Force of Iron
Chapter 6
So It Begins
Hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks and nothing happened. They were kept cooped up in the cell for what seemed like forever. The only visits that were paid were from guards that slid some food through a small opening in the door, to keep them alive.
They had made love several times since their reunion. But they knew that it was only a matter of time until Ozaian decided to dispose of them or do something horrible with them for his own gain.
Katara lay curled up next to her beloved that she had missed so much over the past few months. Zuko was asleep, but Katara lay awake, thinking. She eventually sat up hugging her knees to her chest, with a worried look on her face.
Zuko stirred in his sleep and eventually opened his eyes to find that his Katara was no longer beside him. He sat up and pulled her close, asking her what was wrong.
She responded with a sigh and said, "It's just that, Ozaian wants to destroy the world, and here we are stuck in here with no way to stop it, or warn anyone about it. It's as if he planned the whole thing."
"Yeah he probably did, I've thought about that several times since you showed up here," said Zuko kissing her forehead.
She looked up at him with her sapphire eyes and said, "Do you have any idea what we should or could do?"
"I have absolutely no idea," he sighed. He wished there was a way, a way they could set things right and stop whatever Ozaian was planning. But what could they do, their situation was as good as hopeless.
"But," he said. "On the bright side he has to convince an entire nation that he is the rightful Fire Lord and give the country good reasons to go to war. It took me awhile to convince them that a war was unnecessary, and peace was the right solution," he continued, a spark of hope in his voice.
His words relaxed Katara slightly, but the overall worry still remained. She suffered from the previous war, they both suffered from it, and they wouldn't wish what they had gone through on any one else. They could only hope that someone would realize what was going on before it was too late.
Katara snuggled up closer to Zuko, wanting to forget everything that was wrong with their lives for just a few moments.
Ozaian stood on the deck of his ship, leaning on the railing, looking out onto the sea that stretched on for miles into the horizon. The ship chugged along its course, as Ozaian's impatience grew.
He would redeem his father's name, and his forefather's legacy. The plan was being set in motion, the gears and cocks were just starting to turn. Yet he wished that they would still move faster. He had spent the past few weeks planning and preparing for the oncoming storm. Now it was moving slowly, too slow for his taste.
He looked up from the sea to the gray sky. A thunder-storm was brewing, but he didn't care they would reach their destination soon.
Zuko sat on his knees, kissing Katara, who sat in his lap, in a rather inappropriate way. Zuko was shirtless and Katara was in her underwear. Yeah, they were using their time in prison to go at it like rabbits, but they didn't care. They saw it as a way to make up for the time they were kept apart. As well as a way to forget about everything that was wrong with their lives and the approaching war.
Suddenly the steel door to their cell creaked open. At first they paid it no mind, thinking it was just a guard sliding in a tray of slightly edible food. But when the door opened fully they stopped dead in their tracks and released one another from their embrace.
"Well, well Zuko, you certainly know how to pick the right women. The beautiful, yet easy kind," said a familiar voice in the door way. His face was hidden by shadow, until he stepped into the cell, to reveal the face of the person they least wanted to see, Ozaian, dressed in Fire Nation armor, with his hair in a topknot. He looked deathly like Zuko.
His cold eyes wandered over to Katara, and looked greedily at her half-naked form. Zuko growled at him from deep within his throat. Katara, after seeing Ozaian look at her with lust in his eyes, she snatched up the cloak that lay within inches of her, and wrapped it around her body, hiding it from Ozaian, only letting her toes stick out.
She only liked it when Zuko and Zuko only looked at her liked that, if it was any other man she hated it with a passion, especially when she looked as vulnerable as she did. She felt like she was for Zuko's eyes and Zuko's only.
Ozaian looked disappointed after she covered up. He sighed and said, "Anyway let's cut to the chase. Zuko you know as well as I do how hard it is to convince the people of the Fire Nation what is best for them."
"What do you want Ozaian?" asked Zuko gruffly, as he stood up face to face with Ozaian. Even though Zuko was the rightful Fire Lord he looked like a mere peasant compared to how Ozaian was dressed. Zuko's short hair was loose, and what was left of his clothes were in ruin. Yet the resemblance between the two remained.
"You know what I want. I want this country to be great again. I want to achieve out forefathers' dream of world domination. I want…"
"If you're asking for my help to convince the Fire Nation that war is what is best for them, you're getting none of that," said Zuko cutting off Ozaian.
"I wasn't asking for your help, believe me I already have that part covered. What I need help with is convincing these worthless commoners that I am you." It was hard to pinpoint the feeling he was trying to get across by his tone. Katara sat on the floor her eyes darting back and forth between the two men, wanting to see who did what first.
"And what makes you think I would help you with that after what you have done?" Zuko said anger apparent in his voice. He looked Ozaian right in the eye, his eyes filled with anger and hatred.
"I was never asking for your help that would have been the last thing I would ask for. As you well know, people have noticed Miss Katara's absence from the Fire Nation, due to the fact that she has been here with you," said Ozaian eyeing Katara. Zuko and Katara exchanged worried glances, both worried about what he had in mind.
Yet he continued, "Your marriage to Katara is scheduled to take place within two weeks. If the marriage doesn't take place people will become suspicious. In order for me to obtain what it is that I want. I need…"
He was cut off when Katara said, "Like I would ever marry you, believe me you would be the last person on earth that I would even consider," she snapped at him.
"I wasn't asking for your hand in marriage, the whole thing would be fake, it's just a scheme you need to partake in, and make the people think I'm him," he said pointing at Zuko.
"And what makes you think I will help you with that?" Katara snapped at him again.
"Because if you don't, I'm afraid your beloved Zuko here would have to pay the price…with his life," Ozaian said with an evil smirk on his face.
Katara was speechless; she couldn't believe the words she just heard. The marriage would be fake and all, but she was scared Ozaian would try to take advantage of her, like he had done a few weeks ago when she was living at the palace. She looked up at Zuko for guidance; the emotion on his face was hard to read. The gears in Zuko's mind were turning, contemplating what Ozaian had just said.
Ozaian turned to Zuko and said, "You shouldn't worry brother, she is your fiancée. You have my word that she will be unharmed, and I won't lay a finger on her. She'll be treated like any other Fire Lady would be treated."
Katara couldn't help but notice the venom that lined his words. The offer sounded nice but, she didn't want to be anywhere near Ozaian, or play a part in the world's destruction. She also noticed how he called Zuko brother, how that was so was hard for her to understand
Ozaian could easily see that they were both thinking about the offer. "I'll let you two think about it, you'll have until tomorrow to decide," he said impatiently, he didn't want to have to wait; he wanted to get it over with, and continue with his plan.
He left the cell without another word. The steel door slammed closed behind him, leaving the couple alone once more.
They were silent for a few moments. Zuko took his place next to Katara once more. Katara looked at him trying to read his expression. His stare was too the ground, he was thinking about Ozaian's offer. She wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words to her sentence. She didn't want to take up Ozaian's offer, yet she didn't want to loose her Zuko. She gingerly touched the scar on his face, gently rubbing the old he had received years ago, then tracing the new one from months ago.
'If there is only a way to get out of this mess without any lose of life...or any new scars.'
He looked up at her, after feeling her touch. She was the only person he let touch his scar, and the only person he ever will let.
A few more moments of silence passed, until Zuko finally said, "I think you should accept his offer."
"What! No! How can I? I can't...I-I won't leave you here!!" she said shocked by his words. He pulled her into a warm embrace trying to comfort her. She relaxed in his arms; she always found comfort from the warmth.
"Katara look at it this way. If your out of this cell you will have the chance to warn Aang of what's going on, and help stop what ever is going to happen," said Zuko as calmly as he could muster, when really he was as nervous and anxious as Katara was, except a lot less afraid. The whole idea was risky and he hated putting Katara in a risky situation such as this, but Ozaian promised she would be safe, and if she managed to warn Aang or somebody from the gang she would be even safer.
"This could be the chance we need, and maybe the only chance we get," he continued, he buried his face in her hair taking in the sea spray scent he loved.
She thought hard about Zuko's words. He was right; this could be their only chance. She pulled away from his embrace and sadly nodded. She didn't want to leave him again, all alone in this cell. But if agreeing with Ozaian meant freedom for the both of them, she would do almost anything.
They spent the rest of the day and night talking over the possibilities of what would happen. They even came up with a small plan. Katara wouldn't alert anyone right away, so Ozaian wouldn't become suspicious. She would wait until it was absolutely necessary, and that would be after she found out what Ozaian was planning. She was going to be spying on one of the most powerful man in the world, she shuddered at the thought of what would happen to both of them if they failed.
They eventually fell asleep in each others arms, both hoping this wouldn't be their last night together. They were awoken when the door to their cell slammed open once more.
"So what your decision?" asked Ozaian impatiently from the doorway.
Katara looked at Zuko, hoping he would be the one to answer. But his eyes gave her the strength to do it herself. She looked Ozaian right in the eye and said," Yes I'll go along with your plan."
"Perfect!"
Well here you go 6th chappie!! Somewhat of a struggle writing it but I pulled through, sorry if it seems corny in any way shape or form. I'll try to have the next chapter up soon, and I will try to make it better, if this one is not up to your standards. I absolutely love cliffhangers, writing or reading them(mostly reading), its a good way to keep people interested in whatever kind of story.
Until next time :)