Here comes the long-awaited second chapter!! (not really :D)

Oh, and just for clarification, the big line (like the one above "the three daughters") signals a change in perspective between Ila's youth and where Oma Ila is talking to Zuko and co. Or Author's notes, I guess…

Three dashes (hyphens, whatever you want to call them) (---) means it's the same story, per se, but it's going from one event in the same time frame to another.

nine dashes (---------) means it's not changing perspective, but it's changing time/story.

Make sense?

The three daughters of the nobleman Qin sat in silence as their father regarded them quietly.

"Girls," he said, "I have come to realize that you are getting older. (a/n no duh!) Despite the efforts of the servants and your own efforts," he nodded at Ila, the eldest, "you are not being brought up properly. I am going to remarry." Ila's younger sisters gasped, but the 10-year-old stayed silent.

"The woman I have chosen will be kind to you, and this marriage will be political as well as satisfying. You are dismissed." He pointed imperiously at the door. "Now I just have to start searching for proper husbands…" he added in an undertone. Ila was not yet out of the room, her bowed head touching her chest as she tried to keep up the façade of an obedient daughter.

"Thas not vewy nice," Zuko said. Ila smiled at him.

"Well, when I was young, girls were brought up to do everything their father said." Ursa nodded understandingly. "If my father wanted me to dance outside in my underclothes," -Zuko and Lu Ten both giggled- "then I would have to!"

She quickly schooled her expression. "But of course, it is still a lot like that now. This little girl," -she patted Azula's cheek- "will have to do everything her father says too. Oh, I'm sure it won't be as strict as it was 'in my day', but she will hopefully be a proper daughter to a Fire Prince."

Just then Iroh walked out of the palace. "What are you kids doing here?" He winked at Ursa, who smiled slightly.

"Oh, we were just telling some stories. Care to join us?" Fire Lady Ila smiled at her firstborn.

"I think I just might! You don't tell stories very often, mother."

"Well, no better time to start! My, this group is just getting bigger by the minute."

Ila sighed at her good fortune at having a new mother that was young, pretty, and kind.

"How did you come to marry father?" she asked her new stepmother. "Well," Lady Ting started, "my father kind of just told me that I was going to marry your father. A month later, I was here! That's normal, though," she said at Ila's disgusted look. "Yes, it's quite often that young girls get whisked away as soon as they turn sixteen to marry old, rich, nobles. If they're from a good family, that is," she added. "I was lucky enough to be able to wait till I was 18 to get married. I'm only nineteen now."

---

Ila reflected later on the things her stepmother had said. It seemed strange that old men would want to marry girls not much older than herself. Though in a twisted sort of way, it made perfect sense. Rich noblemen would not want to marry a woman their age. It would probably reflect their own frailty. Ila did not want to get married.

---------

For a girl nearing her sixteenth birthday, summons from her father to speak with her alone is not a good sign, or something to be looked forward to. As he waited for her to seat herself (it was really a kneel with her head bowed), Ila's father had an unreadable expression on his face.

"Stand up." He ordered. She obeyed. "Turn around slowly." She obliged, her head bowed the whole time. "Look at me and come closer." He took her chin and turned her head side to side, then sat back at looked at her. She returned his gaze firmly before his eyes narrowed a bit and she lowered hers.

"A bit defiant, this one. Rather pretty, a lot like her mother. Yes, this will do nicely. Sit down." He talked about her as if she wasn't there. She returned to her seat and looked at the floor.

"Ila," her father started, "Sixteen is a fine time to get married." She slowly let out the breath she was holding. Now the only surprise would be who it was.

Nobleman Qin paused. "Fire Lord Tungsten has requested that you marry Fire Prince Azulon."

Cliffie, don'tcha think?