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 71
Katara had been right in assuming Zuko had selected something appropriate from Princess Kesuk’s vaults for her. The dress was in the dark blues of the Northern Water Tribe but cut in a traditional Fire Nation style. After they woke and ate lunch he sent her to the spa room and the older woman, whose name she learned was Akesato, sang while the others tended to her.
In spite of the uplifting song filtering in from the women’s side, Zuko was unable to relax as his valets groomed him. Even the acupuncture treatment performed by one of the junior physicians on board was not enough to ease the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Zhao 2 had been right to call his sister Ozai’s little demon. Azula was up to something and he was certain that she planned for him or Katara if not both to suffer from it.
Once he had been dressed in his formal military style robes he picked Katara up from the outer chamber connecting both sides. Her eyes were closed and one of the spa maids in training was nervously painting her nails.
“Zuzu, did you know there are shades of lipstick and nail polish that matches both Mai’s complexion and Katara’s? I personally find it astonishing considering their skin tones are so different. I suppose it’s just one more thing they have common,” Azula chirped happily.
“Really? I find the two of them to be nothing alike,” Zuko replied casually cursing his stupidity; of course Azula and her friends would be at the spa along with the ship’s admiral. The Ursa had dropped anchor and most of her crew had been invited as well as the other ships’ officers. It was a formal event so of course everyone would want to prepare for it.
“Yes, well. That’s one of the reasons for tonight’s little gathering. To celebrate the ways in which Mai and Lady Katara differ. Even though they share a certain unlikely commonality; I personally can think of one tremendous aspect in which they are very different,” Azula stated looking from both women to her brother and smiling.
Katara’s nails were deemed ready and Zuko took her down to see her brother, hoping to ease her fears from earlier.
“Why is he laying like that?” she inquired when she saw him inclined sideways on a bale of hay, “Hasn’t he been through enough torture?”
“I’ve given him pain medications, antibiotics, and managed to feed him. He’s lying in that position in case his body is unable to handle the nourishment he will not drown in his own vomit,” Mu replied matter of factly.
“Do not fear. He is stable. The men will grow tired of him shortly. For now he is merely a tool on which they vent their frustration for the losses at the North Pole and the invasion. Until that time, the worse off he looks the safer he will be,” Mu advised. The veterinarian smiled wickedly, “We should be going. I’ve advised one of the hands I can trust to bring dung from the stables this way before getting ready to discourage any unauthorized visitors. There is something about a foul smell that seems to deter most types of enthusiasm.”
Zuko’s eyes narrowed in warning.
“After you, milord and milady,” Mu said bowing exaggeratedly. “I cannot wait to see what our lovely princess and her esteemed guests have in store for us this evening. Perhaps the cooks will grace us all with poison and rescue us from our misery.”
“We should be so lucky,” Zuko replied vaguely
Katara looked closely at both of them. Zuko’s face held more tension than it did when they went to the banquet at the palace. He looked more like he did when they were fighting at the North Pole. The other teen appeared to be on guard as well.
“Is there something the two of you are not telling me?” Katara asked when they passed the affable Zhao twins and two other crew members who also looked like they were marching into battle.
“Do you remember what I told you about the dinner at the palace?” Zuko asked sharply.
Katara sighed, “Yes, do not speak unless spoken to and answer any question ‘I am Prince Zuko’s concubine it will be best to defer to him in such matters’?”
“Forget the last part. Bujing is more of a self-serving glory hound than my sister. You managed to throw both of them off guard this morning. You will need to keep that same mental clarity and anger to get through this night. Try not to show that something that has been said or done by anyone, including me is upsetting you,” Zuko cautioned as they walked towards the Ursa’s dining hall.
It had been transformed from its usual appearance as a mess hall to look more like a stately dining room. The sliding walls had been removed and circular tables covered in white table cloths had been brought from storage. Mahogany chairs with white seatback covers tied by a red bow sat in a semi-circle at each one to give the guests a clear view of the front of the room. A place setting with a name sat in front of each chair. A centerpiece in the shape of a dragon and phoenix biting each other’s tails sat on each one circling a large candle which supplied a living flame.
A long table sat on a platform at the front of the room the same united dragon and phoenix motif – the symbol for a man’s coming of age ceremony. The soiled sheets from the first night he’d raped Katara hung above the dais. The words, Prince Zuko’s Virginal Conquest of the Avatar’s Waterbender were seared into the wooden portion of the gold and mahogany frame.
Katara gasped, covering her mouth as tears filled her eyes. Azula had framed the sheets from her first night in Zuko’s room. Everyone would know of her defilement and humiliation. She could never go home or expect to get married. There was solid proof she had become Zuko’s plaything.
“That bitch!”Zuko cursed and pulled Katara back into the hallway.
Mu’s eyes narrowed when he saw the hanging and he assumed the reason for Zuko’s reaction, “Calm down, it’s not like we all don’t know you’re fucking her. You need to keep your wits about you. That bastard is waiting for a chance to repay you for shaming him. That was his first unsuccessful battle plan and he’s lost even more face now that you’ve returned triumphant.”
Zuko nodded and grit his teeth. Mu didn’t suspect anything was amiss. Somehow, most likely Mai, Azula knew he had been a virgin and that he had given Katara his first time otherwise the wording would have been Prince Zuko’s Conquest of the Avatar’s Virgin Waterbender.
The evening would be worse than he expected.
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