Sam

I woke. I wasn't sure how long we had been sleeping but it felt like a while. I looked up at Zuko who, to my surprise, was still sleeping. I just laid there and stroked his chest like I had before. Like how he liked it. I started thinking about the past few days and couldn't help but smile.

Five days ago. We married five days ago. And it felt like we had been together for years. It just…felt right. I knew this was an arranged marriage but could it have been fate? Kismet even? I thought so. We just…fit together. Not just physically, because we definitely did there, but we also seemed to fit together on a more personal level.

Now you decide to bring in an outsider, Chong had said. I knew that they were going to pick a fight with Zuko over me, and I knew it would be because I'm an outsider, but it still stung. The people of the Fire Nation, overall, seemed very welcoming. But then there were those few people who didn't approve of my origin. I would have thought they would have trusted Zuko. He'd been Fire Lord for over twelve years now. Hadn't he proven his capability to them yet? I knew they loved his first wife, Mai, but I had hoped they would accept me just as much as they had her. Give it time. I thought to myself.

I heard Zuko mumble. I thought he was awake but I looked up and he was still asleep. I smiled and stifled a laugh. He was talking in his sleep. I hadn't noticed him do that. Of course, I was always the first to fall asleep and the last to wake. I craned my neck up so I could watch him. He really was a handsome man. His features chiselled and his body well sculpted. He looked so peaceful. No scowl. No glare. Not even a smile. Just, peaceful. I loved seeing him that way. I laid there just watching him sleep.

We laid like that for a while until I felt him stir and stretch. He looked down and was surprised to see me awake.

"How long have you been awake?" He asked curiously.

"Oh, I don't know. An hour or so?"

"What?! Why didn't you wake me?"

"Why don't you wake me when you wake up?" I answered his question with a question. He nodded taking my meaning. "Besides. I like watching you sleep." He looked down at me and smiled.

He stood up and walked over to the window. I thought a bold move since he was still completely naked but then again, who was going to see him? "It's well past dinner time."

I got up, reluctantly, and dressed in the clothes that had been laid out that were now on the floor. Zuko also dressed in something far more casual than I'd seen him wear since we got to the palace. He took my hand and we walked out to the Turtleduck Garden as I had started to refer to it as. There was a picnic basket and a blanket laid out already for us. I had wondered who set this up for us. He lead me over to the blanket and we both sat down. I looked down at the pond and watched the turtleducks swimming around playfully and wondered what their life was like. Peaceful, I thought.

"So, how do you feel now you're official?" Zuko asked me, bringing me back to reality.

"I'm glad it's over." I admitted. Zuko chuckled a bit.

"Yes, I don't care for the formalities either. But sometimes, we just can't escape them." He was right, of course. "Speaking of which, Yin will be making a visit to our room tomorrow."

"Yin? Why?"

"She is going to fit you for a gown. I promised myself back in Ba Sing Se we would have a formal celebration in your honor," he said.

"Oh, ok." I said sheepishly. I wasn't used to being…taken care of the way he was. It was a nice feeling. But foreign. "When will this celebration be?" I wasn't sure how I felt about this. I could only imagine the fanfare it would be.

"I was thinking in about three months. People from other kingdoms will want to attend." My thoughts went back to Earth Queen Kia. I did not look forward to seeing her again.

"I have no choice but to invite her." It was like Zuko read my mind.

"I know," I said simply. I did like the thought of watching her see me now, Fire Lady of the Fire Nation, and not her lowly prisoner.

We sat and just watched the turtleducks for a while. I scooched over closer to Zuko. His hand was propping himself up behind me and I nestled into his shoulder. We turned to and started kissing each other. I don't know how long we were at this until I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder and a thump.

"Ahh!" I screamed and my hand flew up to my shoulder. Zuko jumped and looked at me then looked at my shoulder. His eyes got wide and he was on his feet before I realized what happened. I reached my hand back to feel what was causing the pain when I felt something…wood? An arrow! Someone shot me!

Zuko had fire shooting out of his hands like daggers. "Guards!" he shouted louder than I'd ever heard him before. He was standing in a fighting stance between me and the source of the arrow. He stood still, listening I assumed, waiting for any sign of human life.

"Show yourself immediately! I know you're in there!" Zuko shouted at in the direction the arrow came from. He started walking over in the direction that the arrow came from. I started to feel scared being left alone, sitting on the blanket.

Suddenly I saw several guards rushing in from the palace. They all took fighting stances and started bending as soon as they reached the garden. I was surprised to see that they were not just firebenders, but water and earth benders as well. One of the guards rushed over to me and knelt by me watching the scene unfold intently. He was crouched in a protective stance.

Zuko continued to walk over to the bushes. When he arrived, he reached out into them and pulled out a young boy with a bow in his hand and a quiver strapped to his back. He couldn't have been older than sixteen. Zuko loomed over the boy, rage reflected on his face. He snatched the bow and quiver from the boy and threw them behind him.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right here and now!" Zuko shouted at the boy. The boy struggled against Zuko's grasp but was unable to break free. He was suddenly gripped with fear under Zuko's gaze. I'd never been the recipient of that gaze but I can only imagine how it would feel. Zuko could be very intimidating. Zuko's fire dagger changed to a ball of fire that he held close to the boy's face. I'd never seen anything like it. It had wisps of greens, purples, reds. All colors of the rainbow. I was mesmerized. However, the boy wasn't. His eyes kept going between his Fire Lord's face and the ball of dancing fire that was too close to him. In seconds Zuko was flanked by his guards. Zuko did not let go.

"Explain yourself!" Zuko continued to rage on, shaking the boy. He cowered as Zuko shouted at him. "Why would you try to kill my wife? Your Fire Lady!" The boy looked up at Zuko and suddenly found his courage.

"Fire Lady?! She's an outsider! She doesn't deserve to bear that title! She deserves nothing but pain and suffering!" I'd never seen so much hate in such a young person's eyes until now.

Zuko's hand moved from the boy's shoulder to his shirt. Zuko gripped it and pulled the boy to be eye to eye with him, causing him to stand on his tip toes. "Say that again." Zuko challenged through clenched teeth. "I. Dare. You." His eyes narrowed to slits and the fire still crackling in his hand as he brought it close to the boy's face. The boy didn't dare speak. "Now, tell me why." His voice was smooth as silk but left no room to be taken as anything but threatening.

The boy lost his courage again trembling but wouldn't speak. Zuko threw him over to his guards. "Take him to a prison cell until he's ready to talk." The guards picked up the boy and hauled him away. Zuko turned to me and saw I was crying. Not out of pain but out of fear. I was terrified. The rage on his face turned to concern as he ran over to me. He came around back and looked at my wound. He touched it gently but I still flinched, "the boy is a good shot. Had he been just a hair to the right and it would have pierced through your heart. Looks like your shoulder blade stopped it."

"Great," I said sarcastically.

He ignored me and looked at the guard that was still standing with me, "we need to get her to the royal physician." Zuko helped me stand with my good arm and he walked me to the physician escorted by the guard. It was in a small area of the palace. He opened the door and we walked inside. The physician was there, tinkering with his medicines. He looked over, surprised to see us, and then rushed to my side.

"Fen, she was attacked. Help her, please," Zuko pleaded.

Fen came around me. He took a knife and cut away my shirt. He pulled it away and examined my wound. "It's embedded in her shoulder blade. And the arrow head is completely under her skin. I will have to cut it out." Oh, I did not like the sound of that. Zuko nodded and he came over next to me and held my hand. The physician started to clean the wound as best as he could. He rubbed a salve on it that I could tell was to numb it. It did a bit but I knew I'd still feel it. I squeezed Zuko's hand. He must have seen the look on my face and he reached his other hand up behind my head and brought it down so the the side of my head rested on his chest, trying to comfort me. He held me there, my head trapped between his hand and chest. His thumb rubbing me behind my hear.

The physician started to cut into me and I definitely felt it. I squeezed Zuko's hand harder and he brought it up to his mouth kissing my fingers and squeezing me tighter to himself. I wasn't sure if it was just to comfort me or if he was trying to hold me still too. Probably both I thought.

I could tell the physician was trying to work quickly. I finally felt the arrow start to move around when I finally felt the pain subside significantly. The arrow was out. He started to clean and dress the wound.

I pulled away from Zuko but still kept hold of his hand. I started to look around the room we were in. It was small but crammed with medicinal supplies. There was a small bed where I thought he must sleep. The rest of the room was lined with counters and cabinets with various labels on them. Dozens of jars covering said counters. I wondered what they were all for.

"There you go, my lady. All patched up," the physician said smiling. Zuko smiled back at him.

"Thank you, Fen. Your service is always exemplary," Zuko complimented the physician which evoked a modest bow.

"I'll need to check it tomorrow and redress the wound. The stitches can come out in about a week. I'm glad your injuries were not more serious, my lady," he said with a bow.

Zuko thanked him again. He put his arm around me and he lead me out of the room. We walked back to our room. Once we got there, he helped me change out of my, now tattered clothes. "You need to lay down and rest." Zuko said.

After the events of the evening, I was starting to feel a bit sleepy. I looked at my tattered clothes. "It was a shame. I really liked this shirt." I commented, offhandedly. Zuko looked at me, surprised.

"That's really what you're worried about right now? Your clothes?"

"Yin spent so much time on it. To only be worn once. I really liked this shirt."

"She can make you more." Zuko said. I rolled my eyes. He was completely missing the point.

He lifted the blanket and I climbed into bed. I watched as he walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down. He took his shirt off and laid back.

"What are you doing? You said you have to review scrolls. It will be night soon."

"It will wait until tomorrow. I don't want to leave you alone right now." I laid down with Zuko and drifted into a deep sleep.

A couple of hours later I opened my eyes and, like always, Zuko was gone. Only this time I was awakened by shouting. I stood up and walked over to the door. It was Zuko. Who was he shouting at?

"That's not good enough, Genfu! She was almost killed! How did he get passed your guards?!" Zuko was angrily shouting at Genfu. I dared open the door and stepped out. Zuko's back was to me and Genfu was bowing low to his Fire Lord. "Answer me!"

"I-I-I'm sorry m-my lord! I don't know how he got past. I'll f-find out, I can assure you."

"I expect nothing less, Genfu! You are the captain of the palace guard and in charge of security across the palace grounds. The boy snuck in somehow and I expect you to not rest until you find it and rectify it! Once that's done I expect a full report. Have I made myself clear?!"

"Y-y-yes your highness. Of c-course. Right away, s-s-sir." He bowed low again to his ruler and scurried away. Zuko turned around and realized I was there.

"I'm sorry I woke you, Sam. Go back to bed."

"No." I said defiantly. "Was that necessary, Zuko?"

"Yes. Completely. It is Genfu's job to keep the palace safe. If a boy got through, who else will? I don't want any assassins coming near you ever again. It happened once, I won't let it happen again."

I walked over to him and took his hand. "I'm ok though, Zuko. I'm still in one piece." I said holding my other hand out to my side as proof.

"I know. And I want you to stay that way. We will have to be cautious from now on. At least until this hole in the defenses is solved." I nodded. I wasn't thrilled about it, but I understood.

I looked up at Zuko who smiled but it didn't touch his eyes. They were sad.

"Zuko." he looked at me. He turned in my direction. His eyes connected with mine and they looked sad. Guilty even. "It isn't your fault."

His brow furrowed.

"What happened tonight. It wasn't your fault." I repeated. "These things just…happen."

"I should never have left my guard down. You could have been killed."

"You have to let your guard down sometime. Besides, you're home. You should be able to let your guard down."

"But I can't, can I?"

I gave him a small, sad smile. "And…" I wanted to say it but wasn't sure how Zuko would react.

"And?" Zuko encouraged me to go on.

"What happened to Mai and your-…That wasn't your fault either." His eyes snapped to mine.

"Yes it was. I let my guard down then too. I wasn't even here. And there were so many assassins at the time. I left her. Vulnerable."

I held my hand and out to him, palm up. "Read my palm." I asked.

"What?" Zuko asked confused.

"It's a simple request, really. Read my palm."

"I cannot."

"If I got some bones, could you read them?"

"No."

"So…you do not have the gift of sight, then?"

"No, I do not."

"Then how could you have known that something would happen to Mai? Or me?"

He deliberated for a moment but then conceded, "I suppose I couldn't."

"Then stop blaming yourself for what is out of your control. Bad things happen, Zuko. It's part of life. We can't stop it. What happened to Mai and your child was a great tragedy. But it couldn't have been prevented. And it wasn't your fault."

His eyes softened a bit and he gave me a small smile. "I suppose you're right." he said, kissing my forehead. I knew his getting over the guilt wasn't going to happen that quickly but this was a good first step.