Ch. 15
They were nearing the South Pole and the weather had become frigid. The captain of the ship had dug up some warmer weather wear for Haru in one of the many storage rooms. Most of their time was spent finishing up blue prints and talking. It was a nice change of pace, not having to talk about the weather. Ever since Katara had confessed to him, they had become comfortable talking about all kinds of things. Haru even admitted that back in his village he was rarely at home because a non-bending girl had become enamored with him. This wasn't why he stayed away though. She was a few years younger, very clingy and never stopped talking. Katara couldn't help but laugh at his frustrated fluster as he recounted the story.
"Oh Haru!" She teased, prodding him lightly. "You're so bad with women."
He flushed lightly. "No I'm not."
"Yes you are. You hardly know how to act around them. You still get shy and flustered when I give you a hug or something."
His face went bright red this time. "Just not used to it…" He mumbled.
She laughed again. "Well at least you're getting better. I like that I can talk to you about things."
"Speaking of talking about things." He said putting the pencil he had been drawing with down. "What are you going to tell everyone?"
She gave him a blank look.
"You know," he elaborated, "you left your betrothal bracelet in Zuko's garden and left. I know you sent a messenger hawk to the village explaining to your father what you were doing before you left, but they're going to have questions. He'll have questions."
Her eyes darkened and the perpetual smile slipped from her face. "I don't know." She let out a long sigh and started worrying the bottom of her shirt. "I've thought of that too, but then I tried not to think about it."
Haru nodded solemnly. "Are you going to tell them the truth?"
She shook her head. "No. I can't ruin his reputation. I still… still really care about him." She cast her eyes down and twisted her hands about, fighting against the welling emotion.
"And what about when he asks?" She just stared at him for a moment, watching his anger build. "You going to at least tell him he's busted?"
She sighed and slowly peered up at him. "I guess I'll have to."
Haru rubbed the bridge of his nose, something he did when he was frustrated. "Katara…"
She stiffened. She had heard this speech before.
"He cheated on you. While he assumed you were far away, he was in the arms of another woman. Kissing her."
"I know I know."
"He doesn't deserve your sympathy." His arms were crossed and he had a hard look on his face as he stared at her. "What he does deserve is a good punch in the face." He muttered bitterly.
Katara watched him with a slightly amused look.
"What?" He asked crossly.
"Nothing." She couldn't help but grin. "You're just… funny. You're getting so worked up about it."
"And why shouldn't I?"
She shrugged, tired of feeling sorry for herself. "It doesn't really have anything to do with you."
He looked at her darkly, his mouth a hard line. "It did when you came to me broken."
Katara lowered her head. "You didn't have to fix me. I'm sorry if I made you feel obligated."
He put a heavy hand on hers. "I wanted to."
She smiled wearily at him.
They both turned their attention towards the ceiling at the sudden increase of activity on deck. He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Let's go check it out." She said with a smile and grabbed her parka off the back of her chair. They ascended the stairs and the usually empty deck was now alive with bustling sailors that were usually absent. "What's going on?" She asked a passing man.
"We're near port, Princess." He added respectfully.
She was too excited about being home to bristle at her new title. Haru however chuckled quietly and she swatted him as they approached the ships railing.
"There it is!" She pointed eagerly at the horizon where a giant ice wall was materializing.
"Wow…" Haru gaped, looking at the grand entrance, with a giant arched entry over the water way leading to port.
He glanced at her bare hands gripping the railing and watch something besides excitement dawn in the blue depths of her eyes. "Nervous?"
She laughed once bitterly. "Only for the inquisition."
He smiled down at her. "You'll be fine. You always are."
"Thanks."
A few hours later the boat docked and Hakoda, Sokka and Kanna were all there to welcome Katara home.
"Dad!" She called running down the gang walk, dropping her bag before she reached him.
"Katara." He said fondly, holding his daughter. "Welcome home. We missed you."
"Ya Katara." Sokka chimed in. "What happened to you?"
Haru had given her some space, taking his time. "Hey Sokka." He greeted, trying to divert his attention as she went to hug her Gran-Gran.
"Hi Haru." He shook his hand and clapped the other on his back amicably. "Never thought I'd see you here."
"Neither did I." He said with a wry smile. "Chief Hakoda." He said formally extending a hand.
"Haru." He took it in a tight grip. "I hear you and Katara have some grand plans for our village."
"Yes sir."
"Dad, you should see Haru's blue prints. I think you'll be impressed."
He eyed Haru speculatively. "I'm sure I will." He said with a warm smile. "Come, you must be hungry. We have a big meal ready at home." He turned to lead the way.
"Sokka, take your sisters things." Kanna admonished.
"Yes Gran-Gran." Sokka said meekly, lugging his sister's bag and keeping pace with Haru at the back of the group.
Hakoda led them to one of the huts, the only thing denoting this was the one housing the ruling family was the slightly larger stature and an exquisite polar tiger pelt over the door. Inside it was warm and roomy. Furs lined the floor and hung around the walls along with other decorative pieces. They seated themselves on thickly padded furs and Kanna ladled everyone a bowl of tiger seal stew.
"So, those blue prints…" Hakoda started, watching Haru.
"Would you like me to get them for you?"
"Please."
Haru scrambled up to shuffle through his bag and came back with a large stack of papers which he handed over to Hakoda. Hakoda set his meal aside and slowly paged through them.
"You were right Katara." He glanced at his daughter. "These are quite impressive."
"So you like them?" She asked eagerly as he handed a few to Kanna and a few to Sokka so they could see as well.
Sokka scratched his chin. "These are pretty good."
"Thanks." Said Haru.
"So you approve them dad?" Katara asked again watching him carefully. Kanna looked from Hakoda to Katara and smiled.
"Of course. These will be a fine addition."
"Thank you sir."
Shortly after they finished the meal. Haru began to pick himself up off the floor."I guess I should unload all that stone. The ship is probably ready to set sail again."
"No need." Hakoda said and motioned him to sit again. Katara and Haru gave him a questioning look.
"Dad already had the benders get it." Sokka explained as he dug around in his third bowl of stew.
Haru looked at him blankly. "How? Aren't there only water benders here?"
"Yes, but I had them encase each slab in ice and lift them that way."
"Oh." Was the only stunned response Haru could muster.
"Good idea dad." Katara said, licking her spoon a final time before calling a stream of water to clean her dishes and his before letting it splash into the ashes at the edge of the cooking fire the stew pot was suspended above.
The warmth of the fire and their full stomachs left Katara and Haru content and energized. "Sokka." Hakoda said, eyeing the young adults. Sokka looked up from scrapping the last dregs of food from his bowl. "Will you show Haru to his room so he can start getting settled?"
"Sure." He said, setting the bowl down and waving for Haru to follow him out of the room and down a hallway previously obscured by one of the hanging pelts.
"I'm going to go unpack." Katara said, getting up to follow them into the hall and to her own room.
"Katara," he called, stopping her. "A word?"
Haru watched her flinch and turn back to her father before the pelt fell back into place and he was left to follow Sokka to the spare room that would be his.
"Katara." He motioned to the padded seat next to him and she sat down beside her father, her Gran-Gran on the other side. "While you were gone, you got some letters, like I said earlier, but then I started to get letters too." He watched her and she watched her hands while Kanna watched them both silently. "He became… concerned when he found your bracelet in his garden. What's going on Katara?"
"I'm sorry dad. I should have talked to him sooner. I decided that this long distance is too hard. I wanted to break off the engagement." She was relieved that her voice was steady.
Hakoda looked surprised, his eyebrows high on his face. "Are you sure? Love isn't always easy…"
"I know. But this is too hard. I don't see it working. He has to run the fire nation, and I have to stay here."
"Katara… You don't have to stay. You're brother and I have this under control."
"Dad, I'm the best water bender and healer in the entire South Pole. I don't want to leave you and Sokka and Gran-Gran." Kanna rested her hand on Katara's knee.
"We don't want to force you into anything."
"You're not dad. I just… can't."
Hakoda nodded solemnly. "Alright." He dug in his coat and produced a few scrolls and handed them to her. She took them and grabbed her bag and dragged it into her room. She was about to unpack, but the scrolls she had dumped on her bed kept grabbing her attention.
"Hey." Came Haru's voice from her doorway.
She snatched up the scrolls and looked at him for a long moment, giving him an opportunity to read the confusion and pain in her eyes. She walked past him without saying a word and he followed. She strode through the hut, the village and out into the snow. He followed her as they silently crept through the deep snow and she led them into a deep ice canyon and finally she stopped and sat heavily into the snow, leaning against the ice canyons wall and Haru sat next to her wearing a spare pair of Sokka's winter pants to protect against wet and cold weather. Without looking at him she pushed the hood of her parka back and slowly removed her gloves. Someone had numbered the scrolls so she would know which one was sent first. She immediately recognized the scrawling handwriting inside and held her breath as she quickly read it. She let her breath puff out in a long stream that steamed the frigid air and handed it to Haru to read. He straightened it on his lap with gloved hands and read while she watched him.
Katara-
I hear you came up with your brother but had to leave suddenly on important business. I'm sorry to have missed you and can't wait to see you again. I love you.
-Zuko
Haru shook his head at the nonchalance of the cheating bastard, a disgusted look on his face. Katara had read the next one and held this out to him as well. This one was a bit longer.
Katara-
I've been notified that you went to fetch Haru to help with the remodeling. My head of the stables said you seemed distraught when you went to get Appa. I also found your bracelet on a garden bench. Is everything alright? When will you be home? I'm worried about you. I love you.
-Zuko
Haru smiled inwardly because he could feel the fire benders panic in his words, but outwardly he frowned at his stupidity. Katara let out a heavy sigh and pulled her knees up, resting her head on them and rubbing her temples as if she had a headache. He reached for the scroll in her lap and she shifted so he could reach it easier. The writing looked sloppier, as if written in a hurry.
Katara-
Please contact me as soon as you get to the South Pole. I can't get the nagging feeling out of my mind that you left that bracelet there on purpose. I need to know what's going on. I need you to talk to me. I'm going crazy without you. I'll clear my schedule and come out to see you; you just have to let me know as soon as you get back. I love you.
-Zuko
After reading this last scroll, Haru grunted in displeasure. Katara turned to him looking miserable. Her blue eyes swimming with unshed tears. As a show of solidarity he crumpled the last letter and threw it to blend in with the banks of white snow.
"Katara." He took her hands, red from the cold and began to rub warmth into them with his gloved hands. "You know what you have to do, right?" She stared at him blearily, her chin trembling. "You need to write him, tell him what you saw and to leave you the hell alone." Anger hot and heavy hung on his last words.
A few tears slid down her cheeks and she let herself lean heavily on him and he put an arm around her shoulder. "I can't see him." She murmured.
"You don't have to."
"He'll just confuse me and make everything worse."
"I know."
"I don't want to see him ever again!"
"Tell him. One letter. That's all you owe him." His voice and body stern.
She sat up. "Okay."
He held up her gloves to put over her frigid hands and then hauled her to her feet. "Let's get you warmed up. If you want, I can help you write the letter."
"Please." Her voice was soft. If she was left to write it by herself, who knew what would happen. She could take him back or throw kindling into the fire of his infamous rage. Haru would be a good mediator. He kept her grounded, giving he a realistic perspective she desperately needed.
Haru had crumpled up and threw the other letters as well. "Out of sight, out of mind." He said with an earnest smile.
They back tracked through the deep snow. Her father was still sitting by the fire.
"Hey dad?" He looked up at her, smiling softly after noting her red rimmed eyes. "We're going to go to your office and send that letter."
He nodded. "Alright."
She shuffled out of the hut again, Haru following her ever silently as she headed towards the center of the village and the large meeting hall and the chiefs office.
Inside, she took a scroll and a feathered quill, dipping it surreptitiously in ink. She stared at the paper a long while before letting the tip start to scratch her message.
Zuko-
I have received your letters and I am home in the South Pole. I don't want you to visit, you seem busy as is she thought with a sneer and I certainly don't want to see you. She looked up at Haru and he nodded his approval as he read over her shoulder. I did leave to get Haru, but only after what I saw. She took a deep breath.
I had to escape after I saw you holding your ex-lover, Mai. I saw the way you looked at each other, and I saw the kiss too. On my way out, I removed what I thought to be a token of your affections and left it on the garden bench. I don't need a reminder of your betrayal. I'm breaking off the engagement. Her throat tightened and her hand shook a bit. Haru laid both hands atop her shoulders, giving her strength. I don't want to see you ever again. Don't bother to contact me anymore. Any further letters will be immediately fed to the fire. I don't need to hear any more of your lies.
-Katara
She felt shaky as the adrenaline left her. She pined for a cup of Iroh's tea, but quickly quashed that idea. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. She looked up at the muffled rustling as Haru quietly rolled the scroll up tightly.
"This all you wanted to write?"
She nodded.
"Where are the messenger hawks?"
Katara wearily got to her feet and walked the ice, wood and pelt laden halls as she took an offshoot of the large building, climbed some stairs and led the way into an open loft with rafters full of winter messenger hawks, adapted to the cold weather. Haru held a hand up and a nearby hawk on a rafter above their heads jumped compliantly to his outstretched hand. He winced minutely as his talons dug into the skin and he deftly tucked the letter into the little pouch on its leg.
"Ready?" He asked Katara.
She stroked the silky feathers of the hawk and nodded, sure of her decision. Haru strode to the open window and tossed the bird into the air, watching it catch the wind beneath its wings and start its long journey to the fire nation palace.
Sarahplainntall here! I've been getting some of the best reviews in my entire life, so I'm taking a moment to recognize my amazing fans! Daughter of Zeus007 (made me laugh), Mazarine (wish there really was a "like" or "love" button too), ANTfarmfanatic (appreciate the praise and so glad to write something you love, despite the pairings), raidersfan777 (always a loyal reader and poster), CaskettFanGrl (don't worry, Zutara will come back, I promise), Crystal1998 (such a loyal follower, you won't be disappointed), Wolflover235 (I have plans for Zuko/Katara, don't you worry), jameyn (sorry to make you cry, THRILLED I can incite that kind of emotion), Sunshadow-and-leaffang (Seriously, you made my day. No worries, much more to come still), Yenna (So glad you're giving this Zutara a chance and are loving it despite crying)
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