Zuko's footsteps sounded loud on the metal floor of the ship as he kept pacing back and forth. Uncle and the physician were in his room taking care of Elyrie.
He groaned impatiently as he passed his door for the sixth time that minute. What could possibly take so long? He was angry that he had been banned from the room after he took it on himself to find a physician as quickly as possible.
Ten minutes ago - was it only ten? - hHe had raced to the docks and found an older gentleman, who was the local physician. It had not taking much effort to persuade the older man to come with him, especially with his distinctive Fire Nation armour. The older man, who was around sixty years old with a grey beard and intelligent green eyes behind horn rimmed glasses, asked what the problem was before he came with Zuko. Zuko had quickly explained the blow to the head and the hazy state the girl was in. The physician had packed bandages and sterilizer and followed Zuko to his ship. It had taken Zuko a lot of effort not to drag the old man with him, but nonetheless they made it back in no time at all.
Uncle had stayed with Elyrie in the meantime and spoke softly to her, only receiving some form of an answer. She had complained of dizziness and that she felt nauseous, Uncle explained to the physician once he had arrived. The physician opened his bag and carefully began to treat the wound at the side of her head.
Zuko himself had felt nauseous when he saw the bowl on the side of the bed, filled with bloodstained cloths. His stomach had turned, filled with worry and panic when he looked at Elyrie's face, which looked even paler on to the burgundy pillows. Uncle had noticed his discomfort and gently instructed him to wait outside. Zuko had protested but Uncle had practically thrown him out once he started to pace nervously in the room.
So now Zuko was pacing outside, impatiently waiting for some news. It took ten, fifteen, twenty minutes. He sat down, got back up, went in circles, threw fireballs in the air and sat back down again.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door opened. The physician came out with the bowl filled with bloodstained cloths and pink coloured water. Zuko shuddered at the sight.
"Well, how is she?" he asked, slightly more forceful than he intended.
The physician put down the bowl, straightened his back and took off his horn rimmed glasses.
"The girl will be alright." he replied calmly while looking at the young man, "The blow to her head gave her a light concussion, so it will take a few days for her to recover. She needs sleep, but also fresh air and a bit of light exercise."
He carefully studied the young Fire Nation man in front of him, waiting for his reaction. When the young men let out a sigh of relief, the old man involuntarily smiled. Even behind his rough appearance, it was clear that this boy cared for the sleeping girl in the next room. The girl wore an engagement ring, he had noticed when examining her. Ah, to be young and in love, he thought amused.
"The wound on her head seemed more serious, but I cleaned it and stitched it. It probably will leave a small scar, but the bandage can come off in a few days." He continued, reassuring the young man. "Don't you worry, with enough rest and care, she will be as good as new in no time at all and you'll be able to live a long and happy life together." he added with a smile.
Zuko frowned at the last comment, but the old man failed to notice.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go back." The physician put his glasses back on, grabbed his bag and walked past Zuko with a last nod.
Zuko felt a wave of relief going through his chest. He had been so worried about her, she seemed so vulnerable when he had put her down on his bed. He quickly stepped into his room, relieved but a bit confused as to the physicians words about a long and happy life together. However, he instantly forgot about it once he saw Elyrie's sleeping face in the bed.
The left side of her face was party covered with bandages, which were used to cover up the wound. Her full lips trembled slightly, but she was breathing softly and regularly. She seemed at ease, finally able to rest after the whole ordeal. While making sure she was alright, Zuko absentmindedly knelt down and placed his large hand over her smaller hand which was laying beside her on the bed. It felt cold, which surprised him. The tips of her fingers were like ice, so he gently picked up her hand and rubbed it between his warm, firebending hands. She always had unusually cold hands for a firebender, he thought with a mental smile.
Iroh was still sitting beside the bed as he gently placed a blanket over Elyrie and tucked her in. He too was relieved the girl was alright after having recovered from the first shock of seeing her. The physician had examined her and assured him she would live through this. Elyrie herself seemed a bit confused and disoriented at all the commotion, but the physician reassured her everything would come back to her in a couple days.
Iroh knew confusion and temporary memory loss were side effects from head trauma, so he was sure she would be her old, cheerful self again in a couple of days. The physician had ordered Elyrie to stand up, which she was able to do. She was a bit shaken, slighty disoriented, but eventually perfectly able to walk by herself. The physician then asked her to lie down on the bed again and instructed her to take as much rest as she needed.
She must be exhausted from this day, Iroh thought as he looked out of the window, where he saw that the moon had taken the place of the setting sun. "You need to sleep, dear" he had gently instructed the blue-eyed girl. Elyrie had nodded vaguely and untied the ribbons of her dust covered dress. Iroh was glad it was just her overcoat that was covered in dust and blood, since they had no clean clothes for her. Her underdress would serve just fine for now, but he made a mental note to go and buy some clothes for her tomorrow in town. Not that she noticed it: she quickly closed her eyes and fell asleep within moments.
He had just placed a blanket over her when his nephew entered the room. Zuko did not seem to notice him while he directly knelt beside the sleeping girl. Iroh was amazed at the gentleness his nephew displayed when he carefully warmed Elyrie's hand between his own. For someone who claims that nothing is as important as capturing the Avatar he seems quite distracted, he chuckled to himself. But he still did not understand why and how she came with his nephew and what had happened at the Fire Temple with the Avatar. He walked over to his nephew and placed his hand on his arm.
"Now let her sleep, Prince Zuko." Uncle said while gently tugging at his nephew's arm, "She needs her rest."
Zuko let go of her small hand and gently placed it back on the bed. He carefully stroked her auburn curls before he stood up and made his way to the door. With a last look on the girl, he left the room.
When Iroh had closed the door, he turned to face his nephew. "So, I think you could use a cup of bracing tea."
It did not sound like a question, so Zuko simply followed his Uncle to the sitting room. When he sat down, Iroh poured him a cup of tea. Zuko took a sip and sighed. Iroh poured himself a cup of tea as well, sat down and looked at his nephew.
"Now, will you now tell me what happened at the Fire Temple with the Avatar?" he asked before taking another sip. Zuko's eyes snapped back open, surprised.
The Fire Temple, Zhao, the Avatar.
He had not spared the whole situation a second thought after he saw Elyrie get hurt. He had fled with her, taken her back and only worried for her. He felt his temper flare. How could I have been so distracted, he reprimanded himself with a clenched jaw.
Iroh cocked his eyebrow at his nephew, still waiting for his answer.
"Prince Zuko?" he asked again, "What did happen to Elyrie?" Zuko thought again of the way Zhao and his men had left her behind without looking back, saving themselves. He placed his clenched fists on the table, snapped his head back and exhaled flames into the air. Iroh observed his nephews reaction with a calm demeanour, taking another sip of his tea. Not saying anything was the best way to deal with his nephew's short temper, he had learned a long time ago.
Zuko took a few deep breaths before he was able to calm himself. He looked at the older man, who had poured himself a new cup of tea. He sighed and began to tell the whole story. Of how Zhao was not fooled by the smoke cover and followed him to the small Crescent Moon Island. How he had even captured the friends of the Avatar, but the Avatar had entered the chamber of Roku before Zuko could take him with him. Shortly after, Zhao had arrived.
"Elyrie had accompanied him," Zuko said with gritted teeth, "When Zhao captured me, he asked Elyrie if she was pleased with the outcome."
Iroh cocked his eyebrow. "Why would he say that?"
"I don't know, Uncle" Zuko said, feeling a slight sting, the same he had felt on the island. She had helped him before, so why would she want to see him captured? It made no sense, Iroh mused. He took another sip of his tea, pondering. The girl was smart, so she must have had a good reason to make Zhao believe she wanted Zuko captured.
"What happened after Zhao arrived?" Iroh asked, still curious.
Zuko continued his story, telling about how he was chained to the pillar, how Avatar Roku appeared and had destroyed the Temple. And how Elyrie was hurt in the process, being knocked out and hit by the falling rocks. How he carried her off the island, with him on the ship and back to here.
Iroh had listened quietly, raising his eyebrows at two parts of the story: the part about how Avatar Roku who destroyed the Temple and how his nephew let the Avatar go to save the girl.
"This was not what was supposed to happen today." Zuko said, still clenching his fist. "I don't have the Avatar and don't know where he is going next."
"Prince Zuko, you saved her life today." Iroh said, carefully looking at this brooding nephew, "You do understand that, don't you?"
Zuko's eyes snapped back to his Uncle and raised his eyebrows. He thought of the auburn haired girl, sleeping only a few doors away, safe and sound on his ship. Her pale skin, her cold hands, her disoriented look. Yes, he had let the Avatar go, but only now did he think about his loss. Before his Uncle had asked, only Elyrie had occupied his thoughts. He shook his head and suddenly felt tired.
"I am going to bed." he said while standing up. Iroh cleared his throat at his nephews words while raising his eyebrows. After he shot him a puzzled look, Zuko then remembered Elyrie slept in his room.
"Don't worry, Prince Zuko. You can sleep in my quarters. I'll have a spare room prepared for myself" the older man said with a kind voice. Zuko only nodded at his grey-haired uncle, before he left without saying another word.
Iroh watched his nephew leave with a new feeling of appreciation. The young man had chosen to save an old friend instead of capturing the Avatar. This is a good thing, he mused with a content smile. He left the sitting room, humming a little love song.
At that moment, miles away, the dark night was lit up by a blast of flames.
"Where is she?!" a dark voice roared.