chapter twelve: a white rose

Bright, gentle light filtered through chiffon curtains, creating an almost heavenly glow in the moments after daybreak. Ursa stood in the euphoria of the morning sun and breathed in fresh dewy air, letting herself have a few moments of peace before the madness she knew was to come. It was her wedding day.

She stood, barefooted, in the tatami room. She was waiting. Nerves had kept her up almost the entire night before, and yet she was still wide awake. Ursa fingered the hem of her sleeping robe, anxiously rubbing the chiffon material between her fingers absentmindedly. She was calmer than she had anticipated given that the night before she was tossing and turning at the thought of the morning. It was her coronation. Her wedding day. The things she had been waiting for and thinking of for so many years suddenly seemed so possible. So tangible.

"Ursa?" Her cousin Zara asked, walking down the halls, her cheery tone light and delicate as she approached the room. Ursa smiled the tiniest bit, for as much as she loved her cousin, she couldn't help wanting a few moments more to embrace her solitude before the day started. But the morning would come, just as the night would, Ursa told herself. There was no way to stop time.

Zara slid open the rice paper door and shuffled in in her house slippers and navy blue dressing robe. Ursa, sitting the the sun's early rays, smiled back at her. With the light on her face and all throughout the room, blinding and beautiful, it struck Zara for a moment so she could do nothing but stare. Her cousin was gorgeous. The light illuminated her pale skin and it looked as dewy as the fresh morning grass. Zara reached out and touched her face, entranced by the beauty of her innocence. It was no longer a wonder to Zara why the prince chose Ursa as his bride despite her much lower status. She was as flawless and pure as a white rose.

"Good morning." Ursa breathed as she blinked dreamily, the sunlight reflecting on her long eyelashes. There was a delicate tiredness to her gaze.

"Good morning, princess," Zara said, teasing her.

"I'm not a princess yet, Zara. You can say that to me tonight." Zara smirked a bit.

"I think you'll be pretty busy with other things tonight, dear." She chuckled a bit as she began to run a comb through her hair, and Ursa wanted to join in, but suddenly a knot formed in her throat as she thought about it. She didn't even feel ready for the ceremony, let alone…

Zara noticed that Ursa's mind had drifted off into thought. Her plush, lotus bud lips were not smiling but instead pursed in concentration. She stopped brushing for a moment.

"What is it, Ursa?" She asked, and turned to the side to see her face. Ursa sat still for a moment when she thought of her cousin's words from the other night. It hurts so badly. Don't say I didn't warn you, dear.

Ursa blinked, coming out of her reverie and inhaling sharply.

"Nothing, I…" She didn't know what to say. Zara sat down and kneeled beside her.

"Are you nervous?" Zara wondered. It seemed like a wonderful night to her, especially with a man as handsome as Prince Ozai, but Zara had to remind herself that Ursa was a virgin. It would be nerve-wracking regardless of the man. And a prince, at that. Ursa didn't say anything at first.

"A little- I mean, not really, it's just… it's my first time," Ursa mumbled quietly, her heart beating, "And there's so much happening today, and-" Zara nodded and hummed her agreement.

"I know, I know. I understand dear. It's not uncommon. Almost everyone gets jitters before their wedding. I did." Zara said, and Ursa was suddenly glad it was just the two of them. She put her hand over Zara's and smiled a bit.

"Thank you for being here, Zara. It means a lot to have someone to talk to." Ursa's voice was gentle, and Zara smirked again.

"You're welcome, honey. And you'll have to pay me back, anyway." She said, humor evident on her lips. Ursa raised an eyebrow.

"What?" She asked.

"You'll have to tell me what it's like in bed with him," Zara whispered, chuckling. Ursa blushed and rolled her eyes, trying not to think about it. That didn't stop Zara.

"It can be very pleasurable, you know." Ursa was sure she had never blushed so profusely before. She huffed.

"I know that," she insisted quietly, hating her cousin's desire to state the obvious just to make her blush. Zara was still chuckling.

"I'm just saying, there's no need to be so nervous. Not even the first time." She moved to sit in front of her younger cousin, still smirking. Ursa was looking down at the tatami mat, the hint of color still on her cheeks.

"Okay?" Zara asked, tilting her chin upwards with her finger. Ursa locked eyes with her. She nodded in agreement.

"Okay."

The golden uchikake was almost too beautiful to bear. The red silk of the dress was almost entirely covered in embroidery of the finest golden thread. There were depictions of dragons and other animals, beautiful and rare, all with a clashing that somehow appeared harmonious. A pure white obi was secured across her waist, a tradition in the fire nation, meant to show the purity of the bride on her wedding day. Ursa quite liked it. It provided a relief from the intensity of the rest of the dress. Tied around the center of the obi was a slender golden rope, meant specifically for weddings, to show the status of the bridegroom's family. It was the depiction of rank among the noble classes, done to show the deference that must be given to the bride now that she is being welcomed into a family of higher status. The royal family was the only that the color of gold. Ursa liked that as well. She would be a princess soon, and everything would change.

Her mother was at her side, draping and rearranging the fabric. She would cup her daughter's face from time to to time and touch up a bit of makeup as the servants applied it, or run her hand through Ursa's hair.

"Some khol to bring out your eyes," Hana said. Ursa looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"Not too much, please." Her mother was braiding her long hair meticulously so it would look perfect once her headpiece was adorned. There was wet rouge on her lips and powder on her perfect skin and she looked much more mature than she usually did. The dress was heavy and thick in its luxury, weighing her down to reality. Ursa was glad for that. With all the commotion in the room of her servants and cousins flying around like birds, Ursa felt too light among the throng of people.

Finally, after several hours, her preparations were completed. Ursa felt the security of her headdress as it was put in place firmly. A thin golden rod with a dragon figure at one end slid through her hair and secured it in place. Her head was perfectly adorned with a large braid, wrapped around her head in an oval, as well as several smaller braids that added to the intricacy of the design. The gold dragon was accented by a red tassel that matched the rouge on her lips. Several golden insignias were molded into the intricate headpiece so no one would guess where her allegiances lie, she supposed. She was to be a Fire Nation Princess.

Her mother came forward at last to give her wedding slippers. They were beautiful, gold slippers, designed to match the red of her uchikake. Ursa lifted her heavy robes and slipped them on. Everything was in place. Her mother looked in the mirror with Ursa at her reflection. Her daughter was not smiling. It was too much for Ursa to take in at once. Rina's eyes watered as she looked her over.

"My beautiful Ursa. What a princess you will be." Her words were the sweetest Ursa had ever heard from her mother, and when she turned around to face her her mother had her hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes. Ursa felt something ache in her chest when she leaned in to hug her. It was love, unfamiliar and strange. Love she hadn't felt in a very long time.

After her cousins and father had finished their embraces and words of praise, a servant arrived at the front. Ursa was kneeling in the formal living room and could hear his words through the rice paper divide.

"We are here to take Lady Ursa to the royal family to prepare for the coronation, my lord." Ursa smiled a bit despite her nervousness. Her mother squeezed her hand.

"Go, my dear." Ursa rose with all the grace of a monarch and stepped out of her old home, her old life, and her old self.

When Ursa arrived at the palace, Ozai was already waiting in the royal carriage for her. Ursa breathed a gentle sigh. She was entirely grateful to see him. He would calm her, she thought. Seeing him cool and collected as he always was, never nervous- it would soothe her. Accepting a hand from a servant, Ursa walked through the carriage door to see Ozai sitting comfortably inside, just as relaxed as she had expected. When they locked eyes, Ozai smiled gently. A servant closed the carriage door, and Ursa sat opposite Ozai, tucking her wedding robes gracefully beneath her. Ozai's golden eyes roamed her form, the hint of a smile still on his lips.

"Magnificent." His voice was deep and smooth as molten gold, and it made Ursa feel better almost instantaneously. A bit of her nerves had already started to go away as she looked over her fiance. He too was in his wedding robes, although the men's style was quite different than hers. He wore a black hanfu, as was tradition, with hems outlined in red silk, a pattern of dragons embroidered in gold. He looked exceptionally handsome, not a hair out of place.

"I'm nervous," Ursa breathed, and wondered why she had voiced her thoughts. It was their wedding day after all.

"Don't be," Ozai assured her, "What reason do you have to be nervous?" Ursa exhaled through her nose.

"There will be so many people." Ozai hummed his response and grasped her hand. The warmth of his skin shocked her. She had never lived with a firebender. It felt as if their skin was always feverishly hot, like some inner inferno was fueling them. Or so she guessed, for Ozai always did, and he was the only firebender she had ever really touched. He pulled her dainty hand to his lips and kissed it, and her skin felt good on his lips. It was a welcome thought to imagine that he would be kissing a lot more of her later on in the night.

"The people of the Fire Nation will be awed by your beauty, and your grace. Don't worry about their opinion of you. I insist upon it," he paused, not letting go of her hand, "Today you will be a Princess, Ursa, and nothing as trivial as that will bother you any more."

Ursa bit her lip as the carriage began to move. She wanted to believe him, she did.

"Are you telling me you me you're never nervous in front of people?" She wondered earnestly, looking deep into his fiery gaze.

"Not strangers, no. Never." He was sincere. Ursa only blinked. She sat back in her seat and looked out of the window. Ozai let himself stare at her in all her beauty. Her neck was graceful in the way it was turned, and the milky white skin there was calling to him. Down further he could see the hint of perky cleavage that was visible in her dress, a welcome and unfamiliar sight. He wanted to reach out and touch her, hold her in his arms and kiss her sweet lips, all the way down to her neck, and ravish her entirely. After a while of staring Ozai realized he was letting his mind wander a bit too far, and he felt a familiar tightening in his robes. He withheld a sigh, leaning back to rest his head against the plush seat of the carriage. He was reminded of how he had woken up that morning: blood pumping through his veins, the afterimage of Ursa's naked form stuck in his subconscious. The dreams had been tormenting him. He was so close, he told himself, so close to finally having her.

Ursa had noticed his withheld groan and watched with wide eyes as he breathed deeply, his eyes closed and head rested back against the seat. She wondered what was wrong with him, or if she had upset him in some way. Perhaps her nerves had aggravated him.

"Ozai?" She asked, almost timid in her fear, "Did I say something? What is it?"

Startled, Ozai raised his head to find her staring at him, her amber eyes wide as the moon, the confusion clear on her porcelain face. He simply looked at her a second, and then he laughed.

"What?" Ursa asked, but Ozai only continued to laugh, looking out the window. He turned his head to face her.

"I'm not upset with you," he said, the hint of humor still in his words, "I was just-" he paused, "Nevermind." He decided against telling her what was bothering him, thinking it as something to explain after their wedding night and she was already familiar with such concepts. But Ursa was still confused, and not happy with his answer.

"Tell me what you were so upset about," she insisted. Ozai blinked, and let out the breath he had been holding in. He thought for a moment about how to phrase his words.

"I'm impatient, is all. I'm so ready for all of this pomp to be over so you can finally be mine." Ursa looked him over, slightly pursing her lips in thought as a moment passed between them. Ozai was still staring.

"You're so goddamn beautiful," he sighed in a voice as low and sultry as a purr, his golden eyes never straying from her. Ursa inhaled sharply at his choice of words, not only because of the impropriety but because of the intensity of his affection. After a moment Ozai raised his head and his eyes caught hers. Hers were still wide. He briefly wondered if his language had frightened her.

"I'm sorry," he corrected himself, not wanting her to think him some kind of fiend, "I shouldn't have-" Ursa cut him off.

"It's okay," she breathed, her heart beating in her chest the longer she thought about the sincerity of his words. A moment passed, and she couldn't help but add,

"I think the same thing." Ozai stilled, and then he smiled. Ursa licked her lips.

"Ozai-" She began, but was quickly stopped by the carriage coming to a halt. They had already arrived at the temple. Ursa breathed in, forgetting everything she was going to say when she thought of how many people would be behind the door of the carriage. Ozai shifted forward in his seat, ready to leave, before he reached for her hand.

"Are you ready?" Ozai asked, running his thumb across her fingers. Ursa looked up at him and their eyes clashed. Gold and gold. Ursa didn't quite know why she said it- perhaps the nerves - but suddenly she said it all the same.

"I love you." Ozai stilled, the intensity of his gaze washing over her lovely features. He didn't smile. He felt too many emotions to process at once, and so his eyes only bore into hers, a wildfire that couldn't be contained.

"As do I," Ozai assured her. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. Ursa nuzzled her nose against his in perhaps the most romantic gesture she had ever given him. He inhaled her scent and withheld a sigh. She smelled of patchouli, lavender, and freesia. It was difficult to tear himself away from her. But they did. Ursa stepped out first, followed by the Prince, and the wedding began.

Ursa had lost all track of time during the ceremony. The sun was high in the sky but time meant nothing. She was floating again, unattached to her surroundings in the light of it all. She had walked through the crowd after Ozai had arrived the dias. Her golden uchikake had flowed all around her and surrounded her in an aura of beauty and grace. She was a maiden at the precipice, a white rose waiting in infinitely long seconds to become the full blood rose she was meant to be. To leave her childhood, and all her fears in the dust. To welcome with open arms the responsibility and struggles of a Princess of the Fire Nation, and to leave her past life far behind her.

The readings went by in a blur, and her mind was somewhere far away when she stood with Ozai and drank the sake. One cup for the past, one for the present, and one for the future. May they share in all things, and rejoice in all triumphs. The fire sages had prayed and given their firebending demonstration to Agni in the name of their marriage, but their fire was merely an afterimage in her mind. Before she had even realized it, the ceremony was coming to a close. The royal family had came up to the dias to perform their part of the coronation. They stood on both sides, clad in white, and repeated after the sage. Ursa did in fact remember these words.

"Lady Ursa I renounce forever, and with open arms I welcome Princess Ursa as a sister." Iroh's voice was resonant and warm, and Ursa saw the smile on his face when she looked to him.

"Lady Ursa I renounce forever, and with open arms I welcome Princess Ursa as an aunt." Lu Ten, mostly a stranger to Ursa, had recited in a voice much like his father's.

"Lady Ursa I renounce forever, and with open arms I welcome Princess Ursa as a daughter." Ursa swallowed thickly when Azulon spoke loudly to the crowd. He stood on Ozai's side, a pillar of resolute strength and authority.

"Lady Ursa I renounce forever, and with open arms I welcome Princess Ursa as my wife." Ursa's heart was beating so loudly in her chest that she almost could not hear Ozai's words.

Azulon slowly removed the dragon hairpiece, setting it down carefully before he picked up the royal wedding crown and placed it upon her head. The crown was unlike any other. It had been in the royal family for generations and it was truly the essence of opulence and wealth. Made entirely of gold and rubies, it practically sparkled in the midday sun. It was made of tiny leaves and ribbons of pure gold, all connected to create a large, glittering masterpiece. There were many parts, but the main design was two curving pieces on her left and right side, and the form of two dragons above, curling symmetrically to meet at the top, central ruby. From the parts that hung over her shoulders fell many slender strands of gold, delicately accenting her face. In the center at the top of her forehead there was a small curved piece that came down, and it too bore golden strands, these ones shorter and accented by pearls. In the back, attached by the base of her neck, was a chiffon veil, the same bright red as her dress. Azulon laid the it properly over her back and she looked to Ozai as the Fire Lord walked away. Ozai held out his hand and she laced her fingers through his. They stood as one.

"We renounce forever Lady Ursa, firstborn of Jinsuk and Rina Miyagi, and we welcome with open arms, Princess Ursa, wife of Fire Prince Ozai!"

Ursa looked out over the crowd. Hundreds stood before them. The sheer number of people looking at her was enough to make her faint. But then, something entirely different sparked within her. The first row of nobles bent to their knees and bowed, followed by the next row, and the next, until finally it felt as if all of the Fire Nation was kowtowing to her. She couldn't breathe. Ursa had never felt like this. A strange sort of exhilaration was pumping through her body, and it wasn't entirely bad. She looked over to her husband and saw his handsome face smiling in perhaps one the most sincere ways he ever would, before he looked back down at the crowd that was kneeled in submission. Ursa was learning. She was learning to know what it felt like to have fire coursing through her veins. For once, she felt alive. Awake.

She never wanted to go back to sleep.

A/N: Please review! It's all that I ever ask.

Notes: Here's a link to Ursa's coronation crown= . .

This is Ozai's oufit: kf/HTB1S.