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We had the right love at the wrong time,
Guess I always knew inside
I wouldn't have you for a long time.
Those dreams of yours are shining on distant shores,
And if they're calling you away,
I have no right to make you stay.
"I'm – I’m really sorry." She took a step back. He reached forward as if to stop her again, but she stepped away from him.
Katara gazed at him for one final time, "Goodbye, Zuko." She let one last tear fall before turning around and running out of the room.
Zuko woke up with a start, his heart thudding painfully.
It was that dream. Again.
It had always been the same for the past month. The nightmare that had been plaguing him since the day she left.
Zuko sat up and buried his head in his hands. Why can't he just forget that wretched woman who wasn’t even worthy of his thoughts? He didn't deserve this torture. It was her fault. Why in Agni's name can't he get rid of her, then?
Because you loved her, a voice in his head stated calmly. You loved her and you still do.
I don't love her anymore. He thought viciously, How could I ever love such a self-centered, prissy little peasant girl?
He sighed, hating himself for thinking such lies. Besides, she was the one who left when she decided to stop loving me.
That last part wasn’t exactly a lie, his inner voice rationalized. She left you, yes, because she thought she was doing what’s best for you.
There was a soft knock on the door and Zuko looked up to see his uncle enter holding a tray of food in one hand.
"Good morning, my nephew," the retired general greeted pleasantly.
"Uncle, what are you doing here?" Zuko asked in mild surprise.
"Bringing you breakfast," Iroh replied amiably, "Everyone needs a lot of energy to start the day."
"But why not let the servants do it?" The young prince continued to ask, glad for something to distract him from his thoughts.
The retired general set the tray on the bedside table before settling himself on the foot of the bed.
"Can’t an old man visit his nephew just for a happy morning chat?" he pointed to the tray. “Eat.”
As Zuko ate, Iroh recounted his previous afternoon outside the palace – how the people greeted him amiably, and how he visited every tea shop in the city, lecturing about brewing the perfect cup of tea.
The Fire Prince listened appreciatively as his uncle chatted on. But he had a feeling that the old man didn't just come to complain on how poorly the city's shops make their tea.
When he finally drained his own cup of ginseng, Zuko looked at Iroh. "Uncle, what really brings you here?"
The cheerfulness on the former general's face was replaced by grim concern as he sighed.
"Zuko, we need to talk."
Well. So much for distraction.
But somewhere down the road,
Our roads are gonna cross again.
It doesn't really matter when.
But somewhere down the road,
I know that heart of yours will come to see
That you belong with me.
"This can't go on," Iroh gazed at his nephew with worry apparent in his eyes.
The young man gave a half-hearted laugh, "What do you – ?"
"You are in pain," his uncle said in a low voice, "Every night when I pass outside your door, I could hear you crying in your sleep. You repeat her name over and over again, asking – no – begging her to come back – "
"Uncle, please," Zuko cut in tritely, "She left. She left and she's not coming back. It’s enough that she tortures me in my sleep without you reminding me of my nightmares."
Iroh could hear the bitterness in the Fire Prince's voice, "Nephew, listen to me,"
But the young man only shook his head, "Enough. This is none of your business." He started to stand up.
"A letter came for me earlier today," his uncle continued, unnerved by the boy's temper.
"So?"
"A letter," Iroh glanced at his nephew, "From Sokka of the Southern Watertribe."
That stopped him. He froze on his way to the washroom and slowly turned to his uncle.
"Sokka?" he asked in a quiet voice, "Wha-what did he say?"
"He asks for my help. He said he doesn't want to see his sister that way anymore."
Zuko’s chest contracted. "What happened?" He was unsure why he kept his voice low.
"Nothing, that's what." Iroh explained in a sad tone, "Or at least that's what Katara lets everyone see. When she is with other people, she is the epitome of a perfect tribe leader, doing her duties and taking care of the people. But when she is alone or when she thinks no one else is watching her, she becomes a heart-breaking sight. She talks to herself and often cries herself to sleep. Sokka tells me that he can't stand to see her cry anymore."
"Why is she even – I don’t understand." The Fire Prince questioned his uncle in a feeble voice.
"She is lonely," the old man’s voice started rising as he regarded his nephew, looking at him with eyebrows half scrunched together and a far-off look in his eyes. "She still loves you, but she doesn't know what to do."
"She left."
"She was frightened!" Iroh was begging him to understand. After a short pause, he sighed and leveled his tone once more, "Tell me Zuko, do you still love her?"
The young man opened his mouth to shout out an angry "no", but he couldn't manage it. He looked away from his uncle and muttered, "It doesn't matter anymore."
"It does if you want her to be the future Fire Lady."
"What?" Zuko snapped his head back to face Iroh again.
The former general sighed, "There will be a meeting this afternoon regarding those eligible to be your wife. Your coronation is in a month, nephew, your advisors are desperate for you to find a bride."
"Why was I not informed about this earlier?" The Fire Prince shouted, flames shooting from his hands.
"They wanted to narrow down the options before they let you choose." The old man answered coolly.
Zuko glared at his uncle before collapsing on the floor with a heavy sigh and hiding his face in his hands. "What must I do, Uncle?"
Sometimes goodbyes are not forever.
It doesn't matter if you're gone.
I still believe in us together.
I understand more than you think I can.
You have to go out on your own
So you can find your way back home.
A week from today will be the annual summit regarding the Fire Nation trade contracts across the land. A leader from every participating city, kingdom, or tribe must attend.
The Fire Prince walked briskly down the port to welcome the participants of the meeting, his strides matching the quick hammering of his heart.
Every year, Sokka always attended the meeting. But he had to leave with his wife to Kiyoshi Island tomorrow and might not be available in time when the Fire Navy ship reaches the South Pole.
The ship was docked at the farthest end of the port. When Zuko reached it, the soldiers were just lowering the ramp. The young prince stood at the foot of the long ramp, greeting each of the leaders descending. But his eyes kept flickering back to the ship, waiting for someone to appear.
Since the attendance is compulsory, someone else must come. And maybe, just maybe, that someone else could be…
The last person to go down was wearing the blue robes of the Water Tribe. Zuko's heart felt like it stopped beating the moment he saw her. But she kept her head lowered as she gracefully stepped on solid ground. The woman only raised her head when she was in front of the prince.
Blue eyes met gold ones.
"Katara," Zuko managed to whisper.
The waterbender held his gaze for a moment, her exquisite face betraying no emotions, before inclining her head slightly.
"Your Highness," she murmured.
Zuko opened his mouth to say something, but the carriage driver was already calling for him.
"Prince Zuko, we are about to depart."
The young man glanced at him briefly and nodded. But when he turned to look at Katara again, she was already walking away towards the last coach. The Fire Prince sighed before making his way towards the first carriage in line.
The council went on smoothly as each participant said their piece. Zuko was vaguely listening as his eyes wandered over to the blue-clad watermaiden sitting farthest from him. But Katara never glanced at his direction, looking attentively at those speaking. When it was her turn to speak, she said her piece clearly and briefly, meeting everyone’s eyes except for his.
When the talks were finally over, Katara was one of the first to get up but when she was about to leave the room, a scholar from the Earth Kingdom stopped her and started asking about the South Pole’s lion-seal population.
Zuko hid a small smile. Perfect.
When only his advisers and Iroh were present, the Fire Prince stood up and said in a clear, business-like voice, " Chiefess Katara, a word if you please."
The waterbender slowly turned to him and something flickered in her eyes. Was it anger? Fear? Panic? Before he was sure, it quickly disappeared.
She will not dare refuse the Fire Prince with all my advisors here, he thought.
Katara composed herself before giving the Earth Kingdom scholar a small smile and walked towards Zuko with her eyes on the floor.
"Your Highness," she bowed, staying a good two feet away from him.
The young man sighed, "Would you please stop doing that?" he said loud enough for only her to hear.
He quickly glanced around the room. Iroh was talking animatedly to the old advisers, hoping to distract them, no doubt, as they filed out of the chamber. But the Fire Prince caught two or three of them glancing at Katara and him with a curious expression in their eyes.
"Doing what?" The young woman answered innocently, still not looking at the prince.
He led her out by a different door. Both of them walked in silence for a moment, with Zuko trying to catch the watermaiden’s eye as she kept on avoiding his gaze at all cost.
They had walked for a while now when he suddenly stopped and turned Katara by the shoulders to face him.
"Katara, we need to talk," he regarded her intently, waiting for her to say something, anything.
And somewhere down the road,
Our roads are gonna cross again.
It doesn't really matter when.
But somewhere down the road,
I know that heart of yours will come to see
That you belong with me.
Finally, his companion raised her big blue eyes to look directly at his penetrating golden gaze. "There's nothing to talk about, my Lord," she said coldly, "Everything is perfectly fine."
"No it's not," Zuko said, tightening his grip on her shoulders. “And stop it with the formalities.”
"How in La's name would you know that?" Katara answered fiercely, trying to pull his hand away. But he held firm. "Let go, Zuko,"
He struggled to maintain his calm gaze. If he wanted this to work out, then getting angry will be no help at all. "Uncle received a letter from your brother last week."
She froze, body tensing under his grip.
"He knows. He sees you when you think no one else is watching." The Fire Prince was surprised at how quietly he was handling this. "He told Uncle. And Uncle told me."
Zuko could feel the maiden's hand shaking on his arm. Katara couldn’t look at him. "He doesn't – it’s not – " she stuttered, shaking her head.
He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply several times before opening them again and placing two fingers under the waterbender's chin, making her look at him.
"Tell me, Katara. Do you still love me?"
Letting go is just another way to say
I'll always love you so…
We had the right love at the wring time.
Maybe we've only just begin,
Maybe the best is yet to come.
Katara was momentarily lost in the strength of his gaze. She had to look away before she could answer. "We’ve talked about this before."
"Just tell me you don't love me anymore."
Her head whipped back at him, "Wh-what?"
"Tell me you don't love me anymore. I just want to be sure so that I can stop hoping," Zuko stated in a low, husky voice, "If you don't, then I promise I won’t bother you anymore. You won’t hear from me again. Just tell me you don't love me.”
The young woman stared at him, several different emotions dancing in her blue eyes. What will she say? Will she tell him the truth? Or will they be better off with a lie?
She opened her mouth, "I – I – "
"Tell me you don't love me," his intent gaze held her for a moment before she could step away from him.
"I can't," she whimpered.
The Fire Prince tilted his head to one side. "Why not?" he asked calmly.
"I don't know." Katara felt her voice breaking, "I'm just so – so… confused. I'm not sure of anything anymore. I don't know what to do. I tried to get over it, I really did. But…" she stubbornly brushed away the tears that started to stream down her cheeks and gave a shaky laugh. "Honestly, I don't know how I survived the past weeks without you. I – I felt like a part of me died when I left. And I was stupid enough to let it just happen."
Zuko gave a small smile before cradling her face between his hands. "You still love me." It wasn't a question.
The water maiden looked helplessly in his eyes. She knew that he already knew the answer. He only wanted her to realize it too.
"Yes." she tearfully whispered.
"That's all I needed to hear." He leaned down and captured her lips in a searing kiss.
‘Cause somewhere down the road,
Our roads are gonna cross again.
It doesn't really matter when.
Katara forgot to breathe. She forgot all her pain. Forgot everything but the here and now. She slid her arms around Zuko's neck and pressed herself closer to him.
His hands slid around her to caress her hair, moving to her neck and down her back. The young woman nearly melted under his touch and clung closer to him.
"Katara," he breathed against her lips.
"Mmm?" the watermaiden murmured faintly.
"Marry me."
Her eyes snapped open and she came crashing back down to reality. She pulled back and looked at the Fire Prince in disbelief. "What?"
The young man cupped her cheeks, "Marry me," he repeated firmly, "Forget what the nobles think. Forget your responsibilities for a moment. Consider what you want, for a change." He drew her closer and buried his face in her long, wavy hair.
"Please," he tried to keep the pleading and desperation from his voice, "Please. I don't know if I could survive another day without you. Stay with me, Katara."
A smile graced the watermaiden's lips, "Yes," she whispered.
Zuko straightened up to look at her, surprise, and hope written on his face, "What did you say?"
Katara laughed. She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I said yes, Zuko. I'll marry you."
The future Fire Lord almost shouted out in joy. Laughing, he lifted her up and spun her around before embracing her tightly. "I love you," he whispered.
Katara smiled, “I love you,” she replied, closing her eyes and resting her forehead on Zuko's shoulder.
Finally, she felt whole again.
At the window overlooking the Meditation Garden, one of the Fire Prince’s advisers sighed. "It seems like they really love each other, doesn't it?"
Iroh chuckled beside the man, "Indeed it does."
"We have to make several arrangements, then," another adviser thought out, "Water Tribe customs are a bit different from ours."
"And their food is slightly more exotic, I believe." Another one added.
The group of advisers talked all the way out of the room. The old general smiled at the couple in the garden before turning and joining the prince's advisers down the hall.
But somewhere down the road,
I know that heart of yours will come to see
That you belong with me.