Courting a Prince: Book 1 (Complete)

ch. 35: Northern Water Tribe

I didn't wake up until much later in the night when I heard Kai's warning chirps from below the deck. The ship was still, oddly still, so I assume everyone had already left.

Zuko lay next to me, unmoving, most likely deep in thought. I had a choice to make, and of course I chose to go to heed the warning of my spirit animal. If he's worried, the entire ship could potentially be in danger.

I took the steps to let Kai out the back of the ship. I could hear footsteps overhead, ones that didn't sound familiar. They were hushed, and hurried. I tried to go back to Zuko's room but, he wasn't there.

To say that I was mortified would be an understatement. My heart froze as my mind raced to find out where he could've possibly gone in this situation.

I had to find him, and thankfully, I did. In the first place I checked, which was the ship's control room. It overlooked the entire ship, the best vantage point, and if an intruder wanted to take over the ship, that's where they would go.

Zuko seemed prepared to attack as soon as I entered, but when he saw me he relaxed. I put my finger on my lips as a signal that we should stay quiet, to which he nodded in agreement.

We stealthily snuck around the room for a moment when an obnoxious smell filled my nostrils.

"Blasting jelly... Oh no." I went to Zuko's side, pulling him into my arms and holding him protectively. He seemed shocked to say the least, trying to push me away, but I was more persistent. It was only a split second between my grabbing him and-

Boom.

Splash.

I felt a searing on my back and the force of the blast threw us out of the ship right into the ocean. The cold, frozen ocean.

______

The day after the explosion Zuko and I had hidden ourselves on the Admirals ship. He is acting as a guard, while I am acting as one of the crew. That explosion messed the both of us up pretty bad, but the real crime is what happened to my face.

My beautiful face! Even my hair was singed and had to be cut into a short bob! My hair! My perfect hair! Oh the humanity! My god given beauty so stained by those awful people!

Ahem.

Other than that, we're both alright. Zuko has cuts and bruises too, I couldn't protect him completely, but at least he's alive. I have a new deep burn on my back, it still hurts, and it's not healing well at all. We meet up every chance we get to treat each other's wounds, but it's only ever for a few minutes at a time.

I've convinced the crew to let us meet more often than we should, being that everyone loves a star crossed lover's story.

Well, almost everyone.

It was difficult at first, but we got used to it. As soon as we get to the northern water tribe, we're out of here. That's the plan anyway, but I'm sure it isn't gonna go that smoothly

_______

Our plan must now be out into action. Zuko is getting a boat ready for us, while I stand watch. Our Uncle came to see us for the last time and it's bittersweet to say the least. I stand at the door to give them some time alone, but I couldn't stay out for too long.

"I'm sorry. I just nag you because... ever since I lost my son..." He stopped himself, the sorrow in his voice squeezing my heart.

I truly feel loved by him, and every day I was with him he treated me with nothing but kindness. Ever since I was a child, Iroh has been one of the few people in this world that I could call my family. "Uncle..." I may be strong, but my emotions got the best of me as tears began welling up in my eyes.