TW!

TW!

TW!

Mentions of rape. A/N at the end.

Chapter 30 – The accusation

A heartbroken man was pacing his room. It was late at night and except for a single candle burning on his nightstand, it was dark. With a racing heart, sweating palms and quick breaths he was trying to think clearly through the turmoil in his head.

Azula had gotten in his mind. Her voice was echoing all over, telling him again and again that the Avatar was still alive, that he would come back and destroy it all. Take away everything that he had just gained again, even when it didn't satisfy him at all.

There was only one thing to be done, and he had known it for days now. The idea had swarmed in the back of his head for a week but he didn't want to go through with it. It was only to be used when he would be desperate. And he now was.

By going back to the Fire Nation, joining Azula in the process and betraying the one he loved the most, he was terribly, horrifyingly afraid of losing the one thing that had come out of it; his father's acceptance. And when word would come out that the Avatar wasn't really dead, then Ozai wouldn't just scar his face. No, he would kill his male heir for it. And Ozai wouldn't do it as a father, but as the Fire Lord. The most powerful man in the world. And the most powerful man in the world wouldn't take kindly to being betrayed, even if it was by his own family.

Zuko knew that by seeking out the assassin he would sign the death sentence of the Avatar. But it felt like his only choice. Milah had taken everything.

Everything.

Zuko was nothing now. He was nothing without her. Every day, the struggle was the same. The hurt, the pain, the grieve, the anger, it was all the same. It never fucking stopped and the Prince knew that for the rest of his life, he would have to live with the guilt that came with all of his actions in the past. All that he had done to her. That he had done to his uncle. Even his mother, who had left him in the clutches of a monster that had marked the face of a thirteen-year-old boy. The face of his son.

Zuko shouted out in frustration and kicked his desk, making the ink that was sitting in a glass jar spill over his documents. He sank to the ground with his hands in his hair and let a single tear fall out of his eye. If he were to do this… he would have to be clear about the instructions. In no case was he to attack Sokka or Katara. Or even Toph. No, he only needed Aang to… vanish, so to speak. Zuko had to be very precise in their descriptions.

His mind suddenly spoke up. But what if… she is amongst them?

No, she won't be, he scolded his consciousness. She left us, remember? She left us. And that's fine. It's totally fine. She's probably off to the Earth Kingdom, finding someone to spend her life with. Finding someone to father her children. Finding a worthy husband to be by her side for good and for worse.

Zuko let out a raspy, shaky breath together with another thick tear and made his decision.

The morning after Amim's… proposal, things settled down on the ship. Everyone was going their way and the crew was working hard to ensure that they were sailing fast, but it was hard. Especially since the wind had laid down, and without an Airbender to speed things up a little bit, they were relying on the weather to improve.

Two weeks passed before they arrived near the shores of their next stop; a village settled at the coast of the Earth Kingdom. There, they picked up a lot of people that were apparently saved from a Fire Nation prison by Katara. Tyro and his son, Haru had been captured amongst many just because they were Earthbenders. But Katara managed to invade the prison and encouraged all of them to stand up and fight for their freedom, resulting in the freeing of all of the prisoners. Afterwards, when the Gaang – without Toph – had left again, they even freed their town and were still managing to hold the Fire Nation army back.

Milah was just standing at the front of the ship when all of a sudden, it started snowing. She looked around herself and felt disoriented. It shouldn't be snowing; the sky was blue, the sun was shining and it was hot. Not to mention that they were pretty far south, so it shouldn't be possible.

The snow was black-

The snow was black.

And there she spotted the metal death machine.

''Fire Nation attack!'' Milah screamed from the top of her lungs and was just in time to bend a huge wave of water, blocking the bomb that was hurtling towards them.

The whole ship came into action, the Waterbenders taking their respective places and filling up their flasks, prepared to lay down their lives for the cause. From afar, she could see her father yelling several commands while Bato blew the horn twice, warning their entire fleet for the attack.

''Milah! Get out of here now!'' Marok yelled at her, preparing one of their own catapults. She shook her head at him.

''No, I will not abandon you,'' she calmly responded and took a fighting stance. Another bomb was coming their way. All of the Waterbenders waved their arms, creating a wave bigger than she could ever make on her own. The single Fire Nation ship almost capsized because of the size and strength.

''We have to take it out. The Fire Nation can't know that there's an entire Water Tribe fleet on the move. It would raise too much suspicion!'' she screamed over the shouts to Marok who was still within hearing distance.

''I'll tell the Chief!'' he shouted back and she assumed he ran away, seeing the lack of any further response.

Together, all of them fought for as hard as they could while a secret vessel filled with their best soldiers stormed the enemy ship stealthily and unseen, destroying it efficiently and quick.

But not before it had landed a hit on one of their own; it had a leak in one of the storage rooms below deck, making it sink slowly but steadily. However, luckily for them, they had only been an hour away from their destination, so they managed to drag the remains to the little port.

Milah and Hakoda went down the walkway together, the former patching up some of the scratches she had gotten during the previous fight. ''Are you sure you're okay?'' her father asked her.

She rolled her eyes. ''Stop worrying.''

He rolled his eyes as well in return, although playfully, and walked away from her to speak to one of the guards that were waiting for them to state their business.

Milah walked up to her three friends that were talking animatedly just a distance away. ''This'll take an entire week to repair.''

''Yeah,'' Amim responded and grimaced slightly. She immediately noticed.

''Where are you hurt?'' she asked him worriedly and took his hand that was resting against his side.

He waved her away nonchalantly. ''It's nothing.''

She tsked. ''It's not nothing. Let me heal you.''

And he let her. She raised his shirt delicately, her cold fingers raising his cold skin from the seawater that had sort of soaked them earlier. A nasty cut was bleeding heavily, making her wonder how the hell he had managed to stay on his feet at all. She got to work quickly, bending the water from a flask at her side to the wound, stemming the bleeding before the man in front of her would faint. Indeed, his face had gone a little pale.

After the worst of the cut was gone, the whole party went over to the Town Hall, the place set up for the few people who managed the small village's laws and economy. It was mostly self-regulating, seeing they had taken back control from the Fire Nation. And it was there where they met Tyro and Haru.

''Welcome,'' Tyro greeted her father upon having entered the small building together with his daughter and most trusted warriors. ''It is nice to meet the father of the girl who aided us in our escape and consequently, the conquest of our town.''

Hakoda gave the man a traditional Earth Kingdom bow, one Tyro returned with a look of respect and awe in his eyes. ''Likewise, Tyro. I have always been proud of my children, but upon hearing what Katara has done for you all… makes my heart swell every time.''

Tyro gave the Chief a smile. ''I can imagine that. I couldn't have been more proud of Haru as well, after he so bravely stood up against that Fire Nation scum.''

Hakoda's eyes turned serious and grievous at the same time. ''I am sorry that you and your people have endured such hardships. Although it is war, we can never take it lightly that people suffer every day from the consequences.''

Tyro nodded. ''You're right. But don't be sorry, it is not your fault or anyone's in this room. I only wish there was a way that we could end the war once and for all.''

Milah felt her heart stumble for a moment, letting the words spoken by Tyro hit to heart. After all, she could have done more to stop the war. She could have done so much more-

''That is the reason why we come upon you today, Tyro,'' her father interrupted her toxic thoughts. ''My son, Sokka, has found a way that could help us invade the Fire Nation. In approximately two months' time, a solar eclipse will occur…''

The conversation went on, but Milah zoned out. She'd heard this part before back at the Northern Air Temple and wasn't particularly interested in actively listening. Instead, she took a look around, seeing Amim stand by the wall, his hand pressed against his side while a frown took over his usual cheery face. Her heart hurt upon seeing him in such a state. Her gaze went on. Several Earth Kingdom soldiers that were present in the Hall were eyeing him warily, probably recognising his signature Fire Nation looks. Besides, they had both been here before. In this town.

She'd recognised the port immediately. It was the same town where the first music night took place. On that night, according to Zuko, he had fallen in love with her.

''… but I have loved you ever since you sang that beautiful song on my ship 5 months ago. And I have never stopped loving you,'' Zuko had said, and Milah had cried but she'd believed him. And then they had made love and he had given her his mother's ring, the only thing that he had left of Ursa. And they had loved, and loved, and loved…

She swallowed away the lump that had formed in her throat and absentmindedly let her right hand drift to her abdomen.

It attracted the attention of Haru, which went unnoticed by the pregnant woman. He took a good look at her and recognised her at once. It was the older sister of Katara, Milah, the one who had been captured by the Prince of the Fire Nation. Katara had told him so with great sadness. That she'd been back for a mere hour before being imprisoned again after having been reunited after 7 years.

He knew what that felt like, being a prisoner of the Fire Nation. But to imagine what she had been through… he couldn't comprehend what being held captive by the Crown Prince would feel like. The horrors she must've endured…

But her holding her lower stomach like that, could that mean..? his unconsciousness spoke to him and was determined to find out more about it later. He wasn't clueless about such things.

The meeting with Tyro was over sooner than anyone of them had expected, although Milah could feel her stomach growl because they hadn't had much food that day.

''How is your side?'' she asked Amim once they all stepped foot outside.

He gave her a vague nod. ''It's fine. Don't worry about it.''

She gave him a long look before letting it slide. She'd keep a good eye on him anyway.

The part of the crew that wasn't necessary with repairing their damaged ship were lead by a town's official to a campsite at the border of the little town where they put up their tents. The place where they would live for a week until their fleet was restored.

That night, the whole party sat around a big campfire made by Tyro so they could all have dinner with each other, right next to their campsite. Milah was seated beside Amim on a big log, who finally had some colour on his cheeks, and in front of them were Marok and Taruq.

''So, Milah, right?'' the son of Tyro, Haru, asked her once he had seated himself beside her unexpectedly. She looked up at him with a smile.

''Yep, that's me,'' she answered. ''And you're Haru? Tyro's son?''

He nodded with an equal smile. ''You look so much like her. Like Katara, I mean. Or one could say she rather looks like you, seeing you were born earlier.''

She laughed at his little ramble and took a drink from her water. His eyes zoomed in on the action, making her wonder what exactly was going on.

''Here, have some wine,'' he offered her the can but she shook her head, knowing that alcohol didn't do unborn babies any good.

''No, thank you. I'm not really into wine,'' she nonchalantly stated and scraped her throat nervously. It wasn't like she was ashamed of her state… she was just afraid of the reactions she would get. Especially in a town filled with strangers.

''Will you be joining us on the mission, Haru?'' Amim tried to sway the topic but he wasn't having it.

''You know, you don't have to be ashamed,'' the man softly said, making Amim grab her hand softly. Haru's eyes zoomed in on that action as well.

''You don't know what you're talking about,'' she hissed at him, wanting him to just back the fuck off.

''Did he… did he force himself on you? Katara told me about that bastard. My father mentioned you had been captured by that Prince. But to think… I swear, if he did such a thing I'm going to kill him for it-''

She cut him off by bending the water from her cup roughly into his face, leaving a small cut on his cheek. ''Shut the fuck up!''

''Haru, I think it's time you left,'' Amim huskily told the Earthbender who was shooting daggers at her with his eyes.

''Milah I just want to help you. He is a bad man, okay? We'll take him out-''

''What's going on here?'' Hakoda interrupted his awful words.

''Haru you don't know what you're talking about! You don't know anything about me!'' she screamed in his face while trying to get out of the strong but gentle hold of Amim. Taruq and Marok came to stand in front of her protectively.

She took a moment to look around and felt her face heat up because of the looks she got from everyone. The only thing breaking the silence being the crackling fire in the night.

''Chief Hakoda, did you know that your daughter was raped by the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation and is now pregnant with his baby?'' he said with an audacity that made an unknown fire spread through her entire being.

''I'm going to fucking kill you!'' the Waterbender shrieked and bended all of the water out of all places she could find, whirled her arms around and aimed for his chest in a fit of rage that went right through her core.

However, her two new friends had grabbed her arms before she could actually kill him. A loud gasp went through the entire party. Whispers started up immediately.

''Tyro!'' her father shouted to the man that had come to stand beside the Chief with a panicked look on his face. ''Your son just made a vile, disgusting accusation against my daughter. If you could both please join me and Milah so we can sort this… situation out.''

Milah's breath was quickening while still trembling from rage. ''But dad, I-''

''No buts. Come with me.'' He took her from the three men by the arm and led her to another secluded place deeper in the forest. Tyro and Haru followed them silently, but obediently. Her anger slowly dissolved, but it hadn't left her body completely when they all arrived at a little clearing.

''Haru, what you just said about my daughter in public like that… it should be common sense that one should not speak lightly of such a matter in such company, shouldn't it?'' her father began calmly. Milah balled her fists but stayed quiet, looking at the ground to avoid making eye contact with the man in question, afraid her anger would take over again.

''I'm sorry, Chief Hakoda. It's just that Katara spoke with so much love about Milah that I've kind of promised to look after her several months ago when they were here should I ever cross paths with her.''

Hakoda frowned. ''That doesn't explain why you would insinuate that she was raped in front of the entire company.''

''Well, my father and Katara told me about her imprisonment by the Prince. I automatically assumed that she was… you know… ra-''

''Stop!'' she shouted, raising her head to the Earthbender. ''I know where you're going with this, and I can assure you that I have not been through such a thing. I can handle myself. If I wanted to, I could have escaped him months ago.''

All three men turned their heads to her in different manners. Hakoda looked determined, knowing his daughter could indeed accomplish such a thing. Tyro and Haru, however, looked mortified. Or was it anger? She didn't actually care.

''Wait, if you wanted to? So you didn't want to escape him?'' Haru asked her incredulously. ''Does that mean that you actually slept-''

''Haru! That's enough,'' Tyro cut his son off with a stern look, eyeing Milah warily. ''What the girl does and doesn't do is her own business. I think it's appropriate you apologise to her so we can move forward from this matter. However, I have to ask if it is true that you are pregnant, so we can keep it in mind during-''

''Yes, yes, I'm pregnant. God, why does everyone make such a big deal out of this-''

''Enough, Milah. That's enough,'' Hakoda scolded her. Anger flooded her again.

''I'm sorry, Milah. I understand that I maybe could've been more considerate with that I said. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I'm truly sorry.'' His eyes spoke truth, but while she was usually a very forgiving person, looking past people's mistakes, it somehow wasn't possible for her now.

Maybe it was because he had made such accusations against Zuko, the one man she loved most in her life. Haru had so vilely declared to the world that he had… taken her against her will, while it had been anything but that.

Maybe it was because she was tired and sick of being alone. She just wanted to world to know how much she loved the stupid Prince and how much he had told her he loved her, even if it maybe had not been the truth. Maybe she was just mad at herself, for believing anything he had told her, while it had been clear that if he really had loved her, then he wouldn't have left. Then he wouldn't have believed the lies Azula had told him.

''Not going to say it's fine, but I accept your apology, Haru. Now let me go to sleep,'' she answered eventually and turned around to go back to the campsite, feeling like she could drop dead from exhaustion.

Not paying any attention to her surroundings, or otherwise she might've seen the shadow moving in the dark of the forest. Then she might've heard the shuffle of someone's feet scurrying away, having eavesdropped the entire conversation between the four people.

Then she might've understood what was to come in a few days' time.

A/N: to all of my lovely, devoted readers: I am so terribly, inexcusably sorry for the long wait. I have just started my Master in a new city, have met a lot of new people and had to set up an entire new social life, so to say my life's been hectic is an understatement. And to the kind people that've asked: yes, I'm okay :). Thank you for asking! I hope all of you are doing well too! And special shoutout to my dear guest(s) reviewer(s) and Val! You guys make my day!

But enough about me. This chapter was super duper hard to write. That's why it took a long time as well. Struggled with a writers' block and didn't know where to go forward for a while, but now I've started figuring out what to do until the Day of Black Sun, so hopefully it'll go much smoother from here on now! This chapter sets a new base for the next part of part three, so that's why it was so important for me to write it well in a way. It'll all play out in the next chapter, I promise!

Tomorrow I'm going to continue writing and hopefully have another chapter for you! It's in the middle of the night here right now, so sleep well you all! Lots of love, Lily.