Disclaimer: I do not own A: TLA

Chapter 5

(Mizoku)

I wandered aimlessly through the palace gardens, staring at the blossom trees. They were so beautiful, spilling pink petals onto the lush green grass below. I stretched out my hand and caught two petals in my palm. I ran a finger over the soft surface, then without warning they burst into angry flames. I threw their ashes to the floor and continued on my way, trying to stop tears coming. I felt so confused, and alone. I kept thinking about Zuko, and the way he acted around me. Then I thought about my father. My monster of a father. Was the only way to escape him really marriage? Marriage… That word struck fear into my heart. To me, marriage was the relationship between my family members. My father scared my mother half to death, and when she had me, I was the next in line to be made 'obedient'. The only love I have ever received has been from my mother. She was always there, after a beating, to hold me close and promise he'd stop. But he never did, and the beatings got worse. But marriage… To become like Lady Tatsomuto, living in fear of my life and my children's… I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the tears to disappear. "I won't cry! You can't make me cry any more!" I whispered angrily to myself, before continuing to walk, this time quickly, as if I had a purpose.

(Zuko)

My last meeting with brides-to-be was over. I sat in my meditation chamber, thinking about all of them. The two girls I had seen the first time were definitely out of the question. I couldn't live with them. Then there was the quiet one. She was fine, if a little dull. The last girl I'd seen was the twelve-year-old, more to make five than out of interest. Marrying a twelve year old was unacceptable. And then there was Mizoku. Perhaps… Perhaps I could offer her an escape route from her father, and she would take it. I pondered this for a while. I decided to ask her, and if she said no, I would have plenty of time to choose from the other four girls. I dismissed the option of forcing her to marry me. I hated the very idea.

A few days later Mizoku was ready to begin her training. We began with a few breathing exercises, then we went over the basics. I was genuinely impressed. Mizoku was a good pupil, and she had taught herself well. I took up a more difficult position, legs apart, hands raised. She tried to do the same, but was all wrong. "Spread your legs further apart," I instructed, and she did.

"Like this?"

"Yes, but your arms are still wrong," I walked around behind her and put my hands on her wrists. She stiffened slightly. "Relax. You can't fire bend if you're so tense," She did, and I moved her hands into the right place. "Right so now you move like this," I told her, breaking away and demonstrating.

After around an hour, I decided to finish up the lesson with a sparring match. She wasn't too eager, but agreed. I sent a few simple attacks at her, and she dodged them and blocked them. We gradually grew closer, until we were fighting hand to hand. She knocked me back, and I dropped to the floor and swept my leg at her ankles. She tumbled to the ground and I pinned her to the arena floor by her shoulders. She stared straight into my eyes, my face inches from hers. "Give?"

"Give," She said quietly. Without realising what I was doing, I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers. She didn't move or pull away, but she let out a gasp of surprise, and it was enough to bring me back to my senses. I released her instantly, and practically shot backwards. She sat up, staring at me strangely. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean-," She held up a hand.

"Don't make this even more awkward," My heart was beating ten times faster than usual, and I tried to keep my emotions under control.

"Mizoku, I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to think about it carefully before answering," She nodded, looking a little scared. "I have to marry, and there's no one I really want to marry… But I enjoy your company, and I can offer you safety from your father. So, I thought…" I trailed off, unsure of what to say. I had never even asked a girl on a date before.

"I… I… I need some time to think," She said, her eyes looking anywhere but at my face. She ran out of the training arena, leaving me alone in the dark.

(Mizoku)

I was running blindly, and I knew it. I managed to find the garden, and sprinted from the path and collapsed under one of the blossom trees. Tears began to fall, and I just couldn't stop them, so I let them come. I cried and cried and cried years of tears I had held back. I noticed that it was beginning to get lighter, and I ran, panicking, back to my room. I managed to get in minutes before my maid knocked on the door, telling me to get up. I got dressed, and splashed cold water onto my warm face in an effort to hide the fact that I'd been crying. I got dressed and went to breakfast. My father looked up. "What have you been crying about?" He demanded the second I walked in. "You shouldn't need to cry. It's a sign of weakness," He said, glaring at my mother. "Well?" He demanded again.

"I…" Think! I told myself. Do you want another beating? "I must have been crying in my sleep," I said quietly.

"Hmm…" My father said, suspicion painted in his expression. We ate in silence, and my mother asked how my meeting with the Fire Lord went the day before. "It went quite well," I lied. "He said he liked me because I wasn't like the other girls," At least that bit was the truth. Father smiled, and Mother looked relieved.

"Well, perhaps we have a new Fire Lady in our midst!" He said triumphantly. Suddenly his expression darkened. "Now listen here, missy. If the Fire Lord wants you, you will not object, and you will do anything he asks of you. You hear me? Anything,"

"Yes Father," I said. I was in no mood to argue, and I had only just recovered from the last time I hadn't held my tongue.

"Good. Not like the other girls, eh? That's my girl," He would always do this. Make out like our family was nice and normal, but at the slightest thing he would snap and either my mother or I could end up in the infirmary. I was always tense around him, especially if he had anything to drink.

(Zuko)

She said she needed some time to think, but I didn't know what that meant. I paced the room, wondering what to do next. "Lord Zuko, please sit down. You are wearing the floor out," My uncle was sat at a table drinking tea and watching me pace. I sat down reluctantly. I didn't feel like sitting still, I wanted to get up, do something, anything to stop me from getting caught up in my thoughts. "You seem troubled, nephew. Perhaps some calming tea-,"

"No uncle!" I shouted. "No, uncle," I said more quietly, regaining control of my emotions. "No tea,"

"You should talk. Talking is a good way of relieving stress. Are you worried about choosing your bride?" I gave in and decided to talk to him. After all, what was the worst that could happen?

"Something like that,"

"What is it?" He studied my face for a few moments, then sat back and said, "You have been pushed away by Lady Mizoku, have you not?" I stared at him, my mouth hanging open.

"Uncle, how did you-?"

"I have known you a very long time, nephew, and I know how to read your face," I sat stunned. Was my face really that readable?

"What am I supposed to do? She said she needed some time to think,"

"Then you give her space, and let her think. She is probably very confused,"

"Yes uncle," I said, and turned to leave.

"I mean it Zuko. My grandchildren are on the line here," He called after me, then ducked as I sent a fireball towards him.

(Mizoku)

I had been left to my own devices for most of the day, and had just been thinking about what to say to Zuko's proposal. Well, if you could call it that. I was walking down a random corridor, when I passed retired General Iroh, who called after me. "Yes sir?" I said, bowing politely.

"You do not seem to have anything to do, Lady Mizoku. Perhaps you would care for some tea with me?"

"It would be an honour, sir," I said. I had nothing better to, I supposed, and the old man seemed nice.

"Excellent! You like tea?"

"Very much," Actually I only liked Ginseng, but that didn't really matter. He led me to the library. I had never been inside it before, as women weren't really supposed to read. We had to learn how, of course, but that was more to we could read and write letters. I was amazed at the amount of books and scrolls that lined the walls. I had only ever read one book before; it had been one my late grandmother had given me, and was a beautiful love story about a Geisha. I still kept it in a box in my room. "You stay here," Iroh told me. "I'll go and find a servant to bring us some tea," I nodded, and left me alone in the room. Curiosity getting the better of me, I picked one of the books off the shelf and began to read. It was about Avatar Roku, the fire bender. I sat down, and was so immersed in it I forgot to listen for the retired general's footsteps. "I have to say, Lady Mizoku, that I did not have you down as a reader," I hurriedly got to my feet.

"My apologies, Lord Iroh. I didn't mean to-,"

"It is quite alright!" He chuckled. "There is no need to apologise," He gestured for me to sit, and I did. He poured us both some tea, and sipped his, staring at me intently. I put the book down and picked up my own cup. "Tell me, Lady Mizoku, you are Lord Zanna's daughter, correct?"

"Yes sir," It was all I could do to stop myself adding, "Unfortunately,"

"And is he good to you?" My eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What has Lord Zuko said?"

"He told me that your father cut your head," He said, gesturing to the slowly healing cut. I relaxed slightly. "So, I repeat, is he good to you?"

"He is… very… strict," I said, careful not to insult him, in case this man knew my father.

"And uses severe punishments," I looked away.

"Please sir, can we talk about something else?" He nodded, and changed the subject.

"What is that book you were reading?"

"It's about Avatar Roku," I said, handing it to him. He flipped through the pages.

"You read a lot?"

"I'm not really supposed to," I admitted. "It's not a very ladylike thing to do,"

"Nonsense!" Iroh said cheerfully. "What could be more demure than a beautiful woman absorbed in a book?" I smiled at this, and he handed the book back to me. "So you are interested in the Avatars?"

"Not really, I just picked up any book. That one happened to be the first," We talked for a little longer, then I excused myself. I went to open the door, but Iroh stopped me.

"Here," He said, placing the book in my hands. "You keep it," I thanked him and hurried away back to my room. When I got in, my father was sitting reading, and looked up.

"Where have you been?" he snarled as soon as he saw me. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"I have been taking tea with Lord Iroh," I said. His expression softened.

"Tea with Lord Iroh, eh? That's my girl!" He smiled a wide smile. "You must be the favourite! What's that?" He snapped, his mood suddenly changing back to suspicious and angry.

"It's a book," I said, holding it out to him. "Lord Iroh gave it to me,"

"Hmm… It's good that you received a gift, but a book? Ladies have no need for such things. Give it here. I will dispose of it,"

"But father," I said quickly. "Don't you think Lord Iroh will consider it an insult if I throw away his gift?" Truly, I didn't care what Iroh thought, but there was no way I was going to let him take this book from me.

"I suppose," He said grumpily. "And I hope you paid him every respect? I do not want you to forget your manners now and ruin everything I've worked so hard for," I felt anger bubbling up within me. Everything he'd worked for? I had been the one working! "Just think how powerful we'll be when you marry the Fire Lord!" I couldn't listen to any more and excused myself. Perhaps Kika was right. Maybe the only way I would be able to stay alive would be a marriage to Zuko. I went to see my mother. I knocked on the door of her room, and there was a muffled shout, telling me to wait. When the door opened, my Mother appeared, her hair covering most of her face, and dressed in a bathrobe. "Mother?" I said, beginning to panic. She ushered me inside and locked the door quickly behind me. I reached up and drew the curtain of hair away from Mother's face. I gasped at what I saw. My mother's usual flawless face had been bruised and was swelling. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying. She winced as she breathed. "Mother, did he-? Oh, god…"

"It hurts to breathe," She said in a weak voice.

"I think your ribs are broken," I said in a low voice. "Listen, I have to take you to the infirmary, or the ribs might not heal properly, and it could kill you," Her eyes widened in fear.

"No! He'll see!" I told her to stay where she was, and went to check on Father. I peeked into the study he was in, and saw that he had fallen asleep, still holding a bottle of ale. I went back to mother. "Mother, he's asleep. If we go now he won't see us," She nodded weakly. I helped her dress. It was getting late, and no one was likely to be wandering the palace, but we couldn't risk it. I helped her to walk, and we headed for the infirmary.

Review and let me know what you think. I didn't mean for Mizoku's father to turn into such a monster, but it just sorta happened. Oh well. If you don't like it, tell me. I can't fix it if I don't know it's rubbish!

Miss SJB