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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33965 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, any historical figures or events, or easily recognizable persons, places or things. I make no profit from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
- 135
- 136
- 137
Chapter 133
Amayu searched the room for the source of the poison to be sure she identified all of the compounds. A clever poisoner could mix several lesser herbs that would react to the primary’s antidote to create another poison. Amayu stopped when she noticed the mortar and pestle sitting beside a tea set. Both had been washed but there were water droplets on the tray they were sitting on. She sniffed each of them then tried the cups but there was nothing left of the scent.
She went through their drawers and found a pouch of herbs among Katara’s underthings. She opened it and sniffed the contents; they bore the same scent she detected on Prince Zuko. Amayu turned sharply when the door to the room opened. If someone tried to poison the prince and his companion they would not look kindly to her interfering. She dropped behind the sofa to hide.
“Amayu, it is Bingwen and Chu-Hua, where are you?”
She peered around the edge of the sofa and dropped the pointy boot she planned to use as a weapon. “I am hiding behind the love seat. I am going to stand up now,” she announced. She’d learned as a child, it wasn’t wise to startle Firebenders.
“I found these herbs in the drawer among the Waterbender’s underthings,” Amayu said giving the herbs to Bingwen.
He investigated its contents while Chu-hua stepped forward to inspect the familiar pouch. The knot she had placed in the string the previous day was present. The admiral’s eyes narrowed, “Yesterday she admitted to buying contraceptives and poisons so we took this pouch away from her. How did she get it back?”
Bingwen identified the leaves, “I don’t think she is the intended murderer. It contains wild yam, red raspberry leaves, dandelion, chamomile, evening primrose, neem, hops and chasteberry.
“The bloodroot, mudar yercum, and hemlock don’t seem to be mixed in as well,” he explained while reaching into his bag to search for the antidote.
Bingwen pulled out several leaves, bottles of tinctures, a few pieces of bark as well as a mortar and pestle. He charred the bark in his hand then dumped the small coals in the mortar. He added the leaves, letting the heat from the hot coals release the oils before crushing them with the charcoal and slowly adding in the tinctures until the concoction was a smooth slurry. He followed Amayu into the bathroom and stopped in his tracks.
Amayu had said Katara was unconscious and Zuko was delirious. Zuko was sitting against the back wall of the shower massaging his head and patting Katara’s back. Her head was resting on his chest and she was crying that La had forsaken her. Neither of them appeared to be as sick as they should have been for ingesting those poisons. The physician gave them each a dose of the antidote and told them to remain in the shower for another half hour. When the time was up he had Amayu bring up two eucalyptus and mint plants from the infirmary. He blew a series of fireballs in the shower water then left them to inhale the steam. Two hours later he called Zuko out first.
The prince stepped from the bathroom to see that his room had been sectioned off with privacy screens. Dr. Bingwen dried him with Firebending then gave him a complete exam before allowing him to move to the next section to get dressed. Once he was dressed Admiral Chu-hua interrogated him about the day’s activities and Katara’s mindset.
When Katara emerged she was also given a complete examination but as the highest ranking female medical officer, Amayu was also present. Katara kept her eyes focused on her as Dr. Bingwen used Firebending her dry. He explained that method would to steam away any impurities left by the poison so they did not sink back into her skin. He was not sure how Waterbending worked but knew all bending relied on chi manipulation. There was a chance she could do more harm if she tried to use it.
After Bingwen finished Katara wrapped her arms tighter around her and pressed her thighs together. She had been given a warm towel but still had not been given any clothes.
Amayu lowered her head, “He’s seen me also. After my friend saved me I had a bad reaction to what he administered to get rid of the aphrodiasiac. Bingwen did the same thing for me that he did for you. He told me that at some point during her life, every father gives his daughter a bath. I came to him at a much older age than the rest of his daughters but there is no difference.”
“Chu-hua offered to dry you but he felt you would be safer with him. I’ve been with him long enough to know he does not do this for everyone. If not for your position, I am sure he would tell you the same thing,” Amayu said reaching through the partition for Katara’s clothes
Katara inhaled and exhaled slowly as she pressed the warm clothes against her face.
“Most of the poison has been removed from your body it any remains the antidote will not react violently to it. Physically you’ll feel better faster than you would have if we’d just given the antidote to you. I’ll leave you to get dressed,” Amayu said quietly.

Katara put on her clothes and went back into the restroom to allow the steam to clear her mind. She was looking forward to going to sleep but when she stepped into the main room Chu-hua was waiting for her.
“Little girl, have you forgotten our last conversation? I do believe I told you what would happen if my little cousin were to meet harm at your hands.”
Katara sank heavily onto the loveseat and looked at her. She sighed deeply, “Do what you will to me only spare my brother and Aang. In spite of how they’ve treated me, I can’t turn my back on them.”
The admiral frowned. That wasn’t the response she was expecting, “Did you try to kill Zuko?”
Katara waved her hand; the boat rose and fell gently with the movement, “If I wanted him dead he would be. Zuko is a powerful Firebender and surpasses me in terms of brute strength, but I outclass him terms of elemental mastery, survival instinct, and common sense. I would never agree to ride a wave of fire into a volcano with an enemy.”
Chu-hua stared at her. The men she’d sent to follow them yesterday expressed concern with how willingly he stepped into the bay with the Waterbender and how effortlessly she’d ferried the two of them back and forth. The older woman relented. The girl had almost sunk the Fire Nation’s largest vessel with her hands tied. She was right, if she wanted his life, Zuko would already be dead. “We took that herb pouch from you yesterday, where did you get it?”
“Princess Azula,” Katara admitted. “She said it wouldn’t be fair for Zuko to ruin my life then receive praise and congratulations for doing so. He’s already ensured I can never go home. If the world saw me pregnant with his bastard there would be no place I could hide. I thought it was only the contraceptives I’d purchased. Who would give poisons to their prisoner?”
“I thought Bingwen told you that you would never have children?”
“He said there was a chance I may never have children. I accidently found the Avatar the world had searched for over 100 years. I am the first Waterbender born to the Southern Water Tribe in generations. Would you take that gamble if you had my luck?”
“I don’t suppose I would,” the admiral reluctantly agreed.
“Zuko said he didn’t drink the tea, how did you give him the herbs?”
Katara blushed, “Zuko is very amorous. I crushed them to powder. I brushed my teeth with some of it and placed some beneath my tongue. I dusted my neck, ears and breasts with the rest.”
“I don’t need to hear anymore,” she said hastily. Chu-Hua’s eyes narrowed, “I thought they were contraceptives why did you give the herbs to him?”
Katara chuckled harshly, “Neem is an anti-pregnancy herb that works on males and females. Hops make it difficult to maintain an erection and chasteberry dampens the libido. Do you know any man that would willingly take herbs to reduce his virility, especially one who struts around like Prince Dragon Peacock?”
The admiral chuckled, calling Zuko a dragon peacock was an accurate description. The boy strode around like he owned the palace from the moment he took his first steps. Bingwen had already explained what each of the herbs was used for and her explanation matched what he said.
The admiral stood, “Your answers are acceptable. I will take these herbs. Bingwen will give you what you need to ensure you do not become pregnant but I doubt he will help you escape the Prince’s attentions. Zuko is a child just as you are and his development does not need to be thwarted as our nation will need him to produce a suitable heir at some point.”
“You have passed this test Waterbender, but I am watching you. Your brother’s life and the Avatar’s limbs are tied to Prince Zuko’s happiness,” Admiral Chu-hua warned again as she walked out of the door.
She stepped into the hallway and shook her head at Zuko. He had been concerned the girl was trying to make good on her promise they’d enter the spirit world together. He nodded and blew out a small stream of smoke relieved Katara had not intentionally tried to kill him. He was smiling when he entered the bedroom.

Admiral Chu-hua exhaled her own stream of smoke. The only reason the Waterbender still lived was because Zuko had ultimately been unharmed and she was not certain the girl’s actions had not been to expose the level of threat Princess Azula posed to her brother. As Bingwen stated anyone that knowledge of herbs knew exactly what she was preparing.
Admiral Chu-hua took the long route to her quarters making sure she passed through every corridor on the ship. She paused when she reached the brig, the Water Tribe boy was meditating. The Avatar was tossing and turning calling for the spirits to save Katara in his sleep. Her vessel seemed secure but something felt amiss.
She ordered that the Ursa weigh anchor immediately and release the lighter defensive crafts to circle it as they resumed their travels. By the time the sun rose the Ursa was halfway to the next harbor.
- 135
- 136
- 137
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Borealis: A Zutara Story