The Water Bender and the Fire Prince//Zuko Fanfiction

8 ~ The Northern Water Tribe

The buzzing feeling-- although it had dulled-- hadn't left her body. Now that she knew she was a waterbender, Enyo was fairly certain it wouldn't go away. That, and the constant fear of being caught and thrown into jail.

Sure, Zuko had said she'd be safe, but did he mean that? He probably always assumed she would be Fire Nation. Her sudden revelation of her bending meant she was water tribe-- most likely Northern if Iroh was right about the lack of benders in the South Pole.

Enyo clenched her hands into fists, shuffling her feet. She had managed to salvage her spear and her stones had somehow remained in her pocket. Was she about to invade her home? What if someone recognized her?

Enyo dug her hands into her pocket, wrapping around the stones. She was clad in only the fur-lined, white underlayer, standing and watching as Iroh and Zuko prepared the tiny boat to be launched.

After she had saved Zuko with her bending, Enyo had hidden him in the woods and managed to find Iroh. After explaining what had happened-- sans her bending-- Iroh smuggled her and Zuko onto one of Zhao's ships that was heading for the invasion of the Northern Water Tribe.

"Enyo!"

Enyo snapped her gaze upwards. She had been lost in thought. "Sorry,"

Zuko gestured for her to get in the boat. Enyo pinned her spear to her back and checked that her knives were still at her waist. She walked towards the ship, but Iroh stopped her.

Iroh gave her a quick hug and Enyo's eyes widened before guilt came over her. Would he still hug her if he knew she was Water Tribe?

Enyo climbed into the boat and waited for Zuko to join her before Iroh lowered them out of the massive ship.

"Remember to keep your hood up!" Iroh whispered.

Enyo chuckled, but did as he told, pulling her hood up to cover her ears, and then the small scarf that covered the lower half of her face. There was a heavy chill in the air-- they were at the North Pole now.

The boat cut silently through the dark water. A tiny wake followed them away from Zhao's fleet— which had stopped for the night— and around the icebergs. Enyo directed the boat with ease, while Zuko directed tiny blasts of fire into the engine to keep them moving.

She must have done this before, Enyo realized. Her body moved comfortably, leaning with the boat to guide them around the icebergs. 

Her heart sank. What if she was helping Zuko break into her own home? What if they arrived in the Northern Water Tribe, and the people recognized her? Would she be branded a traitor? 

Enyo pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes as they approached the massive landmass where the Northern Water Tribe was situated. A few seals lounged on the icebergs around them. There was no way for them to get in unless she exposed her bending. 

Enyo glanced back at Zuko. His face was flushed from the sharp wind blowing off the water, turning both his scar and his bruises from the explosion a darker pink. His eyes were sharp, full of their typical determination. 

She couldn't tell him. Not while they were alone in the middle of the ocean. There was no telling what he would do.

"How are we going to get in?" She asked.

Zuko frowned, and Enyo watched him think. He didn't think that they were going to get this far. 

A splash cut through the silent night and Enyo flinched. She looked behind them to where the seals had vanished off the iceberg and into the water.

"They must come up for air somewhere," Zuko commented. 

Enyo frowned. He wasn't actually thinking of swimming in the frigid water. She didn't have the benefit of keeping herself warm by bending. Though, she thought, she could likely swim faster if she used her newfound waterbending.