At that moment, a soldier entered the sitting room. "Commander Zhao, we have an urgent message from the colonies." he said as he saluted the Commander.
Zhao immediately rose from his seat. "Very well." he answered as he motioned to the door, "I'll receive him in my study." The soldier nodded and disappeared as fast as he had appeared. Zhao turned back to Iroh and Zuko: "Please finish your drinks, my fiancée will entertain you for the time being."
He left with a nod to Elyrie, who in turn nodded back obediently. As he walked away, she couldn't help but notice that he walked out of the room like a true Commander: proud, straight and aware of his senior position. She had to admit that it was impressive that he had risen through the ranks at his relatively young age, even though she wasn't sure how old he was exactly. He had given an indication, which told her he was in his early forties. The difference between them was at least twenty years. And it shows, she added silently as she looked at his receiding hairline and sideburns. With his serious face, he always looked older than his years. Zhao himself blamed it on the immense pressure of being a Commander in the war, which she couldn't deny. It certainly was an achievement, although she would like it if he smiled more.
If am to be his wife, I hope he does smile more than he does now, she mused as she turned back to her tea. The first time she met him, he had smiled. Not a wide smile, but a curving of his lips nonetheless. She had thought he was not unkind, albeit a bit proud. She had not been in a cheerful mood that night, she remembered. Nevertheless, he had apparently enjoyed her company enough to make an effort to visit more often.
Her aunt had told her how lucky she was to have been asked by such a important Commander. Consider yourself lucky to be asked to marry. Her aunt had pushed her on the idea that marriage was the next logical step for her. Not that she had been wrong: what could she do as a woman alone? Her fingers grasped the locket around her neck and she played with it for a moment, something she always did when memories came floating to the surface.
After Zhao had closed the door - rather forcefully - behind him, Elyrie was brought out of her thoughts. She looked at Zuko and Iroh and decided it was no use to her somber mood spoil their tea. It had been five long years and she didn't want to waste a second of this small reunion.
"I hope the tea is to your satisfaction, General?" she asked as she turned to Iroh. His eyes wrinkled with a tender smile and she felt her own lips curve in a reflex.
"It is delicious, thank you very much. But I would wish you to call me 'Uncle' again, as you used to do." He replied as he gave her a small pat on her hand.
Elyrie's eyes glittered when she answered: "It does feel more natural to do that, but I am afraid it would go against de proper etiquette." The sarcastic undertone was not lost on both men. Iroh laughed and Zuko cocked an eyebrow at her sudden twist in behaviour. As soon as Zhao had left, she seemed to have dropped her mask and looked like a little girl again. Her eyes twinkled as she turned to him. "I would love to hear about your opinion regarding the war?" she asked as she poured him another cup.
When she looked up at him, he suddenly realised this was the first time she saw him with his distinctive scar. The last time his wounded face had been covered by bandages. He looked away self-consciously as he mumbled something about the Air Temples. When he looked back, she continued to look into his eyes. She had not flinched or looked at his scar, he realised. Like she does not notice it. Normally people look at his scar, then away before trying to hold eye contact. Even worse were the stares people gave when they thought he did not notice. The only other person who looked at him like a normal person, was Uncle. He thought about the little wink she gave, as if he was a normal man. It made him feel... good?
Elyrie raised an eyebrow when Zuko didn't respond to her question. Iroh saw the confused look on his nephews face and quickly resumed the conversation about the war effort. Elyrie was flattered, since she knew he would certainly not underestimate her regarding politics or warfare. Unlike most women in their social circles, she had the possibility to study a variety of subjects. Her father always taught her to make the most of what you got and since she had been blessed with a keen mind and natural curiosity, she eagerly studied. She remembered her fathers proud smile when her tutor told him she was an excellent student and had a talent for languages and history. After that, her father began to tutor her on political subjects and philosophy. Those hours in the library seem like a lifetime ago now, she thought melancholically.
"But what about the prominent position in the colonies?" she asked Iroh, "Don't you think that taking over the entire Earth Kingdom would harm the citizens of smaller towns and villages?"
Iroh looked at her and realised she had been listening to Zhao's conversations. She listened and learned, even though she was not suppose to as the fiancée of the commander. Zuko noticed it as well, as well as her softer view on the citizens. She spoke passionately about the situation for the normal citizens and how the Fire Nation drained the resources, which led to shortages.
Iroh smiled, knowing she was a compassionate person She would have made a fine diplomat or ambassador. Or maybe even a Fire Lady, he thought absentmindedly as he looked at his nephew.
Zuko had joined the conversation and discussed the unwillingness of the Earth Kingdom citizens to surrender. Elyrie listened and asked if the people of the Earth Kingdom were as unwavering as their element. Zuko talked about the small villages he visited and how even the poorest people had a strong sense of pride. As a Fire Nation Prince, he was not very well received but looking back, he admired their pride and loyalty to their own country.
Elyrie listened and smiled, unable to help herself. It seemed like no time had passed between them. They could speak as freely with each other as they used to. She preceded to pour another cup of tea for herself, wanting to hear much more.
But when she reached for the teapot, Zhao entered the room again with two guards. Elyrie froze as she noticed the smug look on his face. Something is wrong, she thought.
Zhao stepped into the room and looked directly at the young Prince. "I have received fascinating news" he said. "I interrogated your crew and they confirmed that you had the Avatar in custody, but let him escape."
Zuko raised his head in alarm, while Iroh sighed. Elyrie looked at Zuko, not surprised: this only confirmed what she already thought.
As she looked at Zhao's smug expression, she also understood that the message from the colonies had been a lie, so he could slyly go behind the Fire Prince's back. Zhao always thought a step ahead when he felt he could gain something from a situation. The crew was already questioned during their conversation.
"Now remind me, how exactly was your ship damaged?" the Commander asked smugly.
Zuko refused to look at Zhao, who came closer. Instead, he looked at Elyrie and met her blue eyes. He saw compassion in them, but also curiosity.
Zuko sighed, looked at his cup and told the whole story: how they noticed a ray of light at the South Pole, how he saw the Avatar playing with a waterbending girl, how he invaded the village and was surprised to find the Avatar being a teenager. Elyrie cocked her eyebrow at this information, since she had long believed the Avatar to be an old man by now. She never believed the Avatar had been in hiding during the Hundred Year War, since it was his duty to restore balance to the world. He must have been around nineteen years old when he disappeared, she quickly calculated.
Zuko grudgingly told his story to Zhao; he told about the attack on his ship where the Avatar, a teenage boy, brought half an iceberg down. Even worse, he had him in captivity but the young monk escaped within hours of his capture on a flying bison. Zhao frowned at all this information, torn between disbelief and enthusiasm. The greatest threat to the Fire Nation is nothing more than a boy, he though smugly.
"So a nineteen year old boy bested you and your firebenders. You're more pathetic than I thought." Zhao spat at Zuko with an arrogant look on his face.
Elyrie stared at the Commander with disbelief. He had no right to call Zuko pathetic, since the Avatar was known to have enormous power and ability regarding bending. He was, and still is, the greatest threat to the Fire Nation, she thought to herself. She looked at Zuko, whose jaw was clenched as he listened to the Commander.
"I underestimated him once," Zuko said, "but it will not happen again."
"No, it will not." Zhao said without looking at him as he turned around, "Because you won't have a second chance."
Zuko's eyes widened in disbelief. "Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for five years, and I –".
"And you failed!" Zhao interrupted, raising his voice. As he said it, he turned around with a quick firebending motion to strengthen his words. "Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a boy's hands. He's mine now."
Zuko's face contorted in anger, which frightened Elyrie. He lunged at Zhao in anger, but two guard quickly seized him and held him down.
"Keep them here." Zhao said and he motioned to Elyrie to come with him. Elyrie quickly looked at Zuko, who stared with hatred at the Commander. Iroh gave her a quick nod, so she rose and made her way to the door.
As soon as she had left the table, she heard a cracking sound. As she turned around, she saw that Zuko had kicked the table over. It had broken clean in two, sending the objects on it flying through the room. The china broke, along with the teapot. Well, they were ugly anyway, she thought dryly.
Iroh sighed and only said "More tea please."
Taking Zhao's arm, Elyrie walked with him out of the sitting room. "What are you planning to do now?" she asked softly while keeping up with him.
Without looking at her, he answered: "Capturing the Avatar will bring great glory, so I will be the one who seizes him and delivers him to the Fire Lord."
"I am sure you will capture him within a few weeks." Elyrie said timidly, completely playing her part as praising fiancée. "You must already be on his trail, aren't you?" she added softly.
Zhao turned around, smiling arrogantly. "Of course! A flying bison is not that hard to miss. The last hour I received a hawk about a great flying animal flying north. The first stop must be a small island, not far from the Southern Air Temple."
Elyrie looked down with a small smile and softly praised his intelligence and cunning demeanour.
"My search party is almost ready, so pack your belongings." Zhao dismissed her as he led her to her room.
Elyrie nodded, bowed and made her way to her room. As soon as she opened the door, a small plan began to form in her mind.
Jin, her maidservant, was waiting for her in her room to help her pack for the journey. She was a few years older than Elyrie and from the Fire Nation as well. Her black hair and golden eyes made her a classic Fire Nation beauty. But more importantly: she was the only friend Elyrie had in this male-dominated harbour.
"Do you want me to pack your lugagge, Miss?" Jin smiled at her lady. "We'll do it together!" Elyrie answered, "The Commander said that we need to make haste, after all." Jin chuckled and started gathering her things as quickly as she could. After half an hour most things were packed.
"I'll pack the last things myself." Elyrie said as she motioned to the books, "So you can pack for yourself."
The darkhaired girl nodded and left the room, closing the door after her. As soon as the door was closed, Elyrie grabbed her atlas from the shelf and started to flip through the pages.
Zhao had both the resources and the manpower to track a flying bison, while Zuko had a broken ship. Five long years of searching would all be in vain if Zhao intervened now. Elyrie felt a tug at her heart at the idea of Zuko being banished for the remainder of his life because of Zhao's thirst for glory.
She found a map of the Southern part of the Earth Kingdom. With her finger on the page, she scanned for a small island which matched the location that Zhao had described. After a few minutes, she concluded that he meant Kyoshi Island. It was not far from the Southern Air Temple and lay far out in the ocean of the Earth Kingdom. She took a small piece of paper and wrote it down neatly. She folded the paper and hid it in her bracelet.
As she did this, she thought about the consequences if Zhao found out she helped his enemy. She bit her lip and played with her bracelet as she pondered this, but something inside her stirred at the idea of defying him. Almost as if a small flame was lit inside of her, filling her with warmth and excitement. Well, only one way to find out, she grinned as she put away her atlas.
She jumped slighty when she heard a knock on the door. "Enter" she said, quickly checking her bracelet. Calm yourself, she thought as Jin entered the room and said "Commander Zhao requests your presence in the sitting room, Miss."
When she entered the sitting room, she saw Zhao standing with his back turned to her and his hands behind him. Zuko had his arms crossed and stared at the ground with a brooding expression while Iroh drank a new cup of tea and looked up when she entered the room.
Zhao quickly turned around to face her. She nodded to signal she was ready to leave. Feeling her cheeks heat up, she placed her hand swiftly over her bracelet.
Zhao didn't seem to notice as he turned to Zuko: "My search party is ready. Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to you ship and you'll be free to go."
"Why?" Zuko asked angry, "Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?"
Zhao laughed mockingly as he looked at the young prince. "You.. stop me? Impossible" he said with a bored expression.
Zuko stood up and walked to Zhao to tell him not to underestimate him. Elyrie looked at the two men with an uneasy feeling. This can not end well, she thought nervously.
"I will capture the Avatar before you" Zuko continued while he looked at Zhao with disdain.
"Prince Zuko, that's enough." Iroh said calmly as he rose from his seat as well.
"You can't compete with me." Zhao said condescendingly "I have hundreds of warships under my command and you're just a banished prince. No home, no allies. Your own father doesn't even want you."
"You're wrong!" Zuko snapped, "Once I deliver the Avatar to my father, he will welcome me home with honour and restore my rightful place on the throne." Elyrie noticed the slight tremble in his voice, as if he was trying to convince himself of his father's love.
"If your father really wanted you home, he would have let you return by now. Avatar or no Avatar." Zhao said coldy.
Elyrie hated to admit it, but she agreed with Zhao on this point. She knew the Fire Lord was a cold man with ruthless ambition. He had cast away his son without a second thought, as if he meant nothing to him.
"In his eyes, you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation." Zhao continued.
"That is not true" Zuko said, averting his eyes from the older commander as he tried to control his temper.
"You have the scar to prove it" Zhao added with a cruel smile on his thin lips.
"Maybe you'd like one to match!" Zuko roared, finally losing his temper. Elyrie's blood grew cold when she heard those words.
"Is that a challenge?" Zhao asked with a small smile.
"An Agni Kai. At sunset" Zuko said while staring at the commander with hatred. Elyrie looked at the commander with fright, hoping he would refuse.
"Very well." Zhao said, crushing her hopes. "It is a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle and my fiancée will do." He turned around and left the room.
Elyrie's hands were shaking as she looked at Iroh. He had the same worried look in his eyes as he said "Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you duelled a master?" Zuko continued to stare in front of him, completely ignoring his surroundings.
Elyrie looked back at him and met his golden eyes, which were filled with hate and determination as he answered "I will never forget."