[FIC] Sense and Sensibility (4/16)
Title: Sense and Sensibility, Chapter Four
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Pairing: Eventual Zutara, mentions of Sokka/Suki
Wordcount: 2136
Warnings: none
Summary: Four years after the end of the war, Fire Lord Zuko is told he has two weeks to choose a bride from a group of five girls. Luckily, Uncle Iroh stacked the deck.
Author's Notes: I'm archiving things, so this one (which is my longest finished story to date) was written before season three premiered. Thus it is technically an AU. Chapter titles are from the musical Camelot, because I am a giant dork.
---Chapter Four: Follow Me---
Iroh glanced around the dining table. Zuko, who of course sat at the head, looked completely miserable. The four Earth Kingdom maidens had been eying him all night, when they weren’t whispering to each other and giggling. Lani Mei and Kanai Shin were the worst for this, though Vana Bei Fong would occasionally join them. Iroh was delighted that Katara had decided to come, but she looked about as miserable as Zuko did. Lady Ming-Ming was the paragon of perfection in manners and dress. She kept silent, but her prim and proper demeanor, coupled with a slight smirk of self-satisfaction rubbed the old general the wrong way. It was too reminiscent of Lady Junbi’s expression, though the matchmaker sat further down the table from them.
Zuko lifted his head, no longer wanting to stare at the meal he’d barely touched. Introductions had been made at the start of dinner, so he now knew his enemies’ names. To his right was Lady Ming-Ming, and to her right Kanai Shin and Lani Mei, who seemed to be best friends as well as partners in “crime”. To his left, at least, was Katara, and next to her Vana Bei Fong. Vana seemed a bit miffed by this placement, and Zuko was sure he’d heard several nasty jokes at the waterbender’s expense whispered to Kanai and Lani. He knew that Katara heard them too, because her ears would redden just a little bit. He couldn’t see her face because she had spent the entire meal staring down at her plate, playing with her food and eating no more than he did. She stood out from the other girls, Zuko thought, and it wasn’t just because of her looks and clothes. From what he’d seen of them so far, the wealthy four girls were shallow and superficial. He already knew that Katara was genuine and real. His uncle had told him that he, not Lady Junbi, had invited Katara, and that invitation asked her only to come as a friend. Zuko sighed softly.
Katara heard Zuko sigh, and she heard Vana murmur another rude comment just loud enough for Lani and Kanai to hear and dissolve into giggles. Her lips tightened. Enough was enough. She turned to the Fire Lord and put on her sweetest smile. “Zuko, do you remember when we were traveling together and your uncle absolutely insisted we stop at that little teashop?”
Everyone at the table stared at her. Not only had she addressed the Fire Lord in a familiar way that was very unseemly, but she had done it in public!
Iroh fought the urge to laugh hysterically. He remembered the story, and though it was not flattering on his part, he hoped his nephew would take Katara’s lead and finish it.
Zuko caught the encouraging glint in Katara’s blue eyes, and a slow, small smile began to appear on his lips. “Yes, and then later he said the tea was the worst he had ever tasted.”
“It was the worst any of us had tasted; we were all so sick that we had to stop and make camp early.”
“And then your brother…”
Katara’s eyes lit up. “And the firewood…”
“And the caterpillar!” they both said in unison before bursting into laughter. As they calmed down, Zuko seemed to remember where he was and cleared his throat. He once more looked down at his food, but every so often he would sneak a glance at Katara and smile, only to see her glancing and smiling at him.
“Shameless and disgraceful,” Lady Ming-Ming muttered, her dark brown eyes narrowing as she watched the Princess of the Southern Water Tribe. “We’ll just have to see what we can do about that.”
--------
Despite her success at lightening Zuko’s mood, Katara was glad when dinner ended. She’d been very uncomfortable with being on the receiving end of several glares. One of the seemingly infinite number of servants escorted her to the room designated as hers for the duration of her stay. Katara had not had a chance to see her room earlier, since soon after her arrival several maids had pulled her away to a dressing room. They’d been surprised to discover how little the waterbender had brought with her, but they quickly pulled out her best dress with the apparent intention of helping her put it on. Katara had barely managed to wrestle it from them before calmly and clearly stating that she did not need their assistance. They left, and after she was dressed, another one materialized and led her to the waiting room, where she’d met the other four prospects invited by the royal matchmaker. Just thinking about them gave Katara a headache. The servant opened her door for her, and Katara thanked him. He bowed before vanishing. Katara had already looked inside her room, and she didn’t even notice the servant was gone. She stared in joy as she closed the door behind her and leaned against it.
The room had obviously been decorated (or perhaps redecorated) with her in mind. The walls were all hung with a pale, pale blue material that shimmered in the light of the dozens of candles around the room. Beneath her feet was a lush carpet of a blue so dark it was almost black. All of the furniture was made of ebony wood, rather than the metal she’d seen almost everywhere else in the palace. A bookshelf filled with books begged for further explanation, but at the moment Katara was too tired. Most prominent in the room, and most beautiful to her travel-weary eyes, was the canopied bed, covered in navy and light blue. The waterbender climbed on it and collapsed, not even bothering to get undressed.
--------
Katara woke to the soft rustle of cloth and whisperings of female voices. Her eyes snapped open as she bolted upright. A few servants were roaming around the very large room, performing small duties. One of them was putting down a tray of what, by the smell, seemed to be breakfast. The tallest of the ladies from last night (Katara couldn’t recall her name, only that she was supposed to be almost royalty) was directing them. She felt Katara’s eyes on her and turned, giving the waterbender a gracious smile. “Ah, you’re awake at last.”
Katara blinked. “I’m sorry, but…”
The other girl waved her hand. “Oh, think nothing of it.” She dismissed the maidservants with a similar wave before turning back to Katara. “I am Lady Ming-Ming, niece to the Earth King.”
Katara nodded vaguely. “Um… why are you in my room?”
Ming-Ming let out a tinkling little laugh, like a bell. “Well, my dear, I noticed last night what trouble you were having with the other girls. So I decided to help.”
Katara slid off the bed and frowned down at her wrinkled dress. She grimaced again when her hand touched her still-braided hair. Ming-Ming watched her carefully. She snapped her fingers, and instantly two maids were on their knees in front of her. Katara stared in shock at their speed and the Lady’s casual attitude.
“You two help Princess Katara with her bath while I find her something suitable to wear.”
Katara’s cheeks reddened considerably. “That really isn’t necessary.”
Ming-Ming smiled sweetly. “It’s my pleasure, dear, really. I knew the moment I saw you that you had the least chance of all of us.”
“W-wh-what?” Katara sputtered, having no idea what the noblewoman was talking about.
Ming-Ming’s dark eyes widened. “Don’t be silly. You didn’t really think you’d be chosen to marry the Fire Lord looking like that, did you?”
Katara shook her head, frowning as the maids tried to push her towards the bathing room. “I’m not trying to marry him,” she managed to say before she was ushered into the next room. Lady Ming-Ming smirked, for of course she didn’t believe it. The entire court had seen the way the Fire Lord looked at the Princess of the Southern Water Tribe at the previous night’s dinner. The Earth King’s niece had decided to take on the responsibility of making sure he didn’t look at her that way again.
--------
Katara could barely keep up as Lady Ming-Ming instructed the maids with practiced ease, obviously already having an idea of what she intended for the waterbender. In between orders, she gave Katara instructions on proper behavior, including the correct way to address royalty. Katara was mortified as Ming-Ming detailed every mistake she had made last night, and she took each word to heart. When the maids finally finished their tasks, Lady Ming-Ming smiled at their work in satisfaction. Katara stared into the mirror, not sure what to think.
The girl that looked back was not her.
“You look perfect,” Ming-Ming breathed. Katara turned to the older girl, and then she realized something. Ming-Ming had turned the waterbender into another version of her. Katara opened her mouth to protest, but yet another servant appeared before she could get the words out. The servant bowed to both girls, and Ming-Ming gestured that he could speak.
“His majesty the Fire Lord is waiting for you in the southern garden, your highness,” he said to Katara. The waterbender cursed herself for forgetting. The matchmaker had told them all last night that each girl would spend an hour a day with the Fire Lord, so that they might get to know each other better. Apparently Katara was to go first today. She stood and rushed out of the room, with little regard for her dress or hair-do. Lady Ming-Ming pursed her lips. She could only hope that her instructions would be remembered.
--------
Zuko was waiting for Katara somewhat impatiently, glaring at the pond that dominated the southern garden. The hour with her was the only part of the day he was looking forward to, since he she was the only girl in the palace he could stand. Hearing her soft footsteps behind him, he turned quickly only to freeze in place. Zuko stared at Katara, his expression anything but pleased. “What happened to you?”
Katara looked down, as she had been told was respectful. She didn’t know it irked Zuko even more. “Lady Ming-Ming helped me.”
The Fire Lord snorted. “Helped isn’t the word I’d use. You look ridiculous.”
Katara glared at him, defying Ming-Ming’s careful instructions but no longer caring. “Maybe I like the way I look.” She didn’t, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.
“But you don’t look like you!” Zuko shouted, losing his patience. Katara didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Zuko gave her a last look of disgust before he walked away. It was only when he was just outside his chambers he realized he had just yelled at one of the few people who actually cared about how he felt.
Katara took a few steps forward to see her reflection in the pond. She didn’t recognize the girl who peered back, and the fact was not a happy one.
--------
Zuko didn’t look up when his uncle stepped into his private study. The time with the other prospects had been spent in almost complete silence (on his part if not theirs), Katara’s face when he had stormed away the only image in his mind. “Not now, uncle, please.”
“You are expected at dinner. Should you not make an appearance, I can think of a few ladies who would be most disappointed.”
“I don’t care.”
“There is one in particular who would miss your presence.”
“Katara and I had a fight, uncle.”
“If I remember correctly, this is not the first time the two of you have done so.”
“This time it was different. I yelled at her and she didn’t do anything. She probably hates me.”
“If it was so easy for me to hate you, Zuko, I never would have even come here,” Katara said from the doorway. She had come in with Iroh, but of course Zuko hadn’t noticed. He turned to look at her now. The waterbender was once more dressed in the clothes of her homeland, her hair braided and her mother’s necklace secure around her neck. Katara smiled ruefully. “You were right. Is this better?”
Zuko struggled to find his voice. “Much,” was all he could manage to say.
Iroh clapped his hands and then rubbed them together. “Now then, shall we go to dinner? It is suspicious for the Fire Lord and the Princess of the Southern Water Tribe to both be late.”
“Uncle!” Zuko cried. Katara laughed. Zuko’s annoyance mysteriously evaporated at the sound, and he smiled as he offered her his arm.
Katara pretended to be shocked. “The rumors it would start, your majesty! People are known to talk.”
“Let them talk,” Zuko said softly, so that only she would hear. Katara flushed just a little bit and took his arm.
---End Chapter Four---
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Pairing: Eventual Zutara, mentions of Sokka/Suki
Wordcount: 2136
Warnings: none
Summary: Four years after the end of the war, Fire Lord Zuko is told he has two weeks to choose a bride from a group of five girls. Luckily, Uncle Iroh stacked the deck.
Author's Notes: I'm archiving things, so this one (which is my longest finished story to date) was written before season three premiered. Thus it is technically an AU. Chapter titles are from the musical Camelot, because I am a giant dork.
---Chapter Four: Follow Me---
Iroh glanced around the dining table. Zuko, who of course sat at the head, looked completely miserable. The four Earth Kingdom maidens had been eying him all night, when they weren’t whispering to each other and giggling. Lani Mei and Kanai Shin were the worst for this, though Vana Bei Fong would occasionally join them. Iroh was delighted that Katara had decided to come, but she looked about as miserable as Zuko did. Lady Ming-Ming was the paragon of perfection in manners and dress. She kept silent, but her prim and proper demeanor, coupled with a slight smirk of self-satisfaction rubbed the old general the wrong way. It was too reminiscent of Lady Junbi’s expression, though the matchmaker sat further down the table from them.
Zuko lifted his head, no longer wanting to stare at the meal he’d barely touched. Introductions had been made at the start of dinner, so he now knew his enemies’ names. To his right was Lady Ming-Ming, and to her right Kanai Shin and Lani Mei, who seemed to be best friends as well as partners in “crime”. To his left, at least, was Katara, and next to her Vana Bei Fong. Vana seemed a bit miffed by this placement, and Zuko was sure he’d heard several nasty jokes at the waterbender’s expense whispered to Kanai and Lani. He knew that Katara heard them too, because her ears would redden just a little bit. He couldn’t see her face because she had spent the entire meal staring down at her plate, playing with her food and eating no more than he did. She stood out from the other girls, Zuko thought, and it wasn’t just because of her looks and clothes. From what he’d seen of them so far, the wealthy four girls were shallow and superficial. He already knew that Katara was genuine and real. His uncle had told him that he, not Lady Junbi, had invited Katara, and that invitation asked her only to come as a friend. Zuko sighed softly.
Katara heard Zuko sigh, and she heard Vana murmur another rude comment just loud enough for Lani and Kanai to hear and dissolve into giggles. Her lips tightened. Enough was enough. She turned to the Fire Lord and put on her sweetest smile. “Zuko, do you remember when we were traveling together and your uncle absolutely insisted we stop at that little teashop?”
Everyone at the table stared at her. Not only had she addressed the Fire Lord in a familiar way that was very unseemly, but she had done it in public!
Iroh fought the urge to laugh hysterically. He remembered the story, and though it was not flattering on his part, he hoped his nephew would take Katara’s lead and finish it.
Zuko caught the encouraging glint in Katara’s blue eyes, and a slow, small smile began to appear on his lips. “Yes, and then later he said the tea was the worst he had ever tasted.”
“It was the worst any of us had tasted; we were all so sick that we had to stop and make camp early.”
“And then your brother…”
Katara’s eyes lit up. “And the firewood…”
“And the caterpillar!” they both said in unison before bursting into laughter. As they calmed down, Zuko seemed to remember where he was and cleared his throat. He once more looked down at his food, but every so often he would sneak a glance at Katara and smile, only to see her glancing and smiling at him.
“Shameless and disgraceful,” Lady Ming-Ming muttered, her dark brown eyes narrowing as she watched the Princess of the Southern Water Tribe. “We’ll just have to see what we can do about that.”
--------
Despite her success at lightening Zuko’s mood, Katara was glad when dinner ended. She’d been very uncomfortable with being on the receiving end of several glares. One of the seemingly infinite number of servants escorted her to the room designated as hers for the duration of her stay. Katara had not had a chance to see her room earlier, since soon after her arrival several maids had pulled her away to a dressing room. They’d been surprised to discover how little the waterbender had brought with her, but they quickly pulled out her best dress with the apparent intention of helping her put it on. Katara had barely managed to wrestle it from them before calmly and clearly stating that she did not need their assistance. They left, and after she was dressed, another one materialized and led her to the waiting room, where she’d met the other four prospects invited by the royal matchmaker. Just thinking about them gave Katara a headache. The servant opened her door for her, and Katara thanked him. He bowed before vanishing. Katara had already looked inside her room, and she didn’t even notice the servant was gone. She stared in joy as she closed the door behind her and leaned against it.
The room had obviously been decorated (or perhaps redecorated) with her in mind. The walls were all hung with a pale, pale blue material that shimmered in the light of the dozens of candles around the room. Beneath her feet was a lush carpet of a blue so dark it was almost black. All of the furniture was made of ebony wood, rather than the metal she’d seen almost everywhere else in the palace. A bookshelf filled with books begged for further explanation, but at the moment Katara was too tired. Most prominent in the room, and most beautiful to her travel-weary eyes, was the canopied bed, covered in navy and light blue. The waterbender climbed on it and collapsed, not even bothering to get undressed.
--------
Katara woke to the soft rustle of cloth and whisperings of female voices. Her eyes snapped open as she bolted upright. A few servants were roaming around the very large room, performing small duties. One of them was putting down a tray of what, by the smell, seemed to be breakfast. The tallest of the ladies from last night (Katara couldn’t recall her name, only that she was supposed to be almost royalty) was directing them. She felt Katara’s eyes on her and turned, giving the waterbender a gracious smile. “Ah, you’re awake at last.”
Katara blinked. “I’m sorry, but…”
The other girl waved her hand. “Oh, think nothing of it.” She dismissed the maidservants with a similar wave before turning back to Katara. “I am Lady Ming-Ming, niece to the Earth King.”
Katara nodded vaguely. “Um… why are you in my room?”
Ming-Ming let out a tinkling little laugh, like a bell. “Well, my dear, I noticed last night what trouble you were having with the other girls. So I decided to help.”
Katara slid off the bed and frowned down at her wrinkled dress. She grimaced again when her hand touched her still-braided hair. Ming-Ming watched her carefully. She snapped her fingers, and instantly two maids were on their knees in front of her. Katara stared in shock at their speed and the Lady’s casual attitude.
“You two help Princess Katara with her bath while I find her something suitable to wear.”
Katara’s cheeks reddened considerably. “That really isn’t necessary.”
Ming-Ming smiled sweetly. “It’s my pleasure, dear, really. I knew the moment I saw you that you had the least chance of all of us.”
“W-wh-what?” Katara sputtered, having no idea what the noblewoman was talking about.
Ming-Ming’s dark eyes widened. “Don’t be silly. You didn’t really think you’d be chosen to marry the Fire Lord looking like that, did you?”
Katara shook her head, frowning as the maids tried to push her towards the bathing room. “I’m not trying to marry him,” she managed to say before she was ushered into the next room. Lady Ming-Ming smirked, for of course she didn’t believe it. The entire court had seen the way the Fire Lord looked at the Princess of the Southern Water Tribe at the previous night’s dinner. The Earth King’s niece had decided to take on the responsibility of making sure he didn’t look at her that way again.
--------
Katara could barely keep up as Lady Ming-Ming instructed the maids with practiced ease, obviously already having an idea of what she intended for the waterbender. In between orders, she gave Katara instructions on proper behavior, including the correct way to address royalty. Katara was mortified as Ming-Ming detailed every mistake she had made last night, and she took each word to heart. When the maids finally finished their tasks, Lady Ming-Ming smiled at their work in satisfaction. Katara stared into the mirror, not sure what to think.
The girl that looked back was not her.
“You look perfect,” Ming-Ming breathed. Katara turned to the older girl, and then she realized something. Ming-Ming had turned the waterbender into another version of her. Katara opened her mouth to protest, but yet another servant appeared before she could get the words out. The servant bowed to both girls, and Ming-Ming gestured that he could speak.
“His majesty the Fire Lord is waiting for you in the southern garden, your highness,” he said to Katara. The waterbender cursed herself for forgetting. The matchmaker had told them all last night that each girl would spend an hour a day with the Fire Lord, so that they might get to know each other better. Apparently Katara was to go first today. She stood and rushed out of the room, with little regard for her dress or hair-do. Lady Ming-Ming pursed her lips. She could only hope that her instructions would be remembered.
--------
Zuko was waiting for Katara somewhat impatiently, glaring at the pond that dominated the southern garden. The hour with her was the only part of the day he was looking forward to, since he she was the only girl in the palace he could stand. Hearing her soft footsteps behind him, he turned quickly only to freeze in place. Zuko stared at Katara, his expression anything but pleased. “What happened to you?”
Katara looked down, as she had been told was respectful. She didn’t know it irked Zuko even more. “Lady Ming-Ming helped me.”
The Fire Lord snorted. “Helped isn’t the word I’d use. You look ridiculous.”
Katara glared at him, defying Ming-Ming’s careful instructions but no longer caring. “Maybe I like the way I look.” She didn’t, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.
“But you don’t look like you!” Zuko shouted, losing his patience. Katara didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Zuko gave her a last look of disgust before he walked away. It was only when he was just outside his chambers he realized he had just yelled at one of the few people who actually cared about how he felt.
Katara took a few steps forward to see her reflection in the pond. She didn’t recognize the girl who peered back, and the fact was not a happy one.
--------
Zuko didn’t look up when his uncle stepped into his private study. The time with the other prospects had been spent in almost complete silence (on his part if not theirs), Katara’s face when he had stormed away the only image in his mind. “Not now, uncle, please.”
“You are expected at dinner. Should you not make an appearance, I can think of a few ladies who would be most disappointed.”
“I don’t care.”
“There is one in particular who would miss your presence.”
“Katara and I had a fight, uncle.”
“If I remember correctly, this is not the first time the two of you have done so.”
“This time it was different. I yelled at her and she didn’t do anything. She probably hates me.”
“If it was so easy for me to hate you, Zuko, I never would have even come here,” Katara said from the doorway. She had come in with Iroh, but of course Zuko hadn’t noticed. He turned to look at her now. The waterbender was once more dressed in the clothes of her homeland, her hair braided and her mother’s necklace secure around her neck. Katara smiled ruefully. “You were right. Is this better?”
Zuko struggled to find his voice. “Much,” was all he could manage to say.
Iroh clapped his hands and then rubbed them together. “Now then, shall we go to dinner? It is suspicious for the Fire Lord and the Princess of the Southern Water Tribe to both be late.”
“Uncle!” Zuko cried. Katara laughed. Zuko’s annoyance mysteriously evaporated at the sound, and he smiled as he offered her his arm.
Katara pretended to be shocked. “The rumors it would start, your majesty! People are known to talk.”
“Let them talk,” Zuko said softly, so that only she would hear. Katara flushed just a little bit and took his arm.
---End Chapter Four---