Chapter 1: Sentencing

"Chief Arnook!" A warrior called out. He bowed to them from the doorway. Arnook gave him a nod to continue. "The city is clear of the Fire Nation. They either fought to the death or fled on their ships. But there is one we captured. He wears no clothing that suggests his rank or Nation. But the gold of his eyes gives away his Fire Nation blood."

"Bring him to the council chambers at once." Arnook ordered as he walked out and down the hall. Aang, Sokka, and Katara exchanged a quick glance before following him.

Katara watched from the top of the dais as the doors to the council chambers opened, revealing four guards surrounding the lone prisoner. The man shuffled forward slowly, hindered by the shackles around his ankles. His arms were chained behind his back and a cloth bag covered his head. All four warriors surrounding him had a spear trained on the prisoner as though he might strike at any moment regardless of his restraints. One warrior guided the prisoner forward with slight jabs of his spear. And once they finally reached the bottom step of the dais two warriors forced the man to his knees, while a third removed the cloth bag from his head revealing a tell-tale scar on the side of the prisoner's face.

"Zuko?"

The word was out on a whisper, and it took Katara a moment to realize that she was the one who had spoken. Her brother beside her leaned forward for a closer look, and Aang gave a sigh while her gaze became captivated as Zuko's eyes focused on her. In the next moment she felt released as the prince's gazed moved to Chief Arnook who was raising from his seat.

"So, this is the banished prince for the Fire Nation." Chief Arnook stated, and Katara could hear the mockery in his voice. "Welcome exiled prince to the Northern Water Tribe." The malice in his words unmistakable. "Congratulations are in order, for your defeat. The Fire Navy returning with their tails between their legs. Cowering before the might of the North, the power of the Avatar. Another failure to your growing list."

"Zhou's failure." Zuko cut in, earning himself a jab in the ribs from a spear end. "I had nothing to do with the invasion. I was only here for the Avatar."

"I see." Chief Arnook agreed casting a glance to Aang as he began making his way down the steps. "Another failure then." He stopped in front of Zuko. "My people should be celebrating this great victory over your nation, and yet we are mourning. My daughter gave her life to save our world after your officer slew the moon spirit."

"I have no control over my father's officers." Zuko argued. "I had no part in what happened."

Chief Arnook reached out grabbing Zuko by his top knot and held a knife to his throat. Aang watched with growing apprehension. Katara saw Sokka break out into a smile as he watched the scene unfolding before him.

"My people are mourning. Cries of vengeance, blood for blood." Chief Arnook hissed in Zuko's face. "My people want justice."

The chief's meaning was not lost on Zuko. Blood for blood, he understood what was coming, and he stared back defiantly at the chief. Life for him has always been unfair, why would this situation be any different for him. And he was beginning to get so tired of trying.

Chief Arnook removed the knife from his throat and slashed above Zuko's head. Stepping back he showed he still held the knife in one hand and other hand held Zuko's top knot. Before Zuko could react in anger though for the disgrace of the removal Arnook ordered his warriors. "Strip him."

Zuko's eyes widened in response as the four warriors descended on him. Two grabbed ahold of each of his arms as the other two warriors started slashing at his clothing. A form of torture really, loosing his last small barrier from the biting cold of the north. If the chief did not kill him soon he was sure the element would. True he was a fire bender, but starved and in poor health conditions he would not last long. In a moment of pure desperation Zuko called a flame to his hand, trying to warm his forgotten appendages, earning him an immediate slash from a knife. A flash of pain flitted across his face, slipping through his mask of anger. And then he fought back out of pure panic.

He breathed fire at the warrior in front of him. The flames did not touch the man, but he stumbled back to get away from the blaze, tripping on the bottom step. A flame in his hand caused a second warrior's sleeve to go up in flames. And as Zuko stood up a head butt sent a third warrior to the ground with blood streaming from his nose. But the fourth warrior was moving and knocked Zuko to the ground then, other warriors coming forward to help their comrades subdue the prisoner. They hauled Zuko back into a kneeling position and he found himself surrounded by spears of bone and ice cutting into his skin. So, he sat kneeling in the ice, in nothing but his under garments, trying not to shiver.

Katara felt like she was the only one in the room that noticed or cared about the state the prince was in. His body covered in bloody bandages and deep dark bruises, she could not tell where one ended and another began. Her healer's eyes taking in his lightening pallor, and her concern growing as his lips began to have a bluish tint. A firebender he might be, but she knew he was not used to the cold of the icy north.

"Blood for blood." Chief Arnook repeated. Then with a wave of his hand he ordered "Take the exiled prince to a cell to await his execution."

"NO!" The shout echoed around the room and before her brother could stop her, she was moving. Aang's look of nervous relief helping her forward. She stopped between Zuko and the Chief looking up at him pleading. "Chief Arnook, please you must reconsider your sentence. Your anger is clouding your judgement. I was there, Zhou killed the moon spirit your daughter gave her life for."

"I have several other accounts I can try him for." Arnook countered. "He has burned villages to the ground. Kidnapped the Avatar on several different occasions. And he is the Fire Lords son."

"I know the crimes of Zuko, my chief. I have been on the receiving end of many battles, as well as being chased around the world by him in his quest to capture the Avatar. But I would not say that these crimes warrant death." Katara replied.

"Why are you so quick to defend a person whose nation is responsible for the destruction of your village, and the death of your own mother?" Chief Arnook asked her.

The question made her pause. Why was she being so quick to defend this boy she wondered. But then, maybe that was the reason itself. He was just a boy. No different then Aang, her brother, or herself really. Just trying to find his way in the world. Though granted, in her eyes he was fighting for the wrong side. But maybe that was just it. He needed to be shown the errors in his ways, and taught right from wrong.

And so, with her mind made up Katara replied. "Killing this boy will not bring my mother back to me. Neither will it bring back your daughter, and you would be a fool to think that spilling more blood would make anything better." She sighed heavily. "Yes, Zuko has committed some crimes along the way in his drive to capture Aang. But answer me this, if your neighbor wronged you, would you make the son pay for his fathers' crimes? Or would you have the neighbor answer for his own crime? Zuko's crime may warrant servitude to restore and rebuild the villages. And an apology to Aang and maybe an agreement to not try and capture him anymore."

Chief Arnook starred at her quietly, a calculating look on his face.

"Send him to a cell," Katara pleaded. "He can remain there and when we leave to continue Aang's training, he will come with us."

"He will be under my protection." Aang stated coming down to stand beside Katara.

Chief Arnook stared at them for a moment before nodding to the warriors ordering them "Do as she says."

The warriors hauled Zuko back to his feet, but dragged him from the room by his arms. Katara did not miss the glare he was giving her.