ATLA Little Bender

The Crown or Azulon

"You're grace it's time to wake up," The voice of her maiden called to her from sleep, Elaria would have rather remained in her slumber, curling into the burrow of deep red blankets and pillows of her large bed. She ignored the sudden visit to her chambers for the sake of more sleep, "Milady, please don't make this more difficult for us both, your father desires to speak with you today and you have lessons at the fire academy."

Elaria shifted stubbornly, wiping the saliva from her mouth and opening her crusted eyes, grey orbs flaring at the continuous disruption to her sleep. "I don't wanna." Was all she cared to mumble through her pale lips, her cheeks flushing as she huffed once the maid pulled the covers away from her body.

"The sun has risen milady it's time to get up."

"Marla, I would highly appreciate it if you didn't make this a common occurrence."

"Forgive me, your grace, this would not be a common occurrence if it were not for your stubbornness." She heard feet against the cold ground move around her bed. 

"Father says my stubbornness would make me a great Fire Lady,"

"Well, your father would know plenty more about teaching you how to be a lady in the first place." Marla quipped back.

Elaria, having had enough of the conversation simply huffed once more before she shifted her body off the bed, her bare feet meeting the carpet with the Fire Nation insignia, the young girl stretched her frail body, beginning to curve at the age of eleven, and moved across the chambers to her vanity, light streamed into the room from the other servants pulling the curtains upwards.

Marla, already waiting for her, struck the moment the girl was sitting, pulling her long black hair free from their restraints and brushing them into neat long waves and curls, adding the necessary jewels and gold ornaments to her waves that blended with the trusses. The theme following the colors of her nation, red and gold, at the crown of her head, a top knot pierced  with the fire nation insignia, all royalty were to wear the symbol of their pride and their people. Under her breath, Marla sang the song that would often put Elaria at ease during her troubled nights. "Calling out father, prepare as we will, watch the flames go on and on the mountainside."

Elaria closed her eyes and imagined those nights when she would weep about being a non-bender and Marla would sing different songs to her that came from the colonies in the Earth Kingdom.

"We're done Milady." Marla stepped back from her work, urging Elaria to stand, to which the girl complied as her arms and legs were shifted to accommodate changing her clothes to the clothing of her stature.

Elaria stood still as they placed the final coronation of golden beads that descended down in curved arrays framing her face, a declarative crown declaring a possible match for suitors. Elaria felt nothing, no disdain, no anger, or frustration, for the moment the crown reached her head she was no longer a girl, but a royal, staring into the mirror she numbed her emotions and quelled the quivers of her hands.

She would soon step into the public for her academy lessons, and as such, the crown would have no vulnerability or imperfections.

"You're grace, the His Majesty, Your Uncle, calls you to come promptly." A new voice added the bustle in her chambers, upon the mention of her father, the ladies all hushed themselves into a line, bowing as the Regina graced them.

"Thank you, Marla." Elaria hoped that her voice was earnest enough to show what her face could not, and she left the room moving into the large obelisk halls of the royal palace, her clothes blending with the paintings of her family line and the colors of their pride. Her pace slowed upon seeing her father,

His body round and plump and hair grayed with age, she was told years ago before her arrival that her father forgot how to smile after the death of her late brother Lu Ten.

Yet the laughing lines and crow eyes made her wonder how much he smiled in her lifetime to have such deep lines.

He stood back straight and smiled welcomingly as always, his eyes were warm and shined with wisdom. The air grew cold next to him, where her Uncle Ozai, the current next in line and her Father's younger brother stood. Elaria could never bring herself to stare long at his face, feeling her lungs pricked in the glowering flames in his eyes, she used to have a stiffening feeling that he wanted her dead. Some muttered fearful warnings that if it weren't for the protection of her father and Grandfather she would have been killed long ago.

By this point, Elaria would rather believe that he wouldn't harm her.

Behind the shadow of Uncle Ozai, were her cousins, Prince Zuko, and Princess Azula. With their mother, Lady Ursa, standing a distance farther to her mother and brother.

They all stood to wait before large gold doors, gates really, to her Grandfather's room, Elaria took a breath, calming her nerves. Before she nodded her head, her family shifted behind her.

Uncle Ozai to her left, Father behind him to her right, Prince and Princess, and Lady Ursa taking the rear with a hand placed on Zuko's shoulder.

Regina was the next suitor to the throne, before her father's abdication, she was announced as his bloodline and his heir. Being of his blood, she was titled next in line when she matured in age. If her Grandfather had delayed the news of her existence, Uncle Ozai would have been the heir to the throne.

Yet the crown landed on her. Or would it be that her Uncle Azulon chose her?

"Fire Lord Azulon, to see you in good health, mind, and spirit brings me great joy." Elaria added "Grandfather." in a hushed breath.

Behind a row of flames, seated high in his throne, her grandfather looked down upon the family, the flames so high to kiss the ceiling of the grand room, blocked their vision of him.

Similar greetings were given by Uncle Ozai and her father, the others following the chronological order of which they entered the room. Once Fire Lord Azulon was satisfied they were given permission to sit through his word.

The servants were called in, and breakfast began in their arranged pattern, on their knees, with Regina Elaria being closest to Fire Lord Azulon's flames.

They all ate in silence, giving room as the most recognized figures in all the Fire Nation, to silence, to represent the unity and space they give each other. No one said anything when Azula shoved Zuko behind her, or to Uncle Ozai ignoring the seating arrangement to move into the space of Regina. 

All who knew the gravity of each morning breakfast kept their faces still with small smiles and dead eyes.