Short Chapter, but wanted to get it posted.
I will probably do one more wrap up chapter afterward, but it may take me some time.
The Earth King married his notorious bride in a quiet and undisclosed ceremony in the palace garden so all the bison could gather outside and witness it. By this time, with all the females having given birth to five plus cubs each, there were many.
Few humans were in attendance. Most notably, General Fong, an Earth Sage, Princess Ursa, Zuko, the Avatar, and the Water Tribesman Sokka who incidentally threw flower petals, sobbed, and called them a "cute, weird little couple," before bursting into an emotional string of tears that consumed him most of the night.
Sokka curtailed his strange emotions by becoming Dominatia's drinking buddy. Shortly after giving birth, the alcoholic bison resorted to her old ways.
Zuko gave Azula away, and Zuko, being Zuko, didn't cry, but he did head for the hallway after the short ceremony and return several minutes later with his eyes somewhat misty.
Azula didn't cry of course, but she smiled through the entire thing. It was the first time Zuko could remember her smiling except when she was inflicting pain on someone else.
There was a small dinner and some cake served afterward, and the couple bid their guests good night shortly after the sun went down. Before everyone left, the King reminded his guests to be quiet about the wedding, as the Kingdom was unaware of what had happened. Azula wouldn't be announced as Queen until the day after tomorrow
"I don't envy you that task," Zuko deadpanned on his way out.
Kuei only chuckled. "They will grow to love her…or fear her. Either one is acceptable."
The matter was also on Azula's mind.
She enjoyed her first night as a married woman without giving it too much thought, but in the morning Azula woke up with it heavy on her heart.
The sun was coming up, and she crossed the luxurious bedroom to the balcony overlooking the rest of the palace and the city. The wind stirred her hair and gossamer green robe for nearly an hour before the King awoke and joined her there.
He put his arms around her and rested his head on top of hers. He had a feeling what was bothering her, but he couldn't think of anything he could say to make it right; he knew he really couldn't. So he would be present for her instead.
At last she spoke. "They hate me, you know."
Kuei tightened his hold about her and planted a kiss along her cheek. "That concerns you?" he murmured against her skin. "Dearest, they are peasants."
Azula's eyes narrowed and she cocked her head, further considering the city. "You know, I would have said the same thing a few years ago. But they're not just peasants. They are your people, and mine, and they outnumber us greatly. Tactically speaking, we're at a grave disadvantage."
The King chuckled and let go of her. He moved beside her and leaned against the railing. He nudged her with his shoulder. "I should have made you my General and not my wife."
Azula's neck snapped to look at him. She frowned. "Now why can't I be both?"
"Because Dearest, I have another job for you. You have to convince the peasants…the ones who have us at a tactical disadvantage that you are now on their side. You have to convince them of why I chose you."
"And why did you choose me?" the Earth Queen chided. Her eyes were back on the city and despite their cold appearance; Kuei thought he saw a tear leak from the corner of one. Of course Azula knew the answer to that question, but she still had a fair amount of self-loathing in her and required constant validation.
Kuei was happy to provide it. Once more he put his arms around her, embracing her from behind so her shoulders sank into his chest. He kissed the crown of her head, then whispered in her ear: "Because you are the fiercest most terrifying, cunning, clever and beautiful creature that ever lived. You are everything I am not, and you and you alone can bring my kingdom to its full potential and deter the Fire Nation from future aggression."
"So I am your attack dog?"
"No. You are my Queen. And I love you Azula! I do!"
Tears stung the back of her eyes.
# # # # #
Wrote this scene while listening to "Glowing" the piano version. To me, it's like Azula is confessing her sins to the Earth Kingdom people here. She doesn't exactly ask for forgiveness; she's not sure if she deserves that yet. But she makes the case for why she will make a good Queen.
It was morning the next day when Kuei announced Azula on the top wall of the palace above the Earth Kingdom seal. She was dressed in the finest Earth Kingdom silks with shades of green and emerald that rivaled nature's beauty, and her raven hair was woven elaborately with threads of pearls and gold and pinned with jade combs and flowers. She looked like a Queen and she truly was a stunning one.
Her beauty mattered little to thousands of peasants gathered below. The minute they heard Kuei had married the Fire Nation Princess Azula, the booing was in unison and it was deafening. She looked down at them from the balcony. She had expected it, prepared for it, thought about it, and now that it was happening, it didn't seem so scary.
She cocked her head at the crowd. A few of them had begun to throw vegetables at the vestige where she stood. Of course it was a fool's errand, she was too high up for any to hit. Unconcerned, She looked at her husband, who seemed a little nervous, but she tossed him a knowing smile, then told him to back up. Once he was safely out of the way she took up a lightning bending stance. When she was done with her craft, shards of lightning were dancing across the sky as far as the eye could see. It was easily the most impressive display of lightning bending that Azula had ever performed. The phenomenon was so brilliant and terrifying, it silenced the crowd in an instant. One could have heard a pin drop.
It was then that Azula spoke: "I understand how you must feel about me, but the one thing you hate most about me is the one thing that qualifies me best to help lead you: I am Fire Nation."
"Yes my past loyalties have lied to the land of my birth, but there is nothing there for me now except memories that haunt me, a brother that annoys me, and a life of loneliness and insanity. Your King is not considered a brave man, but he is brave enough to love me. And if he is brave enough to love me, then he deserves much in return."
Azula looked over at Kuei then. Their eyes met, and again, she felt that familiar, but strange ache in her chest that she didn't quite yet understand.
But the Earth Kingdom subjects caught it, and they understood it. They were too shocked to believe it, but for them the meaning was unmistakable despite what they were able to believe. A little girl in the crowd whispered to her mother: "Is that crazy lady in love with the King?"
Her mother shushed her.
"Therefore," Azula continued, turning back to the crowd, "I will compensate him in every area that he lacks bravery. I will protect him and you, and if there is anyone who can outfox the tricks of the Fire Nation, anyone who knows their tactics, it is me. My brother and my father will not bother you, nor will they even be able to bother you so long as I stand. I swear it."
The peasants stared at her, open mouthed, glassy-eyed, and not really sure what to make of her or her feelings for the King. A rush of whispers went through the crowd. They didn't cheer her, but they had stopped booing and throwing vegetables.
For Azula it was enough. She left the balcony arm in arm with her new husband.
.