Here is a chapter that gave me a hard time and that I had to reread, modify and rework multiple times since I wrote it a few months ago! The political PLOT becomes more complex and I hope it remains understandable.
Thanks to everyone who left a comment on the latest chapters. We can never say it enough but it is thanks to you that the motivation remains intact!
And a big thank you also to Tamerlan Pahlavi who offered to participate in my work by proofreading the English version. May our collaboration last for a long time and until the end!
That's all I have to say tonight. Enjoy! I'll try to post the next chapter soon!
Chapter 31 – The Éminences Grises
It was getting harder and harder.
Come on.. Just a few days. Three days and it will be over, she tried to persuade herself.
Azula knew well that it would take more than three days to regain real mental stability, even after resuming her treatment. But it was at least a prospect she could hold on.
It had been bearable during the stay on Ember Island because she had been smart enough to wean herself little by little. But now…
Azula was furious with the Sages, with her uncle, and with Zuko.
"They can't see you before the end of the week", he kept telling her.
Why couldn't they grant her an audience sooner? And since when was it up to the princess to beg for one? They should have bowed to her. If it weren't for her stupid brother who had ceded such power to them, today those decrepit greybeards would have to eat from her hand.
The periods of lucidity were getting shorter every day. Azula had to stay locked in her room half the time, where she couldn't hurt anyone. It didn't protect her from herself though, nor from the intrusive thoughts that were plaguing her. Most of the time, Zuko had to stay in order to contain her. She only allowed him near her when she was in the middle of a fit.
Although he had so badly hurt her by rejecting her once again, she knew that even in the depths of her madness, she would never really harm him. And he alone was a firebender proficient enough to subdue her.
Zuko was already harassing her, forcing her to resume the treatment that Taïma had given her back in emergency. It hadn't been easy to convince the healer to let Azula take care of her medication on her own.
"If you don't apply the right dosage, princess, it won't work properly!" she cried one day from behind the door that a desperate Azula kept firmly closed for everyone but the Fire Lord.
"Leave me alone!" she had screamed in a hysterical voice. "I don't want to see anyone!"
When her ideas were clear enough to think about that, Azula wondered if Taïma and Ty Lee had guessed her intentions. Her friend found out something was wrong when Azula had started talking to shadows in front of her. Azula knew Ty Lee was spying on her and she had to trick her to make her believe that she would take her medication scrupulously.
She shouldn't have started responding to the voices. But it was almost impossible! These intruders who lodged in her sick mind kept harassing her, talking to her, making fun of her misery and laughing at the humiliation Zuko had inflicted on her on Ember Island.
Mother never missed an opportunity to blame her for her behavior.
"If you hadn't behaved like a loose woman with your brother, you wouldn't have to suffer from such a situation today", she would repeat endlessly.
As if Azula didn't know! She might be crazy but she wasn't stupid. She knew Zuko's rejection had precipitated her descent into madness. Despite everything, she couldn't bring herself to give up on him, and the more she thought about what he had said to her, the more she felt devoured by desire.
Knowing that you are deprived of something only reinforces the desire to get it, her father used to tell to her. It is essential that our subjects ignore the rights we have stripped from them for the greatness of our nation. Never forget this lesson, Azula, or you'll have a rebellion on your hands.
At the time, Azula had no idea that this lesson would apply to her in such a way. Did Zuko feel the same? Did he only want her because he couldn't have her? Or did he genuinely love her, at least a little?
Her brother seemed distraught and sometimes she blamed herself for causing him so much trouble.
"The medicine won't take effect immediately!" he tried to convince her once. "The Sages won't see anything if you take it back now. They will see that you aren't yourself. Anyone would realize that! They just need to see you!"
He was almost yelling at her as she was pacing the room, panting, sobbing uncontrollably, her hands clasped over her ears in a desperate attempt to silence her intrusive guests, unable to sit up despite Zuko's urging to calm down.
Father had returned. Just once, but Azula couldn't forget her terror when she had felt her mattress sag one night, only to discover his angular face in the glow of her blue flames. She had let out a cry of terror and it took all the patience of Zuko, who was sleeping not far from her on the couch, to still her. It hadn't really helped since Azula believed she was struggling against Ozai while Zuko had her pinned against her mattress. According to him, his ribs still bore the mark of that epic fight in the form of a huge bruise. He tried to laugh about it, hoping to reassure her, but Azula didn't see what was amusing.
Mai would pay her some visits too. She'd crouch in the darkest corners of Azula's room, waiting for her to lose what she had left of reason. Azula sometimes saw the glimpse of a sharp blade in her hand or swore she saw a sparkle near Mai's pocket where she must keep the poison that had nearly killed her.
This situation couldn't last any longer. She couldn't afford to weaken herself further. She had to stay strong and lucid, otherwise all these sacrifices and efforts would have been in vain.
The world was losing its tangibility. Real people seemed blurry while the outlines of those who had previously been fleeting shadows grew clearer every day. Ursa would almost shine in this nebulous universe where the furniture and the walls themselves lacked consistency. For some time, Azula felt more than ever the absurd need to touch objects and surfaces in order to test their materiality. She would constantly touch Zuko when he was around. No one else could reassure her and she only felt completely safe when she was in his arms.
His presence was all that connected her to reality.
But for several days, even this respite had been denied to her.
More than once in the past few hours, thinking she was hugging Zuko, she found herself alone in the middle of the room, embracing a pillow, when it was just herself.
Once, she awoke only to discover her sheets spangled with scarlet stains. Next to her, a knife laid on the cold, empty bed, like an invitation to use it. She could have sworn she had seen two gray hands covered in brown scabs pushing it towards her.
Terrorized, Azula had jumped out of bed and ran like a madwoman through the palace, wearing only her kimono, calling for help, looking for her brother.
She had been found in the kitchens and it was the chief cook, a scrawny ageless woman who had taken her in, offered her a steaming cup of tea and summoned Uncle Iroh to take care of his niece. When the maids had gone into the bedroom to change the sheets, they hadn't found a drop of blood.
But that wasn't the worst : the worst was what Taima called her "fading out" or her "absences." Sometimes Azula forgot what she had been doing for hours.
This symptom was fairly new. She couldn't remember having experienced such disturbing episodes before, or maybe in her first weeks in the asylum.
It had started on Ember Island. The first time was when the waterbender and her stupid brother found her on the beach.
The second time was on the morning of their departure, a few hours after her fight with Zuko. He had rejected her once again after caressing her as if she were his lover. She perfectly remembered that! He had said the word, the bad word she refused to hear and had uttered nonsense about a political marriage to some Fire Nation whore.
Azula couldn't forget the feeling of her brother's warm hands wandering under the silk of her kimono, stroking and massaging her breasts. The long shiver of terror mingled with delight when she had felt his fingers brush the inside of her thighs. For a moment, she had been afraid. Zuko grew too bold and she had no choice but to stop him.
Now she bitterly blamed herself for her cowardice, because the next second Zuko had started to feel regret. That stupid remorse that shook him every time he gave in to temptation with her. Yet she had seen his desire, felt it. How could he still have the nerve to lie? He almost begged her when she had refused him. He didn't want to let her go. He had practically forced her to resume her caresses.
Eventually, Azula was beginning to wonder if she hadn't imagined all of this. As a precaution, she decided to put a stop to her little conquest for her brother's heart. At least until she fixed other issues.
She remembered nothing of the hours following their argument on Ember Island. Azula only knew that she had fled her room and taken refuge in her mother's quarters. Childish attitude that always pushed her to seek the comfort of this child abandoner, whenever she was upset or sad. Knowing very well how she would be received.
After that, there was nothing. Azula had no idea what she had done that very night. She had woken up abruptly, frozen and had opened her eyes to a terrifying sight.
All around her: water. Only water. A gray, rumbling water all around, immersing her up to the throat. On the horizon, an incandescent crimson sun was rising, as if to escape the furious waves. Cascading breakers kept hitting her with a thunderous noise, knocking her off balance, dragging her towards the shore she desperately tried to reach. But each time, a new wave dragged her farther out seawards and salt water rushed through her mouth. She had started to panic and waved her arms, like a poor wounded bird, to keep her head above water, as she had seen dogs do as a child. When she succeeded, the salty air around her seemed just as unbreathable. Azula was choking.
It was Zuko who got her out of this hell. Azula was about to surrender against the raging sea when two strong arms had closed around her waist. Terrorized at first, convinced that she had been captured by some sea monster with tentacles, Azula struggled. But her brother's voice suddenly rose, drowning out the uproar of the sea.
"Oh Gods! Azula! What the hell are you doing here?"
She vaguely remembered him snatching her from the furious waves. On the sand, dazed, she had let him yell at her like a madman. Azula was shaking all over in her sodden kimono – the one she'd chosen the day before, hoping to seduce him.
Zuko brought her home, carrying her nearly all the way up the steep hill. In the entrance hall, he made her remove her kimono before wrapping her in a blanket. After that he forced her onto the couch and stayed beside her, rubbing her shoulders, harassing her with questions until the colors returned to her livid cheeks.
"I don't know!" she defended herself piteously after regaining the use of speech. "Stop asking me! I don't know what I was doing there! I woke up and I was in the middle of the sea! That's all! Stop harassing me!"
Azula must have gotten up, headed for the beach, and walked straight into the choppy waters. Had she wanted to die? Had she obeyed a new wacky injunction of the voices? She hadn't the faintest idea, and to tell the truth, these hazardous wanderings terrified her as much as her brother.
If she was able to put herself in danger in these moments of dementia, who knows what she could do to others? What if she attacked Ty Lee again? Or Taima?
The delirium came and went like the tireless ebb of the waves that had nearly engulfed her. Some days she would feel perfectly fine, full of energy, determined to use her intelligence to help her brother. The next day she would wake up in a fog, barely able to make out the faces of those around her.
Today was a bad day. Since morning, the fever had risen little by little, and the frightful shadows became more and more distinct and stood out more and more clearly in the dying gleams of the day. For several minutes, while Ty Lee was chatting next to her, her mind had started to slip dangerously. She had abruptly interrupted her and ordered her to call for Taima.
Just this time. Zuko couldn't take care of her now: he was held up with his ministers and Uncle Iroh for some endless defense council that, once again, would be useless. Only the healer could help Azula now. She could give her some tranquilizer or use one of her secret hypnosis techniques.
The princess didn't like it very much. More than once during these sessions Taïma imposed on her at the asylum, Azula had confessed things that she would have preferred to keep secret. Making herself so vulnerable in the middle of a relapse seemed dangerous, especially with the specter of Father lurking around.
Taïma would inevitably ask her famous questions which had the gift of throwing Azula into turmoil. She always wanted to talk about forbidden things, like the hand-shaped scar that had been adorning her hip for five years or ask her about the meaningless words she sometimes blurted out during her dementia episodes.
"I don't know! How do you want me to know?" she usually scolded her when the healer asked her such questions. "I'm crazy, right? Why do you insist on giving meaning to a lunatic's words?"
Obviously, Zuko had spoken with Taïma. The last time, she hadn't stopped harassing her about the extravagant words she would have uttered in front of him. Azula had no memory of that and was starting to lose patience.
This was another good reason to resume her medication as soon as possible. Taïma seemed to have guessed about Azula's past much more than she should. And what Taïma learned would invariably reach Zuko's ears. And that was unacceptable! Zuko must not know her secret. He would blame her for that, like Mother did. He would call her a whore, yell at her, drag her through the mud, and punish her for bringing dishonor to their family. Not to mention what Father would do if he were to hear about it...
"I don't understand why there's no improvement yet," Taima complained half an hour later after asking a slightly calmer Azula to lie down on the couch. The tranquilizer she had injected into her was starting to take effect. She was now running her long nimble fingers above Azula's head, a bright water swirling just above her forehead.
"It's been over a week, things should have been back to normal. Are you sure you're taking your medication properly, princess?"
"Zuko makes sure of that every morning," she replied wearily, trying to ignore the specter of her mother shaking her head from side to side in disapproval. "And you, are you sure it hasn't been altered again?" she accused Taïma again to silence her.
When her problems gave her time to think about others, Azula would blame herself for causing Taïma so much trouble. The poor woman seemed really upset. According to Ty Lee, she would spend her nights checking the ingredients in her treatment, weighing them, adjusting the dosage. The purplish circles under her blue eyes were the proof of her devotion.
"I'm sure things will get better very soon!" Ty Lee added. She was witnessing the scene, eyes shining with tears, crouching behind Azula, elbows resting on the armrest where the princess had rested her head. "It always takes a little time to act, right? The last time, you were unconscious. When you woke up, the medicine had time to take effect. Hadn't it?"
She turned to Taima, her eyes full of hope.
"It's quite possible," the healer replied, evasively.
Azula tilted her head back to look at her friend's face which seemed to float above her. She gave her a weak smile and reached out her trembling hand to rest it on her soaked cheek.
"It's going to be okay, Ty. Don't worry," she reassured her.
Ty Lee covered her hand with hers and returned her smile.
She couldn't stand that either. Azula no longer wanted to hurt those she loved. Ty Lee had stayed, even after she told those lies about her romance with Zuko. She had looked a little disgusted, but she hadn't run away. Besides, Azula wondered if Ty Lee hadn't unmasked her. Now, she greeted with a sad little smile Azula's provocations and the increasingly outrageous and extravagant stories she told her about her supposed secret encounters with Zuko in the concealed rooms of the palace. Two days earlier, Azula had humiliated herself with her own lies. She had just imposed on Ty Lee the tale of her torrid night with Zuko when her friend reminded her, a little embarrassed, that they had spent that evening together and that Zuko had spent his in talks with his ministers, so they couldn't have seen each other.
Ty Lee had just let go of her hand when the door swung open, startling the three women. Azula craned her neck to see Zuko walk in, dressed in his robes, the five-flame crown proudly atop his head, looking as scowling as ever. He froze when he saw his sister lying on the couch, surrounded by Taïma, kneeling in front of her, and Ty Lee. His features collapsed and his almond eyes seemed to droop and melt into a golden rain.
"The princess wasn't feeling very well," Taïma explained. "I gave her a sedative. Before going to bed, I want her to swallow this pill: it should help her sleep through the night, a dreamless sleep."
But Zuko wasn't listening anymore. He rushed to the center of the room and leaned over the back of the couch. He reached a timid hand towards Azula's face, rested it on her forehead for a moment, then traced the line of her jaw with the back of his index finger.
"Tell me…" he ventured softly.
"Not now," she whispered very low so no one else could hear.
"Ty Lee, Taima, please leave us," Zuko ordered.
Her friend and the healer shared a slightly worried look.
He's not going to touch me, you can leave! she wanted to scream at them.
"You can come back right after", Zuko assured them, as if he had perceived their hesitation too. "But I have to talk to my sister."
"Very well, Fire Lord," Taima replied, standing up.
The two women left quickly without looking back.
As soon as they were alone, Zuko knelt in front of Azula and fell on her:
"I want you to resume your treatment. Let's stop this comedy now."
"It's necessary Zuzu," she reminded him in a weak voice.
"I can't bear to see you suffer like this," he whined, looking down at the floor. "And all this for more than uncertain results."
"Uncertain results? Didn't you tell me the day before yesterday that our uncle managed to convince the great Sage to postpone my trial for Kojiro? If he hadn't seen me in this state, you can be sure he wouldn't have lifted a finger for me."
"Of course, he would! You're his niece. He cares for you, just like me."
"If you say so," she complied, too exhausted to fight against this optimism that bordered on stupidity.
"By the way," Zuko replied, a little more enthusiastic. "I came to see you for this." And taking her hand in his: "I succeeded in convincing the Fire Sages to advance your audience. Even though they didn't get a response from Aang. I had to promise them that you would be sedated and tied up… That was their condition. Those fools were terrified that you would burn their stupid temple to ashes."
"They're wrong," she replied in a serious tone. "The Temple is a historical monument, a testimony to the greatness of our nation that I want to preserve. If I were them, I'd worry more about their trailing beards. A perfect fuel for a good fire start!"
Zuko smiled at her and leaned over to place a kiss on her temple. The idiot seemed really pleased with himself. Four days to convince a bunch of old degenerates when an order would have sufficed! What a poor image he gave of himself...
Ever since he had confessed to her the existence of this stupid reform, Azula could only contemplate, dismayed, the extent of the carnage. Zuko was really bridled and terrified by the Sages' opinion. Their decision-making power seemed almost superior to his. Azula had asked him several times to bring her the texts in the hope of finding a flaw but Zuko always eluded. She was sure he was afraid to give them to her. Certainly, it was worse than what he had wanted to admit.
Azula had therefore entrusted her faithful Ty Lee with the task of digging through the palace archives. Confused at having failed in her shadowing mission with Zuko, Ty Lee hastened to bring her back the precious document.
It was just appalling:
Article 1 – The Fire Lord cannot declare war on another nation without the unanimous opinion of the Fire Sages' Council and the Avatar.
Article 2 – The Fire Lord cannot issue a law compromising the individual freedom of his Nation citizens, such as the right to move, to demonstrate, to regroup, the right of faith, without taking in account the wise and unanimous opinion of the Fire Sages.
Article 3 – The Fire Lord cannot interfere in the affairs of Justice. The power to convict and acquit a criminal belongs to a people's court presided over by a High Judge appointed by the Fire Sages Council.
However, the Fire Lord has the power of amnesty and can pardon a criminal sentenced to death or to life imprisonment, after consulting the Council, which will give him an advised opinion.
Article 4 – In all circumstances, the Fire Lord must adopt a behavior consistent with the values of the Fire Nation stipulated in Charter No. 143, adopted on the date of September 25, 101 AG, and demonstrate exemplarity and an unfailing moral strength.
Any deviant behavior might result in an intervention ordered by the Council of the Fire Sages who, unanimously and with the help of the Avatar, may decide on the temporary or permanent dismissal of the reigning Fire Lord.
The Fire Lord and all members of the royal family are submitted to the same penal laws as their subjects. The same goes for the members of the Fire Sages' Council.
Azula stopped breathing while reading those lines she didn't know existed. She could have known much sooner, hadn't she spent the past few months abjuring herself. All this time wasted tempering Zuko's ardor or working in his direction! To help him set up his stupid Republic of Nations project… All this in the hope that he no longer saw her as an enemy, that he finally noticed her and loved her at least a little bit.
Today, Zuzu was ashamed of that decision, and of his own weakness that he had orchestrated. Terrified at the idea of becoming a second version of their megalomaniac father, he had done everything to reduce his field of action. Today, Zuko was reaping what he had sown, and as always, it was up to Azula to fix his mistakes. This is what happens when you put idealists and unambitious people on the throne! Azula would never have made such a mistake.
"Seriously, Zuzu, we need to discuss what you will do if after seeing me, the Sages refuse to abandon the trial. Or if they ask you to get rid of me."
"They won't. They won't dare!"
"You took four days to get an audience even though you are the Fire Lord and they owe you absolute obedience! Can't you see they're laughing at you? They will stop at nothing to humiliate you."
"I only gave them time so that they would believe I'm sincere!" he defended himself, piqued in his pride. "Didn't you first ask me to stay away while they investigated?"
"You lacked subtlety, Zuzu, as always. I advised you to stay away, not to crawl past them like a wounded puppy. If you let them believe that they have such power over you, then they will quickly strip you of all your authority. You should have let our uncle do. He's more convincing than you!"
Zuko obviously decided to ignore the insult.
"Our uncle is suspicious," he growled. "I saw it in his eyes. I'm sure he knows more about our intentions than we think."
"Don't worry," she replied with a note of bitterness in her voice. "After the little scene he witnessed in the kitchens, I'm sure he's convinced I've lost my mind..."
"Then that should be enough. Resume your treatment, tonight," he implored her suddenly, squeezing her hands in his. "What we want right now is for the Sages to strike Aang out of the Constitution and drop your case, right? You don't need to torture yourself for that! If they see me supporting a crazy girl, I'll lose even more credit with them."
"Zuzu…"
"I can't take it anymore, Azula!" he exploded, tears in his eyes. "I don't want to lose you. If this continues, a tragedy will occur! I don't want to find your body washed up on the beach one morning or shattered on the ground if you take the fancy to jump off the top of the dungeon during one of your fits!"
"Zuko!" she said, reaching out to him.
He walked over, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and pressed his forehead to hers. Azula had to fight against the wave of emotions that washed over her. They stayed like this for a moment. She finally broke the silence but not their embrace.
"Zuko, I want you to think about what you really want deep down."
Zuko took a long time to respond. He tightened his arms around her.
"I want my power back..."
"Yes, that's good", she exhaled, planting her lioness eyes in his. "What else?"
"I want you to heal."
"What else?" she urged, shifting slightly on her couch.
"I want to get rid of these old debris that threaten you. I want all charges dropped against you."
"And after that?"
"I want to crush Lu Fang. I want to destroy the Sons of Agni."
Azula felt her heart swell in her chest as he spoke. The belligerent tone, the fierce determination that lit up his golden gaze transported and excited her. A desire started from her lower abdomen and radiated throughout her body. She would have liked him to take her now, right away, on this sofa. Eyes shining, she lifted her hand to her brother's face.
"That's it, Zuko," she repeated, caressing his ravaged cheek. "And what else next?"
"I will charge with treason whoever stands up against us, whoever tries to threaten you."
Azula closed her eyes, her mouth parted, and let out a sigh. The words fell on her, sweeter and more intoxicating than the hottest and most sensual of caresses. She remembered how Zuko's hand had wandered between her thighs the other night on Ember Island. The way he had brushed her most intimate part… She tensed up a little to fight against a violent surge of pleasure she had never experienced before and bit her lower lip.
"Don't stop," she panted, pleased by his words. "Tell me what will happen next."
Zuko looked a little taken aback, but trapped in her arms, he didn't dare interrupt the moment.
"I will crush the Earth Kingdom. I will put them back in their place. I will annihilate the rebels who have destabilized the colonies and I will declare war on that traitor Kuei if he is stupid enough to oppose me!"
"What about me, Zuko?" she breathed again, bringing him so close to her that he could have kissed her.
And her beloved brother finally gave her what she wanted:
"When it's all over, you'll sit on my right on the throne as my main adviser. And we will reign together. Like brother and sister."
A long shiver ran through Azula's whole body and it took all the strength of her will to restrain the little cry of ecstasy that threatened to escape her lips. Finally, her body still shaking, she opened her eyes again to look at those, distraught, of her brother who didn't seem to have understood the storm that had just taken place in Azula's body and head. He looked a little scared and very embarrassed.
Not to blush at her own attitude, Azula freed her brother and sat down. Despite her fluffy limbs, she felt well and lucid for the first time in days. She turned to her sibling, still kneeling in front of her.
"Is this really what you want?"
Zuko seemed a little hesitant. He looked away, looking for help that would never come. Finally, realizing that he couldn't escape her searching gaze, he muttered:
"Yes… That's what I want."
Azula's smile widened.
"Then you will listen to me carefully."
Zuko ran a hand down the back of his neck to relax his bruised skin. Azula had clutched it so tightly, as he told her his wish to see her reign by his side, that he had been momentarily unable to breathe.
"The day after tomorrow," she said after straightening the folds of her dress, "The old men will get the proof that I've lost my mind. If everything goes as I hope, they will have no choice but to drop the charges against me. But they will no doubt seek to oust me. When they ask you, you will agree to permanently withdraw my title of Crown Princess, irreversibly. It's essential that they feel that you listen to them. They will suggest I be put under guardianship. And you will approve."
"But if I do that… you will never be…"
"Didn't you listen to me, Zuzu? I'm not interested in being Fire Lord anymore. What I want is what you said: I want to reign by your side, not in your place."
Azula changed her position again, putting her feet on the ground, then she stood up, sketching a few steps to walk around the sofa. She leaned her hands against the backrest and fixed her eyes on Zuko whose confidences seemed to have cheered her up. She looked better, almost normal.
Zuko tried not to think about her strange behavior as he told her one by one all his plans for the future.
The way Azula's body had tensed then arched in his arms, the way her breath had shortened, her mouth parted… Zuko had seen this reaction before in other women and multiple times with Mai. And it was not thanks to the quality of his conversation that he had obtained such a greeting. He hadn't even touched her and yet… He couldn't help his cheeks flushing at the thought of the long spasm that had shaken his sister's body at the end, when he had confessed to her his desire to see her reign by his side. He was already regretting his words. He only said what Azula wanted to hear.
Part of him, though, must wanted it a little. Zuko was tired of the power, of the responsibilities that weighed down his young shoulders. Sharing some of that burden with someone he knew so well, who knew what a monarch's duties were, was sometimes tempting. And why not, after all? When she'd be finally cured, what would prevent Azula from ruling the country with him?
He took a breath and asked, "How do you think you'll get there? The Sages will never agree."
"That's the second part of the plan," she said. "Once you regain their trust, we will ruin their reputation. We will lead the people to believe that they are the true rulers of the Fire Nation and are solely responsible for the current chaos – which is not entirely untrue..."
She had joined him. She spoke enthusiastically, circling around Zuko who felt like a rodent trapped by some particularly voracious raptor. He looked for a flaw in her plan:
"But the Sons of Agni..."
"On the contrary! They are a blessing for us. These fanatics dream of strong power and advocate the purity of our race of which, let me tell you, you are a magnificent specimen."
She paused after that and bit her lower lip like if he was a particularly appetizing dessert. The expression was so fleeting that he thought he had imagined it. But that did nothing against the arousal it had stirred up in him.
"They will prefer an amoral but powerful king rather than a puppet manipulated by decrepit old people, too cowardly to oppose Kuei."
Recovering, Zuko retorted:
"These crackpots have been trashing our image for weeks to lead the people to revolution! They think we're lovers, accuse us of all sorts of horrors! They hate us at least as much as the settlers. They even make it the main point of their propaganda."
"Come on, Zuko, you know they value royal blood way too much to oust you completely. Our people are emerging from a century of propaganda and indoctrination. They are conditioned to worship the rightful Fire Lord, whoever he is! And the Sons of Agni know this well. We are Agni's embodiment, our blood is sacred. It's written in their stupid book!" she said, pointing carelessly on her bedside table to a small, shabby book with a red leather cover.
"How did you get that?" he choked as he walked over to the table to take the book between his fingers with the same disgust as if he had held a particularly repulsive creature in his hands.
"Never mind!" Azula cut him off, snatching the book from his hands. "What matters is that I read it carefully. And it was very instructive! From what I have read, they would contradict themselves by removing you from the throne. It's my head they want, not yours. Once you officially remove me from power, they won't be able to use those arguments against you."
"How can you be sure?"
"These are just assumptions. But so far, have I given you a reason to doubt me?"
Zuko preferred not to answer. He dodged..
"Let's admit they're only after you and are content with your ousting from power: that won't silence the rumors about us," he growled bitterly.
The last few months had proven him right. How could such a small spark turn into such a devastating fire? And then, if he was being completely honest, he had to admit that there was a great deal of truth behind these rumors.
The memory of Azula's hand slipping into his pants, the dizzying back-and-forth movement she had given it, struck his memory. The images of their faults came back to him constantly at the worst moment, without him having invited them.
If Zuko wanted to be credible, he had to give himself the means to succeed. And first of all, to stop thinking about these things.
"Never mind the rumors!" Azula argued. "They are the ransom of power. They will fade little by little, you'll see. The people quickly forget and tire of even the worst scandals, and it will be ancient history as soon as you publicly announce your betrothal."
Zuko blenched:
"My betrothal?"
"Didn't you say the other day that you had to ensure the lineage? Not gonna lie, I didn't appreciate it very much at first, but I've thought about it since then, and you're right. It's obvious now that Mai won't come back. You are free to undo the marriage by accusing her of treason. Plenty of possibilities are open to you."
"And who do you think I should marry?" he asked, letting out a snort of contempt. "A purebred firebender from a powerful family?"
"That is undoubtedly what the Sons of Agni and the people are expecting."
"And I assume you have a name to suggest to me?" he sneered bitterly.
"I have one actually."
"Azula, if that's what I believe, I've already explained to you that it's against the law, and even I can't do anything about it! Even if I wanted to, we can't..."
"Actually, I was thinking about Kuei's daughter."
Zuko jerked away, a disgusted look on his face.
"Azula! You can't be serious! She's hardly four years old!"
"I see," Azula taunted, taking on an innocent voice, a finger on her lip, as if reconsidering the question. Then she slowly tossed a lock of hair behind her ear, exposing her white throat and walked towards him, swaying her hips temptingly.
"If marrying your little sister sounds like a better option, I don't mind. I hope you are aware that I'd be more than happy to..."
"She's a child!" he protested, stepping back to put some distance between them. "You really have lost your mind."
"I'm not asking you to bed her now, dumdum! It's an arranged marriage!" she exclaimed, abandoning her fake seduction game, much to Zuko's relief. "You will be engaged until she's old enough to marry you. You don't even have to meet her before your wedding."
"She is his only heir. Why would he want to get rid of her?"
"Kuei is still young. He will probably have sons to succeed him. For their part, the Sages will be delighted with this unexpected opportunity to avoid a war. They've been wetting their robes ever since you expressed a desire to walk on the Earth Kingdom! The departure and the silence of the Avatar make them even more petrified! Give them a reason to rejoice!"
"But I thought you wanted to declare war on the Earth Kingdom!" Zuko snapped, both irritated and confused. Azula's mindless machinations were beginning to wear him down.
"We don't need to do it right away. Patience is the key to success, Zuzu! If we go to war now, weakened as you are, we have no chance of winning. You have lost the support of the Avatar, the Sages are suspicious of us, as well as part of the army. If you want my opinion, I don't believe that these seven soldiers were simply kidnapped! And I'm not talking about the Sons of Agni who are brainwashing our people with racist propaganda!"
"But what about Lu Fang and his threats? Are you asking me to leave what he did to you unpunished? You saw the letters, right? I showed them to you!"
"Kuei lost control of his Minister of war a long time ago. Lu Fang acts alone, I'm sure of that! He uses the name of the Earth King, this parody of a ruler, to distract your attention and legitimize his actions with his people."
"I don't believe it," Zuko replied, arms crossed over his chest. "If Kuei really wanted to avoid war, he would have responded to our requests!"
"Unless someone intercepts all your requests…"
"More than ten heralds were sent to Ba Sing Se to deliver the message. Uncle Iroh even enlisted the members of the White Lotus to make sure that the non-aggression pact proposal got into Kuei's hands personally. He must have received it by now!"
"Don't underestimate our enemies, Zuko," Azula warned him, casting a fiery gaze on him that made his heart skip a beat. "And don't make the even bigger mistake of overestimating those you think are your allies. You saw the result with the Avatar, right?"
"Even if what you say is true," he grumbled, "who says that Kuei will accept such an alliance? And how will we convey the betrothal request to him?"
The word lined his palate with a sour taste. The idea of marrying such a young girl… Of course, she would almost be a woman when he finally welcomed her into his bed, but still.
Incest seems like a more reasonable option to you? the voice of reason cut through his head, echoing Azula's words. He quickly pushed it from his mind.
"He won't refuse," Azula said. "He can't hope for a better alliance. By uniting our two nations, Kuei has everything to gain: the assurance of a lasting peace, fruitful commercial and military exchanges... Once engaged to the brat, you will have plenty of time to restore the power of our army, perhaps even to swell its ranks with a few earthbenders. And it will also have the advantage of forcing Lu Fang to come out of hiding and confess that he has committed sedition."
Zuko didn't like this plan. He had the unpleasant feeling that Azula was forgetting something essential, but he himself was at a loss to say what it was. The plan seemed brilliant, but there were still so many unknown elements. Can you really anticipate your enemies' reactions to this extent? Azula had shone in this field in the past, when she was still a very young girl.
But today, she was a young woman worn and damaged by five years of suffering and illness. As they spoke, she was in the middle of a relapse, unable to remain lucid for more than a few consecutive hours. Doctor Tanaka, at the asylum, had clearly explained to Zuko that the illness from which Azula suffered could lead to megalomaniac tendencies, in addition to a paranoid delirium. Was she in the middle of a crisis right now? Would she still think so if she was sane? How to be sure they weren't precipitating their own downfall?
Anyway, there was one more thing that troubled him about this plan:
"And what about the Sons of Agni? They spread their nauseating ideas all over the country. If the people find out that I'm going to marry a girl from the Earth Kingdom, we will face a riot!"
"Exactly!" Azula whispered, her pupils sparkling with excitement.
Zuko opened his eyes wide. Finally, he understood what Azula wanted. By making the people believe that the Sages had arranged this political marriage, not only would they ease the tensions with the Earth Kingdom, but the Sons of Agni might change their focus. Azula intended to use the Sages as shields between them and the Sons of Agni. It was brilliant.
Zuko was impressed. It was not for nothing that all his enemies demanded the head of the princess. They knew what they risked by letting her sit on the Throne or control her brother.
Unlike her, Zuko represented a middle path. His enemies would see their interest in it and would try to place their pawns, thinking they were dealing with an impulsive and easily influenced sovereign. No one would care. When the ambitions of everyone would finally collide, Zuko and Azula would only have to contemplate the carnage and take back what was rightfully theirs.
The Earth King sat in the middle of the steps leading to his throne, hunched shoulders like a defeated general before a field of ruins. His little round glasses slipped from his nose as he stared at the ground in an attitude of contrition; and he replaced them continually, only to let them fall back the next second.
On his abandoned throne, a little girl who could be three or four amused herself by climbing the backrest to touch with a greedy little hand the embossed gilding that adorned the olive-colored wall. The cries of frustration she uttered visibly disturbed the tranquility of the bear, Bosco, who stood up on his hind legs to ensure the precarious balance of the little brat, unaware of the danger.
Standing in front of the steps where Kuei was sitting in disarray, were the Avatar, superb in his golden tunic, his stick in his hand, and his friend Sokka, still dressed in his blue Water Tribes clothes.
Both gazed at the sovereign with a mixture of exasperation and pity, sometimes sharing a desperate look.
"Since when?" Aang asked, understanding that nothing he would say could erase the shame that tugged at the young king's delicate features.
The little girl on the throne gave a shrill cry that barely caught the king's attention. The bear had rushed towards the child who had just fallen to catch her in his big hairy paw with a growl that sounded like a reprimand. Hou Tin tugged on the hairs of his snout, and the beast released her. The little princess slid to the seat from which she jumped and began to hop down the stairs under the indifferent gaze of her visibly exhausted father.
"I haven't heard from him for weeks now. Lu Fang left the capital in late spring. I continued to receive his falcons until mid-July, then nothing."
"You pretend you didn't know?" Sokka snapped. "You didn't know about the mess he caused in the colonies? Yet you were the one ordering your troops to leave these lands, weren't you?"
"Yes...yes, it was me," the pale young man pitifully admitted before picking up the hat his daughter had just snatched from him and thrown at his feet, giggling with laughter. He stared at her while she was descending the stairs to hide herself behind one of the four huge marble pillars that framed the majestic throne.
"At the time, I never imagined for a second that the situation would degenerate to this point," the king admitted. "When the first attacks against the settlers took place, I wanted to step back. Then there was the crew of this ship near Yu Dao, whose slaughtered limbs were found… I immediately summoned Lu Fang, but he never answered me."
"So, you certify that you are not the author of the letters that Zuko received every morning until the end of August?" Aang asked, frowning worriedly.
"I swear!" the king repeated, visibly weary of this accusation. "I swear to you! On the contrary: I'm not crazy! I know the Fire Lord's temper and would never risk an open conflict with him, not after a hundred years of war that had weakened my people."
"Not even for Azula?" skeptically added Sokka, whom annoyance made a little harsher every time he spoke.
"Especially not for her! I know what influence she has on her brother. I will not take the risk of upsetting her knowing what she is capable of and what he is willing to do for her!"
Aang decided to drop all pretense:
"So, you completely deny having any involvement in the princess's accident?"
Kuei looked up, quickly readjusting the small glasses that his daughter, back beside him, had just ripped from his nose. Picking up the child on his lap, he gave Aang a pleading look.
"I told you that until your arrival this morning, I was unaware of this disastrous accident! I've only received two letters from Caldera in two months and I've already shown them to you!"
Aang looked down at the two scrolls Sokka was holding in his hand. On the first, dated July, one could recognize the signature of Zuko, which urged Kuei to take responsibility and send troops back urgently to calm the situation that had become catastrophic in the colonies. On the second letter, sent some weeks after, a hand trembling with fury announced the dispatch of Zuko's air fleet to Yu Dao and other provinces to cleanse the colonies of the scum that was plaguing them.
"Did Zuko write those two letters to you?" Sokka asked, unfolding them to compare. "It doesn't look like the same handwriting."
"They are signed with his name," Kuei replied simply, shrugging his shoulders.
"And that's enough for you?" Aang wondered, a little dismayed.
"I don't know what to do, Aang!" Kuei whined miserably as he avoided the hand of the little princess who snickered mischievously trying to scratch his nose. "Oh, my dove, please let dad talk to the grown-ups!" he begged her in a sugary voice.
This did little to change the child's resolve, who instead decided to focus on her father's long braid, tugging on it while making rude noises.
"I summoned a defense council as soon as I received this letter and sent four heralds to Caldera to bring my plea to Zuko, but I received no response! And reports have told me that Fire Nation airships have started flying over the Yu Dao area recently!"
"Yes," Aang said slowly, "We were there when Zuko ordered them to leave. He sent new troops to try to pacify the regions affected by the violence. But he didn't talk about attacking you."
"Oh, by all the gods! How could Lu Fang betray me like this?"
Kuei buried his head in his hands, the gesture perfectly suiting the pathetic tone of his cracking voice.
This time, it was too much for Sokka:
"I can't believe it! You're weak, incompetent and cowardly!" he cried, his copper cheeks flushing with anger. "Not even able to see anything when one of your advisors betrays you right before your eyes! First Long Feng and the Dai Li! Now that bastard Lu Fang! That son of a bitch stole half your army right in front of your eyes and you stayed silent? Why didn't you call us sooner? And why not write to Zuko immediately rather than let things escalate into a war that now seems inevitable?"
Shame made the sovereign's jaw tremble, and he buried his face in his daughter's neck. She pulled away from him and pushed him away with a disgusted look and after a pat on her father's nose, she managed to get out of his arms. She stuck her tongue out at him before decamping under Sokka's dumbfounded gaze. Ironically, this little scene seemed to replay all the reproaches the young warrior had just heaped on Kuei.
"I was too ashamed to admit to my people that I had once again been fooled and that I had lost control of my Minister of war. Now it's him who makes the law in the Earth Kingdom and I don't know how to protect my people from a war!"
"What do your ministers say?" Aang inquired. "I mean… those who are still here."
"They advised me to keep a low profile. If the people find out what is happening, I will become the laughingstock of the kingdom and they will revolt."
"So, what are you waiting for to strike Lu Fang for treason and have him searched?" Aang asked briskly. "If you want to look credible, show that you don't tolerate his behavior!"
"The problem..." Kuei said slowly, looking at his daughter tugging at Bosco's ears, who groaned in annoyance, "...is that he now has too many supporters. A large part of the army is his now. I can't send my last troops to secure the colonies. I must protect Ba Sing Se from a possible attack from the Fire Lord."
Aang fell silent and exchanged another look with Sokka. Although he doubted such a project existed, too much had happened recently with Zuko. And Aang had no trouble picturing Zuko starting a war. The young Avatar could easily imagine what honey-coated words the Fire Nation princess was whispering to her brother on the palace's silken pillows.
Indeed, Aang and Sokka had seen a few airships while flying over the Yu Dao lands on Appa's back, but nothing of the arsenal the second letter announced. It might as well be Lu Fang's new trick. Iroh was still at Caldera and Aang was sure he wouldn't let his nephew order such an attack without reacting.
At times, Aang regretted his promise to Zuko not to tell anyone about what happened on Ember Island. Surely Azula would try to take advantage of the situation.
Katara had warned him though and repeated her fears to him just before he left her at the Southern Air Temple to head for Ba Sing Se with Sokka.
It was there, among the Air Acolytes, that Suki would spend the rest of her pregnancy. The events on Ember Island had affected her deeply and Katara had ordered her to rest until the baby's birth. Aang deeply regretted that his fiancée could not accompany him to Ba Sing Se, but the situation was too urgent. They couldn't wait.
Kuei's confession confirmed their worst fears. As the Avatar, Aang had to act.
"Your Highness, starting tomorrow, you will put up posters all over the Earth Kingdom to expose Lu Fang's sedition. You will demand his arrest and offer a reward to anyone who gives you valuable information about his whereabouts."
The young ruler nodded, trying to make his slender face look braver.
"Yes," he answered firmly, "Now, I see that's what I should have done from the start. And you Aang, what are you going to do?"
Aang exchanged a look with Sokka who took a deep breath and nodded in his direction.
"We need to let Zuko know what's going on as soon as possible. You must immediately write a letter in which you will explain everything that happened. You will present your apologies, definitively renounce any charge against Princess Azula…"
"Of course," Kuei approved fervently.
"Azula is the ember that might start the fire," Aang warned. You must assure Zuko of your renunciation of harming her. Maybe she doesn't deserve your pardon, but it's the only way to preserve the peace."
"I understand," Kuei said, looking confused again."
"When you've done all that, we'll leave for Caldera," Aang announced.
"When you say we, you mean…"
"You and us, yes! You are no longer safe here. The White Lotus will take care of protecting Ba Sing Se. Sokka will take your daughter away from here."
Aang and Kuei ducked their heads as Sokka's boomerang hit the green marble floor hard with a loud metallic crash.
"Sorry?" his friend choked out, nervously picking up his weapon. "You want me to stay with this mon… this adorable little angel?" he corrected himself just in time, meeting Aang's gaze.
Aang turned to Kuei who was looking at him with a desperate expression.
"But... where will they go?"
"We will first travel together on Appa. It's the fastest and safest means of transport. We will drop off Sokka and your daughter in a village at the coast. My friend Haru will help them. From there, they will take a boat to the Southern Air Temple. They'll be safe with Katara and my Air Acolytes."
Kuei seemed hesitant. He took off his glasses and wiped them with a rag. Aang noticed that his fingers were shaking a little when he put them back on his nose.
"You can trust Sokka," Aang assured. "He will keep the princess safe as if his own life depended on it. She will be in good care, believe me."
Kuei seemed to hesitate. This plan did not seem to please him. Obviously, he was trembling for his daughter, but something told Aang that the prospect of spending a few weeks away from that little devil was just as enticing. He could almost see in his slanted eyes the inner battle going on inside the young king's head.
"What will I do once there?" he asked slowly.
"You will negotiate directly with Zuko. A real discussion has been necessary for a long time now! If all goes well, he will have received our letter before our arrival and will be ready to welcome you. You will tell him everything you know about Lu Fang and offer him your help to protect his nation. In exchange, you will ask him to help you protect Ba Sing Se and restore the peace in the colonies."
"But what if he refuses?"
"That's enough!" Sokka suddenly burst out. "It's precisely your doubts and uncertainties that have pushed you to remain passive when your closest adviser was planning a coup right before your eyes! For the second time, wake up! It's time to act like a king and take your responsibilities!"
Kuei blushed furiously and looked down at the ground, terribly ashamed.
"Yes, you are right, a thousand times right," he admitted in a small voice. "I have been weak, and a coward."
"No kidding," Sokka muttered quietly so only Aang could hear him.
"Do you think there's a chance that Zuko will accept?" the king worried.
"Zuko is in a desperate situation as well, surrounded by enemies. He needs all the support he can get, and you have to reach out to him before he loses his temper for good and declares war on your kingdom. Moreover, he won't really have a choice since I will ask him to give up this madness myself if he still thinks about it."
Kuei suddenly seemed relieved like a child being told that he will finally be able to celebrate his birthday. He seemed a little more cheerful and confident and looked tenderly at his daughter who was hopping on the huge, carefully waxed floor and sliding down it.
"Daddy, I'm bored," she shouted suddenly, interrupting her games. "I want to go swimming now!"
"I already told you it's not possible now, my pretty buttercup. Be patient, could you? Dad still has to talk with the Avatar and his friend."
"That one is weird with his bald head and blue arrow! I don't like him! And the other one with his ponytail looks mean! I don't want to stay with him!"
"It's a wolf's tail!" Sokka retorted.
"Hou-Tin! Please, be polite to my guests," her father scolded her in the least authoritative tone Aang had ever heard. "Avatar Aang and Sokka came to help Daddy with his problems. "Please go find your nanny my little treasure! She will take care of you."
"No, I don't want to! I want to swim!" roared the little girl whose vociferations reverberated against the marble pillars, forcing the three men to duck their heads into their shoulders.
"Very well, very well, my dear! Daddy will take you swimming!" he promised, rushing towards her to kneel in front of the lassie whose dark eyes shone with anger.
"And I want a candy!" the little one demanded, crossing her arms over her chest to give herself a more authoritative look.
"Anything you want my little honey bear!" Kuei promised with a bright smile, visibly relieved to see the rage vanished in his daughter's eyes.
Witnessing this wacky scene, Aang hoped in his heart that Kuei would prove to be a better diplomat than a father in this sordid affair.
If he were to deal with Zuko as he was dealing with his own daughter, however insufferable she was, the world was not done worrying.
Zuko had to face many scary situation throughout his short life : to see his father arrive on the arena of the Agni Kai, at the age of thirteen, after he had foolishly challenged him in front of his gathered ministers and generals; to wait in front of the throne room for the same man who had banished him to open his arms to him again, three years later; or to watch for Iroh's reaction when he finally found him after his despicable betrayal...
Not to mention the hell he had been going through because of Azula all these years. Sometimes, Zuko couldn't help but resent her deeply for all the pain she inflicted on him. Why couldn't he just give up on her, like everyone had advised him to?
Yes, Zuko had endured many hardships and experienced many difficult situations. Yet that did nothing to lighten the terror he felt now, in the antechamber of the Council Chamber where the Fire Sages were deliberating after a meeting of more than two hours with the Princess.
Azula stood in a seat next to him, chained and silent, two guards watching her every move. He would have held her hand if it hadn't been for heavy black metal chains that covered them. Zuko was still surprised at the docility she had shown when he told her the need to recourse to this precaution.
Without that, he had apologized as an armored guard was twisting her arm behind Azula's back to chain her, the Sages won't agree to see you.
Despite the presence of the guards, Zuko stared at her. Her pale face didn't express half of the torment Zuko was enduring right now. On the contrary, Azula seemed calm, almost serene, as if her fate was sealed and that she had given up all hope so long ago that she no longer feared bad news.
It was unbearable. On the other side of that heavy door, the old fools were there, talking for hours to decide his sister's fate. The scene she had played before them had made a great impression. The disheveled and incoherent creature that had entered the Council Chamber more than three hours ago was as pathetic as she was frightening.
The day before, Zuko had spent long minutes trying to stifle her screams as she struggled against demons that only she could see. Despite his pleas, Azula had fiercely refused to absorb even a drop of the treatment prepared by Taïma. Zuko had even considered for a moment the possibility of forcing her, but he hadn't had the heart to.
His sister hadn't slept all night and purplish dark circles underlined her bewildered look. She made a very convincing lunatic during that interrogation, talking to shadows, bursting into hysterical laughter only to break down in tears the next minute. Azula had dazzled him with her performance. Zuko couldn't tell which part of the scene she had displayed in front of them was comedy and which part was real.
He himself had stood in the room, alone on a bench, away from the Sages and the Great Judge whom they had appointed to preside over Azula's potential trial.
The young woman had managed to answer a few questions. She had lambasted the Avatar so much, spitting on his name all her repertoire of profanity that the Sages must have easily believed the version of the facts they'd exposed to them.
Yes, in a moment of madness, Azula savagely attacked the Avatar's fiancée. She told them how, in a rage, Aang had entered a trance and almost killed them, her and Zuko. Azula's insane testimony perfectly backed up the story Zuko had told them days earlier.
Then the time came to question Azula about what she did to Commander Tsuneo's son. Zuko was still quivering with rage at the memory. The revelations the princess had made to them had been a discovery for him too.
"This son of a bitch, this rapist got what he deserved!" she spat when Shyu, the Great Sage, reproached her for her savagery.
"Rapist?" the Elder echoed, taken aback. "Princess, are you suggesting that Kojiro..."
"I'm not suggesting anything, old goat! Come to see by yourself if you don't believe me! If any of you traitors has the courage to approach me."
There she spoke of the hand-shaped scar that stretched across her hip. One of the old men had moved to lift Azula's tunic himself on the side she indicated.
Everyone had held their breath.
"So, you claim that Kojiro is responsible for this wound, Princess?"
"I wouldn't have let that dork with his arthritic veiny fingers grope me like that if it he wasn't!"
The Sages shared long silent looks and one of them leaned down to whisper something in Shyu's ear who nodded gravely. Meanwhile, glued to his seat, Zuko tried to regain a normal heartbeat.
"Princess," Shyu continued. "Do you accuse Kojiro, the Son of Commander Tsuneo, of having dishonored you without your consent during this evening?"
At that moment, Azula turned her eyes to Zuko. The look she cast on him had been as fleeting as lightning and Zuko stopped breathing. An indescribable fury rose in him, invading his brain and darkening his heart.
Now that he was looking at her, sitting here in the antechamber where they were waiting for the verdict, Zuko thought he should have known. That he had maybe always known but had never been willing to admit this odious truth.
He shouldn't have tried to take what's yours.
Those had been Azula's words. Too naive, blinded by jealousy, Zuko had refused to consider the implication. Instead, he wanted to believe that his sister seduced Kojiro, that the latter had jumped at the opportunity. He assumed that Azula, regretting having yielded to temptation, had wanted to silence him.
Azula was the most powerful firebender of her generation, and an outstanding fighter, even in close combat. He couldn't imagine any guy capable of subjugating her to his will. He himself struggled to overcome her when they trained in the yard.
If Kojiro really raped her, she wouldn't have rubbed against Zuko the next minute when they were in her room, right? Yet that is exactly what happened. Zuko would never forget how she had undone her belt for him, how she'd threw her head back when he started kissing her breasts, how lascivious and tender she was before Ty Lee's interruption.
Certainly not the attitude of a woman who had just been abused.
But the scar was there, damning evidence that changed everything. Only close physical proximity could explain such an injury. So, the Princess would have acted in self-defense?
"Still," a quavering voice rose at Shyu's left. "You don't burn a man's face because he's been a little bolder! I don't want to offend the Princess, but this young man just wanted to spend some good time with her, right? He might have lost control at some point. Come on, we all have been young men, gentlemen! You know what it means when an attractive young woman says no..."
A long tense whistle sounded in the room following the unexpected speech of this old imbecile. And Zuko thought he should be happy that his own stupid face was still intact. The fool owed his life only to Shyu who silenced him with a wave of his hand and cast a worried look at the Fire Lord who had just petrified in his chair, a murderous light igniting his asymmetrical gaze. .
When they left the room, fifteen minutes later, Zuko had to resist the irrepressible urge to throw himself on his sister, to shake her roughly and to yell at her: Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me about it?"
Zuko struggled to remember the long conversations they had before and after their return from Ember Island. Never, even after they learned that a judiciary process had been initiated against Azula, had she mentioned such an assault. And Zuko, too fearful of what she could say, had refrained from asking her about what really happened that night. Better to focus on their plan. It was necessary to hold on, at all costs, to convince the Council of his sincerity.
The minutes stretched on endlessly. The ticking of the mechanism of his pocket watch took up all the space in the antechamber. Azula started to fidget. Zuko saw her throw her head violently to the side and heard her breathing getting more and more jerky. He recognized the symptoms of an impending crisis. Once again, his sister was the prey to the voices speaking in her head. Sometimes, when it was impossible for her to contain them, she showed her impatience with these kind of sudden and involuntary movements
Listening only to his heart, choosing to ignore the guards watching them out of the corner of his eye, he approached the chair where Azula was sitting, still chained. He knelt down in front of her and took her by the shoulders.
"Shhhhut… Azula… Everything's going to be fine, I swear…"
Azula turned her head in his direction but seemed unable to fix her glassy gaze on him.
"I'm scared!" she breathed.
Zuko knew she wasn't acting. She couldn't faint, not now, not minutes from the verdict.
"Don't worry, little sis," he reassured her, hugging her, whispering in her ear. "You will have nothing to say. We'll stick to the plan, and it'll be fine, you'll see."
Zuko wondered if, like him, she thought about the consequences of her extraordinary revelation. Could they still take advantage of the Sons of Agni's rise in power after taking down their mascot? If that bastard with his charred, festering face had been in the room at the time of Azula's confession, Zuko would have strangled him with his own hands. Or else he would have snatched his cock to teach him to thrust it between his princess's legs.
"When it's all over," he whispered again, "you'll resume your treatment, then I'll bring you to the little cove you love so much. Would you want to, Zula? Would you like it?"
Almost suffocating from the violent panic that was assaulting her, Azula nodded vigorously, her bronze eyes looking up at him, wide with fear. Big tears escaped from them and Zuko was sure that his heart could have drowned in them.
At the same time, the huge door opened and one of the Sages appeared in the frame.
"Fire Lord, Your Highness, we are done. If you want to follow me?"
Zuko let go of Azula and let a guard remove the chains holding her to the chair. Hands still tied behind her back, she got up laboriously. Zuko rushed to her aid before she collapsed on her wobbly legs.
He put a protective arm around her shoulders, and together they walked through the door to the Council Chamber.