A/N. Once more, I'm sorry for having been away some time. I had some problems, but it is alright now!

I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

"You will have to stay quiet, understood?" On Ji muttered, and Katara rolled her eyes as she listened to the girl. They had spoken about nothing else for two days. The governor was to come for dinner at the family home of the Fire Nation girl to hash out the last details of the marriage with Hide, and On Ji's father had been nice and permitted Katara to dine with the family.

Since arriving two and a half weeks ago, the waterbender had got to know the parents of the girl and had quickly realized that the father was the nicer of the two. On Ji's mother was not unkind… But she was clearly not one to stand up against another person. On Ji's father, Orsu, was intelligent enough to realize that the government lied to them, and he had a whole system of servants and people who liked to gossip to get information.

But now… now they knew nothing of what happened outside of the town. Since learning that her friends were searching for a Sky Bison, and by extending, Katara supposed, for her, there had been no news.

So, when they heard that the governor would come and dine, Katara had come up with the idea of getting to learn some news directly from the source, instead of counting on the announcements that On Ji had to hang up. The last of those announcements had said that Zuko declared war on Azula and that Aang had abandoned his cause.

On Ji had been angry about the fact that the Avatar was not fighting. And Katara understood… She had filled the girl's head with stories how the airbender protected people… But he was letting Zuko besiege Fire Fountain City. That was something that puzzled the waterbender to be honest. Aang would never permit violence to be done while he was there. Even when he had to fight, the airbender did so reluctantly and with minimal effort. She knew that the fight with Ozai would have been a strain on his principles, as he would probably have to fight harder than he normally did…

Was that why he had not stopped Zuko? Was it because he was too weak to actually stop that idiot of a firebender? No, that could not be. Azula would have shouted from the rooftops that the Avatar couldn't fight because he had been wounded. No… Instead, she had used the words abandoned his cause. That meant that, if it was true, Aang had refused to fight in this war because of his principles…

Or… Well, perhaps she was right, and he was looking for her. He would try and retrace her steps, going from island to island. And if Aang was wounded, Sokka would be doing that. But… So didn't want to imagine what those two were capable of if they even thought, for a second, she was in danger. Katara hated the protectiveness most men in the Water Tribes had for their female relatives… But from Sokka, she could live with it. And Aang's fierce protectiveness was not even a problem. That was rather something she loved about him, and she knew she was the same way about him.

"No worries, I will keep my mouth shut." That had been a thing too. On Ji, the moment she learned that Orsu had said Katara could dine with them, had been afraid she would talk too much. The governor was intelligent, not like his son apparently. So the Fire Nation girl worried that Katara would talk too much and the governor would understand who she was.

"You better. The governor will be here with Hide. His wife is sick apparently."

Hah, sick. From what Katara had heard, the governor was a brutish, sullen man who liked nothing better than to belittle his wife. She too would be sick if she had to spend a minute longer than necessary in the presence of such a man.

"I'll shut up. I know what to expect. A long list of atrocities Aang supposedly committed against the glory of the Fire Nation." Katara sighed, looking at On Ji. The soft ember eyes flared up with anger before settling in begruntling acceptance. Yeah, their storytelling had got towards the story of Hama… Katara had not figured out if she should tell the girl about bloodbending, because that was even too terrifying for a waterbender…

"Yes. There will be talks of politics, and then… Talks of a date."

The tone of On Ji's voice was bitter and vengeful. The waterbender nodded reluctantly, as she too realized what it meant. Orsu had wanted to postpone the date setting for when the political situation was clearer… And clearer it would be. Better, no, but clearer.

A soft knock on the door made them jump, and they heard the low voice of On Ji's father.

"Darling, they have arrived."

Footsteps receded away from the door, and Katara heard the girl sigh. Patting her shoulder, the waterbender stood up, knowing that she would need all her composure not to strangle these men. This man was the reason she couldn't get out of the town legally, and the illegal ways were all too dangerous, or they wouldn't include On Ji… Who needed to get away from here more than she did.

"Remember, the excuse that you are at the dinner is because you would join me after the wedding as my maidservant. That is the only reason I could imagine to make them agree with it." On Ji whispered as she opened the door. Yeah… joy.

"I know." She answered. Orsu had agreed and invited her to the dinner, because of On Ji's idea. But Katara didn't want to be the maidservant. No, she wanted to get out of this shithole, and to know what the fuck was happening around the Fire Nation.

Where are you, my love?

Stepping into the corridor, Katara heard the laughter coming from the dining room. It sounded deep and fake, not like the laugh that she had heard from Orsu, meaning that that had to be the governor or that Hide. Glancing towards On Ji, she saw the girl grit her teeth before settling into the fakest, most ungenuine smiles that Katara had ever seen.

So, Hide.

A servant opened the door, and the waterbender stepped aside to let On Ji go first. If their story of the future maidservant had a chance of survival, she had to conform to the rules. However much she hated it.

"Oh, your guest is joining us?" A severe sounding voice asked, and Katara turned to the corner from which the voice had come; There, three men stood. Orsu, small and tired looking, next to a tall man, with greying temple, and Hide. The youngest of the three was the only one in uniform, as his father had named him the commander of the northern gate. But he looked… As if he didn't belong in that type of clothing.

Sokka and her father always looked like they were made for the armour they wore, but this made her think of some of the men in the Northern Water Tribe. People who had never had to fight, who had settled into a life of luxury and comfort, and who wore armour just to look the part. It looked… unused.

"Yes, On Ji wants her to be her maidservant when… well, when the marriage has taken place. I thought it prudent to introduce you, as she would live with you." Orsu explained, while handing the older man a glass with a substance inside it. Katara could feel the liquid slosh inside the glass and had to resist the urge to bend it into the governor's face as she saw his eyes look her up, from her toes to the crown of her head.

"As long as she keeps her mouth shut about what she hears in my house." The governor shrugged his shoulders, falling down into a chair. Orsu chair.

On Ji's father took pride in his family, and each time Katara had dined with the whole family, Orsu had been seated at the head of the table, taking his role as patriarch very seriously. But in a kind, unassuming way. But to see that governor sitting in that chair made her irritated. How could someone conduct themselves in that way at someone's home?

"Exactly the reason why I thought it a good idea to introduce you. Sapphire, this is Kantuno, the governor of Kirashi. And his son Hide, you already met I believe." Orsu gestured to the younger man, who sat down close to his own father. In the place where the mother of On Ji always sat…

Looking around, she was surprised not to see the woman. She would probably be in the kitchen, giving some last orders to the servants.

Katara turned her attention back to the two men and inhaled slowly.

"It is an honour." She spoke, tasting bile come up from her stomach. These people should know who they were actually talking to. Tui and La, they would probably be running for their lives. And to be honest, she would enjoy the fear in their eyes if they learned who she was. The waterbender, the person who had a part in tearing down a century old regime who used cruelty and terror as their weapons. The one who had defeated Azula.

Sure, arrogance was not a good thing to have. But she was proud, and Katara knew what she had achieved."

"All good and well, sit down." The governor waved a hand towards the table, "Orsu, when does the food arrive."

"As soon as my wife is done with the kitchen staff." On Ji's father sat down on the other side of the governor, facing Hide, while the Fire Nation girl herself sat down net to the young man, still with the fake smile plastered on her face.

"My apologies for the absence of my own wife." The governor sighed, taking a sip from the glass.

"I hope she is alright?" Orsu asked, clearly a little worried.

"I would think so, the doctor came and said that it was nothing to be concerned about, so I haven't seen her since this morning."

Nice, a husband who didn't even think to check up on his wife when she was sick. If Hide was even a little bit like that, she didn't envy On Ji one bit.

"Give her our well wishes then." Orsu nodded as the door was opened and On Ji's mother entered, followed by a few servants who carried the food inside. As it was put on the table, Katara watched the governor from the corner of her eye. The man was clearly not like his son. Now that she was closer to him, she could see the small scars on the man's face that she had come to associate with Fire Nation veterans, those soldiers who had served a long time.

Otherwise, he seemed… normal. But she had read the announcements, and she knew that this Kantuno supported Azula. That could mean anything, but he didn't seem the kind of person who served someone out of fear. No, however normal he looked… Kantuno was probably the kind of person who had served Ozai with a cruel pleasure, and who would don anything to keep his power under the new regime, and so had thrown in his lot with Azula.

"Ah, good, you are here." The governor nodded, and then, silence settled as they waited for the servants to get out of the room. The moment the last closed the doors behind himself, the governor straightened into the seat, muttered a few words from which Katara only managed to catch Agni, and pricked his knife into the food.

In the Water Tribes, it was bad manners to start eating before your host, but apparently, this governor didn't feel like he should even consider Orsu or his wife. Or, perhaps, this was just a Fire Nation thing. But as Katara herself began to eat, she could feel that On Ji's parents were a little offended by Kantuno's behaviour. But they didn't say a word.

"So, what date did you have in mind?" The governor asked between bites. So… No leading into the conversation, he just wanted to information.

"As we said before, we would like the political situation to be a little more stable. As to avoid On Ji's future to be uncertain. You would want the same, I suppose, for your son, no?" Orsu spoke softly.

His son could die for all Katara cared, but she saw the wisdom in that question.

"What is uncertain? The political situation is very stable, the fighting is in the west." The governor shrugged.

"But the P… the Fire Lord Azula would prefer to have access to all her troops, now that her brother is besieging her, no? That also means Hide. I would like my daughter to enjoy her marriage… And not end a widow by the end of the year."

"The Traitor is besieging Fire Fountain, yes. So? That it Shuhon politics, not Kirashi's business." The governor shrugged, taking another sip of his wine. Katara saw the little glazed over expression in the hard ember eyes. Apparently, the man had already drunk some before arriving here, or he couldn't hold his liquor.

"But it is Fire Nation business Lord Governor. And I would like to know what is happening, so I can make a good decision for my daughter." Orsu sighed.

Or you could let your daughter make her own decisions.

"Pff, sure. The Traitor has been besieging Fire Fountain for a fortnight, without any progress. Zuko has, at most, five of the thirty clans. What can he do? No, this business will be over in a matter of a few weeks, and the Princess will take the throne, as her father wished, Agni rests his flame…"

"If he only has five clans, how can he be besieging the second-largest city in the Fire Nation?" Orsu asked, sounding irritated.

"Hezu betrayed the princess and has joined with the traitor. But no matter, those are all green boys and old men." The governor flicked a finger, also sounding irritated. Hezu… Had Zuko not talked about that guy on their way to the fight on the coronation plaza during the Comet? Wasn't that the commander of the domestic army?

"So, the whole home army is under his command, while the princess has a few garrisons and the house guards of the clans. That is nothing. She would need the field armies in the Earth Kingdom to have a fighting chance. Does she?" Orsu now sounded like he realized how dire the situation actually was, and Katara couldn't help but feel her heart leap up.

"She will." Hide suddenly interjected, making everyone turn towards him, "I mean, who else would they support? A traitor and an Air Degenerate." The young man laughed as he said it, but Katara balled her fist so she didn't reach over the table and slapped the man so hard he would not feel the left side of his face for a month.

"The Degenerate has fled. There is no reason to worry about him, the messages assured me." The governor laughed too, sounding exactly like his son.

"Why?"

Katara felt all the eyes in the room turn towards her in such a rapid manner that it felt nearly comical.

"Excuse me?" The governor's voice seemed slightly higher, as if he was doing everything in his power to stay polite.

"Why would he flee?" That didn't make sense… Aang was wounded if the last information they had was to be believed, getting better at the Royal Palace… But then again, there had been the announcement a few days ago that the airbender had abandoned Zuko's cause. But he wouldn't do that.

"The Avatar? Princess Azula captured his sweet little bitch and has made sure the Air Degenerate knew it. Apparently, she send some necklace to him."

And suddenly, as the world felt like it was falling apart around her, Katara understood… Where the necklace that Aang had given her had gone… And why he wasn't fighting…

He hadn't abandoned Zuko… He had been forced to stay his hand. By Azula's lying… He would never touch a hair on someone head if that meant that she would be hurt.

"My informants from the capital said the Avatar nearly blew up the harbour when he learned it. Agni, I would have liked to be there to see that monster in pain. He threatened to kill everyone who would have hurt his wife." The governor laughed, and suddenly coughed, because Katara had not resisted and had balled her other fist under the table and had forced the liquid in the man's stomach up. It was a low blow, but she needed a moment.

Aang… No… Not that… She had to get out of here, to hold him and say everything was alright. To hold him, kiss him… Tell him no one would ever hurt them. But those walls made it impossible for her… Oh what she would give to grow wings and just fly out of here. He had threatened to kill people… for her. And Katara didn't need to ask herself if this was true, because she knew it in her heart.

Looking up, she saw On Ji's face, and her ember eyes wide looking at her.

She had not told the girl she had married Aang.

Spirits… Yet another thing she had kept a secret, and yet another thing that was chipping away at the little trust On Ji had in her.

"That is horrible." On Ji's mother spoke quietly, "No one should suffer those kinds of threats. Not towards someone they love."

"Tss, in war, everything is permitted. I suppose that that bitch is already dead somewhere in a ditch next to an army camp." Hide snickered.

"I would hope not." Katara spoke through gritted teeth, "That would take away the little protection Azula has from his wrath."

And she had seen Aang's wrath. When people took away everything from him, piece by piece, until there was nothing left. Oh… She knew what would follow. People always underestimated Aang, because he was kind and would never hurt someone. But if you took away all the principles that were built on love… Oh, then they would have to face the man who had been hurt, scarred and whose whole existence had been destroyed. They would have to face the Aang she had seen from time to time, the brooding young man in the clearing of the Earth Kingdom, hi dark thought consuming him when he thought no one was looking.

They would have to face the wrath of the airbender when he had lost Appa. They would have to fight against him and all the power of the Avatar, unshackled from the constraints Aang put on his own power. And that would be the moment the Fire Nation would learn why Sozin had been afraid of the Avatar, and what he was capable of.

"True." The governor spoke, surprising her, "The Princess would do better to keep her alive, and safe. If that savage dies, the rumours are that the Avatar is going to burn the Fire Nation."

Oh… oh yes, he would. Aang would be as angry with the world as she had been when he had fallen at Ba Sing Se. He would throw all his principles in the wind and fight a bloody way to Azula, to rip her apart with his bare hands.

Looking at the people at the table, Katara realized that all had their own opinions… On Ji seemed confused and hurt, but that could be because she hadn't told the girl that she was married to Aang… while she had promised that she would tell no more lies. Hide just looked bored, while the governor just looked smug that the person he supported was "winning".

What surprised her were the reactions of On Ji's parents. The mother looked horrified at the idea of using the love two people shared to hurt them, which Katara could only agree to. But Orsu looked horrified and angry.

"You tell lies to the townspeople. You tell them they are safe, but at the same time, the princess has made sure that the Avatar would be her sworn enemy, for the rest of her life. We are not safe!" On Ji's father's voice raised slightly, something Katara had not heard him do in the time she was here.

"Excuse me Orsu… But that sounded a lot like you don't agree with me." The governor spoke lowly, however, very controlled and clearly irritated by the fact he was contradicted.

"It would be in everyone's interest to know the facts. You have hidden the fact that Prince Iroh supports Prince Zuko! That would have been an important factor in our choice of allegiance! And to hear that the princess stoops so low… I can't say I fully support the kind of fight this is becoming." Orsu slapped a hand on the table, and Katara cheered him on mentally. Finally… Finally, someone from the Fire Nation that stepped up against the established order. And now, she could see from whom On Ji got that part of her character.

"Because they don't get a choice. Lord Ozai named me governor. Me. Not you, nor any other peasant from the town. Me. All that is of no consequence, because Azula will win. Zuko has no support from the nobles! And let's be honest… The Traitor started this all."

"And why would that be? You said that the Avatar threatened us. Us! The Fire Nation. We burned away his people, and to top it all off, we kidnap his wife! No… The Traitor didn't start this war, he did! And with good reason!" On Ji's father stood up, turning to the window and clasping his hands behind his back.

"The Avatar then. That doesn't make it better. Their first reaction was to go to war. That says enough. Azula tried to avoid bloodshed. But all that is of no concern to us, because they are fighting to the west. We are safe!" The governor also stood up, staggered slightly and then joined Orsu at the window. Katara resisted the temptation to pull the liquid in his stomach towards her to make him fall down.

"Enough of politics my friend. We are not here to discuss that… We are here to discuss happier things."

Just then, the door was thrown open. A man, wearing a dirty Fire Nation uniform, nearly fell inside. Katara jumped up, just like the rest, at the sight. A part of his tunic was burned away, revealing a burn, not an hour old… Looking around her, she tried to find water, before realizing she couldn't help the man without revealing who she was… And having listened to the governor and to Hide… Well, it would be better not to show that.

The man, his light ember eyes wide and fearful, searched the room, before finding the governor.

"Lord… Lord Governor. There… There has been an attack." The man stammered, coughing. Katara took a step towards the man, studying the wound. It didn't look very serious, more painful than truly dangerous… She had seen enough of these when helping Aang with his firebending training…

But an attack? An attack on the walls? Surely not…

"Where? Tell me man!"

Yeah, tell him! Tui and La… was there some hope?

"The scouting towers… North… They came as soon as the sun was down… Killed… killed the guards…" The man coughed once more, before continuing, "They… They told me to come here. With… With a message."

That… That sounded a lot like… Oh spirits. That didn't sound like typical Fire Nation tactics! No, that army used brute force to get into a city. The fact that Azula had captured Ba Sing Se was because she had used a tactic the Fire Nation didn't normally use. Treachery and deceit… And to attack the scouts when the sun came down… That demanded some strategic thinking.

"Bandits, surely. Trying to get some ransom to leave the town alone. What was the message?"

"That tomorrow morning, you… you would find eight thousand soldiers camped around your town. That the islands between Shuron and Kirashi have been scoured of the forces of the princess… And… And that you should consider surrender." The man fell down on a chair, earning a horrified look from On Ji's mother.

Silence fell, but Katara had to resist the urge to laugh aloud. Eight thousand soldiers… besieging Kirashi. A whole army… And they would breach the walls. They wouldn't even need to get out… A way out would be made.

"Come on man, no one can do that. There aren't eight thousand soldiers! All the soldiers of the Fire Nation are either at Fire Fountain or in garrisons." The governor tried to brush off the threat, but Katara saw the fear in his eyes.

"They said… That you betrayed the Fire Nation by swearing allegiance to the princess…"

"They were the Traitor's soldiers?" Hide asked aloud.

Of course they are you moron.

The soldier nodded, grabbed the glass of wine that the governor had discarded and drained it before sighing.

"Banners. Did you see any banners?" Kantuno now sounded rather desperate.

"T-three… One Fire Nation banner… Another with a symbol of the Shu Jing clan…"

"The Shu Jing's? You are sure?"

Shu Jing… That had been the island, not far from here… Where they had met…

"Piandao." The governor grumbled, falling back into his own chair. Katara could see the throbbing vein in the man's neck.

"Piandao? Are you sure?" Orsu demanded.

"He is the leader of the Shu Jing clan. Of course I'm sure. His nephews wouldn't dare to use that flag. If this is true… Piandao has come to Kirashi. Eight thousand… it sounds like a lot. He was known in the army for his craftiness and his unorthodox tactics… Surely, he sent men to lie and make us afraid, so that we would surrender. No, the Shu Jing's command a thousand, at most." The governor nodded, as if to agree with himself.

"And the third flag?" Katara asked. She had to know… Spirits, let it be something good…

"One I didn't know… A dark blue flag, with some white splash on it."

Katara had to turn around to hide her relief and laugh. Spirits… Kirashi was done for. The Order of the White Lotus was here… And that meant that Ba Sing Se was free. They had heard rumours… But spirits, this was the confirmation.

"I don't know that one, so it probably has no importance." The governor's voice spoke up behind her, and the waterbender stopped herself from shaking with laughter.

Spirits man, if you just knew…

"We won't surrender, let them besiege with their little army. We have more than enough soldiers to repel any attack."

And just then, On Ji spoke up in a cheery voice.

"I guess this means the political situation is rather unstable."

Answers:

Kalaong : Exactly, Zuko is his own worse enemy, supposing he is not worth of the things that happen to him. Thinking he is not worthy to be with Mai, while she proved she loved him no matter what, because she knows, deep down, that he did it to protect her. Maiko has a lot of romance to be honest. They have both been hurt, but they find comfort in each other and try to be better people around the other. Where Kataang is two people already fundamentally good finding each other, Maiko is the couple that finds each other and realizing that they aren't alone in the world.

Lenoravampire1 : Well… Piandao is there with an army… Aang, Toph and Appa are also somewhere around… so who knows!