Chapter Text
No Prince of the Fire Nation had ever wed a foreigner. Then again, Zuko was no regular Prince of the Fire Nation. Scarred by his own father, abandoned by his mother, and now forced to look to the North Pole to meet his future bride, Princess Yue of the Water Tribe.
“I did not want to accept their proposal, but when you dishonored and disobeyed me, I found some good use for their terms.” Firelord Ozai reclined in his throne, smirking at the parchment he held. “I have removed you from the line of succession. Azula will be Firelord when I am gone. You, however unworthy you may be, will be the first piece to ending the war and bringing about our victory.”
Zuko bit his cheek nearly hard enough to draw blood. His left eye still throbbed in pain under the bandages. His head had been partially shaved, save enough for the traditional topknot. He could feel rather than see the smile on his sister’s face beside him.
“Father, I am extremely honored-”
Bile rose in Zuko’s throat and the blood rushed to his ears so loudly he couldn’t hear the rest of what Azula said. Ozai took notice of his son’s flushed face.
“Feel this shame, boy. It will be your teacher.” He cleared his throat. “The Northern Water Tribe offers their total surrender and the hand of Princess Yue. In return, they ask for an alliance and the preservation of their culture and people.”
“I think that is a wonderful idea!” The doors to the throne room opened to allow General Iroh entrance. The Dragon of the West beamed at the room, seemingly unfazed by the dour mood.
“But, if I may, perhaps we should wait until Prince Zuko is older. Thirteen is quite young to be married. I believe that Chief Arnook would agree with this sentiment as well.”
Ozai glowered down at his elder brother, mulling over his words.
“I suppose you are right, General. How long do you suggest we wait?”
“Sixteen is the traditional age of betrothal in the Water Tribe.”
“What of our traditions?” Azula stood to face Iroh, golden eyes narrowed accusingly. Zuko sucked in a breath. His brain screamed at his sister to stop, to look at what their father had already done to him! Of course, Ozai let his daughter speak out, even against her own uncle.
“Tell me, Uncle, are you more concerned about some frigid little savage than the integrity of the Royal Family?”
Iroh’s smile no longer reached his eyes.
“Children, perhaps the two of you should go prepare for bed and let the adults finish the discussion.”
Ozai nodded and waved his hand to send his children away. Azula huffed.
“Come on Zuzu.” Zuko stood and followed his sister, feeling a hollow pain settle in his chest. Azula stomped off to the edge of the entrance hall.
“It’s disgraceful! Why should a member of the most powerful family in the world have to marry some uppity peasant.”
“She’s a princess…” Zuko mumbled. Azula whipped around with a scowl on her face.
“Of the Water Tribe! Honestly Zuko, I think your injury reached what little brain you had.”
Zuko winced. He had no energy to spare for Azula’s taunts. The bandages over his eye itched terribly. Azula’s triumphant expression softened ever so slightly. The eleven year old hugged her older brother gently.
“Thank you Zuko. You’ve given me the Crown. It’s the most wonderful thing anyone has ever done for me.”
Zuko said nothing and just let his limbs hang, heavy and numb.
~~~
The Southern Water Tribe received word of the engagement from a Fire Nation courier. They had prepared for battle, but were met with a scrawny looking man who just looked cold.
“The Fire Nation welcomes you, Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe, into our citizenship and care and invite you formally to travel North to assist in preparations.”
The Southern Chief took the scroll and read it over in sheer disbelief. The courier stuffed his hands into his cloak and attempted to burrow his face deeper into his red scarf. His mother escorted the stranger into the largest building still left standing in the village. Kanna called the tribe together for a meal and meeting to allow her son to gather his thoughts. Hakoda’s young children, thirteen year old Sokka and eleven year old Katara, watched on in curiosity from the back of the room, specifically hidden behind a thick tapestry.
“Sokka, that man looks funny.” Katara whispered.
Sokka scowled. “That’s because he’s Fire Nation. I wonder what’s going on…”
Their quiet musings were eventually noticed by the courier, who mistook the two children for ghosts and bolted screaming for the door. The amused children laughed until their bellies ached.
When the food was ready and everyone assembled, Hakoda entered with a stoic look on his face.
“My friends, my family, our brothers and sisters in the North have forged peace with the Fire Nation. The Water Tribe will be absorbed into Fire Nation territory, and Prince Zuko will wed Princess Yue in three years’ time, once the Princess is of age.”
The silence echoed off the icy walls. Kanna placed a hand over her mouth, shaking with an emotion she could not yet name. Bato stood and strode to Hakoda’s side. The courier, once again sat in his seat, looked around nervously at the dismayed villagers. Sokka was squeezing Katara’s hand trying to keep from screaming.
“But that’s not fair! We can’t surrender to the Fire Nation!” Katara exploded in a rage. Hakoda looked at his daughter with a heaviness in his eyes
“Katara, I understand that you're upset, but this is what is best for our people right now. Please, let me finish.”
The young girl grumbled as Kanna pulled her granddaughter into her lap. Sokka scooted closer to his family.
Hakoda resumed, “As I was saying, Chief Arnook and Firelord Ozai have requested that I travel to the North Pole in order to streamline the transition of power. As such, I will be leaving my mother, Kanna, as regent while I’m gone. Zi Chen will also be staying here at the South Pole for the foreseeable future…”
Hakoda continued his prepared statements, while the courier, Zi Chen, nodded along with every point. Katara pressed her face into her grandmother’s shoulder and tried to imagine that anything else in the world was happening.
~~~
Yue looked out over the ocean from her balcony. No more would she fear the possibility of black ships appearing in the harbor to bring death and destruction to her people. Of course, soon they would no longer be her people. The princess sighed and continued on her morning constitutional. It was early enough that the sun had not yet bathed the ice of the Northern Water Tribe in pink glow.
The royal status she enjoyed afforded Yue a degree of freedom within the walls of the palace. There were no rooms explicitly off limits to Yue, not that she truly had any need or want to visit the storage or stables. No reason at all. Thus, she ended up curled up in a pile of straw beside a contented buffalo yak. Yue had discarded her heavy overcoat to lie in the sweet-smelling straw. The buffalo yak, an older female, continued the chew even as the white-haired teen buried her face into the pack animal’s furry shoulder. This particular female had given birth to a number of calves over the years and had no issue with young creatures seeking comfort from her.
“Yura…” The buffalo yak grunted in recognition of her name. Yue inhaled deeply, taking on the heavy, musky scent of Yura’s fur. The animal did not smell particularly pleasant, but it was a familiar smell. A big wet nose prodded the blue decorations in Yue’s hair. Once satisfied that the abalone and glass pieces were not food, Yura gently pulled Yue closer with her large head.
This is how Arnook and Hakoda found the young princess, asleep in the embrace of a beast of burden.
Arnook sighed defeatedly.
“She hasn’t spoken to me since I told her.” The Northern Chief admitted. Hakoda placed a brotherly hand on Arnook’s shoulder.
“I doubt my daughter would do any different. It will be an adjustment period for all of us, I think we can give the princess her time to come to terms with the arrangement. We do have three years, after all.”
Arnook nodded, gazing blankly on his daughter. Chiefess Aguta, who had followed the men’s voices to the stables, knelt to wake Yue.
“Darling, the sun is high. We must greet the day." Aguta's voice was soft and soothing as she roused her daughter. Yue's big blue eyes fluttered open.
"Mother?"
Aguta pulled some hay out of Yue's hair with a wry smile.
"Good morning, sleepy one. Did the spirits send you pleasant dreams?"
Yue smiled tenderly.
"Yes, but I was glad for Yura's protection."
Yura huffed politely. It was then that Yue noticed her father and their guest.
"Chief Hakoda?" The Southern Chief bowed at the waist in response.
“Princess Yue. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I wish it were under different circumstances.”
Arnook stepped forward.
“The delegation from Caldera City has arrived with a letter from General Iroh. It is addressed to you, my daughter.”
"She can read it later, Arnook." Aguta held Yue's hand tightly and whisked her off to brush out her hair. The two chiefs of the Water Tribe nodded and stepped back to give the women access to the door.
Arnook placed his face in his hands with a deep sigh.
“Hakoda, I-I don’t want to lose her. Not like this, not this soon, not before I have to.”
“I know…” The two men embraced in the icy silence of the stables.