after a few moments. "Call me Zuko." At her expression he explained. "Please. It's only fair. If I call you Katara, then you have to call me Zuko."
She nodded. "Alright."
They were silent for a few seconds more, watching the ducks in the center of the pond.
"So tell me the truth," he turned to her. "Do you regret coming here? Do you wish you had stayed home? I wonder if any of the other girls feel that way. I'm not—I'm not worth all this." He waved a hand.
Katara wondered how he could talk about himself in that way. There was a melancholic look to his gaze as he spoke the self-deprecating words, and she wondered how he could talk about himself in that way. For the first time, as she looked at him, she noticed that he was, in fact attractive. He had a strong jawline, with dark hair pulled up in a long ponytail on top of his head that offset his bright, golden eyes.
"Honestly, I don't know if I regret it. To be honest, I haven't thought about Hahn for a few weeks now. But I want to stay—Not because I like you or anything," She said jokingly, elbowing him a little. He seemed uncomfortable with the contact but chuckled with her. She quickly sobered up, looking out across the water, imagining her home. "The other girls think I'm a joke and it infuriates me. I want to prove to them that the Water Tribe isn't some backwards nation that can be pushed around. We can be just as refined as anyone else. And I'm going to prove it."
"I believe you." Zuko said. She looked at him, mouth open wide. "I believe that you can show everyone that you're more than what they say about the Water Tribe." He chuckled. "If you can convince me, everyone else should be easy."
"Not everyone," Katara muttered under her breath, but due to their proximity, Zuko heard her anyway.
"Mai?" He asked. "She…I'm…I'll have to speak to her. Get her to back off." At her frantic look he paused, reconsidering. "Wait that might just make her angrier."
"Mai isn't important." She said, unconvincingly, and for a second Zuko looked like he didn't believe her, but he let it go anyway.
Katara nodded, smiling. "I think this is the first conversation we've had where we were nice to each other."
"Not the first," He said, thinking of their conversation after the mess with Hahn. It seemed like she remembered it as well. "Practically the second. That makes us friends." Zuko said, standing up.
"Friends?" Katara asked with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't know we were friends."
"Okay, so we're not friends." Zuko smiled sarcastically. "If you want, I could insult you some more,"
"No thank you, Prince Zuko. I'm sorry as well. I wasn't exactly kind to you—," She laughed, starting to rise, before freezing. As she'd moved to stand, he'd grabbed her hand to help her off the ground, seemingly out of habit, and then he froze. Warmth enveloped her hand, and Zuko's eyes widened. His mouth dropped open and his eyes met hers.
She didn't let go of him for a moment, more shocked by his expression than the actual skin contact.
He let go of her hand sharply, like she'd burned him. Katara thought that maybe he was regretting her decision to be her friend. She shook her head, even as he still stared at her, openmouthed. "Let's just focus on not insulting each other, for the time being. Then maybe we could work on being friends."
As she stared up at him, she observed that Zuko was quite handsome. Hahn had been shorter, stockier, with muscles that stretched out his tunic and leathers. Zuko on the other hand was tall and lanky, with sharpened edges to the lines of his nose and chin that contrasted with a mouth that looked rather softened. His cheekbones were full and high, leading to bright golden eyes. She had to consider. Was she actually attracted to him, even in the slightest? No, no it wasn't attraction, but she could appreciate how attractive he was.
Finally, Zuko broke his stare, and he looked as though he didn't know how to proceed. "I hate to leave you, friend," he said, enunciating the word, "but I have to meet my uncle, and get ready for lunch."
She smiled, "Goodbye then, friend."
She watched as Prince Zuko walked towards the main part of the palace and felt a strange sense of satisfaction when he left. It was clear that Princess Ursa wasn't the only one that believed in her, but she wasn't sure why exactly Prince Zuko suddenly wanted to be friendly, when they'd had a basic business transaction, nothing more.
"So, it would seem that you and my nephew have become quite close." A broad figure was a long ways off, hands clasped behind his back as he strode forward. His expression was grim, and his eyes locked onto hers, but he had a glint in his eye.
If the golden trim on his clothes or the salt and pepper hair didn't give away his identity, the ornate diadem on top of his head would have done it.
"You're the Fire Lord." She said with a gasp.
"It's been three years since the coronation and I still picture whenever someone calls me that."
As he moved closer, she could see that the lines on his face were quite drawn and there were bags under his eyes. Was he getting enough rest? Probably not, she guessed, as ruling a nation could be a very tiring thing. But there was a purplish hue to his skin in the light of the midday sun, as she could see pronounced veins on his cheeks and neck. It worried her from a medical perspective, though his eyes were clear.
"I guess it's not something you could ever get used to." She supplied, and he nodded.
"Nor should you," Fire Lord Iroh said sagely, giving her a kind smile. "The wisest ruler should remember that while he or she has a view from the top, they should remember that there is an equally important view from the bottom, something that the Water Tribe does well I hear."
She stared at him wordlessly. Unsure of what to say. He looked so serious, so imposing that she didn't know what to say.
"I guess?"
He burst out into a laugh, his stern fracturing to reveal a wide, toothy smile
"So as a healer, what would you do, my dear Katara?" He asked her softly, reminding her of Yugoda in that moment.
"I…I don't know." She thought, fingers tapping on her chin pensively. "ginseng and honey are great for coughs. I know a great soup recipe and ideally I would add a protein like artic hen or something with vegetables for nutrients."
She glanced over at Iroh whose eyes were closed, the calm rise and fall of his chest indicating that he'd fallen asleep. She thought it was rather quick, but sighed and plucked a few blades of grass, muttering to herself. "Not sure what it would matter anyway, since I've been kicked out of the kitchen."
"Well why don't you go in after everyone is done?" Iroh's low voice startled her as she turned back to face him. His eyes were still closed, but there was an amused tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Lo and Li gave us two hours to finish. There wouldn't be enough time." Katara explained. "Everything had to be ready by the time you ate lunch."
"Well am I the Fire Lord or not?" He said, opening his eyes and giving her a funny look.
"Y-Yes…?" she mumbled, brows furrowing.
"And can't I decide to have lunch whenever I want to?" He asked her, the grin widening.
"I guess?" She replied, his meaning beginning to dawn on her.
"Then I suppose that lunch will have to wait until I you've prepared that soup." Iroh finished confidently, patting her hand on the grass. "Because frankly, that sounds heavenly."
"O-Oh…okay then." Katara mumbled dumbly, glancing up into the sky. From the time she'd left the kitchen till now, the sun had barely moved. "We might be waiting a while, Fire Lord Iroh."
"Then I suppose we'll have to pass the time somehow," he mused, fingers tapping on the legs of his robe. Then inhaling as if a brilliant idea struck him. "Why don't you tell me about my friend Pakku, and your dear Mother and Father?"
Katara was stunned. "You know my grandfather?"
"Of course!" He replied. "In my youth I was always making friends from anywhere and everywhere. I had my fair share of friends growing up in the Fire Nation, but my father thought me more suited towards diplomatic missions – like the ones where I met both of your grandfathers."
Katara felt a sting of homesickness bubble up in her chest. For a moment, she wondered if he could see the pain in her eyes. It certainly felt like he could. She'd never met her mother's father – he died before even Sokka had been born – but Iroh knew Pakku, and actually wanted to hear about them.
She smiled at the man across from her, willing the sadness to go away.
"I'd love to tell you how they're doing."
Zuko
Zuko made his way to the dining room, knowing that he was likely the last to arrive after an unsuccessful search for his Uncle. The older man had asked to speak with him, wanting his opinion on the Hana Matsuri – to be perfectly honest, he was almost glad it was over. The Fire Nation royal family usually took their meals in private, or in small clusters, never all at the same time. But these were special times. All of the food they ate would have been prepared by the 34 girls in the Hana Matsuri. It honestly seemed like a whole bunch of fuss for nothing. Zuko frowned. He never asked for this to happen, never wanted this to happen, but the fact of the matter was that it was happening.
Whether he wanted it to or not.
He was met with the familiar sight of the dining hall. It was expansive, with tapestries blaring the Fire Nation insignia hung from the walls and candles all around, being the only source of light in the room. A long table was in the center, with cushions and chairs all around. His uncle was at the head of the table, with his aunt and his mother on either side of him, His father and Tiang were on his mother's side, necking and his cousin, Lu Ten was next to his mother, across from the. Zuko's seat was next to Lu Ten, and Azula, scowling as usual was across from him trying her hardest to ignore her parents. Across from the table, were 30 other tables that were short, and he assumed were for each of the candidates.
He entered the dining room and took his seat, nearly gagging at what Tiang was wearing. She was in one of her nearly see-through robes, a light pink material of chiffon, and as she came closer, he realized that she was barely wearing anything underneath. He preferred for a girl that he liked to have some sort of self-respect, but not Tiang, apparently.
"Good morning, everyone." His Uncle said, coughing again. His aunt rubbed him on the back. "As you know, the cooking part of the selection is here. A large number of girls will be eliminated today, and we must comfort them as best we can." He turned, addressing Lu Ten and Zuko. "Boys, I hope you have an idea of the girl you seek, after today. Soon it will be time for you to speak to them in conversation."
Lu Ten rolled his eyes but agreed anyway. "Yes. Father."
Zuko didn't reply but nodded all the same.
His uncle nodded to one of the maids standing by the door, and in came all of the girls, in even lines, their maids behind them carrying trays that he assumed were the meals they prepared. Zuko looked for Mai first. She, along with Katara were in the last row.
They stopped at each of their respective tables, bowing before them all. He looked at his uncle. Now it just depended on whether the Fire Lord liked what they prepared.
His aunt stood, addressing them all. "Now. We trust you girls enough, but the Fire Lord is an important figure in our society." Everyone nodded. His aunt continued, "And as such, his health is of the utmost importance. We will be sending a royal food tester to sample each dish to confirm that there is nothing dangerous in the food. After the food is given clearance, the Fire Lord will taste it. If you succeed, remain where you're. If you fail," she said, pointing a manicured nail to where Gu Zhi stood, waiting. "You will be immediately escorted home."
The girls nodded in understanding, a few of them glancing around with trepidation.
Once his wife sat down his Uncle waved forth the taste testers. "So, let the testing begin!" His uncle laughed jovially before descending into a fit of coughs.
The testers sampled each dish, starting from the front, where the candidates stood off to the side, as each plate got checked for poison. And he watched as each girl's food was placed onto a tiny plate and given to his uncle once it was cleared. Zuko couldn't help but watch in anticipation as each tester neared the back row. Some dishes were simple, some were complex, but they all reflected the girl's hometown, whether in the Earth Kingdom of Fire Nation. But the funny thing was, in each girl, it appeared to Zuko had exactly the same answer when his aunt asked why she made that dish.
For example, a girl from the Fire Nation, he couldn't remember her name, had made a dish that Zuko had eaten 100 times before, and the response was that it was her favorite meal and she hoped that his uncle liked it too. She looked about 21, Lu ten's age, so her goal was hopefully to be engaged to Lu Ten, probably. But nearly every girl around her had the same exact answer. The dish was her favorite and she hoped that the Fire Lord liked it. It was likely that these girls wouldn't make it into the next round.
Despite their answers, his uncle liked the food. He liked all of it, in fact. He asked for seconds of some of them. He ate his to his stomach's content, only stopping to cough here or there. When the testers reached the back line Zuko began to get nervous. He wasn't sure why he was becoming so nervous, was he unsure that Katara or Mai would make it? Or was it something else? They started with Princess Song, first, and she made a very simple dish of rice and curried lobsterchicken. Zuko had also had this dish before.
A cough came from his left. Zuko turned to see Lu Ten with a hand covering his mouth, but clearly, he was trying to get Uncle Iroh's attention.
"What is it son?" Iroh asked lowly, turning in his seat.
"Not her, father." Lu Ten asked, almost begged. "Even if it's terrible, not her."
"You don't want her to be eliminated? I mean, I didn't plan to eliminate her but…Why?" Iroh asked, a suspiciously knowing glint in his eyes. He grinned at his son, and Lu Ten's cheeks turned a pale red.
"I suppose…" The Crown Prince paused, looking in Song's direction. She had her head down, and a rosy blush stained her cheeks, her face lit up by an embarrassed smile. "I like her."
"Like her?" Tiang snapped in his general direction, rolling her eyes. "You barely know her."
Zuko considered Lu Ten's preference for Song. She was pretty, not exactly the kind of girl that Zuko would have imagined his cousin liking, but the heart wants, what the heart wants after all.
"Tiang is right, my darling." The Fire Lady looked at her son, agreeing with the concubine for once. Zuko saw Song's expression get more solemn. "How can you say you've grown attached to her? You've just met."
"Not necessarily my dear," Fire Lord Iroh said, taking his wife's hand. "You fell for me at a first glance, so why can't our son do the same?"
Fire Lady Yun Xi looked as if she was going to say something more, but then thought better of it. She whispered something to her husband, and he nodded. She said, "Princess Song, for being selected by my son, Crown Prince Lu Ten, you're immediately given a golden sash, and are of the first rank."
Song's mouth opened and closed with surprise, before Gu Zhi placed a golden sash in her hand. A golden sash was almost as good as a marriage proposal. Zuko eyed his cousin warily. "Are you sure about this?" He asked.
"Of course, I'm sure, Zuko." Lu Ten said confidently, eyeing the blushing girl. She looked up at him, relief shining on her face. The girls around her didn't seem to happy, save the group of girls he'd come to think of as Katara's friends. They all were beaming, seeming genuinely happy and supportive. Mai looked nonplussed, but he figured she didn't care what Lu Ten got up to.
The testers moved down the line, sampling Suki's, Toph's and Mai's and they all received a passing score. Zuko knew that Mai would get a pass, as she just made a traditional, complex, Fire Nation meal, that was a bit predictable, but obviously very good. He was unsure about Katara and grew increasingly more anxious the closer the men got to her table. He didn't know why she suddenly so preoccupied his mind. When the testers lifted the covering on her tray, Zuko didn't know what to make of it, but she didn't seem all that worried. What she made was yellow in color, liquid and looked steaming to the touch. How was she able to keep it hot for so long?
"What's it?" his mother asked.
"This," Katara said, waving a hand over the steaming bowl, cooling it slightly, "Is a carrot, ginger and honey soup."
"Why did you make this?" Zuko's aunt asked.
"I was concerned about Fire Lord Iroh's cough. I know that ginseng soothes coughs, and my mother often made this for my brother and I when we were sick as children. Garlic and onion are also present as well, which should help as well."
The tester drank some of the soup before presenting it to his uncle. Everyone waited and waited to see what would happen after his Uncle drank it. He seemed fine, and when he spoke next, his voice was clear and smooth. His family shared collective looks and grins.
"This is delicious, Princess Katara. I commend you for thinking of me." Fire Lord Iroh said, his voice much like it was before he got sick.
"This was only a little taste," Katara said. "I can make some more, if you would like."
His aunt nodded excitedly, clasping her husband's hand in her own. "Finally, we have found something that works!"
Zuko smiled at her answer. He noticed Azula staring at him out of the corner of his eye, and saw the glare coming from Mai's direction. Katara was his friend of sorts, and it wasn't wrong to be happy for your friends. Katara was given a golden sash, just like Mai and he was happy for her. He didn't notice Azula's scowl become deeper and deeper.
The testers then moved on to Jin, who had the last and final dish. He uncovered the lid, and Zuko was struck by how weird in color the dish looked. It was green, the color of olives, with black marks as though it had been burned or scorched in places. There were little white crackers surrounding the glob of green goo in the center. It looked like it should have been a curry of some sort, but the color was off. It was…strange. Despite her meal's appearance, Jin's face wasn't upset about it. Her smile was bright as the two testers approached the meal.
When the first tester took a bite out of it, he gasped, and held his mouth as though he were going to vomit. At first, Zuko just assumed that the food was too hot, and he should have waited for it to cool. Or perhaps he wasn't used to the level of spice in Jin's curry. But then, he began to cough, and as his coughing intensified, blood began to appear on his sleeve that he used to stifle the coughs. Zuko held his breath and Jin's smile quickly diminished from her face. The blood was black. A clear sign of poison.
The tester gasped for air, staggering forward, crashing into the tables and plates in front of him, spilling food and dishes onto the floor where they shattered into dozens of pieces. Several of the girls screamed and scampered out of the way as the dying man fell towards them. Katara looked around rapidly, and spying a cup of water on Jin's table, she enveloped water from it into her hand, intent on reaching the man before he died, but it was too late.
The man staggered backwards, collapsed, and lay sprawled out in front of Jin's table, black blood dripping from his mouth, his pallor was white, his eyes bloodshot, and the expression of fear plastered onto his face.
Dead.
Then the uproar began.
Guards appeared from every entrance and surrounded Jin's table. Katara was pushed out of the way, and the tables with the food were knocked over, forgotten. Two guards grabbed Jin by the arms and brought her before Zuko's uncle. She looked pitiful, still in shock, as though she couldn't believe what happened to her right then.
"She tried to kill the Fire Lord!" Tiang screamed. "It was poison!" Jin started to shake her head, denying it, but the Fire Lady spoke.
"Save the explanations for your trial." She said, looking angrier than Zuko had ever seen her. Zuko wasn't surprised. With the amount of love that she held for Uncle Iroh, it wasn't a surprise that she reacted this way. "Take her away!"
The guards dragged Jin out of the room, and Zuko's mother and Aunt led quickly led Iroh out of the room. He looked around and saw that most of the girls had fled when the commotion started. The only girls of the selection that were still there were Katara and her friends, surrounding the dead man, the Water Tribe girl attempting to do who knows what with him, and Mai, who was now making her way over to Azula.
In the silence after the commotion died down and nearly everyone had fled, he noticed that Lu Ten had disappeared, and his Father, Tiang, Mai and Azula were glaring at the same exact person.
Katara.