Katara POV

No one had told me about his scar. When we found out that we would be working for the royal family after two years of serving the general, we had gone through hundreds of lessons and training, how to speak to them, how to look at them, but no one had told us about the scar on our prince's face. His face was marred beyond repair. It was so sad.

But then he laughed at us. My sadness flew out the window, and I ignored an important rule: Never stare at your master. It was considered "outright defiance right next to rebellion." Yet I continued to glare at his back as he led us through grand halls, baby Anneke, my cousin, on my hip, and if he had turned around, my scornful look would not have changed.

Finally, he brought us to a large door and turned to me. "Take the children and bring them in here." He opened the door and motioned for my eight and six year old cousins along with one of my neighbor's child to go inside.

I panicked for a second. Where are they being led to? I can't let anything happen to them. He was closing the door behind them.

"Wait!" He stopped. "Can I speak to them for a moment?"

He seemed extremely annoyed, but complied. "Alright. Just a moment."

I entered the room, and realized this must be a servant home, as there were people of all ages sitting, standing, or laying at bunks. And they were all staring at me.

My poor cousins, Aya and Alrik, cling frantically to me. I try to shake them off. "Please, you have to watch Alrik, okay? You guys are strong. Be strong." I looked into Aya's eyes, and worry about the little girl and her brother. I had basically raised them with their mother, and now I had to leave them. This was so hard for me.

She saw my fear and her eyes filled with tears, "No, no, no..." Alrik started whimpering, crying for his mother. My heart was breaking, leaving them. I had seen their mother being taken with the Firelord, and I didn't know what was happening to my poor aunt. She had made me promise to keep them safe. I squeezed them tightly as one of the older women came up and offered me a reassuring smile, and introduced herself, but I hardly was listening. I simply watched her lead them away, soothing Alrik and making conversation with Aya. I went out the door, still holding Anneke, who knew something was wrong, but wasn't able to fully communicate yet.

He looked at me with annoyance. "I'm not having a baby in my hall," he started, but when he saw my look, he understood that I was not leaving this child. I could trust Aya and Alrik to be useful, but Anneke was just too little. Nobody would want a baby hanging around. He simply sighed and said, "Just don't let me ever hear it."

After a long time, we finally reached his door. We entered, and he showed me to my room, just a door off to the side leading to a small room, with little more than a bed and table with incense and clothing. "My previous assistant, Peng, was obviously a male, so the clothing won't fit you. I'll get someone to bring you some. And a bed for her." He looked at Anneke, who was trying to reach the window.

We stood there for a moment, and instead of being servant and prince, we were simply two awkward teenagers, not sure of what to say. "Well, I'll leave you now." He backed out of the doorframe, turning to go.

"Ah, Prince Zuko?" He stopped. I shifted awkwardly. "Um.. what am I to do?"

He seemed confused. "You will assist me with everything I do. And no more Prince. We will be together most of the time, so you are to be my friend as well." How odd, as I should be his enemy. After all, he is the son of the man who ordered the general to kill and raid my home. And now I'm here.

I stood as reality set in. I looked at Anneke, cooing over a caterpillar in the windowsill. I scooped her up and pressed my face into the crook of her neck, smelling the innocent smell of a baby, and I could smell her mother's perfume, or rather rosewater substituting as perfume. When we were first put to work in the general's home, the only person who got me out of my grief was my aunt. She was a tough lady, much like her brother, and my father. She and my mother were close, so I'm sure she felt as much pain as I did. I was closer to her than anyone else, since I hadn't seen my brother or father since I came here. How I missed them!

"Ah... peasant," I heard the prince call.

I grit my teeth. "I have a name." If we were to be 'friends', he's calling me by my name.

"Well, I would if I knew it!" He said defensively.

Oh. Yeah, I hadn't told him. "It's Katara."

"Katara."

"Yes?"

I looked through the doorway. He was standing by his door, looking at me expectantly.

Like I knew what he wanted. "What?" It came out harsher than I meant.

He frowned. "You are not to speak like that to me."

I frowned back. "You are my equal now. I can talk to you as I please." I was treading on dangerous ground, but my anger clouded my judgment.

Surprisingly, he stayed calm. "I did not say equal, I said friend. Friends do not speak to each other like that. And if you ever talk to anyone else in such a manner," he added, "They will not be so merciful as I am. Do you even know why you are in this position, the reason I had to get a new assistant?"

I stayed silent. I wouldn't give him words even if he begged me.

He continued. "My last assistant, Peng, was killed a week ago. I've had no assistant for a week, because he made a rude comment about earthbenders and was killed. So you had better hold your tongue."

I squeezed my eyes shut, so tight I saw stars. I held my tongue. "Yes, Prince Zuko."