Book 4 Air
Chapter 24 Rolling Clouds
The wind blew harder against the delicate branches of the willow tree as dark clouds rolled across the skies. Katara held strands of hair away from her face as she stared up into the storming heavens. 'It will rain soon…' Katara thought to herself as she felt the forming water collect in the gray mist above.
"Miss Katara its best you come inside, a storm is approaching!" called out a servant as she closed the huge glass windows with three latches.
Katara then saw the servant girl struggling with the last latch to close the massive window; the powerful wind blew harder pushing against the girl as her hair flared wildly. Running up to help her, Katara pushed down, sealing the gap shut.
"Oh, thank you." The girl said with slight embarrassment as she fixed her pony tail.
"It's alright." Katara said as she walked into the vestibule with the servant.
"You should prepare for lunch this afternoon, Miss." The servant girl said as she lowered her head with respect.
"Oh, alright." Katara said feeling slightly awkward.
"May I be of assistance to you, Miss?" the girl asked softly.
"Oh no, it's alright. Really." Katara politely tried to reassure the girl.
"Not at all Miss, it is the least I can do for your kindness…" the servant girl said with a bow as Katara stopped.
"Well, if you insist…" Katara said unsure what to do or say.
"Thank you, Miss Katara." The girl said as she curtly bowed.
"Now shall we get you ready for the dining quarters?" the servant asked.
"Oh, I'm fine in just this." Katara said as she slightly lifted her dress.
"There special gowns for you to wear, and you should look your best when in the presence of the lord." The girl said as she lengthens out her hand towards down the hallway.
"We should hurry if you wish to attend the lunch hour, Miss." The girl said.
"Sigh, very well…" Katara said as she and the woman walked down the hall to the bedchambers.
Two figures walked down the narrow streets of the earthen city, covered by two cloaks. The first figure entered into a pub while the other stood outside.
'What is she planning?' thought Mai as she held her cloak tighter against her face.
As Mai waited out the door, a boy walked by. He suspiciously looked at the girl as he started to enter into the building. Just then a person blocked him, pushing him to the ground. Stunned and confused he yelped out as he hit the ground hard. Looking up he caught a glimpse of the rude person passing by him.
"Move, you filth!" the harsh feminine voice yelled out.
The boy's expression paled as he saw the woman's eyes.
Piercing amber gold filled with rage and possibly a glint of madness. 'She's Fire Nation…' the young man thought to himself as the two women left the pub quickly into the crowd.
"Ha-ha lookie here, Looks like Cole got into a fight ne?" a man laughed out as he stepped out of the pub.
"Oh shut it Barak. Sorry about my husband, Cole. It would seem the wine has got to his head. Are you alright?" a woman asked as she helped the young man up.
"Yea…I'm fine." Cole said as he wiped the dust off his pants.
"You're such a good boy, don't be getting into any trouble you got that?" the woman said as she shook her finger at the boy.
"Yes of course Aunt Aella." Cole said as he started to walk off.
"Where you goin' boy?" the half drunk man asked loudly.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to the market place." The young man replied back as he waved his hand.
Ever since Aeron left to hunt down the Fire Lord, Cole left the Fire Nation to start a new life. He came to this small Earth Kingdom town and got a job at the local pub. The owners of the pub took him in as their own child after he helped them around the house and manage to keep the drunken fights at bay on the night shifts. Cole has felt happy where he lives now and feels as though the couple who took him in are like family.
'That woman…who was she?' Cole thought as he walked up to a fish cart.
'I never saw such pain or anger. I wonder where she went to.' Cole thought to himself as he looked off into the clear skies, secretly wondering about a certain skilled fighter with long black hair.
'Aeron…I hope you're alright.'
After a couple of weeks in bed, the girl finally decided to get up for the second time in days. Shifting her weight to the side as she placed her feet firmly on the floor, Aeron stood up. Her muscles were sore and her body tired, but she pushed on. Stepping over to the table, Aeron panted lightly. Prickling sensations coursed through her feet and calves as she reached for the chair. Sitting down on the wooden seat, the girl sighed heavily.
"It would see you are doing better today." A soft voice said as Aeron looked up.
It was the kind woman who took care of her and nursed her.
"Yes, I'm still a little weak, but I am doing better." Aeron said lightly as she watched the woman walk over to the stove adding more wood to the fire.
"Umm…I've been meaning to ask you…umm…" Aeron started to ask before a sudden knock came at the door.
Aeron froze, 'No…' the girl thought in fear as she recalled the woman's words only a week ago.
"When the guards came, they were ordered to send you to a healer here in the town of Gaol. Then take you to the Court of Nations for a trial-I'll simply stall the guards when they come to get you…"
The woman slowly peered by the door, and then ran to the bedside. Aeron helplessly watched her as her heart raced in her chest.
"What's happening? Are they here?" Aeron asked almost frantically as a loud knock boomed through the door and voice called out.
"Healer! We have come for the girl! Open this door!" the harsh dry voice yelled out as another knock roared against the oak wooden door.
The woman filled a bag full of herbs and dried fruit, quickly she handed it to the girl. "Here take this for your journey." The woman said as she helped Aeron up.
"Move quickly…" the woman said quietly as she led Aeron to the back door.
"Wait, please…" Aeron begged as the woman hastily pushed her out of the doorway.
"You must go, now!" the woman said in a hushed whisper.
"Wait; please tell me your name…" Aeron begged as she looked the woman in her eyes.
The woman's face softens lightly, "Its Ursa…" the woman said as she placed her hands on the girl's shoulders.
Aeron's eyes widen in shock, suddenly another voice outside the door called out.
"We shall report you healer! Open this door now!" the officer called out as the pounding continued.
"Go!" Ursa said as she hurried the girl out.
Aeron turned her head to the woman, "Thank you…Mother of the Fire Nation." Aeron said warmly as she held the bag tightly and then ran down the damp alleyway not looking back.
The woman smiled as she then closed the back door and then turned to the direction of the entrance. The oak door burst open as the guards ran inside. "You stay right there!" one of the guards yelled as two men tied the woman's hands behind her back.
"Take this imposter to the Court. Search for the Fire Nation girl!" the officer ordered as he stared at the woman.
The woman smirked wryly as the men hauled her out of the house. 'Be safe Aeron…' Ursa thought as she walked out into the sunlight.
'Run…Escape…Run…'
Aeron was nearly panicking as tears raced down her face.
'Why…How? How could this have happened?' Aeron thought as she entered into a dead end.
Trying to catch her breath, Aeron leaned over resting her hands on her knees. Tears continued to fall as she whimpered. 'This shouldn't have happened…Why?'
Suddenly Aeron heard soft footsteps come up behind her, frighten the girl threw her bag into the person's face.
The person called out in surprise as he fell to the ground, "Hey what was that for? I was only seeing if you were alright." The boy said as he rubbed his bottom.
"Man, pushed to the ground twice in one day, unbelievable." The boy said as Aeron turned took a double take on the young man below her.
"C…Cole?" Aeron said in a small whisper, completely in shock seeing a familiar face in the foreign city.
Freezing to the sound of the girl's voice, Cole lifted his head.
"A-Aeron? Is it really you?!" Cole said as he stood up.
"Cole…" Aeron cried out as tears fell harder down her redden cheeks.
Running up to the young man, Aeron embraced him tightly.
"Oh Cole, I was so scared!" Aeron cried out as she sobbed in the boy's arms.
Embracing her back firmly, Cole smiled softly. "It's alright now…I'm here Aeron…" the young man said as he strokes the girl's hair.
"Now let us see…What will you like to wear this afternoon, Miss?" the servant girl asked as she opened the huge cherry wood wardrobe.
Katara walked over and almost gasped at the beautiful dresses in front of her. So many different shades of red, all decorated with lavish designs. Selecting one on the right, the servant fanned it out over Katara's body.
"How about this one? It matches lovely with your skin tone." The girl said as she led Katara to a full mirror.
Looking at her reflection Katara gasped at the beauty of the gown over her. The rich colors of burgundy and black laid across the fine material of silk. The design was a royal vintage along the garment and up above the chest. Dark red poppies fell on the tips of the sleeves then on the bottom of the dress. Laced with black ribbon, a small bow tied in the front of the collar. It was a beautiful dress.
"It's such a unique style…I've never seen such a dress before." Katara said amazed of its elegance.
"Try it on, Miss." The servant girl said as she unhooks the bars holding up the dress.
"Alright…I'll try." Katara said slightly nervous for trying on something so beautiful.
Once Katara removed her blue attire, the servant girl helped her put on the royal gown.
Pulling the dress down on her shoulders, Katara was surprised of the tightness of the gown.
The fabric hugged on chest and waist while the bottom part of the dress fanned out with a slight puff.
"Are you sure this is alright for me to wear?" Katara asked blushing at the sight of her chest as the dress pushed her up creating a firm bust.
"Of course, Miss…Here let me tie this for you." The servant girl said as she wrapped an obi around the waterbender's waist then tied the fabric into a big bow.
Turning Katara around for a final inspection, she smiled. "This dress is perfect for you!" the girl exclaimed.
Looking at herself in the mirror Katara nodded her head, "I actually like it…" Katara said sheepishly.
"I am glad." The servant girl said as she started to pull Katara's hair into a fashionable bun.
"I'm almost done…Oh just wait 'til the lord sees you." The girl said with excitement.
Katara blushed, "What about the Fire Lord? I-I don't care how he sees me…" Katara said softly as she blushed.
"There…All done, Miss Katara." The girl said with a smile.
Katara turned and looked at her new hair style. Her traditional loopies were gone but were replaced with two full strands of hair on either side of her face. The back was tied in a huge bun then pulled underneath making it pop up into a hump.
Katara smiled, "I like this…Thank you very much." Katara said sweetly as she turned to the girl.
"May I ask your name?" Katara asked the girl.
The servant girl's eyes widen as she blushed in embarrassment, "Why of course, Miss…My name is Ming." The girl said as she bowed.
"Hmm, thank you Ming." Katara said with a bright smile.
"Of course, Miss…Shall I escort you to the dining hall?" Ming asked.
"Yes... Thank you." Katara said as the two women walked out of the dressing room and down the hallway.
OH MY! Cole found Aeron! And what actually is Azula really planning? Also Katara gets ready to have lunch with Zuko! Stay tune and find out next chapter! Pretty please review!!!
