Guys, we have one more chapter and an epilogue for this Book. It will be a behemouth, it will be sad, and it will be the Siege of the North. And I almost started crying just writing this chapter. But I am determined to have Book 1 finished this year.
It will be longer than 10,000 words. Please bear with me while writing.
Also, I reread Embers to gain inspiration for this chapter. And Airi elbowed her way in here. And my idea for how the rest of this story changed a bit. So, it was delayed a lot. Apologies for that.
Hope you enjoy! I'm off to work on The Siege of the North!
Zuko was not often in the mess hall of the ship when mail call was made. Usually, knowing that no one felt the need to write to him, he was meditating or, failing that, researching the Avatar. More recently, he had taken to practising waterbending in his room, mentored by Roku on some of the more intricate techniques.
So it was a surprise to hear his name called.
Zuko had joined his Uncle in the mess for a shared pot of tea. Iroh had cajoled him out of his room, concerned after the last meditation he had taken alone and tried to insist on meditating together. Zuko had agreed in an attempt to prevent that very thing occurring. He didn't need to worry his Uncle more than necessary.
It wasn't only he who was surprised. Turk, who had hold of the mail sack, looked rather alarmed himself. All of the crew had family at home who regularly wrote, some even a sweetheart or two they had had to leave behind. But never Zuko.
He took the scroll with some trepidation, noting the golden yellow seal. Not black, as it would have been had it come from his Father, so not an angry retort on his failure to capture the Avatar. If he even believed the rumours regarding Aang. And not from Azula, gloating over his more recent failures. Mai would have stamped it with crimson seal, the colour of a noble. Ty Lee, who had never written to him but sent copious letters to Azula while away in their youth, used bright pink wax to seal her scrolls.
Golden yellow was used, however, by Lady Chinatsu and her family. Doubtful that his Aunt would be writing to him, and he had never met the man she married from the island of Azuma and the people who lived there, which left only one member of her family who would write to him.
Airi started her letters as stringently polite as they had been drilled to be in their letters. He ignored the many flowery greetings, skipping straight to the contents of the letter.
Dearest cousin, she wrote beneath his titles, probably only put in for the inevitable catspaw reading the letter, as I am sure you are aware, I am soon to be married. My fiance tells me he has informed you of the joyous occasion soon to occur. We are heading north to make preparations for the union.
I do so wish for you to join us on this momentous day, however I am aware there is also the unfortunate business of the Avatar and the impending war to deal with and shall understand if you are unable to make the wedding. In lieu of your being there in person, I will accept a stand-in.
In other, wonderful news, I have also taken up an interest in Pai Sho. I would ask your Uncle regarding the White Lotus gambit- it is a most stimulating and interesting move in this delicate game. My fiance has a particular distaste for the game, which is a terrible shame, however our beloved mentor is most happy to undertake long distance games. I encourage you to do the same, it is a most stimulating game. Currently, my boat piece is stuck within the western quadrant of the board, while the wheel is soon to join my main pieces. I am hoping to join it with my knotweed- the essence of wind and fire is most potent, I find.
I look forward to hearing from you. It has been far too long since we have conversed and I would be most grateful to see your face once more. To answer this letter, please send a hawk on to Admiral Zhao's ship, or our nearest Port of Gan Jing before we head north past our Northern colonies.
The letter ended with the usual flattering of both the sender and receiver. Zuko stared at it, re-reading the whole thing carefully, partially amused, curious and alarmed.
Your cousin has a most interesting writing style, Roku mused. Zuko ignored him, turning to his Uncle.
"My cousin has seen fit to finally inform us of her wedding," he said, watching Iroh carefully as he handed over the note. His Uncle smiled genially, face barely twitching as he read through the note. Zuko didn't miss the faint twitch when he reached the part regarding the white lotus gambit.
"How wonderful! She has even invited us!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together in enjoyment. "We must make plans to appear." Zuko doubted that that was the message Airi wished to impart. For them to be there in person, yes. To partake in the 'festivities' however, was unlikely. If Zhao even survives long enough, he thought. Why is he heading north? All that is there is…
Where Aang is heading, Roku finished the thought for him. Zuko internally frowned.
The Northern Water Tribe have built their city out of ice. It's unlikely he'll be able to conquer them, especially with the full moon approaching. There was something that Roku wasn't telling him, he could feel it in the way the spirit hesitated. Unless there is something that he knows that I don't.
It is unlikely someone such as Zhao would know, Roku said slowly. It was information lost to outsiders even in my time.
Which is?
The location of the Moon and Ocean spirits. Zuko resisted the urge to shout out loud in frustration. Suddenly Zhao's comment regarding the moon not being present at his wedding made a horrific amount of sense.
"I suppose it would be rude not to attend the Admiral's own wedding," he said out loud. Half the crew, who couldn't be more obvious that they were listening in on the conversation, twitched at that. "And Lady Airi has always loved the idea of a Winter wedding."
"Yes. We must stop at Gan Jing to search for a suitable wedding gift as well. Something exotic, I should think." Zuko blinked flatly at his Uncle.
"Lady Chinatsu married a commoner of the island of Azuma," he pointed out. "I think exotic is the norm for my cousin." His Uncle twitched again, a brief pained look crossing his face.
"Ah, yes, of course," he said. "Perhaps a comb of the Earth Kingdom style? Or a new Pai Sho set! She does mention a new interest in the game." Zuko thought on that a moment.
"I suppose a Pai Sho set is practical," he mused out loud. Someone behind him groaned. Jee let out a gentle cough.
"I hear that Gan Jing is also known for their trade in precious jewels and hand carved jewellery," he offered. "Sometimes the Water Tribe do trade with them and one can find examples of their hand carved engagement necklaces?" Uncle looked exstatic by the idea.
Zuko thought jewelled pins would be a better gift. Airi always did prefer thin blades.
As the mess devolved into an argument regarding appropriate wedding gifts for nobles and the upcoming port, Zuko turned back to the letter. The boat is stuck in the western quadrant, he thought. Yumi had mentioned that Kaito had returned home to his grandmother, a woman that Zuko would not want to cross on a good day. And Airi would not mention Pai Sho if she didn't think it would be a section that Zhao would have no interest in: the man no doubt had perused the letter before she had even sealed it.
And yet another indication that Uncle was up to something behind his back. Is it possible, that Uncle has yet more secrets? he thought, stomach dropping. I need to get to the bottom of this.
Watching his Uncle smile and jokingly tell Haruko that knives were not an appropriate wedding gift, no matter how bejewelled they were, he was also reminded that the anniversary was approaching in only a matter of months. And it would be a while before his Uncle would smile like this again, after.
It could wait.
The expanse of water in front of them was maddening. Aang wanted to groan out loud, but doing so would alert Sokka and Katara to his frustration and they had been on edge for days. Soon, hopefully imminently, they would arrive at the Northern Water Tribe. Katara could learn waterbending, Sokka could train with their warriors and make a case to ask for aid. Aang would further his training in becoming the Avatar. Desperation and hope had them all snapping at each other, unaided by the small confines of Appa's saddle as land ran out two days ago.
Silently, Aang hoped they reached them soon. Appa could only float for so long before they started drowning and they were rapidly running out of ice floes able to hold his weight.
"How much longer?" Katara groaned, leaning out of the saddle to peer ahead of them, as if the Northern Water Tribe would miraculously appear. "It shouldn't take this long, surely?" Her face was pinched with anxiety, Aang swallowed and shrugged.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I've never been this far north."
"Well, that's just great," Sokka muttered mutinously. He and Katara had been arguing again. Aang didn't catch what it was this time- perhaps something to do with mechanics and why Sokka couldn't stay behind with the Mechanist? Aang had liked Teo and his father, but they couldn't stay there either, not when they threatened their little bubble of peace. It did, however, leave Sokka with little to do in their group again.
"Come on, guys," Aang said with false cheer. "I'm sure it'll be soon! We can't get much further north than we are!" He hoped.
"Sure," Sokka pouted. He was fiddling with his boomerang, glancing occasionally into the water. He had briefly tried fishing over Appa's shoulder, but his legs scared the food away, so they had been living off of fruit and bread for the last few days. Perhaps it was the lack of meat making him grumpy?
His thoughts were cut off by a sudden rush of ice, Appa growling in alarm. Aang bounded to his feet as blue ships appeared from behind an iceberg, men in blue parkas and face scarves creating a new iceberg.
It would appear that they had been found by the Northern Water Tribe rather than finding them.
Jee had never particularly liked Zhao. The man was vile even in training- and Jee would know, having been stuck on his rotation teaching cadets at the time- and he had continued his vile acts even into his Admiralty. It sickened him that Ozai favoured slime such as him, doubly so after the tale of what occurred to Prince Zuko in that fateful Agni Kai.
The teen had returned with his Uncle hours after Zhao himself had returned to port, fuming. There was a troubling report of the man taking a minor girl with him when he left, but Zuko had been in such a good mood on returning, far more at peace than he had seen him in weeks, and finally smiling again at his Uncle, that he hadn't the heart to hand over the paper. Instead, it burned a damning hole in both his conscious and his pocket as he tried to think of a good time to hand it over.
So far, it was proving difficult.
They continued heading vaguely North, Zuko ordering them to stop in various colonies to give the troops shore leave far more often than usual, ostensibly to search for the right Wedding Gift for his cousin. Akiko slipped away for her usual rolls in the hay, along with Turk to his usual bars. Reports came in of an attack thwarted at the Northern Air Temple, a certain orange-robed monk fighting with them, but their Prince turned a blind eye. He had been doing that a lot lately, ever since he had returned from his 'walk'.
Jee didn't want to know.
Instead, he busied himself with the running of the ship, hoping to delay the inevitable for as long as possible. He would have to break the news eventually, but he wanted the boy to have a brief respite after all the revelations between him and his Uncle, let alone his crew.
Which meant that that was the exact time that Zhao decided to invite himself on board and back into their lives with a smirk.
"Lieutenant," he greeted him. "I would have a word with your Prince."
"Prince Zuko is currently unavailable," Jee said stiffly. In truth, he was having tea with his Uncle, not that he would tell Zhao that. He deserved a quiet moment. "Perhaps you would like to pass the message to General Iroh." Technically, Jee was the next in line on the ship, the second in command, but he also knew that no one treated him as such. Not with the Dragon of the West on board.
Zhao sneered.
"You haven't informed him." The Admiral had a self-satisfied smirk on his face. Before he could say more, a distinctly female figure slunk up behind him.
"My dearest fiance," the lady said, perfectly demure. She even fluttered her lashes. "We have arrived uninvited." She turned a beautific smile on Jee. He was distinctly reminded of a lion-shark. "Please, would you inform my cousin that the Lady Airi wishes to speak with him, should he have the time?"
Heart sinking, Jee nodded, marching down into the bowels of the ship.
Prince Zuko and his Uncle were within the General's quarters, the largest on their small ship. The Prince had insisted, removing his things himself, to ensure that his Uncle was comfortable in their now three-year long voyage. It had been one of the first inklings that the boy was more than he first seemed. After everything they had seen in the past couple of months, Jee found that he could see the boy on the Fire Throne. Desired it, even. Which, had he been asked three months ago, would have been the furthest thing from his thoughts.
Your Prince risked his life and his honour to see the Avatar safely to a Fire Temple, he reminded himself. He was injured doing that, most likely from the Water Tribe savages. Yet, he treats all with compassion, even if he doesn't show it openly. From what he had heard of the Princess, and Ozai himself, it was a very rare trait in the Royal Family. Jee remembered the quiet despair in golden eyes, and had vowed to himself in silence that he would protect this boy as fiercely as he protected them.
And now, he had to hurt him again.
He raised a hand and knocked politely. There was a pause, and then a quiet command to enter. Jee took in a deep breath and opened the door. Zhao's orders to divert their ship to his invasion fleet clutched in his hand.
The Northern Water Tribe was downright weird. Familiar blues not quite the right shade, the entire city built by ice, canoes and boats powered by bending and not the manpower of oars… Sokka ached for a home that no longer existed. And tried not to be angry with the clear opulence here, where at home they were lucky to be able to build igloos and stitch tents by hand. Aang and Katara needed training, and as much as he wished he could have stayed with the Mechanist and his people at the Northern Air Temple, he had made his own promises to Gran Gran and himself to see them all safely to the North Pole.
Arriving should not have been so bittersweet.
Katara was so happy, so excited to meet with real waterbenders, to meet a real Master who could teach her. Aang was just as happy-go-lucky as usual, having shaken off the melancholy of death that had been surrounding him for days. Sokka should be happy. He could train with warriors, could show them moves learnt at Kyoshi Island and sit in meetings with the Chief as Ambassador for the Southern Water Tribe. He could help his people by persuading the North to send aid, where Dad had never been able to make it north. But, looking around now, made him so angry he had to clench his jaw to keep a smile- or grimace really- on his face. Pretty girl in sight or no.
They were shown into a Grand Palace, surrounded by guards dressed in blues so dark they were almost purple. Icons of the Moon and Ocean, of La and Tui, were carved everywhere, the largest hanging over their heads now. Sokka did his best not to glare at them.
On a dais, sat the Chief of the Northern Water Tribe, at his side the pretty girl with white hair they had seen on a canoe as they entered the city. She offered a gentle smile, which went some way to easing Sokka's irritation, but couldn't bury it completely. The Chief gave his own version of a welcoming smile.
"Welcome, our Southern brother and sister. I am Chief Arnook." Sokka almost blinked at the pomposity of it. Are we dealing with the Water Tribes or Zuko's weird crew? he wondered.
"Um, I'm Sokka and this is my sister Katara," he said, trying not to raise an incredulous eyebrow. "Children of Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribes. And this is Aang, of the Southern Air Temple, and the Avatar." Momo chirped from Aang's shoulders, curled around him for warmth.
"And this is Momo!" Aang said brightly. Something crossed the Chief's face, and Sokka got the distinct feeling he had offended the man somehow.
"You are most welcome, Sokka and Katara, and Aang." He ignored the lemur. "We will be holding a feast in your honour this evening, where you will meet your bending Master. Pakku is the best teacher and waterbender within our Tribe." He was kind and warm and welcoming and Sokka believed none of it. At least Zuko was always honest about not liking us, he found himself thinking. Weird thought. But he preferred the Fire Prince's straight answers and honest attacks. No matter how weird and scary the Winter Solstice had been.
And I don't think he's trying to kill us, Sokka thought, as Arnook droned on about the wonders of this Pakku. I wouldn't be so sure about the Northern Water Tribe, no matter how much we were once close. It had been a hundred years since they met with their sister Tribe.
"My daughter, Princess Yue, will show you to your quarters," Arnook finished. Sokka's mind almost came to a screeching halt, meeting the girl's eye with a blush of his own. Yue. Blessed of the Moon. Arnook couldn't have picked a prettier name for her.
"I am so glad to have met you all," Yue said, leading them away. Unlike her father, she sounded genuinely sincere, curious to know more. "Please, you will have to tell me all about your travels here from the other side of the world."
"Sure," Sokka said, a little bit too enthusiastically, flushing again. Woo a pretty girl and get to talk about the plight of his Tribe? Seemed like a win-win situation to him. And it eased a little of the tension in his jaw. Someone here was willing to listen, and Yue would be able to tell her Father to help them. It was perfect.
That Yue blushed a little too, made him feel warm inside.
Zuko wanted so badly to glare at Zhao. But with Airi sat primly between them, sipping delicately at Uncle's tea, there was little he could do, except grit his teeth and drink his own. He just wished that they had taken tea in Uncle's chambers, so that Zhao would stop staring at the dao hung on his wall.
"I wasn't aware you had proficiency in broadswords, Prince Zuko," Zhao said leadingly, standing to take one from their decorative stand.
"I don't," Zuko ground out, lying through his teeth. Airi shook silently next to him and he stamped on her foot in retaliation. "They're antiques."
"Very well cared for antiques," Zhao mused, swinging the one in his hand experimentally.
"My mother taught me to care for things I care about," Zuko said pointedly. It was always dangerous, mentioning Princess Ursa. But sometimes, people needed a reminder who else he was the son of. "And they were a gift, from my cousin. I was hardly going to let them rust." Uncle twitched and Zuko felt bad for bringing Lu Ten into this. Airi subtly bumped her shoulder against his.
"It is true," she said conversationally, tone sweet and light, not a care in the world. "Aunt Ursa was always careful about her things." Zhao shot her a poisonous look, placing the sword back within its holder. Crooked.
He almost stole the kanzashi from her hair to stick in his throat.
Patience, Prince Zuko, Roku warned. He is looking to bait you.
I know, Zuko growled back. At least now he knew what to look for as a wedding present. If Zhao hadn't noticed that his bride was obviously armed, even without taking into account any of her other, hidden weapons. The pin of her robe doubled as a yawara, hidden within a brooch, unusually pointed. Her sleeves no doubt held hidden kunai and throwing stars, perhaps a Sai or two in her boots. Shoes were pointless among the military if you wished to keep your toes.
Then again, Uncle hadn't noticed either.
"You are here to commandeer my crew," Zuko said pointedly. "But you can't take the ship." Not that Zhao would want to- his ship was old and small and entirely unsuited to laying Siege to the Northern Water Tribe. That, and the ship had been given to him specifically for his quest. The crew had been hired by Uncle.
"I am here, to hire loyal soldiers of the Fire Nation for a frontal attack in the North," Zhao said, probably thinking he was being delicate. Azula was more subtle at five. "You were given this ship for your mission, not the crew. I will return what is left to you once we have won."
A chill went down the back of Zuko's neck. North. Aang is in the North. Foolish, to attack the Northern Water Tribe during Winter, when the Moon was out the longest during the nights. Foolish, but if Zhao were considering more… Airi's letter of pre-warning, along with the note Jee had given him moments before he had to meet with the smarmy git slotted more pieces of a horrifying puzzle in place. I might roast koi myself for being such idiots.
Prince Zuko! Roku said, horrified. Zuko mentally rolled his eyes at the man.
A leopard-shark wold have been better. Those bite back. As do turtle-seals, otter-seals and penguin-seals.
Penguin-seals are not native to the North, Roku sniffed. Zuko ignored him.
"Strange time, for an invasion north," Uncle mused, sipping his tea as if he had no care either way. "Winter is the season of Water, after all. And the North has not ventured out into the war since our last attack seventy years ago." A battle we lost, Zuko thought, resisting the urge to raise an eyebrow. Zhao does remember that, right? Even if he does get to wherever the idiot spirits have hidden themselves in the North, he still has to get through them. And enough waterbenders working together could raise a tidal wave to beat back the invasion in one attack…
It has been seventy years and the Water Tribes do not keep records as the Fire Nation does, Roku warned. They may need reminding. That gave Zuko pause. He took a sip of tea to cover it up.
"The Fire Lord has approved my strategy," Zhao smirked. "Either way, General, I would be most grateful for your… expertise in this attack. We may have to adapt some siege techniques to achieve our objective." Something slipped into one of his hidden pockets within his armour.
Zuko deliberately didn't react.
"And what a wonderful strategy it is," Airi simpered. She gave Zhao an indulgent smile, which the idiot Admiral drank up, preening at the attention. "And I would love a new challenger at Pai Sho. The crew are always hesitant to win." She drooped, the picture of perfect sadness. Uncle's eyes softened.
"I would love to play a game, Lady Airi," Uncle said gently, "however, I promised to stay with my nephew. I may offer some advice before you leave, Admiral Zhao, but my decision is made." Zhao's eyes narrowed.
"The offer will be open all while we are in port, preparing," Zhao said, standing. "But I am afraid this is all the time for pleasantries we have. Come, Airi. We still have the matter of a betrothal gift to acquire." Airi took the offered hand delicately, bowing where Zhao did not.
"It was so wonderful to see you again, cousin," she said softly. It was the most genuine thing she had said the whole trip. Zuko gave her a smile and a bow back.
"Safe travels, Airi," he said. With that, they were gone.
Extracting himself from Uncle was a matter of making noises about wanting to go to town and find Airi a gift himself, since it would appear that they would be leaving soon, was hardly difficult. Iroh offered to come with him, but Zuko assured him that this was something he needed to do himself. He would have it sent on with the crew.
He took the dao, just in case, slipping up through the forest close by the town, he read the note Airi had left him huddled against Junsuina's side. He needed the comfort.
Do not be on your boat tonight.
Shoving water and ice into sharp little slivers, Katara seethed. Fighting isn't for little girls, Pakku had said at that dinner, when presented with her. You will not be in my classes. Yugoda runs classes in the healing huts for little girls. Growling, she flung them at the target she had shaped on the wall, frustrated enough to scream.
She had been so excited when they arrived here. Finally, finally, she could learn true waterbending, could stand as a proper waterbender of her tribe. She could fight and defend her people, and Aang and her brother from people like Prince Zuko and Zhao. She could actually make a difference now, she had thought when they arrived.
All to be torn to shreds by that arrogant, pin-headed stuck-up prick of a waterbending master. Who had then threatened Aang when he attempted to teach her outside of his own waterbending lessons.
"Oh!" Katara jumped at the soft voice behind her. Lessons with Yugoda had finished earlier that day, and still frustrated and needing a relief for her pent up anger, she had taken to flinging ice at the walls. She had chosen a secluded spot, even if it was the same one from last night she and Aang had used to practice waterbending. She hadn't expected anyone else to be there.
Yue's eyes were a little wide, staring at the icy daggers dug into the wall. Katara flushed, melting them back into the canal.
"I… um…" Katara wasn't sure what to say to the other girl. Like her, she was a daughter of the Chief of the Tribe. Unlike her, the people here considered her a Princess. And Katara doubted she could run quickly in that long, opulant parka.
"It is alright," Yue said gently, "I shouldn't have intruded on your practice." She seemed a little flustered herself. "It's just… I saw you and wondered…"
"You're looking for Sokka?" Katara asked, perking up. Sokka had been down since being utterly trampled on, when training with the warriors here. His brief training with Suki had him lasting longer than he would have a couple months ago, but he still didn't have the level they did here. It frustrated them both to no end.
It wasn't, however, Yue's fault.
The Princess blushed, eyes diverting to the floor. "Yes," she said, brushing a lock of white hair behind her ear. "I am sorry, once again for intruding…"
"You weren't intruding," Katara said, a little guiltily. "I was just… frustrated." Yue blinked, a little surprised.
"Why?" she asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing you can change," Katara griped. "It's just… two months and a half months it took for us to get here, to find a teacher for me and Aang. And now…" Yue's eyebrows drew together in a little frown.
"You came to train in combat?" she asked. Katara nodded. The girl still seemed confused. "I had heard you were training with Yugoda, though?"
"Because apparently little girls ought not to fight," Katara spat, water following the angry slice of her arm. Yue, to her credit, didn't flinch as it hit the wall beside her.
"Pakku won't train you?" Surprisingly, Yue seemed unhappy about this too. "Even though it is not against your culture to train girls to fight?" Katara blinked, glancing up at that.
"Sokka told you that?" Yue blushed again, nodding.
"We were discussing the differences between North and South," she said. Katara took that to mean, discussing between flirting. Although, she wasn't truly mad at Yue. "He said that the South had female warriors who were waterbenders in the past. Everyone worked together in the Tribe, even if they didn't hunt with the other warriors to collect food." Katara nodded. Yue's frowned deepened. "Come with me."
Katara followed the other girl through the streets, watching as she smiled pleasantly with others, keeping her arm firmly linked through Katara's. Katara did her best to offer a similar gracious smile to the people they passed, but it came off more as a grimace. It was something of a surprise when Yue lead her into the Palace and the grand throne room where they had first met, bowing to her Father who was holding Court in the room. Katara gritted her teeth, joining Yue in bowing, even though it irked her.
"Yue," Chief Arnook said, sounding parts intrigued and curious. "What can I do for you, dearest daughter?"
"I was wondering, Father, if you were aware that Master Pakku has been insulting our Sister Tribe," Yue said, voice gentle and even, only a hint of ice in it. Katara wondered how she did that, keeping her cool, where she herself wanted to scream. "Princess Katara has stated that he has refused to train her."
A silence descended on the hall, as if the air had been sucked out of the room.
"Master Pakku, train a girl to fight?" one councilman snorted, the very thought seeming incredulous to him. Arnook held up a hand, a light frown on his face.
"We do not train girls to fight," he said evenly. "You know this, daughter." YUe met his gaze evenly.
"Of course, Father. Here, in the North, we do not train our girls to fight. We have been blessed by the Moon and Ocean to not have the need to train everyone to defend themselves from Fire Nation raids." There was an insult in there, Katara was sure of it, but Yue said it with such a delicate tone of voice, so sweet and pleasant, she didn't know where. "But that is not the way of our Sister Tribe, who have not been so blessed. And Princess Katara is the last of their waterbenders, whose art has now been lost to the might of the Fire Nation. Is it not an affront to Tui and La, that we should do the same?" Someone hissed through their teeth.
Katara's opinion of the Northern Princess skyrocketed.
"An interesting argument, Yue," Arnook said, eyes fixed on Katara. She glared right back. "However, she wears an engagement necklace. We shall have to converse with her brother, to ensure we do not offend the groom in question." Katara blinked.
"What?" she asked, surprised. Arnook raised an eyebrow.
"Your necklace," he said, gesturing towards it. Katara involuntarily touched it. Mum, she thought, sad. "You are betrothed are you not?"
"This was my mother's necklace," Katara said, fighting back the wave of grief that came with the memory. "She was killed by the Fire Nation when they last raided. When they came to kill me." Another silence. Yue gently touched her arm. Arnook looked a little blindsided.
"I see." He was quiet a moment. "Amaruq, fetch Master Pakku. Tell him the matter is of great importance." There was rustling among his councillors.
"Chief, you are not seriously considering-" one of the started. Arnook cut him off with a look.
"We have left our Sister Tribe alone for a hundred years. If they have adapted to the times, we cannot offend them further by refusing to aid their last bender blessed by the Moon and Ocean," he stated flatly. "I, too, do not like it, but my daughter makes a valid point. Our ways have changed, and so too has theirs. My honour will not allow me to see them abandoned when they have travelled so far to find aid."
No one else dared speak.
Pakku entered, the boy who had gone running for him trailing behind with Aang and a rumpled Sokka. He must have been training again.
"Chief Arnook," Pakku said, bowing deftly to the throne. "What is so urgent, I must cut short the Avatar's training today."
"It has come to my attention, that you refuse to train the last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe," Arnook stated, voice cold. "Why?" Pakku's eyes flicked to her in disgust. Katara leered right back.
"It is not our custom," Pakku stated.
"But it is our Sister Tribe's," Arnook said. "Do you mean to be the reason that waterbending is lost in the south?" An odd weight settled in the room. Sooka's brows rose in surprise.
Pakku bristled.
"You would have me break our traditions and culture to train a girl?" he spat. It was Sokka who stepped forwards, before Katara could lunge at him.
"Um, yeah," he said, blue eyes hard. For a moment, she saw not her goofy brother, but a shade of her father. Dad I miss you, she thought. "Your tribe abandoned us for a hundred years, stayed your hand as we were raided relentlessly until there was no one left but my sister and after we spend two and a half months fighting our way up to you, you insult us by hiding behind tradition to refuse to train the last hope for our tribe and our culture." Katara twitched at the venom in her brother's voice. She hadn't thought he got it, having gotten what he wanted from the North.
She was never saying Sokka was a terrible brother again.
"So, yeah, I am saying I want you to make one measly sacrifice that doesn't hurt anyone, otherwise I'm doing what Gran Gran did, and hightailing it out of here with my sister and the Avatar." Aang nodded, standing beside Sokka in a form of solidarity. Pakku looked as if Sokka had personally removed his socks and asked him to wash them immediately.
Behind him, Yugoda had slipped into the throne room, looking incredibly amused.
"You will offend us all, steal away with the world's last hope just so that your sister can be trained against her very nature?" he sneered. Katara wanted to throttle him on the spot. Sokka raised an eyebrow.
"That's not what you said last night when Aang was showing her the moves," he said, almost conversationally. Whispers broke out among the councillors. "Especially since you were the one to threaten to stop training Aang if he did it again." Katara could hear Pakku grinding his teeth from where she was stood. Yue was practically bursting with pride at Sokka, as, it had to be said, was Katara. I am finding him the best seal-jerky when this is over, Katara decided. And I'll even laugh at his stupid jokes.
"You threatened to stop training the Avatar?" Arnook sounded incredibly displeased. "An affront it may be to us, Pakku, but we should never attempt to put the world at danger for a minor slight. Especially if you didn't witness the girl doing the actual bending." Katara could have hugged Sokka, smelly socks and all, for his phrasing. "And I would hope that you would not drive yet another promising young bride from the North." Katara almost giggled in his face at the expression Pakku made. He looked as if the Chief had just personally struck him with a wet fish.
"I see." He turned angry eyes on Katara, almost disgusted. "Then I have no choice. I shall see you on the training fields tomorrow, little girl. And we shall see how well you keep up." Katara clenched her hands into fists.
"Oh, I'll keep up, alright," she growled. Pakku didn't deign to answer, turning neatly on his heel to leave. Yugoda approached, clapping her hands and pulling both her and Sokka in for a hug.
"Well done," she said, loudly and clearly enough for Pakku's retreating figure to hear. "Exaclt what I would expect of Kanna's grandchildren."
Pakku tripped face first into the icy doors.
Pack hidden with Junsuina, dark clothes on and a cloak pulled over his head to hide his face, Zuko watched from the dockside as people rushed to the flaming wreckage of his ship. His home of three years, a reprieve from the deadly politics of Court, even though he was always working towards returning, was gone, in a deadly fireball from blasting jelly. He could smell it from here.
No one would have been hurt. Uncle was in the dockside inn, playing Pai Sho where Zuko had sent him. The jewelled hairpins Zuko had ordered for Airi had been sent with his crew that afternoon to Zhao. Jee had packed them carefully away in his belongings, offering Zuko a formal bow. Away from prying eyes, Zuko had done something very uncharacteristic- he had pulled the middle-aged Lieutenant into a hug, slipping the promotion slip Uncle had sent off for in his armour. He would find it later when undressing.
The man had been startled.
Theoretically, only Zuko had been left on the ship, ostensibly in a sulk. The moment Uncle had shut the door, disappointed, he had pulled out the pack he kept for emergencies, throwing in his mother's theatre masks for Love Amongst Dragons, slid the dao into their sheath, abandoned his armour, and slipped out of the window. He would say goodbye to the ship as he was now, just another passer-by drinking at one of the seedier bars of the town. A couple earthbending tricks, with the dark browns of his clothes, had the owner convinced he was a soldier on leave. Hair pulled into the plait of an Earth Kingdom messenger, it itched against the back of his neck.
A clever plan, Prince Zuko, Roku complimented him as he had dressed. But how will you warn young Aang?
I'm working on that. The disguise would not last up North, and they didn't send waterbenders out. That, and the only way to get there faster than the fleet, was with Junsuina.
He hoped Uncle could forgive him the deception.
It is time to leave, Roku whispered as people rushed to put out the flames. On the dock, as close to the flames as Jee would allow him to get, was Uncle, brushing licking tongues of heat aside in a desperate rush to get to his now dead nephew. Zuko prayed Jee would tell him later, out of sight of Zhao's spies.
Swallowing, he tugged the hood lower and slipped through the crowd, unseen, into the night.
Watching his sister make mincemeat of the other recruits was decidedly satisfying, Sokka had found. After the first few rounds of Ew, you are not_ warming up to my sister because Gran Gran was your crush_ with Pakku, and some razor sharp ice daggers Katara had figured out how to make on their journey here, Pakku actually deigned to treat her like the rest of his pupils. His sister had quickly made her way to the top of the class, throwing all her effort into learning how to fight as quickly as possible.
More encouraging, was that Sokka now spent quite a few afternoons with Chief Arnook, discussing the raids of the Fire Nation and the destitute nature of their village. It was strange, how some of the councillors started referring to him as 'Prince' Sokka, now that it had been firmly established that yes, Dad was Chief of the Southern Water Tribes, all of them now, since they had been raided down to one singular village filled with families from various tribes. Then it was a matter of arranging aid to be sent South and how it would survive until they made it to the other side of the world. Especially since the old trade routes were no longer an option, many now patrolled by the Fire Nation.
And on top of all of that, he got to spend more time with Yue. His first few fumblings times attempting to talk to her had been something of an unmitigated disaster (an activity. He still couldn't believe he had said that) but slowly, she found more and more time to spend with him, few of them now excuses. So, he was rather surprised when she bolted out to meet him, a few weeks after Katara had started working with Pakku, tears in her eyes, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.
Not that he was complaining, but crying girl was usually a bad thing.
"Yue?" he squeaked. Hopefully in a manly way. "Is… Is everything alright?"
"Yes," she said breathlessly. "Yes, everything is perfect!" She tugged at her parka, pulling it down to expose her neck, bare now. He could have sworn that before, there had been the hint of a ribbon around it. "I'm free!"
"Free?" His mind couldn't quite keep up in the face of her obvious delight. What for, he wasn't sure, but it was great to see.
"Yes!" She sniffled, wiping away what he now assumed were happy tears. "Father has broken my betrothal to Hahn." Sokka blinked stupidly for a moment.
"Hahn? He had you betrothed to that moron?" Sokka had met the other boy briefly while training with the warriors. He was cocky, arrogant, admittedly a better fighter than Sokka, but incredibly predictable and always crowing about how great of a bride price he was getting for his fiance. If he had known Hahn was the one Yue had been engaged to, he might have punched his face in a little harder when he won their last bout.
Thankfully, Yue giggled at his words.
"Father only said he wished to reconsider his options," she said, gently taking his hand. She was blushing softly, which sent all the blood in Sokka's head south. "I may have mentioned something about strengthening our ties in the south."
"Oh," Sokka said, disappointed. She was giving him large eyes and his brain kicked into gear a little. He felt his face turn bright red. "Oh!" I need to find a stone or wood and fast, he thought frantically.
"I was wondering," Yue continued, a little shy now, "if, perhaps, we could get around to that activity you mentioned a while ago." Sokka wondered if he could get any redder.
"Um… have you met Appa yet," was the first stupid thing to fall out of his mouth. Thankfully, Yue laughed, and they stepped together away from the training tundra and away, towards the stables.
Unpacking his things, Iroh considered bleakly if he were cursed by the spirits. A son and a nephew I have lost, he thought, swallowing hard against the lump that had taken up residence in his throat. He had coraked out an acceptance to Zhao's offer to head north with him. He had been given a cabin on the Admiral's personal flagship, away from Zuko's crew, and discovered his things already packed away there.
It couldn't be more obvious who had killed his nephew. Iroh almost strode out to set the Admiral alight right then. He promised himself patience- if he were still to be useful to the White Lotus, he had to time this right. If he could end this war, in the name of his precious nephew, he had to still be alive after the Siege was over to do so.
He did not expect the gentle knock at the door.
"Come in," he called. His voice was reedy and weak from holding in the tears. The door was opened by Zuko's cousin, her appearence so close to that of Ursa's it was a wonder Ozai had ever let her stay even after his wife was gone. Her face was a little sharper than Ursa's, although the smile she gave was soft, gentle.
Her eyes were red, showing she had been crying.
"General Iroh," she said quietly. "I apologise for disturbing you so, but…"
"No, it is not a bother," Iroh said gently. He remembered now that she and a few others had visited the Palace and befriended Zuko. Her more than most considering Lady Chinatsu had married a Warrior of Azuma. He was not the only one mourning on this boat. "I am grateful, for the company." She offered a watery smile.
"Your Lieutenant, now Captain, was able to deliver these to me, before being sent to his new ship," she said, holding up a carved wooden box made of cheery wood. Iroh's breath caught in his throat. Zuko had returned triumphant only the evening before, having found a beautiful pair of jade hair pains, then ends carved into dragons and eyes of sparkling rubies, for his cousin as her bride gift. He had complimented his nephew on such a wonderful find, had felt them and accidentally pricked his finger on the end.
"So sharp, nephew," he had said. "Perhaps we ought to blunt them a little."
"Airi likes them that sharp," Zuko had replied, bustling about his room, fussing with some papers. He had seemed nervous. "Do you think she will like them?" Iroh had offered him a comforting smile and a hug.
"She will love them," he had reassured him. He wished their last words had been a little more substantial.
"I hope that you like them," Iroh said now. "Zuko… he looked very hard for something you might like." Airi opened the box, gently touching the carved head of one of the dragons.
"I will wear them with pride," she said, sniffing. "A last gift is always the most precious." Gently, she closed the box again, hugging it close to her chest. She hesitated a moment, drawing something from her sleeve. "I did not mean to pry, but I think this got caught up with it. He wrote it for you. I didn't read it." She was shaking a little, almost frightened. He took the paper with only a light tug, wrapping her hands in his own warm ones.
"I am sure you didn't," he said, "and I am just as sure that he would not have minded if you did. Would you like to hear it? Last words can be… comforting sometimes." Airi drew away from him, hugging herself as if it were all that kept her together.
"Another time, perhaps," she sniffled. "I can't… I am not ready. Tonight." Iroh nodded, unsure what else to say. He did not know her well, all that connected them being Zuko and the cherry wood box holding a pair of bejewelled hair pins. If she would't take comfort in Zuko's last words, he would not judge her for it.
She bowed and quickly made her exit, almost fleeing the small, cramped quarters. Iroh took a deep breath, straightening corners of the paper that had bent within her sleeve. Did he dare to open it, to open the hole it would inevitably rip into his heart? Zuko wrote it for you, he thought. It will do you no good to leave it unread for as long as Lu Ten's.
Four years, it had taken him to read Lu Ten's last letter, on the anniversary of his death. He did not have the time to wait so long now.
Opening the folds of the paper, he was not prepared for what it read. Head spinning an hour later, he was silently glad Airi had not stayed to hear the words Zuko had written.
In the fresh air, watching the shoreline disappear, Iroh allowed a single breath, all he could do to release a sigh of relief.
My nephew is alive. And has done something incredibly stupid.
This has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever done, Zuko thought to himself. Huddled close to Junsuina on an iceberg, just out of sight of the sentry guards of the Northern Water Tribe, with no one else but an extremely unhelpful spirit in his head, he was rapidly running out of options. The fleet would be here in a matter of days, and he still didn't have a way in that wasn't obvious, or wouldn't be construed as an attack.
His clothes were designed for stealth in the night, for gathering information in the dark. That didn't work here, even during the long nights, considering the fact that everything was white. Junsuina had to be careful where she placed her coils- red stood out harshly against the snow and ice, never mind the sizzling from the heat of her body. Zuko had had to re-freeze their iceberg three times a day to prevent them from sinking. So, he was dressed in damning red, to hide against her bulk if it came to it, and Roku was not suggesting any useful ideas.
They have been attacked before, he had said grumpily when Zuko had given up trying to think of a solution and just asked him early that morning. They will not take kindly to anything of fire. It is, after all, their opposite element.
How does that have anything to do with not getting killed?! Roku hadn't deigned to answer, and Zuko opted not to ask further. He had to get through this alone, somehow. But how? he thought despairingly, watching as the guard changed. What gaps there are would be fine if I were alone, but Junsuina will sink and drown if I leave her out here without aid. A dragon cannot fly forever, and the polar water will kill her within hours if she attempts to swim. Polar water may be survivable for humans- for a dragon? It froze their fires out.
He had lost her once before. He refused to do so again.
A feeler brushed his cheek. Love, care, worry. All his emotions carried within her too. He leant back, scratching at her jaw.
"I'll figure something out," he murmured. "I promise." They couldn't take much more of this. He was running out of food and the breath of fire couldn't keep him warm indefinitely. And Junsuina had started to shiver.
Tried hard. Another way. Warn bison? Zuko blinked, startled. A shadow fell over his head.
Glancing up, he had never been so happy to see Aang furry sky-bison.
Sokka could drown in the blue of Yue's eyes. He didn't even need Appa to fly through the clouds with the way his head was feeling right now, dazedly showing her the world from above. They had first flown over the city of the North, then over the wall and out into the ice fields. She had said something about following what looked like a long snake she had never seen before, but Sokka pointed out that ice eel-snakes were venemous and would rip you to pieces if they could.
He should have paid more attention.
"It's a shame," she said, leaning over the saddle as the wall dwindled out of sight. It was fine, Fire Nation ships would rain ash and black snow on them before they werw within ten miles of arriving and he didn't plan to take her far. If he could remember to do so, that is. "I've never seen one so red." Sokka's thoughts skidded to a stop.
"What?" he croaked. Yue gave him an odd look.
"The ice eel-snake. It was bright red. I've seen them with red markings sometimes but…" It can't be. Dragons are of the Fire Nation, they hate cold right? They hadn't seen or heard of the thing since it helped Zuko bring a temple down on their heads. And Aang had called it a spirit guide, like Appa. Which meant, if it was the dragon…
"We need to head back," he said sharply, snapping the reins, pulling Appa round. He made an alarmed noise and sharply banked, causing YUe to shriek as she fell half in Sokka's lap. He grabbed hold of her and held on tight as something long, sinuous and red looped around them. Appa roared in distress, but they were too far out for anyone to hear. Probably looked like to dark spots on the horizon.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, he thought to himself, clinging to a horn with one hand, Yue with the other. She was holding tightly to him and the saddle. The dragon looped again and Sokka spotted a figure crouched at its head, distinctive gold meeting his, the hint of a scar round the left eye…
"Where's Aang?" Zuko shouted. Sokka glared at him.
"Wherever he isn't about to get eaten!" he yelled back. Sure, he didn't think the other boy was trying to kill them (and by now he had had plenty of openings), but he wasn't going to just rely on instincts alone with Yue's safety on the line. He couldn't tell, since Zuko's face was wrapped in a hood and face-scarf (smart, considering the head winds from a dragon must be freezing), but Sokka thought he might have made a face. The dragon continued to almost dance around them, always on the move.
"Junsuina only chews in self defence." Yep, definitely irritated.
"Do… Do you two know each other?" Yue asked faintly. She wasn't shaking quite so much anymore, but she was still pale. Sokka could also have done without the heart attack.
"Kind of," he said. "What the hell are you doing here?" he then yelled back at Zuko. "Don't you have a ship?" There was pause.
"Not anymore. I- oh this is impossible." Almost without warning, the dragon flipped upside down, Zuko twisting in mid-air and landing neatly in the saddle. It was then that Sokka noticed he was wearing a pack and sword strapped to his back. "Sokka, I need to speak to Aang. There's an invasion coming!" Sokka stared blankly at the Prince for a moment, words computing.
Completely, forgetting they were standing on bison-back in mid-air, he jumped to his feet.
"What, it wasn't enough to chase us across the entire world?" he growled. "Now you've sent an invasion as well!" Up close, it was easier to see when Zuko's face twitched.
"Do I look like I have a fleet with me?" he snapped right back. "I left when I could, because Zhao is the one leading the attack, and he's got some idea about attacking the Moon and Ocean itself!" Behind him, Sokka heard Yue take in a sharp breath. "And I don't know if you've looked at a map, but the Fire Nation is made up of islands! Without the Moon half of them will be wiped off the earth!" Which, true, but that still didn't really make sense.
"And how the hell is he going to attack the Moon?" Sokka demanded. "And I don't know if he's noticed, but the Ocean? All around us!" A hand caught his wrist, even as Appa wobbled and he flailed. Surprisingly, Zuko grabbed the front of his parka too, annoylingly keeping his balance despite standing.
"It is possible," Yue said quietly, cutting through their argument. "But it is only known by us and the Spirits, how…" She glanced at Zuko, gasping. "You have been touched by the spirits too." Sokka blinked.
Zuko's eyes widened.
"How…?" His gaze flicked to her hair. Was it just Sokka, or had Zuko somehow gotten paler. Abruptly, Zuko sat down, knees beneath him, breathing hard. "You're spirit-touched too." Why does he sound like someone is about to die? Sokka wondered, feeling sick. Yue reached out, hand shaking. Zuko took it gently, as if holding something fragile.
"Yes." Such a simple answer, for something so big. "When I was born, I didn't cry. I was very sick, the healers said I would likely die before the Sun rose. So my parents prayed to the Moon and…"
"She blessed you to live," Zuko finished for her. His eyes were sad. "A Spirit told me that information about the Moon and Ocean had been lost in a great library, somewhere out in the Si Wong Desert. Zhao spent months in that place only a year ago, and found favour at Court since then. It's possible…"
And there was the worst.
"Why come to us?" Sokka asked, lowering himself carefully into the saddle. The dragon flew around them in large, slow circles. "Why not write a letter, or fly straight in on her?" Woldn't be hard, considering she would melt everything in sight. Zuko had pulled his face scarf down enough to reveal a pinched expression.
"I don't trust the Northern Water Tribe to dunk her in polar water. And I won't lose her to genuine death this time." Yue made a startled noise, fingers tightening around Zuko's. "And I don't think they'll be willing to listen to me."
Which, considering what Sokka had seen so far, was not entirely inaccurate. He winced.
"So, Aang," he said. Sokka had figured out some time ago that Zuko must have been one of the 'people' who had helped Aang out when they were sick and he was captured. Probably the one who had had to kill too, which made him wary, but he had helped Aang. That made him better than Zhao, especially since he let him go too. "Except Aang's not exactly planning on leaving anytime soon. He's training in water." Zuko's face screamed well, duh. Sokka felt the childish urge to poke his tongue out at him.
"I would be willing to listen," Yue said quietly. Zuko met her gaze in some surprise. She offered him a shy smile. "My name is Yue. I am the daughter of the Chief. If you were to write a letter…" Zuko drew a slip of paper out of his sleeve hesitantly.
"I was going to give this to Sokka, if I couldn't find Aang," he said. "But, if you can pass it on…"
"You won't speak to him yourself?" Yue sounded surprise. Sokka winced, even as Zuko squeezed her hand gently.
"I don't think I'll be welcome to talk with him." He pushed up carefully, the dragon turning to fly closer. "My Uncle is with Zhao. He'll help you if he can, but Zhao drafted him for his experience. And he's studied waterbenders in the past." Sokka blinked.
"Um… ok?" The old guy with Zuko? What's so dangerous about him? Other than the image of him in nothing but a loincloth. Which was something Sokka could have gone his whole life without seeing. Although why the man had been taken by a squadron of earthbenders was somewhat lost on him. "I don't think anyone is going to care about attacking the harmless old guy in the middle of a battlefield of soldiers?" Zuko gave him a strange look.
"You have no idea who he is, do you?" He sounded a little amazed by the idea. Why, Sokka wasn't sure. Except…
"He's not your Uncle on your mother's side, is he?" he said blankly. Zuko's only answer was pulling his face scarf over his face.
"I need to head south. Junsuina can't survive much longer this far north," he said. "Zhao's an idiot but he isn't stupid. He knows enough to create a feint. And if he catches you off guard, that'll be when he strikes you down." Which wasn't ominous at all.
"And you know this how?" Sokka asked. Zuko glanced over his shoulder, eyebrow raised.
"He threw fire after being defeated in an Agni Kai. He has no honour." He stepped up right onto the edge of the saddle. Yue gasped, fingers clutching at Sokka's parka. "Say hi to my cousin for me."
A moment later he was gone. For half a second, Sokka had long enough to take a deep breath.
Then the dragon shrieked as water spouted up, freezing on delicate membranous wings. Fire flashed, and Sokka caught wide gold eyes, frightened, desperate and determined.
The world exploded around them.