Chapter Seven

Yue was standing outside the entrance to Zuko's chambers, bouncing on her toes, not sure if she should enter or not. Her anxious attitude about tonight was building inside her, and she felt as if she could burst with excitement. It was all so… forbidden, their romance, their love. And Yue needed to ask Zuko a very, very big favor.

Zuko was briskly walking out of his chambers, busied with his thoughts to notice Yue. He bustled right into her, nearly knocking the girl to the ground. He gasped in surprise as she jostled backwards, grinning and laughing.

"Hi!" She said, stepping towards him, steadying herself, "In a hurry?"

His cheeks flushed scarlet, "I didn't know you'd be… out here."

She instantly reached for his hand, leading him down the hall and to a small, secluded, barely lit passage. The walls echoed, steely blue and ominously dark.

"This is the fastest way to the back. It's the quickest way to get to the spot I was talking about," She lamented, inching cautiously towards the spooky corridor. "Would you mind…"

Zuko nodded, a single flame alighting his palm, stepping in front of the princess and leading the way, the amber blaze dancing in his hand. He reached for her gloved hand, holding it softly in his.

Yue gazed at the way the shadows danced across his face, the fire casting a hazing glow over his seemingly perfect features. She never wanted to look away.

They two finally made it outside, the bitter wind nipping mercilessly at them. "It's not too far from here," she stated, stepping into the cold.

She led him down a winding path that was behind the palace, up a small, but still icy hill. A small, ebony shed sat, hidden amongst snowdrifts and a few pine trees. She opened the door, stepping inside.

The shed was a small space, one room, with a glass-paned window in the back. The floors were lined with furs, and there was a small fireplace. It was stuffy, but thankfully warm. "This used to be my old playhouse," She giggled, sitting down on the furs, "I used to come here a lot. Little did I know that this was a Northern Lights hot spot. The window let's you see out at the lights, but you don't have to freeze."

Zuko nodded, joining her on the floor, lighting up the hearth. "I like it… it's quaint." He said, observing his surroundings.

"Quaint it is, now. But to a child, this was my palace." Yue commented, running her hands over the thick, white animal skins. "We'll have to wait a couple of minutes. The lights aren't very consistent, but they are usually seen a little after dark."

Zuko nodded again, sitting, watching the fire bend and grow in the alcove. He jumped when he felt Yue leaning in to him, sighing contently. "When are you going back to the Fire Nation?" Yue asked, gazing up at him.

Zuko swallowed, looking down, "I'm not exactly sure… Uncle likes it here just so much."

Yue smiled at him, her eyes searching for his, "I hope you can stay at least until my birthday," She giggled, "We're throwing a pretty big party."

He chuckled softly, "I'm sure I'll be able to make it."

"Good." She yawned, tucking her feet behind her body.

Zuko sucked in his breath, "I think I'd like to tell you about my mother."

Yue blinked. This was such a sudden outburst from him, but it seemed as though thought had been put into the matter over the course of the day. "Oh… okay. If you are sure."

Zuko nodded solemnly, "Yes, I'm sure…" He gazed wistfully into the fire, his golden eyes reflecting the flickering flames, "My mother was the only person besides my uncle who treated me like a human being, showed me compassion… love." A lump formed in Zuko's throat. "My Uncle's son, Lu Ten, was killed in the war. My Uncle fell deeply into his grief and had to return home, abandoning the siege of Ba Sing Se, a mission he was leading. My father saw this as a sign of weakness."

Yue had really no clue what this had to do with Zuko's mother, but she nodded patiently. "I see…" she breathed, looking up at him.

Zuko started again, centering his thoughts. "My father took advantage of my Uncle's impotence and asked for my grandfather to switch the birth right- who would become the next Firelord- to him. My father was second in line for the throne. Azulon was furious at the request, saying that my father did not know how it felt to lose a first born. I was supposed to be killed… to teach my father respect."

Yue's eyes widened. She stifled a gasp. This is what Zuko meant when he said that not all things in the Fire Nation were beautiful. The thought of Zuko, a young boy, being killed, made her stomach turn in heartbreak. "Oh…"

Zuko's eyes glared harshly at the flames, "My mother told my father to spare me and take her instead. I had no knowledge of this until the night my mother had to leave. She woke me out of my sleep, shook me awake, and told me that everything she has ever done was in order to protect me. And then she left. I ran after her. But I was too late. She was gone."

"That is so terrible, Zuko." Yue uttered, reaching for his hand. He obliged to her gesture, intertwining his fingers with hers, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

"She's not… dead." Zuko whispered, "At least, I don't think… she just vanished."

Yue snuggled in closer to him, trying to best to console the young prince. She pressed her lips to his cheek, her face brushing against the rough, charred flesh of his scar. She expected him to flinch, pull away, but he did not.

She leant her head back on his shoulder, his face unreadable. "Are you… okay?"

He let out a shaky breath, his eyes shifting down to meet hers finally. "Yes…" He gasped, his eyes flitting to the window.

Yue followed his gaze. The Aurora was lighting up the sky, wavering strips of lime green danced across the inky darkness. She smiled, watching the colors begin to show, coming in red and pink and blue. "Wondrous, isn't it?"

Zuko was speechless, his mouth agape as his eyes followed the luminescent patterns waving in the night. He didn't respond. He couldn't. He didn't know how.

Yue giggled a little to herself. He was like a child at the Solstice Celebration. "It looks like water bending, right?" She asked, knowing that he wouldn't respond. "Legend has it that these lights are the great waterbending spirits, bending the vast ocean that is the night sky."

"It's so…" Zuko searched for a word, "Mesmerizing."

Yue smiled, sighing happily, "It is beautiful."

"Almost as beautiful as you," Zuko whispered, his warm breath spreading across the side of her neck and face. She turned her head slowly. Zuko, leaning in, wrapped her arms around her, pulling her closer so that their lips could meet.

The kiss was anything but chaste, his arms encircling her waist as his lips dove on hers. Fire met ice, the sensation of his hot-blooded body against hers was magnificent. His mouth opened slightly, Yue's face heating with a pleased blush. She moved her lips against his slowly, her mouth falling ajar. Their tongues met shyly together, only for a moment, before they pulled back for air. Zuko leaned into her once more, pressing his lips on her jaw, moving down the side of her neck, stopping at the place where her betrothal necklace would be. She shivered as his warm lips slightly sucked on her sensitive skin, her eyes fluttering closed as Zuko let his teeth barely graze the raw skin.

"I love you," He murmured huskily into her neck.

"I love you too, Zuko." She hummed softly, feeling so happy that she could die. "So much."

Zuko and Yue lay entangled in each other's grasp for a veritable eternity, his warmth radiating throughout her body.

"Zuko…" Yue muttered, watching his eyes open to meet hers.

"Yes, princess?" He replied, almost devilishly.

She blushed, "I want you to stay."

"Of course," He stated, his eyes closing again, "All night."

She couldn't help but smile at his cuddly antics. "No I mean here… in the Water Tribe. I want to be with you. Forever."

His eyes met hers, his surprise written all over his face, "You want me to stay in the Water Tribe?"

A/N

Ugh so so sorry for the wait! Big love to those who are following and reviewing! Lots of drama in the following chapters... hold on! Please review! x avatla