AN: I know that you guys are getting impatient with knowing who the mystery man is, but don't worry all will be revealed when you keep reading this last part of Part 1. Please read and review, thanks.

Chapter 12

Several Days Later…

Zuko's POV

Ever since that night in the garden, I have been thinking over the conversation that Katara and I had. She obviously did not love me anymore, and I need to forget her if what I had with Mai was going to work with us.

I was seated in the Royal Throne Room with all of the members of the Southern Water Tribe and Mai present as well. Hakoda was sitting at the very far end of the room from me, at the head like a true leader, with Katara on his left hand side, Bato on his right.

"Chief Hakoda, I have addressed you all here today to give you my consent for the arrangements you and your people have asked of me. Your daughter is of pure lineage to the Southern Water Tribe's Royal line, and I have seen how well-educated and mannered she has become over the years. She will make a fine bride for the nobleman I have chosen for her. He is well refined, and comes from a good family lineage. The man is well-educated and is well-known for the respect he has for women. He is a very respectable man, and I trust him very much. May I introduce you to Nobleman Zhong."

I motioned to my left side, where Zhong approached quietly, feeling Mai tense up rigidly at the mention of his name.

Hakoda rose from where he sat, and looked up and down Zhong.

"I am sorry to be rude Fire Lord, but may I ask as to how you know this young man?"

"Zhong has been a very close and personal friend whenever we were growing up. We never saw each other after my banishment, but we met up after I regained the throne. He is one of my best friends, after your son and the Avatar, of course."

"I see, well, young man? Are you sure you would be willingly to do this for the good of your nation?"

Walking back to my room form the Palace Gardens, I saw Zhong walking around through the many hallways.

"Hey, Zhong, what are you doing up this late?"

He looked at me with this weird look on his face and said, "Oh you know, taking a stroll. What are you doing up this late? Fire Lord duties too much for you?"

Sighing, I said, "Just a little. I have to decide on what to do about this whole business with the Water Tribes."

He looked at me with this grave look on his face, "They aren't going to rebel against you, are they?"

"They might if I don't agree with what they want me to do."

"Well," he began, "what is it, if I may?"

"Right now I couldn't possibly care about the regulations. They want me to help create an arranged marriage that will aid with the bond of our two nations. They are willingly going to give their princess, without caring about her own happiness."

Blowing his raven hair from his face, he said, "Well, it sounds like to me, you are going to have to do what they ask. If you don't, they might join with the Rebels or at least help them unknowingly."

"It's not that simple though, she deserves to be happy. I will not stand there and just let them force her into something that she doesn't want. I can't."

"Wow. It sounds like you really care for this girl. Who is she?"

"She is the daughter of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, master waterbender, waterbending teacher of the Avatar, and the girl who broke my heart and tore it into a million pieces."

"Wait you're not talking about… What's her name? Katri… Katan… Katsu…"

"Katara," I said, rolling my eyes practically out of my head.

"Yeah her, that girl from the Earth Kingdom you kissed?"

"No, that's Jin. Katara is the girl who was under the cave with me in the Earth Kingdom who offered to get rid of my scar."

"Oh her… That may be a problem."

I groaned, "Don't remind me."

"What's her thoughts on the whole thing?"

"She is demented, saying how she is willing to give up everything for her tribe and all that crap. How it is her duty. I mean, can you believe that?"

He was quiet for a long time, not saying anything and looking at the ground. Then he lifted his head up and said, "Yeah I kind of do. If anything, I would do exactly what she is doing if I had to. If my nation required me to, I would do about anything to protect her."

I stared at him for the longest time, and then finally I sighed heavily.

"Alright, I guess I am going to have to, but I have to choose her husband. I want someone who I know will take care of her and protect her. I want for her to be happy with who I choose. I need her for to be respected and honored by this man that I so choose, I need someone like yo-"

He looked up when I had stopped in the middle of my sentence and said, "Like whom?"

I glanced over to him, "Like you… Zhong, I have known you since we were young. I know you are capable of taking care of her, and I trust her more with you than anyone I have ever known. Will you please do this not for me, but for the Fire Nation?"

Waiting for his answer, I chewed on my lip and looked to where my feet were walking. Finally, I heard his voice, hollow and small saying, "Yes…"

When I looked down at Zhong, he was smirking and said, his silvery-gray eyes flashing, "I will do whatever it takes to preserve my nation in its glory. If that means that I must willingly give up my chance to marry, than so be it. I intend on marrying your daughter to help the bond between the both of our nations. I will respect and honor her, like any woman should be."

Hakoda looked at him with a great respect for him. Turning around, the Chief motioned for Katara to come forward.

"Nobleman Zhong, I introduce to you my daughter and your fiancé, Princess Katara."

Zhong looked over to Katara, and bowed his head, reaching for her hand and kissing it, "It is a pleasure to meet you, my princess."

OOOO

Katara's POV

His voice sounds familiar…

Blushing, I said, "The pleasure is all mine."

His silver-gray eyes lingered on my face, and he finally released my hand.

Zuko coughed quietly and said, "Well then, I guess we have a wedding to prepare now?"

I looked up to where he sat on his throne. His eyes were somber and still, lifeless golden orbs. His entire body was slumped as he began to talk to my father about wedding coordinators and dates. The man who stood in front of me, Zhong was also looking up, but not at Zuko, rather at the person who was sitting beside him… At Mai…

Glancing up to where he was gazing, I saw the cold and hard steel eyes of Mai glaring at me.

What have I gotten myself into?

OOOO

AN: Thank you guys, I hope you like Part 1, and will stick around for Part 2. Sorry that this took so long, but I wanted it to be perfect. Please read and review.