Chapter Three

The icy sea wind cut across Katara's skin like a knife, but she made no move to protect her head. Her blue eyes were fixed on the distant horizon where she could just make out the shadow of the Fire Nation's shores. It was supposed to be almost Spring, but the temperature was unseasonably low and she liked to think that she'd brought a little bit of South Pole winter with her.

In the last week, she'd barely spoken a word. Iroh had tried to engage her in conversation but she couldn't find it in her to maintain any kind of rapport. She just wanted to be left alone and she found that standing at the bow of the ship gave her a chance to do that. Even with their ability to warm themselves from the inside, Firebenders still avoided the cold like the plague.

For the thousandth time since she'd left home, Katara touched two fingers to her necklace. It was heavier than her mother's but she'd gotten used to its weight. They would be reaching the Fire Lord's palace by the next morning and she was trying to prepare herself to meet Zuko face-to-face as his betrothed. It was proving to be an impossible task. Her palms were sweaty and her heart pounded in her chest at such a speed that she was afraid she was going to pass out.

Married.

To Zuko.

She had a slippery grasp on the concept at best and a part of her still couldn't believe this was happening. Anger, sadness, anxiety...all those emotions took turns steering her until she was sure her head was going to split open. Iroh assured her that her marriage to Zuko was symbolic and nothing more was expected of her than to stand at his side. She could return to the South Pole every four months and Sokka had convinced her that it would be possible for her to have a life separate from being the Fire Lady that could even include her own family. However, the idea of starting a second family left a sour taste in her mouth. She wasn't ready to think that she was living two lives and wasn't sure if she could do it. Yet, it made her feel somewhat better to know that she wouldn't be trapped, but she wouldn't feel settled until she spoke to the Fire Lord.

The reality of the situation was, the Fire Lord had a family and she was going to be part of it, symbol or not. There'll be no avoiding him or his children and Katara suddenly found that she was not only going to become a wife, but a stepmother to two young children, one of whom was the heir to the throne. Katara couldn't deny the appeal of influencing the next Fire Lady and her brother. She wondered what life would have been like if Zuko and Azula had had someone like her when they were growing up.

In that parallel universe, she seriously doubted that Zuko would have had a Water Tribe bride shipped to him.

Katara idly blocked the spray that was coming up from the bow of the ship. The waters were getting choppy as they neared shore and she wasn't at all surprised that the sea was a little angrier here. She held the top of her coat closed as the wind picked up and her necklace began to feel cold against her skin. She watched the moon disappear as the sun began to climb across the morning sky. It was the start of her last day as a free woman.

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Iroh kept a firm hand on Katara's as they walked towards the open doors. It was almost as if he was afraid she would run off if he didn't hang on tight and she wasn't so sure that wouldn't be the case. She also appreciated that his grip because she was sure her hands were shaking. As it was, the water around the ship was a little more active than usual.

"Are you ready?" Iroh asked in a low voice.

"Absolutely not," she returned. "But there's no turning back now."

"Katara...I never did say thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. This could all turn out very badly."

His smile was wry. "You and Zuko should get along nicely."

"I seriously doubt that."

At the end of the gangplank, there was a small group gathered, but Katara didn't have to give them a second look to know that the Fire Lord wasn't among them. She had to keep from scowling. The least he could do was greet her since she'd traveled all this way to be his damn wife. What was worse was that he'd sent Azula in his stead.

The princess had become even more beautiful in the intervening years, even with the slightly ominous smirk that curved her full lips and the disdain in her clear amber eyes. She was one of the few people who still wore armor, if only to emphasize the fact that she was her brother's hammer, but it couldn't hide the slender, willowy figure that had proven to be a temptation to more than a few powerful men in the last few years. Her chestnut brown hair was bound in a severe topknot but the effect was softened by long strands that framed her heart-shaped face. It was often said that the Princess Azula was the picture of Fire Nation nobility, worthy to be in any painting...if only she wasn't so deadly. Even standing at rest, Azula looked ready to strike. Her nails were filed to sharp points and her hands loose at sides in case she needed to bend.

Katara wondered again at Zuko's wisdom for giving Azula such a powerful position. It was one thing to keep your enemies closer, but it's another to gift them with your head.

She and Iroh stopped to stand in front of Azula and the princess bowed low, but kept her eyes on Katara. Katara returned the gesture but Iroh's firm arm kept her from bowing lower than Azula and from the flash in the Princess' eyes, she'd noticed.

"Welcome to the Fire Nation, Katara," she said, her voice like honey. "I suppose I will have to get used to calling you 'Sister' soon enough."

"I suppose you will," Iroh said. "Is the Fire Lord ready to see us?"

"Yes. He is waiting in the throne room."

Iroh didn't bother hiding his displeasure at those arrangements, but he didn't argue the point. They made their way to the waiting carriages and Azula sat across from the Katara, her gaze appraising. Katara stared back her, refusing to be intimidated but she wasn't going to lie and say that would have been impossible. There was something about Azula that had shivers going up and down her spine. The other woman sat casually, her legs crossed at the knee, but she still reminded Katara of a tiger-fox that was getting ready to pounce.

"We've been waiting eagerly for your arrival," Azula said conversationally. "How was the journey?"

"Comfortable," Katara answered. "Your uncle has a very nice ship in which to travel."

"You wouldn't think so looking at it from the outside. Princess Maiko is very excited to meet you. You'll be able to speak to her after your audience with the Fire Lord. Did you bring back another Water Tribe doll, Uncle? She's been asking nonstop when you were coming back."

"Of course I did. I would never forget a request from my favorite grand-niece."

"Your only grand-niece—unless Katara is planning to bless our family with more adorable little Zuko-lings."

Katara hoped that her face wasn't as red as it felt and her fingers twitched towards her water skin. Azula smiled angelically at her.

"Imagine: little Waterbenders running around the palace. My father would be rolling over in his grave," she mused.

"Enough Azula," Iroh said firmly.

They pulled up to the palace not a moment too soon. Katara almost pushed Azula out of the carriage in her hurry to get out of the suddenly confining space and stopped dead in her tracks when she got a look at the Fire palace. She hadn't been there since Fire Lord Ozai's defeat and it had been a smoldering wreck, but it had been restored to its former glory as one of Fire Lord Zuko's first acts. It was a symbol of the Fire Nation's power and had gone a long way in restoring its confidence after the end of the war.

There was an enormous fire pit halfway up the stairs and a golden flame sitting at the topmost roof. The palace was intimidating in its browns and reds and there had to be hundreds of steps that led up to the wide entrance way, but there was also something graceful about the way the roofs of each section sloped into one another, creating a sense of unity.

Katara jumped a mile when Iroh put a hand on her arm and she smiled apologetically.

"It's something, isn't it?" he asked.

"It's...beautiful," she said.

Iroh and Azula led her up the stairs. Behind her, the guards fell into formation and Katara got the impression she was being ushered forward more than she was being guarded. The entrance way was done in black and red marble and reflected the lit braziers on the walls. Katara tried not to gape at the enormity of her surroundings, but she was finding it difficult not to stop and just take it all in. She'd been all over the world, but she'd seen nothing that could compare to this bastion of wealth and power.

Finally, they stopped at a set of double doors. On its surface was a golden dragon curled around two golden cones. Without a word, Azula and Iroh shot twin pillars of fire at the cones, and the doors opened silently.

Katara had not been prepared for the Fire Lord's throne room and she had to remind herself to move her feet in order to follow the princess and the ambassador. Her first thought was that it was vast. Her second was that it reflected the man who sat in it: cold, domineering and powerful. Red marble pillars ringed with gold held up a ceiling decorated with gold filigree and carvings of battle and victory. The floor was a rich ebony black and clearly reflected the ceiling above. A crackling, living wall of fire separated the Fire Lord's dais from the main floor. The rest of the room was plunged in semi-darkness and Katara was sure she heard footsteps somewhere in that dark.

Azula and Iroh stopped a good distance away from the wall and it lowered just enough for them to see the top of the Fire Lord's head, but his face was lost in the glare of the fire.

"Greetings, Fire Lord," Iroh said with a bow. "I have returned from my journey to the South Pole and have done as you commanded. Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe sends his regards and some gifts from his lands. He has also sent one of his most precious possessions: his daughter, Katara."

"Welcome to the Fire Nation, Katara," the Fire Lord said, his voice a low rasp. "I am glad you made the journey safely. Thank you, Uncle, for a job well done."

Katara bristled at his words, thinking that they made her sound like a science project, but she bit her tongue. This was not a place for arguments. She was sure she'd find out soon enough where that place was.

"I am honored to have been chosen, Fire Lord," she said, her tone flat and the opposite of honored. "The Water Tribe hopes this will only be the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship between our two peoples."

"As do I. I hope you'll be able to join me for dinner tonight, Katara, and we'll be able to speak at length about our...alliance."

"It would be my pleasure."

"Princess Azula, please show Katara to her rooms. Uncle, please stay."

Katara followed Azula out of the room, rankled that she was dismissed so easily and so quickly. She'd traveled a week to get here and he'd sent her away in less than five minutes. From Azula's amused look, Katara was sure that her thoughts were clearly visible on her face.

"He's a charmer, isn't he?" Azula remarked. "Zuzu always did have a way with the ladies."

"Is that how you want to talk about the Fire Lord?" Katara said.

Azula snapped her fingers and lightning snapped in the air.

"A sister has some allowances that the average soldier doesn't. If you'll follow me, Sister. You should get comfortable before dinner. I'm sure you're tired from your journey and probably want some time alone to get used to your new home."

They walked down a long, dark corridor that then suddenly opened up into a bright area that seemed a world away from the main palace. Katara realized that her rooms were in the family wing which surprised her. She half-expected to be put on the opposite side from the family and actually would have preferred the distance until she got a better look at the wing.

The rooms were arranged in a large square and there was a beautiful garden in the center. It was less austere and a more comfortable living space, at least in terms of Fire Nation standards. The wood was lighter here and one side of the corridors had windows that faced into the garden while on the other side were closed doors that Katara assumed were other rooms. The floors were also wood, darker than the walls, and polished to a shine. There was a more feminine touch to this side of the palace and Katara wondered if the last Fire Lady had anything to do with that.

Azula slid open a set of doors and gestured for Katara to enter. There was a cheery fire already lit in the main sitting area and Katara was surprised to find that the furnishings were in the style of the Water Tribe rather than the Fire Nation. She was glad for it. Fire Nation chairs weren't comfortable and she couldn't wait to sink into the soft blue cushions of the couch. There was a writing desk set up by the window and to the left were another set of doors. Her chests and bags had already been brought in and she itched to unpack them and surround herself with familiar things.

"I took the liberty of having a set of robes made for you. I'm sure my brother will be pleased if you wear them to dinner tonight," Azula said. "Your bedroom is beyond those doors, as is your washing area. I hope you'll be comfortable here, Sister."

Katara wished that she didn't tense up every time Azula called her sister but she managed a small smile for the other woman.

"Thank you. I'm sure I will be."

Azula gave her a slight bow and took her leave. Katara took a deep breath and went to her bedroom. Her breath caught in her throat. The Water Tribe furnishings were apparently only for show because the dark four-poster bed was definitely not a design by her people. Red satin sheets caught the light from the single brazier on the wall and Katara did not find them at all inviting. There was a chest made out of reddish wood at the foot of the bed and a single wardrobe in one corner. An armchair sat by the window but she doubted she'd spend much time sitting in it. This room was sparsely furnished and she itched to make her mark in it.

Hanging in the open wardrobe were the robes that Azula had promised. Katara fingered the soft material of the top layer, unsure of how this shade of scarlet would suit her. Azula even had the presence of mind to supply her with a red ribbon to replace the blue one that held her necklace. She started to pull the robes out to get ready for dinner when there was a knock at the door.