By Fire and Water

Chapter Three

It was cold. That's all she could think about. It was cold.

It was cold at home, too, but not like this. At home, she loved the cold. But here, it was all that she hated. It was despair, it was fear, it was loneliness, sadness, and weakness.

She should have run away. Damn her parents for raising her right. Damn them for not spoiling her. Damn them for making her the kind of girl who would go through with this even if it destroyed her, because the lives of others depended on it.

Damn the Fire Nation for building this 'palace.' Did they have to make it so cold?

At least she wouldn't be disturbed. The Fire Lord seemed to understand how she felt, and so he gave her a room overlooking the garden, in the most secluded area of the palace. Thank the Spirits for that.

She looked out the huge window, at the stars. Where is the Avatar? She thought. Why isn't he here to watch his terrible plan play out?

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Kushin rose with the sun. He had not gotten much sleep- the palace was far too cold. But he couldn't let that hold him back at all.

As he dressed, he thought about all the things he should have asked his father about before he left. Why couldn't he stay here? Why didn't he stay to watch his stupid idea run its course? Kushin respected his father, but wished that Aang had not sacrificed his entire self to the traditions and laws of the old world.

Suddenly, something forced a sack over his head. Kushin fell to the floor, whacking his elbow off a small table. For a moment, he thought that his and his parents' worst fears had been realized, but then whatever forced the sack over his head let go.

"What in all the-" Kushin got the sack off his head. "MOMO!" The lemur just sat on his chest and blinked at him. "Do you honestly want to kill me?"

Momo clicked his tongue.

"Oh, yes, of course, thank you." Kushin grumbled as he got to his feet. "You're a wonderful companion. No wonder my father entrusted you with me."

The lemur assassin screeched.

"I'm sorry. No wonder my father entrusted me with you."

Momo climbed up his sleeve and settled on his shoulder. "Time to put on the Ambassador Mask."

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The ceremony of the engagement vows was over quickly. It was basically just getting the two betrothed to swear on their lives and nations that they would not refuse this duty, or run off, or anything that would result in the annulment of the engagement.

Many members of the court were in attendance- not because it was in any way interesting or inspiring, but rather because it was a historical event, and they just wanted to be able to say that they were there.

"They don't look very happy." A lady whispered behind her fan to a woman next to her.

"Well, it's not as if they fell in love. They've never even met one another." She whispered back.

"The Prince at least looks as he's all right with this."

"But she looks miserable. Where are her parents? She looks like child."

"They're at the North Pole."

"They just left her here?"

"Yes. She really does look like a child." They paused. If someone heard them, they'd be in a lot of trouble.

"She's only fifteen, you know."

"Fifteen? She is a child."

"Hush, this is the most interesting part."

The Fire Lord presented the two betrothed to the congregation, who bowed. The ceremony was over.

The Fire Lord started towards the doorway. Lady Hikari, his wife, followed him into the Banquet Hall, where a feast was prepared as a celebration.

Noticed by none of the crowd- except one- Princess Suteki slipped outside.

"Princess!" Prince Notan called after her. She stopped and glanced over her shoulder, then disappeared into the garden maze made of seven-foot-tall hedges. Notan followed her.

Suteki lifted the skirt of her dress and ran faster. She kept hitting dead ends. She could hear that fool of a prince trying to catch up to her.

Curse it all. Another dead end. Suteki wheeled round, and went back to where the path split, taking the alternative this time. As she came around the corner, she smashed into someone, sending them falling down in different directions, both landing flat on their backs.

The man got up quickly and helped her up. For a split-second, she was too disoriented to realize just who he was. But then she saw the sun glancing off his shaved head, saw the arrow tattoo, the robes, and she recognized him.

"Kushin!" She laughed. "Lord Kushin." She corrected herself. "I have not seen you since we were children."

"You are certainly no child now."

"Oh, indeed I am. But you are not."

"You jest. I hide it well in this graying body."

"You're not graying." She smiled.

"Ah, but how would tell? I have no hair."

"Then how can you tell?"

"Oh, you defeat me utterly." He swept her a deep bow, so deep as to be silly.

Suteki smiled wider. "It is wonderful to see such a familiar face."

"Princess Suteki?" Notan came around the corner.

Kushin's friendly smile instantly transformed itself into a cordial one. "Prince Notan." He bowed.

"Please, address me as Notan, Lord Kushin." He bowed as well.

"Then I insist you call me Kushin. Both of you." Kushin bowed again, forcing Suteki to stifle a laugh. He turned to her. "Would you, Princess?"

She knew this game. He had acted like this as a child. He would start the game of silliness, then rope everyone into it. They would have no choice but to comply, because doing otherwise would make them seem rude, and being thought of as rude is much worse than being thought of as silly. He was very clever when it came to being silly. "Lord Kushin- Suteki, please."

"Kushin." He corrected her.

"Lord- I mean, Kushin, is it not rude to correct the Princess?"

"Prince, please do call me Suteki."

"If you shall call me Notan."

"Oh, I cannot."

"Why not?" They were all fighting an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

"Because then every time I shall call you Notan, I shall remember this conversation and break out in this unseemly laughter." They all burst out laughing, sinking onto a stone bench.

Once they'd calmed down, Kushin stood up and faced them. "Well," He grinned. "That was certainly easy. Sometimes I truly amaze myself."

"What did you do?" Notan raised an eyebrow.

"I got you two laughing together." Kushin whistled, and a black and white lemur glided after him as he left them.

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So there you have it. Chapter Four. Please review and let me know whatcha think, because I feel like nobody's reviewing. And it makes me sad. I'm not trying to complain, really, I'm not!

And check out my other stories too please! I worked really hard on them!