Chapter 37
Edit from 2/15/18: And my rapid pace of editing slows down as I try and kill myself with the dinner scene…yeesh.
Azula
Somehow, they'd gotten to this point. Somehow, through the bantering, the crying, and the kissing, they'd ended up like this.
Somehow, they'd ended up on her bed, messing up her blanket. Somehow, Azula didn't mind that. Somehow, her hair was let loose from its tight constraints. She didn't mind that either. And somehow, Jet's shirt had come off, revealing a tan expanse of skin unlike anything she'd ever seen before.
Jet had little to no muscle definition, but there were hints...She wasn't unaffected by it...by him.
It was one thing to see your cousin and brother shirtless and feel nothing but irritation at how every palace maid would flock to the windows of the Training Ground to see them working out. It was one thing to feel a sense of hurt when no one ever came to see her training in full armor. No one ever came to watch her train, get sweaty, or beat the stuffing out of the training dummy. But hey, she wasn't bitter.
But there was something different about looking at your annoying brother shirtless, and...Jet.
Under her father's watchful eye, she'd never been able to talk to someone of the opposite gender that she'd liked (as few and far between as they were), and any male that she did like, never liked her for the person that she was, but instead was usually trying to win her over for influence in the Fire Nation Court. To them, Azula wasn't a person, she was merely a beautiful object who was the youngest and most doted upon grandchild of Fire Lord Azulon. They saw her as their ticket to fame and fortune. But Jet...Jet was different, as he always had been.
She knelt beside him on the bed, turned, hovering a pale hand over him, having rolled off him sometime before, while his eyes closed in contentment. His hands clasped behind his head, Jet let out a deep sigh. A surge of smugness warmed inside of her as she admired his face. From his eternally messy chocolate brown hair, her eyes roved over his tan skin, to his lips looking swollen and thoroughly kissed.
Azula felt a surge of satisfaction as she realized that she had done that to him. She wondered what else she could do to him...but decided to forego it for the time being. She let him rest for a few minutes; after all, he had been through a lot in the past two days. She forced the pang of irritation away at the thought of the cause of his suffering—and by extension, her suffering. It was all due to his relationship with Katara, their friendship. But thinking could wait. Instead she settled for watching the steady rise and fall of his chest with mild amusement.
Jet was silent, the only sounds coming from him were his steady breaths. And it was when his muscles finally relaxed, seeming on the verge of sleep that Azula decided his time to rest had ended. Now, she might use this time to explore.
Her fingers traced lazy circles along the ridges of Jet's abdomen, creating indistinct patterns across the dark skin there. She felt the muscles twitch and tighten beneath the feather-light touch of her fingers and felt a strong satisfaction.
She ignored him though and continued making her way across him as she did everything, outlining every mark, every crevice, and every ridge of his abdomen, methodically and with careful precision, as though he were a tactical map, and she were a strategist. And in some cases, she did. Reaching across his body, she brushed her hand over the faint line trailing from his hip to his ribs.
Azula could hardly believe what she was doing, here, with him like this. If her father — anyone, really — saw her like this…she didn't think she'd ever be able to bear the humiliation. Thoughts about her father caused her to stop, freezing over Jet's skin as she felt a chill trickle down her spine. But it wasn't an actual chill, per se, it was more of the fact that she, dutiful, loyal, unwavering Princess Azula…had risked her position in the family, her wealth, her father's trust and honor all for…him. As she looked down at him…it was striking to realize how close she'd come to ending up in total disgrace—
A long and deep sigh rumbling in Jet's chest broke her thoughts. And at first, she was mesmerized just by seeing his chest rise and fall. His eyes were still closed, arms folded behind his head, but a lazy smirk was on his lips. "You're doing it again."
His voice startled her. She froze, her fingertips still lightly brushing the surface of his skin. She turned her head, the corners of her mouth turned down slightly. "Doing what?"
"Thinking." He said, as if it were the simplest answer in the world. His arm came out from behind his head and his cooler hand covered hers that rested on his stomach. His earth-brown eyes opened, and they too were lazily staring up at her. "Princess, you think entirely too much."
She scoffed. "If one doesn't think, one becomes a fool." She smirked at him, before poking his shoulder with her free hand. "And I'm resolved never to become a fool, so I must always think."
Instead of agreeing with her, or admitting that she was right, Jet began to laugh. "Do you know how old you sound? I mean, you're what, 16? You sound like you're 40."
Azula cut a sharp look at his face. His stupid, smiling, laughing face. "Well thank you for that insightful, yet superfluous opinion of yours."
Jet chuckled, his carefree nature permeating every exhale and every word. "Glad to be of service." He chuckled again. And this time it was he who traced patterns onto the surface of her hand.
Azula envied him greatly. He seemed to have no cares, no problems at all. The wide toothy grin that she could never possess came so easily to him. He seemed to take each day as they came, enjoying life to its fullest. And Azula wanted that. She desired it more than anything else. She felt so...relaxed when she was around him, and she craved more of that feeling. The life he led, seemed to be a life of hedonistic leisure.
But she'd only seen a fraction of that life. And what she had seen of it...it mostly involved him suffering. He'd apparently been given a ghastly injury, the origins of which she was still trying to figure out, and she'd almost executed him, he'd been arrested, and now...was a very wealthy man.
She thought of the other men in her life, and most of them...had miniscule impacts on her.
Zuko only served to annoy her. He was of little consequence in the grand scheme of things. He was pathetic, and somehow managed to land a princess. A Water Tribe princess...but still. She was a princess nonetheless, so she had some worth. Jet seemed to like her well enough. Lu Ten...Lu Ten was another male who annoyed her. That rotten glory-loving cousin of hers was the Crown Prince and had the pompous attitude to match. He wanted for nothing. Everything he asked for, he always received.
How could he be so lucky as to get the Earth King's sister as a future wife? If the Earth King had not married already then, Azula might have been the next Earth Queen. But that wouldn't happen. Things never worked out that way for her... when did she start to pity herself? But it wasn't pity...it was merely an admission of facts...with a little bit of pity. But back to Lu Ten. He ruled the Fire National in name now that her Uncle was so sick, the poor old thing. Although Azula knew (as did everyone, really. Who were they trying to fool?) that Lu Ten still held tight to his mother's skirts and refused to make real decisions. The rebellion solution? It was Zuko's plan, or her father's. Azula was sure of it. There was no way...that Lu Ten could have thought of something so clever.
Her father...things were too tense with her father right now. Where she stood in her father's eyes was too uncertain. By Agni, Azula didn't know if she could still be considered his daughter after all. Would he disown her? Perhaps. But...maybe her Aunt would save her. She was the Fire Nation's only royal daughter... She'd done the one thing he'd forbidden for as long as she could remember.
She liked him. And he was a commoner. But...she eyed the large sack of money that lay at his side.
If Jet applied himself and invested his newly acquired riches wisely, he could, in time, grow to great fortune. But... that would take time. Time that she feared she didn't have. Every day, things were becoming more and more chaotic.
And she looked at him, at the lazy grin, the eyes unclouded by fear. His body as lax as the day he was born. She didn't think Jet had one-tenth the work ethic he ought to. No, she didn't think that Jet had to stress about anything. Certainly nothing related to work, anyway. But still, there was so much she didn't know about him, so much she still had to learn.
But who would be her teacher?
Azula finally spoke the words that had been bothering her, "Are you still set on returning to the Earth Kingdom?"
A nod was her only answer.
Azula blinked repeatedly, not quite understanding the dull ache that formed in her chest. She fought for a way to keep him here, to make him stay. He just had to. "I... just don't see why you can't stay here in the Fire Nation. You'd be able to visit me in the palace every day if you want to." Azula's voice took a higher tone. She tried to sound authoritative, but for once in her life, it wasn't working.
To her astonishment, Jet snorted and barked out a mocking laugh, contemptuous eyes gazing around her bedroom with mild distaste. "Me?" Jet snorted again. "Oh, you've got to be kidding, Princess. Me? Here? Oh, that's rich."
"I don't see what's so funny." The Fire Princess' eyes narrowed. Her lips pressed together, unamused. He stopped laughing at her and looked into her eyes. He really looked, finding the carefully guarded hurt that she kept from him.
But despite her feelings, Azula's resolve hardened. Azula could never refuse a challenge, and Jet was proving to be one of her biggest yet.
Jet's bitter eyes softened. His hand found hers again, but it was gently, as though he thought she would run away if given the chance. "Look, Princess…you're proud of where you were born, right?"
"Of course." She said simply.
"And so am I." He told her quietly. "The wandering life…I can't do that to Smellerbee anymore... She's going to be a teenager soon…she'll want to settle down, go to school, get married…eventually." He added the last part with a little chuckle.
"Why can't she—," Azula started, but he cut her off.
"She doesn't want to move around anymore — and she misses the Earth Kingdom. I know it." Jet frowned and turned away from her, shifting his position on her bed so he was angled more towards the door, hiding his face from her view. "I meant what I said. I don't want her to be a servant here until she's old and gray and has no chance at life. I want her to have a chance to be happy, to start over...To have the clean slate that I will never have."
His hands moved towards the large bag of money that her aunt had given him. "And now…I can give her that. I can pay off my fine, and start anew in Ba Sing Se."
"Ba Sing Se?" She said quietly. "So far…" And she met his eyes. And in that instant, she knew that if he left to start a new life behind the walls of Ba Sing Se…she would never see him. Ever again.
"I know." He said, just as solemnly as she was feeling. However, in the next instant, his expression brightened. "Why don't you come with me?"
Azula's perfect eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What?"
Jet laughed. He laughed as though he'd found a mountain of gold. It was the laugh of a man who believed that everything would turn out okay. Azula…didn't feel this reassurance. She didn't feel this laughter. All she felt was the ache in her chest.
Suddenly, he was in front of her, his hands gripping her shoulders, applying pressure as if to force her shoulders downward.
"Come with me," he said, kissing her quickly. He pulled away and grinned even wider. He looked so happy. And he looked at her with those eyes, and Azula felt those feelings and she felt the dull ache in her chest grow and swell to an annoying pain that wouldn't disappear no matter how much she tried to keep it away.
"Jet…" She shook her head.
She was hoping he wouldn't ask that. But the way he stared into her eyes...His earth brown eyes bore into hers full of apprehension, and he inched closer to her. She didn't want to look sets him, lest she be swayed even more, but his voice held so much conviction it was surprisingly difficult to look away. "Come with me to the Earth Kingdom."
He was met by silence. Azula wouldn't, she couldn't let him down harshly.
Azula shook her head. "Jet, that's crazy talk. You can't ask me to leave everything...Do you really think my family would allow this…insane idea?"
"Then we'll run away. Yes, Princess Azula, I'm asking you to run away with me." He kept saying, each word coming out faster than the last. "Leave your title, leave the pressure, leave the constricting walls of this palace and—,"
"And live trapped behind the walls of Ba Sing Se?" She asked, cutting him off. Her mouth set in a hard line, features stoic, eyes narrowed.
Jet shook his head. "You wouldn't be trapped. You'd be able to leave…"
"With what money Jet?" She didn't like this idea. She didn't want to give up the life she was accustomed to. "I'd be walking straight into another place that constricts me. If I give up my title, the most we could do would be to live in the Lower Ring."
"I know that." He said roughly, not looking at her. But he took her hands in his own. Jet held them firmly, applying gentle pressure. She could feel the amount of anxiety inn his muscles as he looked at her with unsure eyes. He stammered on, and Azula found her chest constructing with each word he said. Each breath she took felt like she was choking. He still didn't look at her. "I know…that I wouldn't be able to give you the life you're used to, and it'd be hard, I know it...but please...please...It's the only way we'll be able to be together."
His voice held strong conviction, but his body language said that he was more than a little worried. From the sweat beading on his forehead and the way his body trembled as he spoke, she gathered that Jet wasn't one to beg.
"Why?" She asked. "And you can call me selfish if you want to. But I want to know why it is I must make the sacrifice."
"It won't be a sacrifice. It's a compromise more than anything."
Azula thought. She thought about the risks…but then looking at Jet, she thought about the reward. If she left, she'd be on her own.
"Okay." She said firmly. "Let's do this."
Jet ran a hand through his unruly hair. "I didn't think you'd actually say yes." It seemed, that he didn't actually think she'd say yes. Well, she did, and here she was, ready to take on the world. "You mean it?"
She smirked at him. "When do I ever say anything I don't mean?" He laughed and looked away. She rested her palm on his. "I'm serious. You and I…with my brain and your newfound wealth, maybe we could do this."
"When do you want to leave?" Jet asked excitedly.
Agni he was enthusiastic. Azula thought long and hard for an answer. She'd already agreed to this. She didn't want to back out now. "Um…well, I don't know exactly. It can't be tonight, because it's almost dinner and I'm expected to be there. "Jet's face fell. "Tomorrow is the celebration of Lu Ten and Song's engagement. As well as Katara's birthday. No one will miss me then.'
"Katara's birthday huh?" Jet murmured and Azula frowned. Why was Jet so attached to Katara? Then he shook his head. "Fine. We'll leave during the party."
She, Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation…was about to be…just…Azula.
Who was just Azula?
Tiang
Tiang carefully dragged her fingers over the ornate table she sat before, appreciating the intricate carvings, wondering if she would ever feel something so wonderful, or look at something so beautiful again.
She slammed a hand on the table, anger rising in her. How dare she? How dare she, that little ingrate, turn her back on the woman who raised her for the past 16 years? How dare that wretch of a girl has the nerve, have the outright audacity to turn on her? After all that she had done.
All the lives she'd ruined? All the people that she helped to kill?
The people of Kyoshi…The patients at Shibai Hospital?
Everything she'd had done was for her! Tiang had spent the better part of the past few years planning everything so that She and Azula would have a considerable future. But it didn't go according to plan, but what in her life ever had?
It was now, in her life, where she actually wanted to go back to how things were before. She'd been prepared to leave with the Earth Kingdom merchant as a young woman, but Ozai had to rip that away from her. She'd given birth, not to a boy, but to a girl. A girl who idolized only her father and thought nothing of her mother.
But if that were the case, then why would Azula do this to her? To her father? To their future?
It was all supposed to go a certain way. She'd tested the poison's effect slowly, carefully over the years, first on Kyoshi Island, then here in the Fire Nation. Once she'd had the results, the Hana Matsuri provided the perfect timing to find a scapegoat for her plot. Jin was supposed to be blamed for poisoning Iroh's food and killing him. Tiang hadn't counted on her daughter messing up the amounts. Then Yun Xi would have called the Hana Matsuri off, and every girl would have been sent home, and Lu Ten and Zuko would have been without brides, making them much easier targets to eliminate.
She hadn't been able to think of all of this herself, and that was where Zhao came in. Sneaking in and out of the palace without notifying someone was enough to get her executed, but thankfully, Ozai was kept in the dark about her affair with Zhao. And Tiang wasn't sure how she managed that. Ozai seemed much too perceptive to let anything slip by him.
But Ozai wasn't perceptive at all, was he? When she first entered the palace, he seemed ambitious, so power-hungry, like her— really what made him so attractive, but over the years it sort of...fizzled out. He wasn't planning anymore, he seemed to have lost all drive to become Fire Lord.
She would be ambitious enough for the both of them. She had already enticed Zhao with her feminine wiles, and then when everything was said and done, she would have accused him of plotting the murders of Iroh and Lu Ten and leave him there to die.
And Ozai would never have known.
It didn't matter who it was, she'd tear them down to achieve something that she'd always dreamed. But now… Now she had been reduced…to nothing.
But that Katara of some backwater country had to muck everything up.
How could she have saved Iroh's life? How could she have removed the poison?
Life, as she'd known it for the past 16 years…would never be the same again.
No longer was she the grand Tiang, with the jewels, and servants bowing to her. She'd never be Fire Lady, that much was clear. And to make matters worse. When she died, she still wouldn't even have a title.
She was allowed to live in her old suite of rooms, which wasn't as much of a blessing as Yun Xi made it seem. The walls and floors had been stripped bare, and all that remained were the wooden floors and stone walls. All of the expensive tapestries-gone, all of the jeweled pottery, lavish gowns and glittering gems to go in her hair were no more. The only decorations that remained were the rice paper windowpanes that covered the large windows of her bedroom. But those were of little consequence to her. She kept her windows mostly closed.
What good would it do to see the sun? The sun only made her think of the position she would never be destined to have.
She was allowed to keep one servant. The insufferable Yan Li, who foiled everything. If she'd poisoned Iroh directly, this whole mess could have been averted. And now look at her, wearing a plain white robe—the color of mourning, of funerals…of death. Her was hair in a simple braid, no longer elaborately styled, nor bejeweled.
Looking at her face, bare and almost alien to her without makeup, it was clear that she no longer possessed the same beauty she once did. If she was truly being honest with herself, she looked…old.
Tiang slumped over the table she sat at, feeling exhausted, though she had not moved in the past few hours.
The door opened to her personal chamber. Yan Li poked her head in. "Mistress." She looked up from beneath hooded lashes. Yan Li stood in the doorway, a shell of her former self. Not that there was ever much to begin with. She too, wore the white robe of mourning, but she wasn't marked for death like Tiang was. The Fire Lady noticed there was something off about her and put her here to serve Tiang until the concubine's last breath.
Some punishment. She'd been doing that already.
"What's it, Yan Li?" Tiang raised her head.
"You have a visitor."
Tiang frowned. She had no visitors. Not even her own daughter would see her now. But perhaps it was Azula, come to visit her mother after finally seeing sense?
Maybe it as Ozai, come to apologize for turning on her?
But the one person she saw, was the one person she never expected in a million years.
Ursa came through the doors, looking even more regal than she'd ever looked. Perhaps now with Tiang out of the way, she'd wanted to make the effort to finally dress up. The Princess wore a dark red gown, with the customary golden trim marking her as royalty, and pale golden dragons were embroidered on the hem. Simple, just like her.
"I never thought you would stoop so low to visit me, the lowly concubine." The bitter words were said with a not-so-pleasant look directed at Ursa's plain face.
Still she got no reply. The other woman sat down on the cushion in front of her on silence, barely making a sound. Tiang's fist clenched. She wanted to hit something.
Finally, her adversary did speak. "No, I never thought I would stoop so low to visit you, the criminal. The killer."
Tiang gasped in mock surprise, eyes going wide and hand covering her mouth. She could have laughed. But she said instead, "You mean this isn't a social call? Damn, and I was going to have refreshments made too." Tang held up a cup, plain and without any jewels like she used to have and offered it to Ursa. "Firewhiskey?"
Ursa sniffed distastefully. "No. Thank you."
Tiang snorted. Ursa raised an eyebrow. "Well I'm drinking even if you don't want to." She poured the liquor into the glass, some spilling out the side. With a muffled curse she downed the entire thing in one gulp, then with a groan, her hand fell back onto the table. She offered Ursa a lazy grin that still managed to feel spiteful. "More for me. You always were a complete bore, Ursa. No wonder Ozai left you."
She knew that had to sting. But clearly, Ursa wasn't going to take the bait, keeping her shoulders square, her face stoic and her eyes not betraying a hint of emotion. Damn her.
But Ursa chuckled sardonically, the very sound grating on her last nerve. "You think you were the first?"
Tiang smirked. "No, but I was the longest, and the last. So, forgive me if I don't start weeping." She took another swig of firewhiskey.
There was silence between them. These two women were only separated by a foot of wooden table. They'd never been this close before. The older, a Princess without her Prince, and the Younger, a mistress without her master. They'd both been with him, and both coveted him for different reasons.
"You look…different." Ursa said, quietly, giving Tiang a wry look. She gestured gracefully to the white pin that held Tiang's hair in a high bun. She also gestured to Tiang's makeup-less face, the wrinkles, the lines, and the scowl that marred her once beautiful features.
Tiang snorted again and picked up the glass. They both knew she looked awful. It was quite surprising how quickly punishment was meted out in the Fire Nation. "Making fun of my looks now, are we Ursa? How petty of you. What are we, grade school children?"
"With your behavior? Couldn't have fooled me." Ursa said, almost snidely, rare for her. "What did you think you were doing, showing off like that with him every chance you got?"
"I was stating my claim."
"A claim that you had no right to." Ursa said, and Tiang watched the Fire Princess' face closely. At first, it seemed as though nothing could rile her up. But there were signs of a cracked facade just below the surface. "He was already spoken for. You had no right-,"
"I had every right." Tiang snapped. "Do you think I asked for this to happen? Do you think I asked for this…gilded cage I live in? He found me, remember?!" Tiang slammed a fist on the table hard, the cup rattled and rolled, falling onto the floor with a loud clatter.
Neither of them moved to pick it up.
They stared at each other.
"Ozai is not the kind of man you say no to."
"You think I don't know that?" Making a fool out of yourself in public…" Ursa muttered. "Have you no shame? No sense of public decency?"
"It didn't matter who saw. As long as they acknowledged that I had every right to be there." Tang snorted, swishing the goblet around, staring at the golden liquid swirling around inside. It was so golden…so much like Ozai's eyes. "For 16 years…I was on top of the world."
Ursa frowned. "I see."
Tiang said nothing, and merely poured some more drinks. She looked across from her at the woman she'd once despised. In most respects, Ursa had not changed. She still floated around with an air of superiority that annoyed Tiang to death. But her looks had faded over time, wrinkles had appeared where before there were none. But unlike Tiang, she wore no makeup to hide her flaws. Did she really think herself too high and mighty for all of that?
Tiang took a long drink, relishing in the burning sting the alcohol sent down her throat. Ursa looked at her with hard eyes, and Tiang matched her evenly. "What do you really want?" Tiang snapped. "You obviously didn't come here to chat with me."
"No," Ursa admitted. "That wasn't why I came."
Tiang glared at her with hateful eyes. "Oh, so then you've come to gloat, have you?" She laughed mirthlessly, picking up the goblet of fire-whiskey again. "Have you come to see how the great and mighty Tiang is reduced to nothing?" She gestured wildly to the gown of mourning and the undecorated room.
"Do you regret it?" Ursa asked quietly, not answering her sarcastically rhetorical question.
"Regret what?" Tiang narrowed her eyes.
"Any of it." Ursa said quietly. "All of it."
"Come now, Ursa, I'm not a child to go and ramble endlessly." A smirk curled onto her beautiful lips, as she held up the goblet. "You must tell me exactly what question you want me to answer."
"Do you regret coming to the palace?" Ursa locked eyes with her. "Do you regret decimating the population of the Island of Kyoshi? The population of Shibai hospital?"
"How do you know about Kyoshi?" Tiang asked.
Ursa laughed mockingly at her. "Oh please. It isn't hard to put two and two together. You should have covered up your tracks better."
"My tracks were covered. If that Water Tribe girl hadn't gotten in my way—,"
The Fire Princess' eyes darkened. "Mind how you speak about my future daughter in law."
Tiang laughed again, even darker than before. She fixed Ursa with an almost pitying stare. "Do you honestly believe that Prince Ozai will allow this silly marriage? She is nothing like Mai."
"True." Ursa said, acknowledging the difference between the girls. "But at least my son fell in love with someone of royal status—,"
"That girl is no better than a peasant!" Tiang interrupted.
Ursa cleared her throat and continued. "Your daughter, I seem to recall, has fallen in love with a commoner as well. You must be so proud."
Tiang sank back, stretching her legs out in front of her. "I never believed it possible you to place such high stakes on status."
"I don't." Ursa said, and she looked around the colorless room. Even the windows were shut, letting in only a little afternoon light. "I'd care for Katara even if she were a peasant."
No, you wouldn't, Ursa. Not if you were me.
"I'm sure Ozai loves that. Both of his children disgracing themselves?" Tiang said, looking away from her.
The truth was, Azula's betrayal hurt.
It hurt a lot more than she would allow herself to admit.
"Azula isn't a disgrace." Ursa said with a tone of finality. "And you would do well to remember that. But honestly Tiang, you and I both know that you couldn't come up with the plan to take over the throne by yourself."
"What are you talking about?" Tiang snapped, turning away.
"I'm talking about Ozai. I'm talking about Zhao. I'm talking about everyone that you tricked and lied to in order to get your way." Ursa leaned forward, eyes burning in irritation.
Tiang smiled triumphantly. "You don't know the half of it."
"Oh, don't I?" Ursa said skeptically. She laughed, and it was a playful, mocking sound that rang in Tiang's ears. "You think I don't know that Ozai had you doing this for him in order to keep his own hands clean? You think Ozai didn't know about your affair with Zhao? You think that he didn't know you've been using Zhao to fund your little test projects?"
Tiang griped the edge of the table so hard her knuckles turned white. Her eyes were wide as Ursa laid out the secrets. "H-How? No…I came up with this on my own."
Ozai couldn't have known she was sleeping with Zhao. It was impossible. She'd been careful. So, so careful. And if he did know, then why did he leave her alive?
Ursa was laughing at her before she sobered up.
"Actually, you're right." Ursa nodded then, her mouth set in a hard line. "You probably did come up with this all by yourself. After all, how could you otherwise explain all of the holes in your plan?"
"Ozai could never have known. This is all some idea you've created in your own head." Tiang said quietly, shaking her head.
Ursa smirked lazily and looked her right in the eye. Tiang recoiled, she'd never seen such confidence in Ursa's gaze. "Face it. You may understand Ozai's body, but I understand his mind." She tapped her temple as if to illustrate her point. "He was using you and Zhao this entire time. He was in the shadows making the two of you dance to his tune like marionettes."
"You lie Ursa!" Tiang blurted out, suddenly rising. The bottle of Firewhiskey on the table spilled, splashing the golden liquid onto the floor. She stared down at the older woman, breathing heavily, eyes blazing. Ursa knew nothing. She was wrong.
She had to be.
Ursa shook her head sadly, as if she were explaining something to a small child. "Don't you understand, you fool? You were merely a pawn in Ozai's game, a game that he knows how to play a great deal better than you."
"I…I don't believe you." But the words didn't sound so convincing once she'd said it out loud. Ursa smiled at her, a wicked smile that she knew Ursa had received in the past. Yes, Tiang was now getting a taste of her own medicine, and she hated it.
"Fine." Ursa stood. "Don't believe me. I can see this conversation is over." She turned to leave out the door. Stopping and turning around with a look of realization on her face, she reached deep into her sleeve, pulling out a red butterfly pendant. "But he must have cared for you at one point, because he asked me to give you this."
She held out her hand. The necklace gleamed in the afternoon sun. She met the taller woman's eyes. Why was Ursa giving her this? Why would she want her to have this? She was a prisoner inside of her tiny suite of rooms. She'd never see Ozai again, so what was the point? Something to remember him by?
"He…" Ursa said quietly, her gaze softening a bit.
"He what?" Tiang asked.
"Ozai…apologizes. He said he's sorry." Ursa bridged the gap between them and put the necklace in her hand. It was warm…and heavy.
Tiang scoffed. "Thanks. I suppose." Then, after a moment. "Is the apology extended from you, as well?"
The look in Ursa's eyes told her she wouldn't be so lucky. Ursa still hated her. Not that Tiang had ever given her a reason not to.
Ursa turned to leave, but then stopped, but didn't turn around. "I do not know what your fate is, nor your punishment. But…" Here she hesitated. "It's best to leave the palace with no regrets."
With that, Ursa left, and Tiang stared at the closed door longer than she would have liked to admit. What did she mean leave the palace? Of course, she could be demoted and cast out…
Or…would they…kill her?
Tiang couldn't believe it.
Turning to Azula, Yun Xi appraised Azula with a steady eye. "You have knowledge of the recent events that have shaken the very foundation of our nation, Azula?"
Azula nodded. "Of course, Aunt Yun Xi." Azula bowed slightly, turning a nasty eye on her own mother. "And I will be more than willing to tell you everything I know."
With a cry of rage, Tiang threw the locket against the wall where it hit with a loud clatter. She sank to the ground. She clawed at her dress in anger. Agni only knew what Azula would have told them by now! The little brat! She had to act, had to do something. If she was going to die, then she was going to take a few people with her.
But how?
Yan Li entered the room and saw the necklace on the ground. "Mistress, the pendant that Princess Ursa gave you—,"
"Take it out of my sight." She said. "I don't want it."
"But my lady—," Yan Li protested, before pausing. The old woman knelt down to pick it up where it fell. "Oh. It's broken. What's this?"
Tiang lifted her head. The servant approached her and held out both of her hands. In one hand she held the butterfly necklace, now with a crack down the middle of it. It lay in two pieces in the woman's wrinkled hands, but that wasn't what caught Yan Li's eye. In the old maidservant's other hand was a folded-up note. Yan Li set down the necklace and began to unfold the note.
"Give me that." Tiang snatched it from her hand and unfolded it herself. "It obviously wasn't meant for your grubby little hands."
She unfolded the note, and a wrapped-up parcel fell into her lap. It was brown, greasy and looked like a teabag. But Tiang had the strangest suspicion that whatever was inside of there, wasn't tea. She unfolded the note and began to read the familiar, beautiful writing.
Did you honestly think that I would forget about you?
He'd written to her. He hadn't forgotten her. Oh, Prince Ozai. There was a reason she loved him. She almost wanted to call Ursa back and wipe the smug smile off of her perfect face. But every instinct said that would be a terrible idea. But she still smiled to herself and continued to read.
If you're reading this, Ursa must have been by to see you.
Now, I don't want you getting worked up over anything she's said.
She's just an illusion. What you and I have…is real.
I'm surprised at the cutthroat level you're willing to go to in order to get what you want.
How did you get Zhao to cooperate?
No matter. There is only one phase left. Do this one thing for me, and all your wishes will come true.
Finally. She would do anything. Ursa, curse her, was actually right.
If she was going to leave this palace, it would be as a Fire Lady, as ruler, with a title and a husband surrounded by more wealth than she could ever imagine. What would she have to do?
Use the packet of herbs.
Get the waterbender out of the way.
Tiang smiled sinisterly.
She hadn't lost yet.
Zuko
Zuko and Lu Ten exited the library together, Zuko sliding the door behind them quietly as they left. It had been a rough hour; Lu Ten carefully detailed everything that happened, leaving out no details of the account of the battle. He told how he watched from the cliffside as Lieutenant Jee led the troops to victory, hiding amongst the trees and rooftops to avoid being detected.
Although Shin's rebels surpassed them in number, they were relatively untrained, and lacked any kind of structure or formation. They had rudimentary weaponry, most of it farming materials like hoes or pitchforks and they were swinging around with wild abandon. Before anyone knew what hit them, the Fire Nation's Elite descended on them and incapacitated around 60, while the remaining numbers fled into the hills.
"Do you think we'll be seeing trouble from them again?" Zuko asked, leaning against the wall.
Lu Ten stood opposite him and shook his head. "I don't think so. Most of them looked like they didn't want to be there. But…their fighting style…" Lu Ten paused, brows furrowed, seemingly bewildered. "Some of them had military training, or…at least…it looked like it."
Zuko drummed his fingers on the wall behind him, nodding his understanding. "That makes sense."
Lu Ten's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Mhm. Shin led a rag-tag group of military deserters beating up people for money in the streets." Zuko recalled their treatment of the old man Wu with a remembrance of that anger boiling in his chest. "I don't know if you remember, but Shin was one of Zhao's biggest followers, and one of the earliest defectors once Zhao was demoted."
Lu Ten hit the windowsill in surprise. "So that's why he looked so familiar." He nodded, apparently deep in thought. "I guarantee that all of this…was Zhao's doing."
"My suspicions exactly." Zuko agreed, but he didn't want to admit to his cousin that his suspicions ran a bit deeper than that. Not without proof.
"Hey, Zuko…" Lu Ten took a step forward, looking directly in Zuko's lighter colored eyes. The two of them were the same height, and if one didn't know them, could have mistaken them for brothers. "About my report…you'll keep my secret, won't you?"
Zuko clasped Lu Ten on the shoulder heartily. "You're my cousin." He said simply. "It's what family does."
Lu Ten smiled at him, and Zuko felt…almost secure. Maybe, with Lu Ten on the throne, things wouldn't be terrible. Zuko would be there to assist, and Agni only knew the power Song had over him. Between the both of them, plus Aunt Yun Xi, Lu Ten would be a commanding, responsible, level-headed Fire Lord.
He hoped.
"Am I interrupting something?" A soft voice came from the other end of the hallway.
Zuko turned to see Katara, looking radiant in a pink and purple gown, her hair piled in an intricate style on top of her head, with highly intricate and delicate hairpin sticking in it. She looked beautiful. Her cheeks were flushed, as though she'd been running, and when their eyes met, a smile lit up her face.
Yes, everything was right with the world. For now.
She approached cautiously, stopping a few feet short of both Lu Ten and Zuko. Zuko wasn't sure how to approach her. Should he embrace her? But…Lu Ten was here and would never let him forget it. Besides, what if touching Katara at all brought up unpleasant memories of what happened the last time they were together? He didn't want to strain their relationship.
Katara bowed lightly. "Prince Lu Ten." Straightening, she turned her head to her fiancé with a bright smile. "Zuko."
Why was she smiling so much? Why was she so happy?
Oh. The Letter. It was a good thing he'd thought of an answer with Lu Ten.
"Princess Katara," Lu Ten said in response, bowing his head as well. Lu Ten looked between the two teenagers with a smug smile on his face that Zuko wanted nothing more than to punch off. "I assume you didn't come all of this way just to see me."
Katara reddened further, stepping a little closer to the cousins. "You're right," She let out a bit of laughter. "I didn't."
"Then I will go on ahead to the Dining Hall." Lu Ten said quietly, before approaching Zuko and whispering in his ear. "Remember dear cousin, my celebration dinner is to begin in a few minutes. Don't get too carried away."
Really, Lu Ten? Really?
"Well, "Lu Ten backed away with a knowing smirk. "I'll leave you to it then."
"Of course you will." Zuko muttered under his breath. And the Crown Prince left with a wave. Zuko turned back to Katara, who was suddenly very preoccupied by the floor.
Zuko extended his hand. "We should probably start going as well."
Katara's eyes met his again, and Zuko felt a surge of nervousness bubble within him. Her cool hand found his, and they fell in step, going slowly towards the Dining Hall.
"You look beautiful." Zuko said quietly in her ear.
"Thank you." She blushed and continued to walk alongside him.
Back to silence again.
What was wrong with him? It's as if…suddenly, he didn't know how to act around her. As though he was afraid to make a mistake with her, afraid to set them back when they'd come so far.
Katara stopped. "Zuko…" He turned to her She eyed him warily, her blue eyes shifting over his face. "Yue…is…"
"Yue? She's here?" Zuko looked at her incredulously. Katara nodded. "How did she get into the palace without being seen?"
"The underground tunnels." Katara said, quietly. "Jet and Smellerbee snuck her in early this afternoon. She and I…"
"What, what happened?"
The waterbender shrugged, tucking a fallen lock of hair behind her ear. "I guess you could call it differences of opinion. I demanded that she return to the Water Tribe and submit to our laws and she refused. But I shouldn't have been surprised."
The Water Tribe's laws…they governed a huge part of Katara's life and were the basis of everything she did. It rather made sense. She was a Princess after all. Guilt started to edge into his heart as he remembered how she looked at him…before.
"She's hoping that Lu Ten will give her wife or concubine status?" He said it almost as a question, and judging by the grim look on Katara's face, the answer was a resounding yes.
But it was probably more than that.
Whatever the true history was, it didn't really matter.
"I have Gu Zhi keeping her in my room, but she's being difficult, to put it lightly." Katara shook her head, and let out a deep sigh, as if to remind herself to keep calm. "She insists on coming to the diner tonight—to which I said no, for obvious reasons." She broke off, and looked at him, brows furrowed in frustration. "She may try and attend, despite my efforts."
Zuko shrugged. "It won't be pretty, but whatever decision Yue makes is her own, and you shouldn't beat yourself up for it."
Katara's lips pursed, and she averted her gaze. "She is my cousin." She murmured quietly. "She is my family. And no matter my personal feelings, I'm duty-bound to help her as much as I can." Katara looked up at him, and then further down the hallway. "You would do the same thing for Lu Ten, wouldn't you?"
Lu Ten's eyes flashed before him, seeking assurance, seeking the confidence that Zuko would keep his secret. And yes, he will keep Lu Ten's secret. It's what family does. What he'd been raised to do. His aunt's words from before came back to me.
"I believe that you need to sort out your priorities, Prince Zuko." She snapped at him, eyes narrowing. "Have you forgotten that you belong to the Fire Nation Royal family, and it is the Family that comes first."
Family did come first. And it was to this family that he belonged.
"I would do it for Lu Ten." He replied in affirmation. They resumed walking, and it was strange how quickly the fell back into the rhythm. "If, she tries to attend, we'll take the next steps based on what happens then."
Katara chuckled almost sadly. "I'm tempted to just leave her be. If she wishes for a life here, then let her exist here with no help from me. But the baby…" She said the last words softly. "I worry for the child."
"How would she be cared for in the Water Tribe?" Zuko asked curiously.
"The Elders wouldn't be kind to her. The Head Priestess…" Her eyes flashed brightly for a moment, as though she remembered something important. But it was gone as soon as it arrived. "Well, let's just say she wouldn't be exactly welcomed."
"So, you would want her to go back to a place where she would be ostracized?"
"She would be ostracized, but she would be safe." Katara asked. "I don't think it's safe for her here. Not with…the Fire Lord…" Katara paused and looked at him. There was a sadness in her sapphire eyes, and Zuko wondered if she felt regret that she was gone for all this time.
"The Fire Lord's health…is not the best it could be." Zuko said quietly, it was inauspicious to say it any other way.
"The Fire Lord is…marked, as we say in the Water Tribe." She clutched Zuko's hand tighter, as if in apology. "I can heal, but I can't change the fate of those who are marked."
Katara danced around the real meaning, just like he did, but they both knew the meaning was clear. Katara couldn't save the dying. And the truth was, his Uncle had been dying for a very long time.
"Katara…" Zuko stopped her and turned her to face him. There were unshed tears in her crystal eyes. "Please…don't feel sorry. With us at his side, Lu Ten will be a strong Fire Lord. So please, don't feel bad. You did all you could, given the circumstances."
She nodded and smiled at him. "I know."
They were fast approaching the doors to the dining hall. Once they got in there, Katara would no longer be his. She'd be surrounded by her friends, and he by his family, and they would no longer be free to talk. He had to apologize, had to clear the air before…before they drifted apart.
Zuko remembered what Lu Ten had said to him earlier.
"She's grown up in an entirely different world than us. With different rules, customs and traditions that we could never hope to understand."
"So then what am I supposed to do?" He'd asked, still not knowing the answer.
"Try to understand them, and her. It wouldn't kill you to learn about Water Tribe wedding practices, and maybe implement them."
He could do that. He could try to understand her. They continued walking and reached the doors to the dining hall. Zuko's arm was outstretched to open it, but he froze before he could. The perfect idea had found his way into his head. "Katara," He said, and then hesitated. "About that surprise…"
"Yes?" She asked, sounding exited as she turned to him, eyes wide. She fixed him with a steady gaze. "I almost thought you made up the whole thing."
Zuko chuckled, surprised at how close to the mark she was. "I...have an idea. I'm not sure you'd go for it, but I really hope you do." Now, the difficult part. How should he phrase it?
"Just tell me, Zuko." She said, gently touching his shoulder. Zuko stiffened almost immediately. Her touching him wasn't the best, as he was trying to focus his head on trying to say this.
"Maybe…we shouldn't get married." He flushed, realizing how that sounded. Maybe that wasn't the best way to phrase it.
"What? I—Is it what happened before?" Katara said, her breathing increasing in tempo. "I…I can try to change…I…"
Zuko shook his head, placing his hands on his shoulders to steady her. "No, Katara. I don't want you to change yourself. Not for me. Not for my sake."
Her hands came up onto his shoulders to try and pull them off of her. She sniffed. "Then why?" He couldn't help it. He chuckled at how silly she was being. "Stop laughing, Zuko." Her eyes narrowed, and her cheeks flushed in anger.
His thumb came up to wipe the tear from her reddened cheeks. "Maybe I phrased that wrong. I meant we shouldn't get married…yet."
Katara froze and eyed him suspiciously. Eyebrow raised, she asked. "What do you mean, yet?"
Zuko shrugged. "Maybe…perhaps…We could wait a year…" Katara's brows furrowed in confusion. "It would give Lu Ten and Song…along with Yue…time to get adjusted to things. But more importantly…I could spend that year in the Water Tribe…to understand about the culture of the Water Tribe."
Suddenly, she flung herself at him, almost toppling him over, arms wrapped around his waist in a tight squeeze. "Is that what you were trying to say?" She asked, before leaning back. "Zuko that's wonderful."
She raised herself up on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. Zuko's cheeks reddened despite her kissing him so many times before. This time was different. It was almost like they were…starting over. "Is it?" He asked, absentmindedly scratching his head. "I thought…I don't know…"
"How did you come up with the idea?" Katara prodded his chest.
Zuko shrugged. The idea really had just come to him.
I just wanted to know what I was going to be taking you away from. The part of yourself that you'd be losing."
Katara
Zuko and Katara had walked in to find that everyone was already seated at long low tables positioned in a small semi-circle around the room. The Fire Lady sat at the largest table at the head of the room, near the door. Lu Ten was on her right, and Song next to him. Prince Ozai was on Lu Ten's opposite side, and Princess Ursa, next to him. On Princess Ursa's left, there were two tables curving to round out the circle, and opposite them, two more tables, both were empty.
Everyone looked up as the couple walked into the room, hand-in-hand. The Fire Lady sent them a heartfelt smile. "Ah, Prince Zuko, Princess Katara. We feared that you were lost."
"Forgive us for being late, Aunt. We had…some things to discuss." Zuko murmured.
The Fire Lady just nodded and bade them sit down. According to the way the circle was structured, the nearest to the throne sits on the right, and the next closest sits on the left, and those of equal status sat on the other opposite side. As they passed Song and Lu Ten, the Crown Prince looked at the both of them, and sent a smug smirk Zuko's way. Katara raised an eyebrow in question, but Lu Ten just laughed it away.
Katara looked around the room and didn't see her other friends that were residing in the Palace until Song's wedding. "Where is everyone else?" She whispered to Zuko as they made their way past the Fire Lady, continuing around the semi-circle.
"My Aunt probably wanted this to be a family affair, they're most likely eating in their rooms."
Katara nodded her understanding. "I guess that makes sense…" She trailed off as she began to think of more…important things. Speaking of family, she wondered what Yue was doing, and if Gu Zhi had her well in check. Her cousin could be quite the force to control. Gu Zhi certainly had her work cut out for her.
She and Zuko found their seats next to Princess Ursa. As they passed Ozai, Katara found herself shying away from the man, to the point of moving around on Zuko's other side. It was a subconscious decision, but Zuko still took notice. He frowned and squeezed her hand tighter as a source of comfort. She remembered the pain, the harshness…she remembered the torture; it was something she couldn't—wouldn't forget. Here in the Fire Nation, being royalty didn't save you from punishment.
And Ozai had the power to do that. According to Fire Nation Law, Zuko had whispered in her ear as they sat, following Lu Ten in the line of succession, was his father, and then Zuko and Katara. Typically, the third heir to the throne always controlled some aspect of the military. Once Lu Ten had an heir…that heir would move up in front of Zuko's father.
If Ozai was trying to steal his nephew's throne, then why…why would he still be here? If the Fire Lady knew this…then…why? There was no proof, and Ozai knew it. He'd stayed out of the main fights, never dirtying his hands. Unless Tiang gave Ozai up as a fellow conspirator, there was no way that he'd ever get removed.
Not even a few seconds after Zuko and Katara sank down onto the cushion, Azula tore into the dining Hall like lightning. She burst through the doors, looking somewhat disheveled. She wore a plain red robe, with no special decorations or anything that could possibly define her as royalty. Her hair looked like it had been hastily done, with a single golden clip keeping it together.
Well, apparently, she'd been busy. Katara thought.
But if the Fire Lady noticed her niece's strange appearance, she didn't say anything. Perhaps it was to save a bit of Azula's dignity. Seeing everyone's eyes upon her, Azula froze. "Forgive me for my lateness." The Princess breathed, straightening her dress and smoothing down her hair.
The Fire Lady waved her apology off, but Ursa looked at Azula strangely, and Azula ducked her head, avoiding the woman's gaze. "It doesn't matter so long as you're here now. Sit, Princess Azula."
Azula's head bobbed and she turned towards her seat, next to Song. Across the hall, Zuko and Azula's eyes met. Zuko's lips set in a hard line, and Azula's expression mimicked his. It appeared they were having a private conversation through their locked gazes, and judging by both of their expressions, it seemed like an intense conversation. Finally, Azula's eyes flashed to hers and Katara was forced to look away.
Does she blame me for her mother's arrest? Does she blame me for breaking up her family?
But she couldn't ponder on that much, because the Fire Lady started to speak. "Now that everyone has finally arrived, the meal can begin." She clapped her hands twice, and a smaller door in the corner of the room opened.
Several servants poured in carrying trays, one for each member of the royal family. They came in together, but separated, going to each of their respective recipients, and placing the trays down in front of them. Katara, Zuko and Azula were closer to the door where the servants entered from, so they received their meals first, followed by the rest of the Royal Family. She received her meal with a smile to the serving girl. The servants moved down the line, placing generally the same dishes onto each person's table.
Her meal consisted of komodo rhino meat, a few fresh-water fish, and assorted kind of vegetables, seasoned with spices. But her meal lacked the traditional red pepper powder that covered the entirety of everyone else's plate. Maybe the kitchen finally realized that she couldn't eat anything so abnormally spicy. But, if she was going to live here…she had to adjust to the food.
The servants continued to deliver the food, but as Katara waited for the Fire Lady to get her food so she could start eating, something unusual caught her eye. One servant, instead of delivering Lu Ten's food directly to him, walked purposefully around his table, brushing Lu Ten's arm as she passed. Lu Ten stiffened, noticing the action, and he looked up from his conversation with Song, but the servant had already gone and disappeared into the door to the kitchen.
The servant passed her—A flash of white eyebrows—Could that have been?
No—that wasn't. It…couldn't have been—Yue wouldn't—
Yes, she would, Katara. She thought to herself. Of course, she would.
But it may have been that she was just so paranoid about Yue attending that she saw the young woman around every corner and underneath every servant's head-cap.
But she was stopped from thinking about it more by the Fire Lady's laughter.
"My wonderful son!" The Fire Lady clapped her hands together in exuberance. The joy practically poured off her in waves, and she reached across her table to clasp her son's shoulder. Letting him go, she beamed around the room, eyes falling on Ursa with an almost smug look on her face. "My son has single-handedly put down the rebellion—Oh this is cause for celebration!" She was practically singing. "Yes, yes, with the party tomorrow night, oh I just can't wait!"
Song smiled at Katara from across the room, and Katara smiled back. This truly was something to be happy about…until she saw the look on Zuko's face. His face was grim, and he didn't look as happy as he should. Katara learned that it was actually Zuko who designed the plan, though why he would be content to let Lu Ten get all of the credit...
"This is truly excellent for you, Nephew." Ozai said with a smile on his face. Lu Ten straightened and eyed his uncle with a wary gaze. "Your father is most likely proud."
Lu Ten fought to keep his expression under control, but he wasn't doing a very good job of it. "T-Thank you, Uncle."
"My child," The Fire Lady gushed. "Tell me again how bravely you fought."
Lu Ten opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He looked unsure at his mother's questions and looked to Zuko. But Zuko didn't look like he knew what to say either.
"Oh Yun Xi, Lu Ten fought just as a Son of the Fire Nation should," Zuko's mother called to her, "He would have been quite resourceful, using all of the assets at his disposal, heeding advice from his Generals and Lieutenants, and devising a way to defeat the enemy."
Was Princess Ursa trying to save the young Prince's skin? Lu Ten looked almost grateful for the act.
"Of course, wife." Ozai agreed. "Lu Ten would have behaved just as my brother taught him."
The Fire Lady opened her mouth again, but before she could, Princess Ursa turned to Katara. "I thought you would like to know, I've had word from your parents."
"I'm sure this can wait, Ursa." The Fire Lady suggested, "I'm also sure that Princess Katara wouldn't want to interrupt—,"
"No, I'd love to hear about them. What have you heard?" Katara replied, cutting off the Fire Lady. Yun Xi gasped and sputtered, frowning at the Water Tribe Princess.
"I'm so sorry, my dear, but I rear they won't reach the Fire Nation in time for your birthday tomorrow. The missive was sent a bit late. Although your Father's merchants do say that they will be arriving soon, they just can't do it by tomorrow."
"Oh." Katara's shoulders dropped.
Zuko looked at her nervously. "The last time your parents and I spoke…I didn't make the best impression. With your father especially."
"You will be fine, Zuko. I promise." Katara murmured. 'Once they see how happy I am...there should be no problems."
"And are you truly happy?" He leaned over and whispered in her ear, his breath tickling the side of her face.
Underneath the table, Katara reached for his hand and squeezed it. She met his eyes. "Yes. Zuko." A thousand and one different emotions and messages were conveyed in his eyes.
"How terrible for you, Princess Katara. Mustn't get upset about it, my dear." The smile the Fire Lady offered was nothing short of mocking.
"Thank you for your concern Your Majesty." Katara said quietly, feeling everyone's eyes upon her.
The Fire Lady cleared her throat, bringing a napkin to her lips. She turned to her son and Song, saying nonchalantly, "Although I do feel sorry for my dear future daughter-in-law. Her own brother won't be here for her engagement celebration tomorrow."
Song bowed slightly, hands perfectly placed in her lap, the picture of a perfect bride. "Please do not worry, Your Majesty. I have continuously been in correspondence with my brother. The Earth King has assured me that he will be here for the wedding."
And Katara felt another stab of guilt. She hadn't written her parents in who knows how long.
The Fire Lady looked as if she couldn't be any happier. "Oh, the Earth King is coming; I do hope he will find everything comforting." She beamed at the couple. "The future looks incredibly bright for the two of you."
Lu Ten chuckled nervously. "Thank you for your well-wishes, Mother."
Zuko leaned closer to her. "My Aunt really is pouring it on a bit thick, isn't she?"
"She loves her son, what else do you expect? And she hates anyone that might ruin her son's chances at happiness." Katara chided, but she couldn't help the snicker that escaped her lips.
Zuko's Aunt narrowed her eyes further at them, but she didn't comment, and went back to talking to her son.
"Happiness? More like control." In between bites of food, Zuko whispered, "I think, if given the chance, she'd plan their wedding for them, decide how many children they're going to have, all of it."
"She wouldn't." Katara defended the Fire Lady, but she glanced over at the exuberant mother gushing over her children. "Actually, maybe she would."
"Exactly." Zuko agreed. "Song would stick with propriety, and never question any command given to her. It's how she was raised. And Lu Ten would be-,"
"Looking for guidance and would be so in fear of what would happen without his mother's help, he'd never question anything anyway."
Zuko nodded, but no more was said on the subject.
Before Katara knew it, the meal was over, and servants had already come in to take away the dishes. The trays were taken in the same order they were distributed in. Katara watched each servant carefully, to make sure that what she thought she saw before was exactly that. Nothing really, only an illusion. But…
There!
This time, the same servant that was there before, brushed against Lu Ten. But this time, she lingered for a lot more than she should have. Lu Ten turned quickly and caught her wrist as the serving girl crouched to get his tray. The tray clattered to the floor, and food remainders spilled everywhere.
"Lu Ten!" The Fire Lady gasped at her son. "What in has gotten into you?"
"Ask her." Lu Ten sneered, throwing the woman to floor and it was then, as the young woman struggled to get to her feet, that the white eyebrows were revealed to everyone in the entire room. "She assaulted me twice."
She heard Zuko scoff next to her. She sent him a questioning look, but he just shook his head. She figured that not too long ago, Lu Ten would have had women all over him at dinner. He probably could approach any woman he wanted…but the women were not allowed to touch him first. But it was here, it was in front of Song, and his mother, that Lu Ten – so things that were okay before, could not be okay now. There was too much riding on him, the very fate of the nation itself. Lu Ten couldn't afford any mistakes.
But she had a feeling that everything was going to change when the same icy blue eyes Katara possessed reflected back at everyone. Azula's smile increased tenfold. And Katara knew, she just knew that this wasn't going to end well. Princess Ursa recognized her, Prince Ozai recognized her, and she knew that Lu Ten had to have recognized her as well.
The Fire Lady had never seen Yue.
Oh no.
"How dare you! Do you know the severity of what you have done?" The Fire Lady snapped. She rose. "Insolent maid!"
"I'm far from a servant, Fire Lady Yun Xi." She stood with the grace of a Princess. Yue did everything with grace. It was how she operated.
Katara's blood surged through her own ears, and her heart pounded at a frantic rate as Yue removed her scarf from her head. Lu Ten's eyes widened, and he dropped his chopsticks into the bowl in front of him.
"And you are...?" The Fire Lady asked impassively.
Yue smiled delightfully, grinning the world's most confident grin, at Katara. Katara only glared back. She flashed her smile wickedly at Song. The Earth Kingdom Princess looked terribly confused, and her eyes watered as though she might be close to tears. "I'm Yue, your majesty. I'm Princess Katara's cousin. I'm also, going to be the mother of your first grandchild."
Writing the scene between Tiang and Ursa was my FAVORITE part of this chapter.