Sam

I opened my eyes and, to my surprise, Zuko was still laying with me. I looked up at him and saw he was awake, staring at the ceiling lost in thought. I wasn't sure what he was thinking about but it was upsetting him. I stirred to signal I was awake.

"Good morning," I said bringing him back too reality.

"Good morning, Sam."

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. "Have we reached the shore yet?"

"Yes, we did a few hours ago. After…last night…I didn't want to wake you."

"Oh, well, I'm awake now. When do we leave?" I was anxious to get to the palace and get all of the formalities out of the way. "How long of a journey will it be to the palace?"

"Well, only a couple of hours if we use the komodorhinos." I stiffened at this. Although I had survived the journey the first time, I wasn't convinced I would a second time.

"Oh no. Not them again!"

"Don't worry. You're a pro now right?" He said, smirking. Smart ass. I thought.

We got up and dressed. Everything was already packed. I realized the crew must have come into our room while I was sleeping to gather everything to return to the palace. I followed Zuko to the Komodorhinos and scowled at them. Zuko saw it and laughed. Then it was his turn to be scowled at.

He mounted the beast with ease and Jok came over to help me up like before. This time I gave him the correct foot and it was easier this time. I was still nervous but not as bad as the first time. I could feel Zuko behind me, controlling the animal, as we road back to the palace.

"I think next time I'll teach you how to ride one of these." Zuko said conversationally.

"I'll make you a deal. When one of these things starts flying, then I'll learn how to ride," I said jokingly but meant it. Zuko laughed.

"I'll have to find a way to make that happen then." I thought he probably would too.

We arrived in Capital City and everyone was awing at the sight of their Fire Lord but were also perplexed by this strange woman riding with him. He didn't address any of them about me and I assumed he had already planned out how he was going to do that.

We finally arrived at the stables of the palace. The stable hands were also surprised to see me. Zuko again, helped me down and we made our way through the palace. Zuko approached one of the servants who bowed respectfully to his ruler.

"Good afternoon, Xulin. Would you please gather all of the servants in the throne room immediately? I have an important announcement to make." The man named Xulin's eyes slid over to me and then back to his Fire Lord.

"Yes, your highness." he bowed and scurried off.

"So, what happens next? I need to freshen up if you're going to introduce me." I said trying to run my fingers through my matted hair. It never took much for my curly hair to get so knotted.

Zuko nodded. "Of course. I'll escort you to our room. Then we will head to the throne room so I can introduce you to our servants. I'll then set up a royal announcement where I address the nation and formally introduce you to them as their new Fire Lady."

"And this will all happen today?! How can you pull everyone together so quickly?"

"The formal announcement will happen tomorrow. But I want the servants to know who you are before we do anything else. Then I will have to take my leave and head down to my councilmen to be brought up to date with everything that transpired while I was gone." when Zuko said this, I felt deflated. Of course he would have to meet with his councilmen. I knew that. I just didn't want to be away from the only person I knew here. I was suddenly feeling like a fish out of water. He must have noticed my nerves because he grabbed my hand and kissed my cheek. "Don't worry. I won't leave you alone. You will have your handmaiden with you. I will also be sending a seamstress to get some clothes made for you."

Of course, I will have to dress a certain way now. That didn't surprise me. But handmaidens? Even when I was growing up I didn't have handmaids. My parents wanted us to be self-sufficient and not rely on them. Man, this WAS going to be a big change. He offered his arm to me and I accepted it as we made our way through the palace.

We reached hi- I mean, our room. Wow, it was enormous! I was pretty sure it was bigger than my whole apartment back in Ba Sing Se. There were drapes on all the windows. Red and black with gold trim. Based on the banners and the clothes they all wore, I thought this must be standard. There were several, dressers I guess you would call them, lining the walls. Also a walk in closet. I also saw a door that I assumed went to the bathing quarters. Then there was the bed. I was amazed at how big it was. I thought back to what Zuko had told me about his first wife. I couldn't imagine sharing a bed this size with someone you loved to now only sleep alone. My heart clenched at the thought and it ached for him. Hopefully having me in the bed will be a close second to Mai.

I freshened up. My handmaiden helped me put my hair up into a top knot. I was going to have to learn to do this with the ribbon she used. I was used to using elastic bands. I put on Fire Nation clothes that she had found for me. The clothes, although formal, were comfortable and soft like silk. That is probably exactly what it is too. I thought.

Finally, a knock came at the door. I stood up to answer it but my handmaiden stopped me, "I'll get it your highness." I stopped and nodded to her. She opened the door to reveal Zuko. He looked up and down me and pursed his lips.

"You look…amazing, Sam." He looked over to my handmaiden, "thank you for helping her," and back to me. He walked over and offered me his arm which I accepted.

Zuko took my hand and led me down the corridors to two large doors that were closed. He opened them and there was a huge hall that was filled with people. Were these all servants?! There must have been 150 to 200 people there. There were pillars throughout the room making it look ominous. Zuko led me to a platform at the other end of the room. There was a throne in the center and then another throne to the left of it. Sitting at his right hand I thought to myself. I didn't hate the thought. He led me to this part of the room and we both sat down in our respective thrones.

"Thank you, Xulin, for gathering everyone so quickly." He nodded to Xulin graciously. Xulin smiled and bowed to Zuko, "I'm sure many of you have questions about what transpired during my last trip to the Earth Kingdom. I know this is sudden and unexpected, but this lovely lady sitting next to me is Samyah, your new Fire Lady. I think she will be a fine addition to our royal family and she will serve our nation well."

There was a slight murmur throughout the room and I caught the word "outsider" through the murmur. Zuko's eyes snapped to the part of the room the word came from. He had caught it too. His voice became hard and his expression intense. All I knew was, I didn't want to be the recipient of that gaze. "I will say this one time, and one time only. I expect nothing less than your utmost respect and reverence for your new Fire Lady. Any disrespect shown to my wife will be handled the same as disrespect towards me. Is that clear?" The room murmured sounds of understanding. "Sam, would you like to say something?" Zuko opened the floor for me.

I looked out over the small crowd and smiled, "Thank you all for welcoming me into your nation and into your home. I look forward to working with and getting to know all of you." I looked up at Zuko and he smiled in approval.

He looked at the crowd, disgust still lingering on his face, "You're all dismissed." He waved his hand in dismissal.

Afterwards, Zuko stood and escorted me to our bedroom once more. "I will have to leave you for now. I must speak with my councilmen. Our seamstress will be here shortly and she will get your measurements. You did great with them." He kissed my forehead. I wanted to talk to him more about it but knew it would have to wait. His priority was his nation, and I understood that.

After a while, there came a knock on the door. I beckoned them in and a young woman stepped in with a measuring tape around her neck and a bundle of cloth and what I assumed were pins.

"Good afternoon, your majesty," she bowed to me. "My name is Yin. I hope I can serve you well today. Are you ready for your measurements?"

"Yes, thank you Yin." I said with a smile.

She got to work measuring me. She didn't speak much. Concentrating, I thought. After she was finished she finally spoke, "What kind of clothing is your preference?"

I looked at her and I thought I must look stupid, "I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you mean."

"I want to make you something royal, but I want you to want to wear it - feel comfortable in it."

"Oh," I said simply, "that is very kind of you, Yin." I pointed over to my trunk, "Those are the clothes we brought. Would that help?"

She smiled and nodded. She walked over, opened the trunk and I could tell she was unsure. I said as much.

"Oh, my lady, I mean no disrespect, I just. I've never seen clothes like these before." she held up a pair of jeans. I had forgotten about those. They were what I wore when I came to the Bending Nations.

"Oh, those. They're jeans. I don't think they are common in the Fire Nation. There are Earth Kingdom clothes in there though. You can get an idea off of them." I said. She looked inquisitively again at the jeans and caste them aside. I stifled a laugh. After she was done, she quickly left the room. "Great, alone again."

"Not quite alone, your highness," I started at the voice.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were here." I paused and looked at her, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name earlier?"

"I'm Nan. It's a pleasure to serve you, ma'am," she said, bowing.

"Nan, you don't need to bow every time you talk to me. I'd actually prefer that you didn't," This took her by surprise. I went over to the bench by the window and invited to her to sit next to me. "Tell me, what is it that you do for me? I've never had a handmaiden before."

She looked surprised again. I am going to need to get used to that look too, I think. "Anything you may need. Getting dressed, drawing your bath, helping you with your hair. Anything."

"What about…conversation?"

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, your majesty."

"I mean, talk to me. Tell me about yourself. I promise, I don't bite." I said with a smile. She smiled back and began talking to me, telling me about her life, her family, her dreams. It was slow and restrained at first but she finally started to feel more comfortable with me. It was a pleasant conversation. It was nice to talk to someone besides Zuko. Don't get me wrong, I love talking to him. But conversation came easier with Nan. Probably because she wasn't as guarded as Zuko is.

A few hours later, Zuko came back to our room. I was still sitting with Nan. We were becoming comfortable with each other. Zuko walked in, seeing us sitting together and he looked surprised but not displeased. "Good evening, Nan." He said, bowing respectfully to her, "Would you please excuse us? You may take your leave this evening."

"Of course, Fire Lord," she said, bowing to him and scurried out of the room.

"You're making friends with the servants." It was not a question.

"Yes, I am. Is that a problem?"

Zuko chuckled, "of course not. I'm finished with my councilmen. Would you like for me to show you around?"

"I'd love that, Zuko. Thank you." I took his proffered arm as we walked out of the room. He showed me the whole palace. I wasn't sure I'd ever remember the layout.

"You, of course, will have access to all rooms and areas of the palace." He looked down at me, seeing I was overwhelmed. "Don't worry, you'll learn it. Most of it we don't really use. A lot of the rooms, over 100 actually, are guest rooms for visiting noblemen and other royals. I do want to show you my favorite place of the whole grounds though." I smiled and nodded.

He took me outside to a garden. There was a small pond with a tree near it. "This place. It reminds me of my mother. We used to sit out here and feed the turtleducks."

I looked up at him, "What are turtleducks?" He looked surprised until he remembered who he was talking to.

He took bread out of his pocket and handed me half. He sat down next to the pond and little duck creatures with what looked like a turtle shell came swimming over. I instantly fell in love with them.

"Oh, they're so cute! I love them!" I said realizing that this was probably the most "girly" I sounded to Zuko since he knew me.

"I love them too. So did my mother." he said, smiling at the distant memory. We sat together for a while in silence. Watching the small critters and enjoying each other's company.

"So," I said breaking the silence, "what will my role be here?" Zuko looked surprised, "What? I'm the Fire Lady. I'm sure I'll have duties to attend to, right?"

"Well, yes, but you should get accustomed to our ways first."

"I like to hit the ground running. Is it too presumptuous of me to ask how the meeting with your councilmen went?":

Zuko's scowl was back, "it went like it always does. Them thinking they run this country and me reminding them of their place."

"Oh? What happened?"

"One of my councilmen thinks he can pull the wool over my eyes and I don't know when he is going to learn he can't. A lot of my councilmen are only interested in lining their own pockets and they, for some reason, think I won't see through it. Even though I always do. Tomorrow will be a busy day of reviewing everything they proposed."

"Oh? How much is that?"

"Hm? Oh. Just about three dozen scrolls."

"THREE DOZEN?!" I shouted, unintentionally. Zuko started at my reaction.

"Yes, it's actually light considering I've been gone for three weeks."

"Do you review literally EVERYTHING?" Zuko nodded. "Isn't that…I don't know…a lot for one person? How do you do anything else?"

"I don't have a choice. I don't trust my councilmen and if I don't, things won't get done."

"So why don't you hire new councilmen?"

"I wish it were that simple. The councilmen are those of noble birth."

I understood. This was a system of nobility and not of elected officials. I had forgotten about nobility and monarchy since I left Kondai. "Tell me. These men are paid to be councilmen, are they not?" he nodded again, "so you're paying these men to do a job that they don't do? Because they're nobles? Why not bring people on board you can trust? By paying them what you pay these councilmen, won't that then make them nobles too by proxy?"

Zuko deliberated a bit and then smiled, "and you thought you weren't going to be good at this job. It's definitely something to think about. But until then, this is the system I have."

"Perhaps once I am more acquainted with your ways, I could help you go through these proposals? It would take a burden off of you and I would be able to help my people." Zuko smiled fondly at me for using those last two words.

"I would like that." Zuko looked up at the sky and saw it was getting dark. "Come, I have requested the royal physician see you. I want him to look over your injuries. I told him I would have you there at dusk."

"Zuko, I'm fine really. I don't need to see the physician."

"No, you are not. You are still in a lot of pain, that gash on your arm is infected and I don't like how your eye looks." He was referring to the broken blood vessel that was still making my eye look like it was bloody.

"My eye is fine, Zuko. My injuries are mostly bruises. They're going to hurt."

"Not like they are. And I want him to look at your ribs."

I opened by mouth to protest but Zuko, for the first time in our relationship, put his foot down, "Yes, you are going to see Fen. This is not negotiable. Your injuries are severe and I want to make sure you are taken care of. And that's final."

"Fine," I scowled at the grass and gave in.