CHAPTER 30
ZUKOS POV
Zuko stared blankly ahead as he watched yet another one of his subjects trudge into the throne room with their heads bowed and tails tucked between their legs.
"Rise and state your name" the King declared.
Zuko's back was beginning to ache from sitting straight for so many hours. He hated holding public audiences. He had to do these once a quarter and it was taxing to address almost every person in Caldera as they stood outside in an endless line just waiting to speak with him. Suki stood to his left, her back as stiff as a board too.
The man before him looked feeble and malnourished, his brown eyes sunken into his face.
"Your Grace" he bowed again "My name is Omasun, I have no house name my Lord. I live in the outskirts of this great city. I farm fire lilies and outsource them to local vendors." He explained.
"Honest work." Zuko said nodding his head. "What has brought you before me Sir?"
The man cleared his throat.
"Well…your Grace I would never mean to offend…your Kyoshi King's Guard does a fine job protecting the city. But on the outskirts we are getting attacked by new Ozai supporters."
"New Ozai supporters?" he echoed.
"Yes…there are those who oppose your rein my Lord. They support your father's legacy and want to see Princess Azula realized on the throne. Just the other week a band of them burned my crops to dust. I am trying my hardest to rebuild but…this is all I know how to do your Grace…"
"Say no more Omasun" Zuko said raising a hand "I will have farm hands sent to you, paid for by the crown. They will help restore your fire lilies. In the mean time you will receive a stipend from Solar Bank that is equivalent to double your normal profits. I will send an accountant with you when you leave to sort it all out."
The man's mouth hung open in disbelief before quickly regathering himself and kneeling with his forehead to the ground.
"Your Grace-I-thank you! Thank you!" he chanted.
The Fire Lord nodded his head.
"And until I can root out this rebellion group I will increase military presence along the outskirts of the city. Thank you for being a loyal subject and reporting this to me Sir. You may take your leave." He smiled gesturing to the waiting chambers.
"Your Grace" he bowed before scurrying out the door.
Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What number was that?" he asked Suki.
"183" she sighed.
The King rolled his shoulders back and cracked his neck.
"Send the next one in" he called.
He was surprised to see Mai walk in, her hand maid Namiko on her heels.
"Your Grace" she curtseyed.
"Queen Elect" he nodded.
"I came to make a plea" she breathed as she straightened back to her full height.
"Go on"
"My Lord I do not find it fair that Queen Elect Katara monopolizes all of your free time" she said her cheeks reddening. Zuko sighed in annoyance.
"We have a child together"
"Which makes it that much more important that I make my plea. Katara has the unfair advantage of already having your heart. I know you don't take me seriously as a contender to be your wife but in the eyes of the public and the law, I am. If I happen to win I will not endure a loveless marriage. Iwillfight for your heart Fire Lord Zuko" she said in determination. The King's heart involuntarily skipped a beat as he stared at her. He cleared his throat after a while.
"State your plea."
"I request that your free time be split equally between your two Queen Elects. We can either have scheduled visit times or keep a time log to ensure that the hours are the same by the end of the week" she explained.
Zuko glanced over at Suki who was staring straight ahead with her nostrils flared in annoyance. He sat back in his throne.
KATARAS POV
"She said WHAT?" Katara yelled in disbelief as she handed Salai off to Zuko. The King took his son into his arms snuggling his sleeping form to his chest.
"Shh" he reminded her as he whispered back, trying not to wake the babe "yes that was her plea."
"Sorry" she whispered back "but is she allowed to demand that?"
Zuko was quiet for a beat too long.
"You agreed to it didn't you" she said in disbelief. She could feel her face heating up "Zuko"she hissed.
"She made a fair point. Besides you were the one who insisted that I treat you two equally for the sake of the campaign's legitimacy!"
The water bender rolled her eyes, regretting her past statement.
"I didn't mean that literally" she argued. Zuko sighed rocking Salai absently as he paced around the room.
"This will be good for your ratings Kat, once they see that Mai cannot hold my attention even with the increased time spent the people will rally behind you. One thing the Fire Nation can't get enough of is a dramatic love story" he murmured. That statement sparked an idea in her brain.
"That's it!" she grinned. Zuko looked to her in confusion as she ran to her desk pulling out a quill and parchment. She wrote furiously trying to get all of her thoughts down quickly.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Do you remember how that play about team Avatar had circled around Ember Island?"
"How could I not" the King groaned.
"That play shaped the public opinion of Aang more than all of his philanthropy combined" she explained "Entertainment is the best way to control a narrative. If I sell our love story to a theatre the public may romanticize our relationship…"
Zuko's face split into a smirk, allowing himself to be hopeful for a moment.
"That's not a bad idea…" he reasoned.
And just like that Katara kept writing, her pen barely lifting off the page as she transferred the contents of her heart into words. She had never written a play before but she was familiar with writing poems and short stories. The more she wrote she had to admit her abilities were quite good. Before she knew it she had lost herself for hours. When she finally looked up she found Zuko fast asleep in her bed, Salai on his chest, and a news parchment in his lap. His light snoring filled the room with it's comforting sound luring Katara to the bed slowly. She snuffed out the candles and nestled into the covers beside her King. Normally she would have kicked him out of her room by now, but tonight was an exception. She picked their baby up gently placing him on the bed between them. She snuggled close to her boys, falling fast asleep.
ZUKOS POV
It had been a week since Zuko had agreed to mandate Mai's plea, spending equal amounts of time with both her and Katara. Yesterday Zuko had spent the entire day with Katara and Salai at the capitol's fair which had the unfortunate consequence of meaning he had to now spend an entire day with Mai. He had just left the most drawn out council meeting of his entire existence. He could not understand why it was so hard to understand that taxing the rich their fair share would give them more than enough for their defense budget against the New Ozai rebellion. He feared that he had allowed too many rich men into his council, skewing the bias's they hold to remain rich and in power. The King frowned as he moved swiftly through the West Wing to the gardens.
Mai was already waiting for him there, seated on one of the park's iron benches. She had traded her usual black for a maroon kimono, her hair pulled back in a single braid with a white bow at the end, signifying her purity.
"Queen Elect" Zuko greeted, bowing his head slightly. She curtseyed deeply, her eyes trained on the ground. He took her hand kissing it chastely, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. This was one of the reasons he preferred his relationship with Katara…all these stupid formalities didn't exist when they were together. He could be himself completely around her.
Mai rose, and with her hand still in his, they began their stroll through the gardens. This was one of those old school traditional courting activities. Strolling through a public temple or garden with your intended was a modest way of publicly announcing your courting process. As they walked they passed many other courtiers, all bowing when their Lord walked by.
"What's it like?" he heard her rasp. Her voice carried in the wind, almost not making it to his ears.
"What?" he asked.
"Being Fire Lord? Being a King?"
Zuko pondered that for a moment. No one had ever asked him.
"It's a lot like being a father I suppose. Your kids don't always know why you do certain things…they may not even agree with how you do them. But one truth stands…your parents always wants what's best for you. They want to keep you safe. That's all I want for my nation" he answered honestly.
"Do you like it? Being a father?" she asked slowly, almost as of afraid of the answer. He licked his lips scanning the garden once again.
"There's nothing better in this world."
He saw her face sink slightly. Undoubtedly, as someone who wanted his heart, she hated the fact that Katara and Salai had it.
"Mai" he sighed, stopping their walk and turning her to face him.
"You're a beautiful girl, you're intelligent, you come from a great family. You deserve to marry someone you love, and someone that loves you. I will use my power as King to help you find a suitable match. You are welcome to stay here until you do" he offered, searching her almond eyes.
"What makes you think I don't loveyou?" she asked, her brows furrowed. Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You barely know me"
"But I have loved you my entire life…" she said confused, searching his golden eyes.
"Mai…that's not love. That's devotion. You've beendevotedto me your entire life" he tried explaining.
"Whatever it may be I need you" she confessed "I've needed you ever since that night we had with Ty" she whispered, her face heating up in a blush. Zuko was taken aback. Her auburn eyes burned him.
"I-….um-"
"It is okay if you cannot speak it. I know you think about it. I know you wonder how it would have felt had you-"
"That's… enough" he interrupted.
"Iwillfight for you your Grace" she promised before walking away. Zuko watched her leave apprehensively, her braid swinging with her steps. Quickly remembering that he still had several more mandated hours with her he followed behind the Lady hurriedly.
KATARAS POV
Katara peeked her head out of the carriage she was riding in, seeing greenery begin to replace the streets. Dirt roads now guided the horses with plenty of gardens and farm lands surrounding. Finally having some extra time in between her busy Queen Elect training schedule she had decided to visit a nearby province within the outskirts of the city. This province was named Yok. About a week ago Zuko had told her about one of his grueling council meetings. He rarely shared anything about his Kingly duties with her but this time she had begged to know what was troubling him. It turned out Ozai had almost quadrupled the defense budget while he was King, suddenly over producing weaponry and materials of war. Many cities on the outskirts were affected by this massive increase in pollution. It poisoned their water supply, the animals they ate, and the lands they farmed. Yok stood right on the edge of the Hiang river, which was polluted with the oils of a nearby gun powder factory. The people of Yok were sick and dying. Katara was going there to help them. Ever since Zuko had shared this with her she had been doing her own research about this community. It turned out they were a hard working people. They were a neighborhood made of carpenters, teachers, fishermen, and farmers. They had large families and strong bonds. On paper they reminded her a lot of her own tribe. She saw parallels between the way she grew up and the way this community sticks together. It made her want to help them all the more.
She looked down at Salai in her lap, his golden eyes captivated at the things he saw sailing by through the window.
"My Lady" she heard Sho, her Lady in waiting, call from across the seats. Katara sighed deeply.
"How many times do I have to tell you Sho…call me Katara I hate all this formal nonsense. We arefriends, and friends don't use formalities" she said in disgust. Sho could not hide her smirk as she tried to cover her upturn lips with a gloved hand.
"Of course My- uh Katara" she stumbled "it's just that…"
"Go on"
"Aren't you afraid to be out amongst the common folk?" she asked perplexed. Katara was genuinely confused.
"What?"
Sho shrugged her slender shoulders.
"Most princesses I've served would be. They would never go to a place so common and …below their stature".
"There are no statures. This world that powerful people have created is make believe. When we die we all answer to the same gods no matter how high born or low. And one thing you should know about me if we're going to be friends Sho…"
"…Yes?..."
"I am a healer first. I go wherever the people need me" she said, nodding in finality. Sho returned her nod, her words resonating.
They felt the carriage come to a stop before there were three rapid knocks on the door. It was pushed open shortly after, one of the Kyoshi King's Guard peaking her head in.
"Queen Elect" she nodded "we've arrived." Katara handed Salai over to Sho in annoyance, knowing it still was not proper etiquette to carry her own child around. She took the Kyoshi's hand, stepping down from the carriage carefully, her long skirts in hand. She was greeted by an old frail looking man in orange and gold robes. He bowed deeply the moment she turned to him.
"Rise Sir"
"Queen Elect Katara, we greet you warmly. It is a pleasure to have you here" he smiled. She returned his grin, curtseying shortly. His eyes widened in surprise at her display of respect to a commoner, someone well below her station.
"What is your name Sir?" she asked.
"My name is Yeerin my Lady. I hold no lands or titles but I am this community's elder. So I will speak for them when I say, to what do we owe this kind visit?"
Katara's expression became a bit more serious.
"I heard that your people are sick. I think I can help."
He looked at her apprehensively.
"It has been nearly two decades since any one from the royal family has noticed us. We are but a small part of the economy to them."
Katara frowned.
"What if I told you not anymore?"
"What do you mean my Lady?"
"Gather all your people for a meeting" she urged. He bowed quickly.
"Right away my Lady"
It wasn't long before Katara was entering the community's library where there were almost a thousand people gathered on the building's lawn. She climbed the steps slowly, holding her head high. Her white gold tiara sat proudly atop her head as she turned to face the small crowd. She scanned the weary eyes of the people looking up at her, imprinting their faces in her memory.
"Good afternoon everyone, I thank you for gathering here on such short notice. I am Queen Elect Katara Naat'aanii of the Southern Water Tribe. I serve as an extension of Fire Lord Zuko's generosity and leadership. I am so honored to stand before you all today. I have done my research on this province and one thing I've learned is that Yok has a proud and rich history. Yours is a story much like my own, I too come from a community of hard working and honest people. People who stick together and hold each other up no matter what storms may come their way. I have come here because our King has made me aware of the pollution affecting this province. Your people are sick and dying all because a tyrant had no regard for his subject's health and safety. He prioritized war over his love for you…but I'm here to tell you those days are far behind you! Gone are the days when your King never so much as batted an eye lash at you. Fire Lord Zuko cares. He loves his people and will do anything within his power to ensure that every being that touches this land can thrive. For those of you who don't know of me, I served as master water bending Sifu to Avatar Aang. During the war I acquired advanced healing abilities. I've served in hospitals and clinics across the world, but today I am here to serveyou. Today I officially make it my mission to heal the people of Yok, and work with the Fire Lord to restore the River Hiang to its former glory!"
When she was done speaking the crowd erupted in applause. It warmed her heart to see hope finally entering their expressions. She turned to Yeerin, placing a hand on his frail shoulder.
"Take me to them" she said. He nodded, leading her slowly to their local hospital.
END CHAPTER 30
