"Custody"

The great body, shadowy and almost invisible among the stems, ended in a face which had been ravaged by all the passions of an absolute monarch—by cruelty, sorrow, age, pride, selfishness, loneliness and thoughts too strong for individual brains. There he hung or hoved, his vast ironic mouth permanently drawn downward in a kind of melancholy, his lean clean-shaven chops giving him an American expression, like that of Uncle Sam. He was remorseless, disillusioned, logical, predatory, fierce, pitiless—but his great jewel of an eye was that of a stricken deer, large, fearful, sensitive and full of griefs. He made no movement, but looked upon them with his bitter eye. ~ T.H. White, The Sword in the Stone

Dusk was falling as they flew over the Foggy Swamp. From the air, Katara could see the red castle in the distance.

"What is this place?" she whispered.

She steered Appa down to the ground in front of the castle gate. Appa, frightened to be in such a foreboding place, snorted and started to back away. Katara slid down from the saddle and patted the bison's flank. "Steady, Appa, steady," she soothed. She reached through the bars of the gate, undid the latch and slid the metal entrance open. When she stepped through, she saw something on the ground shine in the moonlight. Katara strode over and gasped when she saw Sokka's boomerang on the ground. "Sokka," she murmured. So he had been here.

She had to go inside, she knew. Katara wondered if this was what she got for wishing she could have adventures: a marriage proposal, a daunting castle, and a possible rescue mission all in one day.

If she were the protagonist of one in Professor Zei's books, she would be courageous. Even if she felt apprehensive or afraid, she would place her brother before her fear.

Katara squared her shoulders and walked quickly up the cobblestone pathway to the castle door. She entered the foyer, looked around in awe, and then started up the grand staircase, softly calling out Sokka's name.

"Well, this is a nice kettle of koi fish," Arnook said spitefully, pacing up and down on a lacquer side table. "You couldn't keep quiet, could you? You just had to invite him to stay. Serve him tea, sit in the Prince's chair, pet the lemur …"

"I was trying to be hospitable," Iroh replied.

"He'd be better off now if you hadn't—"

"Hello?" The two household objects fell into shocked silence at the sound of a girl's voice. They turned around and saw a teenage girl wandering cautiously through the hallway; but she didn't notice them watching her as she passed by.

"Did you see that?" Iroh said to Arnook. The two of them jumped down from the table, ran to the door, and poked their heads out to look around the corner.

"It's a girl!" Iroh exclaimed in amazement.

"I know it's a girl," Arnook said icily.

"Don't you see?" Iroh looked delighted. "She's the one! The girl we have been waiting for! She has come to break the spell!" Iroh hurried off after the girl.

"Oh, bother," Arnook muttered, chasing after the candelabrum.

Katara didn't notice the animated items scurry by when she was looking the other way, and slip through a door off the main hallway. But she did hear the door creak as it opened and closed. She whirled around, and was sure she saw light flickering through the door's silhouette.

"Hello?"

"What are you doing?" Arnook hissed.

"I'm helping her find who she's looking for," Iroh replied, before hopping up the stairs.

Arnook hid behind the door as Katara came in. She took a lit torch off a metal torchbearer on the wall, and cautiously started up the stairs to the tower.

"Is someone there?" She passed Iroh, who stood immobile on a shelf in the stairwell. He did not move or speak.

That's strange, Katara thought anxiously. I'm sure there was someone … She came to a landing at the top of the tower.

"Hello?" she called out, not sure if she wanted to be loud or soft.

There, she heard something – a shuffle, a creak like wood or metal. "Katara?" an incredulous voice said.

Katara felt a wave of relief. "Sokka!" She hurried through the room, and found a cell door on the other side. The lower half of the door had a window with bars—and it was through these that Sokka looked at her with wide, terrified eyes.

"You're okay!" Katara reached through the bars to touch him; it was the closest they could come to an embrace.

"H-how did you find me?"

"Appa showed me the way." Katara pressed Sokka's hand against her cheek. "Oh, your hands are like ice! We have to get you out of here."

"Katara, you need to leave this place."

But Katara ignored him. "Who did this to you?" she demanded.

"I don't have time to explain—you have to go, now!"

"I won't leave you!" Katara said stubbornly.

Suddenly she felt someone grab her shoulder and turn her around roughly. Katara cried out in shock; she dropped the torch, which was extinguished on the damp stone floor. The only light came from the moon through a skylight; but the person who had just entered stood in the shadows beyond it, shrouded in darkness.

Sokka screamed. "Katara, run!"

"Who's there?" Katara tried to sound assertive, not like a girl whose brother had been stolen away. "Who are you?"

The voice that answered was rough, almost growling. "The master of this castle."

Katara swallowed hard. She squeezed Sokka's hand for strength. "I've come for my brother. Please, let him out! Can't you see he's sick?"

"Then he shouldn't have trespassed here!"

Katara sobbed. "But he could die! Please, I'll do anything!" she pleaded desperately.

"There's nothing you can do," the stranger said shortly. "He's my prisoner."

"But there must be some way I can …" Katara trailed off, as an idea—a terrifying idea—occurred to her. "Wait," she said slowly. She swallowed again, willing herself to be strong, and then said, "Take me instead."

"What?" Sokka said in disbelief.

The stranger, too, sounded surprised. "You! You would take his place?"

"Yes." Katara's voice was almost a whisper.

"Katara, no!" Sokka exclaimed. "You don't know what you're doing!"

Both Katara and the stranger ignored him. "If I did," Katara said, "would you let him go?"

"Yes … but you must promise to stay here forever," he said after a moment.

Katara blinked at the shadowy form. It seemed an odd request to make; would he not just keep her locked up? And which was worse, to be kept there against her will, or by her will?

"Come into the light," Katara said suddenly. Her voice was quiet but her tone was firm.

After a moment's hesitation, the figure stepped into the moonlight. Katara's hand flew to her mouth as she stifled a gasp.

The well-built man was dressed entirely in black, except for his most striking feature: a blue demonic mask that leered down at her.

Shuddering, Katara sank back against the door to Sokka's cell, ducking her head so neither of them could see the fear and anguish she was feeling.

"Katara, I won't let you do this!" Sokka insisted.

Katara took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She had to be strong. For Sokka.

In her stories, heroes were always called upon to be brave. But until that moment, she had never known true bravery; she had only thought she did.

Katara rose to her feet and stepped into the beam of light to face the masked stranger. "You have my word," she said flatly.

"Done." The Blue Spirit moved past her to unlock the cell. When his back was turned, Katara sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands. Had she just sentenced herself to a lifetime of imprisonment?

Suddenly Sokka was behind her, wrapping his arms around her. "Katara, listen to me," he said, and his voice had a serious, desperate edge that Katara had never heard before. "I'm older, I'm responsible for you—hey!"

The Blue Spirit grabbed Sokka by the back of his collar and dragged him over to the door.

"Wait!" Katara cried.

"Katara!" Sokka's eyes were wide with fear—not for himself, but for her. His last glimpse of his sister was of her tear-stained look of panic as he was hauled down the stairs.

The Blue Spirit dragged Sokka outside to a strange structure—a palanquin, which, like most of the castle servants, could move with a mind of its own.

"Let her go!" Sokka shouted. "You can keep me if you want—"

"She's no longer your concern," the Blue Spirit said coldly.

"Not my concern?" Sokka said incredulously. "She's my sister!"

The Blue Spirit shoved him into the palanquin. "Take him to the village," he instructed, before closing the door securely. The vehicle rose up unsteadily, tearing the vines that had grown around it during years of disuse.

Katara could see them from a window in the tower; she heard Sokka as he shouted and hit the walls of the palanquin.

The Blue Spirit retreated back into the castle and started up to the tower.

"Nephew?" Iroh spoke up tentatively from the shelf in the tower stairwell.

"What?" the Blue Spirit snapped.

"Since the girl is going to be with us for quite some time, I was thinking that you might want to offer her a more comfortable room …" Iroh trailed off. The Blue Spirit growled and turned away. "Then again, maybe not," Iroh finished sheepishly.

The Blue Spirit went back up to the cell. Katara was staring out the window, watching the palanquin carry her brother away. She turned and looked at the Blue Spirit, her eyes filled with anger and despair. "You didn't even let me say good-bye," she accused, but it came out less forceful than she had wanted, as she choked on a sob. "Now I'll never see him again."

The Blue Spirit inclined his head toward her—sympathetically? She couldn't tell, with the mask hiding his facial expression. Then he turned toward the door.

"I'll show you to your room."

Katara blinked. "My room?"

"What, do you want to stay up here in the tower?"

"No."

"Then follow me."

Katara obeyed reluctantly. The Blue Spirit picked the candelabrum up off the shelf they passed.

Katara tried to focus on the route they took through the castle; she would have to figure out how to find her way around here. But she was distracted by the castle's dark décor. Everywhere there was red and black; the walls were lined with statues of formidable-looking dragons with ruby eyes that almost seemed as though they could see. Katara shivered and followed close behind the Blue Spirit.

She didn't notice the candelabrum nudge the Blue Spirit with his metal arm. "Say something to her," Iroh whispered.

"Um … I hope you like it here." The Blue Spirit glanced at Iroh, who nodded in approval. He continued, "The castle is your home now, so you can go anywhere you wish—except the Dragon Bone Catacombs."

Katara looked up. Even in dire circumstances, she was full of curiosity. "What's in the Dragon Bone Catacombs?"

"It's forbidden!" the Blue Spirit said angrily, looking over his shoulder at her. Katara thought he might have been glaring at her behind the mask. Then he turned back and continued down the hall.

He stopped at a door leading to a guest bedroom. He opened the door and gestured for Katara to go in. She entered hesitantly, and was amazed to see a well-kept bedroom suite with Water Tribe furnishings – blue wall hangings, animal pelts, a bed with a yin-yang koi fish design carved at the head. It was actually quite nice, compared to the dark, intimidating atmosphere elsewhere in the castle.

"Now, if there's anything you need, my servants will attend you," the Blue Spirit said tenderly.

Katara was slightly surprised. Servants? So there were other people here … but she hadn't seen anyone besides the Blue Spirit.

Then she remembered something. "I left my sky bison outside the gate," Katara said tentatively.

"I'll see to it he's cared for."

Iroh nudged him again. "Dinner—invite her to dinner," he whispered. Katara was looking around the room—anywhere besides her masked captor—and didn't notice.

"You will join me for dinner. That's not a request," the Blue Spirit added harshly, before slamming the door as he left.

Katara gasped, pressing her hand to her mouth. Oh, spirits … what have I done?

Katara had always thought of herself as a strong, capable woman; but now she was simply a terrified young girl. She had never felt so alone in her life. She threw herself onto the luxurious bed and cried herself to sleep.