Another friday, another chapter. Thank you so much for the enthusiastic respons on the last chapter! Hugs for everyone!
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Toph didn't respond to the question and instead allowed Zuko's lips to touch hers uncomplainingly. In the hall hundreds and hundreds of people had risen to their feet and were clapping. The noise was deafening, echoing around the room as the newlyweds descended down the stairs; Zuko helping Toph so she didn't stumble.
They walked along the corridor between the seats, graciously accepting congratulations from all sides. Zuko kept shooting sidelong glances at Toph, but if she noticed she didn't react, instead facing forward, a smile plastered on her face as she nodded to all sides.
When they had crossed the room in which Toph had waited before the ceremony the doors of they entered into the main hall of the palace and then out of the front doors. Flowers rained over them and all around there were people singing, cheering, dancing and throwing more flower petals. It had been specially arranged that the dinner took place across the city in order to give the people a chance to celebrate the couple.
A litter was ready for them and as Zuko and Toph were lifted into the air together and carried through the crowd of people rejoicing for them the irony of the situation couldn't have been clearer. Zuko turned his head away from the crowd to which he was waving and towards Toph, "So?"
Toph was silent for a moment, smiling at the populace, a mixture of Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation residents, many of which had travelled to the city especially for the wedding. Then she said quietly, "They blocked my bending. If I cooperate, they'll restore it."
Zuko stared at her aghast, "They blocked your bending? How? Who-"
"My parents," she answered softly, "They gave me something in a drink. I can't do it anymore Zuko! I can't bend! I can't see!"
It was the first time a note of panic had entered her voice, not fitting to the face which was still smiling.
"What?" Zuko exploded "They did what? I don't believe this! It's not going to happen!" Already a plan formed in his mind, "I'll tell Uncle, he'll nullify the marriage."
"No!" Toph voice was so loud that the people near her looked up curiously. "Do you want me locked up for good?"
"That wouldn't happen," he said determinedly, "I wouldn't let him."
"Yeah right," Toph's voice was bitter, "You can't stop my father. No one can."
"Would you listen to yourself?" Zuko almost shouted, not caring about the people, "This isn't the Toph I know! What happened to the bravado, the bravery? Was that just a show?"
"I can't see, you dumbass!" she snapped at him, "I can't bend! I can't do anything anymore!"
Her face was fierce but Zuko stared at her angrily.
"Please Zuko," she said, not softly, not begging, but asking him as an equal, "Don't do anything."
Zuko was about to respond but they had reached the end of their journey. As she descended from the litter Toph threw him a look that was simultaneously commanding and imploring. He inclined his head slightly, and then remembered that she couldn't see him. Her blind eyes were oddly expressive.
The next part of the day was dinner; all of the most important families had been invited, so there was no one that Zuko liked particularly. He didn't mind though, his bride was more than enough to occupy his attention.
Zuko and Toph were seated in the middle of the table, side by side. Next to Toph, in the place usually occupied by the bridegroom's father, sat Uncle Iroh. Beside Zuko was Toph mother, Sun Bei Fong and beside her Toph's father.
Zuko watched them, tried to see what kind of people they were, people that would take away what was most important to their daughter, her life basically, in order to force her to marry a stranger. They didn't seem cruel, or harsh or controlling. Lady Bei Fong was soft spoken and kind, quiet and obedient. And Toph's father, though strict and severe, seemed to care deeply for his daughter, making sure that she was helped with the meal and watching Zuko like a hawk. He wanted to shout at him, to question him, to reveal his motives to the whole hall and to put things right but he didn't. He would trust Toph on this one.
She, incidentally, was chatting with Uncle Iroh on his right but whenever her parents spoke to her she ignored them, not reacting to any of their requests.
"Toph," Iroh's voice was slightly strained but cheerful, "I never expected you to be the one to make an honest man out of my nephew! How did this happen?"
"Oh, it's a long story," Toph could be charming when she wanted to, "I will tell you some other time!" There was a steely note in her voice telling him not to push the subject. And Iroh didn't, instead steering the conversation a less delicate subject.
Dinner was fabulous and lasted for many, many courses but finally, after a dessert of fresh fruit, it was over. The day, however, was not. Now, everyone would be ferried back to the palace, change and then came the ball that would probably last all night.
Zuko rode in a carriage with his Uncle.
"How did this happen?" Iroh asked; his kind eyes serious. Zuko shrugged. He was sorely tempted to tell him what Toph had confided in him, but then he didn't. Toph had asked him not to.
Iroh watched him suspiciously, then looked out of the window of the carriage. There were still people in the street, singing and feasting together. They shouted when they saw the carriages and threw what flowers they had left. It was a together of the two Nations that had never been seen before. Maybe at least some good would come of this mess.
As soon as he had arrived in the palace Zuko was pulled away by servants and fussed over. He was forced into the bath again before being forced into the clothes for the ball. How he longed for this day to be over, to finally go home. It all seemed like something out of a crazy dream.
The clothes Zuko was dressed in now were just as fine as the ones at the wedding had been. The main part was white again and cut straight this time. Closely over it fitted a sleeveless, red vest that was buttoned at the left side and had a high collar. It was made of fine, heavy silk and had a delicate, gold stitching in it that showed, when closely examined, the rise of a phoenix from the flames.
When the servants had finished pinning up his hair he slipped into his shoes. It was almost time; he had just a few minutes to gather himself. He would have sat on the floor to meditate but he was afraid that would dirty the fine silk so Zuko stood instead.
This day hadn't gone at all how he had expected and at the same time it had been utterly predictable. Everything had gone right, the ceremony fulfilled, the people joined. Yet it was utterly wrong. Toph had been blackmailed into the marriage. The surface gleamed and when you looked underneath there was nothing but raw blackness.
For now there was nothing that could be done and he hated it. He wanted to act right now, to stop this madness and it was driving him crazy not to. But he would talk with Toph, later, and they would figure something out. They would put it right.
A soft knock on the door indicated that it was time to go. Zuko walked out of the room and followed a servant through the complicated weaving of hallways that seemed to dominate the Earth Kingdom Palace.
He met Toph before the ballroom. She too had been dressed again. Her dress was white, long and floaty, so that you couldn't see her feet. The neckline was low and left almost all of her shoulders bare. An obi was tied tightly around her waist; the end almost reached her knees. It was dark green and had an intricate design of silver in it, probably something symbolic. Her hair had been plaited and coiled; pinned up at the back of her head with large flower made of diamonds to hold it in place.
Next to her stood her mother, dressed in pale green with a gold obi. Her father was also wearing something green. Lady Bei Fong was saying something and Toph's expression was sour, distasteful. Zuko walked up to her and took her arm, leading her into the ballroom. The others followed.
They danced. They had to, they were the reason all of these people were here and yet both of them wanted nothing so much as to be away from here.
The room was stifling, Toph thought, and the dress was choking her, slowly cutting of the air in her lungs. It was too tight, too heavy, too fancy. The obi seemed to be tightening and for a moment she thought she would faint. It almost seemed like a good idea, it would allow her to get away from here. But she pulled herself together. She wasn't a wimp, a sissy that dropped at the slightest trouble.
But even the ball had to come to an end sometime and finally it did. Sometime, maybe one or two in the morning, when the final danced was announced and then the couple escorted outside. Hundreds of people they had never seen before and would never see again thanked them and wished them luck as they entered their carriage.
Toph's parents rode with them in the carriage. Uncle Iroh had had a bit too much to drink and was now being escorted firmly to his chambers in the Earth Kingdom Palace in a different carriage. They rode together in silence; Toph's face was turned out to the window of the carriage as if she was looking at all the things they passed. There was clear evidence that a feast had been taking place; a big party that had spread through the whole city.
When they arrived at the palace Zuko sprang from the carriage and Toph descended after him. Her parents and their servants followed.
"Come this way," Lady Bei Fong said, leading the way into the Palace. They followed her slowly, not knowing where she was going. It was not in the direction of either of their chambers.
"Something has been prepared for the two of you," She explained noticing the confused expressions as she reached their destination. Zuko's eyes widened as the full realization crashed into him. He stared at the door with apprehension, and then turned to Toph.
She gestured with her head, "You go ahead, I'll be right there." Her voice was hard and pressed and when Zuko had disappeared into the room she turned to her father, "Well?"
Lord Bei Fong closed his eyes. It was the first time his daughter had spoken to him since that fateful day. "I wish you would understand Toph, I really do. We do this for you; it is what is best for you."
She didn't respond, only stood there, her blind eyes looking at him accusingly. He called out to the servant that was standing in the background and she handed him the flask that had been entrusted to her earlier. Lord Bei Fong uncorked it and handed it out to his daughter. She took it from him, hands almost trembling and drank it, quickly and roughly.
He waited for her wrath, her fury. He waited for rocks to rain down on him, for the floor to rise and crush him. In a way he almost wanted it. At least then she would respond to him, give him some kind of reaction. It didn't come, however. When he looked again his daughter had disappeared into the room.
And so comes the wedding night! Please review!