CHAPTER 3

"I can see the stars on a desert night, and I can feel them. And I while I love the sunlight for it shows me the way, I cherish this desert darkness because it shows me the stars."

-David Nicholas

HAREM

EDESSA PALACE

TWO WEEKS LATER

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees; the thunder was crackling in the distance while the lightning tore a thin ribbon of blue across the sky. The waves of the ocean crashed angrily against the rocky shore, seething and churning underneath the storming sky. The air was heavy with the promise of rain, but so far the promise hadn't been fulfilled. The moon was a brilliant yellow coin tossed upon the cloudy sea of night, flickering in and out of its lambent rays as the storm clouds raced upon the winds.

Amidst the wild battle between fire, water, and air… was a village. It was a cluster of tents woven from thick wool, and light softly glowed from them in the darkness.

And in one of those tents, was a family. A boy who was trying desperately to be man, a girl who had seen too little of the world to be considered a woman, and their mother. Their hushed voices and gentle laughter mingled with the heady promises of the storm, adding golden warmth to dark night.

Screams pierce the night to mingle with the rolling thunder. Startled, the boy jumps up and rushes out of the tent, only to reach the opening and be stuck with an arrow in his chest. Shock and pain float across his face as he slides to the floor.

The girl screams. Crying and choking on her own sobs and tears, she rushes to his side and holds his face in her hands. He whispers something and tries to breathe around the gapping hole in his body. Her mother stands up and cries out for her husband who was down by the water, only to hear no response. She tries to leave the tent but is grabbed by her long mahogany hand by some stranger's hand. The stranger roughly drags her out of the tent and the woman's screams pierce the night as she pleads with the stranger for the life of her only daughter.

In response to her tears and fear, the man laughs.

The girl curls up around her brother, screaming and crying and trying to save him.

There was too much blood, her hands and clothes were covered in it.

Rough hands grab her.

"What have we here? A girlie? I bet you'd fetch a pretty price on the market!"

"Please! Somebody help!"

"No one can here you, girl! They're all dead! And its by our mercy that you're left alive! Should we try her now? Or leave her for the market?"

"No! Kill me, please!"

She sobs as he drags her out of the tent and she sees her friends and neighbors, her father and father and mother… dead.

Lighting flashes and thunder booms. The men laugh at her distress, as she cries out for the lives of her family that had been so abruptly stolen from them.

The smell of the burning tents and flesh makes her gag.

And all around her, like a sickly, ghostly reminder was blood.

Blood on their hands and clothes and feet and weapons and faces as they sneered and glared at her.

Blood on her hands, her brother's blood.

Blood on the ground, her father's and mother's blood.

Blood.

Crimson, staining blood that spurted and seeped and pooled onto the cold earth.

Katara jerked awake with a strangled sob. Her breathing harsh and labored, she gasped for air and fought for a fragile grip on reality. She tasted salt on her lips and realized that tears were streaming down her face. Digging her hands into her bedding, her azure eyes danced around the small bedroom she had been given, searching every nook and cranny as if she was expecting to find some sinister evil lurking there. Sweat glistened on her body, and she frantically checked herself for blood. She had to be covered in it. Her mother's blood. Her brother's blood. Her own… There had been so much blood, crimson and thick as it surged and pooled and thickened around her as she screamed and screamed…

"Stop it," Katara hissed at herself. She was miles away from the ocean and from Samos. The graves of her family and friends were across a sea of sand and what felt like a lifetime ago. Trying to impose some sort of calm on herself, she looked down at her hands and struggled to stop them from trembling.

Her eyes may have been focused on her hands, it was the past that she was seeing, voices and scenes that would never come again, times and people that were as surely gone as yesterday's sunlight.

Yet the nightmare would not go into the past where it belonged. The nightmare not only endured, but it grew stronger and stronger with each passing day that she spent in the harem. It always came in those dark hours after midnight, making Katara twist and turn and cry out in her sleep.

With a groan, Katara threw her legs over the edge of her bed and stood up too quickly, causing blood to rush to her head. She braced an arm against the wall, and took several deep, quieting breaths. But with every breath she took, she felt the four walls of her small room at the harem creeping closer and closer.

I have to get out of here, she thought wildly. She roughly shoved her feet into her sandals. Very cautiously, she cracked open her door and peered around the edge. Seeing no one in the harem's atrium, she quickly stepped out of the doorframe and into the open space, softly shutting the door behind her.

Her sandals clicked against the marble floor as she moved across the great room and towards the gentle rushing of the garden fountains. Every night after the nightmare had closed in on her and she jolted awake in a cold sweat, she had always quietly snuck outside to find some sort of solace in the blazing brilliance of the desert's stars.

When she reached the portico that led to the gardens, she paused. In the two weeks that she had spent in the harem, she had been under strict orders from not only Mai, but General Iroh as well that she was not to leave under any circumstances, unless accompanied by the "honorable prince" himself. And considering that she hadn't even been in the same room as Prince Zuko since their last disastrous encounter at the sultan's reception, she had been confined to the walls of the harem. The other girls always seemed so busy, and rarely had time to talk to her. The visiting sultan was still at the palace, and they were always gone entertaining. Even Ty Lee, whom she now considered a friend, only had time for a few words here and there. For Katara, these past two weeks had been some of the most lonely of her life.

With nothing to do and no one to talk to, she spent her time wandering the courtyard that had been given to the women of the harem. She its knew every square inch; every rock, flower, and fountain. The only company Katara had was her thoughts. She thought about her past, and those times back in Samos when life had seemed so simple. She thought about what the other girls in the harem were doing, and what life was like outside the palace. She thought about fishing, or riding one of her brother's mares, or picking Jasmine to put into her room.

But more than anything, she thought that night two weeks ago.

Every time she thought about the prince, some inexplicable warmth pooled in the pit of her belly. Even as he had reprimanded her for leaving the reception without his permission, she still was inexplicably attracted to him. When he had stood on the steps of the portico, frustration displayed in every hard line of body, she should have been afraid. But instead she was intrigued.

He had looked at her with distaste written clearly across his face, and Katara couldn't help but wonder what had made him hate her so much. He had ran away from her the first time she saw him in the courtyard, and had severely chastised her that night for her own foolishness. His harsh words floated back to her.

Here not even a day and you're causing me embarrassment. What do you think would have happened if I hadn't have found you? That he would have just let you go?

Don't you know that you don't have any wants anymore? Unwanted or not, you're my consort now. You follow my wants and needs. Do you understand?"

And then, after she had made her way back to the harem, Mai had found her and calmly informed her that because of her embarrassment at the reception, she was not allowed to leave the harem.

What am I, a small child? Since when did the rules of a woman slightly older than me dictate my life?

Suddenly, a seditious thought crept into her head. It's before dawn… no one who can get me into trouble is awake right now.

What if I just left?

I wouldn't be seen… and no one would follow.

There's nothing keeping me here, and no reason why I would ever want to stay.

I'm treated like an animal, one that was caged and forgotten by its masters.

Feeling slightly rebellious, Katara turned on her heel and started for the heavy wooden doors that led to the other side of the palace. She heaved one slightly open, and quickly slipped through, softly shutting the door behind her.

As the door closed with a thud, Katara leaned against it and looked around. Sights that she hadn't seen since her impromptu imprisonment greeted her: marbled hallways and careful ivory framework. She felt a rush of adrenaline course through her veins as she greedily took in the new scenery.

For the first time in weeks, Katara began to smile.

Pushing herself away from the door, she quickly walked down and navigated the twists and turns of the hallways that led to the front of the palace. When she heard voices near the grand courtyard, she quietly slipped behind an alabaster column.

"When do you think Ala-abin will finalize all of the battle plans that they're drawing up?" she heard a deep voice ask.

She cautiously peered around the column and saw a pair of guards crossing the yard to get to the reception hall.

"Hopefully within the next couple of days," the other one answered. "I'm getting sick of taking care of his councilmen."

"Which ones? Prince Zuko's or the sultan's?" the first guard jokingly responded.

As their chuckles and footsteps gently faded away as they moved deeper into the palace, Katara let out a breath that she hadn't been aware she was holding. She moved from her hiding place, and carefully snuck around the column and into the grand courtyard.

As the smell of fresh jasmine greeted her, she lifted her head to look up at the desert night. In an ink-black sky, thousands of stars blazed above her in a timeless celestial dance. There was no moon to bathe the earth in bone-white light. This night was just for the stars. Beautiful and lovely, they shone above and decanted their silvery light into the grand courtyard. Katara turned her face upward, and let the clandestine brilliance wash over her. For some inexplicable reason, she always felt more calm and comfortable by the light of the stars than by any other force.

Tonight was no different.

As she stood in the garden, enjoying her moments of peace away from the harem, something akin to happiness bubbled up inside her.

"What are you doing?"

At the unmistakably male voice, Katara froze. She knew that voice. It had haunted her thoughts for the past two weeks. Gradually, she turned and faced Prince Zuko.

Even in the early morning hours, his clothes were no less as fine as the ones she had seen him wearing at the reception. He was a few feet away from her, casually lounging on the circular rim of one of the many fountains that littered the grand courtyard. His hair looked disheveled, and his eyes shone in the darkness.

Katara ignored the sudden pounding of her heart, and lifted her chin defiantly. "I should be asking you that same question."

Zuko rubbed a hand over his face. "Your courage is commendable. But I'm not the one who's supposed to be in the harem."

At that moment in time, the only thing Katara wanted to do was run away. But she was trapped. Even if she had managed to leave the palace, where would she go? She had no money, no friends, and no family. She'd end up on the streets, or worse-back at that horrid market in Constantinople. Dejected, she told Zuko the truth. "I couldn't sleep."

His eyes gleamed in the darkness. "I know."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

He pushed himself up from the fountain, and turned and looked at her. Those eyes, those mesmerizing golden eyes, took in the dark mahogany hair that cascaded down her back, the rumpled tunic that she slept in, the graceful planes of her face. "I've seen you out, before the sun rises. Every morning you're there, out in the gardens. You wander around like you're lost in some nightmare. Tell me… what do you dream about that makes you afraid to go to sleep at night?"

"How do you know?" she whispered.

He looked down, as if he was mentally sorting through memories. "I've lived through more than enough nightmares."

"No, how do you know that I walk the gardens at night?"

His eyes widened slightly in surprise before he answered wryly, "I'm the sultan. My chambers overlook the harem."

It should have made Katara feel angry that he saw her in her moments of vulnerability. She should have felt offended. Instead, it made her heart beat quicker.

"I can't stay locked up the harem all day," Katara blurted out suddenly. "I feel… I feel so trapped, like I'm this animal that you locked away."

Zuko's jaw stiffened. "I'm sorry."

I'm sorry? She thought incredulously. He's sorry that he took away my freedom, and reprimanded me like some little child? Fueled by her feelings, she continued. "How can be you be sorry, when you're the one who told me I embarrassed you? I want to go back," she said unexpectedly. "I want to go home, to the sea and to Samos. Where I belong."

"I'm sorry," he said again. "I can't let you."

Anger bubbled hotly and coursed through her veins. "Why? You hate me. I see it in your eyes. Every time I'm near you treat me like a child. You run away from me, and make every effort to make sure I am nowhere near you. I can see your disgust written across your face. I repulse you!"

Startled and gentled by her cold retribution in ways he couldn't explain, he moved towards her. Suddenly, the only thing he wanted in life was to take all of that anger seething through her body and melt it away. "I don't hate you."

"No?" she snapped, glaring at him with azure eyes.

"The last thing you do is repulse me." He stepped even closer, so close their bodies almost touched each other. He stood there for a few heavy seconds, his golden eyes boring into her. Katara couldn't look away. "You…unsettle me," he continued, his voice a husky baritone. "You tie me in knots that I've never known existed. Ever since I first saw you standing in my courtyard, I knew I had to have you. You had to be mine. I don't even know you and you make me ache in ways I never thought possible." His fingers brushed across her forehead, her cheek.

Her lips.

Her heart raced, and she felt her breathing hitch. She looked up into those amber eyes, and felt energy crackle between the two of them.

Silence stretched like and eternity between them. In that moment, there was only each other. Their ragged breaths, their shared desire.

"Now do you see why I stay away from you?" he said harshly, breaking away from her.

Katara felt like somebody had abruptly thrown a bucket of water on a softly rolling fire. "I don't understand," she began, before he cut her off.

"You are the last thing that I need right now," he whispered, searching her eyes for a sliver of accord.

Slowly, as if the very movement caused him pain, he reached over and stroked a lock of her hair. "I don't even know your name," he murmured.

"Katara," she breathed. "My name is Katara."

He closed his eyes for a second, and his grip tightened on the hair that he had so sweetly imprisoned. "I have to go," he said tersely. His hand dropped returned to his side, and backed away from Katara as if she were suddenly poisonous.

Then he turned on his heel, and disappeared into the night.

SULTAN'S CHAMBERS

EDESSA PALACE

When Zuko thundered back into his room, his breathing was harsh and labored. He shut the heavy wooden door with something less than finesse, and slithered down the cool surface until he sat with his back to the wall. He pulled up a leg, rested his arm on his knee, and let his head fall back against the door.

His chest heaved as he fought for air. In the two weeks since the last time he had had contact with his new consort, he had gone out of his way to ensure that their paths would never cross again. When he walked out onto his balcony to watch the early morning sunrise, he always saw her below. She wandered slowly around, her chestnut hair rippling gently in the breeze. Strangely, he began to cherish these sightings. He derived an odd source of comfort from seeing her, and soon she became as much a part of his morning routine as gazing at the sunrise.

It was dangerous for him to think of her like that.

Even more dangerous of him to allow her to slip into his thoughts during his daily tasks, but yet he found himself thinking of the graceful curve of her legs without meaning to during the multiple war meetings he held.

And certainly, it was completely inappropriate for him to seek her out the way he had tonight. He had laid awake, sleep eluding him. When he had heard the door to the harem open and close, he knew instantly that it was the girl who plagued his thoughts. Without meaning, without thinking, he had gotten out of bed and followed her to the courtyard.

"How can I be so stupid," he growled to himself, his hand fisting in his clothes. The negotiations with Ala-Abin were taking longer than he had planned, and he needed to focus every ounce of his mental capacity on those proceedings. Every battle plan that Zuko had drawn up had been rejected, and both councils were getting restless. After the meetings, Zuko and his uncle had sat and racked their brains for new strategies that might appeal to sultan. This was one used too many of his soldiers, that one was too ambitious, this one took too long… there has to be something that the sultan will take to. He just hadn't figured it out yet.

What had made the negotiations slightly more difficult was the fact that in the few times that Zuko and Jet had been alone, Jet pestered him about the woman Iroh had brought back from Constantinople. He wanted to know her name, if he could go see her in the harem, if he could take her out to ride one of his prized Arabians, if he could do this or that… and it took every fiber of Zuko's being to politely evade the questions. In reality, he wanted to take his fist and shove it down Jet's throat as a response.

Zuko and Jet had shared women in the past. Why was this one any different?

Someone draped their arms over his chest.

Startled, he stiffened and was reaching for his knife when he heard a voice ask softly, "is everything all right, darling?"

What a question. Zuko closed his eyes briefly before untangling himself from the feminine arms. "What are you doing here, Mai?" he asked, standing up and pushing himself away from the door.

From her place on the floor, Mai's eyes widened slightly before narrowing. "You've never had a problem with me in here before," she said.

Zuko pinched bridge of his nose in a demonstration of frustration. "That's because I'm usually the one who brings you here. You came here unannounced and on your own. You're lucky I didn't accidentally kill you when you surprised me like that."

Mai stood up and placed her hand on his chest. "You haven't asked for me in a while," she said, her lids lowered over her dark brown eyes. She looked up at him through her lashed. "I wanted to see if you needed anything," she simpered, before standing up on tiptoe and pressing her lips against his.

Zuko tensed as though he had been slapped and harshly broke away from her. "What the hell's gotten into you, Mai?" he demanded. "What do you think you're doing?"

Shocked by his reaction, she stood there. She had seen him frustrated before, but never like this. And he had never, ever jerked away from her touch as though repulsed by it. "You've been acting so different since the sultan came," she said, crossing her arms defensively over her chest. "You don't see me, you don't talk to me, you don't visit any of us in the harem, and when I come to see if you're okay, you act like I'm carrying leprosy."

"I want you to leave, Mai," he said, turning his back to her. "You're not welcome here. I have too much to think about than being worried about the feelings of one of my concubines."

"But Zuko, what is-"

"Leave," he said, cutting her off in a low voice low.

"Why are you treating me like-"

"Dammit, can't you hear me?" he yelled, spinning around back to look at her with barely concealed rage. "Leave!"

Mai ducked her head quickly, and bit her lip in an effort to control her tears. She swept into a bow. "Of course, honorable prince. I'm sorry I displeased you."

Suddenly, Zuko regretted his sudden burst of emotion and realized how deeply he had hurt his kadin. "Mai, I didn't mean-"

It was her turn to cut him off. "I understand, my prince. I won't bother you again. If you'll forgive me, I also came to make his highness aware that the new consort was not in the harem this morning. I do not know where she is. Would the prince like a punishment to be enacted once she is retrieved?"

The memories of the night rushed back to Zuko. The way she had smelled, the silken touch of her hair, her cheek, her lips. The pounding of his heart as he fought for control. Their heavy breathing, the energy crackling between them. And now, he knew the name of his malediction.

Katara.

"No," Zuko murmured. "No, I don't want her to be punished. Mai, I want you to tell Katara that she has free reign of the palace now. She's not confined to the harem anymore."

Shock glimmered across Mai's face before she quickly concealed it. "Of course," Mai bowed. "I will make the prince's wishes known. Good day, Prince Zuko."

Zuko didn't respond as he watched her leave. "I'm sorry," he said softly, but his kadin didn't acknowledge his apology. The door clicked shut behind her.

HAREM

EDESSA PALACE

It was early morning when Katara had found her way back to the harem. After Zuko had left her, she had sat in the gardens as thoughts and memories raced through her mind.

You make me ache in ways I never thought possible.

As she thought back to the way her heart had slammed inside her body as his fingers had brushed across her face, she realized that the feeling was apparently mutual. She should have hated him for imprisoning her, for making her stay in Edessa, but she couldn't.

Trying to shake off her thoughts, she wearily opened the door to see a strange sight greeting her. Mai was sitting in the atrium, lounging against the enormous pillows that lined the floor. That's strange, she thought. Mai's never here during the day. She's usually busy. It was then that Katara remembered her deliberate breach of the orders Mai had given her. She had not only left the harem, but she had done so without permission. Uh oh.

When Mai's dark eyes took in Katara, she visibly stiffened. "Nice to see you've found your way back to the harem," she said, her voice cold and emotionless.

"I had a nightmare," Katara said, her voice low.

"You had a nightmare?" Mai responded. "How quaint. So that meant that you could break the rules that were handed down to you not only from me, but from General Iroh as well?"

Katara sighed. "I'm sorry," she said. "I just wanted to get some fresh air."

Mai's eyes narrowed. "Well then, you're in luck," she said in that same empty voice. "The prince has informed me you're not confined to the harem anymore."

Her hear stopped, then began to beat slightly faster as adrenaline raced through her. "Really?" she asked, unable to hide the hope that had burst through her.

"Yes. Really."

She let out a slow breath, and a small smile appeared on her face. He listened to me. He set me free. He actually heard what as I was saying and is letting me free from this awful prison!

"And as your first duty as a member of this harem," Mai continued, "You are to attend to the visiting Prince Jet's bath."

All of Katara's burgeoning happiness rushed out of her body and her face fell. Attending to a bath was one of the most intimate duties of the harem. Normally the girls could only attend to the sultan, and she had never heard of the girls attending to foreigners. It was unheard of. In fact, since she'd been here, none of the girls had done it. It was usually reserved to the female servants, not for one of the prince's own women that he protected. To be asked to do so was almost a slap in the face. She thought back to that night of the reception, and how angry Zuko had looked when he saw her in the prince's arms. His body vibrated with it. And when he talked to her, it was as if she was a stupid little girl.

"These orders come from Prince Zuko?" she asked, trying to keep the disbelief out of her voice.

"Yes, Katara," Mai said nonchalantly, "he told me himself."

Katara's hands curled into fists at her sides as her disbelief evaporated into anger. After everything he said, the way he touched me… he's trying to pawn me off on his friend. He's trying to get rid of me. She told herself she wasn't hurt. She didn't know the prince well enough to be hurt by him. But nonetheless, the Prince's shocking order stung some small corner of her heart.

"Well then, his wish is my command," Katara said. She turned around to go the bath house, but Mai stopped her.

"Before you leave, could you put on some real clothes?" she asked, referring to the gnarled tunic that Katara was wearing. "You look just as disgusting now as when you came here two weeks ago covered in mud. If Prince Jet sees you like that he'll take one look and run away. He's not only an honored guest of Prince Zuko's, but one of his dear friends. The honorable prince would not happy if you displeased Prince Jet."

Katara closed her eyes and counted to ten. "Of course, Kadin."

"Thank you," Mai said from her place on the floor. "I'm so happy we've reached…an understanding."

THE BATH HOUSE

EDESSA PALACE

The steam curled up sinisterly from the surface of the water, filling the vaulted tiled ceilings of the room with an eerie fog. Sweat dropped visibly from the bath servants as they wandered around, adding various salts and other amenities to the water.

Katara saw Jet in a bathing tunic, standing near the head of the pool and rubbing his neck as if it pained him. Setting her jaw, she walked towards him, and stopped just in front of him. It took him a moment to notice her, but when he did his surprise became quickly evident. His jaw dropped.

"You are to assist me?"

Even he's surprised, Katara thought angrily. She lowered her head and gritted out, "I am ordered here by Prince Zuko."

"I wouldn't have thought, that is, women from a sultan's harem never attend to strangers unless-" he stopped and flushed slightly. "I am grateful."

That single word suddenly gave Katara a new attitude about her duties. As intimate as her task might be, a visiting sultan would never dream of touching a woman from another prince's harem. To be allowed in the same room as one was an honor, and a sign of great friendship. It still stung a little, because as Katara was leaving Mai informed her that she would be the only one in the short history of Zuko's harem to attend to another man's bath. For some reason, Katara felt like Mai was trying her hardest to hurt her.

"Please, what is your name?" he asked.

She smiled. "Katara," she answered.

"Katara." he said the word as if it were something to savor. "It suits you. I've asked about you ever since I last saw you," Jet said as he stepped into the water. "Zuko always changed the subject. I thought that he wanted to keep you to himself. But apparently I was mistaken."

Katara knelt down by the edge of the pool and thought wryly, apparently. Apparently he is disgusted by his reaction to me that he can't wait to get rid of me.

As she reached over to grab a bowl from where they were stacked, his hand shot out and he grasped her wrist gently. "You're exactly how I remembered you. No, you're even more beautiful than before."

The words unsettled Katara. When Zuko had told her about his surprising desire for her, she felt her heart race. But when Jet did… it made her feel uneasy. Slowly, she eased her wrist free and grabbed the bowl. She reached down and filled it with hot water, before pouring it over Jet's head. He sputtered, and Katara immediately apologized. Instead of getting angry, he turned and smiled at her. "You haven't done this before have you?"

Katara shook her head. "No. I just came here two weeks ago… this is the first real thing I've had to do as a member of the harem."

He chuckled. "It's okay. I'll teach you." He leaned over and grabbed a small pot filled with a substance that Katara recognized as soap. He then put some in the palm of her hand, and placed her hand onto his shoulder. He turned his head and looked up at her, his brown eyes burning into hers. Her own eyes widened slightly. "Do you feel that?" he whispered. "Do you feel that heat sliding through your body?"

She didn't know what to say. No?

"You have to come back to Riyadh with me. Zuko doesn't want you, and I'd treat you like a queen."

She felt nervous. Anxious. The thought of leaving Edessa should have made her feel happy. She could be free of overbearing Mai… treacherous Zuko.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Katara gasped softly at the sound of that voice, that deep recognizable voice that had plagued her since last night. Jet's grip on her hand tightened at the displeasure that had dripped from it, and they both looked over to see where it had come from. Zuko filled the doorway, anger making his body quiver. His hands were clenched into fists, and his golden eyes shot daggers at Katara. He looked terrifying in his present state, but Katara couldn't begin to guess what had made him so furious.

Her chin lifted in defiance and she took her hand back from Jet. What does he think I'm doing here? She thought angrily.

"You ordered me here, Prince Zuko," she dared to remind to him.

His eyes flared. "Liar! The hell I did!"

Mina34: That's right. A cliffhanger! Mwuahaha!

Actually, when I was writing this chapter it was getting a little too long, so I had to cut if off some place in the middle, instead of making everyone have to sit through a ridiculously long chapter. I'll post the second half pretty soon. Thank you SO MUCH for all of your lovely reviews, I get so happy and excited when I see them!

A few things:

Juliet: eee! I LUFF your review! If everyone else hated this story, I would keep writing it just for you! I actually really like Mai's character, and I didn't mean to make her sound so mean. I forget that she's really just emotionless. Ty Lee's my favorite, and I'm sad I didn't have time to put her in this chapter! And as for your other questions, we'll just have to wait and see!

Lady Flick: that's so nice, thank you for the compliments! This chapter was more character than plot driven, but the next half will have some nice little tid bits about Zhao and revenge!

gretlcascade: OMG your review made me so happy! thank you for liking my little ficcy! I agree, Mai did seem a little off last chapter, is she better here? I just can't seem to get a good grip on her character. And i actually really like her, and hate it when shes portrayed as evil... I think she's just misunderstood. And is a wee bit jealous. Hmm... hopefully I'll figure it out! happy summer to you too!

Shrilaraune: thanks! I owe my middle eastern knowledge to the internet. I haven't really figured the length out, but definitely no more than fifteen chapters. I wrote fanfiction in highschool, but then I got to college and became really busy. This is my first time that I've had enough free time to write in a while, and now fanfiction has all this fancy stuff!What's a beta?

Everyone else, if you made it this far, just click that little blue button to tell me what is going on in the reader-chan head of yours!

Remember, reviews=love. Love my story. Love Me.

Haha, I hope everyone has a happy memorial day weekend!

TA!