The White Assassin

Ch. 4 - Discoveries

"What?!" Everyone exclaimed. Who would've guessed that I would have married a fire nation prince. I had heard word about myself being in an arranged marriage, I never stayed long enough for me to know who they were. "Your husband to be.. Is Prince Zuko?" Toph asked.

I stopped her before she could continue. "Was. I don't intend on marrying anyone." I said to her. "I left my home years ago. Do you expect me to actually go through with the marriage? It's the main reason that I left!" I exclaimed.

"Okay, okay. No need to get shouty." Katara said. "So you found out that he was supposed to be the one you were to be married to. What does that have to do with you getting all faint and almost collapsing?" That's right. After our battle, and Katara said who that scarred face man really was I was in such a state of shock that I almost fainted. I never thought I would ever meet that man, let alone battle him. He was a worthy opponent, but he was no match for me.

"I was just shocked, that's all." I said back to her. She looked at me in question, almost as if she was trying to get me to explain the whole story.

"Let's just keep going." Sokka said. We all looked at him and nodded our heads. We rounded up our things and headed North. Where we were going, I had no idea. Sure I joined the team, but they never gave me details on where they were going. I only agreed to go with them because I was going to be teaching Aang air bending. Either way, I was going on an adventure. Whether they wanted me or not.

It's been a couple of hours since Prince Zuko attacked us. None of us got badly injured and if we did I had taken care of all them. We were just walking on a trail of dirt. It was then surrounded by trees and dense forest on the right side and a lake on the left side. The water was glistening like a solid diamond. It was so shiny and reflective, that I had to shield my eyes when I looked at it. I moved my gaze from the water over to my group. I noticed Sokka and Toph were complaining about being hungry. Katara and Aang were laughing along with them and I was walking behind them. 'They seem like a family' I thought. I smiled softly at their nature but then it slowly faded. I wouldn't know what family feels like. I never experienced it fully, sure I had parents but all I did was look out my window and wonder what was outside the castle walls. They never let me go outside and I always was cooped up inside doing lessons and learning things about war and industry. If I were to become a worthy princess, I had to know what I was doing. I learned different strategies, different fighting styles and got very close to commanding officers and generals in the army. Sure, I knew what I had learned and what I had to do, but I never got the feeling of what fighting was really like. Not with trained opponents that were supposed to test my strength, I never fought with other people that weren't going easy on me. It was a fun experience when I left the castle for the first time. I had snuck around before but I was always brought back and had a lecture from both my parents. I didn't care though, the scolding was worth it if that was the punishment for going outside. The world was beautiful, there were blooming flowers and beautiful lakes and streams full of crystal clear waters. It was a feeling of peace, a feeling of freedom.

"Hale!" Hm? I looked up and saw that Aang was in front of me moving his hand back and forth, trying to get my attention. "You were in a daze, you alright?" He asked me. I nodded, and he smiled. I felt my face grow hotter and a nervous feeling welled up in my stomach. "Besides, we're almost at out destination!" He turned around and put his hands behind his neck.

"Which would be?" I asked.

"The Fire Nation!" Sokka said. 'What?' I thought. 'Why would we be going to the Fire Nation? Don't they want Aang for being the avatar?

"Why exactly are we going to the Fire Nation?" I asked Sokka.

"I have to fight the fire lord in order to save the world!" Aang said. 'Wait what?'

"Are you crazy? You're just a kid! You have no experience whatsoever! How are you going to defeat the lord of the Fire Nation?" I asked. I was starting to get rather angry, I had no idea why. 'Why am I even this mad? Why should I care?'

"What do you mean kid?" Aang asked. I looked at him in shock, I didn't actually mean to say that. He should know though, that dealing with the lord of a nation isn't easy. I would know more then anyone because of my old ranking, I know the to be a lord you have to qualify and have certain necessities. One of them, is being almost unbeatable in fighting and bending. "You think I can't do it?" Aang asked, "because you're wrong! I will defeat him and I will restore peace in all the nations!"

"I never said you couldn't do it!" I exclaimed. "You don't know how much he knows! I know how intelligent you need to be, to be able to rule a nation, Aang. Trust me, you don't stand a chance." I started to walk faster and the sound of the dirt could be heard as I stepped on the path.

"How would you know?" Aang asked. "Aren't you just a runaway princess?" I stopped walking. I heard the others gasp, and I could tell that Aang felt guilty after what he had just said. I felt like I had been stabbed in the chest with a knife, not just any knife but a poisoned one. Once it hit, the pain lingered and coursed throughout my entire body. Needless to say, I was heartbroken. Why? Well somehow and in someway I had started to gather feelings for the Avatar. How foolish I was. "Hale, I didn't mean-"

"Of course you did." I said, interrupting him. "If you didn't mean it, you wouldn't have said it." I looked down at the ground and tried not to show any emotion. The last thing I wanted was for me to break down in front of these people. "I am what you say, a runaway princess. I bet you would have done the same thing if you were in my situation." I said with venom leaking from my tone. I turned so my body was adjacent to them and my eyes glared. "You can fight him, I can't stop you. I thought friends were supposed to look out for each other." When I said that everyone's eyes widened. They hadn't been looking out for me, they had been carrying me around. I was just another nuisance that they never needed. "You needed a teacher right? Well, I taught you what I know. Now my job is done, I hope our paths don't cross again." I turned around sharply and made my way towards the woods when a voice stopped me.

"Don't! Please!" I heard. I turned and saw Katara in tears. "Aang lost his temper, please let's just forget this ever happened!" She stated. Forget? What a brilliant idea.

"I agree, Katara. Let's forget us ever meeting each other and go on our own separate ways." I gave a half-hearted smile at the end of my words and Katara gave me a look of complete sadness. I turned back around and ran through the forest. My eyes becoming blurry from the tears that were now evading from my eyes. I wiped the tears from my eyes and continued my way through the forest. I stopped and fell to the ground in total shock. I had just parted ways with the only people that I ever opened up to. 'If word gets out that they had joined forces with the lost Earth Kingdom princess, people are going to start looking for me too. Other nations, families, bounty hunters or worse my parents. I don't want that! I need to find a village and mask myself till this mess clears up.' I thought. I got up and started to walk towards just about anywhere.

An hour or two later I stumbled across a bustling village. The streets were covered with people in plain brown clothing. 'A none bending tribe? This might work!' I thought. I made my way over to a shop and took one of the blankets from the rack. I wrapped it around my head to hide my hair and I also grabbed a cloak. I put the cloak around my body and began my way down the streets. I made my way towards an older woman, she had gray hair and had a similar cloak to the one I had on. "Excuse me madam." I said. She looked up at me and her eyes glistened like a diamond. They were full of happiness and her face showed it.

"Why hello there young one." She said. Her voice sounded a lot older then she looked which was about sixty. "How can I help you?"

"Well I've been traveling for a very long time and I was wondering if I could know what the name of this town is?" I asked her.

"Ah, why you're in the town of Salerno. It has mild winters and summers, but the spring is full of rain so a lot of floods occur near our lake. Other then that, it's the nicest town with the nicest people!" She exclaimed. She seemed so nice and well, charming.

"You wouldn't happen to know if anyone has extra room where I could spend the night would you?" I asked her. I didn't want to keep traveling. I was tired from the fight with Zuko earlier, and I was a bit hungry. "All I ask is for one night if I could be provided with some food, water and a floor to sleep on."

"Oh hush deary, hush hush!" She said. I looked at her in bewilderment, my eyes widened. "I will gladly take you in for the night, longer if you choose. It's all up to you, I have plenty of room and a nice bed with your name on it. Your name would be?" She asked.

"Hale." I said. I didn't want to give away my last name, the last thing I need is someone after me for my status. "My name is, Hale."

"Well Hale, you have a lovely name." She smiled at me and I smiled back. "Follow me, it is almost dinner time as well. I shall fix us up some supper and than we can sleep." She turned and began to walk down the road. The walkway was stone bricks and looked like they were taken good care of.

We walked for a few more minutes until she stumbled upon a small cottage. It had glass windows and a wooden frame around it. The door was made of spruce and the walls were cobblestone. It looked medieval and I was rather excited. We walked in and it had a simple layout. A couch in the center with a table in front of it. There were pads laid on the floor for people to sit on, and pray. The rest of the house was gorgeous. It was a simple house and quite lovely.

The rest of the night went smoothly. She made mashed potatoes and corn with steak. For an older woman, she sure can cook. While we ate, she told me all about this town. How it's on the outskirts of the fire nation's capital. Sure I wasn't too happy to hear it but it was good information to know. She also said that once a month, the fire soldiers came to collect tax. It was a peaceful process, she said, it never resulted into any violence. However, I felt as if she wasn't telling me the whole story. She wouldn't go into further detail about it, and before I knew it we had talked the night away. The sun had set and she went off to show me where my room was. It was a simple room with a bed and a table next to it. I laid in the soft cushion and was covered in the sweet comfiness known as a pillow. 'I haven't slept in a bed in what feels like forever!' I thought to myself. It wasn't long afterwards that I was enveloped into a deep sleep, and I never slept better.