Chapter Ten: Change of Plans
Azula sat as the family healers as they attempted to heal the mangled leg. Mai sat beside her looking bored.
"Mai," Azula said irritably. "Did you see the water bender at the air temple?"
Mai looked up from her nails. "Not unless she was hidden. I was out for most of the fight. When I came to it was just us." she lied.
Azula scowled. "I forgot you were worthless in that fight." she sneered. "But the water bitch is the one that told Father about my leg. Thank Agni he didn't say anything."
Mai nodded and raised her head to the healers. "What about them?"
Azula waved her hand haughtily. "They won't say anything. As many times as Zuzu had to come here because of me, they'll keep they're mouths shut."
The healer looked up. "Princess Azula, it will take time to heal this completely." she stated warily. "I can give you a salve to put on every night before bed and after you wake."
"Fine." Azula huffed as she rolled her pant leg back down. "Let's go Mai."
They were just stepping out of the healers when Ozai walked around the corner. "Ah, Azula, just the princess I've been looking for."
"Father?" She felt her heart speed up.
"What are you doing at the healers?" he mused.
"Mai got hit with my lightening during a fight. We were seeing if they could heal it." She stated.
"I'm sure my new fiance could try and heal it." he smiled. "Lady Mai, why don't you have this guard take you to her."
Mai nodded and followed the guard. "Thank you my lord." She didn't know what was going on. The thought of Ozai remarrying had her head spinning.
"You're getting remarried?" Azula questioned.
"Walk with me Azula." He smiled a cold smile. "This is a family matter."
Night had fallen and Zuko was in the servant quarters waiting on Katara and Toph. He was surprised to find Toph walk in with Ty Lee.
"Mudbug?" he said sitting up straight. "Where's Katara?"
Toph turned her head towards him. "Oh, she was asleep." she lied. "But, I do know you're getting a new mommy."
Zuko frowned. "What do you mean she was asleep? She wouldn't sleep knowing they... wait, did you say I'm getting a new mother?"
Ty Lee was showing some of the girls her pressure points bounced over. "Yep, she did. She wouldn't tell me who though."
Zuko was silent for awhile. "But my mother is still alive. My uncle told me before Ba Sing Se."
Toph shrugged. "I know that Katara is not allowed to be touched and we're getting treated better. We only have guards when we eat."
"Who's this new woman?" Zuko hissed.
Smellerbee handed him a cup of tea. "Well, I'm in charge of taking her meals and cleaning her room now. You can come along. I was told to find someone to help. I can just say you're a new employee and I'm training you."
"Yeah, but Sparky, don't flip out on the woman." Toph said trying to hide her unease. "You don't need to blow your cover."
He kicked the chair. "I know that! I just hope this woman knows what she's getting into."
'Me too.' Toph thought. "I'm sure she knows."
Ty Lee looked out the window. "We'd better get back. Who knows if we might get a visit from Mai again."
He watched them sneak out of the quarters and sighed. "Bee, have you seen this woman?"
The tomboy shook her head. "Tomorrow is my first time meeting her. But, Ina said she was very pleasant. And she asked for me personally while handing her a lotus."
Zuko blinked. "I see." he smirked as he went to turn in. "I'll see you in the morning." he yawned.
Hakoda was surprised when Iroh told him he was there the day his wife was killed. He himself had been trying to fight closer to shore. Now, he sat facing one of the men that forced his children to watch. He was angry and grateful at the same time. Grateful that Iroh had allowed Sokka to look away as Fire Lord Sozin burned his mother to death, but angry that he had allowed his brother to force Katara to watch.
"I am sorry Chief Hakoda. Never in my life have I killed an innocent. That day is what made me realize this war was pointless. To see my father do that and to see my brother force young Katara watch... my mind was made up."
"But what about Ba Sing Se?" Hakoda asked coolly.
Iroh sighed. "That would have happened with or without me. I was placed there as a Lotus member. The King at the time knew it was set up as he was part of it. What none of us planned was my son being killed. He was ambushed as he was sleeping and I was forced to watch as they beheaded him. I took it as punishment for what I did to your family."
Hakoda blinked back tears. "No one should have to see their child die." he reached over and put a hand on the old general's shoulder. "I forgive you, even though you had no choice in the matter. I'm curious to know if you've told my children."
Iroh looked down. "To be honest, I never realized it was them. It wasn't until that letter that I realized it. My brother was bragging to young Katara about it as he demanded her to be his wife."
Hakoda froze. "H-he told her that?"
A knock on the door broke the silence. "Dragon, you're received anoth...er... is this a bad time?" Sokka stopped.
Iroh took the letter and read it, paling as he read further. "Oh dear."
Hakoda reached for it and Iroh let him have it. "I...should I read it out loud?" he questioned the older man.
Iroh nodded. "Sokka, you should have a seat."
"Ahem." Hakoda began. "Fire Lord Ozai has chosen a new wife. No one has seen her yet. Southern Princess is still locked away along with Earth Princess, and Pink noblewoman. Wedding set for the day after Black Sun." he stopped.
"I have a bad feeling that the wife is Kata." Sokka stated. "Her birthday is the day of Black Sun. She's..." A smile broke out on his face. "Oh that sneaky little girl."
Both men stared at him as he ran out and returned with his plans. "I knew it. I knew the only reason she would still be there after being found out was because she planned something!" He pulled out a letter she made him swear to open the day before the invasion, but he didn't open it. He just fiddled with it. "Damn. I can't open it for another week."
Both adults stared at him in confusion. "Sokka? what are you babbling about? You mean she planned all of this?" Hakoda said anxiously.
"Sorta. She had her own little plan hatched. He... he wasn't supposed to make her marry him. But, she always was able to adapt... now where was that... aha! Look, see this is the schematics of the palace. She managed to get it..."
The knock on her door woke her from an uneasy sleep. She jumped up and darted to the bathroom before calling them in.
"We are bringing breakfast for the Lady." came the familiar voice of Smellerbee.
Katara gave a sigh of relief. Seeing Mai yesterday unnerved her, but the gloomy girl merely raised an eyebrow. Katara fully expected Azula to show up, but it seems Mai kept silent.
"I'll be out in a moment." she called.
"You can start by helping me with the bed." Smellerbee told Zuko.
He nodded and started pulling the sheets off the bed. His back was to the bathroom when Katara stepped out. She put her finger to her lips at Smellerbee's surprise, and crept up behind Zuko.
Zuko froze as he felt a small figure step behind him. "I always thought peasants were supposed to be weak." he felt the delicate hands squeeze his arms.
"M- my lady, I-I used to work in the gardens." he stammered as he looked to Smellerbee for help.
Smellerbee was trying hard not to laugh at him and yell at the water bender for agreeing to be Ozai's wife. "Come now, at least turn and look at the lady when you speak to her... Li."
He sighed and turned around to see laughing blue eyes. "Katara? But... what are you doing here?" he frowned.
"Isn't obvious? I'm going to be your new mommy." She sighed as she walked over to her vanity to brush her hair.
"But... you can't! Do you know what you have to do when you're married? You're not even old enough yet!"
"Yes, princess, I know what happens when you get married." she smirked. "And I know I'm not old enough. That's why the wedding is set after my birthday."
He pulled her around to face him, and she recoiled at the anger in his eyes. "I'm not letting you marry that monster!" he snarled.
She narrowed her eyes. "You don't have a choice in the matter. Now, if you can't play along I'll have Bee pick another helper. This was the only way to get me close enough for what I needed to do."
He let go of her. "What?"
She handed him a hair brush and he started brushing her hair as Smellerbee finished making the bed. "Don't worry, when it's time Toph will get you and explain."
"So, how long do we have until the wedding?" Smellerbee questioned.
"The day after the invasion." Katara smiled wickedly.
Smellerbee smiled broadly. "That's brilliant!"
Zuko scowled into the mirror. "I don't see why it's brilliant! You know he knows about the invasion..."
"Is it going to be a fire nation wedding or a water tribe?" Smellerbee cooed as she started dusting.
Zuko bristled at being ignored, but Katara rolled her eyes at him. "He said I can do Water tribe. So, I'll need a water tribe whine." She winked at Smellerbee.
"You're actually going through with the wedding?" Zuko gawked. "But... what about the invasion. What if something goes wrong?"
Katara patted the braid he put in her hair. "Oh, the invasion will fail. Don't worry princess, it'll all woke out. The invasion is mainly for your sister."
He didn't get to say anything else as Ozai stepped in the room. He saw the young man standing behind his bride to be holding a hairbrush and raised an eyebrow.
"Princess? Are you replacing me with this peasant?" He smirked.
Zuko kept his head bowed. Even though his scar was gone, he still resembled the man. Smellerbee bowed her head as the fire lord walked by her.
"No, my lord." Katara smiled sweetly. "He's new here. He apparently came from the colonies. I was grateful he could untangle my hair."
Ozai frowned. "They spoke to you?"
Katara raised an eyebrow. "If I can't speak to the help then find me someone I can speak with. It gets boring in here by myself. In fact, I requested these two because they were close to my age. Is that a problem?"
Zuko was having an inner battle with himself to keep quiet. No one ever spoke to his father like that, not even his mother. He glanced at Smellerbee and saw her face was pale with worry.
"No. I suppose you do need to be able to talk." he said calmly. "If you need someone to have a proper conversation with, I can have Lady Mai and my daughter stop in for tea..."
"No. In case you've forgotten, your daughter has tried to kill me on several occasions. I'm quite sure even you couldn't stop her if she tried again. Besides, I reminded her about her mutilated leg when she burned me in that cell." She stated coolly. "I prefer to spend time with the low class for now. After the wedding you can pick who I speak to."
"M'Lady, we should be going." Zuko said quietly. "We'll return with your lunch and to retrieve your breakfast tray." Smellerbee followed behind him shutting the door.
"Very polite." Katara smiled after them. "They are brother and sister. Their parents were killed in one of the attacks during Zhao's rein. He was an idiot."
Ozai had never in his life been intimidated by a woman, but this one seemed to be able to do it. He blamed himself for making her watch her mother die. In the same sense, it fascinated him to see how commanding she was. Even if he was tricking him, he was going to marry her.
"Princess Katara, you are to meet me in my throne room after your lunch." he stated.
She looked up from her breakfast. "What exactly am I supposed to wear? All my clothes was in my room when you threw me in the dungeons." she said coldly.
He rubbed his face. "You can ask your two servants if they can find them. In fact," he stuck his head out the door and pulled a guard in. "What were their names?"
"Li and Bee." she stated. "Their probably doing laundry now."
"You heard her. Go and retrieve the two that just left here." he ordered. "There, they'll find your clothes and you'll be in my throne room. I'll even allow them to escort you there, but with the guards outside your room."
She nodded. "And if they find my clothes, what am I dressing for?"
He smirked. "You are quite clever. I will be introducing you to the council. Not all of them have faith in me, and you seem to be a good judge of character. Plus, it will show me if you are capable of dealing with actual nobles."
She went back to her breakfast. "You know, my daughter might be blind, but she can tell when people are lying because she doesn't see their masks."
He growled. "You are a very demanding woman."
"I am demanding nothing. I'm stating a fact." she didn't bother looking up. "She would be a great asset if you are trying to find a rat. Anyway, get out. I need to bathe."
He recoiled at her forwardness. "As you wish. I will see you after lunch."
She sighed as the door shut. "This is more work than I thought."
Aang came back from being with Guru Pathik for three days, and what he saw confused him. Men were dancing around laughing and singing. The Kyoshi Warriors were demonstrating the fighting tactics to some of the younger warriors. Iroh, Hakoda, Bato, and Sokka were sitting in a circle looking at papers while sipping tea.
"What's going on?" He asked as Momo jumped to his shoulder. "Hey boy."
Sokka looked up. "We're celebrating a wedding." he stated going back to the papers.
"That's great! Who's getting married?" Aang beamed and sat beside Iroh.
"Katara." Hakoda smiled. "Right now we're making new plans for the invasion."
Aang blinked. "I must have lost some of my hearing. Did you say Katara's getting married?"
Bato nodded and bent back down to speak with Sokka. "What about this group? They don't seem to mind..."
"What? Who's she marrying?" Aang snapped.
"Young Avatar, are you still not over her?" Iroh questioned. "I thought that is what you and the guru were speaking about."
"I still love her." he snapped. "But I realized it was a family kind of love. Even so, who is she marrying?"
Sokka looked up with a smirk. "Fire Lord Ozai. That's why we're switching everything around."
"W-what? Ha.. ha. You're... you're joking right?" he stared at the straight faces. "This is a sick joke. Katara wouldn't marry him."
"The wedding is the day after her birthday." Hakoda stated calmly.
He couldn't get anything to make sense. Surely they were joking, but they all seemed serious. "You're lying."
Iroh handed him the report the received earlier that day. "We are being serious."
He read the report and reread it in disbelief. "And you're just going to let her do it?"
"It's not like we have much choice, Aang." Sokka snapped. "She had this plan set up before she met up with us at the air temple. Though, I don't think the wedding was part of it. She'll be fine. She's got Zuko and Toph there with her. And Ty Lee can take care of Azula."
"What makes you think Zuko won't go back to his father?" Aang snarled.
This time he was answer with a punch to the jaw that knocked him to the ground. "You need to go back to Pathik if you're going to be a baby. You don't seem to realize it, but she will choose who she marries." Sokka shouted in his face.
The monk sat the holding his face in shock. "Alright. I'm sorry. So, what did you mean you were re-planning for?"
The three water tribe men and one fire nation general smiled and showed him the papers. "Oh." It was the only thing he could get out as he looked at the elaborate plans.
Toph was laying on her back as Ty Lee was making designs in the floor for her to guess, when the door opened.
"Lady Ruse, I need your assistance. You will stay hidden behind me as I speak with my daughter. Your mother told me you can tell when someone is lying. I am testing that." Ozai stated coldly.
"C-can Ty Lee come with me?" she said in her quietest voice.
He eyed them up and saw how dirty they were. "Can you bathe yourself or does your mother do it?" he asked.
Toph sat up in confusion. "M-my mother helps me with my hair."
He tapped his chin. "I can't have you smelling disgusting if you're sitting behind me. Ty Lee you will help her with her hair and bathe yourself."
"Yes sir." Ty Lee smiled.
"I'll have guards come get you." he said leaving.
Toph turned her head towards the other girl. "Something's wrong with him. I thought he was supposed be mean."
Ty Lee shook her head in disbelief. "I think it's the poison." She whispered. "I know my aunt used to feed my uncle hemlock when she was angry with her husband. Eventually, he lost his mind."
Katara sat in the hot bath trying to ease her mind. The idea of marrying Ozai made her cringe. It was a hitch in her plan, but she could work with it. Her only worry was Zuko, and if he could manage to keep his temper in check.
She heard her bedroom door open. "Hello?" she called.
"Just us." came Zuko's voice.
She slipped out of the bath and bent the water out of her hair and off her body. " Be out in a minute." she said slipping on a robe.
When she got out to the other two she found a dress set out for her. Zuko was sitting at her vanity as Smellerbee sat her food out.
"Do you bring all my bags?" she asked quietly.
Zuko looked up. "Yes. Why did you need them?"
"Oh, just meeting the counsel." She said sitting down to eat.
"W-what? Why?" he gawked.
"Nothing to worry about. He's allowing you two to escort me. Maybe I can talk him into letting you take me into the capitol." She said eating a strawberry.
"How did you manage to talk to him the way you did and not get killed?" Smellerbee asked in awe. "It took everything I had not to slap you for talking to him like that. And I hate the guy."
Zuko nodded. "I was more amazed he didn't try and burn you alive." he watched her finish her meal.
"If you two haven't noticed, he'd is not himself." she smirked as she pushed her empty plate away. "I think in three days you should slip a stronger dose in." She picked up the dress and slipped behind the changing screen.
"What do you mean he isn't himself?" Zuko questioned as he tied up her corset once she stepped out.
"Surely you can tell he seems ... docile and gives in to whatever I demand." she smiled sweetly.
"Yeah, but a lot of men do that." Smellerbee snickered.
"Not true!" Katara huffed.
Zuko started brushing her hair out and Smellerbee laughed harder. "Sure thing."
Zuko blushed. "I only do this because she can't do it properly." he said hotly.
Katara rolled her eyes as she put make up on. She wasn't bothering with powder now that her cover was blown. She flinched as Zuko tugged on her hair rather roughly.
"Ouch. What was that for?" she hissed.
"For being stupid and agreeing to marry that monster." Zuko snapped. "You realize, Azula will be your daughter."
She smiled into the mirror as she applied lip paint. "Oh, I'm well aware of who my children will be." she said. "I can't wait to punish the little bitch." She stood up and turned around. "How do I look?"
Smellerbee elbowed Zuko. "You look lovely, Katara." she smiled.
"Whatever." Zuko huffed turning around. "Let's go."
She and Ty Lee were hidden behind a wall of flames out of sight of Azula. Ty Lee was watching her old friend from behind the Fire Lord.
"Azula," he said loudly scaring Ty Lee.
"Yes Father?" The fire princess bowed.
"I heard from a little bird that you have been injured." he smiled. "And by your own lightening no doubt."
"Your source is wrong, Father." Azula answered hiding her nervousness.
He tilted his head to the side and Ty Lee nudged Toph. "She's lying." she whispered to him.
"I see." He smiled coldly. "And what of this water bender I intend to marry. What do you intend for her once you see her again?"
Azula furrowed her brow. "Nothing. If you chose her for a bride, I will not harm her. I'll pretend she and I never met."
Toph was shaking in anger. "She's lying." she hissed angrily.
He nodded. "If I allow you and my future wife to duel would you do so fairly?"
"Yes. She can't beat me anyway, she's a water bender." She sneered.
He heard Toph hiss and tried another question. "When you went on your vacation, did you know your brother had run?"
"No, he told me he was visiting an old friend." She said as calmly as she could. She couldn't figure out what he was doing. But she was sure it had to do with that water bitch.
"Azula, You will go to your room for the rest of the day. I will come to speak with you later. I have important matters to deal with." He ordered.
She felt her temper rise, but held it. "Yes Father."
As she left, he turned to Ty Lee and Toph. "I guess my future wife was correct about you. You can tell when people lie."
"Yes sir. It's saved my life many times before I met my adoptive mother." Toph said shyly.
"Hmm." he smiled as he signaled two guards came in and gave them orders. "I will send you dinner later."
He watched as they were led out and waited for his lunch to arrive. He had a half an hour before the counsel meeting.
Jet growled as he read the report he slipped out of Long Shot's bag. His Katara was getting married to the Fire Lord. He knew she was being forced into it. He'd sneak into the palace and rescue her. He had to do it at night when everyone was asleep.
"I'm coming for you Katara." he whispered to himself.