Chapter 7, Ursa's kindness.
Ozai had tried to keep Katara and his plans a secret, however despite his best attempts word had quickly spread that there was a waterbender being held underneath the palace and the fact that she was to be some kind of secret weapon had spread even faster.
One person in particular who had heard about Ozai's plans was his wife Ursa, Ursa was a kind woman who didn't agree with Ozai at the best of times, however while Ursa would usually keep quiet out of fear learning what Ozai was doing to an innocent child was just a step to far for her.
Ursa made her way through the palace and directly to her husband's study, Ursa walked straight in without knocking which did catch Ozai off guard for a second until he realised that it was his wife who had disturbed him.
"You know better then to enter my study without permission" said Ozai with anger in his voice, Ursa however was far to focused on what she was doing to notice, "How could you do this" she said.
"Do what, what could I have done to upset you so much this time" said Ozai with a hint of humour at his wife's rage, "How could you take a child and use her as a weapon like this" said Ursa slamming her hands on Ozai's desk.
"Oh, you mean the waterbender" said a smiling Ozai, "What business is it of yours anyway, this is between me and my father" he continued, "Don't forget about that girl, she's certainly involved" said Ursa.
"Why do you care about some Water tribe brat, she's Fire nation property now" said Ozai leaning back into his chair, "She's a child, you can't treat her like some unwanted animal" argued Ursa, "And why can't I, I'm the Prince of the Fire nation and the Fire lord gave his approval to this task, that girl will be our weapon to be used to destroy the other nations" shouted Ozai becoming angrier.
Ursa sighed it seemed like she wasn't going to get through to Ozai at all, but then Ursa got an idea that might just work, "Tell me, how powerful will this girl be once she's been fully trained" asked Ursa much calmer now.
Ozai wasn't sure where his wife was going with this but answered anyway, "She will be unstoppable, not even the Avatar will be able to stand against her" he said with a hint of pride at his own vision, "Then tell me, do you really think that treating someone so powerful so poorly is a good idea" said Ursa.
"What are you saying" demanded Ozai, "Think about it, if you treat her as badly as you plan to then she'll hate you more then anyone else, then what will happen when she finally turns on you" said Ursa being careful not to smile.
"By the time she's fully trained she will fear me more than death itself, she wouldn't dear raise a hand against me" said Ozai his anger returning, "Really? That's what so many circus trainers said, right before they was eaten alive by their own platypusbears" said Ursa.
"You might install fear into this girl, but it wouldn't matter, one day you'll push her too far and she'll snap, she'll kill you even if it means the end of herself, as long as if ends her own suffering she won't care" said Ursa.
The look of fury on Ozai's face was impossible to miss, but there was also a hint of fear in there as well, "And what do you suggest I do" he said, at this point Ursa knew that she had won.
"The girl needs to be shown kindness, if she can come to genuinely cares about the Fire nation and it's people then she'll become truly loyal, you wouldn't have to fear her turning against you because she wouldn't want to" said Ursa.
It was clear that Ozai was thinking about this, he was clearly weighing his odds, "Fine, but I will now treat her as anything more then a measly servant, if you want to baby her then do it without me" he finally said as he throw the key to Katara's shackles at Ursa.
"As you wish" said Ursa as she turned and left, as soon as the door to Ozai's study was closed a smile appeared on Ursa's face, she had never even deluded herself that Ozai would take care of the girl and she was happy that he wasn't going to, it wasn't as if he treat his own children kindly.
Now knowing exactly what she was going to do Ursa headed to where the waterbending girl was being held.
Ursa walked down the stairs and soon found the door to the waterbender's room, there was two guards outside of the door standing guard, "You two are dismissed" said Ursa, "Under who's orders" asked one of the guards, "Prince Ozai's" said Ursa stretching the truth, the guards quickly left not wanting to argue with an order from Ozai.
Ursa entered the room and when she got a look at the waterbender she could almost feel her heart break.
The girl was sitting against the wall, she had shackles around her wrists and ankles that was chained to the wall, she was only wearing dirty rags, she was filthy, her matted hair was covering her face and she was so thin that Ursa thought that she could snap the girl in half.
Katara glanced up when she heard the door open, but she didn't say anything when she saw Ursa standing in the doorway.
Ursa approached Katara and knelt down so that she was on eye level with her, "Hello there child, my name is Ursa, what's yours" asked Ursa as kindly as she could, for a moment Katara didn't answer, but then she looked at Ursa and saw what could only be described as the first truly friendly face that she had seen in months.
"Katara" coughed Katara in her still hoarse voice, Ursa smiled sweetly "Well Katara it's nice to meet you" said Ursa as she reached up to move the girl's hair out of her face, Katara however flinched as Ursa's hand drew nearer, Ursa only felt more sympathy for Katara as she saw how afraid she was, "It's ok, I promise I won't hurt you" she said.
Once again Ursa reached up to Katara and this time Katara didn't flinch, Ursa moved Katara's hair out of the way revealing her undernourished face and her water blue eyes.
"Don't worry, I'm going to take care of you" said Ursa as she reached into her robes and pulled out the key to Katara's shackles, Ursa unlocked Katara's shackles freeing the girl for the first time in months.
Ursa sighed as she looked at Katara's wrists and ankles, the shackles had been on her for so long that they had left scars, Katara rubbed her wrists, even without the shackles they still felt sore.
"Now then, how's about we go and get you cleaned up" said Ursa as she offered her hand to Katara, Katara took Ursa's hand and was helped to her feet, however when Ursa saw how unsteady she was on her feet she instead gently picked Katara up.
As Ursa walked out of the room with Katara in her arms she could tell that the girl was far lighter then she should be, "Katara how old are you" she said, "I'm 8" said Katara who was enjoying Ursa's soft robes.
Ursa sighed again, Katara was only the same age as her own daughter Azula, no child should have to go through this.
Soon the two reached a privet bathroom and Ursa readied Katara a nice hot bath, "Here you go dear" said Ursa as she lowed Katara into the water, Katara breathed a sigh of relief, it felt so good to be back in her element again that she almost forgot that she was in the Fire nation.
While Katara was relaxing Ursa began to clean her and untangle her hair, Ursa knew that she could easily order a servant to do this but she felt that Katara was still far too nervous of people at the moment for somebody else to do it.
After some time and a lot of work from Ursa Katara was finally clean and her hair was nice and straight, "There we go, I knew that there was a pretty girl under all that dirt somewhere" said Ursa as she wrapped a towel around Katara, at this point Katara actually smiled at Ursa.
Next Ursa got Katara some new clothes, they was nothing fancy, just some simple red robes that most young Fire nation girls would wear, however for Katara just having something clean to wear was heavenly.
Now clean and dressed Ursa took Katara to a large table and sat her down, Katara watched as Ursa said something to one of the servants who then left only too return about a minuet later with a bowl of stew that was placed in front of her.
"Try to eat it slowly or you might make yourself sick" said Ursa, it wasn't a joke, Ursa had no idea what Katara had been feed while she was in prison but it was clear that whatever it was she hadn't been given much of it, there was no telling how Katara's stomach would react to having some real food in it.
Katara tasted the stew, once she did she had to restrain herself from wolfing down the whole bowl, it was think with tender meat and juicy soft vegetables, it was simply delicious.
Soon the bowl was completely empty, Ursa would have offered Katara seconds but based on the sounds that the girl's stomach was currently making she thought that it would be best to let her meal settle first.
Now with a nice hot meal inside of her Katara was unable to stop herself from yawning, Ursa couldn't help but smile "Tired" she asked, "A little" said Katara trying not to yawn again, "Then lets get you to bed" said Ursa as she took Katara's hand.
Katara didn't say it but she didn't want to go back to that dark little room, however she followed Ursa regardless there was just a part of her that said that she could trust this woman, it wasn't long however before Katara realised that they was going the wrong way, this wasn't the way back to that horrible room.
Ursa took Katara to one of the unused servant rooms, this room was small and a little cramped but it had a bed, a wardrobe, a small desk and everything else that the average person would need.
"I hope that you like it" said Ursa as she helped a very sleepy Katara into bed, "It nice" yawned Katara, for a second Ursa's smile faded "Katara I'm sorry about everything that's happened to you, but I promise that I'll do what I can to make your stay here more bearable" she said.
With this Ursa left the room leaving Katara to go to sleep, as Katara felt her eyes become heavy she to wonder why Ursa had been so kind to her, she thought that everyone from the Fire nation was supposed to be horrible and mean.
Just as Katara began to fall asleep she wondered if the was anyone else in the Fire nation who was nice like Ursa.