"Zuko, quickly she's coming." Zuko came to stand by his uncle and saw the procession of people as they walked up to the grand hall. Katara was with them robed in blue. They were to be married.
She stood before him and he caught his breath. All the Fire Nation Regalia in the world was nothing compared to her. She had draping blue dress that seemed like water under the sun rippling with cool intensity. Her hair was braided intricately and placed up. He stood fully dressed in his finest waiting to be blessed by the Elders and the Council. If the Council gave their blessing the Fire Sage Elders would proceed with the ceremony. He took her hand into his, but under her veil he couldn't see her blue eyes or just how sad they were.
They stood on a dais, like the one he had stood on when his father had been crowned. Below them were the people who would witness the joining of the two nations. Delegates including Katara's family and the northern water tribe delegates were all there to behold it. Fire Nation nobles stood to the other side. Also present were some Earth Kingdom kings and nobles, but even familiar faces could not soother Katara's angst. She walked in a daze, like a fog had been placed in front of her and she could do nothing but go where led. She had no will at this point.
Zuko was nervous but her hands felt like ice. When the Council saw her they nodded their confirmation. A physician was sent and he took her into a back room with a few maidens present to test her fidelity. If she passed then she could be wed. Katara had not been told of this for obvious reasons. It was well known in the Fire Nation of women who would purposefully sleep with another man so she could not be betrothed but to Zuko's relief she came back out and there was confirmation she was indeed untouched.
He sighed a bit and the Fire Sage Elders stood before them and gave them blessings from the spirits and the ancestors. Some more things were said but there was no asking of consent to be had, it was after all a betrothal. Finally the Elders turned to her and a servant came out with the fire nation mark of the crown princess and they fastened it on to her hair which had been pulled into a top knot just for the occasion. He already wore his and he bowed before the Elders with her. Next two golden rings were presented directly next to them and he took the ring closest to him and presented it to Katara placing it on her slim finger. She did the same thing with his ring to him.
It was official then. That was it. There was no kiss the bride or anything. Betrothals often do not end up with pleasantries and both of them felt a slight bit of relief at this. The last and final part was the blessing of the Fire Lord Iroh which was freely given and enthusiastically. He kissed the top of Katara's head like a father would and together Zuko and Katara were led to the bedroom. Their bedroom.
In the background people cheered, but Katara did not hear it.
They were practically shoved into the room and Zuko thought he might have even heard a lock. They were quiet for a moment not daring to move. Finally Zuko took a step towards the bed and began to take off all the heavy regal wear. He truly disliked wearing so much. After years of traveling after, and then eventually with, the Avatar he had grown accustomed to comfort and even after five years as a prince once more he felt odd in everything. He undressed down to his trousers which he left on, unsure of what to do. He turned and saw Katara still standing in her gown in the same spot he had left her at.
"Katara?" She seemed to be in a trance and looked up hastily. She saw he was already undressed down to his trousers and held back her breath. He looked so regal and strong. She couldn't see well through her veil but she knew he was muscular. She hastily took off her veil looking into her mirror. From it she could see Zuko's reflection in full view without a veil to cover her vision.
She looked at the top knot on her head, very much alike the one she had worn all those years ago. Her hair was down now as it had been then. She took a brush to her curls that reached fully down her back. Her ministrations were slow. She silently hoped if she took too long to undress he would go to sleep and she wouldn't have to see him.
As slow as her ministrations were he seemed patient and eventually she saw his reflection turn around and stare back at her. She stiffened when the reflection walked closer and closer.
She felt his hands touch her skin on her shoulders and neck. His hands were hot against her skin and she suddenly realized just how cold she was. He began to help her with the dress. It had been made simple for no other reason than what was to happen after the ceremony. It slid of her easily. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw all that remained was her breast bindings and leg bindings. She looked at herself for a moment and then tears poured from her eyes. She began to cry fiercely and she shrunk down to the floor trying to hug the discarded dress closer to her. Anything to let her feel covered and not vulnerable to him.
Zuko let her cry, there was nothing else he could do. He had tried. He wanted to comfort her, but he was as much afraid of her rejection as her tears. So he turned to the bed and went underneath the covers. He couldn't sleep until finally she stopped crying but with his back to her he didn't see her. He was too tired and drifted to sleep.
Katara awoke the day after her wedding cold. When she had started to cry he had left her, miserable wretch that she was and went to bed. After a long time when her tears had finally ceased she saw he was asleep. She had grabbed a robe laid out for her and wrapped it around herself, finally feeling a sense of ease at being covered once more.
She had looked around hastily for somewhere else to sleep, but the only option was the cold hard floor. Finding no other option she saw the Zuko had slid himself to the very edge of the bed. There was a vacant spot nearest to her on the other side of the bed. She hesitated but eventually climbed into it and was astonished to feel a deep heat radiating from her now husband. She had never felt such body heat and she turned her back hesitantly to him but her hands began to grow cold while her back heated. She became confused, her need for warmth was overwhelming her and slowly she turned to face his back and felt warmed instantly. She wanted to touch him, he was so warm, but she feared waking him. She let it go and eventually slept, finally.
When she had awoken the bed was vacant and the sun had already started its passage across the sky. She felt guilty for sleeping in so late but as she awoke as if on cue a maid rushed in with breakfast. She felt a blush crawl up in her throat as she tugged the sheets around her uncomfortably. The maid barely looked at her twice before setting the tray before her and crawling out of the room. She heard some sounds outside of her door and tugged at her robe to clothe her more.
Zuko stormed into the room and barely even acknowledged her. He was shirtless and was wearing trousers very much like the ones she has seen him in the night before. He was sweating fiercely and she guessed he had been outside training. He didn't bother to look at her and she was relieved but as she sighed slightly she caught herself. He looked up and over to her, his golden eyes studying her.
"Good morning." He finally said. She hugged her robe closer to her skin. He shook his head and let her be and went into the bathroom. She heard the sound of water and suddenly her sensations ran wild. She wanted to waterbend, but he was bathing. She wondered if he had used firebending to heat the water himself. She was curious of what kind of person Zuko was now and of this new world around her. But she was just as much curious as afraid of both of them.
She ate a bit of her breakfast but the food was strange and far too spicy for her tastes and shoved it aside after not eating much. She felt like an alien surrounded by all the red. The dark red and gold lined all the tapestries and sheets. She felt lost in it all. She heard the water stop moving and quickly she went behind a nearby screen. Zuko came out from his bath with a towel on and she turned around trying not to appear indecent.
Zuko looked over her way and shook his head at her innocence. Finally he took a step closer to her.
"Katara you don't have to hide behind a screen." She gulped silently and forced herself not to turn around. For all she knew he could be naked.
"I'm fine thanks." The words came out far icily than she had intended and she heard an aggravating grunt.
"Don't worry Katara I won't touch you." She almost yelped in disbelief.
"Oh really? For how long?" If she had turned around she would have seen him shrug indifferently.
"I guess as long as it takes."
"For what?" She asked hotly.
"For you to want me." He replied. She didn't hear any more because he had gotten dressed and left the room slamming the door behind him.
She couldn't believe it. He wouldn't touch her. She wondered why. Why was he being so nice or was he just being indifferent? She decided it didn't matter at this point and was thankful to the spirits she didn't have to deal with him.
It seemed like every day was like the last for Katara. She was mildly happy although the food was disgusting and there was nothing for her to do. But she saw Zuko little, which was fine by her. She saw him maybe once in the mornings after his training and usually either at dinner or later that evening when they fell asleep. She was almost content. Being married wasn't so bad after all, she guessed.
There was a little garden area with a pond where turtleducks swam. She spent most her time among them, just content to have some water to bend even if it wasn't much.
One night after dinner she was roaming the palace trying to remember her way back to the room when she stumbled along two voices. She recognized them instantly and began to turn around when she recognized her name. Her curiosity peaked and she tried to get closer to the two figures enough to hear what they were saying without having to be seen.
"So how is Princess Katara?" She heard the clack of wooden pieces as a game of Pai Sho was being played between two men.
"I don't see her much." There was a soft chuckle from the other voice, Iroh's, she had come to recognize.
"I meant in bed, nephew." She stiffened at the mention of their marital bed. There was silence for a minute and she wondered if something had been said she had missed.
"She is fine." Another clack of wooden pieces.
"Just fine? I thought you would be more enthusiastic about it." There was a long pause again and another clack of pieces.
"I have not touched her."
"Surely you jest, nephew. The Lady Katara is such a beautiful woman. You should have no reason to distaste her."
"I'm afraid you have gotten it all wrong, Uncle. She is the one disgusted by me."
"Now I believe you are jesting now, Nephew. I have seen the way women's eyes follow you at court. I have every reason to believe you are a very handsome young man."
"You are wrong again, Uncle. Katara will never see me as anything more than a monster. She always has and I do not blame her for it. I have done nothing to deserve anything less." Katara stiffened at that. Did he truly think she thought so low of him? Did she think that way of him? Her thoughts stopped as she heard movement and hastily retreated back to her room. She felt guilty.
Sure he had done things wrong in the past but he had changed. He was a better person. The gash on his side had grown wicked looking indeed but she did not think he was a monster for it. And his eye looked the same as it always had, the burning scorch mark upon it evident and ugly in its form, but in no way did it make Zuko looked ugly. It was ugly for what it represented but Zuko wore it honorably, perhaps to remind everyone he too had suffered at Ozai's hands, or maybe it was more to remind himself.
She sat on her bed wearily and undressed putting the thick red robe on to her skin. She heard footsteps and waited hesitantly on the bed. She needed to confront Zuko with her thoughts and feelings especially if they were going to make their relationship work. They couldn't spend the rest of their lives avoiding each other.
Zuko came in wordlessly again as was usual for him. He began to undress down to his trousers now and she turned her head slightly to him hesitantly.
"Zuko?" She said softly wondering if he had heard her.
"Hn?" Was his response as he continued taking his shoes off.
"I do not think you are a…" she wanted to say monster but knew if she did she would reveal she had been listening, she chose her next words carefully, "a bad person. You have done some bad things in your life but you are not a bad person, not anymore." She heard him shift and felt his eyes against her back.
"If you are going to talk to me, face me." He said almost challengingly. She felt angry at his crude remark but nonetheless turned to meet his fiery gaze. Those golden eyes stared back at her, her own deep blue eyes driving him mad.
"Zuko, you're not a bad a person!" She felt like she was almost yelling. His eyes narrowed and he stepped around the bed coming closer to her. She stared back defiantly at him, refusing to give ground.
"But you love the Avatar." Her breath caught and she sat up in surprise. What was he saying? She forced herself to breath and when she did she felt her mind returning to her.
"You're wrong I do not love the Avatar, not anymore. Maybe at one time, long ago, but that time is gone." Her words almost seemed sad and regretful. She was married to Zuko now, Aang no longer mattered. He was her Avatar and once he had been her friend. But he could be nothing more now.