Book 5 Water
Chapter 6 Two Figures by a Fountain
The sight of the royal fire palace was seen as servants hastily paced down the halls. The air was filled with tension and uncertainty as news spread of the Lady's upcoming travels out of the kingdom.
Kuzon peered out of the door as behind him was his sister playing by the fire and younger brother sleeping in a round crib. Lee's bed was made of cherry wood with a majestic canopy creating a royal setting for the infant. The room itself was open with large paintings and golden rimmed ledges on the corners. The scene then drifted to the doorway, where the young prince continued to stare.
Kuzon's eyes scanned the hallway as his heart raced while he watched the steady steps of the staff continue down the corridors. Something was happening…Something strange and unsettling. Kuzon wanted to know what that something was.
Turning back toward the room, Kuzon quickly stepped into the second room where a woman was seen preparing the changing table for the baby, Lee.
The young boy spoke out in a curt tone, "I'm going out." Kuzon said as his nanny turned with a soft yet surprised look.
"I am afraid you can not leave Prince Kuzon. Orders from the general command you stay here." The woman said as she folded a white towel.
"Am I not, the royal blood line of the Fire Lord?" Kuzon asked in a serious tone as the woman turned to the boy and smiled faintly.
"Yes you are and-
"And you will do as I say. I am going out. You will and can not stop me. If you do, you will not only be disrespecting me, Prince Kuzon but the Fire Lord as well. Thus he will have no choice, except to show no mercy to you and your family. Is that understood?" Kuzon said cutting off the woman as he used the similar words that he remembered his father once used on an Earth Kingdom general.
The nanny was in pure shock from hearing the young prince's demands and threat. Surely she knew her place. But to cross the lines of the prince could in fact deem her in trouble from the lord's law.
She was caught between a rock and a hard place. She couldn't say no to the child yet she was ordered to protect and watch over him.
"Then I will have someone escort you, my prince. Where ever you wish to go." The woman said as she bowed her head.
Kuzon was pleased that the servant didn't deny his request and order. But he was disappointed that she didn't let him get off easy.
Folding his arms over his chest, the young boy scoffed. "That will be fine. Please have someone here by the time I'm ready." Kuzon said as he then marched out the room. The woman simply shook her head, wondering what the child was up to.
The sight of the Southern Air Temple came into view as a dark haired young woman ventured into the antechamber. Faded paintings of air bison and ancient scriptures were seen on the smooth stone walls of the sanctuary. The paint was chipped and crackled against limestone's surface. Toph sighed as she ran her fingers over the wall. Closing her eyes, the earthbender strangely felt unquestionable peace within herself.
Wondering to herself, Toph realized that even after century has passed, the spiritual energy of the temple still flows through the area.
The girl shivered lightly as goose bumps rose from her bare arms as the cooling winds passed by the open hallways. Turning her attention away from the paintings, Toph continued down the hall. The sheer size of the temple was impressive enough, in some miraculous way built into the earth itself. Toph wondered how the airbenders could have achieved such an architectural feat.
Walking further down the large hallway, Toph saw something familiar as she entered into an open view of a dome like room. Looking down, Toph recognized the symbolic icon of the white lotus. The title flower print covered the whole area as a marble vessel was seen in the center. A metallic bowl was seen empty inside the vessel as Toph lean over peering in. 'What is this strange thing?' Toph pondered to herself as she then heard a voice speak out behind her.
"It's a holy stoup." Aang said answering Toph's questioning thoughts.
"What's it for?" Toph asked as she turned to the airbender.
Aang slowly walked up to her as he looked down at the marble vessel. "It was used in practice from the monks during every harvest." The airbender said as he recalled the nomad's tapping water on their arrows above their foreheads and chanting a prayer.
"It was blessed by the first Avatar. A sacred artifact passed down to the masters." Aang said as he ran his fingers over the sill.
"I was blessed after I received my arrows." Aang said as his eyes narrowed.
Toph looked at the young man then at his arrows.
The blue ink that once impaled his youthful skin; it must have been an agonizing experience. Especially for someone who was so young at the time.
Yet watching the young man now, Toph recognized the sense of pride Aang seemed to carry with his arrows.
It was the mark of his heritage, his passage in becoming a master. But time was catching up to the airbender and memories of his peoples' past were fading. Like the brittle stone in the ruins of the temple.
Toph then gave a small smile as she cupped her hand over his on the vessel. Aang blinked and looked at the earthbender.
"So this was interesting…Anymore wacky things left you wanna show me?" Toph asked trying to lighten the mood as Aang nodded his head. The couple then walked pass the marble vessel and deeper into the temple, hand in hand.
Aang then grew nervous as he recognized the part of the temple that was once forbidden to him as a child. Still, he wanted to show Toph everything his home had to offer from the past. Steadily swallowing his pride, Aang pressed forward into the dark hallway of the ruins as Toph wondered why Twinkle-Toes were so edgy.
'Keh, when will he ever learn?' Toph thought to herself as she recalled other times when even small contact with the young man caused Aang to blush and grow uncomfortable.
'I guess I have no choice but to shake it out of him.' Toph thought as she continued to think of a reasonable approach to break through Aang's personal space.
Smirking to herself, Toph then latched her arms into Aang's, pulling herself closer to the already nervous teen.
Aang blinked in confusion as he looked down at the smiling girl. Blushing, Aang wondered if she was just excited to find out more things in the temple. Then again, he knew Toph always had other reasons to smile like that.
Brushing the thought aside, Aang continued down the passageway and into a spilt hall of two doors.
"Where does this lead?" Toph asked as Aang hummed lightly. "I think this is where the Eastern and Western nomad nuns came to stay during the ceremonial." Aang said as Toph gave a strange look.
"Ceremonial? For what exactly?" Toph asked as Aang rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know to be honest." Aang said as Toph sighed. "You're hopeless." Toph said as she pulled away from the airbender and walked up to one of the doorways.
"Would the nuns come often?" Toph asked as Aang thought about it. "Hmm, only a few times every six months. Actually some came in groups while the rest stayed." Aang said as Toph then stepped into one of the rooms.
Aang then gasped out, "Toph! Don't go in there! It's forbidden!" the airbender exclaimed as Toph scoffed out half way in the new hallway. "Oh please…No one is here. Why not check it out?" Toph said as curiosity got the best of her.
Aang sighed as he quickly followed her into the dark hallway. The scene backed away showing an open window with moss etched on the stone wall.
Sitting on the edge of the large mattress, Katara had in her hands a velvet black box. Looking down with a gentle gaze, the woman opened the box revealing a neatly placed blue choker with a hoary blue pendant. The beautiful ornament was seen resting in the center with a smooth engrave of rolling waves over a surf. It is Katara's most treasured possession, pasted down from her grandmother to her mother, and finally in her hands ever since her mother passed away those many years ago.
Now, here she was…Off the visit her grandmother one last time before her spirit was sent into paradise.
The woman's mind struggled over her decision as she rubbed the glossy surface of the pendant with her fingertips.
Just then a figure entered into the room, Katara slowly lifted her head to see her husband. The man showed an empathic expression as he walked over to his wife.
"The ship is ready to abort. Your father is waiting for you by the antechamber." Zuko said softly as he put his hand on the woman's shoulder.
Katara lowered her head before speaking lightly, "Remember when you showed me this while I was tied up on the tree?" Katara said as Zuko's expression dimmed.
He didn't like bringing old memories up, especially when it involved still being enemies with his now beloved wife. The fact that he used something as precious as her mother's necklace; to bribe her in exchange of the Avatar.
"Yes…I remember." Zuko said lightly as Katara parted her lips.
"Ever since I lost it…I felt like I lost a piece of myself. My mother's spirit was no longer with me. Until you placed her back towards me that night, I was so relieved yet very surprised that you had it that whole time." Katara said as she lifted her head up, looking at her husband with sad eyes.
"Even though you were the enemy. You kept my mother's necklace safe with tender care. Didn't you?" Katara said as Zuko smiled lightly.
"My uncle said the design was exquisite and rare find. I was afraid he would take it and use it for his large amount of expensive keep sakes. So, I kept it with me at all times, tucked away in my sleeve." Zuko said as Katara smiled then giggled of how predictable Iroh was. Katara's smile then turned into a warm curve as she reached out and caressed Zuko's cheek.
"I means so much to me that you took care of it so protectively." Katara said with a pause as Zuko leaned in and kissed the top of her hand affectionately.
"Anything for you, princess." Zuko said as Katara then beamed a tender smile.
The Fire Lord hasn't called her by that nickname for many years. To hear it again, warmed her heart dearly.
"I have finally made my decision…" Katara said as she continued.
"I want to give her necklace back to her. So she can have a part of me with her as well." Katara said as she talked about her grandmother.
Zuko's eyes glistened with respect as he nodded his head in agreement.
Zuko marveled at his wife's traditions as a Water Tribeswoman. Her peoples' customs were so caring and held such honor to the dead. It gave Zuko more respect to the Water Tribe.
"I think your grandmother will be happy to accept such an offering." Zuko said as Katara nodded her head.
The scene backed away with the couple kissing sweetly as the sight drifted onward to the vast red hallways of a servant woman making her way down the royal corridors.
Opening the door, the servant woman walked in as a young prince was seen waiting.
"Ah, thank you for coming, right on time." The nanny said with approval as she turned to the boy.
"Prince Kuzon this is Kara. She is our most trusted servant of the royal family. She will be escorting you, where ever you please." The nanny said as the servant woman bowed to the prince with honor and respect.
The boy nodded his head as he then marched to the doorway. "Come Kara. I want to go to the courtyard." Kuzon said in a deep tone trying to act like a regal young lord to the woman.
The servant smiled as she bowed, "Yes, Prince Kuzon."
As the boy started to exit out of the room, he then turned and spoke to the nanny, "Watch over my sister and brother while I'm gone." Kuzon said as the older woman nodded her head.
"Of course Prince Kuzon." The nanny said as Kuzon smiled.
"Alright then, let's be off." Kuzon said with haughtiness as the child left the room.
Walking at a reasonable distance behind the little prince, the servant woman wondered why the child wanted to leave the nursery.
Kuzon was never known to act so spontaneously, especially after his lunch. Was the child rebelling due to his mother's urgent departure? Kara wasn't sure, nor did she question the royal family's judgment.
But for the safety of the child, Kara knew she had to be on guard.
The heirs were the lifeline to the kingdom for future generations. Prince Kuzon would likely take his father's throne one day.
His health and honor were an important reputation to the palace and its members.
Lifting her head back up, she watched the child step evenly down the hall before creeping at the corners. The child checked if the area was clear, he then continued on until he entered the entrance to the courtyard.
Opening the door, the boy peered out noticing two strange figures by the fountain. The tall figure bowed to the other as the water sprinkled behind them. Kuzon gave a wary look at the scene as the other figure handed a rolled up scroll with a black ribbon.
Kuzon narrowed his eyes; different colored ribbons meant different codes of importance to the information given. At least that what Iroh told the young prince a couple of months back in his studies.
Glancing over at the taller person who took the paper, Kuzon focused on the man. There was something about him that seemed so familiar to the boy.
"Prince Kuzon, we really shouldn't be here. Why not try, going to the gardens if you want to play." The woman servant asked thinking the child wanted to go on an adventure of some sort.
Kuzon mumbled lightly to himself. He always disliked it when everyone treated him like such a child.
Even though he was only six year old, the young prince was more mature than everyone gave him credit for.
He knew something wasn't right in the palace. Being the stubborn young boy, Kuzon was. He wanted answers.
Before Kuzon could react the tall man started to make his way to the door while placing the scroll underneath his robe.
Opening the cracked door, the tall man halted to a stop in surprise as he looked down at the child.
"Prince Kuzon." The man said as he then looked up at the woman. "Kara…What are you doing here in the entry hall?" the man asked as Kuzon recognized the tall man. It was General Jee.
"Well, I-I…
Kuzon started to say as he staggered through his words, the woman servant then swiftly reacted. Cutting in before Kuzon could speak, "Kuzon wanted to go on a little adventure. He asked me to accompany him on his journey." Kara said as she placed her hands on the child's shoulders.
Kuzon then quickly nodded his head in agreement as General Jee gave a half smile. "Well then. Don't be getting into any trouble, Prince Kuzon." Jee said warmly as he then turned his attention to Kara and nodded his head.
Kara slightly blushed as she bowed her head deeply to the general as the tall man left the area.
As soon as the man was out of sight, Kara turned the boy around and bent to her knees while she spoke in a hushed tone.
"Do you know how trouble you could have gotten in to?" the woman said slightly scolding the boy as Kuzon blinked.
The woman's cheeks were tinted with red as her eyes glistened with emotions.
In all honestly the boy was aware that the woman liked General Jee. Curious, the boy decided to ask and clarify his suspicions.
"Do you like General Jee?" Kuzon asked innocently as Kara pulled away from the boy. Her face appeared to change into a deep shade of red, almost like a ripe pomegranate fruit. It was rather comical for the young boy as the woman tensed up and whimpered out with embarrassment before bowing down to her waist.
"May we now return to the nursery?" The woman asked in slight desperate tone while she hid behind her shame and humiliation.
Satisfied by the woman's reaction, Kuzon decided to take her offer. "Yes, let us return." Kuzon said with a sly smile as he marched onward down the hall.
Slowly lifting her head, the woman glared at the boy. 'This child will be the death of me…' the woman thought as she slowly followed.
I tried to make some funny scenes; of course I probably failed terribly. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Stay and tune and find out what Jee is planning…What lies in the forbidden rooms of the nuns?
Please review and comment!