Huge thank you to everyone who has been reading, following, and reviewing! I am so appreciative of your support! Here's Chapter Four!
After we were intercepted by the warship, I was roughly dragged aboard by the soldiers and brought above deck. I was too weak to put up any sort of fight, and I tried my best merely to keep up with their fast strides. My heart filled with fear as I saw more and more soldiers aboard the ship, all watching me.
I was thrown to the ground and an order was given for me to stay where I was. I struggled to hold myself up by my arms, but would not disgrace myself by collapsing and lying on my belly before the Captain of this ship. My breaths were ragged and sharp, and I feared the wrath of Captain Song.
As children, we were told stories of the Fire Nation's evil ways. Sitting around a fire, the elders would tell us of how they brutally tortured their prisoners, or forced them into slave labor until they died of exhaustion. The Fire Nation was ruthless, greedy, and would stop at nothing to reach their goal of world domination. And even though by blood I belonged to them, this fact alone did nothing to stop the fear from settling in my heart.
I heard footsteps and raised my head to meet the eyes of the man who would decide my fate. Above me, the Captain looked down over me, one of the view men not wearing a mask. His hair was pulled back in a topknot and he was finely dressed in robes of black, red, and gold. He was younger than I expected him to be, and I swallowed nervously.
"My name is Captain Song Etka," He introduced himself in a commandeering voice. His presence exuded strength, and I tried not to show my intimidation. "And I am the head of this ship. Who are you?"
"She calls herself Anahi, sir," One of the soldiers interjected. "She had the audacity to claim she was a firebender - "
"I asked her, not you!" Captain Song exclaimed sharply, and the soldier fell silent, bowing his head.
"He speaks the truth," I murmured, trying to keep my voice calm. "My name is Anahi, but I am a firebender. I am who I say I am."
"You are dressed as a member of the Water Tribe," The Captain said curiously. "How do you expect me to believe that you can firebend?"
"Well, I'm not very good yet," I explained, realizing how futile my words sounded. "I needed to go to the Fire Nation to find someone who could teach me."
"Show me," He said, speaking the words that I dreaded hearing, and I slowly stood, shaking slightly.
I took a deep breath in and tensed my hands, unable to stop their wavering. Slowly I unfurled my fist, and practiced breathing out, sending a flurry of sparks out of my palm. I looked expectantly up to Captain Song, praying that this was enough. The rest of the soldiers began to laugh, and I felt my blood boil.
"That's all?" One called, and I pleaded to Captain Song.
"I can firebend, but this is why I need a teacher!" I exclaimed, getting desperate. "Captain, please, I mean no harm. I just want to get to the Fire Nation in peace. I am one of you!"
The Captain was staring hard at me, his expression unreadable, as the rest of the soldiers continued to laugh and mock me. "My two year old son can do that!" One sneered. "You are hardly a bender!"
"Stop it!" I cried, spinning around in anger. Without meaning to, a massive arc of fire emerged from my fingertips, soaring around the soldiers, who only blocked it in just enough time to spare themselves from serious burns. I collapsed onto my knees, my energy gone, and looked back up to Captain Song.
"I meant no treason," I begged, my voice wavering. "I can't control it yet. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone, I promise!"
The Captain raised his hand, and I fell silent. "Anahi," He said firmly. "How long have you been on that island?"
"I left the Water Tribe a week ago," I breathed. "And I spent a day and a night alone on the island."
"Take her below deck," He ordered, and two soldiers seized my arms. My eyes widened in shock and fear, and I struggled to stand.
"Captain - "
"Bring her to one of the empty lieutenant's quarters and see to it that she is given something to eat and drink," Captain Song added, and my mouth dropped in shock. He turned and looked directly at me. "Once you rest for a while, we will have a talk."
"Yes, sir," I breathed, sighing in relief. "Thank you, sir."
"And there is no need to drag her," He added, a trace of a smirk on his face. "Anahi is weak, she won't hurt you."
"Yes, sir," The soldiers said, a little more meekly, offering me their arms instead, and helping me carefully below deck. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I wasn't going to die, and the Captain of this ship was now treating me as a guest! Was it my firebending that had impressed him?
"This way, miss," The soldiers said, directing me into a small windowless cabin. With a flick of his hand, the candles inside half a dozen lanterns on the wall ignited, casting the room in a warm, red glow. A warm-looking bed was tucked away in the corner, stocked fully with blankets and pillows, and I needed no further invitation to climb right in.
The soldiers left without another word, and shut my door, and it was barely much longer before I fell into a deep sleep.
I dreamed of Ozai and Kita again. Fevered moments passed throughout my mind as I struggled through the haze of reality and sleep. Figures and shadows merged together, and distorted dream-like memories of the parents I had never seen filled my mind. My family was present too, and several times, I thought I awoke, and saw Naheel in the chamber with me, or my mother and father.
Several times, I saw Naheel sitting beside me in bed, gently feeding me by spoon. "Naheel," I would beg to him, my voice raw and hoarse. "Take me home."
My brother laid the back of his hand over my forehead, and then placed a cold, wet cloth over my forehead. "You're burning up," He said softly. "Try and sleep."
"Naheel," I muttered weakly, struggling to keep my eyes open. "Why are you wearing a Fire Nation uniform?"
When I awoke again, I realized Naheel had never been in my room, nor had my family been here. Instead, to my utmost shock, Song Etka was sitting beside my bed, a bowl of soup beside him on a small table.
"Captain?" I breathed, and he turned his glance over to me and reached out, touching my forehead.
"Your fever seems to have broken," He replied. "You were out for several days."
"Days?" I repeated, struggling to push myself up. Etka stood and reached over.
"May I?" He asked, and I nodded gingerly. Captain Song reached underneath my back and helped me to sit up, tucking a stack of pillows behind me to prop me up.
"We've docked in the city of Rongyu for a little while," The Captain said. "And I've taken the liberty of providing for fresh clothes for you. In a little while, I'll have a hot bath sent up."
"Thank you, Captain," I bowed my head gratefully. "You are very generous."
"What I am so interested in knowing, is what a rogue Firebender was doing in Water Tribe territory," Captain Song mused, standing up and beginning a slow, methodical pace around the small room. "And one who barely has any control over her abilities, at that."
I froze, and felt the dagger burn around my neck. How was I supposed to tell the Captain that I was the bastard child of Fire Lord Ozai? I had no excuse that I could make to spare myself.
"You have nothing to say for yourself?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I would prefer not to speak of it, sir," I murmured, bowing my head. "It is of a personal nature."
The Captain was watching me skeptically, and I knew that this wasn't enough for him. Struggling to hold my composure, I kept my gaze firmly locked on his eyes. "Very well," He said cordially. "Then I shall not press it. Be warned that others might. Good day, Anahi. I shall send for hot water to be brought down to you." He bowed politely and turned to leave, but I called after him.
"Captain," I asked, and he paused in the doorway. "Am I free to leave this room?"
"Of course," He replied smoothly. "The entire ship is at your disposal."
"A - and another thing, sir," I stammered, feeling my face grow hot. "I haven't thanked you, for taking care of me. You saved my life, sir. I would have died on that island."
"I would not have allowed someone of my own Nation to suffer as you were," Captain Song replied, lowering his gaze. "You were weak, and delirious with fever. It would have been cruel to leave you to die. I am a man of honor."
"I can see that, sir," I said softly.
"Summon me if the need arises, Anahi," He said, before quitting the room, and leaving me alone with my thoughts.
It would have been cruel to leave you to die. Was my perception of the Fire Nation wrong? Captain Song had given me a chance, fed me, housed me, and nursed me back to health himself. Did he really care about a lost, penniless, and close to death firebender, or did he only say those things because I was of the Fire Nation as well?