The Honor of Love (ATLA fanfic)

Prologue

"Quickly, hide!" Mother said as she pushed me into the latch of the bedchamber. "No, mom-" I said, struggling to move her hand as she pushed me deeper into the latch. "Istari, please, stop. ..." she said and she grabbed me firmly by my shoulders. "Listen to me. Lord Ozai thinks that your father is a traitor. I don't have time to explain, we just need to get you out of here."

"But Zuko-" I mumbled.

"Zuko cannot help us, neither can Iroh." I looked at my mom, not understanding what she was saying. There was a knock on the door. "Oh no..." Mom said panicky let me go. "Listen to me very carefully: Go to the Southern Watertribe, you'll be safe there. My sister lives there, Ayla. She will help you."

"But... but how do I even get there?" I asked confused. "I can't leave you. I can't leave dad, please let me stay. I can fight them!" I yelled as I climbed back out of the hatch. "Ree, please! I bribed a soldier, he'll get you out on a boat. I love you, Istari. I am so proud of you. Please... go." She kissed me firmly on my head. She removed her necklace and put it around my neck. "So that you will not forget me." She said and she closed the hatch.

She threw the carpet over the hatch as the light darkened. A small beam of light was visible through the cracks. I moved to see closer but I was unable to see anything.

The door slammed open as I held my breathe when a few soldiers walked in. "Lynn Hou Xing, you are under arrest. You are believed to have conspired and pleaded treason against Fire Lord Ozai!" One of the guards said out loud. "Where's my husband?" Lynn replied with gritted teeth. "General Hou Xing is dead." The soldier replied coldly. "A failed attempt to kill the Fire Lord." The soldier replied with a grin.

I shivered from head to toe when I heard a terrible scream that came from my mother, one that went through bone and marrow. I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to make no sound. However, I could hold back my tears. "I will come back to avenge him, I promise." I whispered quietly and I crawled away from the scene, deeper into the tunnel.

I looked back one more time, and a bright light filled the cracks of the floor. Another terrible scream filled the room, along with the sound of crackling wood. Just before I closed the door behind me, I heard a loud thud on the ground and the laughter of the two soldiers.

_

I knocked on the small wooden door at the end of the tunnel. "It is clear, come on out." I opened the door and peaked around the corner. The bribed soldier was actually a good friend of my father. Guozhi looked down at my wet face and slowly shook his head. "Poor girl," he mumbled and he pulled me out. I was startled and confused. I did not understand what was happening, I did not want to understand. I couldn't. He grabbed my hand and we started to run towards the harbor. Out of breath we arrived and he picked me up to put me on board. "Did your mother tell you what to do?" Guozhi asked me. I nodded slowly, but I could not interpret the words coming from his mouth.

"This ship will take you to the borders of the North Pole. There's a Kayak on board, that one you can take to the gates, you understand?" Guozhi said breathlessly. I nodded and he let go of my hand. "Goodluck." He said. "T-thank you." I said hoarsely. He stepped away from the boat and turned around to walk away. Suddenly, the bells started ringing loudly. I saw Guozhi taking a deep breath before he turned back to me and entered the ship.

"Are you coming with me?" I asked, feeling relieved. "I have no choice." He replied with a sigh. The boat took off and he quickly let me to the cargo hold. "Get in." He said when he pressed a knife in my hand. Before I could say anything he pushed me into the crate and put the lid on. "Don't make a fire." He whispered when he closed the top completely. It was completely dark. I looked up when I heard a loud thud above me. I heard some rumbling next to me, he was probably getting in a crate himself.

I breathlessly listened and after a couple of minutes, I heard footsteps coming down. the stairs. I felt sweat pouring down my face, as it got more difficult to breathe each second. "Check those crates." I heard a heavy voice saying. I held in my breath and grabbed my knife firmly. My hand was shaking and I could barely control myself.

The footsteps were approaching and I heard the scraping of wood on wood above me. I held my breath even more, that I almost felt like fainting. A small beam of light shone on my face as the lid was lifted. "There's nothing here, let's go!" I heard a voice shouting. The beam of light disappeared as the man put the lid back on with a loud thud.

When I heard the door close I gasped loudly. I quickly held my hand before my mouth as I quietly started to cry. The lid was being removed and Guozhi grabbed my hand to pull. "It is alright, you are safe," He said when he hugged me, "we passed the Great Gates of Azulon." I let go of him and nodded slowly. I walked up on deck and stood by the railing. With the back of my hand I wiped the tears out of my face. I took a deep breathe and watched the Great Gates of Azulon slowly shrinking into the distance. I grabbed my necklace and held it tightly.

"You will be alright." Guozhi said as he laid a hand on my shoulder. "You will never have to come back."
I let go of my necklace and angrily looked at the Great Gates of Azulon. "Oh, I will return," I said with gritted teeth, "and the Fire Lord will fear the day that I do. "

-----------------------------------------

Check out my other (completed) Avatar fanfiction: Flames of the Past (Zuko LS)