I must have cried myself asleep because I was jerked awake at the sound of the heavy bar door being opened. I quickly sat up when I saw a guard coming in, but it looked like he was here just to give me food. He was in the standard guard uniform, red and black armor, but he wasn't wearing a helmet with the white face plate so I was able to see what he looks like. He seems like he's a year or two older than me, almost as old as Sokka. He had light brown hair with matching light brown eyes.
He was carrying in a tray with a small bowl on it but no glass of water.I think he might be new to working in the palace because he didn't quite know what to do. But it could have also been that I'm covered in bruises and burns and he feels uncomfortable about having to see me.
"Here is you food. When I came by the last two days, you were asleep so I decided to just leave the-" I cut him off before he could finish. I had been contemplating with myself whether I should stay silent or ask him all the questions running through my mind. But I just couldn't help myself after what he just said
"Wait, so I've been in here for three days now?" He seemed unsure if he should answer or not. "Oh come on you just said it. This is my third day here, just admit it." I need him to confirm it's been three days because it sure hasn't felt like it's been that long.
He gave me a nod of agreement "But you were asleep yesterday and the day before when I came by. I left the bowl of food there for you just in case you woke up and I guess you did since I found the empty bowl earlier when I came to deliver your breakfast." He said extending his arm with the plate of food for me.
I took it warily. I guess what he said makes sense since when they captured me it was in the afternoon, I must have slept the whole night and then woken up yesterday, ate the rice, and laid in the bed for what felt hours until I felt asleep again. "So is this my lunch? It's already noon?" I asked him
"Yes, I'll be back shortly to get the bowl." He said before leaving. Only when he left and I could no longer hear his footsteps I started eating. And like before I bent a little bit of water out of a handful of rice. But this time I didn't use it to heal myself and instead drank it. I felt so relieved as the cool water went down my throat. I sighed and went back to eating my small portion of rice.
As soon as I finished eating, the guard came back
"Are you done yet?" He asked stepping into my cell reaching for the empty plate. I nodded, not wanting to speak again. "Ok I'll see you during your next meal." He gave me a small smile before he left.
Three days in here and so far they haven't done anything to me, so far I've been fine, or at least as fine as I can be and yet that doesn't calm me one bit.
Later in that same afternoon Prince Zuko went and paid his new prisoner a visit along with two other guards who took a post outside by her door.
Katara immediately stood up and crossed her arms as Zuko entered and closed the door behind him. For a moment they just stood there glaring at each other.
"What do you want? Come here to gloat?" Katara snapped at him breaking the silence. He didn't say anything; instead he kept looking at her, scrutinizing her. It was obvious that she had cried, she has tear streaks all over her blood coated face. Pathetic he thought. But besides that, Zuko thought she looked...different. Although he couldn't place what it was. He decided to drop the matter, at least for now and get back to the reason he was there.
"I see you're settling in nicely"
"Oh yeah, I'm having the time of my life" Katara said sarcastically.
"Glad to hear it. So waterbender, can you tell me where the Avatar is?" He asked her.
Her response was quick "No."
"I am asking you politely, where is the Avatar?" He said trying to keep his growing aggravation at bay. When she didn't answer, he continued talking. "You do realize that we have you captured right? That you are locked up in one of the many cells in this palace. So, you can either tell me where he is willingly, or we'll make you."
"You call that being polite?" she retorted.
"Look waterbender, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. It's your choice." He warned her.
She knew that he was just trying to scare her, and despite herself she started to feel a small prickle of panic because she knew he was right. She pretended to think it over tapping her chin thoughtfully "No"
"You insufferable little water wench." He said narrowing his eyes
"My name is Katara! I know you know it so use it!" She snapped at him narrowing her eyes as well.
"Fine Katara" He said through gritted teeth "Where is the Avatar?" He asked again.
Through still narrowed eyes she answered "What actually makes you think that I'll tell you where he is? And why are you so sure that I do know where he is?"
"You travel with him, you're one of his companions, and you're his friend. Of course you know where he is. If you just tell me where he is I can be on my way." Katara tried to act bored looking at her nails which caused Zuko to sigh "I was really hoping you wouldn't choose the hard way. Trust me you don't want to do that, you wouldn't be able to handle it."
Instead of fear which was probably what he intended katara felt anger boil up inside her, "I'm not scared of you. And you don't know what I can and can't handle".
"Fine Katara, then let's just see how much you can really handle. Take her out to the courtyard" He barked to the guards outside of the cell
"Hey! What are you doing? Let go of me!" She yelled at them struggling to break free of their hold on her. Once they successfully tied her hands, they let go and shoved her out. Katara was forced to walk in between the two guards with Zuko leading them in the front, no way to escape.
The court yard? Why are they taking me there? Shouldn't they take me somewhere like a dungeon or something? Or their own specialized torture room? Why are they taking me to a courtyard? Aren't courtyards supposed to be outside? Do they do stuff like this often? And what is this that they are going to do to me? Will I actually be able to handle it? No. I can't think like that, I am going to be fine. All these thought were swarming through Katara's head and the more she thought the more nervous she got about what's waiting for her, but she kept on trying to convince herself not to be afraid.
On the way to the courtyard, Katara tried to memorize the path, but after a few turns she got confused and gave up. They reached a staircase and had to climb it up, each guard shoving her up the stairs yelling at her to pick up the pace.
When they reached the top of the stairs she tried again to memorize the way outside, but there were too many twists and turn. So Katara decided to distract herself by focusing on the many vases and tapestries decorating the walls.
Soon they reached a set of double doors that let outside, and the sun bright rays momentarily blinded Katara and she stumbled over her feet. She had been locked away in a dark cell with only a few torches as light source for three days, she didn't expect to be outside so soon.
Before she even had time to adjust to the bright sun, the guards who had escorted her out grabbed her from her arms and hauled her toward the center of the courtyard.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Katara said trying to keep her voice as steady as possible.
They didn't answer her and instead kept walking until they reached the center. There were two poles a few feet away from each other with shackles that were chained on top of them. They pushed Katara in between the poles and were reaching for the handcuffs.
"Wait, what are you doing? No, wait, you can't do this. Stop!" Katara tried to get away before they handcuffed her to the poles, but they were expecting that and grabbed her from behind before she could escape.
"Nice try waterbender, you're not getting away so easy this time." The one who grabbed her whispered in her ear which sent chills down her spine. Katara struggled as much as she could but eventually they were able to chain her hands to each of the poles lifting her arms and making her hands rest at the same level of her head. She was facing Zuko who was a few feet away from her.
"Ok, I'm stuck here? What are you going to do now?" She spat at him growing more and more nervous by the second. Why is he just standing there? If he's going to put me out of my misery then he should do it quickly because waiting here like this is killing me! Katara thought.
"We're just waiting for more people. My father wanted it to be public so when you tell us where the Avatar is everyone will see you humiliated." Zuko told her.
"You're just wasting your time, I'll never tell you." She repeated with fake calmness.
More people started to gather into the courtyard. They were mostly men all dressed up in fancy robes who must have been nobles, but there were a few servants here and there as well. Katara briefly wondered if they were forced to come and watch just like the rest of the people or if they choose to come on their own to watch what they must call 'entertainment'. Most of the people there were either giving her disgusted looks or had pity for the young girl. A servant came and said something to Zuko too softly for Katara to hear. Zuko just nodded to the servant girl and she quickly left. He took a breath before starting.
"That's all the Nobles that are able to come, the rest can't make it" There were about ten Nobles, about five servants and a few guards as well "It's time to start." Zuko announced to the crowed.
Oh no. They're starting, but starting what? Oh La, I really hope it won't be that bad. That I'll survive this, please. Katara's heart was beating loudly in in her ears, she could barely hear anything.
She saw Zuko give a nod in her direction, but he wasn't looking at her, he was looking past her. And Katara turned her head just in time to see a guard reach for a whip. Her eyes widened and she gasped in horror as she finally realized what they're going to do to her.
"NO WAIT-" she tried yelling, but was cut off when the whip made contact with her skin and she screamed in pain instead, eyes watering. If it weren't for her hands cuffed to the poles and keeping her in place she would have fallen to the ground with the impact.
"Would you care to tell me where the Avatar is now?" Zuko asked her but couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes.
"No! I won't tell you! Not now, not ever!" Katara yelled at him. Her answer caused her to get another whip lash on her back and Katara gritted her teeth so she wouldn't cry out again. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of hearing her scream in pain again. She saw that some people in the crowed were smiling and some were even laughing. Like this was all some sort of game.
"Where's the Avatar?" He asked again. More tears started to form in Katara's eyes, but she still wasn't going to answer his question.
"You think this will make me tell you? HA! I will never betray Aang. He's more than just the Avatar to me! He's my friend!" She yelled at the prince. And again she got hit on her back with the whip.
"Where is he?" He asked again. Katara laughed darkly.
"You know Zuko, you're a bigger monster than I ever thought you were." Another hit on her back.
"Tell me where he is peasant!" He demanded.
"You should be ashamed of yourself. ALL OF YOU!" Katara yelled looking at the crowed of people. "How can all of you just stand there doing nothing!? How can you live with yourselves after watching stuff like this happen right in front of you!?" She yelled furiously.
Katara groaned when the guard whipped her again. She was breathing heavily, her back felt like it was on fire, and her knees were trembling.
"This can all be over if you just answer the question." Zuko said calmly.
"I won't betray him, oh, but I'm sure you'd be fine with betraying someone wouldn't you? You're just so good at it. You might think it's so easy to betray someone, to turn your back on them, but I'm not like you, I'll never be like you, I won't do it." Clear hatred was in her voice and she let out a yelp as the fifth whip hit her.
"This is your fault! If you would just answer the question you wouldn't be here. You can make your suffering go away if you would just tell me." He yelled back at her furious. She gasped in shock and anger.
"How dare you! Look at me! Look at me Zuko!" After a moment his golden eyes came to rest on her blue ones. "How dare you say that this is my fault! Because this was your idea wasn't it? You want to know where Aang is so bad that you are torturing me. You can also stop this I mean you are a prince right? You can stop this with only one word. But no, you are choosing to be here. You are choosing to watch me suffer. You are purposely inflicting pain on me. You are choosing all of this! Not me. And you wonder why everyone hates you. Why everyone hate the Fire Nation. It's because of this! You sick and twisted people are gathered around to watch a person get whipped and you think it's funny. This must be so entertaining for you!" Katara yelled at him and he looked away right before the guard whipped her again.
"Stop looking away!" Another whip on her back. Her legs finally gave in, but since her arms were shackled above her head, her knees couldn't reach the floor and she was left swinging slightly in her spot. Her arms were getting tired and starting to go numb. Zuko looked up again and locked eyes with her.
The guard threw back the whip again and Katara couldn't stop the cry that escaped her, tears finally spilling down her eyes as she let out a small sob. His eyes softened a little when he saw her. The guard pulled back the whip, meaning to strike her again when Zuko held up a hand.
"Stop. Everyone here can leave. She's not going to talk and I've had enough. I will not stand here and have her disrespect the Fire Nation any longer. We will continue another day." He addressed the crowd. Once almost everybody had left to continue their daily lives, he turned to Katara and her guards.
"Free her from the shackles and take her back to her cell. Be very careful with her." He told them.
"Don't worry my Prince, she's to bruised up to escape." Said one guards while taking the chains off of the girl.
That wasn't what he meant but all he said was "Yeah, I know."
Zuko watched as they took off the shackles and when she was free of her arms, she fell to her knees. She was breathing hard, her arms were shaking and felt as if they were about to give out any second. Two guards came before she could completely fall to the ground, and yanked her up by her arms and she moaned in pain.
Katara tried to walk, but she couldn't so despite herself, she decided to let the guards drag her back. Zuko watched as they escorted Katara to her cell, her feet dragging a little on the floor. He saw her back, all bloody and raw. Once she disappeared from his sight, he turned and saw the blood that Katara left on the floor. He suddenly got angry.
"YOU! Come here and clean this up! NOW!" He yelled at the servant girl passing by. She cowered a bit before bowing and proceeding to do what she was told.
After what felt like hours to Katara, they finally reached her cell. They shoved her in and she stumbled, catching herself on the edge of the bed. After they left, Katara slowly climbed onto the bed, stomach first. Earlier, she tried not to feel as much pain as she could, focusing on her anger.
Just like when she was captured, during the fight she had adrenaline coursing through her veins, but now that it's over she feels horrible. Everything in her hurts. She gladly welcomed sleep and numbness that was overtaking her instantly.
'She's right. She is so right. I'm a monster. How could I do that to her? But it's not really my fault, I had no choice. It was fathers orders not mine. He is the Fire Lord and my father, and I have to obey his orders. But I could have said something, could have tried to help and... I didn't. But I'm sure she isn't hurt that bad right? I mean I've seen worse happen to other people and survive. But that doesn't mean its right. But I also shouldn't feel bad for her. She's just a water peasant and if she had just told me where the Avatar is then she wouldn't have had to get hurt.' Zuko thoughts filled his head. He tried to reason with himself that he shouldn't feel guilty, that it's not his fault. He never commanded to girl to be whipped and it wasn't his idea. But he should have said something, done something.
Zuko let out a frustrated yell that echoed through the empty hallway.
She was so strong. He could still hear her screams and cries of pain in his ears. Still see the look in her eyes.
Agni please help me! Make me stop thinking about her. After a minute of thinking about the waterbender, he made a conclusion. He isn't going to feel guilty over the girl. He only feels pitty for the pathetic girl. He is going to put her out of his mind and focus on something else, something that's actually important.