Fu Da was a man of few words. He was a big man, with dark brown, now grayish hair and a long beard. With a lean face and amber eyes. Worn sunburnt skin after a life of hard work. Born and raised as a innkeepers son in Yu Dao, and after his fathers passing, taking over the hotel himself, he preffered his work to speak for him. He really was a good man that worked hard. He struggled to get back on his feet after the grief-strucken months that occurred after his wife Jia had left. When the royals had booked his humble inn, based on good rumours about their amazing cooking – he tought that it was a miracle. But then the troubles began. People stirring about the new Fire Lord. Asking questions. Afraid to do business. The merchants, afraid to get in trouble with Ozai-friendly nobles had cut his supplies. Rumours and intrigues, it was all a mess. He was forced to go outside of Yu Dao to get his supplies. He was a decent man caught in something he didn't care about. Just trying to run a business. Nobles and royals, letting working people get caught in the middle. That's just typical. He hoped that things would look better soon.
At last he was home again. Outside the gate waited Min and Wei-Li. "Father!" She ran up to his waiting arms.
He stroke her hair. "Has everything gone smoothly?"
"Yes father, everyone has been very polite and given their praise about both food and lodging"
"I knew that you would handle it well. Now give me a hand with the wares"
They carried the wares in silence. The guests was still out but would arrive soon. Wei- Li briefly tends to the stock boiling on the stove. Tonight they were eating freshly caught birds from the lands. She had already spiced them and wrapped them. Everything was prepared. "Are you hungry father? I can prepare something for you." He is just about to answer when he watches her tend the fire. It cracks and roars. Flickering to nothing and then roaring again. She trembles, tries to do discrete bending to calm it down.
"What's going on? What are you not telling me?"
The fire goes out.
Fu Da stands in the salon. It's beautifully decorated, with the help from merchants. And Jin. Mostly in red and gold colors.
There is a small table in the middle and cusions to sit on. On the table stands a bottle of spiced wine and some cups.
He is dressed simple, in black pants and a gold and red tunic.
Wei-Li stands in the corner. She wants to comfort him but don't know what to say.
General Iroh and the Fire Lords enters the room.
Both Fu Da and Wei-Li bows deeply. "Please, take a seat" Iroh gesticulates calmly.
They sit down. The silence is thick. Only Iroh seem unaffected. Wei-Li nervously serves the wine and tries hard not to burn the cups.
"As you might heard, we have offered your talented daughter a position as a chef in the capital." Iroh says calmly. He can clearly see on her fathers upset eyes and Wei-Lis looks that he already know. Fu Da can hardly meet his eyes.
"She will in fact, be the personal chef of the royal family with friends. She will be given a personal room in the staff quarters near the kitchen. She will be payed well and assigned two assistants. As a compensation we can offer you this sum." Iroh reaches Fu Da an envelope. " Also we will offer to send you two new chefs as a replacement in your staff. You are of course welcome to visit and write. The ban of contacting family members inside the palace walls has been lifted since the coronation of our new Fire Lord.
Fu Da is silent. He opens the envelope and wievs a large sum of money. Too large. He gets amazed and stunned by what he sees but composes himself. "May I have permission to speak freely General?"
Iroh nods.
"This sum of money… It's to large for a simple compensation. What I see here, is a transaction of wares. My daughter can not be sold or bought. She is not a concubine. I am Fire Nation and I know the ways and tradition of the Fire Nation royals. I am your loyal servant Fire Lord, but I cannot accept a transaction like this"
Everyone looks horrified at Fu Da. Zuko and Wei-Li blushes furiously. The fireplace is roaring.
The Fire Lord clears his throat.
"I assure you that this is not the case. Yes, this is a larger amount of money than usually offered. But it's an important position. We need to have great trust in the people that will manage the royal kitchen. The tradition of slavery is not a part I want to enforce in my reign – Not in my court and not in the Nation. I trust you will belive my words."
He is silent, the room is silent.
"Very well. As your humble servant, Fire Lord, I accept your generous offer and I hope… I can trust your words. But you must know that my daughter is young and sensitive and don't know much about the life outside Yu Dao. She will find her way in the kitchen but get lost in the city. Please make sure she will have proper—guidance." Fu Da bows down. His face is tense and his lips are tightly pressed together. "We will make sure she finds her way" Zuko nods. Everyone drinks in silence.
Iroh stands up. "It's a beautiful evening. I'm going for a walk. I heard the beaches here are wonderful during these summer nights"
He smiles. Fu Da and Wei-Li bows. As she bows she locks eyes with Zuko. He rarely looks at her among other people but now he looks straight at her. She can see the confusion in his eyes. Has Zuko told him anything? What does he know?
"I ask to be excused." Fu Da says a brief moment later. "I have much to do." Zuko nods and Fu Da leaves, with a stern look on his face. It's silent for a moment until they can hear Fu Da close the door and walk away.
They nearly interrupt eachother in a instant ;"What does he know?" "Did you tell him?" "Have you met him on the beach?"
All the etiquette laid aside, they seem to talk differently, they now have a secret to preserve.
It's silent again. "You never know with uncle. He's good at noticing things. When I told him about my request to hire you, he seemed glad and tought it was a excellent choise. He loves the cooking." Zuko said, toughtfully.
"I'm getting more and more in trouble and dragging everyone around with me" Wei-Li said with a hushed voice.
"It's not as you wouldn't, if you stayed. See it as a career jump." He muses, a bit sarcastic. She can sense a small smirk.
"It's just a game for you nobles, to see the workers dance at your command." She hisses, Zuko narrows his eyes, tensing.
"I lost everything. I'm lost in the fire, don't you see? What good can I give you, give anyone, except destruction. It's a curse, it all, and my mother knew it, that's why she left. I found peace in my simple cooking, now there is only turmoil." Her voice is flat.
He is silent for a moment, stunned. "This is not for my enjoyment. I am not a cruel man. I have a feeling i'm doing the right thing. It feels like it's meant to be. And you will find your faith and your way elsewhere. You are not born to be only the daughter of an innkeeper. You are born to be a warrior. I'm putting you in the right place, in the right time. When we are alone, you will not act as my servant. You will now be my teacher and my equal. I must trust you and you must trust me."
He sits seriously and with a straight and honest face. As to give a fuller meaning to his words, he stretches across the table and pours her a cup of wine. She bows slightly. "I apologize for my hard words but I appreciate, greatly, your honesty. You can trust me. From now on, I will also accept this position in my heart." She touches her heart "But it does, hurt"
"How embarrasing wasn't that, when he tought we was trying to buy his daughter as a concubine!"
Zuko stirs. His uncle laughs. They were playing Pai sho in Irohs room, enjoying some spiced tea.
"I don't blame him. It happened often before your time Zuko. He's a caring father."
"Besides" Iroh winks at him "Wei-Li is a rare beuty" He laughs. Zuko also looks up, Rare beauty, Yeah right. And he thinks about the warpainted savage he saw at the arena, how she bended down and hissed the man in the face. If she's a rare beauty then he don't know how to measure beauty anymore.
"Don't you think I havent noticed the looks you give another" he laughs
"I saw you walking together the other day, down the beach." Zuko blushes and suddenly realises that his uncle dosen't know about Wei-Li at all, he just thinks that he is flirting. And he can't deny it either without having to explain what's really going on.
"Be careful Zuko, she's just a young girl, and the daughter of an innkeper. This position is a wonderful opportunity for her, but don't lead her on too much." He looks him sincerely in his eyes. "I promise Iroh, it's nothing. I'm just being friendly." He waves his hands innocently and continues to play.
She packs her bags and her belongings. There isn't too much to bring. She packs her clothes, some blankets and personal items. She braids her hair and dresses in simple clothing – A red and golden fire nation tunic and black leggings. A black cape. In a leather bag she keeps across her shoulder, she packs her more valuable items. A golden necklace she got from her mom on her 16th birthday ornamented with ruby dragons. Her golden bracelets. Her hair brooches. She looks at her other bag with her belongings. Not much really. This is it. This is all. Before she leaves, she tends to the fires one last time. Min and her father watches.
"I will write you as often I can. Please tend the garden. I will come and visit. Please visit me."
She hugs them tightly. "If I don't let go now, I'll never let go." She whispers and turn to walk. The khomodo rhinos are all ready for depart. "You will sit with me." A guard aproaches. "My name is Ray." He bows his head slightly. She looks at him, and see a friendly face underneath the helmet. He looks young, with bright amber eyes and a humble smile. He helps her up the rhino and also helps her with her bag. "Don't worry, Mr Fu Da, I'm a experienced rider and soldier, I will make sure she is safe" He bows, very politely, and climbs up and sits behind her. Wei-Li is grateful for this. She can't stand to look at her home as they depart, so she closes her eyes hard. When the pace quickens, Ray puts an arm around her waist for keeping her in place. It's comforting, in a sense.
"Have you ever been to the Capital?" He asks when they are on the road.
"No. I was born and raised in Yu Dao."
"I think you are going to fit right in, your father seems to have taught you well in all customs."
"He is afraid I will get lost in the city"
"Ha ha, yes, don't worry. I could help you with that"
She can sense his smile behind her, and blushes.
"It's four days of travel until we reach Fire Fountain city, and then another two until we reach the Capital" one of the guards states at their first stop. They set up a neat camp. Wei-Li cooks the dinner. Some are conversating by the fireplace.
"The Fire Lily festival is coming up. I wonder if we could get some time of to watch it. I heard the one in Fire Fountain is one of the best ones" Another guard says.
"Maybe, depends how the trip goes. It's been years since I visited one." The first one says.
Wei-Li starts serving the dinner and everyone graciously accepts their portions.
"Iv'e never been to a Fire Lily festival" She says, excitement in her voice.
They all laughs. "Of course you haven't, your father wouldn't let you" A guard, named Lee states. He seems like the funny one. Always making jokes. "Are you implying something?" She remarks. "No, it's just that many of these festivals are often, especially in Fire Fountain, quite rowdy and among young boys, a good place too pick up girls." Lee winks at her and everyone laughs again.
"So of course you need to visit one!" She smiles, sounds like good fun! Before her real work in the capital begins, at least she could hope for some good times during the way. And the guards seems like nice enough company. They had all enjoyed her food and acted very politely.
Zuko watches from afar. She seemed to adjust well. The guards were joking and laughing along with her, and they seemed to really appreciate the food and tea. He hadn't seen as much gambling as before too, so that's an improvement. He wondered when he would get the chance too see more of her fighting kind of firebending. To do it here was to dangerous obviously. He went to his tent. A meal waited for him there. She must have just been here without him noticing. There was also som spiced tea and cakes. When did she have the time to bake, really? He lifted the teapot to fill his cup, when he saw a note underneath.
"Meet me just before dawn. There is a stream behind your tent. It leads down a small valley and to a small cave. I'll be there."
So, she was sneakier than he expected. But she had been sneaking around her father for years…
Just before dawn he follows the stream, he walks for some time before finding the cave. The cave is pitch dark, so he lights a small flame in his hand. He can see her, meditating. He sits down in front of her.
"I'm just going to tell you how I do it, and you can follow if you like." She says, her eyes closed.
"I first start with breathing and meditating. I find my fire. I find it in the darkness. Even during nights, I want to see it as a burning sun, inside of me. It holds my honor, my passion, my love, and also – my anger. "
The air grows warm around her. He positiones himself and listens to her voice.
"It runs trough me. My Chi, my life, it's everything around me and everything about me. I can choose to tend the fires at my fathers house and choose to heat the tea. Then I choose the path of the fire as a running stream. Or I can choose to fight. I can choose to cause hurt and destruction, and then I choose the path of the fire as roaring sea."
He listens. She is better at this than she would give herself credit for.
"I find the roaring sea and I can make it into a stream or just let it go."
Her hands open, thick flames roars from them. She makes again, the wave-like shape of her arm and the orange flame with the blue hints comes out in a beautiful bow."This is the roaring sea inside, that rages in the stream."
"Try it. " She asks him, and he tries. He makes a big flame, and then tries to make it in a soft shape.
"Balance, discipline it, control it, breathe it" She whispers to him. He tries, but it's harder than it looks.
She touches his hand, and show him the soft movement, like the wave. It flairs, and then softens. "Like the dragon dance. Intense, yet soft". She now hold his arms with both of her hands, directing the flame. "The roaring sea" She whispers again. She straighten his palm. "Use it with open hands, it will be easier. If you point or close the hand, it's harder." And it's working. He watches the bluish flame in its slow wave-like bow. "It's not about just making a slow bow, it's about the discipline that allows it."
She meets his eyes. Her eyes are big and dark amber. Her hair is thick and black and loose, with soft locks. She has a round, soft face with high cheekbones and a small blush. Her mouth is full and smiling. Her hands are still on his arms and they are warm and tingles – she directs her energy. And he can see it. The rare beauty.
He suddenly blushes and the flame goes out. It's dark. Her hands are still on his arms but she removes them. She ignites a small flame on her hand. "Sunrise is now. It's time to leave." She smiles and they leave. Zuko feel embarassed without understanding why.
"Go before me. I will collect firewood first as to not raise any suspicion." She says.
"One more thing, the guards talked about visiting a Fire Lily festival in Fire Fountain. Is there any possibility I could go? Maybe some of the guards could go too?" She watches him, really excited.
"Yes… I guess that could be arranged.. " She nods, bows several times and then walks away, collecting fire wood.
He still feel embarrassed. And confused. Not knowing really what to do he decides to go training again, work of some tension.