This chapter was taking on a life of its own. I'd gotten to 21 pages with no proper ending in sight...so I decided to split it. This way I might make the customary 20 chapters
____________________________________
Chapter Seventeen“What is taking those guys so long?” Sokka muttered as he looked up the stairs that led to the Council Chambers.
The Council members had been sequestered inside since just after dawn, when the hostilities had ceased. Even though the Fire Lord was dead there had been no formal surrender. But then, there had been no real victory either, the fighting had simply stopped. And seeing as how the apparently victorious allies had included a large percentage of the Fire Nation military and two members of the royal family had held prime positions in the attacking force it could be construed that they would only be surrendering to themselves.
“Iroh said they were discussing what’s going to become of Zuko.” Aang said softly from his perch on the balustrade of the balcony that formed one side of the vast room. “Whether or not he has a viable claim to the throne.” He returned his gaze to the city that was spread out below him. Despite the scars of battle, it was a truly beautiful place. In a way, he could understand why Zuko had so desperately wanted to get back here. And why he’d been willing to do just about anything to do so.
“He’s the Fire Lord’s son.” Sokka said. “His first born child. And this country is governed by absolute monarchy. They’ve got to give him the crown by natural right of succession.”
“It is not that simple.” A soft voice interjected.
A young woman approached of such beauty it left Sokka speechless for once. Her hair was perfectly coiled on top of her head. Her clothes, though simple, were rich and elegant. She seemed to glide rather than walk as she stepped out onto the balcony to join them.
“Prince Zuko was banished…” She continued, her deep amber eyes moving from one face to the next. “…disowned and dishonoured. The Fire Lord no longer considered him his son. There are those on the council that will hold that against him.”
Katara frowned at the way her eyes kept moving from one to the other, almost as if she was searching for something…or someone…
“You’re Nozomi…” She surmised.
The girl’s surprised amber eyes found her face, a slight frown creasing the ivory skin of her forehead.
“Yes…” She confirmed, obviously uncertain how the girl in tattered Water Tribe attire could possibly know who she was.
“She’s who?” Toph asked.
“Zuko’s betrothed.” Katara smiled slightly.
“Zuko has a betrothed?” Sokka boggled. “When did that happen?”
“When we were six.” Nozomi told him.
“It was arranged by his mother.” Katara said.
“And mine.” Nozomi said. “There were many candidates…including the Princess’s two companions…”
“He could have ended up with one of those two?” Sokka chuckled. “That could have been interesting to see…”
“Either one of those two would have driven him totally nuts!” Toph pointed out.
“That’s what would have made it interesting.” Sokka beamed.
“I was selected because I was the first to develop the one thing that his father insisted upon.” With a graceful movement of her hand she produced a tiny flame, which she quickly extinguished by curling her fingers over it.
“I was hoping he would be here…so I might speak with him…”
“Guess it’s been a while, huh?” Sokka smiled sympathetically.
“I have never spoken with him.” She lowered her head.
“They’ve never met, Sokka.” Katara explained.
“You’re going to marry a guy you’ve never even met?”
“It is the way of arranged marriages.” She said. “The couple meet on the day they wed. It has been so for his family for generations. His uncle…his parents…”
“And didn’t that work out well.” Toph snorted.
“But wouldn’t you have been let of the hook when he was banished?” Sokka asked.
It was, in a way, the same question Katara had posed to Zuko. He had been unsure of the answer, but Nozomi, it seemed, was not.
“No.” She said with a slight sigh. “My father’s line is an ancient and powerful one, almost as powerful as the Fire Lord’s. Politically we are a good match, but the Fire Lord cared not for my father…he is somewhat outspoken...he wished Prince Zuko’s shame to be our shame…to lessen our line in the peoples’ eyes, and thus lessen our power.” She looked up the stairs. “He will support Prince Zuko’s right to the throne.”
“He’s on the council?” Sokka asked.
“Yes.” She nodded.
“What kind of chance has Sparky got?” Toph asked.
“Sparky?” She questioned.
“Do you think they’ll vote in Zuko’s favour?” Katara translated.
“I do not know.” Nozomi admitted. “There are many who hold to tradition, as I said, there will be those who will not look past his banishment.”
“Or the fact that he raised an army against his father.” Sokka snorted.
“That will not matter so much.” She said. “Most will see that as a sign of his strength and determination.”
“What happens if they vote against him?” Aang asked.
“I cannot say.” She admitted. “They may send him back into exile…or they may request that he forfeit his life.”
“They’d kill him for doing the right thing?” Sokka asked, wide-eyed. “This is one screwy country…”
~~~~~~
Within the Council chambers the argument was going around in circles…again. There were those who would not accept Zuko as Ozai’s successor due purely to the fact that he’d been banished and they could not be swayed. There were those that felt his traitorous actions were a far worse crime than his breaking the bonds of his exile. Those with a military background either agreed with Zuko’s actions or resented the young, possibly former, prince for ending the war and with it, their glorious carers.
“Wait a minute.” A younger council member, who had been ruminating on their arguments for some time, asked. “What exactly were the terms of his banishment?”
“He was not allowed to return to the Fire Nation unless it was in the company of the Avatar.” One of the oldest drolled.
“But he’s done that.” The first pointed out.
“He was allied with him, Jirho!” One of the military men snapped. “He was supposed to bring him in chains!”
“Was the Avatar’s condition and status specified, Namida?” Jirho looked to the old man who had initially answered him. His watery eyes carefully scanned a document before him, his frown deepening before he answered.
“No.” He said flatly.
“So he has met the terms of his banishment.” The younger man smiled. “And with that fact, we can no longer consider him an exile. He is once again our nation’s prince and therefore…”
“He raised an army against his father.” Another military man protested. “He made himself our enemy!”
“And many of our people sided with him willingly.” A man in the garb of a high ranking navy commander countered. “And they would still follow him willingly.”
“There are many amongst our own kind who have longed for peace just as much as any of the other nations.” A regal man spoke. “The prince has made alliances with the rulers and peoples of these nations. They have accepted him, they trust him. That will work in our favour in the troubling times that lie ahead.”
“Yes…” The navy commander arced a brow. “He
DOES have allies outside the Fire Nation…including the Avatar. If we vote against him he could conceivable take the throne by force.”
“So why deny him?” Jirho broke in. “He is of Ozai’s blood, he is respected by those beyond our shores. He is our best hope for peace.”
“I wonder, Jirho...” a smug looking man interrupted. “…if you would be such a stalwart support of the young prince if you and your family did not stand to benefit so greatly from his assuming the throne…”
“That was uncalled for, Seung.” The navy commander frowned disapprovingly. “Jirho is not the only one here that supports the boy.”
“Or his uncle.” Seung sneered.
“General…
PRINCE…Iroh is still greatly respected, despite the poison his brother spread.”
“Calm yourself, Yasuo.” The regal man spoke to the navy commander who had risen to his feet. “Seung has ever been an instigator. And I know he has no qualms against the prince.” He turned his eyes on the snippy man.
“Must you always ruin my fun, Shen?” He snorted. “So I like the boy. And let’s face it…he’s certainly preferable to the alternative.”
“The Princess has always been true to the Fire Nation.” One of the eldest council members sniffed disdainfully. “And Ozai’s preferred child. Everyone knows it.”
“Perhaps she was.” Shen said evenly. “But he never officially named her his heir.”
“She is not a viable consideration.” Yasuo said. “An unmarried female heir cannot inherit the throne…and she is not yet of marrying age. And we cannot wait until she is.”
“If we could find anyone crazy enough to marry her.” Seung chuckled.
“This is a serious matter!” Namida slammed a fist on the table to get their attention. “The fate of our nation depends on it!”
“Seeing as we cannot agree…I suggest we take it to a vote.” Shen said reasonably, gazing around the table.
~~~~~~
The group looked up, hurrying inside as they heard the doors of the Council Chamber above open. Iroh and Ursa descended, both having been allowed to sit in on proceedings but neither allowed to comment or vote…their feelings on the matter were far from impartial.
Nozomi bowed deeply to both royals, both a little surprised to see her there.
“I accompanied my father.” She explained.
“Jirho was quite outspoken.” Iroh smiled at the girl.
“Where is Zuko?” Ursa asked.
“We thought he was up there with you.” Sokka frowned.
“Zuko was not permitted to be in attendance.” Iroh said. “It was believed his presence would influence the council’s decision. And he has a reputation of not being able to hold his tongue in such places.”
“So they’ve decided?” Aang asked.
Iroh nodded.
“And…?” Sokka prompted.
“I think it only right that Zuko learn the outcome first.” Iroh said flatly, not a trace of emotion in his voice or on his face to hint at the Council’s decision.
“Yeah…I guess that’s fair…” Sokka nodded. “I suppose we better go find him. We’ve only got a city-sized palace to search…”
“I believe I know where he is.” Ursa said with a slight smile. “I will fetch him.”
~~~~~~
She heard him before she saw him. He was sitting under the tree, gazing out across the waters of the turtleduck pond, playing a bittersweet tune on a bamboo xiao as the creatures circled to his music. It was almost as if they were dancing to it. His creature, Itoko, was curled up beside him, not even rising his head as she approached.
“They have made their decision.” She said softly.
His music stopped abruptly.
~~~~~~
Nozomi was the only one startled by the clattering of hooves on the marble stairs. Her eyes widened at the sight of the magnificent creature that trotted across the floor at the side of the Fire Nation prince and his mother. She was even more startled at the sight of her betrothed.
She had seen him before of course, but never this close. Though he had cleaned himself up after the battle, he was still dressed in the black robes he’d worn, a little singed around the edges, he was still barefoot, his hair was still wild and free. He certainly didn’t look like a contender for the Fire Nation throne…he didn’t look Fire Nation at all. But there was no denying the air of quiet power that surrounded him. Incongruously he was carrying some sort of flute.
He ruffled the creature’s mane, murmured something in its ear, and it trotted over to the Avatar, descending gracefully to the floor, where it sat gazing around with its large, dark eyes. It seemed to smile as the young Avatar scratched it behind the ears while the trio of royals ascended to the Council Chambers.
She let out a breath she hadn’t been aware she was holding.
“He certainly has presence.” She said, her hand against her chest.
“Oh, yeah…” Katara smirked at the girl’s reaction. “He’s got that alright…”
As soon as the doors closed on the floor above, the creature rose to its feet and moved soundlessly to the stairs, which was odd, she thought, for she had clearly heard the clattering of its hooves before. Its ears swivelled forward as if it was straining to hear what was going on above.
“Can you hear anything?” Aang whispered as he crouched down beside it.
“Aang…” Sokka sighed. “Do you really think you’re going to get an answer from that thing?”
“Zuko understands him just fine.” Aang pointed out.
“Yeah…but Zuko’s…” Sokka paused as he searched for the right words. His eyebrows raised towards his hairline as he noticed Nozomi looking at him curiously. “…got a…special bond…with him.”
“A special bond?” She frowned. “Is it some kind of spirit guide?”
Aang looked at her, a little startled by the question. He’d thought only Avatar’s had spirit guides, but the bond between the former prince and the kylin did seem to possess similar qualities. It was a deep and profound connection that certainly boarded on the spiritual.
Itoko sniffed disdainfully at her.
“I don’t think he likes being called an it.” Aang smiled at her. “His name is Itoko…”
“A strange name…” She said as she moved towards him, her hand held out to pat him. He turned towards her, cocked his head to one side as if taking her measure. Then his head flicked back to the stairs and he began nudging Aang away, just as the doors at the top of the stairs opened.
They expected the return of Iroh, or Zuko, or his mother, someone to tell them what had happened, what the verdict was. Instead they saw a procession of stern-faced men and women who barely glanced their way, certainly none of whom seemed willing to impart what had happened above.
Nozomi quickly moved to join one of them, a younger, animated looking man, who took her by the shoulders and said something quietly to her, to which she replied with a curt nod. She turned and bowed quickly to the group before following the man down the stairs and out of sight.
“What just happened?” Sokka demanded. “You’d think one of them would have told us something!”
“They’re probably total traditionalists.” Katara said reasonably. “We’re not Fire Nation…they probably don’t think it’s any of our business.”
“Maybe we should go upstairs and ask them?” Aang suggested, glancing up the stairs. It seemed obvious that no one else was coming down any time soon.
“Relax.” Toph snorted. “Everything’s fine…”
The trio looked at the smallest member of their group, who was leaning nonchalantly against a pillar, a slight smile on her face.
“Alright…” Sokka sighed. “What do you know?”
“No more than you guys, really.” She admitted. “But Little Miss Girlfriend was kind of excited…and that guy told her they had a lot of things to do…which would suggest she’d not engaged to a banished prince anymore…”
“So…does that mean she’s off the hook…or she’d off to pick out a dress?” Sokka asked.
“She wouldn’t be excited if they’d annulled it.” Katara pointed out. “She seems genuinely happy to be marrying him.”
“Well, let’s find out.” Sokka headed for the stairs.
“No.” Aang held out an arm to stop him. “If Toph’s right, we should give him some space…”
“Why?” Katara asked with a frown.
“I remember what it was like when the monks told me I was the Avatar.” He said. “The thought of all that power…all that responsibility…it was hard to absorb…”
“But he wanted this, right?” Sokka said. “You were kinda reluctant, and just a kid, but he was born knowing this was probably gonna happen someday…”
“It doesn’t matter.” Aang shook his head. “He’s still got to be feeling pretty overwhelmed.”
~~~~~~