A/N: I can't believe it. It's the final chapter. How sad!
On a brighter note, I think the squirrel that was flirting with me got run over. XD
Chapter 7
Katara rested her head on Zuko's chest as they leaned up against a tree.
"You know I've been in love with you ever since I saw you in that window?" Zuko asked.
"Yes," Katara smiled. "You know when I fell in love with you?"
"When?"
"When you took that piece of linen I gave you, and thanked me as you tried not to laugh," Katara laughed.
"What? You could tell I was trying not to laugh?" Zuko asked in alarm.
"Yes. And you left without saying goodbye because you didn't think you could not laugh a second time," Katara replied, hitting the nail on the head.
"How did you know that?" Zuko asked.
"It's what I would have done," Katara grinned.
"You know we're going to have to go back to the palace sometime," Zuko brought up.
Katara looked over her shoulder. "Not just yet, though," she told him as she turned around and kissed him.
Zuko and Katara rode in triumphantly on his faithful steed. Well, actually they didn't. They rode quietly into town. The two entered the palace to find it overrun with beautiful women being assisted from carriages by Zuko's brothers and their footmen. Katara shrunk against Zuko.
"Zuko, I'm not so sure about this. I'm scared," she whispered to him, turning her worried gaze to him.
"I'll be right there the entire time. Trust me," he kissed her temple.
"But look at them!" she waved a hand at the other women. "They're all Firebenders. I'm a Waterbender. I stand out like a sore thumb!"
"Who says standing out is a bad thing?" Zuko asked reasonably. He dismounted and then helped Katara down. "Come on. I want to show you something," he took her hands.
"But what about the judging?" Katara protested.
"It'll be a while before it begins," Zuko said.
Katara reluctantly followed Zuko. He stopped and turned to face her. "Okay. Now, close your eyes," he barely repressed a grin.
"You better not try to pull anything," Katara warned him.
"Are your eyes closed?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, no peeking." Zuko began to lead her gently.
"Can I open them?"
"No."
"Now?" Katara asked, her lips parting in a smile.
"Okay, open them!" Zuko burst out.
Katara slowly opened her eyes to find herself looking at the most beautiful garden. At her feet, a pond full of fish rested. "Zuko, it's beautiful," Katara whispered in awe.
Zuko only grinned and moved closer. Iroh let the bush's branch fall back into place, leaving the two lovers alone.
When Zuko led Katara into the throne room, the whole room stirred in awe. Despite her racial differences, the courtiers could not deny she was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen. Married men were privately wishing they were Zuko.
"Zuko, you have won the last contest. You have proven your worth. You're a very lucky man to have such a lovely bride," Ozai congratulated his son. "Drown the other women in the river."
The entire court gaped at their king. He had just ordered the execution of a hundred young, eligible women.
"No, you can't," Katara blurted out. "That's not fair!"
Zuko silently told Katara not to go there.
"What?" Ozai leaned forward, unfamiliar with resistance.
"Those women did nothing wrong! Besides," Katara began shrewdly, "if you drown them you really only hurt your country by decreasing the number of women who can bear you sons to increase your army. Please, your majesty, reconsider before you do such a horrible thing."
Ozai was stonily silent. His brother spoke up. "Wise and beautiful. Prince Zuko chose wisely."
Ozai pinned his brother with a glare. Iroh was not intimidated though. "She brings up a good point, my brother."
Seeing that no one else in the room wanted this, Ozai gave in. "Fine. They can live."
A/N: And yet again, I use creative license to modify the story. It's almost over. I think I'm gonna cry.