"Your Royal Highness, I am truly sorry you had to experience such a horrible ordeal."
Zuko didn't reply. It was hard to anyway when the physician was tilting his head back and pinching his injured nose repeatedly.
"Luckily, it doesn't appear to be broken," the physician said finally, "As for your ribs, they aren't broken as well but slightly bruised. I recommend a strong tea every four hours, with healing herbs."
Zuko sat back up and touched his nose again. When the guards had removed the crowd, they immediately brought him to the physician after seeing the state of him. Thankfully, they were professionals and didn't ask any questions.
But word had spread by now – there had been a whole square of citizens to see the blood on his face. Zuko groaned. From pain or annoyance, he wasn't sure.
"Can I go?" he asked as he readjusted his tunic, grimacing with the motion of his upper body.
"Certainly," the physician answered as he closed his bag, "I'll deliver the herbs to the kitchen, and give the instructions to deliver the tea."
"Thank you." Zuko walked back, closely followed by the guards that had been waiting by the door. Babysitters, crossed his mind. He was too tired to care now. After tonight, he just wanted to sleep.
Not that he could. He wasn't even sure he could sleep – not with every thought swirling around and all leading back to her.
Not that she had been ever far from his mind. But seeing her again was something he hadn't been prepared for. He had forgotten what effect she had on him. What would she think now? She had disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. He hadn't even stopped to why she had been in the City.
He pushed his door open, and an unwelcome sight greeted him.
"Where you in a fight, Zuzu?" Azula sat crossed-legged on his bed. Her eyes gleamed viciously as she rose, like a queen standing up from her throne.
"Not now, Azula." Zuko sighed as he stepped out of her way and motioned for the door.
"Tell me, how many men assaulted you?" Azula continued, completely ignoring his statement, "You look ghastly."
"Just a couple," Zuko answered, "They ambushed me in the dark. But you should see the state of them – I'm sure the guards have found them by now."
"I see," Azula nodded, almost with a sympathetic smile.
"And if you will allow me, I should like to go to bed now."
"Of course," she almost purred as she walked towards to door, "But Zuzu?"
"What?" Zuko looked in the catlike eyes of his sister, seeing nothing but a predatory gaze in those amber orbs.
"You're a terrible liar."
Sokka let out a sigh of relief when he saw a small figure waiting at the edge of the cliff, just outside of the Capital City.
Thank La, he mentally exhaled. After he had left Elyrie, he had been consumed by worry. And it didn't help that his sister had almost wrung his neck for allowing Elyrie to go on her own.
"She is where?" Katara had exclaimed when Sokka had told them about their impromptu plan.
"The Capital City, to scout for the invasion and -…." He had answered in his most confident tone, although he felt his insides squirm a little.
"You let her go – by herself – into the most dangerous place in the Fire Nation?" Toph had interrupted, her mouth hanging open, "Are you completely out of your mind?!"
"She knows the City better than anyone." He had retorted, using Elyrie's own arguments.
"Which is exactly why she is indispensable for the invasion!" Katara had started to pace, hands clasped in front of her to prevent herself from slapping Sokka, "What were you two thinking?"
"Katara, she is not a child," Sokka had answered firmly, "She knows what she's doing." But mentally he added: Elyrie, you better know what you are doing.
"Am I glad to see you!" he said when he landed Appa on the cliffside and Elyrie pulled her hood back to look at him. She walked over to pat Appa on his big furry head and she got a loving nudge in return. She took Sokka's outstretched hand and climbed on the saddle.
"Are we in a lot of trouble because of this?" She asked as she leaned against the side of the saddle. She pulled her legs up against her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees.
"Katara might want to freeze you against a tree and Toph probably will throw boulders at you, but other than that – no trouble at all." Sokka smirked as he took the reigns, "Yip yip!"
And just like that, they were off – leaving the Capital City and all the dangers behind them. For today, at least.
"Oh, and Aang finally got some sleep!" Sokka added as he steered the reigns in the direction of the meeting spot, "He will be as good as new – hopefully – when we welcome the rest of our forces tomorrow. But enough about us, tell me about what you found out! How did it go?" he turned around with an expectant look on his face.
"Good," her answer was short. Sokka raised his eyebrows. She wasn't one for monosyllabic answers.
"Good?" he repeated, frowning at her.
"Yes," she did look up now, "Uncle Iroh is in the prison and the harbour will be guarded even more." She summed up, "But other than that, the Great Gates of Azulon aren't fortified nor is the way to the Capital enforced with troops."
"That is good to know!" Sokka sounded genuinely excited, "Is there anything else we need to know? Before we launch?"
He saw her fidgeting with her fingers, looking down at them hidden in her cloak. In the dark, he saw her face contort in a grimace. But then she looked up and shook her head.
"No," Elyrie answered, "Nothing."
"I bet you're tired of being in this cell, old man." Warden Poon scorned as he picked his nails, leaning against the wall of the cell of the Dragon of the West, "Well, too bad. You're never stepping outside these walls again."
General Iroh didn't reply. His dirty hair stuck to his wrinkly forehead and his eyes looked watery. Poon sniffed in disgust just before the door opened.
"Breakfast." Ming, the young female guard, came in with a tray.
"Careful, Ming, don't get too close. His stench will knock you right out." Poon laughed at his own joke as he walked out off the cell.
Ming shot him a contemptuous look before her face softened when she looked at General Iroh. "I snuck in some white jade tea. I know you like rare teas." She smiled as she placed down the tray.
Iroh's eyes softened. "Thank you, Ming. Ever since I was put in here, you have been very kind to me."
"Top of the morning everyone!" Aang jumped up. His skin was back to its rosy glow. No more grey complexion or blueish shadows under his eyes on this morning.
"Sounds like you slept well." Katara said with an approving nod.
"Like a baby moose-lion!" Aang exclaimed with a grin, and he took his fighting stance, "I'm ready to face the Fire Lord!"
"So, what is your strategy for taking him down?" Toph asked with a wide grin, "Gonna get your glow on and hit him with a little Avatar State action?"
"I can't," Aang replied with a sorrowful look, "When Azula shot me with lighting, my seventh chakra was locked, cutting off my connection to all the cosmic energy in the universe."
"You know what I just heard?" Toph held up her hand and opened and closed it in a mocking expression, "Blah, blah. Spiritual mumbo jumbo. Blah, blah. Something about space."
"You've such a way with words." Elyrie said dryly, rubbing her eyes. Her skin was slightly paler than the night before and around her eyes were faded dark circles.
"Yeah, I know," Toph shrugged, "But I'm not done with you yet. How dare you leave for adventure without bringing me along?"
"It was hardly an adventure," Elyrie forced a smile, "More a scouting mission."
"So, nothing happened?" Toph frowned.
"Nothing of note." Elyrie answered.
"Oh no," Katara interrupted the two and pointed to the horizon. A large fog cloud was rolling over the waves, making its way to their hideout. "Sokka, do you think the fog will delay the invasion?"
"No," Sokka stood up and squinted his eyes, "That is the invasion!"
Elyrie placed her flat hand above her eyes to shield them from the sun as she tried to distinguish their troops from the mist. It was a masterful disguise. Only when they were a couple dozen metres near the shore could she distinguish the ships.
They all went down to the beach, where the ships docked and flooded the hideout with old familiar faces.
"You made it, Dad!" Katara ran towards her father, embracing him warmly. Hakoda placed one arm around his daughter and extended his other to Sokka, who happily took it.
"Where you able to locate everyone I told you to find?" he asked his father with a broad smile.
"I did," Hakoda answered and pointed to two men who disembarked from his ship, "But I'm a little worried, Sokka. Some of these men aren't exactly the 'warrior type'."
Elyrie followed his gaze to two men, whose attire mainly consisted of leaved and pieces of tree bark in strategic places. "These men are warriors?" she leaned over to Aang, whispering from the corner of her mouth.
"Yes, they are members of the Foggy Swamp Tribe." Aang whispered back, "We met them when we travelled across the Earth Kingdom."
"This place ain't nothing like a swamp." The tall, skinny one of the two said as he looked around the beach and pointed to a rock in the water, "What you reckon that is, Tho? Some sort of Fire Nation exploding trap what eat ya?"
"It's just a rock, Due." The other man, Due apparently, answered.
"Is it just me, or are those fellas a little loose in the leaf-hat?" Hakoda whispered, and Batu walked past him. "I just wish they wore pants." Batu said, crinkling his nose as he looked at the third man that disembarked with a loincloth made only of leaves.
"Pants are an illusion." The man answered as he scratched his rounded belly, "And so is death."
"They are waterbenders?" Elyrie whispered to Batu as she walked back with him to the next ships.
"Apparently." Batu shrugged, "They were quite hard to find, hidden in the swamps of the Earth Kingdom."
"Fascinating." Elyrie answered.
"But they are not the only waterbenders that made it." Batu took her arm and led her to the newest landing of ships. The flag that was hoisted was a darker colour than the ships from the Southern Water Tribe, and Elyrie immediately recognised it.
"Panuk!" Elyrie ran towards the man with the same blue-coloured eyes as herself that stood with his arms outstretched.
"Good to see I get such a warm greeting," Panuk laughed as he embraced his niece. Behind him, a dozen warriors of the Northern Water Tribe stepped out of the boat.
"I am so glad to see you!" Elyrie said with a broad smile, "All of you!" Over Panuk's shoulder she saw familiar faced smile at her and bow their heads in respect. For a moment, she remembered she was considered a Princess of the Northern Water Tribe. She had almost forgotten it after those long months living as a fugitive.
"Just be happy we could convince your grandmother to stay behind." Panuk answered dryly, "We had to practically drag her off the boat after we heard from you and this invasion plan." He rubbed with his hand over her short curls, "Although she might wonder why you cut off your hair."
"Oh, right," Elyrie sheepishly rubbed her neck and felt the ends of her short hair tickle the back of her hand. When she left, she had hair down to her waist. "Yeah, I should have mentioned it in my letters."
I should have told so much more to so many people, crossed her mind but she pushed it away.
"Just make sure you come visit otherwise she is prepared to launch an armada herself." Panuk walked with her towards the rest of the group.
"Believe me, I would like nothing more." Elyrie answered truthfully. A warm feeling spread through her. Visiting her home in the Capital had left her with a renewed feeling of longing for home. She wanted the comfort and warmth of feeling safe – of feeling loved.
And that was all waiting for her after they had ended this horrific war, and the homicidal Fire Lord and Fire Nation Princess that longed for her head. Or her brother – who she prayed would hold his promise and not tell anyone about their meeting.
"How's my little nephew?" she asked instead, turning to Panuk.
"Growing like a baby lion-seal, and making just as much noise." He answered. She saw a glint of longing in his eyes, and hoped he would return quickly after all this was over. "But despite his fervent protests, we couldn't bring him." He added with a wink.
"Understandable," Elyrie agreed with a grin.
"But, I think we brought someone who you would like see." Panuk motioned to another ship of the Nothern Water Tribe, and a tall man with ravenblack hair disembarked.
"Kun!" Elyrie ran unceremoniously for a second time towards a ship, "How did you get here?"
Before her former bodyguard could answer, she had placed her arms around his neck in greeting. To her surprise, he answered her hug with as much warmth as she gave him. Only a few months ago, he would have stiffly followed the protocol, but she was glad he no longer saw her as his Lady, but as his friend.
"Well, after I returned to the Fire Nation, word had gotten out that I had deserted the Navy," Kun explained, his deep voice soothing her like before, "So, I returned to the one place where I knew I would be welcomed with open arms: the Northern Water Tribe."
"That is fantastic! They must have been overjoyed by your return."
"You could say that." Kun shot her a shy smile before he added, "Because I'm married now!"
"Congratulations!" Elyrie said and wanted to ask a thousand questions, but they were interrupted.
"Elyrie!" Sokka called her over.
"One moment, I'll be right back. We have so much to catch up on" She hugged Kun another time and walked back over to Sokka, who was standing next to Katara. Elyrie looked over and her eyebrows shot up when she saw that Toph was being hugged by an enormous man three times her size andwas bald except for the small chunk of brown hair. He smiled broadly as he lifted up the small earthbender, revealing enormous teeth.
"Hippo happy to see Blind Bandit!"
"You guys here for a rematch?" Toph bit back, her fists clenched and her feet dangeling five feet in the air.
"Negatory!" a tanned muscular man answerd with a deep brawl, "The Boulder and The Hippo no longer fight for others' entertainment. Now, we fight for our kingdom!" He flexed his muscles to strengthen his point.
"Sweet." Toph's face immediately cleared with a smile.
After the Hippo put her down, Elyrie walked to her. "The 'Hippo' and the 'Boulder'?" she whispered in her ear, "Where they friends of yours?"
"No, I beat their butts." Toph smirked.
"And you were 'the Blind Bandit?" Elyrie asked.
"Reining champion of Earth Rumble." She cracked her neck with a casual grin, as if it was nothing that a teenage girl beat up two of the most muscular men Elyrie had ever seen.
"We have everyone!" Sokka said with a bright smile. Toph punched him on the arm. "Well done, Sokka," she said with a genuine smile, "But I think we should discuss something else first."
"What?" Katara frowned.
"Elyrie," Toph took her arm and gently pulled at it. Elyrie had no choice but to follow her.
When they were out of earshot of the rest of the group, Toph stopped. But instead of letting her arm go, she slid her hand down and held up Elyrie's hand. "This wasn't here when you left yesterday." she stated. The gold ring with the prominent sapphire caught the early rays of sunshine, glittering on her finger.
"Yes, I -.. found it at my house in the Capital," Elyrie stuttered, looking at the ring that now sat on her finger again. She resisted the urge to snatch her hand back.
"But it is the same you've been wearing since I met you," Top said. Even though her gaze wasn't directed at Elyrie, she felt as if Toph was staring directly into her soul, "But not since you've been with us after Ba Sing Se."
"I found it again," Elyrie said, "It was at my old house."
"And you said nothing of note happened in the Capital?"
"Yes."
"You are a terrible liar." Toph said coolly.
"You're the first one to tell me that." Elyrie answered, feeling her face harden as she avoided the eyes of Sokka and Katara.
"I'm not just anybody," Toph said.
"This better be something very, very insignificant that in no way would jeopardise the plan." Sokka said with his hands placed on his hips.
"I saw Zuko when I was in the Capital." Elyrie whispered.
"When you say, you saw Zuko, you mean-.." Katara started before Sokka interrupted her. "You mean you walked past him fast enough that the angry jerk not even noticed you were there."
"As if he would miss her in a crowd of thousands." Toph mumbled.
"It was like Sokka said," Elyrie said, turning her ring around and around, "I happened to see him from a distance when he entered the Royal Palace. He didn't see me clearly." She saw Sokka visibly deflate and braced herself for the next part, "But then-…"
"No. No buts." Sokka said, before Katara elbowed him. "Let her finish." Katara hissed.
"But then, I saw him in my old house." Elyrie finished, "I went there to get a disguise, and it felt like a safe hiding place because it was uninhabited."
"And he was there? Waiting for you?" Katara said, her eyes enormous.
"Not exactly," Elyrie answered, "I don't know why he was there. But he did see me, and recognised me."
"You didn't tell him about our plans, did you?" Katara asked.
"No. He didn't ask why I was there."
"So what did you talk about?"
"I-.." Elyrie hesitated, "I let out my anger on him. I was so furious, but I don't think he would tell anyone I saw him."
"Because he has such a good record of thinking of others?" Sokka said between gritted teeth.
"No, but how do you think it will go over his murderous sister when he tells her that I slipped through his fingers and he didn't turn me in? He has a lot to lose." Elyrie said, feeling desperation creep in her voice. She thought he would be prideful enough not to tell on her, but when she saw Sokka's glare, she began to doubt herself.
"So you first planned to sneak out on your own, and now you withheld crucial information that the Fire Nation might be aware of that something's coming?" Katare said, her voice colder than Elyrie had ever heard.
"I-, I just..-" Elyrie began.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sokka asked, his voice slightly cracked. Elyrie saw the hurt in his eyes, and the same in his sisters tense shoulders. She felt incredibly guilty.
"I don't know," Elyrie clasped her hands together, "I was hurt and angry, but I wanted to forget that I saw him." She stared at the ground, feeling shame wash over her. She had been selfish and naïve, thinking it wouldn't matter.
"Elyrie's unhealthy coping mechanisms aside," Sokka said, watching from his sister to Toph, "We need to work with this."
"So, now what?" Toph said, "Hoping he would not tell anybody, and go on with the invasion as planned?"
Elyrie felt her stomach sink. She could have jeopardized the entire operation, and for what? For a few moments of feeling at home?
"Do we need to tell the others?" Katara asked as she glanced over her shoulder, "Dad and Aang are on the front lines. They need to have all the information."
"Elyrie, listen to me," Sokka turned to her, with a hurt look in his eyes. Elyrie felt her chest tighten, "How are you sure that the Fire Lord just hasn't left the City already?"
"Because he doesn't leave," Elyrie immediately replied, "The Fire Lord resides in the Royal Palace, as a beacon of pride for the nation."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. He is prideful and arrogant, and he wouldn't risk fleeing to look like a coward on the Day of Black Sun."
"So, the Fire Lord is still in the City." Toph said, "That means the plan to face him is still able to go through."
"Are there hidden places to where the Fire Lord might escape?"
"Yes." Elyrie answered, " A dozen ways, that could be set in motion at any time. But none leave the City. All are within the perimeter, but underground."
"If they are, I'll be able to find them." Toph said confidently.
"Do you know them all?" Sokka asked.
"I think so." Elyrie answered, her mind racing to all the secret passageways and hidden corridos Zuko had shown her.
"You will not leave my side during to invasion." Sokka said, "We'll send others to get General Iroh out of prison, but you stay with me. If we need to adjust the plan, you are the one who knows the ins and outs of the City."
Elyrie's eyes shot up at the mention of Uncle Iroh. "But Sokka, I-..."
"No, I can't risk you going off for personal reasons. However helpful, they can turn quickly in disaster during the invasion. We'll send a team for General Iroh, but for you there are no side missions, no single thing, nothing," Sokka said sternly, "You are part of our team, so you'll stay with the team."
"I will." Elyrie replied, feeling her cheeks heat up in shame. She had to make this right.
Zuko knelt down in front of the portrait on his table. His mother's face stared at him from the paper. Her dark hair and oval face looked just like he remembered, but the look in her eyes was different.
It wasn't the happy glimmer he had known from their time together. It was a solemn, almost sad look that was visible in her golden eyes.
He hadn't noticed it before – or hadn't thought about it. But now it seemed like his mother was sad to see him like this. Like she'd hoped for something different from him.
"I know I've made some bad choices, but today, I'm going to set things right."
I uploaded this part of the chapter before the invasion begins! The following chapter will be longer, and (hopefully) cover the Day of Black Sun in its entirety.
As always, thank you for your patience and of course for reading my story! :)