Elyrie woke up past sunrise. She blinked her blue eyes a few times to shake off the sleep and raised herself up. Looking around the spare room, she swung her legs on the side of the bed and stretched her body. She was amazed that she didn't even have soar muscles after her accident. She twisted around to see if anything else might hurt, but she didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. What am I a lucky person, she decided, I have to thank Zuko again for getting me out!
She walked over to the small bathroom while humming a cheerful melody and she inspected herself in the mirror. The bandage still covered her temple and she carefully touched the wound. She felt nothing, so she slowly pulled the cloth away. She looked again in the mirror and saw the thin, red line next to her hairline. It was not very noticeable. The small scar roughly stretched from her eye to her eyebrow, barely more than 5 centimetres
She washed herself and combed her curls. She grabbed a small pin and pinned the front locks of her hair back. It is probably better if I keep my hair out of my face while it continues to heal, she mused. She let the remainder of her curls fall down her back, enjoying the weight as she moved her head. She chuckled and softly hummed to herself as she got dressed in a bright red tunic and pants. She made her way to the kitchen, since she slept past breakfast. She noticed the ship had begun to move, so they probably left a few hours ago at dawn.
She timidly entered the kitchen and greeted the cook. He was a middle aged man with kind brown eyes.
"Ah, yes, Miss Elyrie." he nodded friendly to her when she introduced herself. "General Iroh had asked me to save you some breakfast." he said to her while handing her a plate with fried eggs. She thanked him when she took the plate from him. The eggs were delicious and she ate with a healthy appetite.
After thanking the cook for the meal - whose name was Shin she learned - she made her way onto the deck. She looked around when she stepped outside and saw they were already on the open sea. It was a beautiful morning and she greeted Uncle, who was standing by the railing. He nodded kindly to her, but his look was concerned. She followed his gaze and saw a flock of geese flying over in opposite direction.
Iroh inhaled deeply. "There is a storm coming." he then said, "A big one". Elyrie frowned at him and looked at the bright morning sky.
Zuko seemed to think the same thing, when she heard his baritone voice behind her. "You are out of your mind, Uncle" he said, "The weather is perfect. There's not a cloud in sight." He nodded to Elyrie before continuing to look through his telescope.
"A storm is approaching from the north." Iroh continued, paying no attention to his nephews protests. "I suggest we alter our course and head southwest."
"We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so we will do the same." Zuko retorted. In the early morning hours they had seen the sky bison pass and head towards the north, so Zuko quickly ordered to change their course to pursue the Avatar. He had lost him before and was not planning to lose his track again.
"Prince Zuko," his Uncle said in a reprimanding tone, "Consider the safety of the crew."
"The safety of the crew doesn't matter." Zuko sneered. His eyes met the captain, who cocked his eyebrow at the young man. Zuko was not fazed by the disapproving look and approached the older man. "Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety." he continued while glaring at the captain.
Elyrie arched her eyebrow, not sure if she heard him correctly. He sounded so harsh, so cold. She shook her head as Zuko stormed passed her without a glance. "He doesn't mean that." She heard Uncle say to the captain, "He's just all worked up."
The captain seemed not convinced. Elyrie turned to the captain and approached him with a tentative smile. "I don't believe we've been introduced, sir." she said politely as she made a quick bow, "I am Elyrie".
The captain's eyes softened at the respectful greeting of the young girl. He nodded his head and gave her a kind smile.
"I know who you are," he said, "You had us worried for a moment when you came to us but I am glad to see you are allright." Elyrie smiled brightly, thankful for the captain's concern.
Iroh's eyes fell on her scar and smiled at her. "I see you look much better"
She carefully caressed the scar on her left temple and nodded to the older men. "I am Lieutenant Jee." The captain continued.
Elyrie smiled "Please to meet you Lieutenant." The lieutenant was a middle aged man with grey hair and sideburns, but friendly brown eyes. He excused himself to arrange some precautions if a storm was indeed to approach. He had served under general Iroh in the army and he never doubted the older general's instinct.
After Jee had left, Elyrie turned to Uncle.
"Uncle, if you are not otherwise occupied, I had a question" Elyrie carefully said. The kind older man nodded to her. "What is it I can help you with, dear?" he asked.
"I was wondering" she began while she started to play with her little finger "if you would want instruct me on some basic firebending moves?" After mentioning it to Zuko the night before, she couldn't help but feel the need to brush up on her firebending. She was by no means a terrible bender, but she needed proper instructions if she wanted to become a better bender. And who better to teach her than the famous Dragon of the West?
"I would be honoured." Iroh said with a smile. "Now, let start with the basics: breathing."
After a few hours of instruction and practising basic forms, Elyrie's eyes fell on the dark clouds approaching from the north.
"You were right, Uncle." she said in a soft voice. Lieutenant Jee and the other crew members also made their way onto the deck and looked at the threatening clouds. Zuko was the last to arrive, his eyes dark and his face impassive.
The captain crossed his arms and said to him "Oh. Looks like your uncle was right about the storm after all."
"Lucky guess." Iroh intervened with a smile, while his nephew turned his back to the Lieutenant.
Zuko's temper flared at the condescending words of the captain. "Lieutenant, you'd better learn some respect, or I will teach it to you." he said while he stepped towards Jee in a threatening manner.
Elyrie's eyes widened at this. She had never heard Zuko speak so harshly to anyone. Maybe to Zhao earlier, but that was somewhat justified. The captain, on the other hand, had done nothing wrong.
Zuko turned away from the captain, but Jee responded in a cold tone: "What do you know about respect?"
Elyrie saw Iroh motioning to Jee to stop his accusation, but Jee failed to notice. His glare was aimed at the young man's back as he continued. "The way you talk to everyone around here, from your hard-working crew to your esteemed uncle, shows you know nothing about respect."
Elyrie bit her lip at these accusations. This had been bottling up for some time, she realised when she heard the lieutenants harsh words. It was hard to believe the captain was talking about the same person who had risked his own life to save hers. Her eyes darted back to Zuko's back, which revealed nothing. She saw Uncle placing his hand on his forehead as Jee sneered at Zuko.
However, Jee was not finished. "You don't care about anyone but yourself. Then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince?" he finished with an angry glare. Zuko turned around, his face still impassive. His stance on the other hand revealed his sentiments all too well. He took the Agni Kai-stance, silently challenging the lieutenant to a fire duel. Jee did not move a muscle when he too got into his fighting stance.
"Easy now." Iroh tried to calm the situation. The two men paid no attention to him as they crossed their underarms without breaking eyecontact. Zuko's fingertips started to smoke, before Iroh intervened
"Enough!" he said while placing himself between the two men. "We are all a bit tired from being at sea so long." He placed his hands into his sleeves as he continued, "I'm sure after a bowl of noodles, everyone will feel much better."
Jee looked at the older General and relented. However, Zuko turned his back to his Uncle. "I don't need your help keeping order on my ship" he stated with a coldness that made Elyrie shiver. Iroh reached out and placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder, wanting to comfort him, but he pulled away from his Uncle's touch.
Zuko turned away and met Elyrie's sapphire eyes, which looked confused. He quickly looked away from her gaze and made his way back inside without sparing her another glance.
Elyrie did nothing to stop him or reached out to him. She had observed the confrontation in silence; her mind racing and trying to connect the dots. She realized that the Zuko who rescued her and the Zuko who hunted the Avatar seemed two vastly different persons. He may have helped her, but it was clear she was the exception.
Iroh continued to gaze at the upcoming storm, his hands placed in his sleeves again. Elyrie quietly moved to his side and grasped his arm.
"Is this how it normally goes?" she asked quietly while looking at the dark clouds.
Iroh sighed. "I am afraid so," he said in a serious voice, "Zuko is focused on finding and capturing the Avatar, more so than ever before." He sadly shook his head. He had witnessed his nephew's softer side yesterday in his interactions with Elyrie, but that seemed to have vanished at the first sight of the Avatar.
"Come inside and have dinner with me." Elyrie kindly asked the older man, trying to distract him. He looked up and smiled at her hopeful eyes. He offered her his arm and she gladly took it.
Zuko had not joined them for dinner. He had locked himself in his room and refused anyone. Elyrie had brought a tray with dinner to his room, but he didn't open the door. She had knocked two times, but there came no response so she placed the small bowl of noodles at the door, not wanting to push him.
After dinner, Uncle and she walked back to sitting room. On their way through the corridor, they heard muffled voices coming from below deck in the boiler room. Uncle motioned for her to follow him while placing a finger on his lips, indicating for her to remain quiet. She followed the old man with a puzzled look to the boiler room.
When they stood on the bridge that oversaw the entire boiler room, they could make out the inside as a red glow illuminated the interior of the ship. Looking down the stairs, Elyrie saw four men sitting around a fire, drinking and talking.
Elyrie moved forward to descend, only for Uncle to gently grab her wrist; he didn't say anything but motioned for her to wait. She obliged and listened to the muffled voices, which now sounded louder and clear. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she tried to see who the four men below were.
"I'm sick of taking his orders," she heard Jee say in an angry tone, "and I'm tired of chasing his Avatar. I mean, who does Zuko think he is?"
"Do you really want to know?" Uncle asked calmly, his gentle voice echoing off the metal walls. Elyrie repressed a shriek of surprise: she didn't expect him to speak. The four crewmembers looked up in equal surprise, with Jee quickly apoligizng.
"General Iroh, we were just –..." he stammered while trying to explain why he was just loudly questioning the nephew of the esteemed Dragon of the West.
"It's okay." Iroh said while peacefully raising his hand to signal that he didn't take offense. "May we join you?"
"Of course." Jee said and rose up to give his seat to the older man. Elyrie said nothing as she followed Uncle as he descended down the stairs, looking at the crewmembers. Jee politely nodded at her and he gave a quick nod to the other members present. The second man - she recognised him as the engineer - motioned for her to take his place, but she politely shook her head and continued to stand beside Uncle.
Iroh stroked his beard after he sat down. "Try to understand." he began explaining to the present crewmembers, "My nephew is a complicated young man. He has been through much."
Then he started to tell the crew the story. The story which send shivers down Elyrie's spine, even after five long years.
She remembered the day like it was yesterday. She and Zuko had been studying when they got word of a war meeting which would take place later that afternoon. Zuko had been eighteen years old and eager to attend, she remembered. Elyrie felt a sting, as she was the one who had encouraged him to attend, trying to learn as much as he could.
Uncle continued to tell how Zuko asked to attend the war meeting where the attacks on the Earth Kingdom where planned. Elyrie never knew what actually had happened during the war meeting, except that Zuko spoke out of turn. She listened to Uncle's calm voice while fixating her eyes on the fire in front of her.
"The General opted to sacrifice a division of young Fire Nation recruits as a distraction for a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion. The plan was to let them be the bait while the more experienced soldiers attacked the Earth Kingdom troops from behind." Iroh said in a passive tone, trying to control his emotions. "The General barely had finished speaking when Zuko spoke up. He said that they could not sacrifice an entire division like that and that the recruits loved and defended their nation. Zuko stated that they did not deserved to be betrayed."
Elyrie closed her eyes while a tear fell down her cheek.
"Zuko was right, you see?" Iroh added in a grim tone, "But it was not his place to speak out and there were dire consequences." He took a sip of his drink, which Jee had offered him. The crewmembers listened in silence with wide eyes. "After Zuko's outburst in the meeting," Iroh continued, "the Fire Lord became very angry with him. He said that Prince Zuko's challenge of the general was an act of complete disrespect. There was only one way to resolve this."
"Agni Kai" Jee said quietly, "A fire duel."
Elyrie felt her tears flowing as she remembered how the Agni Kai room was prepared for the duel. She had heard from Uncle that Zuko was to participate in the Agni Kai and she had begged him to take her with him. Iroh had relented, but made her promise not to leave his side during the Agni Kai.
"That's right." Iroh told Jee, "Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid. But Zuko misunderstood; when he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the general." Iroh continued, while looking around the group of men. "Zuko had spoken out against the generals plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lords war room, it was the Fire Lord himself whom he had disrespected. Zuko would have to duel his own father." The crewmembers sucked in their breath, surprised.
"You will learn respect. And suffering will be your teacher." Those words made her shiver. And the scream that followed, she would never forget.
"I looked away." Iroh finished and looked around the circle. He saw the men stare at him, as if they could not believe what he had just told them. He himself had trouble believing it, but it was the sad truth.
He looked at the girl standing beside him - like she had on that fateful day five years ago - but she did not look at him. Instead, she looked at the fire. Her cheeks were stained with tears, which kept flowing even though she did not make a sound. Her expression hadn't changed, but her eyes told the crew all they needed to know. The look of pure horror and pain was more than he could ever explain with words.
She was reliving it as well, remembering every moment, he thought. She had been beside him during the Agni Kai, she had grasped his hand at the reveal of the Fire Lord but had not said a word. She had been crying as well when Zuko begged for his father's forgiveness. When Iroh had looked away, she had her face pressed against his shoulder, turning away as well from the horrid sight. He was glad she did not witness it, as he himself could not.
The captain finally spoke. "I always thought that Prince Zuko was in a training accident."
Elyrie finally spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper and her eyes still fixated on the fire. "It was no accident." Her soft voice was filled with hatred, as were her eyes.
Iroh resumed: "After the duel, the Fire Lord said by refusing to fight, Zuko had shown shameful weakness. As punishment he was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then could he return with his honour."
"So that is why he is so obsessed." Jee said, understanding at last. "Capturing the Avatar is the only chance he has of things returning to normal."
"Things will never return to normal." Iroh said in a harsh tone. Elyrie looked at the old general and placed her small hand on his shoulder. He too carried the burden Zuko was forced to bear and she was thankful for his compassion. "But the important thing is, the Avatar gives Zuko hope." Iroh concluded in a softer voice as he felt the soft touch on his shoulder.
The Avatar gives Zuko hope, and so does Elyrie, he added silently in his mind. She was a friend, someone he needed beside himself as a mentor. But even more imporantly, Iroh knew Elyrie reminded his nephew of his happier days.
He placed his old hand over her small hand and smiled at the young girl. Her eyes were red, but she bravely smiled back at him.
For a moment, everybody in the boiler room was silent as they thought over what General Iroh just told them. But the moment didn't last long when a loud sound startled them, followed by a crashing sound of falling metal.
The men raced onto the deck with Elyrie quickly following. When she reached the deck, she almost lost her balance. The ship was rocking on the high waves and water was splashing on the deck. Elyrie slipped on the water in her hurry and almost fell over, but two arms steadied her before she could lose her balance. Zuko had caught her before she fell down. She grasped his upper arms, muttering a quick thanks. Zuko nodded, holding onto her while trying to keep his own balance.
"Where were we hit?" he yelled over the sounds of the crashing rain and waves.
"I don't know" Jee yelled back, while looking around. The rain slammed onto them. Elyrie's curls stuck to her face and the waves drenched her, soaking her to the bone within moments.
"Look" Iroh exclaimed, while pointing at the watchtower. Elyrie squinted her eyes when the lightening illuminated the dark ship. She saw what Uncle meant: the helmsman hang onto the railing helplessly, barely holding on.
"The helmsman!" Zuko yelled. He let go of her and swiftly made his way up the ladder of the watchtower, with Jee following him. They started to climb up to reach the helmsman.
The ship continued to sway from left to right. Elyrie watched with fear in her eyes as the two men tried to reach the helmsman. With her hands clasped in front of her face she barely paid attention to her surroundings.
She was startled by a second lightning strike, but saw Uncle reacting quickly. The bolt made its way to the ship, but Iroh redirected the lightning away from the ship and back into the sea. He lit up like a second sun, before releashing the lightning. After that, he looked a bit burned on the edges, but her mouth fell open at this display of firebending.
However, the shock that rocked the ship was the final push for the helmsman. He lost his grip and fell down with a loud scream. In a reflex Zuko grabbed the man hand, preventing him from falling to his death. When he steadied his grip, he carefully lowered the elderly helmsman to Jee. The captain was a few feet beneath him and took over the man, with a proud look at Zuko. Zuko gave him a look of understanding before they made their way back down to the deck.
Once they reached the deck, Elyrie made her way over to the helmsman. She inspected his hands and his face, searching for bruises or injuries. But - despite being shaken up quite roughly - the old man seemed to be okay. She steadied him, letting him lean on her while Zuko and the other crewmembers anxiously searched the ship for damage.
Zuko looked at Elyrie through the rain. Her curls were sticking to her face and she used all her might to support the shaken man. They exchanged looks before his attention was caught by a flying shape in the rainy sky. The distinct shape of the Avatar's sky bison was impossible to miss.
"The Avatar!" Zuko exclaimed, his voice louder than the thunder and the crashing waves.
"What do you want to do, sir?" Jee yelled, waiting for his orders.
It took Zuko only a few seconds to decide. "Let him go. We need to het this ship to safety first." He ordered while turning around to face his crew.
"Then I suggest we head to the eye of the storm." Uncle instructed while giving his nephew an appreciative look. The men quickly spread to change course. Elyrie reacted as well, nudging the helmsman back inside once they reached calmer water. The ship stopped swaying as she led him to her room to recover. The helmsman gave her a grateful look when he sank onto the bed. She smiled back at the old man.
"Can I do anything for you, sir?" she asked him. He shook his head, but she poured him a glass of water even so. He drank it swiftly before laying down. When he closed his eyes, she quietly left the room and closed the door.
She made her way back onto the deck, where Zuko and Uncle were inspecting the ship. The rain had stopped and she saw a spot of blue in the sky. We made it to the eye of the storm, she thought relieved.
When she reached the two men, a giant wave seemed to appear next to the vessel. But it was, on second glance, not a wave. It was the sky bison of the Avatar emerging from the water. She saw the Avatar in his distinctive orange and yellow clothing gazing down at them. She looked at Zuko, who had his eyes fixed on the boy as well until they were out of sight.
"Uncle," Zuko finally said in a raspy voice, "I am sorry." He bowed his head in shame. He had endangered them all in his thoughtless pursuit of the Avatar. It had nearly cost them the life of the helmsman, who had served him dutiful.
Iroh placed his hand on the shoulder of his nephew. "Your apology is accepted." he said with a fatherly smile before turning to go back inside to a nice wam cup of tea.
Zuko's eyes fell on Elyrie, who shook her wet curls out of her face, which made his heart constrict. He had endangered her too. What must she think of him? He expected her to look at him with the same aversion she had displayed when she heard that Zhao had abandoned her. He himself had been disgusted with the carelessness of the Commander, and here he was doing the very same thing.
But when their eyes met, she smiled at him.