A few minutes after Zuko left the room, Mai put down the papers and stood, walking to look out the same window he had been focused on earlier. A long sigh escaped from her lips as she shook her head. She loved Zuko, she really did, but his pride was causing problems for them. If the war hadn't happened, his stubbornness could be written off as a eccentricity. But with things as they were now... she wasn't sure how things were going to play out.
She walked to a small desk in the corner where she kept her personal things and retrieved a quill and some parchment. "Dear General Iroh." She began. "I appreciate you taking my request and calling my husband down for a talk, and I appreciate more that you are choosing to keep the fact that it is at my request a secret. As we both know, your nephew is a very proud man, and I think your the only one that can get through to him. I know I don't have to ask you to be careful, you are more or less his father. With best wishes and deep gratitude, Fire Lady Mai."
If Zuko found out it had been her idea, he would be livid. But as it was, she was sure that Iroh would gently ease into how things were going, and offer Zuko some of the wisdom that had saved her husband from some of the worst trouble of his life. And she hoped for everyones sake that Zuko took his uncles words to heart.
She stood and stretched briefly before retrieving her Fire Nation crown and heading for the door. As soon as stepping through, she turned to her personal guard, handpicked by herself, and handed him the letter. "Please see that gets sent off securely."
The guard nodded obediently. "And will that be all, Fire Lady?" His body was held stiff and solid at attention, very well trained and loyal to her family.
"No. I also would like you to have word sent to Lady Ty-Lee that I will be coming to visit her at her families estate within the hour. Also, have a cart pulled to the front for me." She mentally sighed. She was really not looking forwards to telling Ty-Lee the news.
"At once Fire Lady." He nodded quickly and then was off down the hall. The letters would be sent by her personal bird, Scylla. One had to have people that could be trusted to keep secrets when holding important positions.
She took her time to make it to the front, making small talk with a few of the minor nobles and generals as she preceded through. She was stalling to give enough time for the cart to be brought around, and to put off seeing Ty.
Eventually she ran out of palace and found herself in the cart heading in that direction. Ty Lee's family home was on the outer rim of the Noble's district, which gave Mai a few more minutes to compose herself and look over a few of the trading proposals before arriving.
Ty had spent the first six months after the war on Kiyoshi Island being inducted into the Kiyoshi warriors and receiving her training. Already a formidable fighter, it hadn't taken her long to master the skill set that they practiced. There hadn't been a week gone by that she hadn't inquired about Azula by mail, however, and as an extent Mai asking Zuko. It had taken a nearly a year to convince him to see his sister, and she almost wished that he had continued to refuse.
She saw Ty Lee standing by the gates to her families estate and called out to her. "Mai!" Ty Lee was ecstatic, as Mai knew she would be. It had been almost a month since she had time to come visit her friend, and Ty Lee wasn't one to enjoy time spent apart.
"How have you been?" Ty Lee's charismatic grin was spread crossed her face as she leaped to hug Mai in a most undignified way.
Mai felt the weight crash against her and stumbled back a step, feeling the arm of one of her bodyguards brace her from falling back against the cart. One would think she would have gotten used to this by now, but there was no real getting used to Ty Lee's overwhelming enthusiasm.
"Ty Lee. Its good to see you again." She said with a soft, quick smile, patting her on the back before pushing her a little away and brushing herself a bit, straightening her clothes.
"Are things with the other nations finally clearing up?" Mai had voiced her concerns with little detail to Ty a few times in the past, but she had picked up that it was really bothering her, and eating up most of her time.
"Sort of. We've worked out a few things, but some more things fell through..." She trailed off. "Its nothing you'd really be interested in Ty Lee. Just be satisfied with I'm working on it." Ty nodded understandingly.
"How's Zuko?" An obvious next question, and with anyone else just a pleasantry, but she doubted if the word pleasantry actually had any meaning where Ty was concerned.
"My husband is well." She nodded contently. " He's currently off visiting with his uncle, and I thought it would be a good time to come visit you."
Ty smile grew, and Mai knew that she was just barely containing her urge to jump on her and hug her again. "I'm so glad your keeping me in mind Mai! Come on, theres all sorts of fun things we can do. I've learned..."
Mai raised her hand, and Ty Lee stopped as she saw how serious Mai's expression had become. "Look, Ty Lee, while I wish this was just a pleasant drop in, but...lets sit, if you don't mind."
Ty's expression grew worried as she nodded a little unsure of the situation and turned to lead Mai into her families estate. Once inside, servants quickly attend to them seating them in the living room and seeing that they were brought fresh tea.
"So..." Ty said, twiddling her thumbs and looking somewhat uncomfortable. "Its about Azula, isn't it?" Ty Lee stopped squirming and set perfectly still, her wide, round eyes looking at her with concern.
Mai raised her eyes from the tea that she had raised up and her eyes softened. "Yes Ty Lee, it is." She sipped at her drink before placing it on the table and dropped a sugar cube in it, lightning the flavor a bit.
"You know I've been doing my best to have Zuko visit and check up on Azula." Ty nodded, listening intently. "Well, he finally gave in and went to see her, and Ty Lee... its not good." Ty's soft eyes let their gaze fall to the floor, and all she managed was an "Oh..."
"I'm sorry Ty." Mai said, her voice sincere in all regards. She cared little for Azula, but Ty Lee would always be her closest friend. "The doctor said the damage is severe. You have to realize her world kind of shattered and..."
Ty Lee spoke up softly, cutting her off. "Because of us. Because we betrayed her." She was tearing up a bit, and Mai somewhat regretted coming. But she knew she couldn't have done this by letter, she had to be there for Ty.
"This isn't our fault Ty. Azula always did things in her best interest. She didn't care about us. The fact that you still care what happens to her is far more than she deserves. She doesn't deserve your tears Ty Lee." Bitter memories is what it reminded Mai of. Azula had always been indirectly hurting Ty Lee.
"She did care, Mai." Ty Lee's eyes settled on hers, and she could see the clarity of thought in them. To most, Ty didn't seem particularly smart, but she was very perceptive in her own regards. "You heard Zuko talk about the fight. She was a wreck even before she lost. If she hadn't cared, our betrayal wouldn't have bothered her."
Mai sighed. "That might be true Ty, but do you know what would have happened if we hadn't? Zuko would be dead and Azula would be Fire Lord. And then where would the world by Ty?" My reached a hand up and rested it on Ty Lee's shoulder.
"I don't know Mai...I don't know." She sniffled a bit. "but she wouldn't be in a mental institution because we betrayed her." She paused and then whispered. "Because I betrayed her."
For Mai, this brought back bitter memories of their past. Azula had always been causing pain for Ty Lee. It wasn't the intentional kind that bothered her though, it was things like this. Things that hurt Ty not because someone else was bad, but because she was too good.
Mai moved closer to Ty Lee and out of her usual character awkwardly hugged her. "Look, Ty, I know that you really care about Azula for reasons only Agni knows and far more than anyone deserves, let alone her. But if you really care, the best you can do for her is hope. Its up to the doctors to get her better."
Ty Lee nodded, knowing it was true but still not entirely convinced. Mai continued to hold her and making small talk for a few more hours, until her time with Ty Lee ran out.
As she was walking out the door, she paused and turned around. "It was good seeing you again Ty Lee. I wish it was under better circumstances, but it was good all the same."
Ty Lee smiled a huge smile. "Yes Mai. It was great seeing you again. I hope things get better so that we can hang out more often. I know, next time we'll go surfing, or I'll take you gliding! Aang showed me how. Its really fun and not hard!"
Mai had to smile a bit. "Yes, that sounds like it will be fun. I'll do my best to free up some time. Good bye Ty Lee."
As she was stepping out the door, she heard Ty Lee's voice, and paused. It was quiter this time, which meant for Ty Lee it was more important. "Could...you get me in to see Azula? I...want to see her myself Mai."
Mai stopped, taken aback a little. She hadn't expected it, but knew she probably should have. "I don't...know if thats a good idea Ty Lee." She started to back up her statement, but the look in Ty Lee's eyes stopped her dead. "Look...I think I can get you in for a few minutes, but only a few minutes. And there will have to be a guard just outside the door at all times, Ok?"
Ty Lee smiled and nodded. "Yes. Thats ok. I just...need to see for myself, you know Mai?" It was a terrible idea, Mai knew. She doubted Ty Lee would feel better for a long time after words. But, Ty Lee would feel even worse if she didn't.
The trip back wasn't pleasant, as she wasn't looking forwards tomorrow. But, the day after would be worse. Zuko had made it clear that he didn't want anyone in to see Azula except the doctors, but Mai knew what was best for Ty Lee. And in the end, no one would get hurt, but she'd have to deal with his anger.