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*I do not own Avatar: the last Airbender.

The next morning, Katara was woken to the quiet shuffling of cloth, and a very familiar voice. Her chambers were full of young servants rushing around to pack her things safely away into leather bags for her journey to the Firenation. The thought of this being her last morning to wake up in this bed, her bed, weighed heavily on her heart.

In the far corner was a sight that helped to lift her spirits, her mother. Lady Kya stood tall speaking in hushed tones to a woman with a black braid hanging from her neck.

"Mother," she said, calling the queen's attention away from the serving girl.

She looked tired, with her hands on her swollen belly. Being with Arnook's child had taken it's toll on her. She was no longer as strong as she had once been. Nevertheless, it never did seem to get her down, she was still as graceful as she had always been.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Katara inquired, knowing she had the queen's full attention now. Kya laughed lightly, a small smile gracing her aging features.

"I had to see to it that you didn't forget anything" Katara returned a smile.

"Is there nothing you can do? Surely you still have some power..." She trailed off. Kya cupped her daughter's cheek in her hand, sympathy swimming in her eyes.

"My little waterbender, I wish there was something I could do to keep this from happening, but there is not." Katara gave a weak smile, her eyes turning glassy with tears she vowed would not fall.

She turned to change from her night shift into a decent pair of clothes. By the time she had been prepared for the day by Nanai, she was being called to the docks for her departure. It took all the mental strength she possessed to wear a smile on her face like a proper princess as she said her final farewells to all of her mentors, friends and subjects.

The procession was a long, and sad one, yet through it all Katara had kept her promise to keep her tears to herself. Ten minutes after they began the march, it ended in front of a giant metal dragon. Prince Zuko was waiting for her, right next to Arnook. Zuko's face was unreadable once again, leaving an unsettling feeling in her stomach. How could she be devoted to a man who never felt anything? Katara turned to give her mother one last parting hug.

"I love you, my little waterbender. You are strong, and brilliant. Don't ever let anyone tell you different," Kya said, undoing the tie of the necklace around her neck.

"I want you to have this," she extended the necklace out to her daughter. "Let it remind you of who you are, and where you come from." Katara gently took the stone, and tied it around her copper neck, before embracing her mother once again.

"Thank you mother, I love you, and may the spirits Tui and La be with you always," she muttered sadly. Kya nodded in return before nudging Katara closer to Zuko's stoic figure. She stood tall and proud next to the Firenation's prince.

Zuko turned to Arnook, and shook his hand, then turned, disappearing into the ship that sealed Katara's fate. She followed closely behind, keeping her eyes downcast.

Later that night, Katara found herself wandering the endless metallic halls of Zuko's ship. She had no real reason to be walking about, for she found the small room she shared with Nanai to be quite comfortable, but something had compelled her to explore her temporary home. In her travels, she came across two guards clad in dark reds and blacks, their faces hidden behind the cold skull masks. At the end of the hall she heard a plethora of low, urgent voices. Her curiosity led her towards the noise.

Inside the dimly lit room was a handful of men crowded around a table with cartographs and plates of food strewn about. Zuko's head rose at the muffled sound of her feet padding on the floors. He looked at her expectantly.

"Is there something you require, princess?" His voice was so smooth, it made Katara's senses more keen.

"I was wondering where I could find something to eat," she said, her eyes still downcast. He motioned to a table in the far corner with a delicious spread of meats, cheeses, breads and wine.

"Help yourself." He lowered his head back down to the maps.

Katara felt horribly small and unimportant in this new, unfamilliar world. Everytime Zuko spoke to her, he had been a perfect gentleman, and yet she realized his lack of emotion, any sense of making her feel the slightest bit more welcome. She didn't have an inkling of how she would survive a lifetime of such treatment. She filled a plate with spicy smelling food and sat down at a table in the far corner of the room. It wasn't long before the portly man came to sit across from her.

"I came to see how you were doing. I know this is a lot to adjust to in a short amount of time." the man's face was fatherly.

She displayed a genuine smile at his concern for her well being. "I am fine for the time being, thank you. It will just take some time to come to terms with all that has happened in the last day or so."

"Well if anyone is up to the challenge, it is you, princess. I can tell that you have a strong spirit, one that may even rival that of my nephew's." Katara smiled at him, not quite sure what to say.

"My name is Iroh. I am the prince's uncle, and Captain Lu Ten's father."

"It's a pleasure," she said gracefully. The old general chuckled.

"Such a lady. You will be good for my nephew." He spoke as if he had confirmed to himself that it was true.

"I'm glad someone thinks so, because as of right now, I certainly don't."

"Come now princess, you can hardly say you know my nephew well enough to make any assumptions as of yet."

"Yes, well it will take a miracle for me to take the initiative to get to know him. If it were up to me, General I would not even be here."

"But you are," he so kindly pointed out, "so you might as well at least try to get along with the man you are to marry, you owe him at least that don't you think?" She shook her head.

"I don't owe him anything. Given the circumstances, I don't think I owe anyone anything." Iroh's face fell a bit, understanding that the young princess was set in her own mind frame. Being the wise old man he was, he knew that he would need to change tactics in order to get through to her.

"Well in that case, please just keep an open mind while you are with us. You may find that will be the only way you will find happiness in the Firenation as the wife to not just a noble, but a prince. It is a very different world we come from. Be open to all your options."

Katara had nothing to say, and Iroh could see his words were sinking in by the perplexed look of understanding on her face.

He left her to take his place at the table of cartographs, across from Prince Zuko. Iroh felt the need to protect this young girl from everything around her, as well as from herself until Zuko had proven he was fit to take over that job, for he may have been even less thrilled with the current situation. He smiled at the prospect of gaining a daughter, even if for a short amount of time.

Thanks for Reviewing, Hope it continues... If it doesn't, neither does the story :/