Chapter 3
Aya
I gazed with uncertainty into my wardrobe where the grand silk dresses hung mocking me. I distinctly can recall my father telling me I should read the book named 'The Ways of a Lady', girls of noble birth study its teachings of all things etiquette and fashions. I had scoffed thinking I hadn't the need for such frivolous notions and then proceeded to once again pester Dad into allowing me, at long last join the White Lotus. And now here I am four years later finding out that I should have taken a glimpse at the pages or at least gone with my father when he invited me to the many formal affairs he now attended since the ending of the war. The sound of a knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, the moment I had been dreading came, only now the idea of an attendant gave me a sudden hope. Maybe she would know what to do!
"Come in!" I was startled when at my words the door to my rooms banged open, from what I had noticed most servants moved quietly and efficiently. I moved out from behind the door of my wardrobe to see my apparently noisy attendant. "Eiko.." Mind suddenly went blank at the sight of my friend from long ago. I hadn't thought anything about her when Lin had said her name earlier, what with Eiko being a rather common name in the Fire Nation.
"Aya, are you just going to stand there gaping like fish or give your old friend a hug?" She smiled mischievously with a hand on her hip.
With a disbelieving laugh, I embraced the shorter woman, "pardon me for being a little shocked, but I haven't seen you since we were sixteen." Pulling back I asked, "What in the world are you doing here? I thought you married?"
"Pfft," she rolled her eyes swatting a hand in the air, "to make a long story short, Father tried to marry me off to some wealthy old geezer here in the capital, but needless to say I didn't go through with it."
"I have time," I tried to argue, desperately wanting to know what happened to my friend in the four years of seeing her last.
"Not for this story you don't, we need to get you ready," Eiko determinedly went around me to the wardrobe. "It will be a formal dinner, but not overtly so." She pursed her lips flicking through each article of clothing and then paused over a gown. "Perfect! Now about that hair…"
Eiko and I hurried down the corridors with her softly giving much-appreciated tips. Once we reached the dining hall entry, she addressed me with formality. "Whenever you are ready Lady Aya, Nao will announce you." She gestured to the guard standing stick straight with a puffed out chest. With a slight bow, she left me with a grin and a whisper of good luck.
Great… I can do this, I sucked in a deep breath, I shouldn't dally I'm already late due to the small argument over hair ornaments, which I won. With cool hands and a tight stomach, I told Nao I was ready before my nerves could get the better of me. He swiftly pulled the heavy handle and one of the two doors swung open, I could hear the sound echo in the room.
"Lady Aya, Daughter of Master Piandao has arrived."
My eyes widen with the loud tone he used, he was so quite just a second ago. I had to swallow hard at the eyes that followed me. I walked as quickly as I dare, my hands clasped in front of me, Iroh smiled trying to give me encouragement. Once close to the table I paid the Fire Lord the proper respect, who gestured for me to be seated directly down the table from him, putting me between his sister and step-father. I was torn with if I should apologize or waiting until he spoke.
"I must apologize my Lord for my tardiness." I stared down at the roasted salmon on my plate inwardly groaning, yeah that was a breach of etiquette.
"It was but a few minutes, I'm sure I will be able to overlook it."
"How very generous of you, my Lord." The offhanded tone flew out of my mouth before I could stop it or my eyes from meeting his. There was a slight pause while the Fire Lord studied me.
"Yes, indeed my Lady." When I still met his unrelenting stare, he surprisingly tilted his head down toward me before raising his glass of wine to his lips. "Now that our honored guest has arrived let us eat."
Zuko
After dinner, I had retreated back into my study to finish up a few things before retiring for the night. I rubbed my eyes, trying to force myself to concentrate on the household books. But, my mind kept wondering to Lady Aya. Tonight she valiantly tried to hide her nervousness and I would have probably taken her for calm and collected had it not been for the way she swirled the wine in her glass and pushed her food around the plate, only taking little bites here and there. I recognized the anxious movements for it reflected mine in my early days of Fire Lord. It became crystal clear to me that she wasn't completely familiar with court formalities and that didn't shock me what with Master Piandao staying away from court for years.
I sank further down into my seat, my legs stretched out; ankles crossed. I didn't know what to think of the girl. Dinner tonight really didn't give me a chance to read her, it had been just a lot of small talk from everyone but Uncle who conversed freely with her. Kiyi had been on the quiet side as she usually was around strangers, no matter how friendly.
With a yawn I tiredly pushed myself out of the chair, raising my arms above my head, its time to call it a corridors were rather dark, I shook my head in disapproval I need to make sure that the servants leave more lanterns lit now that there are guests here. As I neared the family wing of the palace my ears picked up on the faintest sound of footsteps. Stopping I listened while the sound grew closer, it was coming from the hall just to my left. Feeling curious I waited to see who would come around the corner. The footfalls came to a stop, I held my breath listening intently for the sound to begin again but it didn't. Suddenly I felt uneasy, but I pushed it away, I'm probably being paranoid and it's just a servant, but I was going to check it out. I quietly turned the corner only to find an empty corridor. I caught the slightest of movement from the corner of my eye, the heavy tapestries had moved. I formed a flame as thin as a dagger behind my back as I made my way silently toward the windows. Only raising the makeshift weapon when I jerked the fabric aside. My stomach fell to my feet at the sight of an open window, the cold breeze blew across my heated skin.
"Ugh," I raised a brow at the barely there sound coming from out the window. I slowly peeked my head out seeing a dark figure hanging precariously from the widow's ledge. Rage tore through me I punched a small burst of flames down at the unwelcome visitor's hands. With a yelp he let go of ledge, it was short descent to the balcony below, one I quickly followed myself, albeit more gracefully.
Aya
I sat on the settee in the dark of my sitting room with only the light of the dancing flames in the hearth illuminating the shadows. Fully dressed in black from head to foot for a night of exploring, although I wouldn't leave for another hour or so. With an impatient sigh, I rose from my idleness and heaved the surprisingly heavy table onto its side and pushed it to lean against the far wall. Now with more space, I could practice a little. I couldn't help but grin mischievously to myself, my dad would strongly disapprove of me swing my katana around in my sitting room. With a flourish, I unsheathed it from the scabbard and began basic forms.
"Aghh!" I spun around toward the windows, katana raised just in time to see a body suddenly crash into a potted plant on my balcony, I heard the rippling sound of fabric before a second figure landed in a perfect roll to his feet. I wasted no time in rushing out there prepared to fight, the agilest of the two spared me a quick glance over his shoulder, my eyes widened when catching a glimpse of a very distinctive scar, that brought me up short.
The Fire Lord strode over to the man who was struggling to get to his feet, I stayed rooted in my spot eyes scanning the grounds below, my brow furrowed when I spotted nothing out of the ordinary. My attention was brought back to the assailant who apparently gained a second wind and lunged with a sharp piece of the broken flower pot, with ease Lord Zuko blocked him grabbing his wrist and twisting his arm behind the man's back while slamming him into the railing. A glistening metal piece caught my eye, I focused on the circle pendant on a long chain swinging from his neck. Oh, no, he is one of them.
"Who are you and why are here?" He growled dangerously, giving him a small shove. I could hear when the guards who must have heard the commotion all but broke down the door to my quarters.
"You may have stopped me, but tell me Fire Lord can you stop an army?" His wild cackle drifted off into a horrible hacking noise which then turned into gurgling. Confused Lord Zuko let the man fall to the ground, his body convulsing until he went still.
After a tense silence where no one seemed to know what to do a guard stepped forth to check for a pulse. "He's dead, Sire."
"Yes, I gathered that Toshi, take him to be examined." Toshi was a giant and threw the dead man over his shoulder like he weighed nothing. "Someone wake my uncle and tell him to meet in my antechamber." When everyone had left the Fire Lord finally turned and faced me full on for the first time since landing on the balcony. "Lady Aya I'm sor – " He cut himself off his good eye widening for a split-second as he took in my appearance. "You will come with me." Lord Zuko ordered with a deep frown.
With that he turned on his heel and strode right to my sitting room and out the door, I hurriedly sheathed my katana, slinging it across my back and followed after him. Odd how I was so nervous over just a dinner and now am calm as I could possibly be. I've always been able to calm my mind and take everything in before charging into danger and this sure does feel the same. I dwelt on the thought until the silent man finally came to a stop in front of double doors much similar to that of the dining the hall. He allowed me to enter first into the large masculine space, unsure of what to do and much too wound up to sit I stood in the center of the room, I could keenly feel the heavy stare of his eyes on my back. The sound of the door softly closing, was so loud in the quiet room.
…. "What a peculiar outfit to wear at such a late hour."
Swallowing hard I turned and faced him, the Fire Lord raised a brow in expectation, I knew by the hard look in his gaze that I best not lie, not that I planned on it anyway. "I wear it often, my lord."
"And why is that, Lady Aya?"
I took a deep breath, forcing my hands to stay still at my side. Why is Iroh not here to explain this! "I belong to the same society as my Father and your Uncle. Myself and others are sent out frequently to stop people who threaten peace to all the nations."
"Do you know who attacked tonight?"
"I don't know the man," I shook my head, my mind going back to the man with traditional fire nation's features. "But, he was just a messenger of low rank, easily disposable."
"Then are you aware of what society he belongs too?"
Seriously where is that old man? I could have just told him everything all at once but I was trying to draw it out a little, in the hopes that his Uncle would come and save me. "I do not, my lord, all I know for certain is that they wear a circular pendant, on a necklace or bracelet."
"Well," he stalked toward me and on instinct, my hand twitched for my sword, but I crossed my arms to cover up the slip. Lord Zuko frowned down at me when he passed by me going to the side table by a long settee. "You don't appear to know much, you must be rather low on the totem pole."
My jaw dropped, I watched with growing anger as he picked up the glass bottle of amber liquid and poured himself a drink. "I know just as much as anyone else in the White Lotus…my lord." I tacked his title on at the end through a clenched jaw.
He emptied his glass and poured another, "I seriously doubt that." I scoffed softly, at the sound, he raised his brow and a short starring contest ensured. After a moment he sighed setting his glass down and crossing his arms. "Allow me to explain my conclusion by using your own logic, my lady. You knew the man tonight was just a measly messenger, you don't know who sent him. Nor should you, the White Lotus tells you who to find and gives you just enough information to succeed in your quest. Do you think the man tonight knew of future plans, no he knew just enough to bring him here and nothing more." I openly glared as picked up his glass and took a swig.
"If I am so low on the totem pole, my lord, then why was I requested by your Uncle; a grandmaster, to not only protect and teach your sister but to unearth the organization behind the threats to your family, that you, yourself knew nothing of."
I heard his slight intake of breath and had I been a less stubborn person would have back down from the intensity of his stare. He very carefully sat his delicate glass back onto the table as if he feared to break it. A loud knock on the solid door startled us both and did nothing for the already tense atmosphere.
"Enter," The Fire Lord called tersely.
Thankfully it was Iroh who walked in wearing an apologetic expression, "Forgive me, Nephew, I was bathing, when…" he trailed off at the sight of me and then sighed when looking at the irate man beside me.
I threw all formalities to the wind and made my way out the door without being excused. Fire Lord Zuko is Iroh's nephew and he knows how to deal with the man a lot better than I do or want to for that matter. I breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed behind me without being summoned back inside. As I walked to my room, my annoyance faded and the reality of what I said came crashing down on me. I am the daughter of a renowned and formidable master but that by no means places me on even ground with the Fire Lord. Yeah, I can pretty much count on Lord Zuko having me replaced for my insolence, Iroh will probably have to bring in Hideo for he a great archer and is a lot less mouthy. A lot.