Disclaimer: Neither Avatar: the Last Airbender nor its characters belong to me, nor will they ever
Her tour started quiet and awkward. She was too angry and too shocked to speak, and Zuko didn't know what to say to her, so he only spoke of the palace.
As he led her through the palace, he spoke of specifics. "There are one hundred twenty bedrooms, half of them have antechambers and private bathrooms. There are forty rooms in the private family wing alone, along with rooms for music and art—schooling, as it would be. There are three stables; the workers' living quarters; the guest wing. There are eight courtyards on the palace grounds, five of which are open to courtiers on days that I meet with my council. Most of them have gardens; one of them has a greenhouse. The twelve dining halls each have a corresponding kitchen, and there are four grand halls, for balls and the like." He glanced into one of said halls with a scowl. Zuko never had been much for parties. "You know where the training grounds are; they've been expanded but they haven't been moved. The throne room is the same, as well, and there are a few offices that adjoin it, including Uncle's and the one I use."
"So much," she said, trying to disguise her awe and slight disgust.
"I agree, but I didn't build the palace." Almost under his breath he mumbled, "If it was up to me, I would be completely rid of this place."
His statement shocked Katara, but she kept her mouth shut. At this point, she just wanted to be alone.
"You, of course, have unrestricted access to the entire palace and its grounds—which are extensive—but you are not to leave the gates without an escort. The city is relatively safe, but still…."
She couldn't say she agreed with him, but she nodded her understanding.
With the tour complete, the awkwardness magnified, and Katara twisted her fingers nervously. Zuko neither spoke nor fidgeted, but he too looked uncomfortable.
Things were off to a promising start.
"We received word that your father's ships should be arriving tomorrow, in the late morning, maybe," he said suddenly.
She looked up at him, her eyes growing wide with excitement. "Really?"
He nodded. "I thought you would like to greet them, so I took the liberty of arranging an escort to take you to the harbor in the morning. I…hope that's all right." He seemed nervous about her response.
"It is. Thank you. Yes, I'm…excited to see them."
He nodded in understanding.
"Will…will you be coming with me?"
"Ah, no, I figured I'd let you have some time with them by yourself, and then Iroh and I will greet you all here at the palace. The greeting ceremony of…the in-laws is also part of Fire Nation tradition."
"Oh, that's right. Ma Lin mentioned that."
Silence settled again. She wondered when—or if—they would ever get past this awkwardness, this discomfort. After the war, they had been friends, good friends. Their whole group had made it a point to have a reunion of sorts every year, meeting in the Earth Kingdom usually. They were all busy in their new lives, too busy to see each other regularly, but a reunion once a year seemed to suit. Then last year, Sokka and Suki had gotten married, and that had been the only time they'd gotten together. Mai hadn't been there. She hadn't seen the Fire Nation girl for almost two years now, and did wonder where she was—why she wasn't here marrying Zuko instead of her. But she was too afraid to ask. Before, she had been too afraid asking would hurt him; now, she didn't know why she was afraid.
She would be lying if she said she had never been attracted to Zuko, but she would never admit her attraction, not even on the pain of death. Never, however, in a million years did she see herself pursuing said attraction, let alone actually marrying Zuko. He had been her friend, but never anything more.
She wished Zuko would speak of his opinion on all this.
A loveless marriage had been her worst nightmare since the reorganization of the Southern Water Tribe government had not only included reintroducing the practice of arranging marriages but also made her family a sort of royal family. She had known she would be able to talk herself out of an arranged marriage back home; how could she, a champion of the war, be expected to marry an ordinary tribesman? She didn't mean to sound vain or conceited, but she was right to be concerned. She wasn't one to sit at home and be an ordinary tribesman's woman. She was meant for more. She knew it. Her father knew it. And, apparently, so did her tribe. They had no problem shipping her off to the Fire Nation to become Fire Lady. To become Zuko's wife.
But those were two different roles. As the Fire Lady, she would be a ruler, a diplomat. She would be royalty. She would be part of one of the most powerful—if not the most powerful—monarchies in the world. But as Zuko's wife, she would be his lover and—according to the contract—very soon the mother of his children as well. But neither role required them to be friends, or even like each other.
When she reminisced on the past, when she hated Zuko, shame bubbled up in her. She didn't want to go back to that, but she didn't know what direction they were headed in now.
He ended the tour in one of the courtyards. It was rather large, with many colorful flowers and flowering trees. The walkway curved into some tall hedges towards the back of the courtyard and disappeared. There was also a small pond with a delicate-looking bridge over it.
"This," he said, finally breaking the silence, "is probably my favorite place in the entire palace. Maybe the only place I actually like."
She looked up at him, surprised. "Really?"
He just nodded without looking at her.
"Why?"
For a minute, she thought he wouldn't answer her, but then, quietly, he said, "It reminds me of my mother."
She bit her lip.
"This garden is private. No one is allowed here except me…and you."
She wanted to say something. She wanted to ask him about his mother, or tell him how honored she felt that he was sharing this special place with her, but no words would come out. No words seemed good enough.
She was about to reach for his hand when he stepped away abruptly. "I'm sorry, but I have a few meetings this afternoon, and I need to finish preparations for your family's arrival. I might not be at dinner tonight, I hope you understand."
"Of course," she said.
Having said his piece, he bowed and excused himself, leaving Katara alone in the garden.
Katara, despite vehement protests from the captain of the royal guard and her newly appointed ladies-in-waiting, was there to greet her family when they arrived in the Fire Nation. A retinue of firebenders surrounded her, but she managed to ignore their presence and focus on her family's arrival. It felt strange to need an escort and be wrapped in fine, red Fire Nation silks, but she supposed it came with her new position, one she wasn't about to get used to soon, through her wedding day was quickly approaching.
Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe: daughter of a chief, friend of the Avatar, waterbending war hero.
The Fire Lord's betrothed. Future Fire Lady.
It was all still so foreign.
She feared she'd never get used to it.
The Water Tribe ship, in the harbor, was steadily approaching, a huge contrast from the steel Fire Nation naval vessels surrounding it. It was flanked by two smaller ships on either side, the pale blue sails nearly blending in with the stark sky above, save for the Water Tribe emblems sewn in a deep navy in the center of the sails. Her breath caught in her throat when she finally spotted her father, a dark, immovable figure at the helm of the lead ship.
As much as she resented him trading her like a sack of seal jerky, he was still her father; she loved him and had missed him. Besides, she didn't know how long it would be until she could see him again after she was crowned.
Fire Nation sailors helped tie down the ships and assisted with the planks. Her father was not the first one to greet her, however. Sokka nearly knocked her into the water as he barreled off the ship and swept her into a bone-crunching embrace. He was dressed in Earth Kingdom green, but he had his hallmark boomerang tucked into his belt, and his hair was styled Water Tribe: pulled back into a wolf-tail, beads and all. He was looking a lot like their father.
She hugged him back, her grip nearly as tight.
"Hey, sis," he greeted quietly, his voice thick with innumerable emotions.
"Sokka," she breathed, blinking the wetness from her eyes before he could see it. No crying, remember?
She sighed and let him support all of her weight, nearly collapsing against him. If ever there was a time to let herself fall apart, it was now, when Sokka was there to catch her. He seemed to understand, and he squeezed her reassuringly.
They broke apart, emerging from their private moment, when Katara felt a light touch on her shoulder. Their father stood beside them, eying her warily and expectantly. He seemed so much older than the man she had left in the South Pole not two weeks ago. There were dark, sagging circles beneath dull blue eyes, and there appeared to be new wrinkles on his brow and around his mouth.
"Dad," she greeted, burying her face in his broad chest.
His arms came around her. "Katara," he sighed, almost sounding relieved. Had he thought she would be angry with him? "My daughter."
She took a deep, steadying breath, regaining control of herself and her emotions, before she pulled back. "I…I'm glad you made it safe," she said with the sincerest smile she could muster.
Her father smiled back, but his smile did not reach his eyes, and it did not reveal even one white tooth. He seemed to give her a onceover; if her red attire startled him, he managed to hide it well. "You look well."
She nodded, acting duteously humble. "Thank you."
"Sugar Queen!"
Katara looked up at the sound of the all-too-familiar voice. "Toph!"
"Tell these hotheads to get their hands off of me and come help me onto solid ground!" the green-clad teenager demanded.
The "hotheads" she was referring to—two of whom were now swimming in the harbor—were the guards sent to escort them all to the palace, and they had made the mistake of attempting to help the blind girl disembark the ship. She was standing at the rail of the ship, her knuckles turning white as they maintained their grip. Suki, in her warrior suit sans makeup, stood beside her but made no attempt to repeat the men's mistake; she just eyed the younger girl watchfully.
Sokka doubled over and pressed a hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter.
Toph's unseeing eyes cut over to him. "I hear you, Snoozles, and I swear I'll—"
Katara made her way up the plank to the ship and gingerly took her friend by the arm.
"I hate not seeing," she mumbled so only the two of them could hear her.
"I know. We'll have you back on dry land soon."
"Thanks." Louder, she said, "And I'm coming after you first, Snoozles!"
Sokka busied himself with helping his father unload crates and barrels of supplies, strategically remaining on the dock. Katara, once she got Toph back on land, pulled Suki into an embrace as well. The two women shared a sympathetic smile that conveyed they would talk more later.
"Now," Suki said, looking back at the ship, "I think there are at least two others who require a 'hello.'"
Katara followed her gaze, and her eyes grew wide as she caught sight of Kanna and Master Pakku making their way off the ship. Her eyes began to sting. "Gran!"
She nearly fell into the older woman's arms as they embraced, coming dangerously close to breaking her "no crying" rule. She buried her face in her grandmother's warmth, inhaling the familiar scent of mint, herbal tea, and worn leather.
Kanna stroked her grown granddaughter's head, willing all of her strength into the child in her arms. Spirits, be with her.
"I—I didn't think you would—were coming," Katara said, struggling to maintain her composure.
"What? Because I am old?" she scoffed. Cupping Katara's cheek, she said, "I am not old enough to miss my only granddaughter's wedding. I would not miss it, not for anything in this world, or the next."
Katara smiled despite the growing pain in her chest and kissed her grandmother's wrinkled hand. Then she stood and turned to greet Master Pakku, who patted her head—his own awkward form of affection. She hugged him, however, before he could react, and pulled away just as quickly. He mumbled under his breath, relaying his annoyance, but she could see his cheeks flush with embarrassment.
They all gathered—on dry land—and Katara showed them to the carriages that would take them all to the palace.
"Wow. Sparky really went all out, didn't he?"
Toph's voiced question was the first mention of Zuko, and everyone seemed to freeze. Eyes travelled to Katara apprehensively, but she managed to keep composed as she replied, "Have you ever known him to do less?"
Toph snorted. "I guess not."
"Where is his lordship?" Sokka asked crossly.
Subtly, Katara waved her hand at the guard, signaling them to stand down. "Just so you know, Sokka, badmouthing the Fire Lord is borderline treason, so I'd watch what you say."
Sokka looked at her and swallowed, is if ascertaining whether her words were true or not.
"The Fire Lord had a meeting with his council this morning, but he will be ready for us when we arrive at the palace."
Sokka pursed his lips, a retort begging to be released, but he nodded. "You look…different, Katara."
She angled her head.
He backpedaled. "I mean, yeah, different, but you look…good, I mean."
She smiled gently, understanding. "Thanks, Sokka."
"But what's with your hair?"
Katara rolled her eyes at her brother's lack of tact, but she explained, "I'm a claimed woman here, Sokka. There are certain aspects to dress and appearance in the Fire Nation that tell others of this. Married and engaged women wear their hair differently from single women. It's tradition."
"Claimed woman?" Hakoda echoed, not quite sure he liked that term.
She looked at her father, ready to lay it all out on the table for him. "Yes. I belong to the Fire Lord now, Father."
Her father had no reply.
She was beginning to feel overwhelmed. "Let's go," she told them all. "Your things will be brought to your rooms by dinner. We can go to the palace," she said, nearly ushering them into the carriages.
She let Pakku help Kanna into a carriage and went to climb in after them, but Kanna held up her hand to her and smiled complacently. "Ride with your brother and friends," she said with a smile that was too innocent-looking. "I would like to use this time to speak with your father."
Katara bit her cheek, having been looking forward to spending time with her grandmother. "All right." She looked at her father, who was strapping a worn tiger-seal leather trunk to the top of the carriage, before joining the others. She sat next to Toph, across from Sokka and Suki.
"Ready, milady?" the carriage driver called.
"Yes."
The carriage lurched forward, two dragon moose pulling the weight behind them. She leaned back in the seat and sighed, letting the world slip away for a moment.
"Um, Katara?"
She peeked one eye open to find three sets of eyes staring back at her. "What?"
"You okay?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just peachy. Why wouldn't I be?"
Toph, listening in on her heart, spoke up. "She's lying."
"Even I picked up on that," Sokka stated indignantly.
His response got him a solid kick in the shin, and Suki merely rolled her eyes at her husband's antics.
"Can't we just be happy to see each other?" Katara tried.
"Oh, sweetie, we are happy to see you," Suki said, reaching to squeeze her hand.
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Toph said flippantly. "Very happy. Now, on to business—"
Katara groaned. "Please no. No business. Can't we just spend this week being together? I don't want to do anything."
Sokka started in his seat, his arms unfolding as his jaw fell open. "Week? What do you mean 'week'?"
Her brow furrowed. "The wedding ceremony takes place in a week's time, and then we…Zuko and I are leaving…. I assumed you'd be gone by the time we got back…."
"Leaving? Oh, no. You're not going anywhere with him…with that—"
She looked at her brother helplessly. "He'll be my husband, Sokka. There's nothing you can do—"
"Ugh!" Sokka shouted, pressing his hands over his ears. "Don't say that!"
Katara rolled her eyes, but her mouth snapped shut. It was no use.
Suki looked from Sokka to Katara, then back at Sokka, her expression torn. "Whatever you need from us, Katara…."
"Yeah…." Toph agreed halfheartedly.
Sokka shrugged.
Suki squirmed, uncomfortable being the one bearing it all. "Tell us what's been going on."
Katara sighed and folded her hands in her lap. "Well, wedding plans," she said, almost resignedly.
"What else?" she pushed.
She hesitated; wedding plans had kind of been it. "I've been taking lessons in Fire Nation traditions and rituals."
"Oh. Sounds—"
"Thrilling," Toph threw in, her voice laced heavily with sarcasm.
"Toph," Suki admonished.
Katara let herself smile. "No, it is quite boring, actually. A lot of 'stop fidgeting' and 'sit up straight. Where were you raised? A farm?'"
Suki giggled. "No, worse: an iceberg with your brother."
Sokka scowled. "Ha ha. Yeah, let's all have a good laugh at my expense."
Suki stuck her tongue out at him before she turned back to Katara. "What about…Zuko?"
Her smile faded. "What about him?"
"Well, I don't know—"
"He's good," Katara offered. "He's been busy, but we've gotten to talk some."
Sokka huffed and looked out the carriage window.
"What?" she snapped.
"'He's busy,'" he mimicked. "You know, the least he could do is greet us."
Katara scowled. "What for? So this whole visit could be awkward? I don't think so. He let me greet you on my own so I could meet you all without his presence making everything uncomfortable. He's well-aware of my family's sentiments toward him."
"Sokka…." Suki reproached quietly.
Katara took a deep breath. She smiled—forcedly—and nudged Sokka affectionately. "I'm having the cooks prepare a huge feast…to celebrate your arrival. I've asked for the finest meats the Fire Nation can offer."
Sokka's lips twitched until he smiled.
Suki smiled, too. "You sure know the way to a man's heart."
"This man's heart, anyway."
"So what do these plans entail, Sugar Queen?" Toph questioned. A smirk pulled at the corners of her mouth. "Or should I call you Fire Queen from now on? 'Cause, I guess, that's what you'll technically be."
The Water Tribe woman pursed her lips, aware of her brother and sister-in-law's wary gazes upon her. Finally, in a flippant tone, she said, "As long as you address me as the ruler and superior I am, I guess it's all right."
Now the shocked gazes shifted to the earthbender's face.
She, however, grinned. "You're gonna need that backbone here, girly."
"I know it."
Katara managed to keep conversation light the rest of the carriage ride to the palace. Sokka daydreamed over the imagined pile of meats awaiting him; Suki probed into Katara's new life at the palace; Toph only asked "Are we there yet?" three times.
When they pulled up to the palace gates, she could see Zuko standing at the top of the stairs. She folded her hands tightly in her lap to stay their shaking, suddenly overcome by her nerves. Zuko had been kind enough these past few days, but now he would be greeting her family. This would take things to a new level neither of them had ever predicted.
She had always been nervous about her father meeting the man she would marry, but never in a million years would she have pictured Zuko as that man. Well, maybe that was a stretch, but still, he had never been the one in her dreams, the one she had always seen sweeping her off her feet…. Her father was her father, after all, as well as a soldier and a leader of his nation—small though it may be. She had always feared he wouldn't approve of her choice, or be disappointed in her choice.
She supposed that no longer mattered, as her father already knew Zuko, and he had never been her choice; her worry was no longer warranted.
Her heart was still racing, though. Despite her father's approval of the marriage, he had only done so for political reasons, and it did not guarantee he wouldn't hold any animosity towards Zuko. His hands had been tied as much as hers in this arrangement. At least that's what she told herself.
And she knew Sokka would take a swing at him the first chance he got.
She rubbed her palms on her knees.
"Don't worry, Sweetness. I'll make sure everyone behaves," Toph said reassuringly.
Katara exhaled. "Thanks, Toph."
"Yeah. If anyone starts a fight, it'll be me."
The carriage pulled to a stop, and Sokka reached for the door. She grabbed his arm suddenly. "Sokka, please…please don't do anything…rash."
"Me? Rash?"
"Sokka…."
"If you aren't on your best behavior," Suki warned, "if you take one step out of line, I'll have Katara put us in separate rooms. Is that what you want?"
Sokka looked at his wife as if she had just committed the ultimate betrayal. "But-but Suki—"
"I mean it, Sokka," she said sternly. "I'll even let Ty Lee block your chi, if I have to."
Sokka folded his arms across his chest and slid a little lower in his seat. Pouting, he looked nothing like the twenty-year-old man he was. "Fine."
"Well?" Toph demanded, glaring blindly at Sokka. "Are you gonna open the door or am I gonna have ta do everything?"
He rolled his eyes and grumbled as he made his way out of the carriage. A servant stepped forward to assist him, but he waved him away. He reached in the cab and helped Suki, then Katara out, but when he reached for Toph's hand, she slapped him away.
"Thanks but no thanks, Snoozles. I can take care of myself," she said, her toes curling as they touched the ground.
Katara stared up the stairs at Zuko, her back to her family. This felt like a defining moment; once they climbed those stairs, there was no going back.
Her father came up beside her and offered her his arm. She looked up at him, her expression passive.
"Ready?" he asked. She could have sworn his smile was sad.
She nodded.
She heard the others behind them as she and her father ascended the grand marble stairs. It seemed like the longest walk of her life. How she managed to take each additional step, one foot after the other, all the way to the top, she'd never know. Suddenly, as if in the blink of an eye, they were at the top, standing before Zuko and Iroh and about half a dozen of the highest-ranking officials and generals in the Fire Nation. Reike was there, too, in the background, and he threw her a wink. Zuko and Iroh were dressed in the finest robes she had seen either of them wear since her arrival.
Time seemed to stand still as her father observed Zuko, and vice versa. She could have sworn the entire world could hear her heart pounding at that moment.
Finally, Zuko stepped forward, holding her father's eye, and bowed low, pressing a fist to his palm. "Honorable Chief Hakoda," he greeted. "Welcome to the Fire Nation."
Hakoda hesitated only a second before returning the bow with one of his own. "Thank you, Fire Lord Zuko. And thank you for welcoming my family today."
They both straightened at the same time.
Katara—per tradition—was supposed to bow to Zuko's parents, and she bowed reverently to Iroh. He took her head in his hands and kissed her scalp. "Welcome, child," he said, the sound of his voice bringing her some comfort.
She swallowed apprehensively as she watched Sokka—with Suki on his arm—approach Zuko. The two men stared at each other impassively before Sokka subtly inclined his head in the best bow he could muster. "Fire Lord Zuko," he practically mumbled.
Zuko, she decided, must have set aside his ego for a moment because he bowed humbly in return, and greeted, "Welcome, Master Sokka and Warrior Suki."
"Thank you for your generous hospitality, Fire Lord Zuko," Suki said, none-too-subtly elbowing her husband when she had to respond for him.
"Yes," Sokka agreed halfheartedly.
Katara noticed Zuko's jaw clench but graciously he said, "It is my pleasure, of course. Make yourselves at home here."
Sokka and Suki bowed again and moved on. Toph was next to greet Zuko and, to Katara's astonishment, she grabbed her skirt and curtsied, bowing her head low.
"Thank you, oh great Fire Lord Zuko, for welcoming me to your palace on this auspicious occasion!" Toph hailed, loudly. "Me! Being but a mere blind girl from the Earth Kingdom."
Katara glared at Toph, mortified.
Zuko grimaced, throwing Katara a questioning look. "Um, of course you are welcome, Lady Bei Fong. Thank you for coming."
Toph looked up at him and straightened, her lips twisting into a smirk. "Eh, I'm just kidding. Don't get your panties in a bunch, Sparky," she said, punching Zuko's arm. "Oh, and if you ever call me 'Lady' anything again, I'll make sure there's no possibility you and Sweetness ever have kids. 'Kay?"
Zuko stared at the back of the retreating sixteen-year-old's head as she went to stand with Sokka and Suki, observing the stunned expressions on his councilors' and generals' faces. He guessed some things would never change.
"Hiya, Pops," Toph said, throwing her arms around Iroh.
Iroh laughed. "Hello, my dear."
Toph seemed to be the only one who didn't get that this greeting was a formal, somber wedding tradition. That or—and far more likely—she just didn't care.
Katara's focus, however, shifted back to Zuko as Pakku led her grandmother up the last of the stairs. She seemed even frailer, if that was possible, winded from the trip up the marble steps. But her expression was anything but frail; she carried the same determined, stubborn air she always had.
Zuko's expression became oddly blank as he caught sight of her grandmother.
Katara held her breath as Zuko kowtowed to her grandmother, pressing his head to the floor at her feet. She couldn't hear what he told her, but she obviously did. She reached a wrinkled hand out and touched Zuko's head, offering him her blessing. He sat up and kissed her hand, his expression reverent and solemn. Almost guilt-stricken. Her gran smiled suddenly, reassuringly, and simply patted his good cheek. Leaning close, she whispered something into the younger man's ear before nodding and turning to greet Iroh.
Zuko stood regally and bowed to Master Pakku, who reciprocated, and straightened out his robes as if nothing had happened. As if nothing had transpired between him and her gran. She looked around. Either no one else had noticed or they were pretending they hadn't. She, however, was shaken to her core. What was that?
Hakoda then took her arm again and presented her to Zuko. She supposed there should have been some sort of formality to it, but here was none. It seemed to be an obsolete afterthought. Her father simply placed her hand in Zuko's and stepped back as Zuko stepped forward, her hands in his, to kiss her cheek. Symbolically, this was a ritual that mirrored the traditional Fire Nation wedding ceremony—the presenting of the bride to the groom—but it tended to hold far more significance when, more often that not, the intended couple had never met.
She was too overwhelmed to look at Zuko as he kissed her, and as soon as he had, they released each other's hands.
The group was ushered inside the palace and led to a larger dining room. The feast had already been laid out and sat superfluously overfull atop the polished wood table that ran the length of the great dining hall. She could practically feel her brother's joy flood the room.
Zuko's councilors occupied her father's attention as they all seated themselves at the table, Zuko at the head. Her father sat to Zuko's left, and she sat at the foot of the table, Sokka and Suki and Toph surrounding her on both sides.
Everyone began to eat, piling his or her plate with various Fire Nation delicacies. Katara, however, did not think she could stomach even one morsel of food. She was vaguely aware of the small talk and political discussions across the table, but she paid very little attention, her mind swarmed with her own thoughts. She just wanted to wake up from this bad dream.
Iroh cleared his throat, gathering the attention of the room. He stood and raised his wine glass over the table. "If you all would allow me, I would like to propose a toast: to the bride- and groom-to-be. May the two of you have a joyous, successful marriage, a marriage that is not only bringing our two nations together, but also our two families. You deserve every happiness this life can offer. To Fire Lord Zuko and Lady Katara."
A chorus of agreement, both sincere and not, rang around the table as the others lifted their glasses.
Katara lifted her eyes to meet Zuko's across the table. His expression was impassive, but his eyes remained hooded, holding a secret she feared she would never learn. He nodded to her and lifted his glass—she lifted her glass to him in return—and they drank simultaneously.
They may both be entering this union willingly, but it was evident they weren't thrilled about it either.
Dinner ended in as much of a blur as it began. The councilors were dismissed and bowed duteously to her father and to Zuko before leaving. That left just her family and Zuko and Iroh.
"Well, if you are not too tired from your journey, I believe I have a new bottle of fire whisky in my study," Iroh said.
Hakoda smiled. "I think we could help you with that."
"Wonderful."
Kanna, however, shook her head. "I think I'll turn in for the night, but thank you for the offer and your generous hospitality," she said, addressing both Iroh and Zuko.
Zuko bowed. "It was our pleasure, of course. The servants will show you to your rooms."
Master Pakku went to escort his wife with the promise of joining Iroh and Hakoda shortly.
"And you?" Iroh asked, eyeing the younger generation.
"Sure," Sokka said eagerly.
After a moment, Zuko, too, agreed to join them.
The girls, however, declined.
As the group split up, Toph grumbled about having wanted some fire whisky.
"You could have gone with them," Katara interjected.
"Nah. Why would I want to hang out with a bunch of old men?"
"Sokka and Zuko were going."
She rolled her eyes. "Whoopee. Like that's supposed to tempt me?" She sighed. "Why didn't you guys wanna go?"
Katara sighed. "Because I'm tired. Because I need some space. The list goes on, if you'd like."
"And you?"
Suki looked at the floor. "I…didn't feel like drinking."
Toph frowned and stopped walking. "Why'd you lie?"
"What?"
"Just now, when you said you didn't feel like drinking, you lied. I could feel your heart rate increase."
"Toph—"
The younger girl smiled suddenly. "Oh, that's right. I know—"
"Toph," Suki nearly growled. "Don't—"
Katara was beyond confused. "What's going on?"
"I hear that extra thumpidy-thump-thump. You can't hide anything from me."
Suki looked like she was about to fall over.
Katara looked at her friend. "What's she talking about?"
Suki sighed. "Thanks a lot, Toph." She looked at Katara. "I'm pregnant. That's why I can't drink—"
Katara screamed as she threw her arms around her friend. "Suki! That's so—I mean—Oh my—"
The other girl put a hand over her mouth. "You can't tell anyone, and I mean anyone. No one knows, or at least no one knew," she said, throwing a useless glare at Toph. "I want to wait till after the wedding—"
"But why? Sokka doesn't know? Why—"
"Because…I didn't want to take away from your day. I can tell everyone later."
"Suki—"
"Please, Katara. Promise me you won't tell anyone. You too, Toph. I want to tell them in my own time…after the wedding. Please?"
"I guess we don't need Snoozles dying of a heart attack this week. I can keep my trap shut."
Suki sighed with relief. "Thank you. Katara?"
"All right," she relented. "I guess. But you better tell everyone before I leave. I want to be here."
"Leave?" Toph asked. "Where are you going?"
Katara could feel her face grow hot, and she was really glad Toph couldn't see her face. "I've said this already. After the wedding, Zuko and I are leaving…for our…honeymoon."
There was a moment of silence before Toph burst into laughter, doubling over.
"That's not funny, Toph," Suki snapped. "Don't laugh."
"Yes," she said, wiping water from her eyes, "yes, it is funny! Are you kidding me? It's so funny! The idea of Sugar Queen and Sparky—married—is still funny. Picturing their honeymoon—"
"Toph!"
"So funny!"
"I'm dealing with enough here, okay? I really don't need you laughing hysterically over…over this. I just…I just don't!"
"Aw, you really need to lighten up, Madam Fussy Britches. You've been spending too much time with Sparky. You're all tense and stuff."
"Well, how would you be if you were in my situation?"
Toph harrumphed and folded her arms across her chest, sticking her nose into the air like an indignant noble. "I would never be in your situation. I don't have your sense of duty, especially to my family."
"Could you at least sympathize with me then? I'm already miserable enough; I don't need my friends making me feel worse."
"I'm not trying to make you feel worse. I just think, you know, things could be worse. A lot worse. You need to live a little, Sugar Queen. Take advantage of Zuko's deep pockets; milk the royal treatment for all it's worth. I mean, you're about to become one of the most—if not the most—powerful women in the world. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me."
"Yes, but it is still happening against my will—"
"No, it's not. You may not be happy about it, but it's not happening against your will. If you truly did not want it to happen, it wouldn't be happening." She made a face that relayed her exasperation. "But you're a good daughter and an obedient Water Tribeswoman and you want world peace and happiness and just general goodness all around blah blah blah…even if it leaves you with the shortest, wimpiest stick in the bunch."
Suki attempted to intervene. "Toph, that's enough—"
"No, she's right." Katara sighed. She decided this conversation would be best finished in the privacy of her rooms. She led her friends down the hall towards her rooms, and she could see Suki's jaw drop in her peripheral.
"Katara…these rooms…."
"What?" demanded Toph.
"They're incredible."
"What do you mean?"
"I know. Zuko outdid himself."
"They're just…really nice," Suki told Toph. "And really big. Katara, do you really need all this space?"
"I don't need any of this, but it is a palace; everything is opulent and overdone. I think Iroh would keel over if I asked for something simple. He insists on showering me with…stuff like this."
"And Zuko?"
She shrugged. "He'd probably give me anything I asked for."
"That doesn't sound too bad."
"You wouldn't think so. It's just…I'm not used to it."
"Well, you better get used to it, Fire Lady. 'Cause it's your life now, like it or not."
Katara sighed. "I guess you're right."