Princess Azula, the ambitious and ruthless younger sister of Fire Lord Zuko, hears from a mysterious peasant woman that she will one day be Fire Lord. When her brother dies a sudden and untimely death, Azula sees an opportunity to take the throne fr...
Katara rolled over in the bed. The sheets were still warm where Zuko had lain. She basked in the toastiness and breathed in the familiar scent of smoke and sandalwood that her husband always left behind him. Zuko must have gotten out of bed hours ago; like the true fire bender he was, he rose at the crack of dawn. But, on the other hand, Katara had to be dragged, kicking, and screaming out of bed by her maid every morning, or else she would sleep in until noon. She couldn't be expected to function properly until she'd gone to the palace baths and practiced her water bending. Song, Katara's lady's maid, opened one of the sliding screen doors that led out into the garden to let in moor sunlight. Katara's eyes blinked open, then quickly drooped closed.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Good morning, Madame," Song said. "I've already laid out your bathing costume for you."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Katara yawned. "Very well. Thank you, Song." The cool waters of the bathing pool cleared the fog from Katara's head, and the swift, graceful movements of her water bending forms shook away the lethargy from her limbs. Finally, Katara returned to her chambers refreshed and ready to start the day. She was bending water from her hair while Jin, another of the lady's maids, laced her corset when there was a knock at the door. "Are you decent, My Lady?" Katara replied, "One moment please." She quickly threw on a silk dressing gown while Jin bustled off to see who was there.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
On-Ji, a maid-of-honor who served as Katara's private secretary, entered the room. She was a pretty young woman from an ancient, wealthy, and influential family. Caldera society scratched their heads about why she hadn't gotten married years ago since she didn't lack suitors. Oh well, the right man is always worth waiting for. Katara, who'd married Zuko at eighteen, was grateful that she found Mr. Right sooner rather than later. "Are you feeling well?" Katara asked On-Ji. The poor girl looked pale and uneasy. On-Ji put a hand over her mouth to suppress a dry heave. "I'll be alright, Your Ladyship," she said. "I'm just a little hung over from the ball last night." Katara chuckled. "My my, what would Avatar Aang think?" On-Ji lowered her eyes and clutched the wooden prayer beads around her neck. She was an Air Acolyte, a follower of Avatar Aang and the ways of the ancient Air Nomads. One of their teachings was to abstain from alcohol. Katara went over to the fire pit in the center of the room and stoked the embers. Tui and La, where was Zuko when you needed him? Once she got a flame going, she placed a water kettle over it.
