Fanfiction: Of Fire and Water
Title: Of Fire And Water
Chapter Two: Arrival
Fandom: Avatar
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Chapter Summary: The journey at sea is over, and Katara must learn to adapt.
Arrival
And then they were there.
The Fire Nation. It had all seemed so unreal aboard the ship - she knew where they were travelling and that was where all these people were from, but the constant presence of the sea around her did much to make her forget about their destination. She blinked up at the fast-approaching buildings in bewilderment, clinging to the cold hard railing of the ship, a shiver running through her body even thought he weather was warmer than she was used to by far. They were so big!
The looming shore scared her, but she did her best to hide it, remembering how kind and generous the lieutenant was being to her, how much he had tried to teach her so that she would fit in better.
She was transported directly from the ship in a small palanquin, ornately decorated and comfortable with dark red cushions. She clung to them as she travelled through the streets, still shaking slightly. Every thing was so red and big and hot and it felt like how she imagined burning must feel like.
She missed the ice, her people, her home and something in her wanted to call up the waves and run, far away, to go back to her bed, her tent, her home on the ice. To run away and forget it all, to be with her people under the ice and drown like they had…
Her room was nice, she supposed. It was a lot bigger than she was used to, bigger than all the rooms of her family’s tent-igloo put together. There was a pretty painted screen and her bed was very, very soft and there wasn’t a carpet on the floor, nor any rugs like she was used to, just cool tile - but it felt nice on her bare feet so she supposed that was why they did it. And all of it was hers, even the chest of dolls with their pretty clothes.
Time passed quickly as she took out everything from the chest of toys, looking at everything curiously before putting most of the dolls away and playing with just one of the ornately decorated toys. She was shocked when she was called down for dinner by a maid to realise how much time had passed in her play - had she really been here, in the Fire Nation, for a whole day?
She fumbled her way through the meal, desperate to use her fingers instead of the painted smooth sticks that she couldn’t control, so different from the basic metal utensils on the ship - but she was going to be a lady and a lady had to use them and she was grateful to Zhao for what he’d done for her, so she'd learn. Zhao’s face was set in a frown, and he didn’t speak to her much, but he promised to find an etiquette instructor for her, and let her choose a maid for herself.
Katara went to bed confused. It felt like she was ill, the world tipping and turning in a strange, strange pattern that she didn’t know how to decipher. The sun was still up in the sky, light shining through the windows, and that was strange as well. Sleeping was supposed to be for dark times, but she was so tired already…
Katara woke up the next morning, still tired, sleep having not come easily in the stifling heat. The light shining down through the window, indirectly but still bright enough to send dust-motes skittering, had woken her and dragged her from her sleep. She also ached, not used to the luxurious softness of the bed after the harder beds of the ship or the warm furs from home- don’t think about it. It’s gone. Gone is gone and they’re not coming back.
Zhao met her in the hall before breakfast, bowing shallowly in comparison to her deep respectful bow, as was right. He offered her his arm and they walked into the breakfasting room together, and Katara gasped quietly when she saw that there was another man seated at the table. Sharp tawny eyes landed on her and Katara stared, eyes wide and scared. Wh-what? Who? I… is he come to take me away from- I don’t want to leave Master Zhao!
Mouth set in a stubborn little line, Katara clung closer to Master Zhao’s arm, causing him to frown slightly as he disengaged her hand, hurting her fingers a little. “Greet my guest politely,” he murmured warningly, not looking down at her. He continued, voice a little louder.
“Admiral Tseung-Sho, this is the girl I spoke of. Her name is Katara.”
Katara dropped into a formal bow, hands in the correct position, fingers fumbling slightly. She bowed low and stayed low, unsure whether to rise or not. Her voice caught slightly as she spoke, awe-struck and scared of the stranger who had a rank higher than her lieutenant.
“It is an h-honour to meet you,” she said politely from where she was bowed.
“So this is her.”
Katara shivered.
“She’s quite a pretty thing, isn’t she?”
“Indeed.”
Katara’s back was beginning to ache. Why was Zhao talking to this man? Wasn’t it time for them to have breakfast? They’d always eaten together onboard the ship…
“Come, Katara.”
Katara started slightly, and hurried to catch up with Zhao, feet pattering on the cool tile. The Admiral walked beside Zhao, so she stayed back a little, following the two men down the corridor as they discussed her. Katara’s cheeks burnt red with embarrassment, and humiliation. Why is Zhao talking about me? Why are they discussing me behind my back-in front of me?
“Master Zhao?” She asked tentatively, drawing back slightly as both men halted and turned to look at her, shying away from the sharp gaze of the older Admiral. “Um… what about breakfast? We haven’t eaten yet.”
The Admiral snorted and turned away from her, Zhao following suit moments later, face expressionless as he began walking again.
“This is more important.”
More important? What could be more important than eating?
~
Katara knelt, forehead pressed against the floor. There was no relief from the overwhelming heat via cool tile; this tile was warm, heated by the roaring fires that always burnt here. She could feel her palms were sweaty and damp, and she was sure that she would have a red mark on her forehead when she rose, and that was bad because she had to be perfect or she might die.
She shivered slightly and clenched her fists tighter, trying desperately not to start shaking again. This man… this man… He was the war’s leader. He was why her village was dead. He’d given the orders… No, that wasn’t true. Zhao had said that the person responsible had been disciplined, and it wasn’t right to talk about it, but the Fire Lord hadn’t ordered it to happen.
But he was still… still… The Fire Lord.
I’m so scared… please don’t let him hurt me… please don’t let him take Zhao away, he’s the only person I know here and everyone else is so scary! Please, gods, please…
“…Acceptable.”
Katara thought she would faint from relief.
Chapter Two: Arrival
Fandom: Avatar
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Chapter Summary: The journey at sea is over, and Katara must learn to adapt.
Arrival
And then they were there.
The Fire Nation. It had all seemed so unreal aboard the ship - she knew where they were travelling and that was where all these people were from, but the constant presence of the sea around her did much to make her forget about their destination. She blinked up at the fast-approaching buildings in bewilderment, clinging to the cold hard railing of the ship, a shiver running through her body even thought he weather was warmer than she was used to by far. They were so big!
The looming shore scared her, but she did her best to hide it, remembering how kind and generous the lieutenant was being to her, how much he had tried to teach her so that she would fit in better.
She was transported directly from the ship in a small palanquin, ornately decorated and comfortable with dark red cushions. She clung to them as she travelled through the streets, still shaking slightly. Every thing was so red and big and hot and it felt like how she imagined burning must feel like.
She missed the ice, her people, her home and something in her wanted to call up the waves and run, far away, to go back to her bed, her tent, her home on the ice. To run away and forget it all, to be with her people under the ice and drown like they had…
Her room was nice, she supposed. It was a lot bigger than she was used to, bigger than all the rooms of her family’s tent-igloo put together. There was a pretty painted screen and her bed was very, very soft and there wasn’t a carpet on the floor, nor any rugs like she was used to, just cool tile - but it felt nice on her bare feet so she supposed that was why they did it. And all of it was hers, even the chest of dolls with their pretty clothes.
Time passed quickly as she took out everything from the chest of toys, looking at everything curiously before putting most of the dolls away and playing with just one of the ornately decorated toys. She was shocked when she was called down for dinner by a maid to realise how much time had passed in her play - had she really been here, in the Fire Nation, for a whole day?
She fumbled her way through the meal, desperate to use her fingers instead of the painted smooth sticks that she couldn’t control, so different from the basic metal utensils on the ship - but she was going to be a lady and a lady had to use them and she was grateful to Zhao for what he’d done for her, so she'd learn. Zhao’s face was set in a frown, and he didn’t speak to her much, but he promised to find an etiquette instructor for her, and let her choose a maid for herself.
Katara went to bed confused. It felt like she was ill, the world tipping and turning in a strange, strange pattern that she didn’t know how to decipher. The sun was still up in the sky, light shining through the windows, and that was strange as well. Sleeping was supposed to be for dark times, but she was so tired already…
Katara woke up the next morning, still tired, sleep having not come easily in the stifling heat. The light shining down through the window, indirectly but still bright enough to send dust-motes skittering, had woken her and dragged her from her sleep. She also ached, not used to the luxurious softness of the bed after the harder beds of the ship or the warm furs from home- don’t think about it. It’s gone. Gone is gone and they’re not coming back.
Zhao met her in the hall before breakfast, bowing shallowly in comparison to her deep respectful bow, as was right. He offered her his arm and they walked into the breakfasting room together, and Katara gasped quietly when she saw that there was another man seated at the table. Sharp tawny eyes landed on her and Katara stared, eyes wide and scared. Wh-what? Who? I… is he come to take me away from- I don’t want to leave Master Zhao!
Mouth set in a stubborn little line, Katara clung closer to Master Zhao’s arm, causing him to frown slightly as he disengaged her hand, hurting her fingers a little. “Greet my guest politely,” he murmured warningly, not looking down at her. He continued, voice a little louder.
“Admiral Tseung-Sho, this is the girl I spoke of. Her name is Katara.”
Katara dropped into a formal bow, hands in the correct position, fingers fumbling slightly. She bowed low and stayed low, unsure whether to rise or not. Her voice caught slightly as she spoke, awe-struck and scared of the stranger who had a rank higher than her lieutenant.
“It is an h-honour to meet you,” she said politely from where she was bowed.
“So this is her.”
Katara shivered.
“She’s quite a pretty thing, isn’t she?”
“Indeed.”
Katara’s back was beginning to ache. Why was Zhao talking to this man? Wasn’t it time for them to have breakfast? They’d always eaten together onboard the ship…
“Come, Katara.”
Katara started slightly, and hurried to catch up with Zhao, feet pattering on the cool tile. The Admiral walked beside Zhao, so she stayed back a little, following the two men down the corridor as they discussed her. Katara’s cheeks burnt red with embarrassment, and humiliation. Why is Zhao talking about me? Why are they discussing me behind my back-in front of me?
“Master Zhao?” She asked tentatively, drawing back slightly as both men halted and turned to look at her, shying away from the sharp gaze of the older Admiral. “Um… what about breakfast? We haven’t eaten yet.”
The Admiral snorted and turned away from her, Zhao following suit moments later, face expressionless as he began walking again.
“This is more important.”
More important? What could be more important than eating?
~
Katara knelt, forehead pressed against the floor. There was no relief from the overwhelming heat via cool tile; this tile was warm, heated by the roaring fires that always burnt here. She could feel her palms were sweaty and damp, and she was sure that she would have a red mark on her forehead when she rose, and that was bad because she had to be perfect or she might die.
She shivered slightly and clenched her fists tighter, trying desperately not to start shaking again. This man… this man… He was the war’s leader. He was why her village was dead. He’d given the orders… No, that wasn’t true. Zhao had said that the person responsible had been disciplined, and it wasn’t right to talk about it, but the Fire Lord hadn’t ordered it to happen.
But he was still… still… The Fire Lord.
I’m so scared… please don’t let him hurt me… please don’t let him take Zhao away, he’s the only person I know here and everyone else is so scary! Please, gods, please…
“…Acceptable.”
Katara thought she would faint from relief.