A.N. Sorry about the delay. I was going to post this on Friday, but after I saw the preview of the season finale, I went into shock and was therefore incapable of doing so. That, and it wasn't finished. I originally wanted to get a bit farther, but I was so busy this week. Anyway, enjoy!!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Katara and Naomi looked around in complete awe. All around people walked clad in red. Katara caught a glimpse of a wagon on the far side of the street. She recognized the man standing next to it.
"Naomi, look," Katara said. "There's the captain with our stuff." Both of the girls ran over to him.
"Captain," Naomi said with a small bow. "We have come to collect our things."
The captain chuckled. "Take your stuff, girls, and then go to the inn. Get a room now before they run out. You know what to do after that," he added with a smile.
The girls collected their trunks and were about to leave when he said something else. "I will be around for a few more days, just until you get settled. I'm staying at the inn. Report to me when you find work."
With that, Katara and Naomi left, heading towards the inn, which now that they though about it, neither had any idea where it was. The two wandered around a bit before they found it. They quickly got a room and left their trunks, not bothering to unpack.
By that time, it was mid afternoon. Katara and Naomi knew that, as much as they wanted to wander around the city, they should go see about getting a job.
Katara sighed as they walked outside. She looked at her friend. "Do you think the other girls have gone already? To get jobs?" she asked.
"Maybe," Naomi shrugged. "Some might still be down there at the docks."
The two girls continued walking until they reached a small building, separated from the others. They walked up to it. This building was where anybody who was looking for work in the palace would go because one does not simply walk into the Fire Lord's palace.
Katara remembered that lesson. She knew the palace was surrounded by a large wall, and all of the gates were guarded. Nobody got in or out without papers saying they were allowed to do so. This made it especially important to get some of the girls jobs inside the palace - otherwise they would not be able to touch Zuko.
Imagine, Katara thought, if we were to all come all this way to have none of us able to get inside the palace walls. She smiled slightly before erasing it off her face. The success of this mission hinged on the fact that someone could get into that palace, and this did nothing for her nerves.
Katara and Naomi paused before walking inside the building with the sign that read 'Palace Services.' They looked each other. Katara smiled. "You okay?" she asked her friend.
Naomi nodded. "I'm ready," although she was clearly nervous. She, too, realized what was at stake.
They walked in and were very surprised with what they saw, which was, in fact, very little. Katara, at least, had expected to see a lot of people there, doing various things, but the place was practically empty. Only a single man was there, sitting behind a desk, looking rather bored with himself.
"Can I help you?" he asked dully. He barely even looked at the girls.
"Yes," Katara said, stepping forward. "We are looking for jobs."
The man glanced up at her. "Well, there are plenty of places for jobs around here. There is a small teashop just down the road which is hiring-"
"I think you misunderstood me," Katara explained. "We're looking for jobs in the palace."
The man looked at the girls for a full second before bursting out in laughter. Katara and Naomi's heart sank. They didn't want to hear what they thought he was about to say.
"You girls actually want to work in the palace?" he asked. Naomi had trouble hiding the excited surprise on her face. Katara took one look at her and had to suppress a giggle.
Seeing their faces, the man realized they weren't joking. "You're serious?" He glared at them.
Katara shook her head. The man spoke again. "You girls do know that the tea shop is-"
"Yes, we know that the tea shop is hiring, okay," Katara said, slightly annoyed.
"And you don't want to work there?"
"Well, I've never been one for tea and my cousin here has a slight allergy," Katara lied. "Plus, we would be honored to serve in the Fire Lord's palace."
"Very well, then," the man said with a smile. "You happened to be in luck. Or not," he added. "We had quite a few servants leave us last week. Some complaint about spoiled, moody nobility." He looked up at the girls, wanting to see their reactions to that. There was none. They just looked back at him.
Wow, they must be from far away, he thought. Nobody from around here in their right mind would actually want to work in the palace. Not with those temperamental nobles it houses. He was going to tell them straight out, but remembered the desperate need for help up there. He would be blamed for not hiring enough people, and did not want to be on the receiving end of that harbored anger. It's gotten to the point, he decided, that even if a cripple walked in, he would be hired.
The man handed Katara and Naomi forms to fill out and returned to utter boredom. After the girls had filled out the forms, he stamped them with a rather official looking stamp and explained to them what they had to do.
"Once inside the palace, go straight to Mistress Pri. She will assign you jobs." With that, the man waved them off. I give them two days, he bet with himself, smiling.
Katara and Naomi walked out of the little building in utter disbelief. "Did that really just happen?" Naomi asked.
"I think so. Who would have thought it would be that easy?" Katara paused for a second. "Although I am starting to feel a little nervous."
"Why?" Naomi asked.
"There must have been a reason for all of those servants to have quit. I'm not looking forward to finding out what it is," she confessed.
Naomi silently agreed.
When the two reached the Fire Palace, they showed the guards their passes and entered. They seemed to float down the walkway and up the steps to the palace. Katara pushed open the door and entered. It was beautiful, to say the least. There was some sort of simple splendor to the design of it.
The girls looked around before realizing where they were. A wave of joy, and fear, swept over them. But now that had a job to do.
Katara and Naomi made their way toward Mistress Pri's office. It wasn't that far of a walk, but Katara almost managed to walk straight into a wall. She was so attentive to everything around her (except where she was going), with one thing on her mind. Find Zuko, find Zuko, find Zuko.
They reached a small room with the door wide open. A short, old woman sat behind a desk, shuffling papers. She was obviously important because even in her wrinkled face, Katara could see a hint of humble pride. She looked up at the girls who entered her office.
"Can I help you?" the woman asked.
Katara and Naomi bowed to the woman before speaking. Ok, Katara thought, now's the time to play servant girl.
Katara took a step forward. "We are looking for Mistress Pri."
"Yes…" the woman, Mistress Pri, urged.
"We are here for jobs," Katara continued.
"Bring your papers here."
The girls took the papers they had received earlier and handed them to Mistress Pri, who silently looked them over.
"Katara," she looked up, "and Naomi," she said, eyes darting between the girls. The woman stood, and walked out from behind the desk. "You girls wish to work here?"
Katara and Naomi nodded.
"You know, there is a tea shop just in town that is looking for employees."
Now Naomi spoke. "We would be honored if you were to give us jobs here, Mistress Pri."
The woman shrugged and sat back down. "If you say so." After a few moments of looking over and filling out papers, Mistress Pri spoke again. "You will each be assigned a servant room, with four other girls. You will report to the supervisor of your wing each day for your jobs. Naomi, your supervisor is Mistress Ahn. Katara, I am the supervisor for your wing. Come. I will show you to your rooms."
Without another word, Mistress Pri walked out of the room and led the girls around the palace. She introduced Naomi to Mistress Ahn and then went to the opposite side of the building and showed Katara her room.
"This is where you will sleep," Mistress Pri explained. "There are currently no other girls in this room, but don't get too used to that. If you have any problems, report to me. My room is at the end of the hall. Get your belongings and be ready for work tomorrow morning." Before Katara could even think of a reply, Mistress Pri walked off.
Katara looked around the room. It was a simple, circular room. Five beds lay positioned around the center of it. Each had a table next to it and curtains around the bed, for privacy. On the far side of the room there was a small closet to be shared between Katara and her roommates.
Katara went to go get her things from the inn. She only hoped that she would run into Naomi there, so they could talk. The chances of them running into each other in the palace were very slim, they were stationed in opposite sides of it. They desperately needed to talk.
A.N. Rewiew. Please!!
Again, sorry it took so long. I have nothing written past this point, so I have no idea when I'll be able to post again. Though, I have off on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving!! Hopefully I will be able to write more then.
While you're waiting, review!! Thanks.