The Mistress of the Fire Lord

Chapter 19 - Against The Odds

We arrived at the Fire Nation at the first hours of the morning. Nerui and I made our way to the Palace in silence, while I was way too deep in my thoughts and expectations of what I could find there. 

There was no problem at our entrance, as we were expected. I had already changed my Water Tribe's clothes for something lighter, so the morning rays wouldn't bother me. I passed through the gates almost dissociating, as everything seemed like a weird dream and I would wake up in my house at my village, late for the advanced class.

Nerui asked someone to take my luggage and took me straight to the anteroom of the Throne Room. 

-- You wait here until I call you, OK? Everything is going to be fine.

Everything is going to be fine, I repeated to myself again and again. Then, the doors opened, and one of the guards close to it instructed me:

-- You can enter now. 

And I did. I've never entered the Throne Room in such circumstances, and it felt weird. Besides that, as soon as I entered, I saw him, looking straight at me with an empty face. I didn't know how I expected this meeting to be, but I confess I thought it was anticlimactic. Anyways, I decided to keep the same empty face and bow:

-- I'm here to serve, Fire Lord.

-- I told them to send us the best. Are you qualified for this service?

That's it. I wanted to slap him. I looked at Nerui, ready to turn around and leave, but his pleading eyes met mine, and he discreetly shook his head. I wouldn't do it. For now. For Nerui. And for the sick woman who needed me. 

Ignoring the pain in my heart, I answered:

-- For almost three years I've been training in the art of healing, and I have been considered the best pupil of Kira, the lead healer. Unfortunately she couldn't come, but I was hand picked by her to serve you, Fire Lord.

-- That's enough for me. Let us see her.

He was being so cold that it made my heart ache. But, again, what did I expect him to do? To embrace me in a kiss? He was doing what he was supposed to do, and I had no right to be hurt over that. 

When I entered his wife's room, I could see she was worst than I expected. She was pale, thin and looked weak, probably using all her strength to cough. By observing a little better, I could see she was coughing blood. I felt sorry for her immediately, but at least I knew what to do. I took a step ahead and started asking what I would need:

-- Bring me leaves of artemisia, honey, leaves and roots of eucalypt and propolis extract. And some boiling water, please. 

It was time to treat this woman. I was focused on the task ahead, however, I could feel Zuko's gaze on my back. 

-- How long until they bring me what I need?

-- Some minutes. The eucalypt might take a little longer, I guess. -- he looked a little shocked while Nerui answered to my practical question, but I pressed on.

-- Right. So I have time to change. Where am I staying? 

-- Follow me -- Nerui was quick to volunteer himself, and I couldn't see if Zuko was as disappointed as I was, even though I hid my feelings with a nod and left after my friend.

-- It's a nightmare -- I said to Nerui while changing behind a folding screen.

-- You knew it wouldn't be simple, dear… Are you okay? 

-- I sincerely don't know. I don't know what I expected, how I expected him to react… But not that he'd act as if he'd never known me.

-- To be honest, I did prepare him for your arrival. You couldn't have made a scene there, in front of everybody. And you couldn't make a scene now, in front of his dying wife.

-- Dying, you said? -- I left the screen wearing my lightest white robes. 

-- Well -- answered him sitting on my bed --, our healers said there was nothing else to be done regarding her. You are our last hope. 

-- If that's the case -- I said putting on some gloves --, let us examine her, and see how far can we go against the odds.