Katara
I wake up before the sun. I hardly slept last night, and I had to anyway. My Wedding ceremony takes place at sunrise, and we'll be leaving directly after that so we can make it to the Fire Nation by sundown to have another ceremony there for Zuko's people to see and be a part of. I'm glad we're doing the first one here, though. That ceremony is a formality. This ceremony, here in my home, is the actual wedding.
I sit in the tub, heating the water with my bending and trying to clam my excited nerves about everything that's going to happen. I wish my mother was here. I clutch her necklace, now gold plated, to my chest. She'd probably be brushing the tangles out of my hair as I bathe, or getting my dress and coat ready like Gran Gran is doing now, maybe giving me advice about life and sex and being married to a leader. I shake my head and try to push the thoughts away. It's my wedding day. I don't want to be anything but excited.
I get out of the steaming water, bend myself dry, and wrap up in a warm fur robe. Right as I do, Gran Gran rushes in, or rushes as much as she can at her age, with a big smile on her face and my clothes in her hands.
"You'll look so beautiful in this, my little Water Bender!" She tells me. "Come on, let's see it!" I laugh and get up, pulling the dress on. It has two parts: A solid white floor length silk under dress, and solid white overdress that goes to my knees on the sides and forms a v down the front and back of my calves. The edges of the bottom, the sleeves, and the hood are all fur, and it has a beautiful cinch waist. I smile looking down at it, but when I try to turn to see the looking glass Gran Gran slaps my arm with her walking stick.
"Not yet. Sit down and let me do your hair and makeup, Katara. It's not easy to import cosmetics from the Earth Kingdom, you know. We might as well put them to use on a special occasion." She grins. I roll my eyes but smile and sit, letting her get to work.
She starts with my makeup, but doesn't do much with it, but with my hair, she takes her time and does a complicated braid down my back with a thick and plush Northern Polar Braid (A/N: It's a Dutch Braid) with a small fishtail down the center of it. She fluffs it, then pins in my hair loops.
"There. Now take a look at yourself." She says and kisses my forehead. I turn to look in the looking glass and gasp at my reflection. My skin practically glows against the white of my dress, and my hair looks more lush and perfect than I've ever seen it. She did my makeup very subtly, just enough to bring out my eyes and natural blush, plus added a little color to my lips. Everything together, and I look more beautiful than I've ever felt before.
"Grandmother…" I trail off. When I turn to her she has tears in her eyes.
"You look so much like Kaya, Dear. She would be so proud of you now. You've changed the world. And now you'll be helping lead the Fire Nation of all places into a better place in the New World."
"Thank you, Gran Gran." I hug her. She squeezes me and pulls back, wiping her eyes one more time.
"Come now. Put some perfume on and let's go. The sun will be up any minute."
I do as she says, using a little of what's left of my mother's perfume, then wrap it up carefully for the journey. Gran Gran wraps my coat around me and we walk to where the Ice meets the ocean. I smile as we get near, and at First light I see that benders have created beautiful ice benches, flowers, and an arbor. So many people have come from all over the Southern Water Tribe, including several villages outside of Wolf Cove.
Sokka is standing at the end of the Aisle in his place as Best Man, next to Paku who's conducting the ceremony, and when my father and Yue see us they walk straight over. I see my father's eyes are glassy as he gives me a hug and a kiss on my cheek.
"You are the most beautiful bride I've seen since my own wedding day with your mother, Katara." He tells me.
"Thank you, Daddy."
"You look Incredible!" Yue says with excited dignity. "Zuko will have his breath taken away." She hands me an ice bouquet and I hug my sister in law close, trying not to think about exactly how much I'll miss her when I leave. She and I have gotten very close since she and Sokka got married last year, and I'm glad she's here to be my Matron of Honor.
"Thank you." I tell them, gratitude filling me.
"I'm going to go sit down, Katara. These old joints can only stay standing for so long." Gran Gran tells me, squeezes my hand one more time, and goes to sit in the front row.
"So where is Zuko?" I ask. "Shouldn't he be here by now? Sunrise is in just a few minutes." Yue smiles at me.
"He'll be here soon. He's been working on a surprise."
"Really? What?" Dad asks her.
"Oh, I'm not about to ruin it. He and Sokka have been working on it ever since the two of you were betrothed!"
"Seriously? That was over a year ago! Wait-is that why he stayed here in the South Pole?"
"It's part of the reason. But mostly because with his mother ruling the Fire Nation so well he didn't need to go back right away and he wanted to be closer to you. Oh, Look. There he is." She smiles and points to the ridge behind me. Dad's face goes slack with shock as he gasps. I frown and turn to see what's happening, and the sight knocks the wind out of me.
Zuko's smiling, sitting on top of a black Wolf Horse and leading a pure white one, with five, nine, ten, Eleven Wolf Horses behind them.
"Oh my Spirits." I breathe.
"He didn't." My dad says under his breath. By now, everyone who's showed up for the wedding has noticed Zuko as he rides down the hill with thirteen Wolf Horses. He gets in front of us and smiles as he slides to the ground.
"I know you told me this tradition isn't really in play anymore, but I wanted to do it for you anyways." He says and kisses my cheek, making my stomach flutter even more as he turns to my Father. "Thirteen Wolf Horses. One more than in the story. All are tamed and trained. And this Filly has not a spot of color on her. Her name is Silvermist. This black stallion is my favorite, his name is Stryder. Sokka will show you the rest later."
"Zuko…" I trail off, trying to blink away tears as I walk up and stroke Silvermist's flanks. She nickers and immediately turns her head to nuzzle me. In the two years that I've been home helping Bato build the Tribe's herd back up, I've never felt that special bond I've heard about with any one Wolf Horse. I loved all of them, but this is already different. I can feel it. It almost makes me with I wasn't going to the Fire Nation, finally finding this and now leaving before I can spend any time with her.
"She's beautiful." Yue says to Zuko. "This is an amazing display of your honor, Zuko." He nods to her gratefully.
At first, My dad doesn't say anything. He just reaches out and clasps forearms with Zuko.
"Thank you." He clears his throat. "Thank you, Zuko, for honoring us this way." He turns to me. "I gift these Wolf-horses to you, Katara. I'll care for them while you're gone, but they'll always be here when you visit."
"Thank you, Daddy." I whisper and hug him. He clears his throat again.
"Bato!" He calls out, and Bato comes over. He's smiling proudly.
"This is quite a sight. Thirteen Wolf Horses, if my count is right. More than any in our tribe's history as a bride price. And A pure white one, at that. Well Done, Zuko."
"Thank you." Zuko nods.
"Sokka teach you?"
"He did. He said you taught him well."
"Bato, please take these horses except Stryder and Silvermist to the ice pastures to join the rest of our herd. We won't start the ceremony without you." Dad asks him.
"Very well, Chief. Katara, you look beautiful." He kisses my cheek and hops on a gray mare, leading them all to the Tribe's herd.
"I'll see you at the other end of the Aisle." Zuko tells me and squeezes my hand. "And Katara? When I first came over the ridge and saw you, I almost fell off Stryder into the snow like an idiot. You look so beautiful it took my breath away." He says, so eloquently it makes me blush as he walks to the other end of the Aisle.
He and Sokka embrace when he gets there, and he greets Paku with a respectful bow.
We all wait patiently, me stroking Silvermist's nose and eventually braiding a few strands of her mane, until Bato returns on his own Wolf Horse. He dismounts and goes back to his seat. Once he's there, My father Nods to Paku who nods over to his side. I see a small choir of girls from Wolf Cove and Polar Landing start to sing a traditional wedding melody in a harmony so moving it makes my eyes well up again. Yue smiles and holds her ice bouquet close to the stomach of her blue dress and starts gliding down the Aisle. Once she's there, my father offers me his arm and we start walking slowly down ourselves. I take in Zuko at the end, dressed in an all white coat, pants, and boots per Water Tribe customs. He Really has gone all out to do everything as if he'd been a part of our tribe since birth, not just joining officially today. I love him all the more for it. We get to the front and the Choir stops singing. My father lowers my hood and kisses my forehead. Then turns to the gathering.
"Before All the witnesses here, and with the approval of every member of our village Wolf Cove, I give my Daughter Katara of the Southern Water Tribe in marriage to Zuko of the Fire Nation." He says loudly. "She is of age and has gone through the betrothal year. Zuko has honored every one of our traditions, even the ones not required of him as you all saw him ride in with thirteen Wolf Horses, even a pure white one, that he gifted to me and that I have given to Katara. Let this Wedding proceed before the Moon and Ocean Spirits." He finishes, and goes to sit down next to Gran Gran. Zuko takes my hands, and we both look at Paku.
"It brings me great joy to see my brightest pupil, and a loving granddaughter find a man worthy of her. Zuko has brought peace to the world, ending his nation's aggression and supporting the rebuilding of this Tribe which I may not have grown up in, but I'm so grateful to be a part of now. And he loves Katara in away so deep one is lucky to see it in a lifetime.
Zuko, son of Ursa and nephew of Iroh, do you take Katara, Daughter of Kaya and Hakoda, to be your wife? Do you take her in love, and promise to cherish her, be faithful and true to her no matter the circumstances, letting death be the only thing that separates you?"
Zuko turns from Paku to look me in the eyes.
"I do." He says, and if possible, I smile even brighter.
"Good Man. And you Katara, Daughter of Kaya and Hakdoa, do you take Zuko, son of Ursa and Nephew of Iroh, to be your husband? Do you take him in love, promise to cherish him, be faithful and true to him no matter the circumstances, letting death be the only thing that separates you?"
"I do."
"Then by the Moon and Ocean Spirits, and in front of all these members of the Southern Water Tribe, I now pronounce you Man and Wife. Zuko, you can kiss your bride." Before the words are even out of Paku's mouth, Zuko crashes into me, pulling me close with one hand on my waist and the other tangled in my hair, kissing me so deeply and so long it completely drowns out the noise of everyone cheering. When I finally pull back to breathe, I have to gasp to fill my lungs with air. He chuckles and kisses my forehead. The choir starts singing again, and my dad gets up and walks Gran Gran down the aisle, then Sokka and Yue go, and finally I lock arms with my husband and walk with him to Stryder and Silvermist, where we both get on and gallop to the center of the village. Zuko slides off of Strider and then comes over to pick me up by my waist off of Silvermist and spins me in a circle before setting me down and kissing me deeply, sending another heat through me. One I don't have to resist now.
"Zuko." I say between kisses.
"Hmm?"
"Everyone's going to be here for the wedding feast soon." I say through a gasp as his mouth moves to my neck.
"Mmmmm-hmmmmm." He agrees, my heart continuing to beat faster
"So if there's anything you want to go in the house and do, do it now!" I manage to get out. That gets his attention. He pulls back and his eyebrows shoot up. I gasp and smile at him, and he grins. He doesn't say anything, just pulls me into the closest building, one of the ones still under construction, and slams the door behind us.
"What-what do you want me to do?" I ask him as he pushes me against the wall. He looks up at me, joy and gentleness and mischief all evident on his face.
"You? I want you to stand there and try not to scream in case anyone gets back and overhears. Unless you want them to hear you, of course." He says, and puts his hand under the hem of my silk underskirt on my leg. I moan as he slowly moves his hand up the inside of my calf, then my thigh, and I gasp as his fingers touch the sensitive folds between my legs.
"Shhhh." Zuko says, and starts messaging the area. "Spirits, you're wet, Katara."
"That-that feels so good." I breathe.
"I can tell. Not a sound, Katara. Can you do that for me?" He asks. I grit my teeth and nod, then gasp as he pumps a finger inside of me. He was right, I want to scream. One finger becomes two. It takes him a second to find the right spot but when he does I almost black out from pleasure. Eventually it becomes overwhelming, and I can't keep entirely quiet as I climax, then breathe deeply as the feeling passes. Zuko chuckles at me, and wipes his hand off before standing up and grabbing both of my wrists with one hand and putting them against the wall above me. "Good Girl, Katara." He says in a husky voice, making me whimper a little with want. Before he can say or do anything else, we hear people outside. He lets go of me with a smile, about to open the door when I grab him by the shoulders and slam him against the wall, pressing against him as close as I can and kissing him as deep as possible.
"Oh, I'm so going to pay you back for all this later." I promise him.
"Looking forward to it, Water Princess." He chuckles. His easy confidence suddenly makes me shy. I'm not even going to know what to do.
"Zuko-" I say looking down. "You're going to have to teach me. I don't know what I'm doing with all of…this." I tell him.
"Hey," He says softly. "Katara, look at me." He puts his hand under my chin and gently lifts my face to look at him. "Do you know how damn happy it makes me to know you don't know any of this? That' I'm the one who gets to teach you everything? Based on how amazing you are at kissing me, you're going to be incredible at everything else. And I look forward to not only teaching you what feels good for me, but learning exactly how to make you gasp and scream my name, how to make you feel good. And we have our whole lives to learn everything we can about each other."
"I love you, Zuko." I whisper, gratitude filling me up.
"I love you, too." He smiles and gently kisses my hands. "Let's go to the feast, then we can go back to the Fire Nation, and I can give you an infinite amount of other things to pay me back for." He promises, making another wave of heat consume my body. "Lets go."
…
After the feast wraps up a couple hours later, and we've said our goodbyes to our family, Zuko and I head to the docs to get on his airship so we can get to the Fire Nation by sunset. Before we get there, though, Zuko stops me and blindfolds me.
"Zuko, what's this for?"
"I have one more surprise for you, Water Princess." He says in a low voice next to my ear, and I wonder if that surprise could possibly be him laying me down in the snow and fingering me again. But he pushes me forward, so I guess not. We go up and then down a hill before we stop, Zuko's hands on me the entire time. "Katara, You look more beautiful than maybe anytime I've ever seen you, but I cannot wait to get this dress off of you. I want your skin." He says as we stop. "Alright, take the blindfold off." I pull it off and suck in a deep breath of disbelief at what's standing in front of me. A Phoenix-Horse. It's a white Mare with wings, and when she snorts fire comes out of her.
"Zuko, she's beautiful!"
"She's yours." He smiles and kisses me gently.
"Do you have one too?" I ask. He shanks his head no.
"I'm working on rebuilding the dragon population. I'll have one of my own soon enough. But I know you love Wolf-Horses, and that you can't bring them with you to the Fire Nation, so I'm hoping you'll grow to love her just as much."
"What's her name?" I ask.
"I didn't name her. Decided to leave that to you."
"Adara." I say without thinking, then put my hand to my mouth, surprised at myself for remembering such a small detail.
"What?" He asks.
"Before you joined up with us we found an incredible underground library that had all kinds of things in it. There was one book I saw that was a translation dictionary. In an ancient language, Adara means Fire."
"I think it's a beautiful name." He kisses my forehead, then makes me laugh as he scoops me up under my legs and back and puts me on Adara. He climbs on behind me and I lean back into him as I run my hands through her mane.
"This is Perfect, Zuko." I tell him.
"I'm glad." He kisses the top of my head. "Now Phoenix horses are super fast, so hold on. We'll be back in the Fire Nation by late afternoon."