Book 4 Air
Chapter 57 Finding a Way
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Cole sighed deeply. Looking behind at the young woman's sleeping form, Cole wondered if he made a terrible mistake. Taking her innocence wasn't something he had planned much more had actually wanted. It somehow came naturally and suddenly throwing him off. As much as he tried to forget, he was below her in blood and title. So then, if she were to get pregnant…Would she hate her offspring? Disown the child due to its tainted blood?
Cole knew Aeron would never truly do something so cruel, but it still plagued his mind. He was a servant while she was in her own right a noblewoman.
Cole smiled to himself as he recalled his village. How it once thrived on the small island near the Fire Nation capital.
Feeling a slender hand touch his back, Cole was brought out of his thoughts. "Aeron…" Cole said softly as she leaned in and kissed his bare shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Aeron said in a light loving tone as Cole turned his head.
"Yea…Just couldn't sleep…" Cole said as he turned then pinned Aeron to the bed. She lightly gasped as she looked up into his eyes. "Cole?" Aeron managed to say as he leaned in.
"Do you regret it?" Cole asked seriously as Aeron's golden eyes glistened.
"No…"
Cole narrowed his eyes as he leaned further down kissing the girl beneath him.
Pulling away he then sighed, "We'll be docking the shore tomorrow. It's best we'd get some sleep." Cole said as he sat up.
"Please…Can you lay with me 'til I fall asleep." Aeron said shyishly as she pulled the covers to her chin. Cole smiled softly, "Yea…" he said as he lay next to her cuddling lightly. Aeron then rested her head on his shoulder as she sighed peacefully. Cole watched her slowly fall into a light slumber as he closed his eyes. Preparing for day ahead, in the Fire Nation.
"Why are you here, Sokka?" Katara asked as the view of the dining room was seen with everyone sitting around the table.
"I decided to come along, to help out." Sokka said a-matter-of-factly as he took a sip of warm tea.
"How did the meeting with the Earth King go?" Zuko asked Aang as the airbender blinked.
He almost forgot his agreement with the earthen ruler. "It went well…" Aang said giving a short answer.
Zuko narrowed his eyes, he wasn't pleased with Aang.
"But there are more important matters…" Aang started to say as he gripped his fingers.
"Toph…Toph was kidnapped." Aang said as he lowered his head.
Zuko and Katara's eyes widen as Mai folded her arms over her chest bored since she heard the news earlier.
"What?" Katara asked surprised as Zuko rubbed his chin, "Who could have kidnapped her?" Zuko questioned as Aang spoke, "By a spirit…" Aang said softly as the group tensed.
"Suki said she thinks it might be the Betobeto spirit." Sokka said.
"Well then, why don't you go into the Avatar State, Aang?" Katara asked as she noticed Aang lowering his head deeper too ashamed to tell her.
"He can't…" Sokka said filling in.
Zuko narrowed his eyes, "Why not?" The Fire Lord asked as it troubled him.
"It's very simple…" a voice said as everyone turned their heads.
"Uncle…" Zuko said as he watched the old general take a seat at the table.
"Miss Bei Fong was taken physically into the spirit world. Such forces of nature are forbidden in this world. The order is broken and became unbalanced. The ocean and moon spirit were able to control this, if such events were to take place. But ever since Princess Yue became the moon spirit, she was no longer in the world of the living. Thus the ocean spirit alone can not keep the bonds of spiritual energy together. Meaning even you, Avatar Aang, are unable to enter the spirit world." Iroh said slow and clearly to the group.
Everyone nodded their head in understanding of the old man's wise words. "So then how can we fix it?" Katara asked as Iroh took a breath.
"We must bring Miss Bei Fong back to our world then things will fall back into place again." Iroh said calmly.
"But then how can I save her?!" Aang asked in a desperate tone.
"The spirit world is a dangerous and ancient realm…" Iroh said lightly as Sokka cut in and spoke.
"That's another thing we wanted to talk to you about. Aang and I heard one of the members of the White Lotus has actually entered into the spirit world. Who was it?" Sokka asked as Iroh smiled.
"Back in my earlier years, I sought to find a way into the spirit world. That member, who entered, was me." Iroh said as the group widened their eyes in surprise.
"I can't believe it…" Sokka lightly whispered to himself as Aang looked at the old man.
"Then how? How can someone enter?" Aang asked.
"To physically enter into the spirit world, will not be easy." Iroh said sternly.
"But it is possible…" Iroh said as he rubbed his beard. The teens thought to themselves in silence as Iroh cleared his throat.
"Now then, this is nothing to worry over for tonight. You all should go to bed and rest. We'll talk about it tomorrow." Iroh said as he stood up slowly.
As the children nodded their heads and got up. Zuko quickly helped Katara out of her seat as she kindly thanked him. Mai narrowed her eyes at the sight. Why was Zuko being so nice to the waterbender? He has not once even talked to the noblewoman, much less acknowledged her existence.
This made Mai, deeply mad as she stood up then departed quickly. 'How dare he…' Mai thought as she left the dining room and entered into one of the guest rooms in the Eastern wing.
Entering into the concrete-walled cell, Azula cried out as the guards pushed her in. Falling on her knees, Azula cried as she looked up at the huge metal door slamming behind her. Lifting her head, she saw a large glass mirror on one side of the wall along with a small futon and bucket on the floor beside her. Crawling to the small cot, Azula lay down in a curled ball, crying to herself. Looking through the mirror, two guards and a general watched.
"Make sure she stabilizes, report any changes to me." The general said as the two guards bowed.
"Yes, General Sho!" the two men said as the general left the secured building.
Escorting Katara to her room, Zuko continued to walk down the hall as the waterbender lightly held his arm walking close to him. Throughout their conversation with the old general Iroh, Katara became concerned, and not for the problems with Aang getting into the spirit world. But more with the noblewoman on the opposite side of the table. Katara became so nervous and uncomfortable as the girl bore death glares at her during the whole conversation. Deadly stares like the sharp knifes she held in her sleeves and pockets. The waterbender wondered why Mai was acting so antagonistic to her. From what Katara knew, she has done nothing to upset the young woman. Unless it had something to do with Zuko? Did Mai hold some sort of grudge on Katara? Like maybe she took Zuko from her?
It was the only explanation Katara could come up with…
Distracted from her thoughts, Katara didn't hear Zuko's words.
"Katara? Did you hear me?" Zuko asked again as the waterbender shook her head lightly, "What?" Katara asked as she blinked.
"I said not to worry about Aang, I'm sure he can make it to the spirit world and save Toph." Zuko said thinking the girl was worried about the Avatar's current dilemma.
"Oh, yea…right…" Katara said as she then turned and realized she was at her doorway to her bedroom.
As Katara decided to wish the Fire Lord goodnight, she gasped as she fell two strong arms hug her. Slightly resting her head on his shoulder, Katara blinked. "Zuko?" Katara managed to say as Zuko buried his face in between her neck.
"I know things will get awkward, just please…Try to make the best of it…" Zuko said as his words muffled against her hair.
'Does he know?' Katara wondered as she stood still. Zuko then pulled away as he kissed her cheek and said good night.
Katara blushed as she spoke softly, "G-good night…" Katara said as she then turned and opened the door.
Once she was inside and closed the door behind her, Zuko stood briefly before retreating to his bed chambers.
Sighing heavily, Zuko walked up to his bedroom doors. 'Hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight.' Zuko thought as he entered his chamber.
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