After months of not writing anything, I finally kicked my butt into gear and pumped this out. The idea has been bouncing around in my head for a long time but I finally got it out just now. I hope you enjoy reading.

"There it is now. We should arrive within the hour."

Prince Zuko nodded, resting his hands on the rail and looking at the island that had appeared on the horizon . All he could see right was a chunk of ice, almost blinding with the glare of the sun.

He turned away, frowning. He just couldn't understand what his father was planning with this. And for the lady in question to agree? It didn't add up.

"Why the long face, Prince Zuko?" His uncle Iroh walked up to his side, assessing the island that was slowly coming into view. After a moment, he turned to face him. A bemused smile was on his mouth. "After all, there is a wedding being planned. Soon you are going to have a mother."

Zuko glared at him, his grip tightening on the rail. "You know full well how I feel about this. I'm not in the mood for jokes."

Iroh shrugged. "There's no need to be so sour. Excuse me for being excited about getting a beautiful sister-in-law."

Zuko snorted. "You haven't ever set eyes on her—for all we know she could look like a cowbear."

Iroh waved his hand. "All the stories of her praise her beauty right along with her healing magic. Nowhere did they mention anything about cowbears."

Zuko gave him a withering glance. "Yes, well, it's hard to make cowbears sound romantic. You know how those ridiculous poets like to exaggerate." He dropped his voice. "All the legends of my father make him sound like a glorious leader who keeps the peace with his great merciful army."

Iroh's eyes hardened. "You know better than to speak of that in public."

The unspoken word treason hung between them.

Zuko sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I know. It's just this whole situation—something isn't right. He must be planning something."

"Yes, well, let's just keep our heads down and follow our orders like good soldiers."

Zuko stared down at the water. Hadn't he been doing that all his life? He was beginning to get rather tired of it.

Half an hour later they arrived at the island. A small welcoming party was waiting at the dock, formal greetings and other such protocol followed. Zuko tried to hide his impatience with all of it; neither side was fooled.

The Fire Nation was politically kidnapping their beloved princess, subjecting her to a life chained to a man rumored to be a monster. And there was nothing they could do about it unless they were willing to go to war against a far superior army that was well prepared and infamously ruthless.

His father's cruelty never ceased to amaze him.

"And where is the bride?" Iroh asked, drawing Zuko's attention back to the conversation.

An elderly woman spoke up. "She is currently seeing to her patients, making sure they will be alright after her departure." The old woman nodded to the building behind her. "She should be done any moment now."

As the representatives continued talking, Zuko decided his presence wouldn't be missed and discreetly left the group.

Stepping inside, Zuko saw that the entryway was deserted. Several doorways lead off in different directions, curtains hanging in the portals to give privacy. Wondering if he could just poke around, Zuko realized that he didn't even know what the princess looked like. Or even what her name was.

His thoughts were interrupted as someone pulled aside a curtain to his right. A young woman ducked out, then paused as she saw him. Her eyes quickly registered his uniform and the young woman straightened, raising her chin. "I don't approve of Fire Nation soldiers in my hospital," she told him evenly.

Zuko turned, raising an eyebrow. Unless all Water Tribe girls were this brazen, she must be the one he was looking for. He had heard that she was rather…straightforward.

Before he could say anything, however, the young woman noticed his scar. Zuko was used to this and it hardly bothered him anymore, but her reaction surprised him. Usually, people would see him, flick their eyes to his deformity, and then quickly look away, hoping that he hadn't noticed. But she didn't do that. In fact, she titled her head and blatantly stared. Annoyed at being looked at like a circus freak, Zuko was about to snap at her, but then she said, "I had always wondered why it hadn't been healed. But I doubt that even the greatest healer would be able to erase that." Seeing Zuko's confused look, she amended, "Sorry, it's a healer thing. Never mind." She flicked her long black braid over her shoulder. "You must be Prince Zuko."

Zuko kept his suprise from his face. She was so young, his own age. And she was to be married to his father? The idea of this young thing being subjected to the horrors of his father…He pushed away those thoughts, they were none of his business. "Yes, that's correct. Princess of the South Water Tribe, I presume…?"

The girl smirked and shook her head. "My name is Katara. The South Water Tribe doesn't actually have a princess. But yes, I'm the one you're here for."

Inwardly Katara's heart was breaking. She had tried to steel herself for this moment, but she doubted anything could have prepared her to leave everything she held dear. She kept a polite smile on her face as she was introduced to General Iroh and the rest of the party that had come to take her away, but inside she hated them, every single one. How could true men bow to serve such a monster as the Fire Emperor? Were these soldiers just as twisted as their leader? Her skin crawled as she eyed their skull-like helmets, wondering what was behind those masks. Perhaps they weren't even men, but demons who had sold their souls to join the ranks that served the worst of them all.

It had been arranged earlier that the travelling party would leave before sunset. Katara's friends and family had argued, wanting her to stay longer, but Katara refused. She needed to be strong, and if this was dragged out there was no way she would be able to keep herself from breaking down.

Katara's few possessions were quickly loaded onto the ship as she said her goodbyes. She hugged her grandmother tight, forcing herself to stay collected. "I love you, Grams. So much."

The old woman looked up into her face, raising a wrinkled hand to her cheek. "I know, dearie. If your mother was here she would be so proud of the brave, strong, beautiful woman you have become." The old woman paused, clearing her throat. "What you are doing is remarkable. I just pray that you don't regret it."

Katara tried to smile. "I know what I am doing, Grams."

"Just remember that everyone here loves you with everything they have. You may be leaving, but you will always have a place here in our hearts."

Katara kissed her grandmother's cheek and pulled away before the tears in her eyes managed to seep out. They shared a smile, and then Grams stepped back and motioned for her grandson to come over. She stepped away while the two siblings stared at one another.

Sokka couldn't even try to smile. "Please, Katara, don't do this," he begged.

"Sokka, don't start. We've already talked about this, I have to. It's for the best."

"That man is a monster, Katara," he argued desperately. "You can't marry him. Please."

Katara looked her brother in the eye, willing herself to be strong. "What would you have me do, then, Sokka? You know what would happen if I didn't volunteer. Rather me then her."

Sokka looked at her hopelessly. "But…"

"I'm tougher than Yue. She would die, if she was forced into this. But I can handle this. For her. For you." Katara shook her head. "But not just for you. For everyone, Sokka. For both the Water Tribes. With this I can buy the Tribes time. Happiness."

"But for how long?" Sokka hissed, keeping his voice down so they wouldn't be overheard.

"Long enough." Katara's tone was final. "Sokka, please, do this for me. Let me go. Marry Yue and be happy for as long as you can. Give the Water Tribes a chance. I'm going no matter what, at least make it mean something."

Katara stood up on tip-toe and kissed her brother's cheek. "I love you. Tell Yue I said goodbye." She hugged her brother tight, and he embraced her back fiercely, clenching his eyes shut. Finally they parted. "I love you," she repeated, then turned fled.

Zuko watched from the ship's railing as the girl that was to be married to her father said her goodbyes. The tension between her and her brother was obvious, even to an outsider like himself. He narrowed his eyes as they whispered angrily to each other. What could they be talking about? Her brother looked angry and…almost guilty? It went without saying that no one wanted her to leave, but he seemed strangely adamant about it.

"Spying, are we?" Iroh said amusedly.

Zuko looked away from the two. "I'm trying to figure out what they're talking about."

Iroh shrugged. "Just the usual goodbyes, no doubt. No big brother likes to see his little sister growing up and leaving."

Zuko was quite for a moment, but he couldn't stop himself. "I didn't realize she would be so young," he said abruptly.

His uncle's face clouded momentarily. Quietly, he said, "Yes, well, I didn't either."

They were quiet, both thinking about the situation but unwilling to say anything, lest they be overheard. Eventually Iroh cleared his throat and said cheerily, "I do like her though. She's been rather reserved, but I can tell she has quiet the personality. It'll be fun getting to know her during the weeks we travel back to the palace.

Zuko watched as Katara boarded the ship, her face stormy. Fun, indeed.

And there you have it. Please, after months of not writing anything, I really would LOVE reviews to let me know what you think. Sharing is caring, remember.