Chapter 23
The next several days passed very slowly for Toph. As they had planned, her contact with Zuko was of the most innocent and official nature. Any potential palace gossip died down rapidly in the face of their apparent indifference to each other. Dinners were especially tedious as they found themselves frequently across the table from one another, but never close enough to touch and with only the politest of conversation topics for discussion.
Iroh made every effort to slip them moments to be alone, but it was never for long enough. They'd have five minutes before a meeting to cling to each other then fix her lipstick before another group of dignitaries entered for negotiations.
Worse, the problems that beset them politically were deeper than either were prepared for. As each led teams of negotiators and diplomats, they realized that both sides were passionate about what they saw as failures by the other to consider common sense, fair play, and basic economics. How two groups could take the same information and come to two totally separate conclusions never ceased to amaze them both.
To pass the time during one particularly infuriating meeting, she took to earthbending the stone tiles beneath Zuko's feet. Sometimes they'd rise up underfoot; sometimes they'd sink. Once she nearly got caught at it as a dignitary rose suddenly from his chair and stubbed his toe against a displaced tile. She quickly bended it back into place, Zuko hiding his laughter behind a cough.
Later at a state dinner a few nights later, she watched as Zuko surreptitiously sprinkled a little salt on his plate, then added a few drops of water, never missing a beat of the conversation going on around him. Once the salt had dissolved, over the next few minutes in a series of casual strokes, he drew the earth symbol on his cheek, invisible to everyone at the table but her, since she was the only earthbender in attendance.
Perhaps Aang had been able to see it as well, she realized later, because he'd excused himself with a coughing fit at about that same time.
No one knew exactly how to start the ball rolling. But at last Aang found his moment to intervene. At a very long, very vocal showdown between several highly placed members of the Fire Court and a complement of the Earth King's most trusted advisors, Aang was asked as avatar to address the group in hopes of finding some ground for unity.
"The balance between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom has been upset very badly for a very long time," Aang began. "There must be an exchange of alliance on a deeper scale than ever before in history to make up for this. Each side of this debate must consider ways to create alliance that will be longlasting, something that will last for generations to come."
Amid the murmurs of each side discussing his words, Aang took the opportunity to call Zuko and Toph before him as if to give additional instructions. Instead in a quiet undervoice, he said, "Stand side by side in front of me. Now nod and smile. Doesn't this look just like a wedding?" Toph barely suppressed a giggle. "We'll just slip little hints to them as we go," he added. "Thank you both. You are dismissed."
Their next opportunity for dropping hints came at the banquet to honor Yung's governorship. As highest ranking female guest, Toph was seated between Iroh and Zuko with Su-lin on Iroh's other side next to Yung. Despite every attempt to remain cool and polite, Zuko and Toph found being so close to each other extremely difficult. Beneath the table, they were in constant contact with each other—Zuko's hand on her knee, her hand on his, legs touching, anything they could get away with.
But the absolute worst thing was not being able to talk to each other—really talk about their lives and what was going on. Code began to slip into their politest conversations, and each comment they exchanged had at least two layers of meaning.
At last, dinner was over and the speeches began. Iroh spoke about the history of the islands and their temperamental nature in the past several years. Then he gave a very inspiring tale of Toph's risking her own life to defuse the volcano, saving Fire Nation lives as well as her own and the life of the prince.
Zuko presented his plan for cooperating with earthbenders on the other islands to open them for settlement as well. He closed with the idea that further cooperation between the nations could help restore balance as each shared their strengths to work toward a greater good.
There was much polite applause as Acting Governor Yung was introduced. He spoke very few words, addressing thanks to Ambassador Bei Fong and Crown Prince Zuko for helping them. When he sat down again, Su-lin reached under the table to squeeze his hand in pride.
Then the banquet broke up in favor of music. Dancing was making great headway back into the culture of the Fire Nation, and Iroh broke with formality by asking Toph to join him in the first dance. The island delegation joined in rapidly as dancing had remained part of their celebrations over the years. Earth Kingdom delegates began to filter onto the floor during the song until finally all that remained were the most staid and dignified of the Fire Nation representatives.
For the next dance, a slower couples' dance, Iroh passed Toph off to Zuko. As they circled the floor, making polite conversation on many levels and smiling innocently, Aang made his way over to a group of Fire Nation representatives from the Court. They spoke in general terms of the banquet, the move to the islands, then as Toph and Zuko passed by, he took the opportunity to add, "They make a lovely couple, don't they?"
Several songs later, the same scenario was repeated with the Earth Kingdom delegation. Aang found a moment to pull Katara to the dance floor and quietly filled her in on the successful completion of the mission.
"What's next, then?" Katara asked.
"We wait and see if anything develops that we can push along," Aang replied with a shrug.
"All this waiting is awful," Katara replied. "And just think how hard it must be for them." She glanced over to where Zuko had walked Toph back to her seat next to Iroh, Yung, and Su-lin, then bowed respectfully and walked away.
"I know," Aang replied as Zuko approached. "But they can't look like it matters to them at all. How's it going, hotman?"
"Mission accomplished," Zuko responded, his voice tired but his face politely unreadable. "Aang, something has got to break before we do."
"I have an idea," Katara spoke up. "What if Iroh planned a private dinner for us—Yung, Su-lin, Toph, Aang, and myself. You would of course attend, and with so many present it would not look improper at all. But you and Toph would have a chance to talk freely."
Everyone agreed that this was a wonderful idea, and within two days, they were all gathered in the smaller dining hall in the palace. The evening passed far too quickly as Toph and Zuko spent the entire time talking about everything that was happening. Observers noticed that they were so completely wrapped up in each other that they had to be reminded to eat.
"I never thought I'd miss just being able to ask you how your day was," Toph exclaimed at one point.
Zuko put his arm around her. "I know, sweetie, I miss you too. We can't keep doing this." He called out to Aang, "Do you have any idea whether either side is talking about us?"
"The last time I asked, the Earth Kingdom wanted the Fire Nation to build a war memorial and the Fire Nation wanted the Earth Kingdom to sign a 100 year trade agreement," Aang answered with a sigh. "These people are being very pig-headed."
"I have it," Su-lin exclaimed out of nowhere. "Tell each side that the other absolutely does not want it and that Prince Zuko and Lady Toph will never agree. That will be enough challenge to them that they will make it happen just to spite each other."
Looks went around the table as everyone digested her words. Then smiles and laughter abounded. This could possibly do the trick.
Once again Aang went into stealth mode, slipping hints to the Earth Kingdom delegation that the Fire Nation was deeply opposed to a possible marriage alliance between the countries, then repeating the same to the Fire Nation. Both sides' initial rejection of the idea themselves began to soften in the face of finding all the reasons a marriage would be bad for the other and good for them.
Before long both Toph and Zuko had been approached by their respective politicians. Each, as had been previously agreed, refused. Neither would agree to such an alliance without the approval of their rulers and families. Suddenly, all Zuko's concerns about how he could possibly convince Toph's parents and the Earth King that this was all a good idea were cast aside as an entire band of political engineers went to work doing it for him.
The Bei Fongs were invited to the palace to meet their future son-in-law, Iroh and the Earth King gave their grudging permission, and the wedding was set for three months in the future. Aang had encouraged the groups to push the date up very quickly to ensure that improved balance occurred before the new year—very auspicious.
"I made up all kinds of auspicious omens," Aang privately admitted to Katara. "The Fire Sages were looking at me pretty funny at times, but I think they bought it."
Once the engagement was officially announced, a huge public relations campaign went into force in both countries as the diplomats and politicians who believed they'd crafted the entire alliance began to promote their plan. Popular opinion was surprisingly easy to sway to their side.
"I credit Yung and the colonists for a lot of that," Zuko commented during breakfast with Aang and Katara one morning. "They've been talking on the streets about what Toph did on Tuzai. The people seem to think she's another Painted Lady come to rescue them." Katara and Aang exchanged a look between them but Zuko didn't notice.
"Meanwhile, in the Earth Kingdom, the push has been all about your refugee days—a large number of people there actually believe that you fought for a while in the Earth Kingdom army incognito as a soldier named Li," Aang responded.
"At least I get to be a soldier. In reality I spent most of my time there as a tea shop waiter," Zuko answered with a laugh.
The next three months passed much more easily than they thought it would. Despite the fact that they still were never truly alone with each other, as an engaged couple they were expected to at least have dinners together and go on short, well-chaperoned excursions. As often as possible, Aang and Katara served as their chaperons, giving the pair a chance to at least talk freely.
"Are you nervous?" Zuko asked during dinner one evening a few nights before the wedding.
"Why would I be nervous?" Toph replied. "I've been there, done that. I was scared to death back on Tuzai, but this is just another show."
"You didn't look scared," he answered. "You looked beautiful. Do you still have that dress?"
"Of course I do," she responded gently. "That's my wedding dress."
"When I saw you come out of the beach house with that dress on, right before we left to go home, I nearly lost it," Zuko confessed. "I came so close to telling Aang to just go out to the destroyer and tell them we weren't leaving. I was so afraid that when we got back here, I'd lose you."
"But like Aang said, the temporal part is the least important. With time, patience, and crafty maneuvering, we managed to make it happen," she replied, settling into his embrace.
He kissed her hair, then her forehead, then her mouth. Far across the room, the sound of Bumi and Iroh playing pattycake reminded him that they were not alone, no matter how discreet the other members of the dinner party tried to be. "I love you, Princess Toph of the Fire Nation," Zuko whispered into her ear. "And I cannot wait to be completely and totally alone with you. It is just way too crowded in here."
Over the next day it got even more crowded as guests began to arrive from literally around the world. It was decided that the wedding would serve as a sort of informal summit meeting between the nations, and just as Toph and Zuko had predicted on Tuzai, it became a complete zoo with representatives from the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, and Fire Nation all vying for the best seats in the huge Fire Temple and the reception to follow.
On the positive side, among the guests were close friends. Haru and Jin, Teo and Song, the Duke, swamp guys, you name it, they were there. At first Zuko tried to avoid the two girls with Haru and Teo, but finally just gave up and greeted them. Each smiled in recognition and wished him well.
Song had brought a pair of prize ostrichhorses as a wedding gift. "And as a thank you," she added quietly. Zuko nodded in thanks, hoping no one noticed his blush. Toph's questioning look told him she'd noticed.
"I'll fill you in later," he explained.
To their joy, Sokka and Suki were also in attendance with their two little ones. "I still can't believe you named this baby Zutara," Zuko sighed as he held the little girl in his arms. She was beautiful, with huge blue eyes and a head full of dark curls. With innocent concern in her eyes, she reached up to his left cheek and patted his scar gently. "Does it hurt?" she asked softly.
"No, sweetie," he answered as he looked around the room full of the people he loved, his gaze resting on Toph as she stood laughing and chatting with Suki. "It stopped hurting a long, long time ago."