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Chapter 18 – Faith

"Katara," Hakoda said her name carefully, having not spoken it in a long time. He placed her on the ground, smiling. "I've missed you."

She gave him another hug and pulled back. "I've missed you too." She continued to beam while taking in her father's appearance. He was dressed in a heavy blue coat with five patches of thick white fur trailing from the neckline. His wrinkles had deepened, and he looked tired despite his delight from seeing her. His slightly thinner and longer hair was pulled back, and she could see a sprinkling of grey along his beard and behind his temples. It suddenly struck her that her father wasn't young anymore. Her knees give an involuntary quiver. She had abandoned him for nearly half a year. When she was unable to look at him anymore, she gulped and pivoted towards Zuko. "Dad, this is –"

"I know who this is," her father said instantly. He looked between Katara and Zuko and then reached his arm towards the latter.

Zuko's visible eye widened at the gesture before he took a step forward and clasped onto the older warrior's arm in a traditional Water Tribe greeting.

Hakoda gave Zuko a nod before returning his gaze to his daughter. "I have a feeling you're not here for a family visit."

Katara sighed, but nodded. "No, we're not." She scanned the street they were gathered to the side of. The clear sky allowed thick rays of moonlight to illuminate the city along with candles that were placed evenly along the side of the canals. Despite being late in the evening, townspeople were bustling about, and most of them were glancing their way. Some looks were mildly curious, while others were excited.

Across the street and over the calm, narrow canal, she noted six warriors eying them from outside a boisterous igloo with brightly coloured pelts draped over the front. Most of young men sported tough though thin animal skins, dark makeup that was blotched in places and four carried clubs or spears. Despite their attire, they seemed to be at ease. Katara supposed they had just finished training.

When they noticed her staring back at them, they didn't turn away like she expected. They actually smiled at her shamelessly. One of the warriors pulled back the flap of the igloo and smoke swelled through. With a pang of dread, she realized the igloo was a tavern. The warrior called something inside, but she couldn't make out the words. He let the flap fall and graced her with a small smirk. Then, to her dismay, a mob of warriors poured out of the igloo, all with eyes fixed on her. A daring few gave her suggestive looks, and one even made a dirty gesture. She felt her face burn, a combination of anger and embarrassment. The warriors laughed at her reaction and several clapped the rude warrior on the back while muttering things into his ear that made him grin widely. She was tempted to march over and give them something to really laugh about, but a sudden burst of heat overwhelmed her. She tore her eyes away from the warriors and turned towards Zuko.

Even though he wasn't looking at the warriors, the feral look on his face told her that he noticed them. She nudged him in the ribs and gave him a warning look. He glared at her, but eventually settled down, and the temperature surrounding her returned the normal frigidity of the South Pole.

For the first time, she was grateful the leers were for her. At least she was distracting them from the disguised Fire Lord.

Her focus returned to her father, who luckily had his back turned to the rest of the town. If he witnessed the exchange, he didn't show it. "Where is the healing igloo?" she asked quietly.

"Are you hurt?" There was a flicker of worry across his face, and he took a step back to scan her.

"Yes," she admitted. "It's nothing serious though," she lied quickly as her father gave Zuko a sharp look.

After a few moments, Hakoda frowned and turned on his heel, motioning for them to follow.

Katara began to trail her father, but then noticed Zuko wasn't moving. She reached back and grasped his forearm for a second. "Come on," she urged.

Zuko blinked at her touch and gave a curt nod. He shadowed her closely and bowed his head to remain inconspicuous.

Katara could feel Zuko support her lower back whenever she stumbled. Under normal circumstances, she would have told him off. But she admitted that she was definitely in need of some help currently. After the third instance, she glanced over her shoulder and offered him an appreciative smile.

Less than a minute later, they arrived at one of the largest igloos, except it wasn't exactly an igloo. Katara tilted her head. The roof was flat, and the walls were straight with carefully carved designs of various animals along the sides. It looked like a building that belonged in the North Pole. Though it stood out against the other structures, most of which had the traditional circular roofs, she admitted that it looked nice.

Hakoda came to a stop in front of it and turned to face them.

"Wow, it's so different from before," Katara observed. The rising smoke from the ice chimney caught her eye.

"A lot can change in five months, Katara," Hakoda said.

Katara swallowed a lump in her throat. She knew she deserved it. She had done the one thing she had sworn never to do: abandon people who needed her. She left to help Aang on a mission in the middle of the ocean. It had been a few months after her sixteenth birthday. Her father had urged her to return quickly since they were expecting several shipments of supplies and large numbers of immigration from their sister tribe. After the mission though, she asked Aang to drop her off at the North Pole.

Aang had questioned why she didn't want to go home, and she responded that she wanted a change of scenery. He had just shrugged and told her to have fun in the North Pole.

She was almost certain that Master Pakku and her grandmother had vacationed to the North Pole solely to convince her to return home. It wouldn't surprise her if they returned to the South shortly.

Her father would also have been lonely without her. Especially since Sokka had settled in with Suki on Kyoshi. But even her brother, with his other obligations, managed to spend at least a couple weeks every two months in the South Pole.

Hakoda held open the pelted door flap for her. "Go ahead. I'll bring Zu –" He paused. "Your friend –"

"Lee," injected Zuko.

Hakoda nodded with a small smirk of approval. "Lee, to the house."

Her eyes widened a little, and she shook her head. She and Zuko could not be separated. He knew about the poison and its origins. Also, she couldn't let him out of her sight while something like a spirit might be after him. Instinctively, she stood slightly in front of Zuko in a protective stance and grasped his hand, intertwining their fingers. A moment too late, she realized what she was doing and moved her hand to Zuko's wrist, but her father had noticed, and he was far more observant than she cared to admit.

Hakoda's hand clenched on the flap, and his gaze shifted between her and Zuko suspiciously. She felt Zuko twitch beneath her hold, and her grip tightened.

"All right, Katara." His tone was calm, but she knew what he must have been thinking. "I have to help Bato and the others prepare for the Spring Equinox Festival. I'll come back here as soon as we're done."

"Okay, dad," she replied, giving him a forced smile before entering the igloo, hauling Zuko behind her. She let out a breath when the flap fell, signaling that her father had left. She tugged on Zuko's sleeve, and he slouched to her height. "I'm really sorry about that," she whispered.

"Don't worry about it," he replied.

"Just follow my lead, okay?"

He nodded.

She released her hold and led him though an arched hall before entering a plain, domed room with the impressions of square ice cubes on the curved walls.

There were a few women and young girls sitting cross-legged around a low table. A small fire flickered in the far side wall. She guessed it was a healing lesson.

"Katara! I was wondering when I'd see you."

She jumped and smiled when she finally found the origin of the voice. "Yugoda," she greeted with a small bow.

The aged woman stood, and Katara gave her former healing instructor a hug.

"It's so good to see you again. Did you come from the Northern Tribe too?" Katara asked. She was grateful when the girls at the table picked up a conversation about the Festival and didn't seem to be listening in on them.

"Yes, of course. Your grandmother and I have finally been reunited after all these years. I know she's travelling right now. But, anyways, what brings you back to your home?" she asked looking over Katara's shoulder towards Zuko who was standing a few paces away.

Katara glanced at Zuko and swore inwardly. She could see part of his scar poking out from the bandage. She turned back to Yugoda and tried to keep the healers attention. "I'm in need of some treatment."

Yugoda laughed. "I'm sure you could heal whatever it is in an instant, my dear."

Her eyes became downcast, and Zuko came beside her like an arctic watchsealdog. Katara recited another few curses in her mind. She hoped that Yugoda either wouldn't notice (unlikely) or wouldn't recognize Zuko's scar.

The older women's face fell. "Oh…" She nodded. "All right." She turned towards the girls who were still huddled around the table. "It looks like class has ended a bit early today."

When Yugoda and the girls weren't looking, Katara nearly threw herself at Zuko. He gave her a startled and concerned look, as though wondering if she had gone mad from the poison, but tensed when she hastily tugged the bandage lower.

Katara moved back once the material was back in place. She touched her cheek and nodded to the bandage on his face. She was telling him to be mindful it didn't fall again.

He mimicked her movements and nodded back in understanding.

A few minutes later, after the girls had left, Yugoda led them into a neighbouring room.

"Tell me, Katara, what is this injury that you're unable to heal?" she asked motioning to the pallet against the corner of the far wall below a fur draped window. The head of the cot rested in the corner while a small, uncomfortable looking chair stood at the opposite end. Adjacent to the pallet, there were three layers of ice shelves which held a variety of jars while long, blue banners adorned with the Water Tribe symbol hung on either side of the doorway.

Katara sat down on the thickly cushioned pallet. Her feet brushed against the floor as she peeled off her outer layer of fur and placed it neatly beside her. "I don't know exactly. Z – Lee would be able to explain it better."

Zuko came near the head of the cot, and Yugoda remained a healthy distance away.

Yugoda turned towards Zuko, her expression wary. "Lee?" she repeated raising a brow. "I must say that you don't look familiar."

"And?" Zuko responded bluntly.

Katara was going to bend him to the depths of the ocean, or maybe just freeze his mouth shut. She didn't know what they did in the Fire Nation, but to her knowledge, normal people wouldn't be rude while trying to stay undercover. How, in La's name, was Zuko running a nation with this type of diplomacy. She made a mental note to add that to her teaching list: hunting, wooing and now, diplomacy.

Yugoda frowned slightly and looked towards Katara with a puzzled expression. It was as though the healer was wondering how she could be companions with him. The old woman's gaze returned to Zuko and eyed him head to toe. "I lived my entire life in the Northern Water Tribe, Lee, and since coming here a few months back, I met everyone who lives in the Southern Tribe as well."

Katara groaned internally, this was the last thing they needed.

"Where are you from because I know that you are not one of us?"

Zuko stiffened, and his eyes narrowed.

Katara decided to butt in before he could speak. "Please, Yugoda. We don't want any trouble," she said while shifting towards Zuko. Her eyes found his and gave him a nod of reassurance. "We want to keep our presence quiet. But, yes, he is not Water Tribe, he is Fire Nation."

Yugoda's eyes fixed on him. "I suspected as much. It's impossible to hide those golden eyes. And yes, that's understandable, Katara. I promise that I won't pry."

Katara grew worried as Yugoda continued to stare Zuko down, and he glared right back at her. "Please don't tell anyone he's here," Katara said.

"Does your father know?" Yugoda asked, still not looking at her.

"Yes, we've already met up with my dad. He knows."

"Okay, I won't speak of it, you have my word, but I take back what I said earlier. You do look familiar Lee. Veryfamiliar…" Yugoda's gaze went to the bandage and gasped. "You!"

Katara got to her feet quickly and stood in front of Zuko, her stance ready to bend. Did Yugoda realize he was the Fire Lord? Maybe she had noticed the scar earlier and now she just connected the dots.

"Do you know who this is, Katara?" she shrieked pointing at him. "He was part of the attack against the Northern Water Tribe! He could hurt you, get away from him!" She made to reach for her, but Katara jumped back and felt Zuko's chest against her shoulders.

Zuko took a step back and bent his knees but kept a strong palm between her shoulders. He raised his other arm, ready to bend. "I wouldn't lay a finger on her," he growled.

Katara reached back and squeezed his wrist, and his growl ceased. She released her hold. She was surprised that Yugoda recognized him as an insignificant soldier rather than the Fire Lord. Though she supposed the Water Tribes were the most remote locations in the world. Even though it was common knowledge that the Fire Lord was distinguishable by his scar, Yugoda may never have seen a picture of him. Zuko's posters were far more common on the mainland.

"I know who he is, Yugoda, and I know he was part of the Northern attack. I fought him during the battle…twice, actually." She turned her back on Yugoda and leaned up towards Zuko's ear so the healer read her lips. "I'm going to tell you who you are. Just trust me now. I know what I'm doing," she breathed.

He looked reluctant but after seeing the hard look in her eyes, he lowered his chin in a nod.

Katara turned to face the Yugoda. For a moment, she was worried the old woman would run from the room and tell everyone that a Fire Nation soldier who assaulted the North Pole was here. Katara raised her hand slightly to feel the moisture in the air. If Yugoda tried to make a run for it, she would restrain her any way necessary. She would not let Zuko be compromised. "He is not just some Fire Nation soldier." She swallowed deeply. "His name is not Lee, it's Zuko. He is Fire Lord Zuko."

Disbelief and surprise filtered over the old woman's face. "You're the Fire Lord?" she asked, her tone incredulous. Her lips pursed as she eyed his scruffy, unshaven appearance. "You certainly don't look like the Fire Lord."

"Of course I don't," he snarled. "I'm trying to be secretive. Wearing my robes and crown would defeat that purpose…fool."

Yugoda scrutinized him further, and her eyes landed on the bandage again. Her eyes widened slightly. "Yes, I suppose it is you. For once the gossips didn't exaggerate. If it weren't for the bandage hiding that scar of yours, I would have mistaken you for a common peasant."

Zuko's hand fisted in the material around Katara's shoulders, and her back warmed. He looked deadly.

"I'm so sorry, Yugoda," Katara jumped in quickly before the situation worsened. "But we really need to keep our privacy. Can you please promise not to tell anyone who he is?"

Yugoda nodded. "For you, Katara, of course I will." Her sharp gaze returned to Zuko's literally steaming form. "But people will know he's not Water Tribe, and I doubt the bandage will fool everyone even if it stays in place. That scar marks him as the Fire Lord."

"What do you suggest we do then?" she asked.

Yugoda pondered for a moment. "I'm not sure. Stay in your vessel, I suppose. You did travel in ship, right?"

Katara nodded, but before she could respond, Zuko jumped in.

"I'm not going to hide from this ice block like a coward," he spat.

"Well then your people will find out that you're not really sick, in bed in the Fire Nation, but running around with the Avatar's waterbender."

The way Yugoda said the Avatar's made Katara's stomach twist. Yugoda would know that she was no longer with Aang, but Katara had a feeling that dangling her relationship with Aang in front of Zuko wouldn't go over well. Before she could intervene, a chill withered through her body. Her throat constricted, making breathing difficult, and her heart hammered in fear that she would suffocate. Shivers rocked her body. She doubled over, clutching her chest, and her vision shifted in and out of focus.

"Katara," Zuko said as he grasped her arm. "Katara."

When she couldn't stop gasping and trembling, he guided her to sit on the bed and crouched in front of her. His hand went to the back of her neck and leaned her head against his shoulder as she continued to shake.

"What's happening to her?" asked Yugoda as she came nearer. "Is she ill?"

Katara coughed weakly, and the shivers finally subsided. "I think I'm okay now." She pulled back slightly. It took a few moments before her vision returned but her airway still felt uncomfortably tight. She faced Yugoda who was a few feet beside Zuko's still crouched form. "Yes, I'm really sick," she admitted with a strained voice.

"I'll have to explain everything," Zuko said quietly as he addressed Katara.

She knew what he meant. He wouldn't tell the healer everything, but enough to compromise them further if Yugoda decided to blab to anyone. She looked towards the elder woman and back to Zuko; his face was still flushed slightly. "It's okay, we can trust her."

Zuko didn't look too confident, but obliged. After giving her a hard look and a harder squeeze on her hand, he rose to his feet and jumped right in. He spoke quickly as he said that Katara had been injected about a week back with the Fire Nation called Telmahon poison. He and Katara refused pointblank to explain how it happened. After a while, Yugoda relented her questioning. Next, he explained how it destroyed their victims internally. He also mentioned that he had removed some of the poison himself and that she was tending her wounds every few hours to prevent herself from bleeding out. Once Zuko fell silent, Katara was unable to gage the look on the healer's face.

"I think I've seen this before."

"Really, you have?" Katara asked hopefully. She loosened her collar and removed her arms from her shirt so Yugoda could see the red markings the poison had given her. Zuko averted his eyes, a faint redness on his cheeks. She decided to wrap the rest of her shirt above her bust, only allowing small traces of her sarashi to show. She knew that Zuko had seen her wearing the sarashi several times while she bended, and he would have seen far more than the white cloth would reveal when he had treated her, but chose to save them both the embarrassment unless absolutely necessary.

Zuko appeared relieved and refocused his attention on Yugoda.

"A long time ago, the Fire Nation attacked the Northern Water Tribe," Yugoda began. "We managed to repel them, but not before they poisoned our ruling family." Her wrinkles creased. "I was very young at the time, but I remember how terrible the sickness was. Only one survived. Truly, Katara, I can't believe you're still alive after all this time. You hardly look ill at all. But you do have, oh, Katara! You're burned!" she exclaimed as she eyed her arms before sending Zuko a fierce look.

"It wasn't him," Katara said instantly, but was annoyed when she swore Zuko tried to look guilty.

Yugoda continued glare at him.

"So – so, how do you heal it?" Katara asked in attempt to calm the situation.

Finally, Yugoda turned to face her. "It's quick."

"That's good," Katara said in relief. She had been worried that their mission would be delayed several days for her treatment.

"But the success rate is only one in ten."

Katara's face fell, her relief gone, and Zuko bristled. "And what if I'm not feeling particularly lucky?" she asked hesitantly.

Yugoda looked sombre. "You die."

Her fingers curled around the furs beneath her until her knuckles turned pale. She felt as though her heart had fallen through her chest and something sharp was lodged in her throat, making it increasingly to breathe.

"This is pathetic! I thought the Water Tribe had superior healing! It can't be the only option!" Zuko turned on his heel and paced the floor. His fists repeatedly clenched and unclenched, sparks escaping every so often, and Katara felt the temperature rise.

"Our healing is the best," said Yugoda, "but your Fire Nation poisons replicate like a virus. They're almost impossible to stop. Also, Katara being infected by a Fire Nation poison is your responsibility. You should have been more attentive."

Zuko came to an abrupt halt and sent Yugoda a withering glare. Smoke puffed from his nose, and the temperature rose another few degrees.

Katara knew Yugoda's words also referred to how the Fire Nation army mimicked the poison in how they had consumed the entire world during the war. She also knew that the meaning was not lost on Zuko either. A shudder was barely repressed as something cold and wet fell on her bare shoulder. She touched it and realized it was water. Her gaze shifted upwards and a large drop fell into her eyes. Oh La, he was melting the place.

"Zuko, calm down."

He wheeled on her.

"You're melting everything," Katara extrapolated as she bent the water off her shoulder.

His eyes went to the ice wall, and he too noticed the melting. He looked towards the floor and managed to reel in his anger, though resumed pacing.

"Yugoda, it was my own fault I was poisoned. I was careless. Zuko had nothing to do with it," she said firmly. "So, can you explain how this healing works?"

Zuko jumped back to her beside, a furious look on his face. "You're not honestly thinking of going through with this?"

She grimaced as another chilly drop of water fell, this time on her hair. "Calm down," she said a little louder than before.

"No!" he yelled. "Are you insane? The success is one in ten, that means nine out of ten die, Katara."

She turned her head to the side. Of course she knew that, she wasn't deaf. It was definitely far from the ideal situation, but she somehow knew she would be fine even though she was a little worried.

Katara frowned. If felt off. She was always the worrier, and she should have felt far more concerned. Inwardly, she had a feeling that her strange calmness had something to do with Yue. "Well, if you have any better ideas, I would love to hear them," she said bitterly.

"We'll search somewhere else. You're NOT doing this!"

"Zuko, you just told me that blindness only appears a day before the person dies. We've run out of time."

He released a frustrated snarl.

Yugoda injected, "Katara's right. She must be treated today or else I fear the worst."

Katara's gaze returned to her companion. "I promise, I'll be fine."

He glowered at her. "How can you say that? This isn't some battle; you have no control over it."

She felt a strong tug in her stomach that she normally only felt during the full moon. "I'm doing this. If it doesn't work then at least we tried."

He scoffed, disgusted. "At least we tried, are you kidding me? You really are suicidal," he accused. "I knew I should never have let you go after Xuon on your own. And I should never have let you come with me!"

Yugoda went to the ice shelves and began rummaging through the stocks. Katara ignored the fact that she and Zuko weren't alone. The healer already had enough information to compromise them if she wanted to. It didn't matter if she knew anything else. "You need me, Zuko. Yue said you do."

"You can't help if you're dead."

She winced slightly. "If you think I'm not scared, you're wrong."

He seemed to deflate and looked sufficiently chastised. "I'm –"

She didn't want to hear his apology and cut him off. "But I trust Yue. I know that she'll protect me, just like she protected you."

"If she doesn't, I'll finish what Zhao started," he muttered darkly.

Katara was halfway to scolding him for uttering such a threat, but another part of her was relieved when he finally ceased ranting and was supporting her. She offered him what she hoped was a smile, but it felt like a grimace, and Zuko remained on edge.

Yugoda stepped towards her and shooed Zuko a few feet away. "I have to inject this in your neck," she said playing with a few objects between her hands.

Katara fidgeted. Great. It just had to be gory.

"I won't tell you want it is, because you won't like it. It's highly toxic to humans, but it kills any poison in your bloodstream."

"But it normally kills everything else too, right?" Katara questioned, already knowing the answer.

Yugoda nodded. "Normally the toxins destroy the outer walls of the heart. It collapses the heart muscle, eventually causing a heart attack."

Katara felt a bit better. At least the death wasn't particularly gory. Not that she was going to die, of course.

"I'm not sure if it's painful."

"It doesn't matter to me really," she responded lightly.

Yugoda touched her hair affectionately. "Lay down, child."

Katara gave a final glance to Zuko, who was brooding, before she obliged with Yugoda's request.

Yugoda turned her head towards Zuko. "You may want to leave the room."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Katara smirked and fiddled anxiously with the fur below her.

Yugoda gave her a questioning look.

"It's all right with me, Zuko can stay."

The healer nodded.

Katara felt a familiar unpleasant feeling in her stomach as Yugoda began drawing up sharp tools. Most of them were made of animal bones.

"You will most likely loose consciousness within a minute. If the healing works, you're heart will still be beating after twenty minutes."

"This stuff must be really toxic," she mused. She could feel Zuko's glare.

"It is," Yugoda said.

"How long until I wake up?"

"That, I'm unsure of. When the poison was cured in the North Pole, I believe it took him two days."

She nodded, and she could feel something sharp resting on her throat. A thin, hallow bone, she noted.

"You may want to close your eyes."

Katara took her advice, and suddenly terror filled her, and she felt sick. She pleaded to her old friend turned spirit, to help her.

A searing pain cut against her throat. There was blood coming from her neck, and it was soothing and warm against her skin. She tried to breath, but she was drowning and choking against the sticky warmth.

The pain faded slowly, and a figure appeared floating ahead of her, glowing with light.

Firstly, sorry for the delay, I had exams the past two weeks. Also, I've planning out the next arc, and I'm having a bit of trouble with it. I'll probably take two more weeks before the next chapter is up. Again, I'm sorry, but the plot is a little complicated, and I don't want to screw it up.

Secondly, I have to give a return shout out to my awesome reader and reviewer bunniesnfish who has just completed one of my absolute favourite Zutara epics, the first fic is Fire and Ice and the second is Sun and Moon.

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. I know we both have a lot of the same readers, but if you haven't checked out those fics yet, you have to.

Thirdly, I love you readers. I have NEVER had so many hits, favourites, alerts and reviews. This is amazing.

Fourthly, although this has yet to be beta-ed, thank you njty9010, AvocadoLove and MizJoely.

Fifthly, if I haven't responded to your review yet, you'll be getting a message later this evening.

Sneak Peak to Chapter 19:

"Don't the spirits normally communicate with the Avatar? Why don't you just go through Aang?"

Yue didn't reply, and she looked mournful.

Katara felt dread rise up inside of her. "Yue…where is Aang?"

Oh yeah, what happened to Aang?

much love,

temariXshikamaruluva