Authors Note: Hey everyone! Just wanted to say thank you for reading FOD! Here is Chapter three:) Chapters are getting longer so its getting harder to edit:( Though I have good news, i already have the first 1-12 chapters done, and planned I just need to fix a couple things. I'll try and update every other day if I can. I'm at the beach right now, so I'll try an update as fast as I can! Reviews/Feedback/Advice is greatly appreciated, and helps me write faster!
Warnings: Rated M for: Character death, Violence, Language, Eventual sexual themes, slavery. More to come if needed!
Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA, no profit is made by this story. The ATLA universe and characters belong to Mike and Bryan. Quotes/Song lyrics belong to their respective writers.
"The world isn't sunshine and rainbows. It'll beat you down if you let it, and nothing hit's harder than life."-Rocky Balboa
As Katara rested her head on the beautiful ladies shoulder, she found herself watching the boy…Zuko.
These people were foul. Every single one of them with there venomous golden eyes and pale skin. Katara had noticed in all the haste that the small girl had eyes just as bad as the men…all of the soldiers, the man who took her from her home. Not kind. And Katara couldn't even bare to think about that man…The big one who hurt her mother. Even thinking about him made her tense up in fear.
Then there was this woman…and this boy. They were't like the others. And their eyes…they weren't scary, they were light like the sun. They were kind.
They were all so similar, but so drastically different. When she thought of the soldiers, the scary man and his daughter she shuddered in fear. But when she thought of this woman's and her son she wasn't quite as scared. But they were still strangers, and she still had to keep her guard up, Katara decided.
Katara watched the boy with wonder in her eyes. He was unlike any boy in her tribe. He walked with his back straight, hands behind his back. He had pale skin, and ebony hair tied in a high wolfs tail. His jaw was set and he looked like he walked with a purpose, Katara thought. He reminded her of her brother, Sokka when he did something exciting that he wanted to show their father.
Katara was still watching him when his soft golden eyes drifted up at her. When they locked eyes Zuko blushed fiercely, quickly averting his eyes. Katara was not afraid of staring at him, he was kind to her so far. She smiled when he looked back at her from the tips of his eyes. She was smiling at him? Zuko thought to himself with another blush, he smirked at her. Now it was her turn to look down with red cheek, avoiding eye contact the rest of the way.
They walked along the path in silence as Katara found herself looking at the surroundings of the emphasis Fire nation. It certainty wasn't at all like her own home. There was no snow to be seen anywhere, the air was hot and humid, but did have a soft breeze. She could smell the many new assortments of flowers that grew in all the gardens they walked through to get to the palace doors.
As they made their way to the entrance of the palace, its size shocked Katara. The roof had to be taller than any iceberg she's ever seen. There were fire designs on every wall, great furniture, and expensive vases, and the place had a distinct smell of incense. They came to a hallway that led to who knows where, that portrayed two great banners that hung from the ceiling to the floor. It was the biggest painting Katara had ever seen, so many vibrant colors that would never appear at her home.
She shared at the paintings, and viewed that they were two older men. One man had long white hair, and a thick white beard. He wore the Fire lord symbol in his hair, behind him was a red dragon encircling him. Underneath the picture was writing. It was in Fire Nation tongue, for which Katara could not understand.
"Who are they?" Katara asked hesitantly at the kind lady. Ursa stopped and looked at the figures, dropping Katara to her feet so she could take a closer look. The small girl walked up to the painting and rested her tiny hand on the red dragon.
"They are the most current Fire lords… Fire Lord Sozin." Ursa said pointing to the one that she had been looking at, "And Fire Lord Azulan, our current Fire lord." Ursa said, "Than down that hall are the pictures of the hundreds more."
Katara knit her eyebrows in concentration…that must mean that these men were Zuko's grandfather and great grandfather. She turned toward the boy, who stood there staring at his ancestors in concentration.
When she had her share of looking at the men they continued on down the hallways, hand in hand with the Lady Ursa. Katara noticed their surroundings get less and less flashy and expensive. Soon it was kitchens, laundry rooms, and ugly bunk bedded bedrooms. Katara realized this must be where their slaves slept. Then a horrible realization hit her…she was now a slave and this is where she will live. Katara frowned.
Ursa and Zuko took stopped in front of a room where all sorts of strange smells came through it. When they walked into the room, beds were laid out along both walls, each had a set of scary tools on a dresser along with assortments of herbs.
"This is the healers room," Ursa said to Katara motioning to the place. Katara stood close to Zuko who stole a quick glance at her worried face, then quickly looked away avoiding eye contact for fear of blushing. Zuko shook his head…blushing?
Katara caught his glance at her, and decided she would just ignore him. Boys had cooties anyways…or that's what her daddy always told her. Especially Fire Nation boys…
Katara looked around at all the things. This was the healing room? More like an armory! There was no water bins? No elders with seaweed wrap and hot stones? Then Katara remembered she was in the fire nation now. Now Gran Gran wasn't here to heal the sick. This way of healing was so foreign to her, was there a special kind of way she didn't understand? Well, none of it was better than Water Bending healing she concluded.
Then a sudden thought hit her mind…this is the place where they brought their sick… her mother! Katara frantically looked around the long strange room and spotted her mom on one of the back beds.
Katara ran as fast as her little legs could carry her to the sleeping form of her mother. She lay on the twin sized bed in a long shaggy red robe. Her thick brown hair was braided back in one single braid, looking as if it was freshly washed. Katara noticed her mother smelled like something sweet that she couldn't place. It must be some kind of flower.. but also with a hint of some odd herb.
Katara winced when she studied the white bandage that wrapped around the left side of her face, and down to her shoulder. That must be were the odd smell was coming from since she could see some green substance coming out of it. Katara pouted in disgust.
Ursa and Zuko finally made their way to where Katara stood over her injured mother who lay motionless.
Ursa spoke to the healer that walked around the room for a moment, then walked back to the small Water bender who stroked her mothers arm in soothing circles.
"It seems like your mother was very badly burned on the bottom of her cheek then up to her ear and down her neck. These bandages will help prevent infection and heal her as best as it can." Ursa said to Katara, trying to hide the doubt that surfaced in her mind. She had witnessed bad burns like this before, and almost always it left a nasty scar.
"No, no green sticky stuff!" Katara yelled as she reached to peel away the bandages. This is not how it was suppose to be, and she could heal her mother better than anyone else.
Ursa grabbed the small girls hand lightly, "Katara, if she doesn't have this medicine she wont heal sweetheart." she said to her as kind as she could with getting her point across. Ursa gently began to wrap Kya back up when Katara yelled in protest,
"No Lady Ursa! I am healer." Katara said while pointing to her chest, urging her to believe her. Zuko and Ursa both looked at her in confusion and curiosity.
Ursa lifted her hands away from the woman to let the small Water Bender do her thing. Zuko leaned around his mother to try and get a better look by grabbing onto her skirts.
Katara asked the Fire nation healer to bring her a bucket of water with a rag. The nurse sprinted off and soon arrived back with the supplies Katara asked for. Zuko and Ursa decided to take a seat on the bed across from Kya's to watch the young girl do her birth talent.
Katara unwrapped the bandages that surrounded her mother and felt her breath hitch at the sight of the wound. It was so disgusting Katara had to look away for fear of loosing her stomach. As the smell of herbs and charred flesh lifted up she held her nose in disgust. Her face and neck were covered in pockets of puss, and was a painful red and black color. She couldn't believe she was looking at her mother…this woman just looked like a burnt shell of what she once was. Katara had to take a deep breath in and mentally prepare herself for what she needed to do.
She only remembered doing this once before. Around last summer Sokka and her were fishing. While her older brother was baiting his hook behind her, Katara wound back in preparation to cast her line into the ocean. She was so excited it was her first time fishing with him and Katara yearned to impress him with her skills. Though things took a wrong turn when she pulled foreword hard on her pole and heard a shout behind her.
Katara soon realized she hooked her brother right in the eyebrow. She had to use her healing then for the first time in a major wound, and if not for her quick work on the broken flesh it would have surely scarred. Katara smiled at the memory and was ready to preform the task at hand. She lifted her arms and put her hands over the bucket and concentrated hard on her element. She dipped her hands in to the water as her face began to turn red with effort. Soon she felt the water enclose around her small hands, molding and mending to its curves.
Ursa and Zuko watched with eyes wide open when they witnessed the small girl... no more than seven years old, bend the glowing blue water out of the bucket and onto her injured mother. Zuko couldn't believe his eyes. He had never seen someone bend another element except his own…and it was truly mesmerizing how miraculous this Water Bending was.
Katara moved her glowing hands around the burnt flesh. She couldn't help but begin to feel tears swell in her eyes when she understood how badly the burns truly were. They were so deep, almost to the bone she felt. Katara lifted her fingers up and down in a movement similar to a swimming spider beetle to feel the extent of the broken flesh.
"You can do it Katara." Zuko heard himself say to the struggling girl, surprising himself. He looked over to his mother who gave him a encouraging, approving smile.
Katara turned to the bucket and dropped the dirty water back in, then replacing it with new water. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath trying to remember everything that her Gran Gran showed her in the water bending scrolls they still had. She placed her glowing hands back on her mother and concentrated.
She thought about the pull of the moon and ocean tides. Katara thought of the love she held for her mother, the thought of her beautiful face smiling and laughing again urged her on.
Katara spread her fingers and pulled up, she watched the water respond by meeting her movement. She guided it over to her unconscious mother as she felt the flesh in her skin begin to knit back together. She felt the infection seep from the bloodstream as it made way for the new blood to rush to the surface of the wound, scarring over. Katara loved the healing ability, for she could feel the bodies natural healing in full detail, only sped up by a thousand.
Ursa and Zuko watched in utter amazement as the water glowed a even brighter blue. It was like magic, Zuko thought. He smiled as he began to realize the difference in the wounded woman.
Katara thought about everything she loved of her home; her family, the seals that roamed the village, the food that she loved, everything and anything that made her happy increased the healing process. She kept on thinking of these things until she couldn't feel the tug in her bending that felt something broken.
Katara slowly opened her heavy eyelids, removing the no longer glowing water away from her mother. She deposited the dirty water back into the bucket and looked back to her mother below her. Her oozing burns were nothing more than inch long white scars that ran from her eyebrow, to her chin then to her shoulder. It reminded Katara a lot of armadillo snake skin. She frowned that she couldn't prevent the scars, but all infection was gone. And she could only see the scars if she looked closely.
Katara looked up hesitently to Ursa and Zuko to see tears in the woman's eyes, and Zuko's face was in awe at her skills.
Katara smiled, "I did…" she got out before a sudden wave of dizziness washed upon her. The young girls eyes rolled to the back of her head as she passed out in total and utter exhaustion. Ursa quickly leaned foreword to catch the small girl in her arms.
She gave a short chuckle understanding the girls pain. She wrapped the girl in her arms as he laid on Ursa's chest. She stood up to her awaiting son and spoke, "Come Zuko you will help."
Zuko looked confused at to his mother wanted him to do when the young girl was asleep, but he followed his mother anyways, always wanting to help her whenever he could.
They slowly walked out of the healing room, and out into the hallway. When they made there way to the slaves bedchamber Ursa and Zuko entered an empty room with two sets of bunk beds.
Ursa placed the small Katara on the bottom bunk and pulled a lone chair in front of the bed.
"Zuko go to the bathing room and get me a bucket of water, and a rag please." Ursa asked her son who did what he was told, he sprinted from his spot and out toward the bathing room. Only being nine years old he didn't mind being told what to do just yet.
Ursa sat down on the chair as she waited for her son. She crossed her hands in her lap with a sigh. She was too young for this burden, Ursa thought as she looked upon the exhausted girl. Katara's face was scrunched up even in her deep sleep. Her curly thick brown hair was plastered to her forehead from all her exertion in the past half hour. Ursa shook her head in sadness.
She scooted closer and bent down on her knees. It was too unfair, her husbands ways were too crazy…it was sadistic. She stroked the young girls forehead gently, moving aside the damp hair.
"I'm so sorry little one." Ursa said as she began to feel her tears brim in her eyes, "Things like this shouldn't happen to good people. I promise you little one…I will make this easier on you some how." she said with a soft smile.
Ursa began to take off her heavy furs that was making the young girl sweat buckets. Her first layer was a giant polar bear wolf parka, that Ursa assumed was for the harsh winter storms.
Zuko stood at the end of the bed and watched as his mother started to undo the clothing of the little girl.
Ursa looked up from her work to see her son standing, struggling with a heavy bucket of water. Zuko felt his cheeks becoming warm as he realized what his mother was doing. He turned his head for fear of her noticing.
"Come in son, bring the bucket to me." Ursa urged with a wave of her hand. Zuko looked at his mother with raised eyebrows and a flush of his cheeks. Her mother gave him a stern look and he did what he was told, beside his embarrassment.
"I'm expecting you to be mature and gentlemen toward this young lady Zuko. You are no longer a child, and this little girl needs our help." Ursa said. Zuko looked at her in sadness, "She is the product of what this war your father continues to be apart of destroys." Zuko's mother said to him as he nodded in understanding while taking a deep breath.
Ursa began to untie one of the two big leather boots on the child, as Zuko did the other. They must have been made out of some kind of animal from there home, for Ursa did not recognize it.
Man she had small feet, Zuko thought as he tugged at the tight shoe. His mother moved to remove the fur scarf that had been tucked around her neck, exposing all the hidden sweat from the sun. Zuko began to remove the thick fur socks that seemed to be glued to her feet one by one. Zuko watched his mother untie the blue rope around her waist that held up her under dress, and quickly peeled it away from her body. The girl didn't even move a muscle…she was out.
Katara was only left in a cotton white t shirt, and thick blue pants. Ursa began to remove the shirt gently, soon exposing her flat bare chest. Zuko felt his cheeks warm as he looked at the bare chested girl.
Even though she looked no different from a boy, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed for her. Zuko looked away in respect as his mother went to untie her thick fur pants. Underneath them were what looked like regular thin blue pants, and his mother easily got those off also. All that was left on the little child was her tiny white binding that hid her most secret parts. Zuko couldn't handle his shaking hands and beating heart as his mother looked toward him.
"We'll save that for last." Ursa said when she noticed her sons shuffling figure. Zuko sighed his thanks to his mother before he died of awkwardness.
He nodded his thank you. Ursa bent down into the water bucket and swooshed the sponge into the water. She ringed it out then began to wash her legs with the water.
"You can start on her face." His mother told him. Zuko nodded his head and moved from his spot at her feet to the little ones face. Gently took the rag and dipped it into the cold water. He twirled the cloth and let it soak up the water. His eyes scrunched up in thought. This was to cold to put on her…he'll just heat it up. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard on his core heat. Soon the water temperature began to rise and he decided that this was a good temperature for her.
Zuko raised the rag from the bucket and wrung the water out. He leaned over and began to wash her face, moving the rag along her forehead then up to her hairline and down her neck. Zuko's mind began to wonder. She looked like she had already been so much at such a young age. It was horrible the things that some people can do. Especially his father…as much as he yearned for his acceptance, he wasn't sure if he wanted it all that much if that meant he would have to hurt innocent people.
He looked back down at the small girl and shook his head in pain. She reminded him of the innocent turtle ducks, before his sister through bread at them.
Ursa watched her son carefully bathe the little water tribe girl. She smiled lightly at the way he carefully stoked her as if petting a baby polar bear dog. Just then, Ursa had a sudden thought that would change all that she thought would happen in the future.
She knew now what she had to do to assure the happiness of her son. She knew now what she had to do to protect her Nation for years to come. She just prayed to Agni that it would work.
She already noticed the way Zuko looked at the small child with only knowing her for a couple hours. Her mind began to race maybe…just maybe these children will grow up, maybe to become close friends, but... maybe to be more? And if this kind, caring little girl was to marry her son… and then bestow Zuko with kind, caring children then the line of Fire Lords will be good. There will be no more pain no more war. It will always be a fight between good and evil in this family.
She had this feeling…this horrible feeling that something and was about to happen. She knew she will not be able to stop whatever is going to come, so ensuring the fate of her child is all she could do. Ursa knew that what is to come will cause total destruction of all the nations, but if her child was kind, and one day put on the throne she knew balance balance will restore to the world.
She nodded her head to herself, yes she will find a way. But first she needed to go take care of a few things.
"Zuko I am going to go find new clothes for the girl, stay with her and finish her bath." she said to her son. He nodded in response and watched as she left the room.
Zuko turned back to the little girl who lay bare beneath him. He clenched the rag tight and leaned into her ear and whispered, "I promise you Katara. I'll protect you with my life from the things that might harm you, to the best of my ability." He promised. He would never forget this promise, he swore it to himself. He lifted up her little hair loop and softly tucked it behind her ear.
As Ursa made her way down the servant's halls she began to hear something in the distance. Was it screaming…? As she got closer to the healers room the screaming became more pronounced. Ursa hurried her steps, then found herself running to the room where the screams came from.
"Where is my child! Katara! Katara!" Ursa heard what must be a now awaken Kya. Ursa ran down the hall as fast as she could, when she got there she hurried into the room, to see two healers trying to hold the strong flaring arms of he Water Tribe woman.
Kya then caught sight of the woman she last remembered being at the arm of that horrible man, "You! You royal scum, what did you do to my baby?" she spat as she continued to be restrained.
Ursa held her arms out in peace, "Please Kya…you need to calm down. You will hurt yourself." Ursa said to the woman. Kya narrowed her eyes in suspicion at the woman's words. Why did she care? No Fire Nation person should care about what happens to a lowly peasant.
Kya stopped her tears and stood up straight, "Where is my child?" she seethed. Ursa sat down on the bed across from the woman to show her she meant no harm. The healers that held Kya by her arms reluctantly let her go, and she sat on the bed she awoke on.
"My son and I have been taking care of her, she is asleep around the corner." Ursa said as she visibly saw Kya relax. She eyed the royal warily through her musings, "You went through quite a burn... but your daughter healed you." Ursa said to Kya. Kya's eyes opened wide in shock, as she began to understand what the woman was saying.
Ursa leaned over to the tool box by the healers bed to find a mirror. She handed it to the Water Tribe woman who took it hesitantly. Kya raised the glass to her face and looked at her reflection in shock. She looked intently into the mirror, softly touching the white burn marks along her face, she clinched her jaw tight.
"Not as bad as I was excepting. I'll live" Kya said setting the mirror down on the bed. Ursa nodded in understanding...she was a very strong woman. That they had in common.
"Kya…I'm making you and your daughter two of my ladies in waiting. That is when you are feeling better." Ursa said to her. Kya looked surprised, "We are no slave." She hissed at her. Ursa smiled a bit and looked down at her feet.
"No, No certainly not, but in the eyes of everyone in the palace you are, and this is the easiest way I can keep you both be safe." Ursa said. "And…This will move you up in class expediently." Ursa added.
"What do you mean?" Kya asked her, looking down at herself beginning to realize she had new clothes on.
Ursa coughed and looked away, "Well... if you do not become my ladies, I fear my husband will surely take you, have his way with you, and God forbid soon to your innocent daughter." Ursa shook her head in disgust. "This way he can't without it being looked down upon." She added.
Kya's eyes opened wide, lip curling in anger, "Not as long as I'm alive he won't." She said, just thinking about that happening to her daughter made her blood boil. Herself she could handle, but her Katara…?
Ursa nodded in understanding, she hesitantly took the Water Tribe woman's hands, she eyed her warily but allowed it, "And not as long as I am alive either, or my Nations princess…which i fear might not be long." Ursa said looking down, "What?" Kya asked her in confusion.
Ursa swallowed her nerves, "Kya, I'm afraid that my husband is planning something. I'm not sure what yet, but i know he is wanting to take his brothers place as the next Fire Lord. He might ask me to do something horrible, he has before..." Ursa said feeling the tears come to her eyes,
"I'm going to save my children's life. But I know it will cause destruction among all nations. I am doing this because I know in my heart my son is a good. He will one day rise and become Fire lord and restore balance." Ursa said to her in a tone that demanded she was right.
Ursa then looked at her with pleading eyes, "And there is one thing that I ask of you." Ursa said to Kya who nodded for her to keep going.
"Your daughter...I've looked into her heart and she is good, virtuous." Kya smiled at her compliments, "I need you to do everything in your power to help me get our children together. To fall in love...I've thought of this, and if the line of Fire lords continues with our grandsons family's, then the world will become good." Ursa said to Kya squeezing her hand. She truly believed this. Her father was a good man, and her grandfather…was the Avatar! She knew that if they excluded her husbands evil her son's children will be kind and wise.
Ursa's eyes then became down cast, "And I also ask you this, if i were to die…my children will need a mother, so I beg of you…will you watch them?" Ursa pleaded as she felt one lone tear slide down her porcelain cheek, still squeezing hard onto Kya's hands.
Kya looked at the royal woman in understanding. Through her speech Kya began to evaluate this woman. She came to the conclusion that she was good, and trustworthy. She had helped her daughter, and herself without even knowing them. She knew she was indebted to the woman…Ursa was it? So she would do whatever it is she asked.
"Of course I will princess, I'd want the same for my children." Kya said, her gentleness coming through. Ursa smiled as more tears came down her cheeks.
"Thank you so much. You'll surely know it when I'm gone, but for now you are to be on my service, so I can help keep you as far away from my husband as possible." Ursa said standing up, letting go of the Water Tribe woman's hands in the process.
Ursa turned to a healer on her left, "Escort Lady Kya to my chambers please, I will be there soon with her child." Kya turned toward her eyes open in questions at the mention of her daughter.
"Katara is okay?" Kya asked the royal as they made there way out of the healing room and into the hallway. Ursa smiled at the mention of the strong young girl,
"She is doing fine, just resting." Said Ursa who stopped there walk, "This is were we part ways, I'll see you soon Kya." She said, giving a small bow which Kya returned.
Ursa walked down the halls once again, now where to find the perfect clothes for the young Katara. She must have entered about a thousand rooms before she finally came across one that held clothes small enough for Katara.
She looked through the dresser of what used to be one of Azulon's wifes hand maids, and found what she was looking for. A small red dress with a wrap around black cardigan, it suited her class perfectly until Ursa could have her and the girls mothers clothes made. She looked again through the adjacent closet finding little red shoes that looked about her size.
Ursa shuffled through what used to be a jewelry box and took a few hairpieces and one necklace for the small girl. Ursa's thoughts clouded over when she saw something inside of the jewelry box.
A awful taste came to her mouth when she picked up the golden band. She sighed, this golden arm band when worn signified a slave of the Fire Nation. Ursa looked at the way it glinted in the sunlight drifting into the room. It was made out of pure gold, so when a slave ever became free again it had its first sell, to earn money. She looked back down and saw another. She picked up the second one also.
She decided to take them with her, but she promised herself the two Water tribe girls will not have to wear it for long. When she was satisfied with her findings, Ursa made her way back down the hall way to the slave room where Katara lay sleeping. Ursa raised in eyebrow in surprise when she noticed Zuko sitting over her, almost as if he was protecting his favorite toy dragon.
"Zuko? Is she all clean?" Ursa asked him as she walked closer to him. Zuko looked up in surprise when she spoke. Ursa smiled when she began to smell a hint of jasmine.
"Well... she no longer needed to be washed... and I didn't want to lay here watching her the entire time, so I looked around in the bathroom and found a jasmine body wash…I thought it smelled nice and I started to wash her with that, then I brought a bucket of water back and washed her hair, and man mom it took a long time! I don't know how you do it!" Zuko said with one big breath, almost as if he was afraid he did something wrong.
Ursa began to laugh at his nerves, "My kind boy, I'm sure she would appreciate it my love." She said leaning down and placing a kiss on his forehead. Zuko grinned at his mothers response.
"Now, help me dress her." Ursa said to her son. Zuko raised his eyebrows, standing up and held out his hands for a piece of clothing.
Ursa handed her son the red dress, and shifted Katara into a sitting position while Zuko began to put the pretty red dress over her head. After the red dress, they put on the black cardigan. Ursa gently laid her back on the bed and they both strapped on the little red shoes.
Ursa looked over at her sons content face with helping the small child, "Zuko... will you put on her slave band for me." Ursa said to him, waiting to see his reaction.
Zuko looked up in surprise, he stared at her for a moment, "Aren't we equal? That is what you said Mother?" Zuko asked in confusion.
Ursa smiled sadly at her son and placed her hand beneath his chin, "Yes my boy every one is equal, and you will treat her like you would any proper lady, but it is the rules." She said with a scowl.
He nodded in understanding, and took the golden band putting it high on her upper left arm.
"Now we will take her to my you will go and get ready for bed young man!" Ursa said poking his nose, which earned her an annoyed scowl.
Ursa leaned down and picked the child up. She laid her head on her shoulder once more, and made her way outside of the room and down the hall. As they walked the young girls wet hair hit her neck, but she didn't mind. She was nice and clean. Soon when they arrived in the royal bed chambers, she stopped and looked down at her son. Zuko looked up at her and smiled, "Thank you for your help today my son. You have great kindness." Ursa said as she leant down and kissed his white cheek.
Zuko smiled at the beautiful woman who was his mother, "Goodnight Mother." he said to her, then turning to run back to his room across the way.
After her son was out of her sight, Ursa turned back to the entrance of the Fire Lady bed chamber. She quietly walked into the room to see Kya sitting nervously on her bed.
The Water Tribe woman quickly jumped to her feet as she noticed her young child in the woman's arms. She ran to Ursa and quickly took her daughter from her arms.
"Oh Katara… my sweet daughter." she said as she sat down on Ursa's bed. She rocked Katara back and forth in her arms like she did when she was a baby, singing a small water tribe song that had been passed on for generations.
Kya had been so distracted by having her daughter back in her arms she had forgot that the Princess was still here until she spoke, "That's very pretty." Ursa said as she walked closer to the woman.
She turned to her closet, and began to look through her closet for clothes that would suit a Lady in waiting for Kya.
"My mother-in-law used to sing it for me when I had bad dreams." Kya said to her, "Her name was Kanna, she is the oldest of our tribe, born in Sozin's reign I figure." She added, "She took me in when I child after my parents died." Kya added, eyebrows knit.
Ursa looked back to the woman with sad eyes, "I'm sorry." she said. Kya nodded her thanks. Ursa decided to change the subject, "Than there's a chance she'd have heard of my grandfather." She smiled sadly.
Kya raised her eyebrows in surprise, she Knew her mother-in-law was from the Northern Tribe, but other than that she had only been to the Water Tribes.
"Oh I doubt that... she didn't really get around much." Kya chuckled, stroking her young daughters face, laying her down and moving the sheet up to her chin…she then faced the royal.
Ursa smiled weakly as she continued to search through the many dresses she had in her closet, "No, no I'm pretty sure she would have knew of him." Ursa said quietly, Kya looked at her again in confusion.
"What do you mean?" She questioned the princess, she didn't know what she was trying to say.
"My grandfather was the Avatar. Avatar Roku." Ursa stated, she paused in her search and waited for Kya's response. Kya's mouth dropped in shock. She didn't say anything for a while as she thought of this. She looked at Ursa with a newfound respect that's for sure.
Kya shook her head, "My goodness...you've sure gotten yourself into a sticky situation." Kya said sadly. Ursa laughed at that, "Now you see why I know my son is good. He has the heart of his grandfather…even if he yearns for his fathers respect." Ursa sad sadly. She then moved to her dresser when nothing in her closet suited her taste in what she thought she needed.
Kya then thought about something that had been troubling her, "What about your daughter... if I may ask?" Kya looked at her feet, hoping she wasn't over stepping. She had noticed the little girl wasn't quite like Ursa and her son.
Ursa smiled sadly at this, this particular topic troubled her a lot, "See...Azula is her father. Not in just the way she looks, but in all ways. She breaths, talks, acts…is him." Ursa said shaking her head, she could feel tears brim in her eyes.
Kya looked down sadly, "See I thought that maybe both my children would be good, but when her first word was Sozin It was my first worry. When my husband heard that he watched her, and my thoughts grew when she would try and kill any animal she found" Ursa said with a shiver. Kya looked up in horror…a small child? She couldn't imagine her own daughter acting like that.
"I'm sorry." Kya told her, she didn't know quite how to respond. Ursa turned around to look at her, "There's no need to be sorry, good or evil isn't something a child is born with, they are innocent, It is this way for many years, until they finally open up to the world they so unfortunately live in." Ursa said turning back to the dresser now, "A child is innocent, pure, until the minds that are corrupted come and pollute their every thoughts." She finished, feeling one of the dresses silk in her fingers.
Kya felt her mouth drop. She was very wise for someone of her…social standing.
"Well said princess. That should be heard by millions." Kya said honestly. Ursa grinned,
"Here. I finally found it!" Ursa said, picking up a dress from the dresser. It was a long black dress that was outlined in red lace flames to the bottom up, with long black sleeves. She stood up and showed it to the Water Tribe woman whose eyes opened in awe,"I'll come to you tomorrow morning to do you and your daughters hair." She added, handing it to the woman.
Kya put her hands up, "I can't except that, it is way to beautiful to be for me…aren't I a slave?" Kya asked her turning away in a sneer.
"Yes, but in my eyes you are an equal. I believe that no one is greater than the other. And this dress will signify that you are my lady. No one can hurt you or your child as my lady." Ursa said smiling kindly, also handing her the golden arm band that she had taken. Kya knew exactly what that was...
"But I cannot protect you when I'm dead." Ursa said flatly. Kya looked up and shook her head at that thought.
"Thank you Ursa, my daughter and I are in your debt. I promise that I will protect and care for your children as my own." Kya said with a short bow, "Oh, and I don't want you to worry about how your husband will treat me, I'm tougher than I look," Kya told her standing up and folding the dress. She also quietly put on her slave band.
"Yes, I know you are a strong woman. But my husband is a fowl man." Ursa said looking away many horrible thoughts clouding her mind.
Kya frowned at those words, she then coughed, "We should be on our way to the slave hall now." Kya said turning to her daughter leaning to pick her up.
Ursa stopped her, "No, you'll sleep in my bed tonight, I've been summoned to my husband." Ursa said quietly.
Kya stiffened at that statement. She knew what that had to mean…"Ursa I.." Kya said, she wanted to help…to do something. But what could she do?
"Thank you Kya, but I will be okay. I always am." She said sadly making her way to the door. She looked back only to bow quickly and took off down the hall. Kya sat abruptly on the bed next to her daughter,
"Tui and La protect us." she plead.
A/N: Thank you very much for reading! That chapter took so long:( I am finally back from the beach and I got this done now that I had more time to finish it! Reviews/Feedback/Advice is greatly appreciated.