Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire [Avatar: The Last Airbender Fanfic]

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Izara had dressed lazily, still feeling stiff and sore from her injuries, but she had been told earlier by Suki and Sokka that there was a council meeting today to decide what to do with the information she had retrieved from the Supremacists. Although she was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and sleep, she knew that her personal testimony might make the decision to retaliate easier. So, after she had tidied up as best she could and dressed in her full guard uniform, she left her room and walked to the council chambers.

Some of her friends tried to stop her on the way, knowing that she shouldn't be moving around, but when she explained briefly, they reluctantly let her continue. When she reached her destination, Wen was there and stared at her for a moment before rushing over to her.

"Miss Izara, you shouldn't be here. You should be resting." Wen was reserved but, under her composed expressions, had a sweet personality.

"I know, but my testimony will help. Let me go in... please." Izara pleaded with her, and Wen sighed after a moment and nodded.

They both walked up, and Wen knocked on the door and waited until the guards inside opened it for them. Izara ensured that she appeared calm and collected as all eyes in the room fell upon her, including the Fire Lord's, who widened for a moment in surprise. Katara had told her that he had barely left her side since she returned, and so far, he hadn't seen her conscious for more than a few minutes. She vaguely recalled his voice and him speaking to her occasionally and waking her to help her drink water and eat something. She had no idea how to thank him for being so kind and knew facing him would be hard. Now, he would know for sure that she wasn't just an ordinary girl, and she would have to tell him of her past. He was far too perceptive to have ever believed her when she said that she had learned to fight to survive after her parents were gone. But he must have sensed she didn't want to speak of it and let it go.

How would she convince him to trust her after telling him she used to be a mercenary? How could he keep believing in her when he discovered she would have done anything just to get paid? She had killed in cold blood if it ensured she could afford to eat. The War was brutal for everyone, and they both knew that, but some did more than others just to ensure they could live another day. Since she had quit, she wanted nothing more than to put that life behind her and hoped she would never have to rely on those skills again. Unfortunately, it was a promise that she couldn't keep to herself, but she was okay with it if it meant that she could do something good with it. Saving Kazan and serving the Fire Lord was her way of trying to redeem herself for all that she had done. She had inflicted all the betrayals, injuries and death on those who got in her way, innocent or otherwise. The memories would never leave her, and she would never be able to rid herself of the guilt and the blood off her hands, but would she really be able to redeem herself?

She would offer her resignation the next time she spoke to the Fire Lord and would abide by whatever command he gave her. So be it if he decided to put her on trial for war crimes. The Yoshikage deserved punishment. If he banished her, so be it. She would at least go to her fate, knowing she had tried to do the right thing in the end. Being tortured by the Supremacists was nothing compared to the suffering she had caused by beating herself up for so long.

After a low and stiff bow, she entered the room.

"Fire Lord. Council members. My name is Izara, and I am the guard who was captured and infiltrated the Fire Nation Supremacist camp. I would like to personally tell you everything I saw and experienced to assist you." Her voice didn't give away anything, and she purposely ignored the Fire Lord's gaze, instead glancing at each council member.

"Aren't you still injured? We heard that you were tortured." One of the council members on her right asked in confusion.

"I am not back to full health yet, but it's no problem for me to be here." She lied and guessed that they probably all knew it. She could feel a thin sheet of sweat on her brow and focused on ensuring her legs didn't give way underneath her.