Chapter 9 - Never Knew I Could Hurt this Bad
"I hoped my prayer found him as he fell. It was the least I could do, since I was the guilty one after all, not him. "
.
The palace was much more magnificent on the inside then the outside. Iroh led her down the gilded hallways with plush red carpets which took her by surprise after seeing the building only as a looming fortress. They moved through the dark hallways and ran into no guards, which Katara thought was slightly strange. She was glad she was being led; they took too many turns though doors Katara would have trouble remembering in the light and up a flight of steps.
Finally, Iroh stopped. He opened a single un-elaborate door and motioned for Katara to move inside. Four beds, just large enough for a single person each, filled the room, each with a chest of drawers at their feet.
"You can stay here. I'll be by in the morning." Katara nodded and sat down on the first bed. It was pressed up against the wall like she was used to back at Shiyu's.
She wrapped her arms around herself and looked around. The room was small, but bigger than her first home in the nursery's nanny room. There was no door except the one she entered through, so she assumed there must be a separate bathroom. She wondered if other people lived here, but she decided that they should have been back and in bed by now if they did.
Katara laid back, pulled the covers over her head, and struggled to fall asleep. She woke feeling less than rested the next morning. She pulled open the curtains and studied the view from what she figured was the second floor. Shortly after, the door was opened, and she had company.
"Good morning." Iroh stated. He carried a tray with a steaming teapot and two cups. Placing them on the chest beside the bed by the window, he poured two cups and handed one to Katara as he sat on the edge of her bed. Katara turned from the window and faced him, sitting on the opposite bed and sipping her tea. It was spiced orange. Not one of her favorites, but it gave her new energy after a fitful night. They enjoyed the tea in silence until Iroh set his cup down.
"I'm sorry if last night was sudden, you coming here with no warning."
"No, it's fine," Katara answered, looking down at her drink. She took another sip.
"You must trust me that you are safer here. Admiral Zhao, or whoever it was, has no idea you are here. Even his men can't take you without someone finding out."
"You won't keep me locked in this room all the time will you?" Katara asked, sounding fearful. "I understand that I'm safer, but-" She paused; worried she'd overstepped her bounds. She knew nothing of how this man treated his servants. She braved the last bit of her statement when she received no harsh words. "I felt useful to Shiyu, and I loved being able to do something. Now, I don't have that." Iroh closed his eyes and nodded.
"I'm sure I could think of something."
Katara smiled. "Really?"
"Yes, but not now. In a few days after the turmoil has died down in the city."
"About me?" Katara asked.
"No. An unrelated event. A night patrolman was found dead in an alley on the east side of the city. His partner suffered a head injury but lived. He said he was attacked by a waterbender from behind. He can't remember anything about the attacker. The city patrols are out in full force verifying everyone's papers, searching for the rogue bender.
"What will happen if they find them?" asked Katara.
"They will be executed at the Arena," Iroh explained. Katara stared in horror. Iroh stood and rearranged the tea set to leave for her. As he turned to leave the room, Katara called to him.
"I have a question," she asked, somewhat timidly. "It's not very important." The eldest prince nodded, and she continued. "What is this room for? Will there be other people who will be in here with me?"
"This is one of the rooms where my servants used to live. No one lives here anymore, so it's all yours."
"You don't have any servants?" She figured if a lower ranking nobleman like Master Zu had a handful of people to answer his every beck and call, then a prince should have many.
"Not anymore." He started to say something else but the door swung open.
"I thought I heard your voice Dad. Where-?" A young man pushed open the door and saw Katara and paused. She could have sworn he gave her a look of recognition, but she had never seen him before in her life.
"Come in and shut the door Lu Ten," Iroh said. He sighed, closed his eyes, and shook his head.
"You ended up getting a servant then?" the young man asked. Anything Katara thought she saw in the boy's gaze vanished. "I thought you said-"
Iroh interrupted him. "I did, and I meant it. She's not-"
"If she's not a servant, then why is she here?" Katara studied him for a moment as Iroh explained the situation with Zhao. The boy was maybe in his early to mid-twenties. His hair was near black, as Iroh's must have been when he was younger. Though the young man's face was more slender then his father's; it must have come from his mother's side.
"I've taken her in as her protector," Iroh concluded.
"So you're going to keep her locked in this room then? Like a bird in a cage?" asked Lu Ten, almost sarcastically. "Some protection, the girl will probably go crazy in here if you try to keep her a secret."
"I was going to-"
"It would be better to hide her in plain sight," Lu Ten interrupted, putting a hand to his chin in thought. "No one would ever expect to see her in the palace, even as a servant." He paced as he spoke.
"I was going-"
"You'd be better off having her as your personal taste tester." Iroh laughed, holding his belly and leaning backwards. "Or maybe you-"
"Lu Ten." The boy closed his mouth and looked back to his father as he spoke.
"I'll tell everyone she's my new tea stewardess."
"Your what? You just made that up!"
"My own son would think that I'd make something like that up?" Iroh asked. He shook his head. Katara drank her tea and watched them argue.
"The late General Hyun had a young man who brought him tea all the time," Iroh explained, "even on the battle front."
Lu Ten sighed. "Well, she would always be under your watch then. And no one would doubt that you actually wanted that much tea." Iroh offered his son a cup. He declined and looked at Katara. She was still in her night clothes, since she did not have time to grab the few outfits she wore at the doctor's. The conversation seemed to be over and Lu Ten stood and moved to the door.
"Dad," he stated, as if just remembering. "I wanted to tell you that the town patrol found one of their own dead and another injured last night. The news is sweeping through the capital."
"I already know," Iroh said, sipping at another cup.
"Oh," his son blinked. "I'll see you for lunch then." The door shut and Iroh set his empty cup down.
"Forgive my son. Lu Ten always has somewhere to be." The old man stood again and smoothed his robes.
"I'll be back shortly with some new clothes for you," Iroh stated. He left the room, but kept it unlocked. Once she knew neither of them was coming back into the room she slid off the bed, leaned back against it, dropped her face into her hands.
Lu Ten's last statement sent last night rushing back to her. The kidnapper, the guard, her waterbending, the blood. That man, the one she had not killed had seen her face, he knew who she was. What if he put it together that the waterbender and the girl were the same person? What if-?
She stopped the thought before it even started. The only positive was that the Blue Spirit had rescued her. Katara truly did want to thank him now. Her life had been saved multiple times thanks to him. She wondered how he knew to always be there when she needed him. Katara sat curled up like that for a long time. Her eyes grew wet, but tears never fell.
There was a knock at the door and a woman opened it before Katara could respond. She carried with her a stack of folded red clothing. She was a larger woman, but tall as well. Katara scrambled to her feet.
"The Prince sent these for you," she stated, holding out the clothing to show her.
"Thank you," Katara replied. She assumed the woman was referring to Iroh, so she asked, "Did he say anything else?"
"Nothing," the woman said, "he's in a meeting now. I think it's about the rogue waterbender in the city." Katara swallowed the hard lump in her throat and nodded.
"That's so frightening," the woman said, smoothing the top outfit on the pile she had just set down. "To think, one of those barbarians got loose and is living on our streets. I'm sure he won't hesitate to kill again." The look of fear in Katara's blue eyes was noticed by the woman when she looked up, even though they girl said nothing.
"Oh, worry not my dear. The palace is the safest place. No one has ever gotten through the guards and lived, at least not since I've been here." Katara tried to smile and ended up simply nodding. The woman mentioned something about finishing the laundry and hurried out of the room. She wondered if the woman had noticed that she was of Water Tribe descent when she spoke of them being barbarians. It wasn't like she could hide her striking blue eyes and dark skin. Curious, she turned to the clothing.
Katara lifted the first outfit in the pile of five and held it against her body. It was a long red tunic, the color of wine with a bright red sash. The other outfits included a few dresses with excess fabric on the shoulders and around the collar, similar to what the other servant wore, a set of clothing for bed, and an outfit that included pants. Katara was not sure which one to throw on first and decided to go with the last one. The plain tunic and pants combo were the most similar to her old clothing at the arena. She set the others out on the chest to ask about them.
An hour later, the door opened and Iroh strode into the room. He found Katara laying on her back on the bed, starring up at the ceiling. She perked up when she heard him enter.
"Thank you for the clothing."
"I wanted you to be prepared for anything that might come up during your new job. We'll practice now at lunch."
"Practice what?" She swung her feet off the bed and stood.
"Your role as my tea stewardess. You will be in charge of making sure I have tea wherever we go. You follow after me, on the left side when we walk, and take your position against the wall nearest my seat when we get to the room after you pour my tea. This is yours." The man passed Katara a small bamboo box with a linen strap to carry it over her shoulder. She set it down and opened the lid. Inside, a porcelain teapot and two matching cups were nestled, along with small jars of tea leaves. She shut the box and looked up at Iroh.
She bit her lip, unsure how to handle the overwhelming feeling of gratitude. "Why? Why are you helping me? Keeping me under your watch, away from the Admiral?"
"Now is not the time. But I will explain it to you eventually." He sighed and led her from the room. As he instructed, Katara followed after him a few paces behind and on the left. He only needed to correct her once.
She took care not to let the case bang or rattle as she walked. Katara followed the general into a high-ceilinged room with a single table set for six. The room was empty, the set of paneled doors out to a courtyard partway open to let in a breeze. Iroh took his seat at the head of the table on one side and motioned for the case to be opened; Katara did so.
"Normally, this would have to be burning by the time we arrived, but we're here early. The side pocket has a set of spark rocks for you to light the candle." He pulled out a flattened candle with seven wicks and set up the teapot to sit atop a wire frame over it, inside the basket. "Before we go anywhere, you must fill the pot with water. It will be heavy, but I doubt you'll have any issues."
With the jug from the table, the teapot was filled with water. Katara added the leaves as per Iroh's instructions. He held the teapot close and breathed out. Steam escaped from the vessel's nose. Katara pulled out a single teacup and poured Iroh a cup just as the door swung opened on the far side of the room.
"This is the signal for more tea," Iroh whispered and made a subtle gesture with his hand under the table. Katara nodded, gathered up the tea set, and bowed just for good measure as the new arrival's footsteps filled the room. She knelt behind the curtain near an opening that ran the length of one wall and looked up. The curtains must have been made for servants to wait on their masters without being seen, as there were many openings throughout the fabric. She waited alone, unseen.
A woman and two other people walked in. Katara recognized the young man as the prince from the dual.
"I told you Father wouldn't be here," the young girl frowned as she took her seat at the table.
"Azula, your father-"
"Did I miss anything yet?" Katara recognized the voice as Lu Ten's. She maneuvered herself so she could see through the gap in the curtains.
Lu Ten sat on Iroh's right side, across from the girl, no doubt a princess. She sat next to who Katara assumed was her mother. Prince Zuko sat across from her and next to the other head seat, the only open seat. She saw the two young princes share a conspiratory look before she noticed that Iroh had already finished his first cup of tea and had given her the signal.
With all l the grace she had, Katara rose and moved through the curtains to Iroh's side. The mother had begun talking to Lu Ten about something at that point, but Katara felt both of her children's golden eyes follow her across the room, watching as she poured Iroh another cup of jasmine tea. Even before she finished pouring, the daughter spoke.
"Is there something wrong with the tea already out, Uncle?" Her tone held acid that surprised Katara.
"I prefer my own," Iroh answered. He must have been ignoring the girl's tone, since it was so obvious that there was no way to miss it. He waved his hand dismissively at the pot they'd all poured into their own cups. "That tea just tastes like hot leaf juice."
"All tea tastes like hot leaf juice Uncle," Zuko scowled as he rolled his eyes. Iroh put a hand to his heart as if he'd been wounded. The door opened for the final time just as Katara put the teapot back in the basket and stood. As she bowed, she saw the man who entered the room. She moved quickly behind the curtains before he could get a good look at her.
"Glad you could make it Ozai," Iroh said. "Azula was worried you wouldn't show." The girl shot him a look full of flames.
"I just know how important your meetings are with grandfather," she replied. Katara noticed the girl gave Iroh another look. The princess, it seemed, wanted to make sure her uncle knew that the Fire Lord, met regularly with her father.
The food was brought in by a small army of servants. The scents made Katara's stomach clench. The bread and tea she had been given for breakfast was not nearly enough to sit through this extravagant meal. The family fell silent as they ate. Katara felt tension between the two sides, mostly emitting from Iroh's brother. His name escaped her at the moment. She was finally called to refill Iroh's cup once more; her presence broke the table's silence.
"Finally gave in, Iroh?" Ozai smirked. Katara refused to look away from the cup she filled. The teapot only had a single cup's worth left. She silently begged the man to drink less. But he seemed to know his teapot's limit and set the full cup down without taking even a sip.
"She's just my tea stewardess, Ozai," Iroh explained with a hint of ice. He waved Katara away. His brother watched the girl vanish.
"Of course brother," Ozai nodded with just a hint of sarcasm. "When did you acquire her?"
"Recently," Iroh spoke. His lines were well rehearsed, like an actor in his favorite play. "A friend of mine knew the man who had her and he needed coin to pay a debt. I was right to accept his price. I got more than what I paid for; she's quite skilled." Katara wondered why he needed to lie about where she had come from. She would make sure to ask him later.
"Did father tell you about what has been decided in the city Uncle?" Azula asked, pushing aside her plate. "Speaking of nobles and money?"
"You can tell Iroh after lunch is over Azula," her mother tried to say.
Iroh gave the woman a gentle smile. "She's fine Ursa."
"What was decided then?" Lu Ten asked Ozai. "This is about the rogue waterbender right?"
Azula answered for her father. "Grandfather decided that any citizen who brings in one of their slaves with bending will be paid in gold to hand them over. Double if they can waterbend. He says it's worth the coin to get those excuses for benders off our streets."
"Watch your language young lady," Ursa snapped. Azula closed her mouth but could not keep the smirk from her face. She glanced at Ozai, noting that he did not show the same disdain for the language she chose.
"What will happen when they're all rounded up?" asked Lu Ten, genuinely interested. Katara listened with bated breath.
"The murderer will burn," Ozai answered. He set his utensils down and folded his napkin. "Iroh, I need to speak with you about our father." With that, the meal was over.
Iroh touched his son on the shoulder and tilted his head towards the curtains where Katara waited. The rest of the family left the room as the two brothers walked off together. Katara gathered Iroh's empty cup, blew out the flames on the candle and followed after Lu Ten when he gestured to her. He led her back to her bedroom where she put down the tea set on the closest bed that wasn't hers.
"Did you need anything else?" Lu Ten asked after a moment of hesitation, his hand on the door ready to leave.
"Is there a way I can get something to eat?"
"The kitchen is back down by the room we ate in, down the hall on the left. They should have something for you. The servants' washing room is across the hall and down three doors as well." Lu Ten added. "It hasn't been used in a few years, so I hope everything still works like it should. You can let me father know if it doesn't, I guess."
"Thank you," Katara smiled. Lu Ten returned her grin and left the room. Katara waited a moment and headed out to find the kitchen. Following Lu Ten's instructions, it was easy enough to find. She found bread and red berry jam and a handful of leftovers still out from the family's meal. Before any of the servants who had served the food could return and tell her no, Katara gathered up a small lunch and returned to her room. She ate and when she was finished, leaned back on the bed.
With nothing better to do, the Water Tribe girl curled into a ball and took a nap.
The rest of the day passed and Iroh did not need her. He sent down the same servant as before to bring her a tray for dinner and a book. The writing was simple, but the set of stories were classic Fire Nation legends. She was intrigued.
...
Katara found herself back at the arena the next day. Instead of being down near the action though, she sat behind Iroh in the royal balcony. Dressed in silk, her tea serving robes were similar to the other servants who watched over the family. As she dressed that morning, she noticed that each of the corners of her collar had golden dragons embroidered onto them. Only after noticing a phoenix and a hawk on all the other servants did she bother to check her own.
She guessed the insignia was meant to link the servants with their masters. She knew not if the animals meant anything other than a system of differentiation, but that was the last thing on her mind. Katara shook like a leaf when she heard why the royal family was present. The whole city had gathered to watch the waterbending trials.
In the arena, firebending soldiers had gathered a large group of men together. They were all in various states of dress, their clothing signaling where they had been taken from. Some were dressed in silk, like herself, so she assumed their masters had been high nobility or otherwise well-off, but others wore no more than lose fitting ragged shorts, indicating they were laborers. However, Katara knew one thing the men all had in common before it was even announced: they were all waterbenders.
The announcer called. "Loyal citizens of the Fire Nation! A grave injustice was done to one of our noble patrolmen two nights previous. Killed without a chance, literary stabbed in the back by a waterbender, we lost a noble member of our town guard!" The crowd called out in anger. Katara shivered in her seat. Iroh turned to her for a moment, though he said nothing. If only they knew it was an accident, Katara thought as she closed her eyes, I didn't mean to kill him, only to make him stop, to let me go. I didn't understand what he wanted.
The second sentry, his head wrapped in bandages from his lesser injury appeared in the arena, escorted by two soldiers in uniform. Other soldiers kept the prisoners in a single file line. The announcer had begun talking again.
"-witnessed the attack. All the benders who slipped past the Arena have been collected and brought back here where they belong. Now, if your patrolman will indicate which man attacked him-"
A tear threatened to fall from Katara's eyes. How right, yet still wrong the speaker was. Yes, the murderer was here in the Arena, but she was not down on the sandy field facing justice for her crime. Instead, she was safe in the balcony while one of the innocent men below paid for her.
She drew a shocked breath when the guard pointed to a young man. He was a smaller built man and kept his long hair tied back in two braids- as was the custom in her village for young men who didn't tie it up in the warrior's wolf tail style. The other men were herded to wherever they kept the benders when they were not fighting and the soldiers moved in on the young man. The boy, just older then her brother, could very well have been from her tribe. Her last memories of her tribesmen's faces had long since blurred. Maybe his powers manefested late, or maybe he had no choice but to reveal himself after years of hidding.
It was not enough that he did not do what he was accused of. Now, the crowd roared as he fought in vain against the five firebenders. It was a slow fight, painfully drawn out in Katara's mind. Each burn he suffered, she made herself feel as well. Soon she could hold back her tears no longer. She was grateful when he fell to the ground and took no more breath. It would have been easier just to die.
Her tears left hot salty trails down her face. Iroh noticed her distress even as she waited slightly behind him. He motioned for more tea, but put his hand over the cup when she got close enough to pour the liquid.
"What's wrong?" His concern showed bright and clear. She shook her head, not wanting to answer, and wiped at the tears staining her face.
"What's wrong?" He repeated.
"That man," Katara spoke through controlled sobs, trying not to attract attention. Luckily, the crowd was loud enough to drown out her voice. "He was- He was a good man." She bowed her head and said no more.
What more could she say without admitting he had taken the punishment that was meant to be hers? Then she would be down there and the both of them would be dead.
Iroh saw her grief but said nothing more, not here in this open place. Not here where his brother was watching or his father's servants took notes. Something told him this girl was important. He knew not why or how, but Iroh always trusted his instincts. They brought him far in life. So he paid the girl extra attention, and now knew he would need to learn more about her.
He let her pour him the tea he requested and watched the new firebending demonstration below. It was a military showcase, one meant to reassure the city after the attack.
Katara slid back into her spot and wiped the rest of her tears from her face with her silk sleeves. The firebending below held none of her attention today; she was too busy sending a silent prayer of thanks to the man who had unknowingly given his life for hers. She was safe now, but she felt miserable. Katara hung her head until she noticed Iroh stir and the rest of the servants move to their masters' sides. The Arena was empty, and the crowds were dispersing. Katara stepped into place behind Iroh and followed the procession back to the palace.
"That waterbender wasn't very good," Katara heard Princess Azula state. The three Fire Lord's grandchildren walked just behind Iroh and Katara in a clump.
Zuko spoke. "He was up against five firebenders. What did you expect?"
"It just shows we need better guards," Azula sneered. "If that one man killed one of the guards without being very skilled, I bet that guard wasn't very good himself."
"Not everyone can be a master bender like you Azula," Lu Ten chastised, almost bored with his cousin's statement. "Besides, the patrolman gave his life defending this city, our city. You should show him more respect." Katara noticed Iroh smile and nod to himself. She was obviously not the only one eavesdropping.
"Besides, if you were up against five highly trained benders, I'd doubt you'd do any better."
"Is that a challenge Zuzu?"
"Don't call me that!"
She ignored him and laughed her newest challenge. "You and Lu Ten against me. I'll show you how much better I am than that worthless waterbender."
"It's not the same Azula," Zuko frowned.
"You're just worried that I'll win." Her laughter rang over the path.
At that point in the conversation the procession had reached the palace, and the three broke off from Iroh and Katara. He led her to her room and shut the door behind them. Katara looked up expectantly. Iroh was a busy man; he did not typically spend time entertaining her. She placed the tea set down and pulled out the dirty pieces to set aside for washing once he left. Iroh took a breath and Katara spoke.
"Thank you for the book," she stated, not wanting to think about what just happened in the Arena. She knew her eyes were red from her tears. She wanted to think about something else. "The stories were different from anything I've ever heard."
Iroh smiled. "I supposed that shouldn't surprise me." He sat on the bed opposite hers. "I picked it out because it had illustrations to go along with the text. I guess I needn't have worried that you could read. Though, I doubt Shiyu taught you."
"My mother started teaching me back at the South Pole. My grandmother taught me once we came here." Iroh wanted to ask what had become of the child's mother but refrained from asking. He had his own guess if the woman looked anything like her daughter. He was not blind to what happened to the prisoners taken into the city. He knew the fate many of them faced, but he'd never seen a reason before now to feel more then passing guilt.
"May I ask you a question?" Katara asked after a moment's pause.
He chuckled. "Anything." Her innocence in asking was refreshing. She could not be much younger than his niece Azula, yet the two of them were such opposites.
"Why did you lie about where you got me from? Is it a bad to say I worked with Shiyu-?"
"No," Iroh shook his head. "My brother spends a lot of time in the same company as Admiral Zhao talking politics and playing the court games of intrigue and power. I don't want him letting anyone know where you truly came from in case it gets back to the Admiral. I'd prefer to avoid him on the matter."
Katara nodded. It somewhat made sense to her, though she wondered why Iroh did not trust his brother to keep a secret if he was told to.
"Can I ask something else?"
Iroh nodded, anticipating a similar inquiry from the girl.
"Why did the Fire Nation take my village here?" It was the same question she had struggled with since they had been captured. She was young at the time of the invasion, so many details were foggy. But Katara knew that if she had not been brought here her mother would still be alive and no one would have died on her behalf today. This man could most likely give her the best answer, aside from the captain of the Southern Raiders himself.
The question was not what Iroh expected her to ask in the least. The old man was at a loss for how to respond, Katara could see that much.
"I'm sorry if I asked something I shouldn't have," she rushed to say. "I was curious-"
"Katara," Iroh said, watching as she pulled at the hemline on her sleeves. "I can't tell you why your village was taken here, but I can explain why prisoners are taken in general, if that is what you wish to know." Katara nodded and looked up at him, forgetting her sleeves once he had agreed to answer.
No one ever reprimanded her for asking things before, since she was usually silent, but she felt that she had overstepped a boundary. Katara had never known cruelty in her life, at least not directed at her, so she had no reason to expect it for her actions. She noticed Iroh's watchful gaze on her, as if he was trying to learn what he could from her just by looking.
"You are aware there's a war being fought, correct?"
Katara nodded. She'd heard it mentioned both here and at the South Pole. Though, the whole concept of war was foreign to her; she never witnessed it nor lost anyone directly to fighting. What did one nation have to do to make another so completely enraged with it in the first place?
"The first battles, almost one hundred years ago, yielded a handful of prisoners from the Earth Kingdom. As the number of prisoners grew with each battle our armies won, our troops worried about them gaining in number and escaping to reveal strategies and information. They were sent back to the capital city, where Fire Lord Solzen decided they made cheap laborers and easy coin for the royal family. When the benders began escaping from their noblemen masters, Fire Lord Solzen declared only nonbenders could be sold and created the stadium, called the Arena, for the benders to try and win their freedom. It was a clever cover to hide the fact that they were simply fighting to the death. Very few of them won." Katara nodded in agreement at his last statement.
"It soon became clear that not all towns were going to fight back. These towns and villages were allowed to exist in peace if they offered benders or warriors for the Arena every five or so years. They were allowed to then exist as demi-citizens to the Fire Nation without fear they would be completely enslaved. The Arena today is almost equally filled by benders and nonbenders, much different from when it began."
"Today, these matches have become a way to show the people of the city that our nation is winning the war and is still the most powerful. As long as this war is being fought, the Arena will remain open. And for it to remain open, there needs to be fighters. As crazy as it sounds, the bloodshed in there keeps the peace on this city's streets. If our citizens thought that we were losing this war, they would panic."
Iroh paused. "Though for the past ten years, the battlefields yield less and less prisoners of war, and simply more killing." Katara worked through this new information and came to a dreadful realization, one she was sure Iroh was aware of.
"So my village was betrayed. The soldiers on the boat said something about us no longer being Fire Nation citizens. We had no benders and no warriors who fought against the Fire Nation before the ships arrived. They invaded and took us here because they needed more fighters, didn't they?" Katara asked. She silently begged Iroh to refute her claim.
"It would seem so." It took a lot for Iroh to be ashamed of his country. He was set to inherit the throne, he was the highest ranking general, in charge of the full military strength of the nation; he must love his home above all else. But he knew the toll this war had put on its people. He hadn't known six years ago when he left for the battlefront after a short reprieve back home to fetch his son to accompany him, but such truths have a way of making themselves clear to those who need to know them.
"Thank you," Katara finally said, her head still lowered. Her blue eyes had filled with tears that she was fighting to keep from falling.
"Katara. I'm sorry you had to witness that today. If I had known how much seeing someone-"
"No, I'm glad I was there. He wasn't so alone this way." Katara sighed, shook her head, and then lowered her voice. "He was innocent." Iroh made no indication of whether he heard her or not.
"Did you know him?"
Her tears returned. "I don't remember. Maybe- my brother could have been friends with him. But even if he wasn't, he didn't deserve to be cut down like that, without a chance. He wasn't a killer."
"Men change when they feel their lives are in danger, when they feel backed in a corner with nowhere to go," Iroh explained, slowly. "Being held captive can turn a calm man into rash one." He paused. Katara could see he wanted to change the subject. She probably overstepped her boundaries by insulting the system of justice in his nation. He was after all, not just her master, but heir to the throne of the Fire Nation.
"Tell me more about your village. I was never part of the raids that took place on the Water Tribes. All I know is the Earth Kingdom front." Katara wasn't sure what he hoped to gain by her telling him. Her village was gone.
"The Firebenders who took us away burned the village to the ground. There's nothing left."
"Tell me about it before they came," Iroh coaxed, "about the buildings, the people."
"Our tribe sat on the northern tip of the South Pole. Each family had an igloo where they lived." When Iroh stared in confusion at the word, she explained further. "The buildings were made of ice and snow. Sometimes, whale bone or driftwood were used to help support the larger ones. Animal skins were used as doors, and the insides of the igloos were warm, warmer than you'd think. I miss them." Katara paused again; she didn't truly remember the igloo she called home, all she could remember was that she felt safe and loved there. She wiped at her eyes with her sleeve.
"My father was the chief of the tribe, and my brother was just starting to be interested in his upcoming warrior training. My mother had already taught him to read and write and was working with me. But then- everything changed when the black snow fell and the ships came."
Iroh left her collect herself. He had always enjoyed learning about other cultures, at first if only to get a military advantage other them. Now, it helped him to see what drove people to act the way they did. It was especially useful on the battlefront. The general wondered absentmindedly how his life would have been different if he had told his father that he wanted to be a tea drinking scholar of cultures instead.
"What happened once you were here?" Iroh asked.
"My father and brother were separated from my grandmother and me. I found out later that they were sent to fight in the Arena. My grandmother and I were taken by a man who wanted someone to watch his children." She said, wondering is she should tell me she ran away. Would be send her back there instead? She skipped over it entirely, thinking of her time working as Shiyu's assistant. "I miss working with Shiyu. I wish I could go back."
Her eyes widened and she looked up in fear. "Not that I don't appreciate everything you've done for me here, but I felt so helpful with him."
Iroh could only nod as he admired her. Children had such a way of bouncing back from adversary. And if anyone had been dealt a rough hand, it was the girl in front of him. "You were lucky to have escaped your kidnapping without harm, but next time you might not be so lucky. The man who ordered your capture is adamant to have you. You are safer here than anywhere else."
"But why?" Katara asked. "Why did he want me so bad he needed to steal me away? If he needed my medical abilities, Shiyu would have let me heal him at the arena, and I'm not even better then Shiyu is. Why was I taken to where I was? I don't understand."
"Do you know where you were taken that night?"
Katara nodded. "You asked me before. You called it a brothel, but you never explained what that was." Iroh took a deep breath; it almost appeared that he was at a loss for words.
"A brothel is where men go to have sex with women." Iroh stated. "That was why Shiyu and I were worried about you."
"I still don't understand. What does that mean?"
Iroh stared at her for moment. "How old are you Katara?"
"Sixteen." She had celebrated her birthday each year with her grandmother at Mr Zu's and then eventually shared it with Shiyu when she came to stay with him. He was surprised at her age when he first learned it, thinking she was much younger since she was so small at first.
"Old enough," Iroh said to himself more than her. Katara watched as the old man looked away for a moment, gathering his thoughts. She wondered if this would be a similar to her last talk she had about a new topic. Iroh was acting the same way as Shiyu had.
She bit her lip. As much as she wanted to know, she did not want to alienate the only kind person in her life. "You don't have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable. I'm sorry I asked. Shiyu was the same when he had to tell me about my moon time."
Iroh noticed the girl spoke without blushing as most would. Katara knew not to be embarrassed sharing the information, no one had taught her to be. She assumed Shiyu's reaction was typical to only him. While her current master's reaction was similar, she still didn't think anything of it. Iroh admired her innocence, but still was unsure how to go about this talk. It had been hard enough with Lu Ten without his wife to help him. If he didn't think Ozai's servants would report back to him, he would have wanted to bring Ursa in to assist him.
"Can you tell me why the room I was put in at the Spitfire was decorated to look like the Southern Water Tribe then?" She asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Do all the rooms look like that?"
"I assume not," Iroh replied. "The Spitfire is known for its decorations. Its said that each room is styled to create a sense of the exotic for its customers. Other brothels in the city don't do that, thus the building is a popular location for men with more coin who can pay for the experience."
"And you won't tell me what this experience is," Katara finished for him. She frowned, feeling deflated at the news.
"Katara," Iroh stated, "you'll need to know about this eventually. I just feel I'm not the one to explain it to you. I'll make sure to find someone more suitable."
"It's ok. I'm sure I'll figure it out on my own."
"That's exactly was I'm afraid of-" Iroh began, but a knock at the door interrupted him. It opened without prompting and Lu Ten walked in.
"Grandfather wishes to talk with us," he stated before even shutting the door.
Iroh put a hand on Katara's shoulder and stood. "We'll speak later." He turned to Lu Ten as the boy led him out, "What did he say?"
"He said it was urgent and-" The door cut Lu Ten's words off and Katara was left alone in the room.
(Original Author's Note) Sorry for the late post everyone... But, new chapter yay! And such a long one. I'm not sure how that happened, OK maybe I do (I blame the dialogue), and I think we've met everyone now huh? ;)
I will admit, writing for Lu Ten is difficult in terms of dialogue since he has no base from the show to go off of. I hope he comes off as real enough for everyone. I admit, he's probably slightly younger in this story then what is cannon.
I was hoping to touch slightly on the differences in the father/son relationships of the royal family, but we'll see where the story takes us. The new chapter should be up shortly, I promise. :)
*The chapter title is from "Learning to Breathe" by Switchfoot*