Zutara mini series

Chapter Twelve

She was positioned in front of a mirror as she stared at her reflection. Her hair was down in loose waves and curls that framed her face. In her neck rested a necklace identical to her old one; only this one portrayed a fire battling a wave. It portrayed their relationship perfectly. Two completely different individuals that would always seem like opposites. He had given her that necklace about a year ago. He had made it himself. That much was perfectly clear from the imperfection of it. It's not so round surface; the sketch on it that was loosely resembling a deformed animal more than a wave and a fire and the precariously loose knot that held it at her neck. Its imperfection was what made her love it even more.

Their relationship hadn't been easy thus far. The Fire Nation hadn't exactly welcomed her with open arms when it was announced that she was dating their Fire Lord. She didn't blame them all that much. Her tribe was responsible for many deaths of their nation, others viewed their union as a peace treaty and nothing more, claiming that their ruler should have a love match, to break the horrible circle of hate and abuse that circulated his family. Many attacks have been made to her, some subtle and others not so much. Zuko didn't know about all of them. He didn't need to. He loved his nation and he loved her, there was no need to sadden him especially with all the pressure that was applied to his person. That was what she told herself. She tried to think of all the good moments between them. Sneaking out disguised in fanfares, having picnics in the ginormous garden of the castle, kissing in the throne room, having sex in an alley, making out in the gardens, reading on the roof of the castle and so much more. And for all of those she was willing to put her pride on the side. She did her best to protect and defend the nation that hated her for the man she loved.

Everything changed rapidly, overnight. Her and Zuko were walking in the docks, just the two of them as they had escaped from their assigned guards. They had been ambushed by a group of ten men. The ones that claimed that Zuko didn't deserve the throne and that he was ruining their nation by breeding a water dog. Ozai defenders. She had to admit that their words had stung her, more than they should. Maybe it was because she had been thinking of asking him to have a baby. Or just because after five years of ruling by his side, they still hated her. She was planning to ignore them until they attacked Zuko. She saw red. One moment Zuko was pushed to the ground, a spear of fire threatening to tear his throat and the next all ten men were frozen in the waters in various waves and positions begging for her mercy. She had acted on instinct. She hadn't known that she had bent until someone touched her lower back guiding her back home.

The next day the whole kingdom was buzzing with excitement claiming that their Fire Lady to be was the best thing that ever happened to them. The sudden turn from the people's demeanor had her head spinning. Zuko had been ecstatic. And a few months later he proposed. She obviously had said yes as now she was gazing into the garden outside of her old guest room. Trying to keep traditions as much as she could. Her dress was gold and red in a typical fashion for the Fire Nation. And as much as it was beautiful she had always wanted to wear her native colors on her wedding day. Maybe it was selfish or childish but she had a Nation to please. And the dress was really beautiful, bringing out her best features.

The walk towards the palace gardens was bigger than she remembered. People from around the globe were gathered to witness a once in a lifetime wedding, one that allied two enemy nations forevermore. A curtain was standing in front of her and she lightly pushed it to the side, trying to get a glimpse of the crowd or Zuko. Preferably Zuko. Blue danced in her vision as all her Tribe cheered when the high priest told them to approach the stage.

And there he stood. Dressed in a blue robe with silver white details and her heart fluttered at his sight. The color wasn't complimenting him at all but at the moment he was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. Tears were running down their faces by the end of the ceremony and cheers erupted once they kissed and sealed their union, chanting Fire Lady Katara, the best of them all over and over. While holding a firelily, the flowers on her hands, the flowers that grow only in the Fire Nation but in the water, the most beautiful and most poisonous too.

Fire Lady Katara, she liked the sound of her new title and she gained at her new husband as he smirked at her before lifting her in his arms and twirling her around as their laughter echoed in the streets of her new Nation.