Zuko

After seeing the royal physician, Sam and I started to head back to our bedroom. I could feel that she was annoyed.

"I told you I didn't need to see the physician," she said, indignantly. Although the physician declared that none of her injuries were severe, he did recommend rest for her so her broken ribs could heal and cleaned the gash on her arm that should have been stitched after it happened. Now it was too late.

"Yes, you did. We didn't know the extent of your injuries. Besides, now we know what to do to help your ribs."

"I could have told you that," she muttered under her breath. I thought that she didn't mean for me to hear her. I didn't push the issue any more. I knew she was annoyed at having to see him. She is as stubborn as I am…almost. I thought, a smile touching my lips.

We reached the bedroom and I opened the door for Sam. She walked in and I could tell she wasn't quite comfortable yet with her new living arrangements.

"You'll get used to it. I know these rooms are big. I would make them smaller if I could." She looked over at me with surprise but she didn't say anything. It was true though. I hated how large the rooms were. After being banished for those 3 years, I had grown accustomed to a less extravagant lifestyle. Sam, of course, did not know this.

We changed into our night time clothes. Sam into her pants and shirt. I still wasn't used to this but if that's how she was comfortable then I had no problem with it however I did wonder if it would start some kind of rumors among the staff. She stood before the bed staring at it.

"It won't bite, you know?" I said trying to lighten the mood again. It worked, she smiled although it didn't touch her eyes.

"I…it's been a long time since I was in a bed like this." she said referring to her home country.

My thoughts flew back to Mai. I hadn't shared my bed with anyone since I lost her and the baby and that was over 10 years ago. We would both lay in the middle of the bed holding each other throughout the night. Then, after I lost her, I laid in this bed alone. Now I would have a different woman in our bed. In mine and Sam's bed I corrected myself. It felt almost like a betrayal to Mai but I knew she would want me to be happy and I hoped that is exactly what Sam will provide to me. I walk over to her and lifted the blankets inviting her under them. She climbs under and lays down watching me as I come around to the other side and climb in myself. I scooch over closer to her and she does the same. We settle into the position we grew accustomed to on the ship: me on my back and Sam on her side with her head on my chest.

She was stroking my chest and was absentmindedly playing with my chest hair, "I love it when you do that." I said almost in a trance. It really did feel good. I could feel her cheek rising into a smile against my shoulder and continued to gently stroke my chest.

Of course I wanted to be intimate but after last night - was that really just last night?, I didn't dare chance it. I didn't want to trigger anything again. "He sat down on my bed, pushed me down and trapped my hands above my head" Sam had said. I had done exactly that when she ran away from me. I felt guilty for triggering those memories. I never wanted to do that again. I was angry when she told me. Not at her, of course. At the monster who did it to her. At her parents for turning their backs on her when she needed them most. Telling her she deserved it. That she had asked for it. Who would do such a thing, I didn't know.

"What are you thinking?" Sam brought me back to reality. She was looking up at me and I knew my thoughts must have been mirrored on my face.

"Just thinking about tomorrow." I lied. I hated lying to her but I didn't want to upset her. I looked down at her and I thought she could tell I was lying. If she did, she didn't push it.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that too. How did they know anyway? That I'm an outsider?" I stiffened at her question. The truth was, I didn't know. News could travel fast through the bending nations but to have beat us to the fire nation? Someone must have sent a message. Via a hawk. I guessed. I told her this.

"I guess that would make sense. Do you think it's the earth queen or… someone else?"

"I would guess it was the earth queen but I really don't know. Anyone could send a hawk."

When one of the staff said that word at my unofficial announcement of her earlier today, it angered me to no end. I hated it that they were saying such hurtful things about her. She didn't want to be seen as an outsider. She wants to belong here. I knew she did. Our situation wasn't ideal but she was trying. And so was I.

I could feel her breathing becoming steady and slow and I knew that she was asleep. It wasn't long until I joined her in slumber.

Sam

I woke up and without opening my eyes I reached my hand across the bed to meet nothing but sheets. I opened my eyes and glared at the otherwise empty bed. I guess I would have to get used to waking up alone. I sat up and was startled to see Nan sitting in a chair across the room.

"I'm sorry to have startled you, my lady. I was waiting for you to wake up to help you get ready for the day." Nan said apologetically.

"No, it's ok. I just…have to get used to this new way of life I guess."

I started to crawl out of bed and Nan came over to me and put a robe on me as I stood. I walked over to the bathing room and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess. I was going to get the brush when Nan was already brushing my hair. I hated this. I turned around to face Nan. "Thank you for your help, but I can brush my hair. I will need help with the top knot though. That I'm not used to doing."

She looked a bit taken aback but handed the brush to me, her eyes downcast.

"I didn't mean to say you were doing anything wrong. I'm just not used to this" I gestured to her. "I've never had someone doing everything for me." She smiled not looking quite so down-trodden.

I brushed through my hair, cleaned my face and brushed my teeth. I had learned that the toothbrushes in the Bending Nations were more primitive than what I was used to back in Las Estrellas. A piece of wood with some kind of course hairs though I wasn't sure from what. It gave me pause when I first came here, but I'm used to it now. Once finished I decided to allow Nan, and to her delight, to help me get dressed and put my hair up in a top knot.

Once dressed, we went to the dining hall for breakfast. There was, of course, more than one dining hall which I learned last night during my tour. There was a large banquet hall that would fit dozens of people at a table. The one Zuko said we would regularly use would fit about 10. Still a huge table but small in comparison.

After finishing breakfast, I wanted to find Zuko, but I knew he was probably working with his councilmen. I noted to myself after being announced, I wanted to join in on these meetings. If I were allowed to. I made a mental note to myself to talk to Zuko about it. But, in the meantime, I was ushered back to our room to start getting ready for the official announcement.

"When is it going to be?" I asked Nan.

"His majesty asked me to have you ready for around noon." I looked at her and was going to ask when that would be. It was like she read my mind, "in a couple of hours, my lady."

When we came into our room, I saw the seamstress was there, "Yin! Good morning to you!" I said, jovially. Yin looked taken aback by my casual demeanor but she smiled at me.

"Good morning, my lady," she said simply. I looked at the bed and on it laid an elegant gown and…was that a cape?

"Yin, how long did this take you?" I said in awe, admiring her handiwork.

"It took…a while." she said. Only then did I notice she looked tired. She must have worked well into the night. I felt grateful for her dedication but a bit guilty she lost sleep over me.

Nan helped me out of my clothes that I had just put on. I didn't understand why she helped me get dressed to wear the clothes for just about an hour. They took the clothes away, presumably to be washed. Yin and Nan both helped me into my gown. After it was all fastened together, they took me to a body-length mirror.

I couldn't believe what I saw. The gown was mostly red and black. The upper part, black with detailed embroidery in the shape of wispy and delicate flames. This embroidery was a deep red with gold highlights where the flame would be almost glowing. The bodice of the tunic was shaped to accentuate my breasts without looking too promiscuous. I actually couldn't believe how great they looked. The skirt portion of my gown was red with golden accents. I turned around and looked at the back, and the back of the tunic was laced together with golden ribbon. I thought this dress would probably look best with a corset but because of my broken ribs, the corset was probably left out. A cold day in hell before I'll wear one of those things. I thought to myself.

"I…Yin. This is. Incredible." I said admiring her handiwork. She smiled pleased with herself and glad I was happy with it as well.

"Thank you, my lady. I'm glad you approve."

"Approve? I more than approve, Yin. This is exquisite." I reached over to her and placed a hand on her arm, "thank you for putting so much work into this." I had never been a seamstress but I did know how to make clothes and how to embroider. I knew this was a lot of work. The detail alone.

Then they brought over the cape that I had forgotten about. I was a bit disappointed this dress would be covered. The cape was a bit more plain - black. It had shoulder spikes like Zuko's, but not nearly as big. Three layers - red with a black accent. It had what I have realized is the Fire Nation insignia on the chest.

It was then that there was a knock on the door. "Sam? Are you…decent?" Zuko asked from the other side of the door.

"Yes, come in," I said. Zuko walked in the room, his eyes searching for me. When they found me, they widened in surprise. His eyes rolling up and down my body.

"Sam, you look…beautiful." He said, simply. He turned to Yin, "you outdid yourself again, Yin. Thank you." He placed a hand on her shoulder, thanking her. She blushed and bowed her head respectfully to her Fire Lord. Zuko looked up at me, "it is almost time. Are you ready?"

I wasn't quite sure of that answer. I looked over at Yin for guidance to which she smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'm ready."

"Good. Let's introduce you to the nation," Zuko said. He offered his arm to me, which I walked down the halls where he led me to another large room with a long red curtain with another Fire Nation insignia on it. He looked down at me and smiled. I nodded, getting nervous.

We walked through the curtains to a large patio-like area that looked out over the crowd of people. I froze. There were thousands of people standing in that courtyard. Zuko felt me stop and my apprehension.

"Don't worry. You've got this. I'll be with you the whole time." That did feel reassuring to me. We continued to walk until we were at the edge of what I had, in that moment, decided was called the "patio." As we walked, there were men on either side of us dressed in robes banging large gongs while we took our place.

Zuko spoke with elegance and poise:

"People of the Fire Nation. I would like to officially introduce to you my wife and our new Fire Lady, Samyah. She joins us from the Earth Kingdom and I know she will serve this country well - serve you well. I know it's been a long time since we lost my first wife, Fire Lady Mai, but I hope you will accept Samyah as openly as you accepted her." Zuko stopped and looked down at me. "Would you like to say something?" He asked.

I smiled and addressed my new people. "People of the Fire Nation. Thank you for welcoming me with such warmth and trust. I look forward to serving you as your new Fire Lady and hope to make this nation proud." I bowed before them and looked at Zuko who smiled approvingly.

"Kneel." he whispered. I obeyed.

One of the robed men came behind me and placed a headpiece into my top knot, "All hail Fire Lady Samyah!" He said and the crowd cheered. I felt tears well up in my eyes at their acceptance. Zuko turned around and offered me his arm. I turned around as well and accepted. We walked back inside the palace.

"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" He asked.

"No, it wasn't. I can't believe the support they gave me. They don't even know me," I said, feeling the love of the nation.

"My people are a very accepting group. I'm glad it went well," he said it almost like he thought it might not have. "Now, are you ready to meet the councilmen?"