Chapter Twelve

Azula's Offer

Khundes stood in the cave in his fighting stance waiting for Azula to round the corner. For a moment he thought of Katara. He could still see her tear filled eyes as she was forcefully taken away at his command by Aang. He quickly closed his eyes and shook the image away.

After a moment Azula came into sight. She saw Khundes standing there ready to fight. "So you are going to fight me then?" she asked.

Khundes stood in silence for a moment then dropped out of his stance. "No. I'm not going to fight you. I know I could never defeat you," Khundes said.

"Well its good that you realize that," Azula said.

"I could never defeat you because my feelings for you will not let me," Khundes said matter-of-factly.

"So you do still care for me then," Azula said with a sly smirk.

"Of course I do Azula. I never stopped," Khundes said.

"Oh I tire of this past talk. Where is the Avatar," Azula said.

"Far from here by now I'm sure. And if you think I know where he was going you better think again because I don't," Khundes said.

"Then you are going to help me find him," Azula said.

"No... I really don't think I am," Khundes said.

"Fine then. GUARDS!" Azula yelled.

It seemed like an eternity before the guards arrived. The whole time they were waiting Azula and Khundes only stared at one another. Not a single word was uttered.

"Yes Princess?" said a guard.

"Take this man to the prison tower," Azula said.

"You'll never get the Avatar Azula. Try all you want," Khundes said as the guards were taking him away.

"Oh I'll find the Avatar. And you Khundes, are going to help me," Azula said.

When they arrived at the prison tower later that day Khundes was taken to the lower level of the prison. This part was reserved for murderers and other low life scum.

"Was it her order to take me down here?" Khundes asked.

"Of course it was. Now shut up," one of the guards ordered.

Finally they arrived at the cell that was to be his. When they opened the door Khundes took in his new living space. There were no windows. There were chains hanging from the ceiling and lying on the floor. The smell was vile. The guards stripped Khundes of his Fire Nation uniform and was placed in prison rags. The guards walked him into the center of the room where the chains were and attached them to his ankle's and wrists. The way the chains were all Khundes could do was stand and kneel.

The guards walked to the door. "Enjoy your stay," said a guard and all the other guards started chuckling along. With that the door slammed shut and Khundes was left there in the cold and in the dark.

"And Khundes? Is he where no one will find him?" Azula asked her body guard.

"Yes princess. He is in the lower levels of the tower. No one goes there unless it is absolutely needed," the guard said.

"Good. You are excused," Azula said.

The guard bowed and walked away. Azula was alone now. She was standing outside her chamber door now. She pushed the door open and stepped inside. Azula's thoughts were racing. She had never had such an over flow of emotion about someone. And she was actually sad about what she had to put Khundes through to gain his help. She would never admit it to him but she was truly in love with him.

Azula banged her fists lightly on the sides of her head. "Get a grip on yourself Azula!"

Khundes had been in the cell now for two days but to him it seemed a lot longer. The door hadn't opened once the past two days either. His stomach growled from hunger. His mouth was dry from thirst. The chains that bound him where cutting into his wrists and ankles. The odor in the cell was nauseating. It was a mixture of decaying bodies and feces of the rodents that would come into the cell every so often.

The darkness that surrounded him was heavy. It was like the dark forced him to stay on his knees, but really what it was was just weakness from thirst and starvation.

The door opened suddenly. Khundes shut his eyes quick and turned his head away. Even though the flames in the hallway were dim they still hurt his eyes terribly.

"Good morning! I'll be your entertainment today!" said a harsh and rough voice.

Khundes opened his eyes slightly and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw a tall, well built man standing before him. There was something in the tall man's right hand. It took Khundes a moment to realize what it was. It was a whip.

"Where do your orders come from?" Khundes said in a slightly raspy voice.

"The princess of course! She said I could do as I pleased to you," said the Tall Man who walked around behind Khundes. "Are you ready?"

"Lets just get this over with..." Khundes said.

The Tall Man laughed. "Alright then! Lets get this show on the road!" The Tall Man pulled back his hand swung the whip forward.

Azula was approaching the prison tower. It had been a week since Khundes was brought to the prison. A week without food and water were her orders and was a small trick to play but it normally worked for her.

Azula had no idea what the Tall Man had been doing to Khundes. "I'm here to see my prisoner," Azula said to the guard at the gate.

"Yes Princess. Please follow me," said the guard.

When Azula entered the lower level the stench overwhelmed her but she didn't let it show.

"Here you are princess," said the guard opening the door.

As the door swung open Azula saw Khundes looking away from the door. She smirked slightly. "You look pretty terrible Khundes."

Khundes forced himself to look at Azula. His lips were dried and crusted. He barely had a voice anymore. "What... do you... want?" he said in a raspy voice.

"I've come here to make you an offer," Azula said.

"What.. kind... of offer?" Khundes asked.

"I'm going to give you two options. You get to leave this cell and help me find the Avatar. But thats not all. You and I can finally be together again," Azula paused for a moment.

Khundes began coughing really hard. Finally he was able to speak. "What is the second option?"

"You can stay in this cell and rot," Azula said.

Khundes looked at her. I thought you didn't want to be with me," he said softly.

"I lied. I do do that sometimes you know," Azula said.

"What difference will it make? My father and your father probably already know what I've done," Khundes said.

"No actually. They don't. I haven't told either one of them what you have done. So you see? You choose to help me, you get your old life back and a life with me," Azula said.

Azula walked closer to him, knelt down in front of him, and stared into his emerald eyes. "Or I can give you another week to think about it..."

For a moment Khundes was silent. He looked at the ground then back up at Azula. "Everything I've been through this week is because I stayed behind to help the Avatar get away faster. I regret helping him escape... I'll help you get the Avatar Azula."

A/N: I realize this probably isn't what you wanted to hear. Believe me. I know. But I've had the plot outlined since chapter one. Everything to Khundes and Katara's kiss to this point of the story. I know what happens further on in the story, what Katara's decision is, and how ultimately the story ends. Please just trust me. I will not let you down!