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The next morning...
Etka was still asleep beside me when I woke up in his bed. In a soft, foggy daze, I came to my senses, taking in the yellow sunlight filtering through the paper shades, and the soft sheets lying tangled between our legs. His naked chest rose slowly up and down as he slept, and one arm was sprawled over behind me where I had been sleeping. A warm feeling spread down into my stomach and pleased smile crept its way up my cheeks as last night returned to my memory.
Etka loved me. He loved me. He had told me so under the light of the moon, and I had told him that I loved him too. And he kissed me and then kissed me some more in the back of the carriage on the way home, and I had found myself sleeping with him instead of on my own that night.
I cast another look at him, clutching the sheets over my chest, and smiled softly to myself. Everything felt so peaceful, so right in the world.
Careful not to wake him, I slowly climbed out of bed with a sheet around my body, my eyes finding our clothes that had been rushedly cast on the nearest chair. I needed to find something to wear, but I was too afraid to disturb this tranquility that had caressed the room.
"Anahi?" I turned to find Etka with an arm thrown over his eyes, waiting for his vision to adjust in the light. He sat up sleepily, propping himself up with one arm and rubbing his eyes with his hand. I looked over at him and smiled.
Etka gave a long sigh and climbed out of bed, joining me by the window and wrapping his arms around me from behind. "Good morning," He murmured, kissing my cheek.
"Good morning to you too," I returned, leaning back into his chest.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, nuzzling his head beside mine. "I'll cook breakfast."
"You're not half bad," I teased, and he let me go, pulling on some pants and a loose beige tunic before heading out to the kitchen.
I pulled on one of Etka's shirts before walking over to my room and pulling on a pair of loose trousers. His tunic swallowed me up, and I wrapped myself in it cozily, feeling content and safe with a part of him around me.
I met him in the kitchen, where he was turning over scrambled eggs on the stove. "Let's go someplace today," He said, shifting the eggs from the pan to a plate and adding spices.
"Go where?" I asked, a little surprised. Did this mean he wanted to take me on a date?
"There's a theatre downtown, and the Hira'a Acting Troupe has several shows running now."
I was excited and a little honored that he was asking me to go out with him again. I felt almost as if we had passed the first step, that even after the first night, we still loved each other, still wanted to be together. I smiled warmly at Etka, glad he was here and no one else.
We went on many such dates - walks along the coast, sailing in the harbor, riding in the jungles beyond the Capitol - as the date for our meeting with the Firelord drew closer and closer. Etka was doing well in keeping me distracted from what was sure to come, but I couldn't shake the nerves and anxiety I had about this meeting.
I lay in his bed two nights before we were to go to the Royal Palace. His arms were wrapped around me and my head lay gently against his chest, listening to him breathe slowly in and out. "How are you feeling?" Etka murmured, his fingers languidly playing with my hair.
"I don't know," I said softly. "I just feel like there's not enough time."
"Time for what?" He asked, frowning.
"Time for me to figure everything out. He's my father, Etka, and he could very well kill me, or you." I paused for a moment. "I wonder if he even knows I exist."
"Whatever happens, I'll be right behind you," He promised.
"I know you will be," I replied. "I'm just afraid that you'll have to be." Etka kissed my forehead and was about to speak when a knock on the door interrupted him. Startled, I climbed off of him, wrapping my loose robes around me tighter.
"Naora?" Etka called, sitting upright. "What is it?"
The door was pushed open slightly ajar, and the housekeeper's wide-eyed face poked through. "Sir, there's someone here."
"At this hour?" Etka frowned, getting out of bed and throwing on a tunic. "What do they want from me?"
"Actually, sir, it's not you they want," Naora cast a glance at me. "He was asking about Anahi. He said he found out she was staying with you."
Etka cast me a startled look. "Could this be about Lucan?" He whispered, and I felt a cold feeling sink into my stomach.
"That was ages ago," I said fearfully. Was this someone Lucan knew, out now for revenge? How had he possibly found Etka's home?
"Stay in here," Etka said firmly. "I'll go out and deal with this."
"Etka - "
"Please," He said, and by his face, I knew it was not negotiable. Etka left the room, and after I was certain he was gone, I followed him, peering out at the courtyard from behind a pole. The hooded stranger was standing next to a fearful Naora, his face cast in shadows.
"Who are you, and what is your business here?" Etka demanded, glaring the man down.
"Are you Captain Song Etka?" The man replied with a question of his own. Etka paused before he answered.
"Yes, now answer my question," He said evenly. "Why have you come here?"
"I need to see Anahi," He said firmly. "I was told she was living with you."
"Why?" Etka demanded, and the stranger's body stance changed.
"What are you doing with her?" He demanded aggressively. "Where is she?"
Flames appeared around Etka's hands, and he raised an arm threateningly. "Get out of my house," He warned.
"Not until I see her," The stranger returned, and Etka lunged forward at him, throwing a jet of flame at the stranger, who narrowly dodged and rolled out of the way.
"I'll ask you again!" Etka shouted, his shoulder's arching. "Get out of my house, or I'll kill you!" He sent arches of fire spinning towards the man, and the man raised an arm of his own, omitting a stream of water that shone in the moonlight.
"Where is she?" He roared, conjuring a wave and throwing Etka back against the wall with it. I burst out into the courtyard, running as fast as my legs could carry me.
"Naheel!" I cried, throwing my arms around my brother and nearly tackling him over.
"Anahi!" He exclaimed, looking at me in shock. His aggressive stance melted away instantly. It had been nearly a year since I had last seen him. He was taller, his jawline more prominent and covered in a light stubble.
"How...how are you here?" I cried, tears of joy in my eyes. "How did you find me?"
"After we found out you had run away, I left home too - to find you," He explained. "I didn't stop searching, Anahi. I knew I had to find you again."
"Naheel..." I breathed, tears in my eyes.
"Anahi, what is going on?" Etka slowly stood, now soaking wet. He glared angrily at Naheel, and I stepped aside.
"Etka, this is my brother, Naheel," I answered, trying to diffuse the situation. "Naheel, this is Captain Song Etka. He's been teaching me Firebending."
"You live with this man?" Naheel asked me in disbelief.
"He saved my life," I said firmly. "I would have died on my own if he hadn't found me." I cast my eyes over to Etka, willing him to see that Naheel was not a threat. "He was only acting to protect me, Naheel. He...he thought you were someone who wanted to hurt me."
My brother dropped his voice, moving closer to me. "Has he ever...hurt you, Anahi?" He looked me square in the eye; the sincerity and openness hadn't gone away.
"No, never," I replied, realizing that there was a lot that Naheel didn't know. I turned back to Etka, who was disgruntledly giving Naheel an untrusting look.
"Etka," I said softly, going over to him and touching his arm. "He's my brother. Can he stay for a little while?"
"Alright," Etka said, refusing to keep his eyes off of Naheel. "He can stay in one of the guest bedrooms for now."
"Thank you," I murmured, squeezing his hand, and Etka's face softened.
"Come along," I told Naheel, sidling up to him again and hugging my brother. "There's a lot that you need to know."