Chapter 43

Hello everyone! It's been a long time, a very long time, nearly two years. Somewhere in those two years, I lost my love for writing. I lost the passion, the drive I once had for it, and I think I've found it again. I don't think there are words to describe how grateful I'm that people didn't forget about this story. It's my baby, one that I will love for the rest of my life, and I'm also extremely grateful for those people who PM'ed me to find out if I was still alive.

Katara

Feeling a dull ache in her long-sedated muscles, Katara stepped behind a thin rice paper screen to don the mourning gown as Zuko waited outside. Holding it in front of her, the white gown was shapeless, the fabric was rough, scratchy and all together unpleasant to wear. It was supposed to symbolize pain and grief, and the agony of mourning, according to Zuko. It would drape off her limbs like the mist, hiding her shape and form in the ultimate repression of earthly desires, also according to Zuko. She'd frowned at him when he told her that and had replied that it wasn't a pass at her, just what the Fire Nation people believed. Wide black bands wrapped around her shoulders, wrists, and the hem of her dress. It was the opposite of what the Water Tribe wore, but she wouldn't begrudge them this. This was a time of mourning. It was quite different to how they would do things in the Southern Tribe, yet for all her time here, she had to almost constantly remind herself that she wasn't in the Water Tribe, and if her marriage to Zuko was still upheld, it would likely be a long while before she ever went back.

Though with the palace as chaotic as it was now… it wasn't surprising that some matters remained unresolved. Fire Lord Iroh… Katara didn't know him well…and she felt guilty she had not spoken the old man more before his untimely demise. It was a shame, she believed. A man who offered such wise counsel, seemed a friend to her and people of all nations, who seemed to want the absolute best for his family and country…this man was dead for someone else's own greed. To make matters worse, the masterminds behind it were no closer to being caught. In fact, with the death of Tiang, things became twice as complicated as they were before.

If and only if Princess Ursa was involved in the murder of Iroh, what did that say about Katara's own people's skills? She trusted Princess Ursa, looked to her as a sort of pseudo-mother figure, but if she could have done something so heinous? No. No, Katara couldn't believe it. She wouldn't. Who could she trust in this place? She could count the allies she had on one hand, and that list appeared to grow smaller and smaller with each passing week.

Not to mention the attack on her person during the party. Why were people coming after her? Who had deemed her so big a threat that they would stop at nothing to take her out of the equation? Tiang and Zhao were possible suspects, and they made their reasoning obvious why would they attack her. But Zhao was locked away, and Tiang was dead. Ozai was a possible culprit, he'd arrested her in the past, and he'd made it very clear that he had no qualms about torturing a person, regardless of their social status. She didn't trust him. Not in the slightest. But Zuko said he seemed worried about her, overly concerned, even. So, who was the real Ozai? What did he really want?

Why did she even bother?

Unshed tears of exhaustion threatened to burn her eyes. Katara was tired. She was tired of this place, tired of defending herself in this foreign land with strange customs and even stranger people. Tired of looking over her shoulder constantly in fear of who might try and kill her next. Tired of a land that mistreated people like Jet and Smellerbee and dealt out harsh punishments for the smallest offenses. A country that didn't have respect for the granddaughter of King Bumi, or the beauty in simplicity.

How could this have gone so wrong? How could what started out as a simple attempt to prove a point turn out to be so full of horrors? Maybe she could just go home…and leave the Fire Nation to their own mess. Katara might not be from as powerful country as Song was, but she was a Princess still, the daughter of a sovereign, and if her parents knew the horrors that had befallen her during her time here—

Maybe this wasn't worth the risk. She loved Zuko, truly she did, but she'd been attacked no less than 3 times, and all for meddling in business that wasn't her affair. Maybe…maybe it was time for the Water Tribe Princess to return to where she belonged. Where she was safe. Where she made sense.

But she couldn't. She and Zuko had been through so much, suffered so much to give up now. She'd told him once that she didn't give up when things got difficult…otherwise she would have left after the incident at Shibai…so she couldn't leave now, when things were at their worst. If she did, then what would become if this family she'd entrenched herself in? What would become of Zuko? Yue? Song? People who seemed the most innocent in a place that would stop at nothing to consume…to control.

She had to stay.

Lu Ten

"Now remember," His Uncle murmured quietly into his right ear as they approached the Throne Room. "Do just as we've discussed." On his other side, Song frowned slightly, but there would be time for Lu Ten to console her later.

"Mother won't be happy about this, Uncle. " The young man protested one last time, shaking his head.

The older man snorted, still somehow managing to look aristocratic as he did so. "Of course, she won't be happy, but it is high time that she relinquishes full control to you, my nephew."

Lu Ten stared at his Uncle analytically, willing to voice all his uncertainties about the plan they've come up with. To betray his mother like this...well...nothing would ever be the same again. She wouldn't take this insult lightly, that was for certain.

Lu Ten turned his head to look at his uncle's face, almost as a challenge. "You seem convinced that she won't let me have my rightful throne."

As the corner of the older man's mouth edged into a smirk, Song's grip on his arm tightened, she clutched at the sleeve of his robe, warning him not to go too far. And Lu Ten had to remember that he needed his Uncle. For now, anyway.

"You must remember, my dear nephew that the lines between What's right and what we want often blur in families. And what we want, may not always be What's right. Your mother knows this, and so do I and now you must learn-."

But Lu Ten waved off his words. "Whatever you may believe, Uncle, I know my mother."

Ozai looked at the young Fire Lord for a moment longer, his eyes wide and hinting at some sort of appreciation.

They resumed walking, and Lu Ten thought the subject was dropped until his uncle spoke again. His voice was oily and slick. Lu Ten shivered, though he tried not to let it show. "I daresay that I have known her longer than you. Your mother knows all too well what the death of your father brings. Chaos. Instability. These things threaten her, and her power. And she is no more willing to lose her power than she was to lose your father."

With venom in his eyes, Lu Ten glared at his uncle. "My mother loved my father."

Ozai cleared his throat, and appeared instantly apologetic, holding his hands up in surrender. "Oh, I don't doubt that, but she loves being Fire Lady just as much, if not more. Why else would she hand-pick your bride for you?"

His eyes flicked over to Song's pale face. Her expression was tight, lips pursed in anger, but she didn't look up, either at him or his uncle. Lu Ten instantly defended himself and the girl he chose to be the future Fire Lady. "That's not true, I choose Song out of my own affection."

Ozai raised a skeptic eyebrow. "Really? Did you now?" He laughed, but it was bordering on mocking. "But why stop at her, nephew? You could have had anyone, and in any number. Multiple wives, concubines, mistresses, not to mention the sheer volume of whores plaguing the streets that would trip over themselves to land in your bed. As you've done in the past."

Lu Ten cringed red and he refused to look at Song, but if he had, he would have seen that she looked embarrassed for him.

"And yet somehow", his Uncle continued. "You have ended up with one. One woman. The sister of a King. You're mother's obvious favorite from the beginning. You aren't the least bit suspicious? I wouldn't put it past her to have spoon fed the answers to your beloved bride during the selection."

Again, Lu Ten refused to look at Song, but her beautiful face turned guarded.

"She didn't." Song muttered. "I can assure Prince Ozai, that I'm more than capable of being consort."

Ozai studied the girl's face for a moment. "Perhaps you're." He continued. "I hear you have been spending much time with her majesty."

Song nodded. "I have, if only to ease her grief and suffering at losing the Fire Lord. She has not been well for the past week, she barely eats, sleeps, but still she manages. She possesses a strength that I hope to achieve someday."

"Of course. If you were to assume the role of Fire Lady, I have the greatest confidence that you would do splendidly." Ozai remarked, and Song appeared to take it as an insult, not a complement, barely offering a word of thanks. Ozai continued, "However, the one girl that is carrying your child, do you see how she treats her? Threatening to kill her, attempting to persuade her to give up her child? Your child?" Ozai finished his words in a much lower tone.

How did he know about that?

Deny this. Deny everything.

"What are you talking about, Uncle? I have not claimed Yue. If, and only If the child Is mine, will I accept her." A quick glance at Song's face led her to amend his statement.

His uncle laughed darkly. "So, you will continue to feed, house and clothe her until she is as big as a sky-bison and just as disgusting?"

A small snicker came from Song's direction, causing Lu Ten to look at his fiancé for the first time in surprise. However, just as soon as it appeared it was gone and Lu Ten found himself between two people he wasn't sure he understood.

"This meeting, would be an excellent time to assert yourself, dear nephew." Ozai said again. "Show everyone that you're the Fire Lord, and the one in power, not your mother."

"What would you have me do Uncle?" Lu Ten snapped, growing irritated with his uncle's baiting. "Lock my mother away for the rest of her life?"

But Ozai merely shrugged. "Accord her the respect she is due as the Dowager, but also let her know that you will run the government, and your wife, whomever she may be, will manage the palace."

Song sniffed beside him, looking insulted.

Lu Ten nudged her gently before turning back to his uncle, resigned. "I will consider what you have said, Uncle. Though I doubt this change will be easy for any of us."

"Nothing worth doing is easy, nephew."

Lu Ten stiffened his chin, fixing his uncle with a steady look. "I suppose that is the purpose of wise council. To make unpleasant things bearable, am I correct? " At his uncle's nod, he continued. "If I require council, then I, as Fire Lord, will ask for it. And not a moment sooner."

"Quite right, your majesty." Song's beaming smile glinted up at him, but it was Ozai's face Lu Ten focused on.

Ozai didn't seem intimidated in the least, in fact, he smiled at him, and Lu ten suddenly felt that he'd made a horrible, horrible mistake. But they were at the gates to the throne room and he couldn't say anything more to him before they entered. The guards glancing between Lu Ten and Ozai nervously, before bowing stiffly in their general direction.

"The guards seemed tense…" Lu Ten whispered to Song, who nodded in response.

"Look at your mother, and you can see why." His uncle answered in Song's stead, gesturing in front of them.

His mother sat imperiously on the throne of the Fire Nation staring down at them. She, like everyone else was clad head to toe in white, a white scarf concealing her black hair. Her face was free of paints and body free of adornments, save her sovereign dragon ring of status and station. It glinted in the light of the fire behind her. She was surrounded by half a dozen servants, who wore daggers on their belts, waiting for her to call on them, tensed, backs rigid in their bent posture. Her once motherly, kind, golden eyes glistened with dark acrimony as she spread her gaze over those already gathered there. This ire was notably directed at Ozai, though her expression softened a bit when her gaze reached him.

Crushing disappointment washed over him. No, this meeting wouldn't go as he'd hoped, his shoulders sagged in a mix of disappointment and frustration. The plan fizzled out in his mind's eye, though Song reached for his hand, barely clasping it, and it was nice to feel her unspoken support.

It seemed so long ago that he was here, filled with youthful optimism, to choose his bride from a plethora of beautiful girls from around the world. Song was an obvious candidate, and he'd been taken from the beginning. But he could have his way with any of them, and they wouldn't care. They'd let him, if only to touch them over their clothes. It seemed like years but was only a few months ago. A few months ago, his father was alive—a few months ago—everything hadn't gone to shit.

What also caught his eye was how dark the throne room was. Most of the candles and torches were snuffed out and all the windows were closed, despite it being the middle of the day. Only the light from the flames behind the throne and dais illuminated their faces, though the darkness seemed to be crawling along the walls, creating frightening images as they flickered and danced back and forth, covering everyone in a melancholic gloom.

They were late, everyone else had already arrived, already seated on cushions in a perfectly straight line. Ozai immediately left his nephew's side to join his legal wife, who'd left a space for him. Ursa reached for his hand as he approached, and he took it, squeezing it tightly. Azula sat on the other side of her father, at the end of the line and furthest away from the light of the dais. Lu ten fought the urge to smirk as he remembered his cousin's arrogant ways.

Back when Tiang was alive.

She was the cast-off now, the one no one wanted. The daughter of a murderous whore. The one whose mother would always be remembered as the person who'd killed the Fire Lord, and whose name would be cursed as such.

If he thought about it, Lu Ten almost felt bad for Azula. Almost. His cousin was still petty and manipulative enough that she garnered no legitimate sympathy from him. But perhaps if she were married off…to some noble who lived out in the provinces and couldn't get it up, she'd never bear children, never come to Court, would live in silence for the rest of her life, alone and miserable. Lu Ten would relish in it, and the thought filled his heart with joy that once he was crowned, he'd never have to see the spawn of the woman that killed his father—

Stop Lu Ten. He chided himself. Just stop. How could you think that?

Easy.

Tiang was dead.

The only evidence that she ever existed was sitting on a cushion next to his uncle, looking as prideful as she did every other day of the year. He glared at Azula, though if she felt the weight of his stare, she didn't show it. Her lips were pursed, and her eyes glistened in the flames, but she looked overwhelmingly calm. How could she—

Did she know about her mother's plan? Did she have something to do with the murder— She did. She knew all along. She had to. For who would benefit the most of ascending higher in the line of succession? Azula. Of course, it was Azula. The arrogant, spoiled daughter of a second son and a whore. This just gave her more legitimacy. Lu Ten clenched his teeth so hard it hurt his jaw.

"My Lord?" Song questioned his dark expression, but he shook his head, telling her in unspoken terms that he wouldn't, couldn't talk about this here.

Instead he took in the rest of the scene, focusing on the family members he felt he could trust undoubtedly. On Ursa's other side were Zuko and Katara. His cousin's hands were balled into fists, and he appeared to be shaking, though whether from anger or grief, Lu Ten couldn't tell. He wouldn't be surprised if it was some form of both. Zuko loved his Uncle Iroh as much as a son could love an adoptive father, for that was what the Fire Lord had been to him. But it was Katara's behavior that caught his attention more than anything.

Katara's hands worried at Zuko's trying to get him to unclench his fists but to no success. She was turned to face him, kneeling as he sat cross-legged. She seemed to be begging, almost pleading with him to unclench his fists, and a few times, it seemed to work. Zuko would open them up, but a few seconds later, they'd be just as tight, his white knuckles protruding, and his nails digging into the skin. Blood trickled from the wounds caused by his nails, but Zuko didn't appear to care. Annoyed, she whacked his hands, and his cousin shook his head at her. She mouthed something he couldn't see, and he nodded in reply before finally relaxing, hands opening to rest on his knees.

To the right of her, was…Yue? Lu Ten stopped in his tracks, jerking Song backwards. She stared at him before following his gaze to the woman that was now pregnant with his child. He shook his tread, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

Why?

Why would his mother invite her to this meeting when she'd been very clear on her feelings about the ex-priestess? She'd made it very apparent that she no more saw Yue as part of her family than Tiang. She turned slightly as they came in, her eyes widened at his and Song's clasped hands, and Lu Ten's stomach twisted in his gut as her gaze shifted back to Katara. Steeling his expression, he calmly walked to his place next to her, his cushion was gold to everyone else's red. By seating her next to him…was his mother changing her opinion?

He sat down, exhaling as she didn't acknowledge his presence with even a look, though her fingers twitched at her sides. Song pointedly ignored her, shifting her cushion closer to him. Lu Ten felt like he should say something, but what could he say to her?

"I admit…" He began, and Yue jerked as his breath ghosted over her ear. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"Your mother asked for me…" She finally glanced at him, her eyes almost accusing him, "I had to come." But she turned away from him, and he didn't know what he'd done, she was all over him before—

After a pause, Lu Ten sighed, "I suppose you did."

Lu Ten ignored the feelings brewing inside him that he didn't even have a name for yet—but it was probably frustration, bordering on anger mixed with something else he didn't want to admit. Instead he focused on Zuko, trying to take his mind off things until his mother started to speak.

Zuko stared at Ozai as well, registering the calm, almost nonchalant expression on his mother's face. His face darkened, but Lu Ten didn't know why. He and his father had never been outwardly close, even more so after Azula was burned, but…why would he be glaring at Ursa in that way? Katara shifted closer to Zuko, tapping his leg, motioning to the Fire Lady. Zuko scowled and shook his head, whispering something Lu Ten couldn't quite make out. She replied, and Zuko almost rolled his eyes before Katara poked him again and Zuko sagged, apparently defeated in whatever squabble they were having. But Katara didn't look triumphant, she instead looked quite somber, something close to sorrow building behind her those crystal blue eyes.

But he couldn't dwell on what her expression could possibly mean, as his attention was drawn up to the dais on which his mother sat, as the flames surrounding her burned hotter, brighter, and angrier. Lu Ten could feel the heat warming his skin from where he sat, as unease settled in the pit of his stomach.

"Before we begin, I would like to thank you all for coming." His mother said, though her eyes betrayed no gratitude, and her voice was laced with suspicion. "This is a very trying time for all of us, and I appreciate your support and understanding as I try to get things settled."

She said I. I get things settled, not we. Not Lu Ten and I. She didn't mention him. She never mentioned him.

"Of course, sister." Ursa spoke civilly and gestured to the seated group. "This is a loss felt by the whole nation. I'm sure that I speak for all of us when I say that the deceased Fire Lord Iroh was very much loved."

He noticed his mother's wince at the Fire Lord's name, but she kept the pleasant, almost patronizing look on her face, before nodding her head slightly, acknowledging Ursa's words. Restlessness built inside of him as he drummed his fingers against his thigh, aching for something, anything to relieve this tension within him. He didn't like this. Something seemed…wrong.

Lu Ten shared a glance with Song, wondering if she noticed it too. But she looked as calm as his mother did. He should have asked her before if she'd noticed anything differently about his mother, He hadn't noticed anything, but he'd been so wrapped up in his own grief and preoccupation with assuming his new role that Lu Ten didn't come up for air much. Song, however, had spent a lot of time with his mother, though what they discussed, he didn't know.

Katara on the other hand, didn't look as calm as Song did. Her blue eyes flickered rapidly, scanning the ever-increasing shadows in the room, searching for something in the dark. He glanced around as well, and he saw it. A glint of silver in the light, a sword perhaps? Lu Ten's shoulders tensed, and he wished he'd grabbed a sword just as a reassurance.

"Mother…," Lu Ten tried, but she wasn't even looking at him

"Ah, yes. I suppose you all have noticed our guests." His mother continued as though she hadn't heard him, though he was quite certain she did. But she followed Katara's gaze all the same. She barely nodded her head and a figure stepped out of the shadows. As he did so, more of the shadows on the walls started moving, though it was now Lu Ten realized that they too contained men dressed identically to the man before them.

Their heads were covered by large hoods, and their lips were covered by balaclava they wore. The only thing giving them any individuality were their eyes, so dark they were nearly black, peeking out from behind the balaclava they wore. They stood in a line in front of the dais, though Lu Ten couldn't decide if it was to keep danger away from his mother, or to keep him from the throne. He swallowed the last thought bitterly as his mother continued talking.

"In light of recent events, I have made some changes to the Palace protocols. These are Yu Yan mercenaries, hired to ensure our family's ever-important safety." The Dowager Fire Lady said, staring down at them from high up on her dais. Her lips were pursed in a thin line, and she spoke with no regal bearing, but rather a dispassionate drawl "Our family's safety is of the utmost importance to me, and I would like to introduce you to the new protectorate of the royal family."

Dark eyes glinted back at Lu Ten from behind the balaclava. He didn't trust these men. He didn't trust anyone who's face he couldn't fully see, and these men were no different.

Song nudged him with her elbow, and Lu Ten nodded slightly before trying to speak. "Mother, I hardly think this is necessary—,"

"Oh, but it is, my young son. We must not take any chances until your coronation." Here, her eyes grew wide as she appraised him, even as Lu Ten protested.

"Mother I'm Fire Lord, I can take care of myself—," He protested and saw Song nod approvingly out of the corner of his eye.

"Would you deny a mother this?" She asked him, "Deny me the ability to sleep soundly at night knowing that I have done for you as only a mother could? The way my love for you and my heart tell me to act?" She finished this sentence with what sounded like a whimper, though her face betrayed no emotion.

Lu Ten sighed, defeated. "No mother. I would never—,"

A toothy grin, one many would consider unbecoming on the Fire Lady spread across her once delicate features, and the hairs on Lu Ten's arms started to raise and prickle. "Excellent. It is settled. These men, are responsible for your protection, my young Fire Lord." Lu Ten's mother flashed him a tender smile before leaning forward with venom in her eyes. "We must take no chances." She concluded darkly.

"Of course." Ozai murmured reverently, "Your will is mine."

Apparently satisfied, the Fire Lady sat back in the throne that should have been occupied by his father. That should have been occupied by him. But it wasn't.

The smug smile on his mother's face also looked foreign on his mother's features—out of place even. "Yue of the Water Tribe, step forward."

Yue's eyes widened in surprise and fear. Lu Ten didn't think she expected to be acknowledged, or even seen as more than a nuisance for the Royal family. Yue's arms shook as she attempted to stand, and her first attempts to stand up led her falling back down to her seat. With assistance from Katara—Lu Ten wanted to pretend she wasn't struggling at all, and in fact, would rather have pretended to ignore her completely—Yue rose, and stepped forward.

It was then, as she stepped closer to the flames that Lu Ten took in her appearance for the first time in weeks. She was thinner. Her wrists were bony and fragile looking, if someone grabbed her—She looked thin. Her face was gaunt, sallow, her cheekbones protruding more than usual, and she was missing the rosiness in her cheeks that he'd loved back in the South Pole. The funeral gown, a servant's funeral gown hung off her body, but not in the shapeless way that it was designed to, but in an unnatural way, falling off her shoulders so often she constantly had to pull it up as she walked forward.

Yue tripped over the length of the gown, stumbling. Lu Ten sat forward. Song grabbed his hand tighter. Lu Ten sat back down.

Katara instead caught her, placing an arm around her waist before leading her forward. Yue leaned into Katara, though she was much taller than the Water Tribe Princess and their steps were slow and uneven as they progressed to the dais.

Finally, after long, torturous seconds, they were in front of the dais, poised, staring up at the Fire Lady, who seemed disinterested in them, at best. She wasn't looking at them, instead speaking to a servant hovering over her right ear. The servant nodded before disappearing out of one of the side doors to the throne room.

"Princess Katara," The Fire Lady raised an arched brow. "I do not believe I asked for your presence."

Katara raised her chin. Defiance? One of the Yu Yan in front of them reached for the dagger at his belt—

"But—,"

Lu Ten's mother leaned forward. "I do not believe—," Now the venomous look reserved for Ozai switched to Katara, instead. "—that I asked for your presence before me, Princess Katara. Be seated with the rest."

For a moment, Katara looked like she was going to say something more, before she sighed in acquiescence. "I—Yes, your majesty."

She and Yue exchanged a look, and though Lu Ten couldn't see Katara's face, the blatant fear and trepidation in Yue's expression was enough give Lu Ten a sinking feeling inside. Katara reluctantly let go of Yue's hand, and made her way back to Zuko, and as she approached him, Lu Ten could see her brow furrowed as tears threatened to escape down her cheeks.

His heart sank. Everything was so messed up.

"It is well established, Yue," The Fire Lady was saying, "That you have traveled quite a long way to grace our hallowed halls, because you say you're pregnant. With my grandchild."

"Y-Yes." Yue's voice wobbled a bit, but her hand went to her stomach immediately. "It is true—I'm."

The Fire Lady held up her hand, pausing the protest. "And I believe you, my child."

"You do?"

A pleased smile graced her features. "Of course, I do, my dear. And I also understand that you've practically been vilified in the Water Tribe for your actions."

She had? Why?

"H-How do you know that?"

Again, the Fire Lady smiled what was supposed to be a comforting smile, but Lu Ten was no more calmed by it than Yue appeared to be. "Nothing passes through the palace gates without my knowledge. No conversations are private, no behavior goes unnoticed." Her eyes flashed quickly to Azula, and then back to Yue.

"So, this is what I propose." His mother clapped her hand, and the servant that disappeared before came forward, with a small table, and on it, parchment, an inkwell, and a calligraphy brush. "If your child possesses the blood of the house of Sozin, I promise you that we will accept your child with open arms as a son of the Fire Nation to be raised by the Future Fire Lady—,"

"But not me?" And there was something bordering on spite in Yue's tone. "Not even as a concubine?

"No. Not you." The Fire Lady said bluntly, though she continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "We will house you until the birth of course, and following the successful birth of the child, we will find you a suitable…arrangement. Though should the child not be my son's, we will expect repayment for all of the excellent care we have generously given you."

"That's extortion!" Yue cried out.

"That is the game you entered when you slept with my son." The Fire Lady spat. "Of course, you can go back to the Water Tribe."

"They won't have me back!" Yue protested again, and the Yu Yan inched forward towards her. If they attacked her, what would he do? What could he do? "You know this."

"Well then I guess you have no options then." But she ignored the indignant looks on both Yue and Katara's faces. "There is, however, one more thing. The matter of my nephew, and Princess Katara's impending nuptials." The group below her waited with bated breath. "Though the Hana Matsuri was founded to seek a bride for Lu Ten and Zuko both, it is my determination that Prince Zuko should no longer be concerned with earthly pleasures and choose instead to devote himself to a life of service to the Spirits."

Ursa started to get up. "Sister, I understand you're grieving, but do you not think this is a little hasty?"

"Silence, Ursa." The Fire Lady sneered. "If I wanted your opinions or comments, I would ask for them."

"Wha-What do you mean?" This time the question came from Katara, not Yue, but the Fire Lady directed her answer towards Yue all the same.

"There is no need for a wedding between the two. With Yue's pregnancy and the child that comes from it, our ties to the Water Tribe are sufficient. Though it will have no bearing on the true line of succession. Children born of whores could never inherit my son's throne." She directed a pointed look to Azula, who turned her head away from the rest of them. "My son and his wife will ensure legitimate succession."

Lu Ten glanced over to Song, and her smug grin made her an unknown to him. Had she and his mother discussed this? What—

"They aren't even married yet," Yue was saying.

The Fire Lady waved her hand dismissively, picking up the cup of tea again. "Details, details." She took a long drink, and then set the cup down. "The fact of the matter is this. Signing this contract will cancel the wedding and enable you and Princess Katara to return home. If you do not sign, then I have no choice but to arrest Princess Katara as a co-conspirator for the murder of Fire Lord Iroh."

What is she doing?

"What are you talking about?" Katara said, and this time she did stand. "I tried to help him. I tried to save his life!" The Yu Yan in front of them all drew their swords, points directed towards the Water Tribe girl. Zuko stood as well, and his eyes were switching between his aunt, Katara and his parents rapidly.

He saw the mask of the Fire Lady slip from his mother's face, she screamed in rage at the group, leaning forward on her hands and knees. Lu Ten could only watch in horror as his mother, mind clearly broken from grief assaulted Katara with accusation after accusation.

"But you didn't! But you didn't save him! You let him die, feigning unconsciousness while my husband lay bleeding to death!" Her eyes were wild, and the tears flowed freely now. But his mother shook her head angrily. "You promised you could, you failed, Princess Katara, and for that, you're just as guilty as those who plunged the dagger into his heart and poisoned his blood!"

She began to laugh, a dark, unstable laugh that threatened to stop Lu Ten's heart and chilled Lu Ten's blood. She stood while she laughed, making her way down off the dais, down the stone steps that led up to the throne, and thought she teetered a bit as she walked, she never took her eyes off the people standing before her.

It broke Lu Ten's heart to see it, his mother was so blind in her grief that she blamed the wrong people. Azula, looked so much like her mother, it would be understandable I her mother lashed out at her, but she didn't. She stopped at…Zuko?

She stopped at Zuko first.

"And you, Prince Zuko. You try and usurp the throne from my son, a son who has up until this day served his country with the dedication and honor that he has earned from his birthright! What have you done to prove your worth to the nation? You have no honor, no sense of family comradery! You burned your own sister because she made you angry. You do not deserve to inherit! You do not deserve anything."

"Aunt, I have done nothing wrong." There was anger in his voice, and Zuko was shaking, fighting off the rage at her accusations with every word he spoke.

His mother laughed again, a malicious evil sound that wasn't supposed to be there. Who was this woman? Surely not his mother, surely not the person who raised him, who cried with him over his scrapes as a child, who comforted him when he had nightmares and rocked him to sleep afterwards? Maybe lack of sleep caused all this paranoia? Maybe once she'd rested, she would listen to reason?

Lu Ten stood as well. Song tried to yank him back down, but he shrugged her off. He turned to Gu Zhi, waiting behind his mother, stoic as usual, though he detected a hint of nervousness in her gaze. "Gu Zhi, perhaps the Dowager Fire Lady should lie down—,"

"Not you too, Lu Ten!" His mother all but shrieked. "Don't you dare turn your back on me. After all I've done, after everything your father has done. You won't. I won't allow this insubordination to persist any longer."

"And you, Ozai." She stuck a crooked finger out at Lu Ten's Uncle, who to his credit looked neither upset, abashed or even aware of the vehement way that Lu Ten's mother glared at him. "You killed him! You killed him to put Azula and Zuko on the throne. I know you did. I don't know how you did it, and I can't prove it, but I know why you did it, and I'll be damned if I allow you to kill my son as well!"

But Ozai didn't respond to her words. He didn't say anything, and the Fire Lady continued her rant. "Ursa, you feign friendship and sisterhood to me, but the entire time you were waiting to stab me in the back with your lies. The longer I stand here, the more I realize I can't trust you, any of you."

Even me, mother? Lu Ten wondered, but realized she was looking only at those she deemed a threat.

"You can't keep me as a political prisoner." Katara was saying, willing his mother to see reason. "I'm a member of the government of a foreign country, what's more—, I haven't done anything wrong."

"You will go home—your parents can come and take you by force, which, ha, I'm sure will work out splendidly —or your cousin can sign that contract." Katara moved forward to approach Yue but the Fire Lady's voice rang out. "Nobody touches her!" And to illustrate her point, the Yu Yan stepped forward again, their swords only focused on Katara.

Yue turned to Katara in apparent anguish. There were tears in her eyes as well. "Katara if I sign, she's going to take my baby from me! My baby!" She cried, a broken sob escaping her chest and Lu Ten looked at Song again, only for a moment, but her face was stone, stoic and unimpressed by Yue's emotional display. "I'd have to stay here—,"

"If you don't, I—," Katara started, her voice just as emotional as Yue's but she broke off. And when she spoke again, she was much quieter, so quiet he had to strain to hear her. Her eyes were glazed over with memories, ones she'd probably tried to forget. Ozai conveniently took a step away from the girl. "I've seen the inside of a Fire Nation prison, Yue. I can't— can't go back there...dry air…no water…beatings with whips…I can't—I—," Katara turned to Zuko, who looked down at her, though he didn't stop shaking and he didn't speak.

"Oh Katara—," Yue started, before she was cut off by Song.

Katara let out a long exhale, stepping forwards. "I don't want to see the inside of a prison again, but I will if I have to. I won't give up Zuko." She turned to her cousin. "Don't sign it Yue."

Song let go of his hand and slinked over to Yue. "Just do it Yue—what's one child?" Song smirked. "Given the Water Tribe's… proclivities for birthing children I'm sure It would be no problem for you to get pregnant again—,"

Who were these people that he'd once called family?

"Sign it!" His mother said once again, reaching over to the table, and grabbing the brush from it and the contract parchment. "You'll be safe if you sign it."

"She won't sign it." Katara boldly said, staring up at his mother, stepping between the Fire Lady and her cousin, the flames causing Yue's white hair to shine with an ethereal beauty to it.

The Fire Lady reached past Katara for Yue's hand and pulled, dragging her to the ground, hovering it above the parchment paper, forcibly putting the calligraphy brush in her hand and gripping her wrist tight enough to leave purple bruises come morning. Yue's darker skin stuck out in contrast to his mother's before there was a third hand in the mix, Katara's, though she stared up into the Fire Lady's eyes furiously and it looked like the battle of wills between them.

"I say, she will!" The Fire Lady dragged Yue closer to the paper, pulling her, yanking at her arm, jerking it, threatening dislocation.

"Why should she?" Katara snapped at the Fire Lady again, glaring at them all before resting on the Fire Lady's face, only inches from her own. "Besides, once she's given birth, what will become of her? Will she trip and fall down the stairs in an unfortunate accident? Will an assassin slit her throat in the night?"

Yue looked horrified at the accusations Katara was yelling.

This was too much, something had to be done. Something had to stop tis insanity before it got completely out of hand, before things became irreparable within these walls. Lu Ten had to do something, as Fire Lord, he had to fix things. He had to regain control of this situation. He opened his mouth to speak, to yell, to say something—

"How dare you accuse me of such things you, you insolent little—,"

"Enough!"

Ah, it feels good to be back in the game. All is not right in the Fire Nation, and all is not right with our characters. I admit, I've been watching way too much Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey lately while playing way too many video games, it's rubbed off on me, in terms of writing style, I think.